The New Shul

Parshat B’reisheet

Rabbi Simha Bunem of P’shiskhe understood the first words of the Torah, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,”  to mean that God created the world in such a way that it is always “in the beginning.” The world is never established. It is always at the boundary between existence and non-existence, just as it was at the moment when it first came into being. God must constantly pour new creative energy into the world or it would cease to exist.

The same is true of the new selves that we worked so hard to create during the Days of Awe, through our work of teshuvah. Our new selves will continue to exist only if we invest new energy in making them a reality each day. Teshuvah, the work of self-creation, is a process that requires constant renewal.

In the kiddush on Friday night, we call Shabbat “zeikher l’ma’aseh v’reisheet,” a reminder of the work of creation. We rest on Shabbat to remind ourselves that the world does not belong to us, that it is God’s creation. But we rest also to remind ourselves of the creative, God-like work that we are called upon to do:  the work of re-creating ourselves. By renewing our spirits, Shabbat helps us to find the strength and inspiration to do that work.

  • The New Shul’s Shabbat services are on Friday evenings from 6 to 7 pm, and on Saturday mornings from 9 am to 12 noon. The kiddush-lunch this Shabbat, October 10, is sponsored by Ada Anbar in memory of her husband Michael Anbar.
  • Childcare is available from 10 am to noon on Shabbat mornings. Learning services for children this Shabbat are at the following times: 11 to 11:30 am for toddlers and pre-schoolers, and 11 to 11:45 am for grades 1 to 3.
  • On Shabbat morning October 17, we will celebrate the bar mitzvah of Kian Bobrow. On Shabbat morning October 24, we will celebrate the bar mitzvah of Michael Berro.
  • Join us for dinner at The New Shul on Friday November 6, after the 6 pm service. The cost is $18 per adult and $9 per teen/child under 18. No charge for children under 5. Please send in your payment to make your reservation by Friday October 30.