The New Shul

Parshat T’rumah

In this week’s parashah, T’rumah, God gives the children of Israel the task of building a sacred structure. God says to Moshe: “Let them build for me a holy space so that I may dwell within them.”

Rabbi Moshe Alshekh pointed out that the beginning and the end of that sentence do not seem to line up. One would expect God to say, “Let them build for me a holy space so that I may dwell within it.” Instead God says, “within them.” The point, Alshekh explained, is that sacred structures are truly sacred only to the extent that they change us internally.  The only place where God can truly dwell on earth is in our own hearts. We create holy spaces so that God can dwell in us.

May our shul, the space that we strive to make holy, help us to make room within ourselves for God to dwell.

  • Shabbat services at The New Shul are on Friday evenings from 6 to 7 pm, and on Saturday mornings from 9 am to 12 noon. This Shabbat morning, February 13, we will celebrate the bar mitzvah of Benjamin Brodsky, son of Jon and Randi Brodsky. The kiddush-lunch is sponsored by the Brodsky family.
  • Childcare is available from 10 am to noon on Shabbat mornings. Learning services for children this Shabbat are from 11 to 11:30 am.for toddlers and preschoolers, and from 11 to 11:45 am for grades 1 to 3.
  • Minyanim during the week are on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am, Monday evenings at 7 pm, Wednesday mornings at 7 am and Wednesday evenings at 7 pm.
  • On Presidents’ Day, Monday February 15, The New Shul community will serve meals to the hungry at St. Vincent de Paul’s Jackson St. dining room. Please let us know if you can help.
  • Join us for Friday night dinner at The New Shul on February 26, following the 6 pm service. The cost is $18 per adult, and $9 per child under 18 (no charge for children under 5). Please make your reservation by Friday February 19.