Parshat B’reisheet

After our almost month-long journey through the fall holidays, with all of their emotional and spiritual intensity, we return to our regular routine this Shabbat with the reading of Parshat B’reisheet, the beginning of the book of Genesis.

According to the sages of the Talmud, Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world. Why, then, do we read the story of creation only now, after the holidays are over? Perhaps it is to teach us that the real work of making new beginnings starts when life gets back to normal. That is when our New Year’s resolutions are put to the test.

One of the greatest challenges of life is to keep our every-day routines from overwhelming our will to change. The commitments that we make at the peak moments of our lives can easily get lost when life returns to normal.

Shabbat B’reisheet reminds us of that challenge. It also helps us to meet it. This Shabbat, like every Shabbat, is a day of renewal within our regular routine. On Shabbat, we step back from our weekly rhythm without really leaving it — since Shabbat is part of that rhythm. We take time to remember what we value most — our deepest yearnings and commitments — not by breaking our routine, but by remaining true to it. Shabbat B’reisheet comes to teach us that, ultimately, it is week-to-week — not year-to-year — that we make ourselves new.

• The New Shul’s Shabbat morning service is from 9 to about 11:45 am, followed by a kiddush-lunch open to all.This Shabbat, October 22, the kiddush-lunch is sponsored by Stacy Andrews in memory of her brother Scott Albert.
• Minyanim during the week are on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am, and on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm. Kabbalat is on Fridays at 6 pm (usually at our rabbis’ home – please contact us for directions).
• Join us for a family Noah’s Ark Party on Sunday October 30 at 3:30 pm at a private home (contact us for the address). Bring your children and grandchildren!