Parshat Miketz/Hanukah

In Midrash B’midbar Rabbah, the ancient rabbis used the image of one candle lighting another as a metaphor for sharing spiritual energy. In reference to the story in which Moshe delegates his authority to the seventy elders by sharing his prophetic power with them, the rabbis explained: “They [the elders] were filled with the holy spirit from the spirit of Moshe, but Moshe was not diminished at all. This is like a person who lights a candle from another candle. The second candle is lit, but the first candle is not diminished.”

The same thing happens when we put our hearts into the work of building a spiritual community. Rather than deplete our energy, we multiply it in the act of sharing it.

May the light of the Hanukah candles, which grow brighter by the night as one candle lights another, remind us that our work in this world is to do the same.

• Candle lighting this Friday evening December 23 is at 5:06 pm. Shabbat ends on Saturday night at 6:06 pm.
• 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, December 24, the kiddush-lunch is sponsored by Phil and Karen Bodin in honor of the marriage of their daughter Miasha to Austin Brunkhorst, and in honor of the first wedding anniversary of their son Michael and his wife Rotem.
• 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 Shabbat is on Friday evenings at 6 pm (usually at our rabbis’ home – please contact us for directions).
• Join us for our annual Hanukah Coffee House this Saturday night December 24 at 7:30 pm. There will be lots of live entertainment by our own local talent, and home-made latkes, egg rolls and other refreshments. The cost is $5 per adult at the door (children under 13 free).
• On Shabbat morning, December 31, we will celebrate the bar mitzvah of Evan Dworsky, son of David and Jennifer Dworsky.
• On Shabbat morning, January 14, we will celebrate the bat mitzvah of Gaby Dashe, daughter of Alex and CiCi Dashe.
• Please note that there will be no e-message next Thursday December 29. Our messages will resume on Thursday January 5.