Last year, as a part of our Life & Legacy Sustainability program, we asked Kehilat HaNahar congregants, “What are you grateful for?” At the 2024 Membership Picnic and again at Sukkot, congregants were invited to write down what they were grateful for on a paper leaf which was then strung up as decoration for the sukkah. While the answers were varied, the most common response we saw to the question “What are you grateful for?” was, “My community at Kehilat HaNahar.”
Next Friday, November 14th we will continue the theme of gratitude with Gratitude Shabbat. As a part of Gratitude Shabbat, we want to hear from congregants (all congregants, from recent congregants to longtime members!) about why they are grateful for their community at Kehilat HaNahar.
This is your invitation to write a 3-5 sentence response to the following prompts and to share it from the bemah on Friday, November 14th during Gratitude Shabbat. Feel free to use one or all prompts for your response:
1. I am grateful for my community at Kehilat HaNahar because ___________. 2. Kehilat HaNahar’s community is special because ___________. 3. I have felt connected to community at Kehilat HaNahar when ___________. 4. I’d love for more people to know that Kehilat HaNahar’s community is ___________. 5. And anything else that inspires you to write a 3-5 sentence response!
We want you to share your answers with the congregation on Friday November 14th. Please email me at rabbi@kehilathanahar.org with your answers.
Please plan to attend our Gratitude Shabbat next friday, November 14th starting with a dairy/parve vegetarian potluck dinner at 6 p.m. A special oneg following services will be sponsored by Kehilat HaNahar’s Life & Legacy Sustainability program. To learn more about our Life & Legacy Sustainability initiative and why it is an important part of ensuring Kehilat HaNahar’s future, visit our website .
I also look forward to seeing you tonight for Shabbat services beginning at 7 p.m. Contemplative Shabbat services are this Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Below is the text sheet we will be using for Contemplative Shabbat. Zoom links for both services can be found in your e-bulletin and on our website.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Janine Jankovitz She/Her
November Contemplative Shabbat PaRDeS Text Sheet Summary: Vayeira, Genesis 18:1 - The three angels appear to Avraham and foretell the birth of Yitzchak. Upon hearing the news, Sarah laughs to herself. The angels depart to destroy Sodom, and Hashem [G-d] tells Avraham about G-d’s plans for destroying Sodom.
Genesis18:18-19 proclaims G-d’s confidence in Avraham to teach the world the concept of justice. Avraham negotiates, unsuccessfully, on behalf of Sodom.The story of the destruction of Sodom is told. Lot’s generosity to the “two visitors” is rewarded and he, his wife, and only two of their children are saved from Sodom. Lot’s wife looks back upon the destruction of Sodom and dies, and Lot and his two daughters escape into the mountains. Lot’s daughters conspire to rebuild humankind, and taking advantage of Lot’s drunkenness, they become pregnant from Lot resulting in the birth of Ammon and Moav. Avraham encounters Abimelech after which Sarah gives birth to Yitzchak. Yishmael and Hagar are forced out of Avraham’s home, and an angel reassures Hagar of Yishmael’s destiny. Abimelech and his general Phichol resolve their conflict with Avraham over water rights, and they “sign” a covenant of peace. Avraham is commanded to sacrifice Yitzchak, but is stopped by an angel who declares that Avraham will use a ram instead and never again will there be human sacrifices.
Selected Verses Genesis 18:22 The agents went on from there to Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before יהוה Genesis 18:23 Abraham came forward and said, “Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? Genesis 20:4 Abraham came forward and said, “Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? פְּשָׁט P’shat Intended meaning simple, literal meaning. Read the passage. Listen to the phrase that speaks to you. What grabs your attention or gnaws at you?
רֶמֶז Remez Alluded meaning illusion, allegory. What images come? Where are you in the text? Where are you in your life? Going more deeply, ruminate on the phrase that attracts you.
דְּרַשׁ D’rash Interpretive meaning seeking meaning. Where do you seek the presence of Gd? Where is the personal meaning for you? What is your prayer for yourself?
סוֹד Sod Esoteric meaning mystery, hidden meaning. Rest in the mystery. What might be unfolding for you? What questions arise for which you have no answer right now? Where is the cutting edge of what is moving for you?
Adapted by Rabbi Sandy Roth, z”l
Kehilat HaNahar 85 West Mechanic St. New Hope, PA 18938
