Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism

September 30, 2015

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Dear friends–
Sukkot started Sunday night, and as the week has continued to unfold, Jews around the world have been celebrating this ancient festival by dwelling in huts. These frail and open structures serve to remind us of our ancestral wanderings in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt.  They represent an ancient ritual which, like the Passover Seder, helps us relive the past so we can have a positive impact on the future.
To this end, the sukkah is a physical reminder of our abiding vulnerability. One strong wind can blow the entire structure down reminding us that we too are vulnerable to sudden changes in life.  Yet, our decision to eat and dwell in these modest shelters is purely voluntary.  This is not the case for the millions of refugees seeking asylum on foreign soil nor is it the situation for tens of millions living in poverty in the United States.  For them, shelter and food are as unpredictable as the winds of nature.
As I mentioned in my Yom Kippur Day Sermon, (CLICK HERE), the rituals of our faith are but folly if they do not serve as a catapult to action.  As we dwell and celebrate in our huts, it is my hope that our hearts will be moved to help those in need.  If you are interested in getting involved in a committee devoted to addressing issues of social justice, please respond to this electronic message.  We are collecting responses and will soon gather to direct our efforts.
L’Shalom–Steve

July 22, 2015

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Dear Friends,

Rabbi Gross and his family are on vacation this week. In his absence, Shabbat Services will be led by Mike Kahn who has participated in many services at HCRJ. Please join us on Friday at 6:30pm as Mike leads us in a service accompanied by his beautiful voice and the music of Donna Cameron and Jane Becker. An oneg will follow.

 

June 24, 2015

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Dear Friends,

It has been a week since the hate-driven attack on a Bible study group at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston took the lives of nine innocent victims. Within days, communities around the world responded with empathy and love, and a nationwide dialogue has arisen seeking ways to combat festering pockets of hatred which are so detrimental to the fabric of a multi-cultural society.

Acts of hatred have a universal affect.  Every time an act of hate is committed, we are reminded that all people are vulnerable.  It is therefore incumbent upon each of us to find ways to respond which promote goodness, understanding and wisdom in the place of such darkness.

This Friday night at 6:30, HCRJ will be welcoming a group whose mission is cultural and religious understanding.  Their request to join us in worship and learn about Judaism came long before the murders in South Carolina, and in the aftermath of this act of terror, their presence with us becomes even more significant.

Join us Friday night for Shabbat services followed by a light nosh and discussion as we seek to find ways to build understanding and goodness in the world.

L’Shalom–Steve