Dear Friends,

As 2017 begins,
may it unfold a
never-ending chain
of blessings of
Prosperity, Health and Happiness
For you and your family.

Happy New Year.

L’Shalom-Steve

Dear Friends,

Chanukah represents a daring innovation in the ritual history of our people. In that it is the first post-biblical holiday, our sages were confronted by the great challenge of creating a meaningful celebration commemorating the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees in 165 BCE without any specific directions from the Torah itself.

The source of all our instructions regarding Chanukah may be found in the Talmud. In tractate Shabbat 21a we are instructed to light the candles at nightfall, and to increase the number of candles each of the eight nights. In doing so, we enhance our sense of wonder at miracles both past and present and joyously commemorate the Maccabees’ military victory, the rededication of the Temple, the legend of the single cruse of oil that lasted for eight days, and the idea that, in every age, miracles are extended to us by a compassionate God.

This year the first night of Chanukah and Christmas Eve invites innovation as well. This overlap summons us to consider ways that the themes of love, light, freedom and hope are shared by every faith. Here are a few programs at HCRJ designed to share the beauty and joy of our Festival of Lights with the world around us.

Mark your calendars with these dates and remember that the first night to light the Chanukah candles is Saturday night, December 24.

7th Annual Jewish/Muslim Christmas
Join us at the Hilton Americas for our 7th Annual Jewish/Muslim Christmas. We are 20 people shy of our 50 person goal, so please consider attending this program which will combine the messages of Chanukah with the spirit of the Christmas to strengthen the relationship between the Jewish and Muslim communities. This interfaith experience will include dialogue, learning, fellowship and food.
When: 12:30 – 2:30pm on Christmas Eve afternoon
Where: Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel – 1600 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010

Christmas MITZVAH at The Turning Point Center
It has become an HCRJ tradition to serve a Christmas lunch and sing Christmas carols to the residents of the Turning Point Center shelter on Christmas Day.
When: 10:45 am – 12:00 noon on Christmas Day
Where: The Turning Point Center – 1701 Jacquelyn Drive, Houston, TX 77055

To RSVP for these programs, please email hcrj@hcrj.org.

L’Shalom-Steve

Dear Friends,

Help us show solidarity and support for a community (much like our own) that is often subjected to intolerance and hate. On this first night of Chanukah and on the Eve of Christmas, voices of love, joy, harmony and compassion will ring out from every soul and every heart.

Our program will combine the messages of Chanukah (hope, light, miracles and freedom of religion) with the spirit of the Christmas (love, hope and salvation) to strengthen the relationship between the Jewish and Muslim communities. Our event is taking place at the Hilton Americas as one of the programs being offered at an annual Muslim educational convention.

Come hungry. Latkes, egg rolls, samosas and other seasonal delicacies will warm our spirits as we explore ways in which we can be a blessing to each other in times that feel threatening. This year we need everyone who is available and interested to participate. Our Muslim friends are anticipating a very large turnout and we hope to do the same.

This year Congregation Beth Israel is a co-sponsor as we continue to expand the participation of the broader Jewish Community. Enlist your Jewish friends in this important mitzvah to promote love and friendship in the world. RSVP today, so we can anticipate how many will be participating.The Seventh Annual Jewish / Muslim Christmas

Saturday, December 24 – 12:30 – 2:30
Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel
1600 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010

L’Shalom-Steve

Dear Friends,

Sometimes we find reminders of God’s presence in our lives in the strangest settings. In this week’s Torah portion, Jacob’s reminder takes place while sleeping on a stone pillow in the middle of the wilderness. In this dry barren field, Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. When he awakens from his dream, he has an epiphany and declares, “Surely, God is in this place and I — I did not know.”

According to a midrash (Jewish lore), Jacob also did not know that he was not the first patriarch to stumble upon this holy place. Our rabbis teach that this very same site, where Jacob unwittingly encounters God, is where Abraham bound Isaac for the sacrifice. In the story of the “Binding of Isaac,” the site is referred to as har (which means mountain). Then later, Isaac refers to this site as sadeh (which is the field where Isaac directs his son Esau to hunt him some game). Finally, the rabbis teach, this exact site becomes the location of the holy Temple in Jerusalem.

A mountain, a field, a temple, a dream. . .each of these references to sacred encounters in the same location remind us that no one person, faith or practice has a monopoly on how connect to God. As this week continues to unfold, may each of us find a connection to God in our own way, in our own place and our own time.

L’Shalom-Steve

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Torah portion, the story of Isaac unfolds, and in contrast to our other patriarchs, Abraham (Isaac’s father) and Jacob (Isaac’s son), Isaac’s life seems somewhat unassuming. Unlike his father and his son, Isaac lives in one place his entire life; he never changes his name; and he has only one wife. As biblical characters go, Isaac is steady and stable throughout his years.

In many ways, Isaac represents an ideal which each of us strives to become: a person with a place to call home; the ability to find contentment in who we are without feeling the need to reinvent ourselves; and the ability to remain faithful and loyal to one person. In a world of ever changing dimensions, having a sense of grounding in our home, our identities and our relationships is something that should never be taken for granted.

L’Shalom-Steve

Dear Friends,

As Thanksgiving approaches, it is important to pause and count our blessings. We are blessed to live in a technological age where the market place of ideas helps to generate miraculous discoveries in the world of science and medicine. We are blessed to live in a land of pluralism where religious tolerance and cultural diversity is central to our national identity. And we are blessed to live in a country where we can debate issues of great importance without fear of repercussions or the possibility of a civil war.

We must never take these values for granted. They are central to the American way of life. They are stalwart principles in the tapestry of our identities, and essential to the preservation of the democracy we hold dear.

As we witness so much chaos and strife unfolding around the world, the national holiday of Thanksgiving calls us to a mindset of gratitude and humility. Enjoy this week with your family and friends and try to find ways to express thanks wherever and whenever you can.

Beckye joins me in wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.

L’Shalom-Steve

Dear Friends,

In Hebrew, the concept of “repairing the world” is called Tikun Olam. It is a mystical concept that suggests that the isolated moments of peace and harmony that come with restoring justice and mercy around us, ultimately represents the foundation for a world of perfection. Thus, through our ongoing efforts to help others in their time of need, we lay the groundwork and pave the way for a messianic age to come.

We may never personally experience this perfect world proposed by our faith, but each of us can certainly find inspiration and meaning in our ongoing struggles to bring about such a reality. We understand that we have been given stewardship over the earth, and while that task is daunting, we also understand that we are not alone in our endeavors.

With every mouth we feed, with body with clothe, with every heart we heal, with every person we help – God is with us.

This Sunday, November 20, our congregation will seek to fulfill the commandment of Tikun Olam through our Annual Mitzvah Day. Join us from 9:00 – 12:30 as we strive to repair the brokenness around us. Join us and make a difference in the lives of many. Join us as we strive to translate the words of Isaiah into action and lay the foundation for a perfect world to come.

L’Shalom-Steve

Dear Friends,

In the first passage of this week’s torah portion, God commands Abraham in the following way:  “Lech Lecha [Go Forth].”  God tells Abraham to leave his family, his home and all that he knows and faithfully follow God to an unknown land of promise.  With faith and a vision for the future, Abraham takes a leap and follows a path that is beyond anything he could have imagined.

As we woke up this morning, this call to Abraham, “Go Forth,” has added meaning. Today we see that we live in a nation divided, and we need to face the fact that “forging ahead” means something different depending on each of our political beliefs.  For those who have placed their faith in the vision of President Elect, Donald Trump, the path forward is a new direction, and in the spirit of our Torah portion, this new direction includes a promise for tomorrow that is filled with hope and prosperity. For others, this very same promise is filled with unprecedented uncertainty and paralyzing fear.  Such is the state of our nation, and it will be up to our new President Elect to help bridge these emotional gaps and help us Go Forth together.

As children of Abraham, we need to heed the call of this week’s Torah portion. We must Go Forth with a sense of faith.  Certainly, our nation stands as a testament to the fact that new paths can be forged by new ideas and political strategies. We, like Abraham, need to move forward with a sense of faith.  We need to have faith in our democratic system and faith in the idea that our future does, indeed, hold promise for our land and our people.

Yet, as we Go Forth, we cannot be blind to the fact that the campaign of our President Elect stirred a significant amount of hate mongering throughout the nation. As Jews, this must not be dismissed nor ignored.  We know, all too well, the horrors that can unfold when voices of hatred are unleashed within a disgruntled society.  Schooled in a heritage of oppression, we must ready ourselves to stand up and against the hateful rhetoric of this election season. It is our moral responsibility to stand together with people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds and defend the freedoms and liberties of all who may be threatened.

After the most contentious and slander-filled election season in modern history, the collective mindset of our nation is filled with suspicion and mistrust.  We must find a way to Go Forth together.  We need to find a way to be like Abraham, whose steps into an uncertain future were paired with an uncompromising sense of faith.  Our steps may not all be in the same direction, but with respect, sensitivity and faith, our nation can begin to move itself beyond the noise of the election season toward a clear and hopeful vision of tomorrow for everyone.

L’Shalom-Steve

Dear Friends,

Every year, Veterans Day represents a way to honor our veterans who boldly put their lives on the line to protect the values of our nation. Their service to our country weaves us together in a way that is central to our identities as Americans. The hard work and dedication to our military is something we should never take for granted.

On Friday night November 11, we will honor the veterans of our nation with a sacred service – BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP

If you or a loved one have served in the military, please respond to this email and let us know. We want to honor all of our veterans.

Additionally, we are putting together a photo gallery of our men and women in uniform. If you have a photograph, please scan it and send it immediately as we hope to honor every one of our members who served in the military – past, present and future.

May the dedication and valiance demonstrated by the men and women who serve us in this capacity inspire us to uphold the virtues of our nation as we work collectively to be a beacon of liberty and harmony for all the world to see.

L’Shalom-Steve