Dear JCOGS family,
I want to tell you four stories of faith—one ancient, three modern.
The first is our story of Hanukkah, one of the many tales when our ancestors overcame despair with the light of faith. Jews had every right to be terrified when Greek-Syrian King Antiochus IV took over command of Israel from his more benevolent father. Antiochus was a tyrant who massacred thousands of Jews, and desecrated the Second Temple, erecting an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs. He forced the Jews to stop practicing Shabbat or reading their holy books. Many Jews succumbed to the hardships and began practicing Greek religion, abandoning Judaism. Rather than despairing, though, Judah the Maccabee and his family seized hold of their faith to join together with other Jews. And thus, the miracle of the few winning over the mighty… and Jewish survival against all odds.
The second is the story of our Warm Toes Fund. Rather than despairing about the seismic amount of issues that need addressing in our world, our member Emily Rosenbaum took it upon herself with all of your support to raise funds for a cause that can make a small but very significant impact to keep our neighbours warm and secure. Thank you: our Giving Tuesday event was a phenomenal success, raising $3,825.
Third, these past weeks, I have been most inspired by one of our members, our dear director of education, Beth Liberman, with her seeming abundance of faith in overcoming despair. I share the difficult news with our community that Beth was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Yet, above it all, she has shown her powerful resilience in the face of despair, as in her own words about her condition: “but there is light and there are miracles.” Her medical professionals say that she has a hopeful prognosis. She is in great care. And the JCOGS board and education committee are supporting her as she will continue to fulfill her roles and responsibilities as much as she is able, with reinforcements from staff and lay leaders. You can sign up for this
meal train to offer her a meal during the weeks she is under treatment. Let us shower her with our JCOGS love and faith.
Fourth, tonight at 6p.m., we come together to show our enormous appreciation for those who have, above all others, overcome all manner of hardships to hold our society together since the pandemic began. This Hanukkah Musical Shabbat, we honour the story and work of all those on the front lines of the pandemic, celebrating first responders, medical and mental health professionals, educators, and the many others.
Please register
here to join us online, or for those joining us in person, a reminder:
- We will be sitting safe distances from each other with masks worn at all times.
- Those eligible for the vaccine should be fully vaccinated or COVID tested within 72 hours. Children are welcome.
- All indoor eating is suspended for now. Our oneg continues with a lite nosh outdoors after services, with a special thank you to our chesed committee for tonight’s oneg.
- And if anyone in your household is not feeling well or currently getting tested because of symptoms or suspected exposure to COVID-19, please join services online only.
Too many of us have felt and experienced despair over this pandemic. Rather than succumb to those feelings, we must move through any cynicism and hopelessness towards faith. As our ancestors did. As Emily did. As Beth is doing. As we have all done as a community to keep each other safe. As all those on the front lines who have shown, again and again, what faith truly is.
Tihiyu bri’im, stay safe and be well. Chag Hanukkah Sameach and Shabbat
Shalom,
Rabbi David
