Shabbat Shalom ~ Ekev 2024

Dear WJC Family,

In this week’s Torah portion, Ekev, we are told: “When you eat and you are satisfied, you shall bless.” (Deut. 8:10) This verse is the source for reciting Birkat HaMazon, the blessing after we eat. Here’s the thing though – while he rabbis interpret this passage to be about eating, it is actually about the reward for doing mitzvot (the behaviors God prescribes for us to do). When you follow the path that God intends for you, you will have enough to eat and be satisfied. So what is the connection between eating and doing mitzvot?

Perhaps it is that you can never get enough of either. The verse states, “When you eat and you are satisfied…” But is one ever truly satisfied by food? Sure, you may feel full temporarily, but eventually the feeling will subside and you will be left longing for more. How do we deal with this fact of life? We eat continuously, multiple times a day.

So too with mitzvot. We may do a mitzvah and feel really good about it, but after a little time passes, we are left longing for that feeling of accomplishment, that feeling of being part of something greater than ourselves, that feeling of ushering holiness into the world. There is only one solution – do more mitzvot! We cannot be happy recusing ourselves from mitzvah work any more than we can be excusing ourselves from eating. Just as a person needs food to survive, a Jewish person needs to do mitzvot to live, at least to truly feel alive.

WIth that in mind, we need your help. We have some amazing mitzvah opportunities coming this fall that will feed your heart and nourish your soul. If you would like to help me and WJC with any of these initiatives, please email me to let me know: RJA@wjcenter.org.

1. Thanks4Giving – From November 10-17 our community has the privilege to host the security committee of Kibbutz Re’em and their families. This is part of a greater project to bring the security committees of every Kibbutz in the Gaza Envelope to the US to be hosted and honored by communities here. The security committees are the people who leaped out of bed on October 7th and into body armor to protect and defend their neighbors and homes. Many of them fell or were injured on that day, all of them are heroes in the truest sense of the word. Will you help us house, entertain, and honor them and their families? We will need a number of volunteers to help with logistics, housing, fundraising, and supporting the effort. Let me know if you can help.
2. An Evening with Comedian Joel Chasnoff – On Saturday night November 23rd we will host Israeli comedian Joel Chasnoff (originally from the Chicago area). Joel’s comedy is not only funny, it gets you thinking about who we are as Jews and as people. It is meaningful comedy and it’s terrific. This is a great opportunity to be together and laugh together at a time we really need it, and hopefully, it will raise some resources for the synagogue as well.. We could use a few more volunteers to help with the organization and logistics for the night. Could you help us out? Please let me know. And to learn more about Joel click here.
3. MLK Planning Committee – Over the last couple of years we have organized some great speakers and social action programs to celebrate and take part in the legacy of the great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We are looking for a couple more volunteers to help with the planning task force for the weekend, and possibly with a couple of additional programs in our racial education and justice programming efforts. If you have a passion for this topic and would like to help out, please let me know.

As August winds down and we prepare for another year of meaningful and uplifting community programs, I hope you will volunteer, either with these initiatives or within another aspect of the synagogue. As much as the programs themselves will engage, stimulate, and encourage, volunteering to make them happen will truly be the nourishment our souls need right now. I look forward to working with you on these efforts and more.

See you in shul,