Shabbat Shalom ~ Vayerah 2025

Shalom WJC Family,

On Rosh HaShanah I spoke about what we can do at times of disempowering events, conflicting emotions, and disappointment. I know that this week many are feeling those same things again. So, I want to remind you of what I said we are always empowered to do – engage in one kind act, share one blessing, help one person, learn one new thing. We take back our agency one deed at a time. And there are so many good deeds that need doing just now.

The Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) November payments are in disarray. As I understand the facts, the USDA is trying to figure out how to comply with a judge’s order that allotments may not be suspended while declaring an apparent lack of funds (only 65% or so of payments can be made). Meanwhile, even if partial payments were allowed, since there is no precedent for this, it will take time for states to figure out how to distribute funds. All of this points towards impending food scarcity for those who are already the most vulnerable.

There are three ways we can help. First of all, if you are a SNAP recipient and you have not received your November allotment, please contact me directly. I know it may be difficult to do so for lots of valid emotional reasons. Please know that there is no judgement here, you have my full confidentiality and discretion, and we have funds to help.

Second, if you would like to contribute to the effort of helping those in the congregation and our neighbors who may be facing new hunger vulnerability, I want to offer a way. My discretionary fund is starting a collection dedicated to the purpose.  Funds donated with the words “SNAP Relief” in the memo line will be immediately donated to congregants or neighbors affected by the pause in SNAP funding. Hopefully, this will help mediate the impact while the chaotic state of the program is ameliorated. Third, we will be collecting non-perishable food items to donate. Check out the details of those collections later in this email.

In addition to doing our part to alleviate food scarcity, there are many other opportunities coming up to engage in making the world better. There is bettering the self through learning. This Sunday morning the Holocaust Learning Center will host its annual Kristallnacht commemoration program. The Center will be showing the award-winning film SHTTL, followed by a Q&A with its starring actor Moshe Lobel. Film professor Dr. Elissa Nelson will lead the conversation. The movie, which takes place in a village on the Ukraine-Poland border on the day before the Nazi invasion in 1941, is a haunting presentation of what was lost and what the costs of rampant Antisemitism can be.

Then next Shabbat we have two speakers. Friday the 14th in the evening we will hear from Marcell Kenesei, CEO of the JCC Budapest. The JCC Budapest is an extraordinary organization supporting Judaism in Hungary as well as a summer camp that draws Jews from all over Europe. Both places provide some of the only Jewish communal spaces and experiences for the Jews of Europe. Saturday morning, during the sermon time, I will be interviewing Tasha Cohen, founder and CEO of Chayal’s Angels, and Esther Nisenbaum, the organization’s director of therapies. Chayal’s Angels is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing healing relief to IDF soldiers through the use of holistic treatments easing the impact of Mind, Body and Soul traumas both in and out of the field. One of its founders is Debbie Tamir who grew up at WJC. We will be exploring the need, how the group helps, and its spiritual foundations.

And then next Sunday there are 2 more ways to put more good into the world. Sunday the 16th is our WJC Mitzvah Day. Check out the variety of good deeds we will be doing that day and decide where you would like to help. Finally, one more good way to respond to the news of the week is to help us build better and more understanding relationships with our neighbors by attending the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, which we are hosting this year. The service will take place on Sunday November 16th at 4pm. Come join us as we join with multiple churches and synagogues in sharing gratitude for the good things we enjoy, including good neighbors! It will also be another opportunity to donate a food item for those in need. 

By all of us doing lots of small things, we can have a big impact. Then, hopefully, we will be able to contribute to the whole world making a bit more sense and being a bit kinder to a lot more people. I am looking forward to sharing that journey with you, and, as always, if you would like to talk through some of the things that are troubling you from the last week, my door is always open.

See you in shul,

RJA