MAY GOD MAKE YOU LIKE SARAH

Let's take pride as a Nafshenu community in Shoshana Walters, whose family celebrated her bat mitzvah last week. THIS FRIDAY, we honor her and parents Alamelu and Greg, with a service and dinner at Prince of Peace.

While the menu remains TBA, think "Mideast meets South Asia." We'll start at 6pm with candle lighting and a short kabbalat Shabbat service.

The week's Torah portion is "The Life of Sarah" (or Chayei Sarah, 

חיי שרה). How appropriate that can offer Shoshana the traditional Shabbat blessing for girls: "May God make you like the matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah."

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Zoom Bible study Thursday 7pm

Are we Jews supposed to look out for ourselves first and foremost, or are we commanded to make peace and care about humanity in general?

The answer is "YES." There are traditions pointing in both directions, and there are proof texts for that contradiction found in this week's Torah portion (Genesis 23:1-25:18, Chayei Sarah). 

Please look at them by joining our Zoom Bible class Thursday night, 7-8pm, at this link:

bit.ly/NafTorah.

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Shabbat morning service and potluck, Saturday, Nov. 22, at Prince of Peace

Nafshenu's first Shabbat morning service of the year 5786 takes place next week, Saturday, November 22, with a potluck lunch afterward. We've got a Torah portion that's engaging -- if morally disturbing. 

It tells about the birth of Isaac and Rebecca's two sons, Jacob and Esau. The heart of the account is the favoritism shown by their parents (Dad loves Esau, Mom loves Jacob) that leads to deceit, fraud, and a long estrangement between the brothers.  

Come for a discussion of the challenges we face in confronting problematic elements of our heritage. We start at 10am at Prince of Peace.

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Become a Nafshenu donor, using our new Firstrust banking system

Nafshenu depends on regular support, as well as High Holiday gifts and one-time donations. This fall, we shifted to a new bank, locally based Firstrust (official bank of the Philadelphia Eagles.) That served us well over the holidays, smoothing our own fundraising and helping us channel hundreds of dollars in donations to the food pantry at Prince of Peace Church.

What we couldn't do is automatically transfer the regular monthly donation system that a number of Nafshenu members were using to support us. 

If you were a monthly donor, thank you! We are working to create a similar monthly support process with our Firstrust account. In the mean time, your rabbi and Core Team ask you to please donate today, using the link: 

bit.ly/NafGIVE

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Feed the hungry

The soon-to-end (🤞🤞) US government shutdown has disrupted federal food aid through SNAP and is causing a rush of demand for private food programs like the one at Prince of Peace. 

We're happy to report that Nafshenu members have donated $500 toward the POP food pantry in the past two months alone. 

Please join in and help with a cash donation to the food program at Prince of Peace to help it continue meeting the challenge to food insecurity in South Jersey: 

bit.ly/POPpantry

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As your rabbi, I love hearing from you. Please call, text or email me, whether you have a pressing issue or just want to talk.

Best wishes,

 David Goodman

248-508-0874, rebdovid@nafshenu.org