Shabbat Re’eh and Rosh Chodesh Elul

image via http://davidonthelake.blogspot.com

Please join us this evening for Shabbat services at 7 PM.

Cantor’s message:

This week we read Parshat Re’eh, and celebrate Rosh Hodesh Elul, the New Month of Elul. The month of Elul is of course dedicated to preparing for the High Holidays-we blow the shofar every weekday of Elul to remind us to examine ourselves, and the Sepharadi tradition begins s’lihot, penitential prayers at the beginning of the month.  The parshah itself points us in this direction-“Re’eh Anochi noten lifneichem hayom b’rachah u’klalah“-“Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse”.  We need to choose, today and every day, whether we will bring good or evil upon ourselves.  May we all avail ourselves of this time of introspection to improve ourselves, and in so doing improve the world in which we live.  Shabbat Shalom.