Veteran’s Shabbat Tonight

Congregants and Friends of Beth El,

Also, please hold the date for this Sunday, November 13, at 4pm for our Annual meeting and cookout. Please be sure to come. Also, please bring a parev side dish for the cookout – non dairy please – for example, salads, chips, parev deserts, etc. We will be honoring our very special congregants for their many years of service – Morris and Elaine Shapiro and Barry Mann.

This week’s parshah, Vayera, continues the story of Avraham and Sarah and their son Yitzhak. We read of Yitzhak’s birth, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the binding of Yitzhak. We also see for the first time a prayer for healing, as Avraham prays for King Avimelekh and his court.

This Shabbat is National Donor Shabbat, during which we raise awareness of organ donation. Prayer for those who are ill has always been a part of our tradition, as we see in our parshah, but organ donation can let us be part of the healing process even after our own deaths. Let us remember that saving human life overrides almost every other commandment, such is its importance. If you are not already a registered organ donor, I urge you to register.

This Shabbat we also honor our veterans. Thank you for your service.

Shabbat Shalom.