SEPTEMBER 23 2011, NITZAVIM VAYELECH
S.T.A.R. News & Events
Here are S.T.A.R.’s upcoming exciting events:
September 25th
SOLD OUT!!!!!!
October 16th
This Shabbat
Shabbat Parashat: Nitzavim-Vayelech
Candle Lighting: 6:32pm
Shabbat Ends: 7:25pm
Torah Message
How’s Your Standing?
"You are standing today, all of you, before G-d…" (29:9)
Parking a car in downtown Jerusalem has become something a nightmare. There was one fellow who had his own ingenious solution. After driving round the block a couple of times, he would pull up to a curb with red stripes. Getting out of the car, he would reach for his trusty can of black spray-paint, and proceed to spray out the red stripes the entire length of his car.
How much of the time do we do just that in our relationship with G-d?
How much of the time do we try and alter the rules to suit ourselves and our own ideas of right and wrong?
Rosh Hashana is a time to come clean, to clean off the spray paint from the sidewalks of our lives.
Before we get more than a ticket.
Fearing G-d is out of fashion right now. It’s acceptable to be in awe of His Majesty, to sit on the top of a mountain and commune with Beyond. But fearing? Come on, God’s a nice God. He won’treally punish me for speaking lashon hara or for adjusting my income tax a little. All that punishment stuff is really for kids anyway. Why do I need something so crass as fear when I haveawe?!
There can be no true awe without real fear.
The essence of fearing God is to accustom ourselves to be aware that He is watching us all the time; that He knows what we are thinking; that He sees every move we make – every move that we don’t make but would like to.
If there is a time in the day when we visualize standing in front of the Creator more than any other, it is during the Amida prayer that we say three times daily. (Amida, quite literally means, "standing.") If there is a day in the year when we try to visualize standing in front of the Creator more than any other, it is Rosh Hashana.
Rosh Hashana, a day that should strike fear into our hearts, "…who will live, and who will die …who by water, and who by fire." Who in a bus, and who in a restaurant…
Rosh Hashana is a time to come clean, to clean off the spray paint from the sidewalks of our lives.
Before we get more than a ticket.
- Source: Story heard from Rabbi Dov Brezak
Rabbi M. Weiss Rabbi Y. Sakhai
Community News
Em Habanim Congregation
Weekly Parashat Hashavua class with Rabbi Joshua Bittan on Wednesdays at 8:30pm for more info. visit www.emhabanim.com
Em Habanim Congregation’s annual banquet will be held on Sunday the 6th of November, 2011. The honored Guests are: Mark Castiel, Andre Chrique and Johnny Elbaz Deckel.
Em Habanim will be celebrating close to 40 years of service to the community.
Yom Kippur services will be held at the Century Plaza Hyatt Regency in Century City. More details will follow.
Volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed for mitzvot ofHessed including Bikur Holim . Pleasecall the office (818) 762-7779 to inform of your availability. Thank you
Sephardic Temple:
Mark your calendars:
Saturday, November 5th, 2011 A Gal celebration honoring the 2011 Sephardic Heritage award recipients Mr. Larry Clumeck and Dr. Samuel Newman.
For more info. visit sephardictemple.org
Sunday September, 3rd, 2011 Annual STTI Family picnic Mar Vista Park 10am -3pm Food, Music, Games and Fun!
Get Well Soon
We wish a speedy recovery for all the Jews that may need it where ever they may be and especially for:
Em Habanim:
Max Barchichat From Sephardic Temple: Al Azus,Buena Angel,
Elaine Leon,Itzchak Rachmanony
From S.T.A.R.:
Mordechai Chaim Ben Chana, Chaim Ben Buena,
Meshulam Dov Ben Chana Sarah
Bracha Eliza Bat Ehteram, Bracha Sara Chaya Bat Ronit
