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Update for Saturday November 15, 2008

17 Heshvan 5769

Judaic Family Circle Invites You to Attend

Kabbalat Shabbat Family Service
This Friday, November 14 at 5:30 pm

A children-lead family service. JFC students and their families are asked to attend. Siblings, family, friends, JFC graduates, and the entire congregation and interested community members are warmly invited.

www.chathamsynagogue.org

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Shabbat morning service Saturday November 15 at 9:30 am

Shabbat Details:

Candle Lighting, Friday November 14 at 4:14 pm

Havdallah, Saturday November 15 at 5:43 pm

Parashat Vayeira, Genesis 18:1–22:24
Haftarah, II Kings 4:1–37

....Parashat Vayeira includes more than its fair share of stories that raise ethical questions. The parashah commences with a story about the cruel treatment of Hagar and Ishmael. It ends with God calling upon Abraham to sacrifice his son on an altar. One could write extensively about the ethical implications of both of these scenes. I wish to turn our attention, however, to the yet more complicated ethical problem raised by the Sodom and Gomorrah story.....

God seems to recognize that God’s plans for Sodom and Gomorrah may be cause for concern. God reflects, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am doing?” (Genesis 18:17). Given that Abraham is destined to instruct his descendants about what is “right and just” (18:19), God figures God needs to justify God’s own borderline decision to destroy these two pagan cities. The pretext is that the sin of these cities is excessive, implying that God has no alternative but to destroy them. Details remain sparse. Abraham challenges God, pushing God to consider the presence of innocent people. Does the wickedness of even a majority outweigh the innocence of a (small) minority? He tests God’s resolve by offering fifty innocent people as a number worthy of sparing the cities. Eventually Abraham gets God to concede to as low as ten: “‘What if ten are found there?’ And [God] said, ‘For the sake of the ten, I will not destroy it’” (18:32). That would be the end of the discussion; God and Abraham part ways. Since the cities are destroyed, we are left to believe that ten could not be found. The potential for redemption through a changing of ways is never explored.......(excerpt URJ)

Torah Discussion Leader: Please consider leading in the next few weeks…..

November 15 ?

November 22 ?

November 29 ?

December 6 ?

December 13 ?

December 20 ?

If you need help to lead a Torah discussion please ask Lydia kukoff@aol.com or Alan levglbcomm@taconic.net

Please confirm your date with Alice at abswersey@fairpoint.net

Judaic Family Circle for children ages 5-12

Class: November 13 from 4:30 – 6 pm

Kabbalat Shabbat Family Service
Friday, November 14 at 5:30 pm

Saturday, November 22, 8PM:

Beth Miller, singer and daughter of TCS member Gloria Kaufman, will perform favorites with her husband Mark Miller and other member of the troupe. Spuyten Dyuvil plans original and cleverly recycled folk, roots, traditional, and acoustic music. Covering the last 100 years of American music, the songs conjure embittered Civil War veterans, recalcitrant small town lovers, and brave hearted fools navigating the mysteries of daily life. Featuring guitar, dobro, bouzouki, fiddle, tenor guitar, mandolin and piano.

Admission $15 adult $5 child Reservations advised- Spencertown Academy 518 392 3693

Synagogue Hosts Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

Tuesday, November 25th at 7:30pm

This year, it is the synagogue's honor to be hosting the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration. Because this event customarily attracts several hundred people, it exceeds the capacity of our own building and so our great friends at St. James Church have graciously offered to let us host the event at their premises. The celebration, which is roughly an hour long, involves readings and songs presented by different faith groups and religious organizations in our county, including Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, and Jewish representatives. The Synagogue will sponsor refreshments. Those attending are asked to support the Chatham Food Pantry with either a monetary donation or a canned good. Our member, Florence Mehl, is organizing the event, and we hope as many of you as possible will join into the spirit of the evening and confirm our presence in the interfaith community. Please let Florence know at 392-0810 or bernardmehl@earthlink.net if you can help with baking.

Janet Carey continues to recuperate at Barnwell Rehab Facility in Valatie and may be reached by phone at 758 4886. Calling before visiting is appreciated.

CHATHAM FOOD PANTRY NEEDS THESE NEW ITEMS: Please bring items to our synagogue entry foyer and place in Food Pantry bag.

Macaroni & cheese, mayonnaise, cold cereal, coffee, peanut butter, jelly or jam, pancake mix, syrup, noodles and ramen packages

Canned spaghetti, beef stew, chicken or turkey, chili