Parshat Re’eh opens with the statement, “Behold I set before you today a blessing and a curse.  It’s a blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, and a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God.”

As we progress into our second year of existence, this week’s parsha holds a special meaning and a powerful message.  Here at TSS our blessings are many.  Through hard work and shared ideas we have created a real sense of community.  We are congregants, we share a common goal and we are friends who care deeply for one another.   We worship together with ease and familiarity.   We are there for each other in times of joy and sorrow.  And with every new experience we face as a growing Temple, we strengthen the bonds between us.

Let’s not forget our commitment to each other and our Temple.  Let’s not ignore our community and its needs.  Let’s not lose our spirit or our faith.  For that would be our curse.  To lose what we have worked so hard to build.  To find ourselves lost and without the friends we cherish.  It is our responsibility now to cultivate what has grown between us.  Let’s continue for many years to come, counting more and more blessings.

There is no better parsha that speaks to the Jewish people about their obligations to helping those less fortunate than Ekev. “[God] upholds the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and befriends the stranger, providing him with food and clothing. You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19).

Social Action is an important part of Temple life. When we come together as a community to help the less fortunate, the lonely and the sick, we become an earthly emulation of God’s grace. We experience empathy. And with each act of kindness, we follow our credo, tikkun olam, to make the world a better place.

In this month of August, children are getting ready to return to school. Parents are busy buying pencils, notebooks, calculators and backpacks. Some children are even lucky enough to have laptops and iPads. But there are children in our own neighborhood whose parents are not able to buy simple pencils and pads let alone iPads and laptops. It’s enough for them to provide shelter and food for their families.

This year Norm Sarachek and Cheryl Shadick spearheaded the Tools for Schools program for the Cleveland Elementary School in downtown Allentown, notably one of the poorest schools in the Valley. Congregants of TSS donated school supplies that will not only help the children and their families, but will also help the teachers who often purchase these items using their own money.

TSS thanks all those who donated money or supplies to the Tools for Schools program, and a special thanks to Norm and Cheryl for coordinating this initiative.

More on Shabbat Services:
In keeping with the Social Action theme, Andrew Feldman gave an insightful Sermon about his recent internship at the Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C., where he learned much about being an advocate for social change. Andrew stimulated discussion and enthusiasm towards our TSS efforts at tikkun olam and social justice issues. Thanks, Andrew, for your words.