I just heard President Obama’s discussion about the policy recommendations concerning gun control. He mentioned that the clergy should weigh in on this subject. I have always felt that the job of clergy is to define public policy within the context of our Torah. In the Torah it says we are to protect the most vulnerable and those that pray on the weak are the most despicable. Shooting little children is unthinkable and society must try to find a way to protect them. The initiatives that the President is suggesting hopefully will help in this problem, no one knows for sure. However what I do know is that something has to be done. For that reason I support what the President has decided and put forth to the Congress. I suggest we form a letter campaign to send out to our elected officials to urge them to vote for these gun control initiatives.

B’Shira
Cantor Ellen Sussman

This week’s parsha ends the book of Genesis. Next week we begin the story of the Exodus. Here we are ending 2012 and beginning 2013. Vayechi tells the story of the death of Jacob and ultimately with the death of Joseph. In the opera Manon by Massenet before the protagonist Manon dies she says, “this is the story of Manon”. So it is with our people, this is the story of our Patriarchs and Matriarchs in all their glories and foibles.

The book of Genesis is a remarkable accounting of a dysfunctional people learning from their experiences and becoming a family once again. Before the death of Jacob, Jacob blesses Joseph’s children, Ephraim and Menasseh. We go full circle the children of Jacob remain a family and embrace the new generation. We are to glean from the text that all is forgiven concerning Joseph and his brothers because after the famine is over they remain in Egypt close to Joseph. They come together as a family, now stronger than before desiring to live together.

Let us take a cue from Joseph, who even when he was sold into slavery by his brothers was able to forgive then and want to be with them. So as the secular New Year approaches let us use our ancestors as a guide and begin to mend our families.

Happy and Healthy 2013

Cantor Sussman

Last Friday evening the Sanctuary was aglow with the light from Menorah’s brought by the congregants of TSS. It was the seventh night of Hanukkah as we came together to commemorate and celebrate the enduring faith and the hard fought survival of the Jewish people.

Cantor Sussman explained that the word Hanukkah means “dedication.” The ceremony and prayers coinciding with the lighting of each candle holds special meaning as we are reminded, once again, of the struggle of our ancestors.

Dedication to prayer, to worship and to the practice of Jewish customs is one way that we can demonstrate our faith in our own lives and honor those who came before us. Our ancestors fought many battles to maintain their faith. Throughout history, their Temples were destroyed; their people were disbursed … yet they carried on.

In our own daily struggles, let us remember that we come from a strong and dedicated people. That in stressful times, we will endure, we will survive and we will always remember that the candles we light on Hanukkah represent the everlasting hope we have for peace in our world.

The only mitzvah we must perform on Chanukah is the lighting of the Chanukiah, Chanukah Menorah. We also must say Al Hanisim, in the synagogue. There are special games, dreidel and special foods, latkes associated with Chanukah. In America it has become the custom to exchange gifts especially  for children. Plays and celebrations are held in Religious Schools. At home we should encourage our children to light the Chanukia and sing the blessings. The festival recalls a great act of faith, commemorating the liberation of our people “bayamim hahem bazman haze,” “in those days at this season.” Today Chanukah symbolizes the struggle of “the few against the many, the weak against the strong,” the eternal struggle of the Jewish people for their faith and existence. To the world it proclaims the words of the prophet Zechariah, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit alone”.

Chag Sameach Chanukah