This week’s Torah begins a new book, the second book of the Torah, Sh’mote or names. This book deals with Moses and the Exodus from Egypt. In the beginning of the sedra the author of the Torah says that after the death of Joseph the Israelites multiply greatly, the new Pharaoh who does not remember Joseph is afraid of so many Jews living in Egypt.

He tells the Israelite midwives Shifra and Puah to destroy the male children. To protect their people Shifra and Puah did not obey Pharaoh. An interesting answer the Rabbis made to the question, who are these women? The Rabbis said these women are actually Yocheved and Miriam, Moses’ mother and sister. Although Pharaoh threatened to burn them alive if they continued to disobey him, they nonetheless stood firm and were miraculously spared from punishment.

In an intimate gathering at last Friday’s Shabbat Service, David Vaida gave a Sermon on Vayigash. This is the parsha where Joseph, now a powerful man in Egypt, reveals himself to his brothers. Many of you know the story. It’s about truth, relationships, family and forgiveness.

At this time of year, when so many are visiting friends and families for the secular New Year, it’s easy to see how familial relationships have not changed in the many thousands of years since the story of Joseph and his brothers. Old hurts and unspoken feelings get in the way of enjoying the short time we have with our friends and family. As we are told in the story of Vayigash, Joseph decides to forgive his brothers and bring his family together to care for and watch out for them.

As we approach the New Year of 2013, we might want to think about this particular parsha. Have we transgressed against a family member or friend? Do we ourselves need to ask for forgiveness? And once we are asked to forgive, should we not forgive the one who asks?

The years tick by so quickly. It was just yesterday that we rang in the year 2012. Life is short but it can be made a tad sweeter by opening our hearts and minds to the understanding of the word forgiveness.

From everyone here at Temple Shirat Shalom … Happy and Healthy 2013!!

We are in the midst of the Christmas holidays. Most of our neighbors are celebrating the birth of Jesus and are sharing the Christmas holiday with their family and friends. What are the Jews doing? The answer to that question is as varied as there are Jews.

One thing is sure we cannot ignore it, Christmas is all around us. What we have to do is think about our place in the majority culture and how we retain our Judaism and not be swallowed up in the American culture around us. We are all good citizens in a country that has been so good to us. We have never been freer or more educated and prosperous. It is an age old question we must always think about, how to be Jewish as well as Americans.

During this season let us take a moment to ponder that very query. Have a wonderful and safe winter break and remember we are both Jewish and American.

Cantor Sussman