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.

This week’s Torah portion, D’varim comes from the book of Deuteronomy. As we begin this last book of the Torah our focus turns to the words of Moses as the Israelites stand before the holy land. It is Moses’ “farewell” speech as he will not enter Israel.

Moses is talking to a new generation of Israelites that will be tasked with the challenges of transitioning from a nomadic people to one that will build cities and develop an agricultural society. He takes the opportunity to remind the Israelites that they must always respect and follow the words of God for that alone will allow them to enter into the land of Israel. He also provides accounts of the conquests they achieved to reinforce the importance and results of following God’s instructions.

It is a time of remembrance; it is a time of looking to the future, and it is a time of remembering the importance of God in the lives of Jews.

This Sunday is Tisha B’av considered the saddest day in Jewish history. It was on this day the destruction of both the first Temple and second Temple occurred. It was on this day that Jerusalem was destroyed in 136 CE, that Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, that World War I started, and the first killings started at Treblinka. It is customary to mourn and fast on Tisha B’av for the losses we as a people have sustained. Why do we mourn? What have we lost? These questions are answered thusly: We have lost the feeling of God’s presence.

This week’s parsha in combination with Tisha B’av allows us to remember both the struggles and tragedies that befell the Jewish people and the importance of both God’s presence and His words to our continued existence.

As our congregation continues to write its own history, let us recognize that there will be times of struggle. But if we put into practice what we believe God has told us, if we continue to feel his presence among us, and if we work together to fulfill His precepts; then like the Israelites looking out over the Land of Milk and Honey, our future will be long and bright.

To that let us say amen.

You got somethin’ to say? Share it with the congregation!
A unique aspect of TSS is our Shabbat sermons by congregants.

Please contact Cantor Sussman (CantorSussman@gmail.com) if you are interested.

Much have I learned from my teachers, more from my colleagues,
but most from my students.
                                                          Talmud, Ta’anit 7b

In parsha Matot, Moses presents God’s law regulating vows. All vows must be fulfilled. However, when an unmarried woman or a wife makes a vow, her promise is good only if her father or husband offers no objection to it. By contrast, the vow of a widow or divorced woman is binding upon her. These details point out that women could make vows and were held responsible for them unless the head of the household disagreed with the vow.

I am assuming that for the most part the head of the household would not want to step in and nullify the vow of his daughter or wife. The head of the household perhaps would have a more “global” perspective about the ramifications of any promises made by an individual in the family. There are those who look at this Torah portion as sexist, which it is using the sensibilities of a modern person. We always have to remember that the Torah was written 3,500 years ago.

In many ways it is a document advanced for its time but in other ways it reflects the time in which it was written. Ancient societies were sexist, women did not have the same rights or responsibilities that men enjoyed. So when we judge the passages in the Torah let us always remember when they were written and pay close attention to the remarkable insights we can learn from its teachings.