gomel

January 6, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

DAY 555: The Purpose of Community

Dear Hevreh, There are many purposes for being a part of a Jewish community -- to build a social network of friends, to have a place to celebrate and honor lifecycle events, to learn about and experience the wisdom of Judaism, and to experience a connection with God among others. All of these purposes were on display this past Shabbat morning as more than 20 members of our extended community us braved the cold and the snow to help Rachel and I bentsch gomel after last week's accident. As Rachel shared with me later, more significant than the act of reciting gomel is the community that came out to make sure that we could recite gomel. It was a special feeling[...]

Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Shabbat
Tag : community gomel kiddush purpose rabbi rabbi's journal shabbat simhah yahrtzeit

gomel

January 2, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

DAY 551: Being Grateful For Surviving a Harrowing Experience (WE’RE SAFE!)

Dear Hevreh,   There are experiences that leave you breathless in a good way -- getting a job, having a baby, celebrating a simhah -- the seminal moments in your life that you'll  not only never forget, but leave you grateful and changed for the better.   Then there are experiences  that are unforgettable and leave you breathless...in a bad way; the moments you'll never forget and never wished you had. And while ALL OF US ARE OK AND HEALTHY, Rachel, myself, and our little Jonah experienced one of those moments yesterday.   We were driving normally on the Turnpike to visit Rachel's parents for New Year's Day when all of a sudden we got hit hard by a car from behind us. Our excellent and safe car responded by skidding and[...]

Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal
Tag : accident gomel rabbi rabbi's journal