Sponsored by: Congregation B'nai Moshe
Times of Tragedy Bring out our Very Best or Very Worst
04/14/2020 10:29:17 AM
Steven Fine
Author | |
Date Added |
As with so many national and international tragedies we have faced in recent years, there is one constant. Tragedies either bring out the very best in people, or the very worst.
Rick Wiles, a Florida pastor, said on March 26 that God is giving the Jews the coronavirus as a divine punishment. “That is why you have a plague in your synagogues, he said.
We have seen shoppers hoarding groceries and personal items to the extent that others don’t have any. Is it necessary to have 144 rolls of toilet paper while your neighbor has none? We find anti-Jew hatemongers zoom-bombing video prayer services to spew their vitriolic epithets. And, we see people using this current tragedy to prey on the most vulnerable to try and cheat them out of money and their economic stimulus checks.
Sometimes it is difficult to look past this abhorrent behavior and see the wonderful things that people do in the face of tragedy and how much good there is in the world. However it is right here in front of our eyes.
We’ve seen people (our own Rabbi Kantor and family for one) driving by a friend or family member’s house to wish them a happy birthday. We’ve seen athletes, celebrities, and non-celebrities alike donate tens of millions of dollars to the effort. Quarantined people in Italy, Spain, France, and Israel coordinated times to applaud healthcare workers from their homes. The sounds of clapping, cheering, and whistling filled the air in expressions of gratitude for doctors, nurses, and others who are tirelessly treating the sick.
Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders in Columbus, Nebraska, made get well cards for people affected by the coronavirus. Their teacher then mailed the cards to the University of Nebraska Medical Center to be distributed to those in quarantine. Food trucks and restaurants are delivering free food to kids locked out of school lunch programs. There are so many similar stories.
Members of B’nai Moshe have stepped up, as we always do. We have collected over $1,500 in donations to provide food for medical heroes working tirelessly at Henry Ford Hospital WB. Michelle Seid and Jacqueline Goldstein have championed an effort wherein they have been providing food to many units at many hospitals with food from local restaurants, thus helping both the medical heroes and local food establishments.
People say that they can’t wait to get back to normal. I hope not. In “normal” times we don’t see nearly the generosity we see now. Let’s make these actions our ”new normal” when we don’t need a tragedy to fulfill our obligation of repairing the world. Remember, we’re not stuck at home. We’re safe at home. One word can make all the difference.
Thu, March 28 2024
18 Adar II 5784
.
Today's Calendar
Calling ALL Graduates! : 12:00am |
Shacharit : 7:30am |
Mincha/Maariv : 5:00pm |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Mar 25 Calling ALL Graduates! Monday, Mar 25 12:00am |
Apr 1 Pesach Information 5784 Monday, Apr 1 12:00am |
Apr 3 Sisterhood Passover Hangout Wednesday, Apr 3 6:30pm |
Apr 20 Shabbat Experience Shabbat, Apr 20 9:30am |
May 8 Blood Drive Wednesday, May 8 2:00pm |
This week's Torah portion is Parshat Tzav
Candle Lighting
Friday, Mar 29, 7:39pm |
Havdalah
Motzei Shabbat, Mar 30, 8:40pm |
-
Monday ,
MarMarch 25 , 2024
Monday, Mar 25th 12:00a to Tuesday, Jun 4th 11:59p
Calling ALL Graduates! Don't miss our special Graduation Edition Bulletin. Email your graduate's information to the office today! -
Monday ,
AprApril 1 , 2024
Monday, Apr 1st 12:00a to Tuesday, Apr 30th 9:30p
Pesach Information 5784 -
Wednesday ,
AprApril 3 , 2024
Wednesday, Apr 3rd 6:30p to 8:00p
Join in the fun of Sisterhood's Passover hangout where we will taste and share our favorite Passover recipes. We'll meet on Wednesday, April 3 at 6:30pm at Michele Siegel's house (20081 Ronsdale Dr. in Beverly Hills) for a light dinner. All attendees are asked to bring a dairy or pareve Passover dish to pass along with the recipe. And we'd love if you bring a friend! -
Saturday ,
AprApril 20 , 2024
Shabbat, Apr 20th 9:30a to 11:30a
Experience Shabbat Experience in April! -
Wednesday ,
MayMay 8 , 2024
Wednesday, May 8th 2:00p to 6:30p
Congregation B'nai Moshe and B'nai Israel are rolling up their sleeves to collect blood donations that will help people in need in our own community. You can be a Beacon of Hope whose kindness saves lives, including those with cancer or sickle cell disease. These fighters and their families are counting on you. -
Friday ,
MayMay 10 , 2024
Friday, May 10th 5:00p to 8:00p
You're Invited to a special Musical Kabbalat Shabbat honoring our 2024 Graduates! -
Monday ,
MayMay 13 , 2024
Monday, May 13th 7:00p to 9:00p
Join us in-person at our May Book Club as we discuss "Kantika" by Elizabeth Graver -
Sunday ,
MayMay 19 , 2024
Sunday, May 19th 2:00p to 4:30p
Join us as we head to the Village Players in Birmingham to watch "The Prom"
.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z"l
Learn from the mind of one of the world's foremost Jewish thinkers.
Calendar of Jewish Holidays
Do you wonder when Purim or Pesach is? Does Rosh Hashanah come "early or late" next year? You can find the listing of all the upcoming holiday dates
Upcoming Events- JLive
Stay current on Upcoming events by clicking on: JLive
Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places?
If you are single and looking for your besheret, click on JDate - Enroll
Your mother would be so
proud.