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.
Sun, December 3 2023
20 Kislev 5784
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Today's Calendar
Honor Someone with a Sanctuary Seat Plaque : 12:00am |
Shacharit : 9:00am |
Mincha/Maariv : 5:00pm |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Aug 11 Honor Someone with a Sanctuary Seat Plaque Friday, Aug 11 10:00am |
Dec 10 Chanukah Party Sunday, Dec 10 6:30pm |
Dec 17 Yad Ezra Social Action December Sunday, Dec 17 10:45am |
Dec 22 Cookie Baking, Decorating, & Delivery Friday, Dec 22 9:30am |
Dec 24 Cookie Baking, Decorating, & Delivery Sunday, Dec 24 10:00am |
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Shabbat, Dec 9 |
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Friday ,
AugAugust 11 , 2023
Friday, Aug 11th 10:00a to Friday, Dec 29th 11:55p
Honor someone with a plaque on a seatback on a seat in the sanctuary. This is a wonderful way to pay tribute to a person, ether for a milestone event or in memoriam. Available up to 3 lines with a 30 character maximum on each line. A space counts as a character. Purchase of a plaque does not give right of ownership of the seat. -
Sunday ,
DecDecember 10 , 2023
Sunday, Dec 10th 6:30p to 8:30p
Join us for a wonderful evening of food, singing, and Menorah lighting -
Sunday ,
DecDecember 17 , 2023
Sunday, Dec 17th 10:45a to 1:00p
Help feed hungry Jewish families by delivering food. -
Friday ,
DecDecember 22 , 2023
Friday, Dec 22nd 9:30a to 11:00a
Cookie Baking, Decorating, & Delivery for First Responders on Christmas -
Sunday ,
DecDecember 24 , 2023
Sunday, Dec 24th 10:00a to 12:00p
Cookie Baking, Decorating, & Delivery for First Responders on Christmas -
Sunday ,
DecDecember 24 , 2023
Sunday, Dec 24th 6:00p to 8:00p
Join us for a delicious Chinese dinner catered by Chef Cari and we'll be watching Keeping the Faith in the Chapel. -
Monday ,
DecDecember 25 , 2023
Monday, Dec 25th 10:00a to 12:00p
Cookie Baking, Decorating, & Delivery for First Responders on Christmas -
Sunday ,
JanJanuary 14 , 2024
Sunday, Jan 14th 2:00p to 4:00p
Let's go to the theatre! Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" is the longest running show, of any kind, in the world. -
Monday ,
JanJanuary 15 , 2024
Monday, Jan 15th 7:00p to 8:30p
We'll be discussing "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" by James McBride -
Sunday ,
MarMarch 3 , 2024
Sunday, Mar 3rd 2:00p to 4:00p
Join us as we take a trip down local history at the Motown Museum!
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Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z"l
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