Sisterhood Scoop – August 17, 2024

Volume 7 Number 28 • 28 Tammuz 5784 • August 3, 2024

NHBZ Book Club News!

The previously announced book selection for September 23 – Gates of November, by Chaim Potok –– has been postponed to a future date. The title of an alternate book selection will be announced in next week’s Bulletin and emailed to members of the Sisterhood Book Club. The new book will be discussed on Monday, September 23 at the home of Vivian Zarkowsky. Watch this space for details!

The final Book Club meeting of 2024 will be November 18 when the group will read and discuss Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books, by Aaron Lansky.

For more information call Fran Alper at 314-993-4024
or email fran.alper@outlook.com or sisterhood@nhbz.org

All women are welcome to join us!

Shabbat Nachamu

Shabbat Nachamu (lit. “Sabbath of Consolation”) is the Shabbat following the fast of Tisha B’Av, so named because of the passage read for the haftarah: Nachamu, nachamu ami — “Comfort, comfort my people.” After the Three Weeks of darkness and destruction, G‐d consoles the Jewish People through the words of His prophet Isaiah. This haftarah is the first of the series of readings known as shiva d’nechemta, “the seven of consolation,” read over the seven weeks between Tisha B’Av and Rosh Hashanah.

The Midrash explains that the word “comfort” appears twice because of the twofold nature of the consolation: once for the destruction of the First Holy Temple and again for the destruction of the Second Temple.

G‐d’s consolation for the destruction of the Temples lies in His promise that a Third Holy Temple will be built after the coming of Moshiach. This reading is thus a reassurance that we have been guaranteed by G‐d that the time will come when the Jewish exiles will return home with the arrival of Moshiach. – excerpted from www.chabad.org

VAESCHANAN: Today’s the Day

The Shema, the fundamental Jewish affirmation of connection, trust and devotion between G-d and the Nation of Israel, is so essential to the G-d consciousness of the Jew that it is a focal component of the morning and evening services. Most important, it contains practical steps explaining how to achieve this vital relationship with the Divine.

The Chofetz Chaim professes that the Jew must approach every day with three perceptions imbedded into his soul: today is my only day to live; the chapter of Mishna/folio of Talmud that I am currently studying is all there is to learn and master; and I am the only Jew alive such that the existence of the entire world rests on my shoulders. Why must a Jew maintain this attitude?

“You shall love G-d your L-rd with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your resources. And these matters that I command you today shall be upon your heart.” (Devarim/Deuteronomy 6:5-6)

A person could contemplate the breadth and depth of his relationship with G-d, as alluded to in the first verse, and convince himself that there is so much to accomplish that he need not do much today for there is always tomorrow; there is so much to learn that he will never actually complete the Order of Mishna/Tractate of Talmud, so there is not much purpose to starting; there are so many Jews to fulfill the Divine mission that their deeds can keep the world going.

The Chofetz Chaim debunks these delusions with an allegorical understanding of the second verse. “And THESE matters”: there are no great volumes to learn and comprehend, just the small quantity you find immediately before you, so there is no reason to procrastinate; “that I command YOU”: it is only you and G-d in this world, so you must do all you can; “TODAY”: you only have today, so maximize it to draw yourself as close to G-d as possible and fill your day with righteous deeds, do not delay; “shall be upon your heart”: these three lessons shall fill your heart perpetually.

Have a Good Shabbos! – – Posted by Rabbi Pinchas Avruch, www.torah.org

“Jews have had an influence out of all proportion to their numbers because we are all called on to be leaders, to take responsibility, to contribute, to make a difference to the lives of others, to bring the Divine Presence into the world. Precisely because we are small, we are each summoned to greatness.”

– Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l, The Fewest of all Peoples (Va’etchanan, Lessons in Leadership, Covenant & Conversation)