Remember the Big Picture

The former chief rabbi Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks recently commented on how the Coronavirus could change Britain for the better: “Passover contains a message of hope for all of us. Each year we tell the story of the exodus, that begins in suffering and ends in liberation and joy. “That is the shape of the human story. Out of the bad, comes good, out of the curse comes blessing. Out of the coronavirus pandemic will come a new sense of collective responsibility, and we will all feel renewed.”

 

Sisterhood wishes you and your families a kosher and joyous (and safe) Passover.

Did you know? Sisterhood…

• Maches funds for children of NHBZ Members who are eligible
  for St. Louis ‘JFed’ Passport to Israel Program
   presents the Annual Dine ‘n’ Style Luncheon & Fashion Show
   sponsors Holiday special treats at Purim, Simchas Torah,
  Hanukkah, and Pesach
   organizes educational programs, social events, and chesed
  activities to strengthen our shul, support community and enrich
  the lives of our members through spiritual growth in Torah values.

Join us! If you haven’t yet sent in your Sisterhood duesfor 2020 – please mail your check for $25 to the office.

While most of us are home-bound, why not join in the reading of Sisterhood’s current book, the powerful bestseller about Hedy Lamarr by Marie Benedict
“The Only Woman in the Room”?

Looking ahead, the June Book Club book is “Black, White, & Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self” by Rebecca Walker, the daughter of a Jewish father and African- American mother who recalls her confusing but ultimately rewarding life lived between two conflicting ethnic identities. Watch for instructions how to join the new on-line Zoom Book Club from home! For more info contact Terri Schnitzer

This week’s Torah reading tells us that “…and the fire… shall be kept burning in [the Altar]…and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning”(Leviticus 6:5).

The Talmud points out that although there was a fire that descended from heaven, nonetheless a “human input” was required to keep the fire burning. We could ask a question on this—and, indeed, on the entire process of the Divine service which took place in the Temple and takes place in our everyday lives: what does G‑d need our work for? Surely He could do everything Himself?

The Talmud relates a story of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa who saw a huge stone, which he wanted to donate to the Temple. The stone was too big for him to move by himself and he could not afford to hire laborers to help him to move it. He saw a vision in which G‑d told him: Push it with your little finger. Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa pushed the stone and he saw angels who helped him to move it to the Temple.

What is this story teaching us? We frequently find ourselves facing overwhelming challenges. It is worthwhile to remember that all G‑d is asking from us is that we push with our little finger. We have the ability to tap into the infinite, we just have to “open the door” and do our best. When we do, we will find ourselves succeeding beyond our wildest dreams. With the help from Above, we are able to accomplish far more than we ever could by ourselves. However, we have to make that first move, even if it is only a little push, to tap into the infinite, to bring down the Divine blessings into our everyday lives.