 |
October 31, 2025 |
Dear Friends, In this parashat, Lech Lecha, Go forth (Genesis 12:1-17:27), Avram was not told to leave his father’s house but, rather to go forward from his father’s house. We are told that Avram was 75 years old, which, until very recent times, was considered quite old. So, as we begin our story as a people, an old man is told to make a new start, go to a new place, leave his father’s house, and start all over again. Imagine leaving your father’s house after all this time.
“Adonai said to Avram, “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, And I will bless you;
I will make your name great, And you shall be a blessing.”
(Genesis 12:1-2)
Avram’s impetus for change came from within, not from human decree. There is no sense that an outside force made him leave all that was familiar. When we meet Avram at his advanced age, we have no idea how long the Divine has been communicating with him. We know almost nothing about his life before he, Sarai, and nephew Lot are on the move.
Announcements
Wednesday, November 5
Thursday, November 6
November 14 and 15
Tuesday, November 18
Mitzvah of the Week
"Food Glorious Food" sing the orphans in the musical Oliver as they imagine the most luscious food. Sadly, food and the lack thereof is about to become an even more urgent issue for our neighbors, who are about to be left with nothing but their imaginations.
We are at the beginning of creating a more concerted community effort to care for our neighbors’ food needs. Although I reminded you about food last week, this week we are going to share some concrete asks of all of you.
Why the urgency? The federally funded SNAP program is scheduled to end on November 1st. We never know who among our neighbors and friends is a beneficiary of this program; now is the time to think of them and act.
As we mentioned last week, our neighbors at the Riverdale Episcopal Church have a non-perishable food pantry every Thursday. We have a box full of non-perishable food. We need someone to deliver it to the church. Please let us know if you can do it and we will put you in touch with Mother Emily.
Here are two different things that people can do this Sunday.
- CRAVINGS & CRAFTS FARMERS MARKET in North Riverdale has a food collection bin that is delivered to the Friendly Fridge every week. So, when you buy something for yourself, buy a little extra and put it in the bin. They are open on Sundays from 9am to 2pm and located on Riverdale Avenue between 259th and 260th Streets.
- Riverdale Presbyterian Church is delivering non-perishable food items to a food bank this Sunday. You can drop off food between 9:00am and 12:45pm on Sunday morning. However, if you do so between 10:30am and 12:00pm, please leave it outside the church door as worship will be in progress. Let’s care for one another! Thank you!
| Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu ve'al kol Israel, ve'imru, Amen. |
| May the One who makes peace in the heavens, make peace for us all and all the people of Israel. |
 |