Orbit January, 2013 - Plainview Jewish Center

FROM THE RABBI ( continued from Page 5 )
ORBIT Page 6
stigma of mental illness from our society.
Bruriah’s second lesson is that, even in the face of our best efforts to keep our chldren safe,
there is still much that is out of our hands. Stronger gun laws and better care for the mentally ill can
help. But no matter what we do, we do not have the ultimate power over life and death. We devote
ourselves to being the best, most responsible guardians of the pledge God has left in our hands, and
then hope and pray for the best. Fortunately, for many of us, our prayers are answered. God willing,
they will continue to be. In the meantime, we need to make sure we do not get caught up in too much
hand-wringing nor allow ourselves to get too weighed down by anxiety and guilt. Our children are our
precious treasure. We need to work even harder to make sure they are safe and secure. And at the
end of the day, when we have done what we can, we should also remember to hug our kids a little
tighter, and give thanks for the privilege of sharing their lives. Our children are truly our most precious
blessing; a blessing we should be grateful for at all times. One of the most important things we can do
to perpetuate the memory of the twenty children who lost their lives in this horrible tragedy is to love
and cherish our own children even more each and every day—no matter how old they are. Take an
extra moment to kiss them goodbye, make the extra phone call to check in and see how they are
doing, tell them how proud we are. There has never been a better time to remind our kids how much
they mean to us, and how blessed we are to share their lives.
Text Study with Rabbi Conn
Most Shabbat Afternoons between
Mincha (Afternoon) and Ma’ariv (evening) services.
Begin the new week with a few minutes of study. This fall, we will focus
on a question from the weekly Torah portion and the answer given by Rashi,
the most famous of all commentators.
Our discussions are always brief, and usually insightful. So join us
for prayer, study and camaraderie as we explore the Torah together.
THE BIBLE CLASS
KING DAVID: THE MYTH AND THE MAN
Looking for an hour of action, drama and excitement on Wednesday night? Take in a
classic series that has been delivering the thrills for more than 2000 years. Join Rabbi Conn,
for all the action on selected Wednesday evenings at 8:15 PM.
Rabbi Conn will continue to guide our class through one of the Bible’s most dramatic
stories in the Bible: David’s ascent to the kingship, his breathtaking successes and stunning
failures. Join us for a lively and stimulating discussion of this riveting story. The class meets
in the Kirschner Room, usually twice a month on the first and third Wednesday. See the
schedule of classes below. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to all. Bring your
own Bible or use the study sheets provided in class. No Hebrew necessary.
Next Sessions
January 2nd
January 16th