Shabbos
This week’s parshah is Bereishis, the first parshah in the Book of Genesis. The parshah tells the story of creation, of how God, in six days, created the heavens and the earth including the first two people, Adam and Eve. In this parshah we learn that Eve gives birth to two sons, Cain and Abel. But, interestingly, the Torah also tells us that a third son, Seth, is born to Adam, but Eve is not mentioned. Who is Seth’s mother? Is it Eve, or does God create other people in addition to Adam and Eve?
The Torah tells us the most important aspects of our history, and how that history progresses from creation to the great flood, and on through the lives of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to our enslavement in Egypt, and to the life and times of Moses until our arrival in the promised land.
But there were obviously many other things happening in the world that did not involve the Jewish people. After the creation of Adam and Eve, might God have created other people? Might one of them have become the mother of Seth? We often wonder about things that are not mentioned specifically in the Torah, and some people question the validity of Torah, asking things such as who was Seth’s mother?, or where did Cain and Abel’s wives come from? Interesting questions, but do any of these questions really matter? Our faith tells us that God is capable of doing anything, and every day we can see the majesty of our God if we simply stop and look at the incredible world that He has created. God is everywhere if we only stop and take a moment to look.
By the way, for those of you who are baseball fans like me, you are surely aware of the relationship between Bereishis and baseball starting with the first four words of Genesis – In the big inning. Of course, God worked for six innings, then stretched, and that is why we have the seventh inning stretch.
Why not attend services this Saturday, beginning at 9:20, and hear Larry Block’s always-insightful D’Var Torah?
Rabbi Danny Schiff
Many of you will recall that several years ago the Carnegie Shul had a marvelous program featuring Rabbi Danny Schiff discussing Jewish Humor. Rabbi Schiff currently resides in Israel, but he will be in Pittsburgh for a Weekend of Learning at Congregation Beth Shalom on Beacon Street in Squirrel Hill the weekend of November 2 and 3. Rabbi Schiff will be giving talks on “Reigniting Chosenness; Why does it matter,” “Our God is Not Your God,” “Accepting Society’s Norms: How Far Should Jewish Law Bend?” and “Learning From Prince Harry.”
The public is invited to all of these events. Visit Beth Shalom’s website at www.bethshalompgh.org for more information.
The Kabbalah of You
Another interesting learning opportunity is coming up at the Chabad of the South Hills in the very near future. The Kabbalah of You is a six-week course that begins on Wednesday, October 24 or Sunday October 28 (2 class options per week). The course is intended for someone who thinks about life and feels deeply – and is always looking for higher meaning and inspiration. For more info visit the Chabad website at http://www.chabadsh.com. And click RohrJLI.
Holocaust Exhibit
The Holocaust Center of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is bringing a new exhibit, The Nazi Olympics: Berlin, 1936, provided by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, to Pittsburgh. The exhibit will be displayed at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, 980 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. The exhibit will be open to the public from October 15 through the end of February. Hours are: Tuesday through Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission cost is: Adults – $8, Seniors (62 and over) and Students with valid ID – $4 and Children – $3.
Scholarships
Scholarships are distributed on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Some funding sources also require high academic achievement. In addition, the applicant must be Jewish, reside in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Beaver, Butler or Washington County for at least two years, and need financial assistance to attend an accredited institution of higher education as either an undergraduate or graduate student. For school year 2013-2014 Central Scholarship will again be using an on-line application process. The on-line applications will be available at http://www.centralscholarship.org in late November. For more information call JF&CS at (412) 422-5627 or write to: Central Scholarship & Loan Referral Service, 5743 Bartlett Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. First-time applicants must be interviewed. All applications should be submitted as early as possible to ensure processing.
The deadline for 2013-2014 applications is February 11, 2013.
Please
If there is one thing I absolutely hate it is to be constantly asked for money, but is there any better bargain than the low dues and free High Holy Days admission at the Carnegie Shul? So please don’t forget to send in your dues and pledge payment if you have not already done so. Thanks.