July 24, 2025

We are quickly approaching Major League Baseball’s July 31st trade deadline. It’s always an exciting time for baseball fans, as team rosters are finalized for the final push towards the playoffs. As an avid Red Sox supporter, I’m hoping we can pick up a decent pitcher and first baseman to stay in the race.

At the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center, our own team of “All-Stars” is wrapping up a fabulous summer. Yesterday, our Camp Kavod campers participated in a treasured summer camp tradition: Color War! Campers gathered for what they thought was an end of summer video presentation but were instead surprised by a video introduction to the fun-filled and friendly competition. Divided into the Blue Ice and Red Fire teams, Camp Kavod staff and campers brought energy and camp spirit to today’s activities, including Tug of War, a scavenger hunt and relay races, and cooled off with special treats from Kona Ice. Another incredible summer for the more than 100 campers with special needs has flown by—our Camp Kavod ends this week (though our Early Childhood, Upper, and Theater Camp programs continue for one more week). We look forward to welcoming our Camp Kavod campers back to campus for Winter and Spring Break camps, and for the many wonderful programs offered by our Helene & Roy Schwedelson Special Needs Department all year. For information, please visit levisjcc.org/special.

This week’s double Torah portion is Matot–Masei (Tribes–Journeys) in the book of Numbers, the fourth of the Five Books of Moses. In it, war is waged against Midian for their role in the moral destruction of Israel. Later, the Torah provides a detailed account of how the spoils of war were divided between the people of Israel, their warriors, the Levites, and the high priest. It saddens me that, thousands of years later, we are still praying for peace in and around our beloved State. May it come soon.

Light Shabbat candles Friday evening at 7:53 pm.
Shabbat ends Saturday evening at 8:48 pm.

Shabbat Shalom
Am Yisrael Chai!

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Marty