August 10, 2023

Shalom Chaverim (Dear Friends),

By the time you receive this Shabbat Message, Lori and I will have arrived in Granby, Colorado to visit with my brother and sister in law at their beautiful home for the very first time. They have lived there for several years but with the great joy of visiting our adult children in their home cities, Lori and I have been unable to travel anywhere else. So this is really the first chance we will have had to really get away for a few days to truly unwind, certainly since we have arrived in Boca 16 months ago.

This trip comes on the heels of my very first JCC Maccabi Games^® & Access, which I detailed in last week’s message. Our Adolph & Rose Levis JCC’s Levis Krug delegation athletes have distinguished themselves in competition this week. As of yesterday, our Girls basketball team was undefeated, and our Boys basketball team won 3 of their 4 games. Both teams advanced to the medal rounds. Our two Access athletes finished in second and third place in swimming! Having experienced it first-hand now, I share the tremendous pride in our young athletes’ achievements, but more importantly in the way communities from across the country and around the world prioritize this incredible program, one that melds heritage, tradition, Jewish values and, of course athletic, ability into a unique and memorable experience for all who participate.

This week’s Torah portion is Re’eh (See), in the book of Deuteronomy, the fifth and final book in the Five Books of Moses. In it, we are introduced to the laws of the three pilgrimages, Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot, when all should go to “see and be seen.” Our Levis JCC athletes and representatives did just this at the Games, and we are so proud of them all.

Light Shabbat Candles On Friday evening at 7:42 p.m.
Shabbat ends Saturday night at 8:36 p.m.

Shabbat Shalom!

Marty