August 15, 2024

Shalom Chaverim (Dear Friends),

This week my dad, Otto Haberer, z”L, would have turned 95. He passed 26 years ago and yet I am always keenly aware that my family exists in this world because of that man and my mom of course. His impact is so far-reaching. Thinking of him makes me think of my favorite movie of all time, the 1946 classic It’s A Wonderful Life, which highlights the impact each and every one of us has in the way the world is shaped and what goes on in it.

I am very proud of the continued positive impact the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center has on our community every day. This week, it has been a pleasure to see another school year at our Betty & Marvin Zale Early Childhood Learning Center begin. The teachers have put the finishing touches on their classrooms, there have been meet and greet “Playdates on the Playground,” and “Meet the Directors” and welcome visits. All of these wonderful events led up to the very exciting and very successful first day of school today. Our Dale & Ed Filhaber Mini Camp at the J is winding down our second week of Post Summer Mini Camp with more than 60 campers, most of whom are Donna Klein Jewish Academy students, enjoying the last bit of their summer break. These programs are often just the beginning of involvement with the Levis JCC and with our Jewish community – impact that lasts long into the future.

This week’s Torah portion is Va’etchanan (I Implored) in the book of Deuteronomy, the 5th and final book in the Five Books of Moses. In it, Moses predicts that in future generations the people will turn away from G-d, worship idols, and be exiled from their land and scattered amongst the nations; but from there they will seek G-d, and return to obey His commandments. Two thousand years later, more than half of the world’s Jewish population now resides in Israel. It is my deepest hope that Israel continues to be a blessing to the Jewish people and to the entire world, and that our brothers and sisters in Israel are able to live in safety and in peace.

Light Shabbat Candles on Friday night at 7:37 pm
Shabbat ends Saturday night at 8:30 pm

Shabbat Shalom
Am Yisrael Chai!

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Marty