Shabbat Message from Rabbi Forman - 8/11/06

You are privileged. You are blessed. You didn't get here alone, though. Where did the help come from? Diverse places or few. Many people or one. Much effort or little. But you, as do I and everyone about us, rely on the gifts of the world that come from outside us.
This Shabbat we read in the Book of Deuteronomy words that have inspired our Jewish tradition to recite blessings both before (the Motzi) and after every meal (Birkat HaMazon). "When you have eaten and are satisfied, you must bless" (Deut. 8:10).



Every week and, I hope, every day, you will eat a meal. I hope they are all good ones. Nourishing. Delicious. Prepared with love. And I also hope that you will be satisfied by them. But I implore you to remember that you are among the few in this world who live so gently. You might say a blessing (the Motzi) before you eat to consider that the food you are about to eat not only took the efforts of others to bring it to you but the mystery of its creation, as well. You might say thanks or Birkat Ha Mazon (grace after meals) to acknowledge that those efforts and creative mysteries are appreciated. And then, then I

hope you will help those who missed that meal or the one before it or the one after. There are far too many such individuals out there.



Next Shabbat we will have a basket for you to fill with non-perishable foods. Every time you come to Or Chadash it will be there as a reminder to you that we at Or Chadash have a responsibility to better the world about us. Let's start by feeding a few of the hungry. And lest I forget: B'teavon (Bon Appetit) and Shabbat Shalom.