"More than Israel has kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept Israel."

Ahad HaAm, a great Jewish leader from the 20th century said: "More than Israel has kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept Israel." His words remind us that the sacred occasion of Shabbat is a time when we can reaffirm our identities as members of the Jewish community.

Ahad HaAm, a great Jewish leader from the 20th century said: "More than Israel has kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept Israel." His words remind us that the sacred occasion of Shabbat is a time when we can reaffirm our identities as members of the Jewish community. We can do that at home, in the synagogue, when we perform acts of Tzeddaka, or even when we articulate our vision of the world as we hope it might be.

One specific way we can express our communal connectedness is through the celebration of Shabbat over a meal with members of our family -- immediate and extended. Or Chadash is your extended Jewish family, and tonight we are providing an opportunity for you to meet some of your "relatives" at an early service and at a relaxed meal at a place you will decide together.

This Shabbat Or Chadash invites all of you to join Mo and Tracy Bauer and Diana and Michael Carr and their families for these two wonderful events. The Bauers and the Carrs will be leading Kabbalat Shabbat services at 6:30PM. Following this informal and brief service, they will be having dinner together, and YOU are encouraged to go along and get to know one another better. Who knows, you might make a new friend for the new year.

I wish all of you a happy, healthy and safe New Year.