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Shabbat Hahodesh
Leviticus 12:1-13:59
2nd Torah reading: Parashat Hahodesh, Ex. 12: 1-20
Candle Lighting Time: Friday, April 4, 2008 7:06 P.M.
This week’s Torah portion
deals with the diagnosis and cure of the disease tzara’at. Probability
it was the cancer of its day. One of the most dreaded sentences a
patient can hear is, “You have cancer.” These words bring a chill to
the heart. Although great progress is being made in treating this
disease, recovery can be long and painful, and many people do not
survive.
In my last synagogue I felt that we had a disproportionate amount of
people who had cancer or who were survivors of cancer. I needed to
address their spiritual needs. With the help of a committee we created
a monthly healing service very much like the one I lead at tashlich on
Rosh Hashana. I would like to share a poem I came across with you.
Cancer is so limited…
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot eat away peace,
It cannot destroy confidence,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot shut out memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot reduce eternal life,
It cannot quench the spirit,
It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.
If a terrible disease has invaded your life, refuse to let it touch your
spirit. Your body can be severely afflicted, and you may have a great
struggle. But if you keep trusting God’s love, your spirit will remain
strong. Remember our greatest enemy is not disease, but despair.
Important announcement: Some space still available. We are forming a
interfaith dialogue group of no more than 6 members of Marathon Jewish
Center and myself to meet with 6 members of the Little Neck Community
Church and Pastor Paul Drake for a one shot meeting. This meeting will
take place here at Marathon, Sunday, April 6th at 8:00 p.m. If you are
interested in joining us, please speak to Rabbi Gary Greene.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Gary Greene
Compare and contrast these two sites concerning Israeli and Palestinian
relationships during this most recent conflict. It is such an eye opener:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/world/middleeast/01hamas.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO3MdxIHkIk&eurl=http://www.israel21c.net/
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