Shabbat Toldot Genesis 23:1-25:18
Candle Lighting Time:         Friday, November 28, 2008 4:11 p.m

English essayist and critic Charles Lamb (1775-1834) had this to say about a person he did not want to meet: "Don't introduce me to that man! I want to go on hating him, and I can't hate someone I know."
Harboring malice robs us of close relationships with others. Jacob cheated his brother and stole his birthright as well as their father’s blessing. Understandably, Esau was angry. “Now Esau harbored a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing which his father had given him, and Esau said to himself, “Let but the mourning period of my father come and I will kill my brother Jacob.” (Gen. 27:40)  But what he did with his anger became a serious problem, not only for Jacob but for Esau himself. For years he harbored a deep resentment that robbed him of a warm relationship with his brother.

Grudges can also create a cold, icy environment in synagogues, and this often keeps people away. A rabbi once asked the members of a congregation he visited why their synagogue wasn't growing in wisdom. He received this reply: "There are members in this shul who hold grudges."

Instead of bearing a grudge, we must, if possible, take practical steps to resolve our differences. We must find ways to show love.  Resentment will fade when the object of our ill will becomes the special object of our good will.

A grudge is one thing that does not get better when it is nursed.
Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Gary Greene

P.S. Craig Taubman, a former head of music at Camp Ramah who has made it in the music world (He used to work for Disney), is the Producer and Director of an exciting PBS Chanukah Program, which begins to air this Sunday, Nov. 30th at 6:30pm.  Please plan to watch it, tape it or TIVO it - and tell your friends. Once PBS determines the amount of listening audience throughout the country, they might be more willing to fund productions for other Jewish holidays and events! 
This is the link to PBS nationally listings for your relatives and friends.  http://www.craignco.com/lights/airdates.html
This is a first for PBS and we hope that they will continue! Please share this information!!


Services Schedule:
Friday night     7:00 p.m.
Shabbat         9:00 a.m.
Mon.            6:30 a.m.
Sun. -Thurs night     7:30 p.m.


Mark these dates on your calendar:
December 1st Sisterhood Meeting

December 2nd Adult Education classes a.m.
Executive Board Meeting p.m.

December 4th Belly Dancing with Ms. Lena

December 7th Our next interfaith dialogue group with the Community Church of Douglaston will meet in the Church at 8:00 p.m.  Our discussion will revolve around our reactions to the movie Elisabeth of Berlin.

December 9th MJCC Board Meeting

December 13th Our next lunch and learn.  The topic will be “Did Joshua fight the battle of Jericho?”

December 14th Queens Hereld Institute Day of Learning: a JTS Hanukkah Program.  See attached flyer for more information.  Rabbi Gary Greene will teach a breakout session at 1:10 p.m. entitled “The True Meaning of Hanukkah.”

December 19th Sisterhood sponsors our Hanukkah dinner

December 24th Our 2nd annual Israeli Film Festival begins tonight screening the movie Hershele