Teachings from Rabbi Gaber

New year, new ways to enhance our community and our lives.  I hope the last couple of weeks have brought to us some needed rest and renewal as we begin the secular new year of 2019.  I hope and pray that this year will be better.  In a recent cartoon, one person asked, “How will 2019 be different?”  The other answered, “365 new opportunities!”  We have 365 new opportunities to influence our world for the better.  We do that through kindness, compassion, listening well and always being respectful of others.  This is also another opportunity to set goals for ourselves in the coming year.  Changing even one thing can have significant impact on our lives.  
With there are so many possibilities, I would like to suggest to you the following educational opportunities that will enhance your life and ensure that 2019 will be different.  Our Israel Forum is back this weekend on Sunday, January 6 at 10:00am with a book review on Hezbollah: The Global Fingerprint of Lebanon’s Party of God led by Alan Agree.  The next day, Monday, January 7th at 7:30pm, we welcome Dr. Itzhak Brook to our community.  He will be speaking on The Sands of Sinai, a personal account of the Yom Kippur War.  On January 13th, we will be co-hosting with Gracepoint Church a special Interfaith Program called Confronting Antisemitism and Hate: A Roundtable Discussion beginning at 4:30pm.  (Don’t worry, if the Eagles are playing, we will provide updates).
In addition to these programs at CBOI, we are ever mindful that this time of the year we have long nights, inclement weather (snow) and other obstacles to our ability to learn, so we are experimenting with the newly established CBOI Online Learning Program.  I will be leading several Adult Education programs using ZOOM Web conferencing technology.  You don’t have to leave the warmth and comfort of your home to have a discussion on confronting Antisemitism and Hate or the Human Genome or to discuss how to bring Judaism into the 21st century.  Approximately twice a month, I will be leading an online class.  You will not only be able to hear me and see me, you will also see your friends in the same virtual classroom.  There an interesting line up of webinars throughout the rest of the winter. Our CBOI Online learning program has a dedicated link: https://zoom.us/j/7686776767.  All you need do is enter this link into your favorite browser and follow the instructions.  If you get stuck, please let me know and I will help you get on line.
Finally, I hope you will make the time to join us for Shabbat on Friday nights and Saturday mornings.  Friday, January 11th is our Sports Shabbat, dress in your favorite teams colors/shirts.  We begin at 7:15 with light refreshments.  You will have an opportunity to interact with other members and your friends, making our synagogue your sacred destination on a regular basis.  One recent study indicated that those who regularly attend worship services will live longer lives.  http://time.com/5159848/do-religious-people-live-longer/
Shabbat Shalom and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Aaron Gaber