Religious Committee

"The month of Sagittarius is one of the most positive times of the year. It is the month known for its good fortune and miracles, containing the cosmic event of miracles known as Hanukkah. However, on a deeper level, the energy it created this month is the true cause of celebration and the source of your magic and good fortune.

Sagittarius, when translated into Hebrew, is called Keshet, which means rainbow.  This month's unique blessings come from the Creator's mercy and love.  Like a beloved child who can seemingly never do anything wrong in the eyes of a parent, this month we are being sent the signal to remind us of our Creator's love.  In Sagittarius, we are given mercy when we may not deserve it, blessing when we may not have earned it, and miracle when we may not expect it.

 It is when we stop judging others and are open to joining hands with people who may be different from us that we can activate the Light and together bring blessings and benefits to all of humanity, not just in the month of Sagittarius.  , but every day of the year.

The expansive and booming energy of this month is channeled towards us through the celestial body Jupiter.

Jupiter is the ruling planet of the month and is the vehicle through which the Creator transmits his love and mercy into our lives.  Jupiter is a planet of expansion, good fortune and luck.

We all deserve to be immersed in the Creator's mercy, love, and good fortune.  This is precisely why it is often referred to as the most wonderful time of the year, and this cosmic door of blessings and miracles is now opening for us to run through. "Karen Berg 

por Ali Ferrer

TZEDAKÁ significa justicia social y solidaridad, representa uno de los valores esenciales del judaísmo. Es la restitución del derecho de un semejante a vivir con dignidad. Es una mitzvá a través de la cual se adquiere mérito, felicidad y paz espiritual. Desde este punto de vista se entiende que quien ayuda al otro, se está ayudando a sí mismo. 

El célebre sabio judío RamBam (Maimónides) explica que existen ocho niveles para poder crecer gradualmente en la Tzedaká, a fin de ir alcanzando el grado más alto en el amor al prójimo. Para establecer las jerarquías de la Tzedaká el RamBam aplicó varios criterios:

• El grado de voluntad con que se da

• La espontaneidad

• El grado de anonimato de quien da

• El grado de anonimato de quien es beneficiado

• La función final de la ayuda

Los ocho niveles son los siguientes:

1. El nivel más elevado en el ejercicio de la Tzedaká es ayudar a una persona a mantenerse por sus propios medios antes de que ésta lo necesite o empobrezca. Esto se hace ofreciéndole una ayuda concreta en forma digna, otorgándole un crédito adecuado o ayudándolo a encontrar un empleo o establecer un comercio, de manera que no se vea obligado a depender de otros. 

2. En el segundo nivel el donante no conoce al que recibe y a su vez, el que recibe no conoce al donante. El caso más claro de esta forma de hacer Tzedaká es cuando se contribuye a un fondo de recaudación. Fondos comunitarios administrados por personas confiables entran también dentro de esta categoría. 

3. En el tercer nivel, el donante conoce la identidad del que recibe, pero el que recibe no conoce la identidad del donante. 

4. El cuarto nivel es el de la donación indirecta. El que recibe conoce al donante, pero aquel no conoce la identidad del beneficiado. 5. El quinto nivel es cuando se ofrece y se da la ayuda aunque quien la necesita no la haya pedido. 

6. El sexto nivel es ayudar al necesitado sólo cuando éste lo solicita. 

7. El séptimo nivel consiste en ayudar en menor medida de las posibilidades que uno realmente tiene, pero haciéndolo con alegría. 

8. El octavo y más bajo nivel - aunque igualmente válido - es cuando se hace a desgano.

La pobreza no es una maldición inexorable. Su ampliación o reducción depende de la voluntad de los seres humanos y del modo en que organicen sus sociedades. Los judíos a lo largo de su historia han considerado la insensibilidad frente a ella como una falta de gran gravedad. No se trata de un tema meramente material, sino que tiene las más profundas implicancias espirituales.

Dear Congregation and Friends,

I had the pleasure and duty to attend a very powerful Interfaith Rally against Anti-Semitism held at the Holocaust Memorial on Miami Beach this evening June 3rd. This rally was sponsored by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation with more than 65 participating organizations and Synagogues coming together as a unified community against fear, hatred, violence, racism and particularly Anti-Semitism. Several elected Miami Dade officials spoke brilliantly especially our own Mayor of Miami Beach Dan Gelber, who took the time to discuss privately the current political situation in Israel with me. The new Israeli Consul  to Miami also spoke very well to a crowd of well over 2,000.

Am Yisrael Chai!!

Rabbi Stephen Texon

Dear Congregational Family and Friends,

Yesterday 5/26/21, our  Executive Director, Becky Cohen and I on invitation, had the great pleasure to meet with Congresswoman Maria E. Salazar and staff. A large gathering of other local Rabbis were present together with many representatives of Jewish partner organizations which took part in a very productive and passionate discussion on the urgency of joining forces and uniting in strong support of Israel, combatting antisemitism and racial division. It was extremely gratifying to hear Congresswoman Salazar’s rock solid support of Israel and Judaism expressing that we are “the chosen people” and what that means. She asked for a timeline of all the recent antisemitic acts in this country and around the world since the start of the Gaza War that she plans to present before the Congress. It was truly energizing to be present and to feel the solidarity and determination of all!!

… and the Journey Continues 

As April, begins, we are concluding our most transformative time of Passover. We celebrate breaking out of the narrow confines of slavery to experience the journey of the wilderness. The seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot, which commemorates the receiving of the Ten Commandments, are meant to remind us of a spiritual journey that leads to commitment, promise and special relationship with God. The journey includes many challenges, and the destination – The Promise Land – provide even more challenges. Our journeys continually offers us way to grow in our knowledge, our spiritual well-being, and our commitment to making the world a better place, day by day.

The modern calendar is trying to remind us that we still have a long way to travel. We continue to remember the harsh times when enemies, Ancient Egypt, the Crusaders or Nazi Germany, seek to destroy us. And we continue to celebrate our persistent resilience, maintaining strength despite the challenges. We stand to remember; we stand to celebrate; and we continue our journey to preserve our identity. It isn’t always easy, it isn’t supposed to be. It requires dedication, commitment and learning. Survival demands us to fulfill traditions and create new ones and make our time enjoyable and stimulating. With every hurdle we jump over, a new challenge can get in our way. The challenges make life exciting, and our ability to preserve energizes us to re-creating new ways to be touched by deep meanings.