AHAVAT TORAH

ONE TORAH, MANY TEACHERS, ONE COMMUNITY http://www.ahavattorahla.org

November 23rd, 2013

9:00 - 9.45 am Mussar Class led by Susan Nanus

10:00 am – 12.30 PM Shabbat Service

Torah Portion / Vayeshev Genesis 37:1- 40:23
Chanter / Marge Brownstein
D’var Torah / Laurel Gord
Cantor / Jonathan Troper, Mary Kalifon
Greeter / Helene Silber
Musical Accompaniment / Joel Warren

The holiday of Thanksgiving, like Shabbat, was created and placed into our calendars as an opportunity to lay back and take time to reflect on the people and event in our lives. It is an opening, a space in time, to revel what we might not have been able to do at the time of the event or the encounter. I look at this space in time as a gift, as an opportunity to offer gratitude to God and the people around us.

Our tradition teaches us to say 100 blessings a day, from the first moment of consciousness, to the last breath we take upon this earth. I acknowledge that at times it is hard to be in the state of constant gratitude, however, it is such a joy to try.

I looked up on the web people’s statements on this topic; here is some of what I found:

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Marcel Proust

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” Thích Nhất Hạnh

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” Epicurus

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Sometimes life knocks you on you down, get up, get up, get up!!! Happiness is not the absence of problems; it's the ability to deal with them.” Steve Maraboli


“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” Eckhart Tolle

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” Meister Eckhart

“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” John F. Kennedy

“You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.” Kahlil Gibran

“Faith is the bird that sings to the dawn while it is still dark.” Kabir

May your Thanksgiving celebration be filled with thankfulness. Amen.

****Special Announcements****

Opportunity to help those in need Wednesday Nov 27th.

Dear Ahavat Torah Movers and Shakers,

The Social Action Committee is teaming up with St. Monica's Church to help out during their 34th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner.

Sherry Modell will be collecting toiletries and clothes next Saturday, November 23

Especially needed are: Men's clothing, shoes for adults and children, jackets and coats, sleeping bags, and travel size toiletries

Help on Wednesday, November 27, the day of the event would be most welcome. Contact Sherry or Renee for more ,

You can visit St. Monicas website for more information http://www.stmonica.net/thanksgiving

Please join us at St. Monica's, 3:00pm November 27th See you there!!!

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Dear friends:

My housemate has recovered and no longer needs help and wants to live alone again, so I am once again looking for a place to live. I need a place where I can trade work for some or all of the rent. In exchange, I have experience as and can be a companion, nanny, organizer, personal assistant, driver, dog walker/pet sitter, run errands, go shopping, organize and administer medicines, cook, do light cleaning and laundry, and so on. Please contact me at (310)497-9798 or my new email address: if you know of someone who would like such an arrangement.

Thank you very much,

Sue-Ann Leeds

Dear Ahavat Torah friends,

As some of you know I have been working on a book, or so I think, about our hike last summer on the Pacific Crest Trail. I've set up the first part as a blog with photos. Here's the link. Ahavat Torah definitely is part of the story. Here's the link:

http://wakingupinatent.blogspot.com

Love,

Laurel

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Note from the Editor:

Dear AT members and Friends of AT,

I am writing to you to let you know that the publication of our Newsletter will be changing from a weekly format to a Bi-monthly format. In the interim the publishing of the newsletter will be on hiatus and will resume the week of December 14th.

Friends of AT, with this new format, from time to time you will be receiving a special email updating you on special events that are taking place at Ahavat Torah.

Thank you for your understanding,

Kevi Williams

Weekly

Saturdays / 9 - 9:45am / Mussar-Ethic with Rabbi Miriam in the Fireside Room
10 am - 12:30 pm / Shabbat services followed by lunch at 12:30pm
Tuesdays / 11 - noon
by appointment / Hebrew reading – beginning/advanced, with Rena Jaffe
Torah Chanting with Rena
Thursdays / 11 am - noon / Sacred & mystical meaning of prayer, at Rabbi’s home
Noon – 3pm / Torah study, with Rabbi Miriam and Aharon Nachshon

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

December

Wednesday, 4 / 6:30pm – 9:30pm / Hanukkah Party @ Ahavat Torah Social Hall
Shabbat, 7 / 10am / Midrashah
Shabbat, 14 / 10am / Simchat Shabbat
1pm / Board Meeting
Shabbat, 21 / 1pm / Social Action Committee Meeting

For further information contact Debra at

AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION, P. O. Box 291262 Los Angeles, CA 90029; Phone 310-362-1111;