The Educational Director's message

There was a beautiful story that appeared in a Jewish newsletter a while ago. Back in the mid-nineties, a Jewish advertising executive in New York came up with an idea for the world's most prestigious newspaper, the New York Times, to list the weekly Shabbat candle lighting time each week. Imagining the Jewish awareness and pride that might result from such a prominent mention of Shabbat each week, the savvy advertising executive got in touch with a Jewish philanthropist and sold him on the idea for two thousand dollar a week. For the next five years, each Friday, Jews around the world would see “Shabbat candle lighting time this Friday is . . . ” Eventually the philanthropist had to cut back on some of his projects and in June 1999, the little Shabbat notice stopped appearing in the Friday Times. From that week on it never appeared again, except once on January 1, 2000, when the Times ran a Millennium edition. This special issue featured three front pages. One had the news from January 1, 1900; the second had the news of January 1, 2000 and the third projected future events for January 1, 2100. This fictional page included things like a welcome to the fifty-first state, Cuba, a discussion on whether robots should be allowed to vote, etc. There was one more item. On the bottom of the 2100 front page was the Shabbat candle lighting time in New York for January 1, 2100. Nobody paid for it; the information was just published. When the Irish-Catholic production manager of the Times was asked why the Shabbat candle lighting time was included, he stated, “We don’t know what will happen in the year 2100. It’s impossible to predict the future. But one thing you can be certain of is that in the year 2100 Jews will be lighting Shabbat candles.” This inclusion in the New York Times 2100 edition speaks volumes about the eternity of our people and the power of this Jewish ritual.

Perhaps you didn’t grow up in a family where Shabbat candles were lit and maybe you think about the ritual but to you it’s just something other people do. Try it—you’ll like it—I guarantee! Our lives are so inundated with information, sights, sounds, dings, and beeps that call for our attention. We are unaware of how much noise there is until that special quiet Shabbat time is welcomed into our week. We all have hectic schedules, but we truly feel the lightness of the absence of these demands when we welcome Shabbat. Shabbat can also provide a time and space for mindfulness of all that we accomplish the other six days. In the quiet calm of Shabbat, we can make thoughtful choices about how much we are willing to do and what we would like to do differently when Shabbat is over. Shabbat is not just a reminder of the power of God; it is a reminder of our own power over our lives. No matter what your spectrum of observance, there is always room for new rituals that can enhance your enjoyment of Shabbat. Maybe you can set aside some reading, play a family game, or have junk food for breakfast (we have donuts!) just because it’s fun. Your rituals don’t necessarily have to be religious because Judaism’s greatest gift to all of us is making the ordinary holy and the holy normal. Remember, Shabbat is your weekly opportunity to have a FREE vacation once a week, every week. 

Enjoy a little bit of Shabbat magic with your OJC community. Family services are on the first Friday of every month at 6 pm and Tot Shabbat, Jr. Jr. Congregation and Jr. Congregation are EVERY Shabbat at 10:30am.    

B’ Shalom, Sandy Borowsky

Please check your emails and our website for our Nursery School and Religious School events and their details. Ask your children in grades 3-5 about our Elective Extravaganza and our students in Grades 3-7 about our healthy choice Snack Shop on Tuesdays.