December 2015
Kislev/Tevet 5776
From the Rabbi’s Study… The recent events of violence in Paris and around the world have shaken us to the core. The Saturday morning (11/14/2015) headline of the Portsmouth Herald read "Attack on All of Humanity." The headline is actually a quote from President Obama. The President’s words echoed the grim thoughts and emotions that fill our psyche. On some level, each of us felt that our humanity and our way of life was attacked on Friday the 13th of November, as terrorists carried out seven coordinated military attacks, killing 129 people and injuring 352 others. I believe that our president is correct. This is an attack on all of humanity. We are being attacked by ISIS -a radical group who is eager to attack anybody (Jew, Christian or Muslim) that does not share their extremist beliefs. The shared values that define western civilization are very much under attack. Shortly after the attacks, it was reported that one of the terrorists entered Europe impersonating a political refugee from Syria. In response, more than half of US governors have called for a halt to Syrian refugees. There is legislation in both the House and Senate calling for a halt to the admission of Syrian refugees into the United States. Gov. Maggie Hassan became the first Democratic governor to advocate a complete freeze of Syrian refugees entering the United States until the government can “ensure robust refugee screening.” I agree with and admire our governor's swift action in response to a perceived threat.
Hebrew School Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner & Service Friday, December 4th 5:45pm Dinner, 6:45pm Service No 7:30pm Service on 12/4
Chanukah Candle Lightings with Hands of Hope Menorah Sunday, Dec 6th - Sunday, Dec 13th 5:30pm Every Night, Courtyard (see p. 2)
Board Meeting Tuesday, December 10th, 7pm, Board Room
Preschool Chanukah Family Celebration Friday, December 11th, 11:30am
TOT-ally Shabbat Friday, December 11th, 5:45pm Regular service at 7:30pm
Community Chanukah Party Candle Lighting & Latkes
Sunday, December 13th, 11am Evaluating and improving our current screening process (if Sisterhood Sponsored necessary) must now become a number one priority for our Temple Red Cross Blood Drive government. Every effort must be made to do so without Wednesday, December 23rd, 9am-2pm, TIP interrupting the resettlement effort. Failure to do so rewards the actions of our adversaries by handing them a victory on a silver platter. We must realize that, like the victims of the Paris attacks, the Syrian refugees are front line victims of ISIS. Part and parcel of who we are is encapsulated in the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door." America is a country of immigrants that has always embraced immigrants, especially those who face persecution in their countries of origin. Continued on p. 2