Voices

Bylined opinion and news columns published by United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute.

Mi Shebeirach directs hope for strength and restoration to our loved ones, and to ourselves

Bu Student Rabbi Remy Liverman
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Prayers for healing are deeply embedded in our Jewish liturgy and tradition. The practice began with the holy words Moses prayed to God after his sister Miriam had been stricken with the affliction of tzara’at.

Moses pleaded: El na, refa na la — “Please God, heal her” (Numbers 12:13).

When we join together for Kabbalat Shabbat, we pause during our service to include the Mi Shebeirach, our communal prayer for healing.

Continuing to recite this prayer during services spreads the support to the larger community. This act of chesed sends the message that those who suffer are not alone.

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Presence is the foundation of relationships, helping to build a strong congregation

By Betsy Frank
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Presence involves more than just occupying a seat at a religious service. Presence is the foundation of relationships.

Judaism, meanwhile, is a religion predicated on relationships — with the Creator and to the Torah, including mitzvot directed toward relationships with our earth and all its inhabitants.

Even our religious practices are built on relationships. We can pray alone, but our liturgies are built upon the notion that more than one individual must be present.

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Sisterhood reschedules; declares Hanukkah store open for business

By Patty Lewis
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An early winter blast led Sisterhood to cancel its November meeting, scheduled for Grand Traverse Pie Company, 75 North Third St. in Terre Haute.

We’ve rescheduled for the same time and location, noon Tuesday, Dec. 10. The weather forecast calls for 28 degrees and cloudy, but no snow! Please join us.

Hanukkah will begin the evening of Sunday, Dec. 22, so now is the time to visit our holiday gift shop in the Vestry Room.

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Keep the past in perspective and avoid the trap of ‘hindsight bias’

By Student Rabbi Remy Liverman
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Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah have all come and gone in the whirlwind of Jewish High Holy Days that filled our days in the month of Tishrei.

We have spent ample time considering our return from past transgressions and are ready with steady hands to go boldly into the new year.

More than ever, though, I feel a sense of longing for the High Holy Days and apprehension at the thought that the Book of Life has been sealed for another Jewish calendar year.

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