Shabbat Shalom!
The word of the week:
2021 has begun with a BANG! Here in Barbados we have lived happily in a safe zone for the last six months. While most of the world has been in a lock-down environment, we have worked, socialized and enjoyed the privileges of what appeared to be a COVID-free existence. AND then it all came to a halt. I keep asking myself what the lesson is in all of this beside the obvious of wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands. For me, it is about releasing control to a higher power. Every time I think I am in charge of my destiny, I am reminded that the only thing I am in control of is my response to any given situation. I have the freedom to choose optimism. The late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote;
”Human beings are the only life form capable of using the future tense. Only beings who can imagine the world other than it is are capable of freedom. And if we are free, the future is open, dependent on us. We can know the beginning of our story but not the end. That is why, as He is about to take the Israelites from slavery to freedom, God tells Moses that His name is “I will be what I will be.” Judaism, the religion of freedom, is faith in the future tense”. (Please read the full article here).
We will be holding ZOOM services tomorrow evening, January 8th 2021 at 6:30pm. Please click Join ZoomMeeting to attend and then type in the Passcode: 181818
Note that in North America it’s 5:30pm when it’s 6:30pm in Barbados.
Please see the below link for a copy of our siddur.
https://www.bethshalomnb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Shabbat-evening-SIDDUR-SIM-SHALOM.pdf
Shabbat Shalom!
Sharon Oran
President
The Barbados Jewish Community
