Page 3 - The Jewish Voice - November '21

The Jewish Voice, Page 3

From the Rabbis from page 2

Natan Sharansky, former refusenik, minister in the Israeli little black Tehilim. At the time he didn’t think much of it am not a speck of dust under the boots of these wicked people,
government, and chairman of the Jewish Agency, doesn’t (or have time to even look at it), but when the KGB came to because I am with You. You, G-d, have brought me here, and
leave home without a small volume of Tehilim in his front arrest him, he realized that the Tehilim arrived just in time. are watching over me at every moment. At that moment of
shirt pocket. Wherever he goes, the small, black book of This would give him the strength to get through his ordeal. stunning clarity, he became determined to keep his head high
Psalms goes with him. This is the story behind it: To his dismay, the book of Tehilim was confiscated as soon over the Soviet regime, come what may. Throughout all the
In 1973, Natan was engaged to his future wife, Avital, in as he was taken to jail. He fought for three years with the hours of interrogation, throughout his more than 400 days in
the Soviet Union. The couple dreamed of escaping Soviet authorities to return it to him. Finally, they relented, and isolation, and all the pain he experienced, they couldn’t break
persecution and emigrating to the Holy Land. Remarkably, he was reunited with the holy book. Just one day later, he him. The “Teivah,” the ark of the words of King David in
Avital was granted a coveted exit visa but was told that she received a telegram notifying him that his father had passed Psalms, stronger than any force in the world, kept him afloat
had to use it quickly or forfeit her right to leave. Natan and away. This news was a crushing blow to his morale as he sat even during the most frightening of waves crashing around
Avital arranged a quick wedding ceremony in a friend’s isolated and confined, but once again the Tehilim had arrived him.
apartment, and the very next morning Avital left the country, just when he needed it. The only difference between a piece of coal and a
expecting that her husband would soon be allowed to join Sharansky decided to start reading the Tehilim. It was priceless diamond is how much pressure they’ve endured:
her. But no visa was issued for Natan, and the government difficult, because of his limited knowledge of Hebrew, and Life’s pressures were sent to you by G-d to turn you into the
declared that it was not going to issue one. because the poetic style of Tehlim makes it difficult to know priceless being you are destined to become. Just be sure not
Sharansky became a refusenik, starting a global struggle where a phrase begins and where it ends. But after reading it to crumble — you’ve got what it takes to come out dazzling!
for the right of Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel. Three day after day, and comparing one word to another, he began Wishing you a month of surfing the Torah instead of the
years into his campaign, he was arrested on false charges to understand a word here, a word there, a phrase here, phrase Internet!
of espionage and treason against the Soviet Union. He was there. He progressed until he was able to understand his first Rabbi Dovid Vigler is spiritual leader at Chabad of Palm
sentenced to 13 years of forced labor. Just a few days before sentence, a sentence of 11 words in Psalm 23: “Even as I walk Beach Gardens and host of the Jewish Schmooze Radio Show.
his arrest, he had been visited by a tourist from America in the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are Email him at rabbi@jewishgardens.com
who brought him a package from his wife. In it was this with me.” It hit him: I am not alone in the valley of death. I

Giving Back Takes Center Stage from page 1

8 Days, 8 Ways Pick Up & Deliver Hanukkah Meals each month in mothers who receive infant essentials from
Wednesday, November 24, and Thursday, December
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies. There are three ways
Calendar of Events 2, 2021 you can help the nonprofit’s Basics 4 Babies program:
The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Drop off formula, baby food,
For the most current details and how to register, please visit 844 Prosperity Farms Road, North Palm Beach and diapers for families facing financial hardships. No
jewishpb.org/8days. Join JVC, The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach, and Alpert registration necessary.
Thanksgiving Food Drive Jewish Family Service to safely deliver festive kosher • 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 12:30 to 2 p.m. - Volunteer
Tuesday, November 16, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. holiday meals to our community’s homebound seniors and during one of two shifts to organize supplies. Social
Deliver to either Mandel JCC location: community members facing extreme hardship this holiday distancing and masks required.
• 5221 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens season. Volunteers are needed to help pack meals, as well • Completely contactless option: Purchase supplies on
• 8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach as assist with picking up meals and delivering them to the the Basics 4 Babies Amazon web page (details at jewishpb.
Ensure local families can have a hearty, healthy, and doorsteps of those in need. Open to all ages; limited spaces org/8days).
festive Thanksgiving by donating turkeys and non-perishable available. Please note: Registration is not a guarantee of Read To Children
food. For health and safety reasons, please register with your participation, as volunteers are based on community need. Tuesday, December 14, mid-morning
location preference to drop off your donated items during our Celebrate Hanukkah & Help Local Women During Boynton Beach
contactless event. Donations will support Family Promise Community Event Spend the morning celebrating the winter holidays
of North/Central Palm Beach County, The Soup Kitchen of Sunday, December 5, from 3 to 5 p.m. by reading to children in kindergarten through second
Boynton Beach, and The Salvation Army. Rosemary Square grade with the Anne & Sam Klein Literacy Program.
Make Hanukkah Cards For Seniors 700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach Volunteers will read to children in small groups, and a
Bring smiles to the faces of seniors at MorseLife and Let love and light fill your heart as you join our book will be donated to each child for the personal home
recipients of meals from Kind Kitchen with this at-home community for a free, high-energy, family-friendly library. Space is limited. Please RSVP to jessica.fried@
volunteer opportunity for all ages. Download and print Hanukkah event at Rosemary Square. Stop by the JVC and jewishpalmbeach.org; school location and time will be
Hanukkah cards at jewishpb.org/hanukkahcards; print as Women’s Philanthropy activity station to help assemble provided upon registration confirmation.
many as you’d like — and we’ll deliver your personalized hygiene kits that will be donated to the Human Trafficking Pack Lunches Of Love
notes to locals who could use an extra smile during the Coalition of the Palm Beaches. Friday, December 17, from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Festival of Lights. In partnership with PJ Library, Mandel Help Local Mothers In Need Deliver to either Mandel JCC location:
JCC, Meyer Preparatory, community members, and our Friday, December 10 5221 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens
synagogue partners. Please mail completed cards by Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies 8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach
November 30 to: Jewish Volunteer Center, 1 Harvard Circle, 4601 Lake Worth Road, Greenacres A staggering number of people in our community don’t
Suite 100, West Palm Beach, FL 33409. Since COVID, there’s been a 200 percent increase know where their next meal is coming from. You can help
by packing brown bag lunches that will be delivered to
individuals and families in need. Please wear gloves and
masks when preparing and placing the following in brown
bags: non-perishable sandwiches (PB&J or nut butter and
jelly) and snacks preferred; water, chips, dessert, and
messages of kindness and support. Our team will deliver
the lunches on your behalf to our partners at St. George’s
Center, St. Ann Place, and The Soup Kitchen of Boynton
Beach.
December 4-5, 2021 Beach Cleanup & Sea Turtle Education
Tuesday, December 28, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Ocean Reef Park
3860 N. Ocean Drive, Riviera Beach
Join us for a beautiful day as we learn about sea turtles
and the importance of keeping our shoreline clean to
protect these animals that are critical to our ecosystem, and
then participate in a beach cleanup. Registration required,
open to all ages.
Federation is closely monitoring the continuously
changing situation with COVID and will adjust event
plans based on public health guidance.

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DREYFOOS HALL could be here!

Visit the website
www.balletpalmbeach.org Call
or call 561.832.7469
or 800.572.8471 561-746-3244

to find out how!
Photo credit: ©Steven Caras. All rights reserved