Early summer 2016
A Mitzvah, A Blessing, and You By Rabbi Allan Berkowitz Allow me to share with you a bit of my personal philosophy and theology of life. In this chaotic world, and amidst our daily grinds, we should be open to moments that can transcend the burdens and challenges we face. And so…. ….if someone offers you a blessing, take it! ….if life gives you the chance to do a mitzvah, just say yes! Let’s face it, we can never have too many blessings in our lives, and the world needs us to do as many mitzvot as we can. Here is a mitzvah opportunity that each of us can embrace with very little effort. There is a time-honored tradition that links the giving of tzedakah with prayer. Our tradition teaches that the gates of heaven, as well as our hearts, are particularly open during prayer-time. And so we open our wallets, too. Synagogues facilitate this easy mitzvah by having a tzedakah box available during daily minyan. At CBD we instituted this daily mitzvah opportunity two years ago. Our humble tzedakah box makes an appearance at every weekday minyan. Some people drop in paper currency. Some people empty their pockets of whatever coins are hanging around. No one checks to see who donated or how much. We just know that the box is there for those who need or want a mitzvah. What impact does it have on the world? Our simple tzedakah box is like the little train engine that could….and does. In the two years since we instituted it, we have collected and allocated nearly $2,800. The recipients of our donations, voted on by anyone who attends the minyan on the night we do our semi-annual allocation exercise, have included: Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley, Hadassah Medical Organization, Second Harvest, Magen David Adom, Hatikvah House, Joint Distribution Committee, and two donations to benefit CBD (a menorah for the new Beit Midrash and scholarship funds to send USYers to a convention). Five times each week our minyan is open for business. Five times each week our tzedakah box is open for business. It is true that the minyan and tzedakah box need you. But perhaps it is more the case that you need them? Remember….
5776
In This Issue: From the Rabbi
Page 3 President’s Perspective
Page 5 Calendars May, June & July
Pages 24 - 29
Anniversaries May, June & July
Pages 39 & 40 Birthdays May, June & July
Pages 41 & 42
100% club
Pages 43 & 44 contributions
Pages 44 - 46
….if someone offers you a blessing, take it! ….if life gives you the chance to do a mitzvah, just say yes! 1