Pain, hurt and sadness. Anxiety, frustration and disappointment. These are all emotions we try our best to avoid. We yearn to feel full and complete and content. We yearn to feel joy and ease. But life cannot be fully experienced through a prism that only engages half of the pantheon of emotions in the world.
This week the פרשה/Parsha/portion is called חיי שרה/Chaye Sarah or the Lives of Sarah. It opens with the death of the first matriarch, שרה/Sarah. In the spirit of biblical interpretation, the rabbis interpret the interconnected nature of the words, verses and chapters of the תורה/Torah and as such, when two things sit side by side, the text is hinting at a connection. In this case, we believe שרה died as a direct result of the attempted sacrifice of her son יצחק/Isaac at the hands of אברהם/Abraham, his father and her husband. שרה died from immense emotional trauma. There’s a מדרש/midrash, בראשית רבה נח:ו, that שרה died after הסטן/Satan came and told her what אברהם had done. The grief and trauma she experienced at that moment hastened her death.
Grief and trauma are acute forms of mental illness. They’re something every person will contend with over the course of their lives. Each of us will endure grief and trauma in different ways, and some of us will be able to do better than others. Mental Illness is something we tend to not want to talk about. We tend to stigmatize the mentally ill and treat them as weak and other. The problem with this is it only deepens the pain and loneliness of the afflicted… of the sick. We need to come to terms as a society with the basic fact that mental illness is no different than heart disease, cancer, diabetes and any other physical ailments. One doesn’t have cancer because they are weak. One doesn’t have intestinal disease because they are weird. All illnesses are just that… illnesses. When we embrace those around us who are sick, we enable them to be a part of a community that cares and works together to heal the sick.
Last week, I had the honor to attend the Finding Peace of Mind Through Brain Science and Spiritual Practices: A Faith-Based Symposium conference at the Carter Center. It was an honor to be there and the learning was incredible. We spent the day learning about the real impact religious practice and spirituality can have on people. We learned from Dr. Andrew Newberg, MD about his research into a field he called Neurotheology. He’s published numerous articles and books on this subject and all of them are worth our attention. We also spent time discussing the real-world crisis in our midst; the State of Georgia is woefully at the bottom of the US in terms of access to quality mental health care. We spent time talking about the real need religious communities have to be at the front of the work for the mental health of those around us. We must recognize that the value of פיקוח נפש/pikuach nefesh/saving a life is not only about the body but about the whole person. We must also recognize saving a life when it comes to mental health prevents the necessary saving of a life in terms of physical health.
The book of קהלת/Kohelet/Ecclesiastes speaks about the hardships of life. In looking at this magnificent book, we become more aware that a life well-lived is not just one that experiences joy all of the time but one that embraces the complexities of a life filled with highs and lows and ups and downs. Through the acknowledgment of real hurt, trauma, sadness, grief, anxiety and so many other hard realities, we enable others in our midst, including ourselves, to feel a bit more relief and a bit more fullness over the course of their lives.
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Menorah Lighting Wednesday, Jan 1st 5:00p to 6:00p OVS will be leading Hanukkah candle lighting at Town Brookhaven on December 29 and January 1 at 5:00 pm. The Arogeti family will host on December 28 and the Benators on January 1.
Israel Conversation Thursday, Jan 9th 7:00p to 8:30p Join Rabbi Hearshen for a discussion on Israel today and how we can grow our ability to advocate and increase our support of our homeland.
Board Installation Kiddush 2025 Shabbat, Jan 11th 8:45a to 1:00p Join us for our 2025 Board Installation and Shabbat Morning Services, including our new Shabbat Together offerings. A special Kiddush will follow services. RSVP requested.
Soups on Games On Sunday, Jan 12th 10:00a to 1:00p Create two different soups with Chef Jane, play a favorite game while it simmers, and finish with lunch of our own making. Join us for any or all of the following:
10:00 am - Soup Making
10:45 am - Games
Noon - Lunch
OVS Goes Gladiator Sunday, Jan 12th 2:00p to 5:30p Join OVS for a fun day out at a Gladiator home ice hockey game. $25 per person. Tickets will be sent via email during the week prior to the game. Exclusive Benchwarmer Experience at 2:00 pm for the first 16 people to purchase tickets. The game begins at 3:00 pm.
Building a Better World Shabbat Friday, Jan 24th 6:00p to 8:00p Erev Shabbat at Congregation Or VeShalom begins with services at 6:00 pm followed by dinner at 7:00 pm. In partnership and discussion with St. James United Methodist Church.
$35 per person for 3 course dinner. $10 per child ages 10 and under for chicken fingers and fries. Register for Shabbat at orveshalom.org/event/buildbetter2025.
Our community service day for The Trinity Table is Sunday, January 26. We'll meet at St. James to make care packages, have lunch and learn about The Trinity Table. Then we'll head to Trinity United Methodist Church to distribute the packages and serve those in need. Sign up for the community service day at orveshalom.org/event/buildbetterservice.
Building a Better World Community Service Sunday, Jan 26th 12:00p to 3:00p Join us for a community service day for The Trinity Table on Sunday, January 26. We'll meet at St. James to make care packages, have lunch and learn about The Trinity Table. Then we'll head to Trinity United Methodist Church to distribute the packages and serve those in need.
You can also join us for Building a Better World Shabbat on Friday, January 24 at Congregation Or VeShalom. The evening will begin with services at 6:00 pm followed by dinner at 7:00 pm. You can register for Shabbat at orveshalom.org/event/buildbettershabbat
$35 per person for 3 course dinner. $10 per child ages 10 and under for chicken fingers and fries.
Shabbat Across Atlanta Friday, Jan 31st 6:00p to 8:00p Join OVS, One Table, and dozens of partner organizations across Atlanta for this special Shabbat - all from the comfort of your home.
It’s as easy as:
Inviting your friends and family for Shabbat Dinner, Taking a few photos, Sharing the photos with OVS & One Table And... Receiving a stipend for each person at your dinner.
