From the Rabbi's Desk

I’m so excited for this weekend. The Sisterhood Hanukkah Bazaar is one of the highlights of my year. I’m always in awe of what our community has created and managed to keep going for 48 years. The amount of pride I feel every year after Bazaar is so immense. Words cannot begin to express my appreciation to our Sisterhood for all they do year-round, and especially for Bazaar. Words can likewise not begin to express how much I appreciate the time, effort, and work our chairs of the Bazaar have put into this event. Thank you so much.

פרשת ויצא/Parshat VaYetze opens with יעקב/YaAkov/Jacob’s famous dream of the stairway joining heaven and earth. When it concludes, he utters these profound words: יש השם במקום הזה ואנכי לא ידעתי/God is here in this place and I didn’t know it. בראשית כח:טז. We all too often overlook the majesty that’s all around us. When we take a step back, though, we become all the more aware of the magic in our midst. We begin to recognize the holiness all around us. Our Bazaar is this magical and incredible event that’s more than meets the eyes. It’s the result of our community’s hard work. It’s the nourishing of others with our heritage. It’s the celebration of our Judaism. It’s the time for OVS to shine for others to see the gifts we have and that we give to the world. Seeing so many of our members volunteering and helping is inspiring. Knowing this has been happening for decades and generations is a miracle and a true reminder of the holiness in our midst.

I am so excited for this weekend and I hope you’ll join me this Sunday, December 8, from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm for the 48^th annual Sisterhood Hanukkah Bazaar