Erev Shabbat
Friday, October 8
- Candle lighting: 6:20 pm
Parshat Noach
Shabbat, October 9
- Stone Chumash p. 30
- 153 Psukim (verses)
- Haftorah: Isaiah Ch. 54/55 “Roni Akara,” Stone Chumash p. 1131
Important Shabbat Times
- Candle lighting: 6:20 pm
- Vasikin (Sunrise): 7:05:05 am
- Latest Morning Shma: 9:57 am
- Earliest Mincha: 1:19 pm
- Havdalah: 7:14 pm
- Zoom Havdalah: 7:30 pm
Insights from the Tradition: Parshat Noach
“And the flood submerged the entire earth.” Sometimes it is necessary to totally jettison the past, just as G-d found it necessary, when He decided to restart the world. At times we all need to start anew, which is why each morning we wake up and say Modeh Ani. That is also the main theme of Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, and Rosh Hashana. We need to take the time to constantly reassess our lives and introduce changes whenever necessary. However, G-d did not wipe the slate clean. He did save Noach, his family, and most of the animal kingdom on the planet.
Although we do need to periodically start anew, it does not mean we must cancel everything in our past. Our positive accomplishments, our good deeds, our valued relationships, must be preserved, even if we occasionally find ourselves in a brand new environment. It is interesting that modern sociologists are now recommending taking a once weekly “free day” avoiding the use of any electronic devices and communications. They recommend reconnecting with nature as well as family and friends in real life (IRL). Society is quickly losing its ability to relate to actual people. Shabbat, it seems, is a very good idea indeed!
Life is a constant struggle of trial and error, but it is important to learn from the past, and carry on our positive accomplishments into the future. Shabbat, and Rosh Chodesh enable us to do just that.
Shabbat Shalom!