Hamakomla

This means that God gave us all tremendous power to be co-creators for a better world. The starting point, perhaps, is remembering that we have a lot more power than we sometimes credit ourselves with.

Malka Rappaport
Jewish Spiritual Life Intern
[email protected]

Elul is the perfect time to take an accounting of our souls, a "heshbon hanefesh", reflecting on ways we have missed and hit the mark this past year. Journaling or investing in a book such as "Preparing Your Heart for the High Holidays" is a great way to begin this process.

Humility is a fundamental part of this journey, and gives us a more accurate picture of where we are currently at. How can you take the time to bring more humility into your own reflection practices? How can humility inspire us to take a more honest look at ourselves and our year?

Rabbinic Intern Sarah Klein

https://www.hamakomla.org/event/splash-bash-community-picnic.html

Join us Sunday, September 15, for our community Open House Splash Bash Fun Day. There will be tours of our newly renovated campus, so if you're a member who hasn't been here yet—or just shul shopping—come discover why we're THE PLACE for Jewish Life in the West Valley!

We're grilling hamburgers and hot dogs too, and to keep you cool, there will be water play for kids of all ages, from 3 to 93.

You don't want to miss this free, fun, and informative event!

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Yet it is the case that most people spend twice as much time talking as they spend speaking. Listening is one sign of humility as it reflects the idea that we can learn from one another. In the words of the great rabbi Ben Zoma “Who is wise? The one who learns from every person” (Ethics of the Fathers).

Rabbi Stewart Vogel

Humility and Pride: Two sides of the same coin

Where do arrogance and pride come from?

According to my teacher Rabbi Ira Stone, pride stems from those so needy they have to protect their battered selves which is often expressed either by excessive self-importance or self-deprecation. When we feel the need to protect ourselves from the intrusions of others, we respond in ways that often erase that other person. Instead we impose our presence in the other’s place, through acts of self-aggrandizement or undue deference.

We might learn from Moshe Rabbenu of whom the Torah states, “This man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more so than any person on the face of the earth.” (Bamidbar 12:3)

This description comes following the moment when Moshe’s sister and brother publicly shamed him. Instead of reacting in anger or with pride, Moshe first remains silent and then immediately appeals to God’s mercy asking God to heal Miriam, who suffered illness from her negative comments about Moses. Imagine Moshe’s strength; to remain calm in the face of insult is indeed a great example of humility. What is humility but an honest assessment of our own importance, where pride is an overweening sense of our own importance.

How do you respond to insult? How do you keep your pride in check when you feel you have been affronted? Can you mitigate such moments of self-importance and make room in your life for the other person?

Rabbi Richard Camras

We have a tendency to blame others when things go wrong rather than giving them credit when things go right. Letting other people feel appreciated and recognizing their contributions is an act of humility that reminds us we are not omniscient or omnipotent, while also elevating the self-esteem of the people around us.

Rabbi Stewart Vogel

What kind of problems could we address if it didn’t matter who got credit for solving them?

What could Congress accomplish if it didn’t matter which party got to claim ownership of the solution?

What could we achieve if we didn’t care if anyone recognized us for what we did?

Sometimes the solution is right there in front of us. We just need to get out of the way and not worry about whether anyone notices it was us. The glory comes in our knowing we did what was best for everyone...

…and that maybe God was watching us.

Rabbi Adam Schaffer

How easy it is for us to point fingers at others! To see in others their flaws and shortcomings. Perhaps, instead of being so judgmental, we can pause and with curiosity ask, what might be behind their words or actions? What is their full story? Might they be teaching me something I need to learn.

Today, try to be less judgmental of others and more understanding of where they are coming from or what they are saying.

Rabbi Richard Camras

Join us for the High Holy Days: https://www.hamakomla.org/hhd

Hamakom Response To The Deaths of Six Hostages from Co-Senior Rabbis Richard Camras and Stewart Vogel:

We were outraged late last night - just like many of you - to read that six Israeli hostages abducted on October 7th were brutally murdered by terrorists shortly before being discovered in a tunnel complex in southern Gaza by Israel Defense Force troops.

Five of the hostages - Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Ori Danino, 25, Alex Lubnov, 32, and Almog Sarusi, 27, were abducted from the Nova music festival. The sixth, Carmel G*t, 40, was taken from Kibbutz Be’eri.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog released a statement declaring the “heart of an entire nation is crushed into pieces” by their deaths.

“In the name of the entire State of Israel, I hold their families in my heart and ask forgiveness. Forgiveness for not being able to return your loved ones home safely,” he said.

Herzog might be asking the hostage families for forgiveness, but we - the leadership of Hamakom - will never forgive Hamas for this despicable act or the barbaric violence on October 7th that precipitated this moment.

This tragic event only serves to reinforce what we already knew and what the entire world should now understand: Hamas is a terrorist organization that has no place in civil society and must be completely eradicated for even the hope of peace to exist in the Middle East.

We pray that Israeli society can once again dig deeply into their souls to find the strength to persevere. We hope they find comfort in the support and outrage from Jews and non-Jews around the world to this horrific news.

In moments of sorrow, we find strength in our tradition.
קָרוֹב ה' לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵב וְאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־רוּחַ יוֹשִׁיעַ:
The Eternal is close to the brokenhearted;
those crushed in spirit God delivers.
- Psalms 34:19

Am Yisrael Chai,

Rabbi Richard Camras and Rabbi Stewart Vogel

We're celebrating our legacy tonight, including Hazzan Mike Stein and the debut of his legacy project, "23 Songs for 23 Years." Hazzan Stein released a few "unmastered" tracks from his album before tonight's Shabbat service. Listen to them here: https://www.hamakomla.org/event/legacy-shabbat-service.html

The Mizmor Shir choir and the entire clergy team will be here for this extraordinary Shabbat. The band includes Justin Stein, David Cohen, Jenni Asher, Lazer Cohen, and Steve Harvey.

See you tonight at 7:30 pm, either in person or on livestream.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4DxzitxaaU
From the Mission to Israel series, Rabbi Richard Camras and the volunteers visited the Gaza Corridor to witness firsthand the destruction at Kfar Aza and the Nova Music Festival.

Bearing Witness to October 7th | HAMAKOM Volunteer Mission to Israel Rabbi Richard Camras and the HAMAKOM volunteers visit the Gaza Corridor to witness firsthand the destruction at Kfar Aza a...

Continuing with the volunteer mission video log, Rabbi Richard Camras and the HAMAKOM volunteers visit Moshav Shokeda to prepare meals for Israeli soldiers fighting inside Gaza.

Feeding The Troops at Moshav Shokeda | HAMAKOM Volunteer Mission to Israel Rabbi Richard Camras and the HAMAKOM volunteers visit Moshav Shokeda to prepare meals for Israeli soldiers fighting inside...

As part of Rabbi Richard Camras' volunteer mission to Israel, on their first full day, they traveled to Shuva, a moshav in the Southern District of Israel with a population of 425 people, and helped pick citrus.

Picking Fruit at Moshav Shuva | HAMAKOM Volunteer Mission to Israel Rabbi Richard Camras leads a group of HAMAKOM volunteers on their first full day in Israel as they travel to Shuva, a mos...

Shabbat Shalom! In this week's video Shabbat message, Rabbi David Mendelson discusses the idea that God only allowed Moses to deliver certain words, even if Moses wanted to say more. We must discover and learn on our own and share what we can with others of what we've learned.

No More, No Less | Rabbi David Mendelson In this Shabbat message for February 2, 2024, Rabbi David Mendelson discusses the idea that God only allowed Moses to deliver certain words, even if Moses wa...

Our Rabbi David Mendelson will be speaking at this interfaith event, open to all.

The Men's Club Comedy Night, now in its 19th year, is always a great evening of humor for the entire community, both men and women. So invite your friends and family and join us on North Campus as we share some laughs together. Or if you'd rather stay at home, we'll be livestreaming the program via a private YouTube link. Get your tickets today!

https://www.hamakomla.org/event/comedy-night.html

Services begin tonight at 6 pm North Campus and 8 pm South Campus. Saturday morning Services start at 8:30 North Campus and 8:45 South Campus.

Shana Tova. If you are unable to attend in person, join us online throughout the High Holy Days https://www.youtube.com/

Hamakom featured in the Acorn Newspapers, the leader in local news and feature story coverage for almost 50 years.

Two synagogues merge under new name: Hamakom SPIRITUAL GUIDES—Rabbi Stewart Vogel, left, and Rabbi Richard Camras will jointly lead the new Jewish center called Hamakom. Courtesy of Curtis DahlTemple Aliyah and Shomrei Torah Synagogue, two Jewish houses of worship in the West San Fernando Valley, are merging to form a new concept in Jewish c...

Welcome sign is up at the South campus. Join us this Shabbat for Shabbat Under the Stars Friday night at the South campus www.hamakomla.org

Thank you to Ari Noonan at the Jewish Journal for a great piece on Hamakom in this weeks JJ

Two Valley Synagogues Merge Two established Conservative synagogues in the West Valley, Temple Aliyah and Shomrei Torah Synagogue, have joined to form a single community, HaMakom (The Place).