Rabbi's Blog

​​​​
Dear Shaare Family,

This Shabbat, we have a special opportunity to do a mitzvah, just by going to shul. Itay Atias and his family relocated to Dallas shortly after Simchat Torah; the family has been through many changes and challenges, and suffered the loss of close friends and associates on that day. They came to Dallas, where they have family; Itay’s mother Dana is cousins with our own Amber Waks, and his uncle Nir Geist lives here as well.

Itay is still making friends and learning English, and this is certainly not what he and his family envisioned when they imagined and planned for his bar mitzvah. When they turned to us to see if we could be the venue for it, we agreed enthusiastically. It is the least we can do to welcome a member of the Jewish family, especially from Israel, into the Shaare family. Please join us in shul tomorrow and help make Itay’s simcha an unforgettably joyous one. 

Special Hakarat HaTov to Jacques Ohayon and kiddush crew always put together a delicious spread, but they are not a catering operation; for this event only, they made an exception. Join us tomorrow, and you will be rewarded with a sumptuous gala kiddush. I hope to see you in shul!

Last Week’s MSOTW

Last week’s MSOTW is the Ohr Torah Tunisian Synagogue in Akko. The entire building, inside and outside, are decorated in mosaics from tiles made in Israel, which took 54 years to create. The shul also has 140 stained glass windows, and a dome. 

This Week's MSOTW

Changing demographics in the community where this shul is located caused its original status, as a Conservative congregation, to lose long-term viability. In time, the shul became Orthodox and now it is the local “minyan factory.” Name the shul and the community.

Rabbi’s Resources and MSOTW will resume January 11, 2024.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky