Community Corner

Why do we celebrate Tu BiSh’vat (New Year of the Trees) in the middle of the winter – a time when nothing is growing and the world around us descends into a deep, frost-bitten slumber?

 On Shabbos, Parshas Chayei Sarah, the world lost a person who, in my eyes, was one of the hidden lamed-vav (36) tzadikim of the world. Berish Teichman was a man who lived his whole life l’sheim shamayim. The first pasuk in Parshas Chayei Sarah states: “And the life of Sarah was one hundred years, twenty years, and seven years.” Rashi comments that all the years of Sarah’s life were equally good. But were they? Sarah Imeinu suffered tremendously in her lifetime. She was barren, she experienced famine, and was taken captive by Pharaoh and Avimelech. However, our mother Sarah always said that everything was “Gam zo l’tovah” – “This, too, is for the good.” She was aware that everything was from HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and therefore it must be good.

(Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.) Malkah Esther bas Sarah

Leah Nacha bas Esther Bryna

Someone – maybe a friend or even a family member – has cardiac arrest right before your eyes. His heart has stopped beating and he requires immediate attention. What do you do?

The conversation is growing. The fifth annual TEAM Shabbos was held on Shabbos VaY’chi, January 11, and rabbis in over 525 shuls and more than 225 communities across North America enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to discuss end-of-life issues. TEAM stands for Traditional End-of-Life Awareness Movement, and TEAM Shabbos, a project of NASCK (the National Association of Chevra Kadisha), encourages and empowers an estimated 100,000 people to have these difficult but essential conversations.