"But as she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin." (Genesis 35:18) Singular moments in our lives can define us. They don’t have to, yet they often do. What we must not permit to happen is being defined by someone else. Friends describe us, co-workers label us, siblings pigeonhole us and parents name us. At this moment Rachel, in agony, names her son, “child of my suffering.” Then she passes away. Jacob renames his son, “child of my right hand.” With a few letter changes, Jacob changes the narrative of his son’s life. Singular moments in our lives can define us. They don’t have to if we properly name them. This week’s sermon is, “The Whole Nine Yards.” We look forward to celebrating with Natalie Kushner this shabbat for her bat mitzvah and we extend a hearty Mazel tov to her parents Roy and Dalia and her brother Emet.
Greenburgh Hebrew Center rabbistein@ghcny.org 515 Broadway Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 914-693-4260 office@ghcny.org www.ghcny.org
