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Weekly Parshat |
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Torah Reading for Week of September 21-27, 2008 - Elul 21-27 5768
Nitzavim - (Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20)
You stand upright this day, all of you, before the L-rd your G-d: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, and all the men of Israel; your little ones, your wives, and your stranger that is in your camp, from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water (Deuteronomy 29:9-10)
The Talmud (Pesachim 50a) tells the story of Rav Yosef the son of Rabbi Joshua ben Levi, who fell ill and was at the brink of death when his father's prayers brought him back to life. When he came to, his father asked him: "My son, what did you see (in heaven)?" Rav Yosef replied: "I saw an upside-down world. Those who are on top here, are on the bottom there; and those who are here regarded as lowly, are exalted in heaven."
That the leader or the sage is superior to the wood-hewer or the water carrier is only from our earth-bound perspective, which sees a "hierarchy" of roles. But when "you all stand before G-d" there is no higher and lower -- what seems "low" here is no less lofty and significant in G-d's eyes.
(Alshich)
"This day" is a reference to Rosh Hashanah, the day on which we all stand in judgment before G-d (the Torah reading of Nitzavim is always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah).
(Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov)
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 Links
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DNA Testing
Click on the box for DNA Testing
Anusim Names
Click on the map to check out the SHI Anusim Names Project
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Sephardim Hope News ...And the regathered shall inherit the Negev. Obadiah 1:20 
Elul 5768/September 2008
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Greetings!,
We want to wish a great Shana Tovah to all of our SHI supporters and friends for the coming New Year of 5769! May you & your loved ones have a year of peace, security and freedom...
May you have good health, happiness and success!
We are thankful for a safe trip to Israel and HaShem's provision for SHI. We worked hard at all the preparations of the sale of the center and also had a little time to spend with good friends in Ashkelon and time praying in Jerusalem at the Kotel.
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Update on Israel Trip
John Daly, from "Friends in Deed" was a tremendous help to us and we also enjoyed his fine company. We toured Ashkelon, that has faced some challenges in the past with some Katushas, but remains a viable, great and beautiful port city. The marina is growing and the city is still expanding with a new world class golf resort in the planning stages. We hope to visit this area again in the coming year.
SHI with John Daly & Chabad of Ashkelon
We also enjoyed touring the new school facility construction project for "special needs" children being built by the Chief Chabad Rabbi's efforts in Ashkelon. The school will offer special therapy classes for these little ones.
Shlavim Center, Ashkelon Israel
(click on picture for more info)
Upon our return we received a call from one of the friends of SHI asking us if we could distribute a contribution to help children in Israel. It was a joy to be a channel through which a substantial contribution to this wonderful need in Israel.
We are thankful to HaShem that we were able to pass this tzedakah on to this well deserving work in Ashkelon, Israel.
SHI Seminar in Oakland, CA
We had the privilige of presenting a seminar about the awakening B'nai Anusim this past month at the Israel group meeting in Oakland, CA. hosted by Rosemary Schindler. The response was very encouraging as several came up after the seminar with questions and letting us know how much it meant to them.
New doors are opening for this important work in the Americas to share the messageof the "Hidden Sephardic Jews Awakening". |
More Anusim Awaken & Return
While in Israel we had the opportunity to meet with and interview two different cases of Returning B'nai Anusim. One was a family from Latin America. This is a wonderful, humble family that are destined to impact Israel in a positive way in years to come. The second was a person who was able to return from another continent with a miraculous story to tell.
In respect to both of these precious cases this is all of the information we are able to release. Just know this... HaShem is in the process of returning His Hidden Ones according to Obadiah 1:19 & 20.
Awakening Anusim in the Diaspora continue to write emails to SHI from all over the world. Our goal is to encourage and to provide as many connections as possible for our people desiring aliyah information, and connecting them to the appropriate Rabbis that may be able to assist them.
SHI continues building a data base of Sephardic Anusim names and stories, supporting by answering questions and offering resources needed to many who are emailing in this awakening "army of dry bones". | |
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Nefesh B'Nefesh Takes Over Aliyah
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
(IsraelNN.com) The Jewish Agency has ended a long-standing dispute with the highly successful Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN) organization and has agreed to allow it to manage the immigration of Jews (aliyah) from North America. Click here for article...
Nefesh B'Nefesh Aliyah Services |
Rosh HaShana
Our hearts now look forward to Rosh Hashana, or Yom Teruah, the "Day of sounding of the shofar", the Holiest Day of Yom Kippur and the joy of Sukkot, Tabernacles.
There are two portions read during this time, the birth of Isaac and the "Akedah", literally meaning the "binding" . This is the account of Abraham's long journey found in Genesis chapter 22 to the binding of his son, Isaac and the miracle of G-d's provision of the ram.
As we ready ourselves for this time of the year, there is so much entailed in these powerful Feasts that I will only share a small sampling here. There is so much to learn, always.
Rosh Hashana brings us the distinct sounds of the shofar:
The first is called the Tekiah, which means "blast", a long clear note on the shofar
The second is called the Shavarim, meaning "broken", three short notes blown together and held to equal length of the tekiah blast.
Teruah, or "alarm" is a rapid series of very short blasts, numbering at least nine, whose duration should also equal one tekiah.
The final is the "tekiah ha-gdolah" , a long note held out, whose duration is determined by how much lung power the shofar blower can produce!
Of course, we will enjoy our apples and honey and then enter into our Days of Awe, the ten days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year.
We will spend some serious time of introspection, making things right and restitution during this time of repentance. May we make right what needs to be right and forgive those who do not understand us to seek to understand them more. The world is such a small place and we must learn, grow and also seek HaShem for more wisdom.
We wish you the best for you and yours. Shana tovah tikateicu! "May your name be inscribed for a good year"! "Kitevah Tovah"..."good inscription in the Book of Life."
Loving Shalom always,
Dona Gracia Serrano Fenn
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DNA Project Continues
We want to thank you for continuing to use our "DNA project" link on the website. We know G-d will use this tool to discover and encourage many who are in the mist of discovery and return to their true Jewish roots.
Isaiah 11:11-12
11 It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea.
12 He will set up a banner for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, And gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth. |
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Anusim Names Project
Sephardim Hope International continues to develop a network of B'nei Anusim (Children of Anusim/Crypto- Jews) for the purpose of education and mutual support. This project is called the Anusim Names Project. We believe it is part of the biblical fulfillment of Obadiah 20.
If you feel you have Benei Anusim/Jewish roots in your family line, please email brief information, names, origin, to: anusimproject@sephardimhope.org . You may also fill out the e-Form on our website:Anusim Names Project .
Your information will be held confidentially, unless you include permission for possible research in Israel.
More about the Anusim Names Project....
- Dona Gracia Serrano-Fenn |
Thank You for Your Prayers and Support!
Thank you for your prayers and financial support to SHI. As of now, we are not funded by any other organization or grants, so we totally depend on the goodness of G-d through people interested in this vision (your financial help is SO important for the ongoing work of research, education and benevolence!). Please remember us in your giving and for those who have never contributed, we invite you to consider this great work of HaShem.
We need much help to accomplish our part! Please continue writing and emailing us!! More "Anusim" are reaching out and asking questions, giving us information for the future Aliyah gatherings!!. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to email us or to call our contact at 408-422-5498 for meeting scheduling or information.
Isaiah 49:8-9 says Here is what ADONAI says: "At the time when I choose, I will answer you; on the day of salvation, I will help you. I have preserved you, and I have appointed you to be the covenant for a people, to restore the land and distribute again its ruined inheritances to their owners, to say to the prisoners, 'Come out!' to those in darkness, 'Show yourselves!' They will feed along the paths, and all the high hills will be their pastures.
May the Psalm 126 also comfort our hearts as scripture says, "Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the Negev (south). They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."
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Awakening The Sephardim To The Negev!
Sephardim Hope International is a benevolent international non-profit organization to bring the message of the Sephardic Anusim Jews (the descendents of the forcibly converted ones) from Spain to the awareness of the Jews and the world. This is a prophetic message of hope and part of the story of Biblical Zionism.
Sephardim Hope International is also a support to the nation of Israel working in partnership with other organizations bringing aid and comfort to Israel and the Jewish people.
Sephardim Hope International is a tax-deductible 501(c)3 [pending] educational and charitable organization formed for the above purpose. Donate tax-free to help support Sephardim Hope International in this endeavor of education, benevolence and helping the Anusim to make Aliyah to Israel.
We look forward to hearing from many of you. Remember that you can respond to our newsletter or email directly with questions at info@SephardimHope.org.
May HaShem continue to bless you and your families in this great year! Please do contact our administrator, Drake (my awesome husband and webmaster) at Drake@SephardimHope.org for speaking and music engagements. |
Loving Shalom,
Dona Gracia Serrano Fenn
Sephardim Hope International
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