Shabbat Message
Finding meaning and connection

Posted on by Reb Moshe

This week’s Torah portion, Matot-Masei (Numbers 30:2-36:13), traces our ancestors’ journey through the wilderness. At the bottom of this email, you can register for a webinar that traces their journey from Spain in 1492 to their arrival in colonial America. The journey continues…

 Read the complete Message (including pictures & announcements) 

Dear CJC Members & Friends,

How are you doing? This is not just a polite question.

You can reply directly if you want, as I would be happy to hear from you. But at the very least, the question is intended to elicit a response, even if it’s just a quick check-in with yourself or the people you’re close with.

Hopefully, your basic needs are being met, your health is relatively good, and other elements of a fulfilling life are in place. Hopefully you’re able to work through challenges and enjoy satisfying experiences. Hopefully, you’re doing well.

Of course, many are not as fortunate. Things can go wrong. Depression is a reality for many people. Loneliness and feeling isolated are experiences that are more common than we think. There are problems we all need to grapple with, either personally or collectively.

I was just reading an article in Coastside News about the problem with unhoused people living in vans and RVs. The situation has reached a boiling point in Pacifica, where a petition being circulated on Facebook has been signed by more than 900 people who want to “Clean Up Linda Mar: End Vehicle Squatting Now!”

I was glad to see that the article included a testimony from someone who has been living in her vehicle after facing hard times. In sharing the circumstances that brought her to where she is now, she mentioned that she is Jewish. To be honest, that surprised me. It reminds me that we can do a better job looking out for each other, and so I plan to join other faith leaders in a meeting with the Mayor of Pacifica to talk about expanding the Safe Parking Program.

The bottom line here is that being part of a community means that we can share how we’re doing, and we can give and receive support when needed. I’m glad to be in a community of so many caring people. Let’s make that our strength.

I urge anyone reading this to take advantage of the opportunities we have to be in community and the opportunities we have to gather in person. One such opportunity is tonight, if you can come to our Shabbat service at 7:00pm in Half Moon Bay. RSVP here, and we can send you the location.

There are so many ways to find meaning and connection. My hope and prayer is that our little Coastside Jewish Community can help to facilitate that daily — for our members and through our members.

Shabbat Shalom,

Reb Moshe

Read the complete Message (including pictures & announcements) 

Recent Shabbat Messages:




CJC will never share or sell this information.