Don’t Be Anxious

Rabbi Don Lansing

While in Israel on Wednesday, August 18, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations told the government leaders that they had just three days—that is, until August 21, a Saturday (Shabbat)—to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities. John Bolton, the former ambassador, explained that after Russian technicians installed radioactive rods in Iran’s reactors, the reactors could no longer be bombed without releasing widespread radioactivity, killing thousands of people.

Well, that Shabbat came and went, and no bombings. Were you anxious? Was there anxiety throughout the world? I must admit that I was somewhat concerned. But my thoughts were focused more on what the Lord is doing with Congregation Beth Shalom. I missed the people who were absent. Besides, what about our new adventure, which I’m calling “Project 525”? (More about that later.)

Yeshua said: “… Don’t worry about your life–what you will eat or drink; or about your body—what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds flying about! They neither plant nor harvest, nor do they gather food into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they are? Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to his life?

“And why be anxious about clothing? Think about the fields of wild irises, and how they grow. They neither work nor spin thread, yet I tell you that not even Shlomo in all his glory was clothed as beautifully as one of these. If this is how God clothes grass in the field—which is here today and gone tomorrow, thrown in an oven—won’t he much more clothe you? What little trust you have!

“So don’t be anxious, asking, `What will we eat?,’ `What will we drink?’ or `How will we be clothed?’ For it is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Don’t worry about tomorrow—tomorrow will worry about itself! Today has enough tsuris [trouble] already!” (Matthew 6:25-34 Complete Jewish Bible).

Scripture Readings

Saturday, Sept. 4, Nitsavim (“You are standing”)
Deuteronomy 29:10 (9)—30:20
Isaiah 61:10—63:9
Romans 10:1-13

Saturday, Sept. 4, VaYelech (“And he went”)
Deuteronomy 31:1-30
Isaiah 55:6—56:8
Romans 7:7-12

Saturday, Sept. 11, Ha’azinu, (“Give ear”)
Deuteronomy 32:1-52
2 Samuel 22:1-51
Romans 10:14—11:12

Saturday, Sept. 18, Yom Kippur (“Day of Atonement”)
Morning
Leviticus 16:1-34, Numbers 29:7-11
Isaiah 57:14—58:14
Romans 3:21-26
Afternoon
Leviticus 18:1-30
Jonah; Micah 7:18-20
Hebrews 10:1-2

Saturday, Sept. 25, Ve’zot HaBracha (“And this is the blessing”)
Deuteronomy 33:1—34:12
Joshua 1:1-18
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Prayer Needs

We pray for all who are sick, homebound, or in financial need. Pray for all those traveling this month. Pray for our President, our nation, all fighters of terrorism, and the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for Israel’s new government and the return of the Jewish people to Israel. Also pray for Congregation Beth Shalom.

Scriptures

Ephesians 6

Yiddish

Shammes—sexton, deacon, elder
Shul—synagogue