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Showing posts from August, 2014

There shall be no needy... Parashat Re'eh Flasback - 5773

There shall be no needy... Parashat Re’eh August 2, 2013 ~ 26 Av 5773 Rabbi Jen Gubitz We ran bags of winter coats down broadway, hung them on the racks, turned our backs, and within 10 minutes they were gone. It was freezing in New York City that winter. Filenes Basement, may its memory be a blessing, was going out of business. The flagship store in Union Square had rows and rows of racks and racks stocked with discounted winter wear: coats, hats, scarves, gloves. We had 45 minutes, a huge store credit to spend, and the HUC Soup Kitchen ’s clothing rack awaiting our purchase a mere 10 blocks away. As I marched around that winter in my tundra-looks-like-a-sleeping-bag- down winter coat, multiple options for hat and scarf to suit my daily outfit or mood, warm gloves, usually a hot cup of coffee in tow - I knew that the winter wear we were purchasing was not as insulated, not as aesthetically pleasing, not as comfortable, not as nice - and simply not as warm - as