Posted on January 9, 2026 by Rabbi Noah Diamondstein
Dear Temple Beth-El,
This Shabbat we move into the Book of Exodus, and there is so much action in this first Torah portion it’s hard to know where to begin. I am drawn this year, as I have been many times before, toward the brave midwives who took it upon themselves to save Hebrew babies from the Pharaoh’s genocidal dictum. Relatively powerless individuals, female Hebrew slaves, took the life-threatening risk of saving the condemned baby boys and lying to the Pharaoh. They are a model of courage in the face of tyranny–a biblical analog for Harriet Tubman, Malala Yousafzai or the current-day women of Iran who are standing up to the horrors of the Ayatollah’s jihadist, Islamo-fascist regime.
We all need to be brave to make it through such a challenging moment in history. Not all of us need to be on the front lines risking our lives, but we all have to do what we can to help each other make it through. This is one of the reasons I’m so proud of the way our congregation is centering the conversation about the Mental Health Crisis in the United States. We have to learn about what’s going on, and pursue strategies to both stay informed and to stay healthy.
One such opportunity arrives tomorrow night, as we welcome Scott Fried to our congregation. Scott is an internationally recognized award-winning educator, public speaker and writer. Having lived with HIV for nearly 40 years, I first heard him speak to our BBYO region about the sexual ethics and safe decision making when I was just 15 years old. I still remember the power of his message of self-acceptance and self-respect to this day.
Scott is now a wellness coach for teens, parents, and couples. Additionally, he leads online support groups specifically designed for parents of trans and questioning children. He is also an instructor at Hand 2 Mouth Learning, where he works with non-verbal autistic adults. As if this were not enough g’milut chasadim, Scott leads civil rights tours throughout the American south, focusing on the history and legacy of MLK, Jr. Tomorrow night, we’ll begin with Havdalah and then get a chance to be inspired and taught by a truly moving teacher. I sincerely hope you’ll join us.
May this Shabbat and this year’s journey through the book of Shemot be a source of courage for you. May we all be a little more like Shifra and Puah.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Noah Diamondstein