Rabbi & Rebbetzin Corner

Shalom Mishpocah!

October has arrived!  Fall Festivals, Harvest Time, Pumpkin Spice Latte’s, cooler temperatures, and the leaves will soon begin to change color! We’ll cruise into the peak autumn season at the end of this month!! October is the tenth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. The eighth month in the old calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC, October retained its name (from Latin and Greek ôctō meaning "eight").

With great sadness and a heavy heart, we remember the 3rd anniversary of the Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7th, 2023. Hamas terrorists breached the Gaza–Israel barrier, attacking military bases and massacring civilians in 21 communities, including Be'eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Netiv Haasara, and Alumim. In total the attackers killed 1,139 people: 695 Israeli civilians (including 38 children), 71 foreign nationals, and 373 members of the security forces. 364 civilians were killed and many more wounded while attending the Nova music festival. We still (Israel) remain at war! We cannot cease until Hamas and Hezbollah cease to exist! Never again is now! We shall never forget!

The Fall Feast Celebrations started early this year and were almost all in September. The last day of Sukkot is Saturday October 3rd, 2026.  

        October is a pivotal month in history. On October 1st, 1908, Henry Ford introduced the Model T automobile, revolutionizing transportation. The October Revolution in Russia, happened on the night of October 24, 1917, when Bolshevik Red Guards began to take control of key points in Moscow, which led to the establishment of the Communist Soviet Union. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth. NASA was officially established on October 1, 1958, marking the beginning of civilian space exploration in the United States which led to America placing a man on the moon on July 20th, 1969. The Cuban Missile Crisis, a pivotal moment in the Cold War, began on October 16, 1962. On a more upbeat note, October is also national Pizza Month, good news for Pizza lovers!

Monday, October 12th is Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day (occurs on the second Monday in October). Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but did not become a federal holiday until 1937.

For many, the holiday is a way of both honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage. But throughout its history, Columbus Day and the man who inspired it have generated controversy, and many alternatives to the holiday have been proposed since the 1970s including Indigenous Peoples' Day. Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors the histories, cultures, and perspectives of Indigenous peoples and their ancestors who lived on the land now known as North America. They existed in these areas for thousands of years before the first European explorers arrived. The birth of our nation is complex!  America wasn’t discovered!  There were complex and advanced Indigenous societies here when the European explorer and colonists arrived here. By understanding each other’s cultures, backgrounds, and sufferings we engage each other with compassion and empathy to heal our wounds! Consider honoring our indigenous people by visiting one or more of these cultural Museums:

Rappahannock Tribal Museum
Rappahannock Tribal Center
5036 Indian Neck Road
Indian Neck, VA 23148

Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center and Museum
1368 Colonial Pkwy
Jamestown, VA 23081

Tuesday October 13th, 2026, marks the 251st birthday of the United States Navy! The Continental Congress's resolution to procure two-armed vessels, adopted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 13 October 1775, was the original legislation out of which the Continental Navy grew. Within a few days of that vote, Congress established a Naval Committee, which directed the purchasing, outfitting, manning, and operations of the first ships of the new Navy, drafted naval legislation, and prepared rules and regulations to govern the Navy's conduct and internal administration. It reflects centuries of service at sea, from a handful of hastily armed ships to today’s global maritime power, embodying the dedication, resilience, and strategic role of American sailors throughout history. The observance began officially in 1972, when Admiral Elmo Zumwalt designated the date to foster pride in the Navy’s enduring heritage.

        Shabbat Service on Friday, October 9th, 2026, will be our Simchat Torah service! Simchat Torah is a joyful Jewish holiday that celebrates the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle and the immediate start of a new one. It is marked by dancing with Torah scrolls, singing, and processions in the synagogue, expressing communal gratitude for the sacred text and the continuity of its study.

        As we enter into a new month, it’s only through prayer and action that we can make a difference! As the leaves start transitioning to their fall foliage let us pray for a calm to all of life’s storms. Depression is defeated, addictions are defeated, trouble at work is defeated, health issues are defeated, and these storms are coming to an end! We ask for the authority of Yeshua to boldly rebuke every challenging situation. We declare a supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding to overtake everyone that needs it!  We pray you have a safe, healthy, prosperous, and blessed month!

Love and blessings,

Rabbi Eric and Rebbetzin Barb Carlson