A Culture of Life Shines in the Darkness

This week's Torah portion, Vayeitzei, Bereishit (Genesis) 28:10 - 32:3, chronicles Jacob's life as he flees his home and travels to Charan, where he labors and grows his family for twenty years, eventually returning to his home a blessed man with great wealth and many children, including the twelve sons from whom the Jewish people will emanate. 

Jacob achieves success under difficult circumstances due to his personal dedication to the study and application of the spiritual principles taught to him by his father, Isaac, and his grandfather, Abraham. His efforts to grow and maintain a close relationship with God provide the strength, faith, and wisdom to prosper and succeed, and to heal broken family relationships. He concentrates on thinking, speaking and doing God's will in a time when most people have little knowledge, interest, or appreciation for this approach to living.

The challenges, liabilities, and benefits of leaving home and living in foreign lands are recurring themes in biblical history, teaching us how to model decency, truth and virtue among our family, friends, and neighbors. Most fundamental of these truths is the God given right to life, which is why we continue to advance our efforts to protect the lives of innocent preborn human beings in a culture reminiscent of Jacob's time, when many people have little knowledge, interest, or appreciation of God's presence and the miraculous gift of life. We are made in His image to act and speak with good purpose. With God's blessings, investing time and money, and risking personal reputation and safety will save precious lives and change the world for the better.

We lament the passing this week of Chris Slattery, a fine example of a stalwart pro-life advocate who dedicated his life to saving mothers and babies from the death industry in NYC. Chris was the founder of Expectant Mother Care, later known as EMC Frontline, a network of pregnancy help centers in New York City. EMC Frontline succeeded for almost 40 years despite frequent media, legislative, legal and political attacks. Despite these challenges, the network saved 2,000 babies a year. Chris' example heartens the spirit of defenders of human life everywhere. It does, ours. The mantle now transfers to CompassCare pregnancy care services. To learn more about Chris, his endorsement of CompassCare, and to donate to the fund to continue his work, visit the link below.

The Abortion Industry’s Most Wanted Pro-Lifer Dies at 68

https://www.compasscarecommunity.com/2023/11/the-abortion-industrys-most-wanted-pro-lifer-dies-at-68/

Cecily

May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and good life upon us and upon all Israel. Amen.