Mayor & Pompano Christian Clergy –Prayer Breakfast

Saturday, Jan. 4, 9 a.m.

E. Pat Larkins Center 520 MLK Blvd. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

954-786-4527.

Art Series: Arline Peartree

Saturday, Jan. 4, 11 a.m. to noon

Deerfield Beach Percy White Library 837 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL, 33441

Artist Arline Peartree gives lecture and slide presentation. Guess the Artist: Test Your Eye! 954-357-7680

26th Annual Las Olas Art Fair, Part I

Saturday, Jan. 4 & Sunday, Jan. 5, 10 a.m.

Las Olas Boulevard (between SE 6 & SE 11 Avenues) Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

One of the largest outdoor art festivals in South Florida with 250 artists from 30 different states. FREE and open to the public. 561-746-6615, www.artfestival.com.

Program 4: Postcards (concert/art)

Sunday, Jan. 5, 3 p.m.

Emma Lou Olson Center 1801 NE 6 St. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

The South Florida Chamber Ensemble performs music inspired by artist Wendy White’s artwork while she creates a new work in real time. Bring sketchbook or easel and create your own new work of art and then browse the art gallery. $15 regular admission, $10 for students/seniors/military. Children under 12 FREE with paid adult ticket. For info., call 954-803-3762 or visit www.sfcemusic.com, Online ticketing is available at www.eventbrite.com.

Burning of the Greens

Monday, Jan. 6, 6 p.m.

Zion Lutheran 959 SE 6 Ave. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Ceremony celebrating the end of the Christmas season. 954-421-4250.

3rd Annual Giveaway of Vinyl Records

Monday, Jan. 6 to Friday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Florida Atlantic University, Wimberly Library 777 Glades Rd. Boca Raton, FL 33431

Thousands of LPs and 45 rpm vinyl discs spanning from 1940s to 1990s given away FREE. Cassette tapes and CDs also available. These are duplicates of those already preserved in library. Open to the public. Also Monday, Jan. 27 through Friday, Jan. 31. For more information on how to donate records, call 561-297-0080.

Lecture on Jewish American composers

Wednesday, Jan. 8, 11 a.m. to noon

Temple Beth Israel 201 S. Military Tr. Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

The lecture on 1/1 was canceled due to the holiday and has been rescheduled to 1/8. Normally, it is the first Wednesday of the month. $10 for series. 954-421-7060.

FREE/Clinic Pickleball

Wednesday, Jan 8, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Constitution Park 2841 W. Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

FREE demo clinic. A combination of ping pong, tennis/ badminton, this sport has received a lot of attention lately. Helps bridge the generation gap between seniors and young adults, as it attracts all ages. For more information, call 786- 259-4711.

Greater Pompano Beach Senior Citizens Club

Wednesday, Jan. 8, 10 a.m.

Emma Lou Olson Community Center 1801 NE 6 St. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

For more info., call 954-786-3902.

Do you believe in magic? Over the past few weeks, I have been asking this question? It all started with a commentary I was reading on a Parsha from the Torah, the one where Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh; Aaron puts his staff down and it turns into a snake.

I don’t know about you, but if I saw someone do that, I would be pretty amazed. Yet, according to the Biblical account, Pharaoh is not amazed at all. In fact, according to Midrash, Pharaoh is rather bored with this feat.

And we find out why very quickly as he calls out the Royal Magicians and each of them is able to perform the very same magic trick. Better yet, according to Midrash, Pharaoh goes even further. He calls out his children and his wives and, they, too, are able to do this bit of magic.

How could this be? Well, for the very same reason that Pharaoh was not impressed at all with what Aaron had done. You see, magic was a regular everyday thing for the Pharaoh and his family. They were surrounded by magic tricks that were performed over and over again. They had seen them so many times that they were able to figure out how they were done. And because of that, those tricks had lost their magic.

I hear the word magic a lot, but I wonder how many miraculous things that occur all around us on a daily basis have lost their magic.

The funny thing is that, at the same time I was studying this chapter of the Bible, I found myself sitting with a patient in a health center when the doctor knocked on the door. As the doctor came in, I got up to give them some privacy, but as I headed out the door, I couldn’t help but hear the patient tell the doctor that he was having a problem with constipation and the doctor said, “Don’t worry, I will get you a pill that will work like magic for you.”

I don’t know if you are aware of it or not, but something as mundane as going to the bathroom is nothing less than miraculous; but, we seldom, if ever, see the magic of it until we have a problem with our plumbing.

In fact, traditionally we have a prayer that we say after using the bathroom, thanking G-d for the miraculous blessing of our urinary and our bowel tract working properly. The prayer might sound funny to many, but it sure reminds us of how amazing it is that our system works.

There is magic all around us, but we so often behave like Pharaoh. We have become so accustomed to being surrounded by it that we don’t even notice it is there. And that is why I started my Health Center Services the other week by asking if those in attendance would like to see a bit of magic.

When they said, “Yes,” I stood up from the chair I was sitting in and put out my hands dramatically and said, “Ta- Da!”

Those who were stuck in wheelchairs saw the magic. Those who needed walkers saw the magic. Those who had trouble standing saw the magic. They all knew how miraculous and magical the simple act of being able to stand is.

Dear readers, being able to hear is magical; being able to see – wow!— being able to walk – amazing — being able to talk – unbelievable— being able to dance –heavenly— the sun coming up each day —awe inspiring—the ocean waves — magnificently magical.

Do you believe in magic?

Shalom my friends, with wishes for a miraculously magical New Year!

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach. We welcome you to join our warm and caring family for Shabbat and festival services. We’ll make your heart glow…who knows, you might even fall in love with Shul all over again