Hanukkah Sale!

Beth Shalom Sisterhood
Gift Shop
5827 North Trenholm Road * Columbia, SC 29206

HANUKKAH SALE!
20% OFF

Wednesday, November 28
4-6 pm
Sunday, December
10 am - 1 pm

ON ALL MERCHANDISE
(Some exceptions apply: books, talesim, mezuzah scrolls,
tefillin and already reduced items, etc...)


Other Gift Shop hours possible by calling:
Naomi Freedman - 787-1882
Lynda Laban - 788-8617
Helen Kahn - 787-2338

Weekly Announcements, 11/17

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, November 17–9:45 a.m. Robert Frank’s 2nd Bar Mitzvah with a sponsored Kiddush luncheon following services, sponsored by the family of Robert Frank.

Wednesday, November 21:
4:30 p.m. No Hebrew School (Thanksgiving Holiday)
7 p.m. Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Forest Lake Presbyterian Church. Rabbi Siff will talk on “Rejoicing with the Needy, Rejoicing with G-d.” We need some people to participate in the choir and lead the community in some easy Hebrew songs. An offering of both money and canned foods will be collected to support the Harvest Hope Food Bank.

Thursday, November 22–Office is closed for Thanksgiving.

Sunday, November 25:
10 a.m. No Hebrew School (Thanksgiving Holiday)
11 a.m. Special Congregational Meeting to vote on constitutional amendments to stagger the terms of the BOD & elect offices to two year terms - in the social hall.

Wednesday, November 28:
4-6 p.m. Gift Shop open for Hanukkah sale.
6:30 p.m. Board of Education meeting in the library.
7 p.m. Jewish Women’s Book Club meeting in the social hall.

Thursday, November 29:
5 p.m. Harvest Hope Food Bank project-Volunteers will staff the emergency food pantry (2220 Shop Road).
7 p.m. Adult Education Academy classes.
8:10 p.m. Adult Education Academy classes.

Saturday, December 1:
9:45 a.m. Teen Shabbat
10 a.m. Learner’s Service - Rabbi Siff has started a monthly Learner's service, which will be held from 10:00-11:15 a.m., in the Kline auditorium (main service, as usual, will be in the sanctuary). Each session, Rabbi Siff will take a section of the morning prayers, teach their meaning and significance, and also lead us in it together at a slower pace. This service is good for anybody not yet fully comfortable in a traditional service, whether Jewish or not, whether you went to Hebrew School or not, and for those who simply would like to find more personal meaning. We will do some chanting in Hebrew, but we will mainly be studying and discussing the content of the prayers.
7:30 p.m. Hadassah Art Auction- Beth Shalom Social Hall. "Moonlight, Merlot & Monet." Come and enjoy an elegant wine and cheese reception, delicious light hor d'oeuvres and a stunning selection of incredibly affordable art. RSVP to Jenny Wagner-260-6889.

Sunday, December 2:
9 a.m. - 12 noon Hadassah Art Auction-Beth Shalom Social Hall. Take a second look…. Enjoy a stunning selection of incredibly affordable art.
10 a.m. Adult Education Seminar–Moderated by: Dr. Meira Warshauer, Topic:"Jewish Music as Midrash."
10 a.m. 1st & 2nd Grade - "Olive Press⁄Chanukah w⁄Grandparents."
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Gift Shop open for Hanukkah sale.

Friday, December 7–6:30 p.m. Shabbat family services followed by Shabbat dinner. Adults: $10, Children (under 12 yrs.): $5, Maximum cost per family: $25. Your mailed-in check will be your reservation. Checks need to be received by Wednesday, December 5th. Mail your check with the reservation form (below) to: Beth Shalom Synagogue, 5827 North Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29206.

************************************************
Family Shabbat Dinner–Friday, December 7, 2007

Name______________________________ Phone___________________________
Number Attending: Adults____________ Children___________
Amount Enclosed $________________

************************************************

Saturday, December 8–6:30 p.m. Hanukkah Community Celebration at the JCC. Join us for an evening of food, music & fun! Havdalah & candle lighting, a dinner of latke & fixin’s, egg salad, tuna salad, challah, donuts (PB&J will be available). The Southern Klezmer Band and the children's carnival in the gym w⁄mega moon walk! Cost: $5-child, $10-adult, max $25 per family. RSVP to Mandy-787-2023 ext. 206.

We are looking for someone to chair a committee to help feed the hungry in the Columbia community’s homeless shelter. This is for just one week. Please contact Rabbi Siff at 782-2500 to get more information.


Community Shabbatot

Sharing time with family and friends is an integral part of Shabbat. Many people don’t have a lot of family nearby. Others may never have experienced a traditional Shabbat. There are many who have experienced a traditional Shabbat, but have let it slip out of their lives. No matter what you experience is or motivations are, Beth Shalom wants to help bring our community together to share a traditional Shabbat.

Once a month we will gather around Columbia. Some of us will open our homes while others will be guests. Do not feel you have to be a host to participate. Many of us have homes more conducive to hosting a number of dinner guests while others of us do not. From month to month we’ll be in different locations so hosts can participate as guests as well. Bring the whole family: Kids, parents and grandparents too!

As a host all you need to provide is a dining room, Shabbat candles, kiddush cup (s), wine for kiddush, dishes and flatware. What the shul will provide is: 2 challahs, dinner for the number of people at your home, loan of Benschers, if you need them, to provide all the prayers (Hebrew and transliterated) and Zmirot for the evening. Just pick up your “Shabbat in a Box” kit Thursday or Friday before the dinner, at Beth Shalom Synagogue.

Please fill out the form below to host or attend a
Community Shabbat Dinner, Friday, December 14, 2007

Cost for all participants is: $10 per person or $25 per family maximum

What you will experience:

Candle Lighting (depending on time)
Blessing of Children
Kiddush
Washing Hands
Hamotzi
Traditional Dinner
Zmirot (singing)
Birkat HaMazon

For more information, Contact Matt Gottlieb: matt@mattgottlieb.com or 528-7312
________________________________________________

I’m Interested!

I’d like to (circle): Host Attend Both

Name: ___________________________________________

E-mail:___________________________________________

Phone: _____________________

Number of Adults: ________ Children: _________

Ages of children: ____________________________

If hosting, how many additional people can you host: _____ Adults _____ Children

Please return to the office at Beth Shalom Synagogue.

Parshat Vayetze

Parshat Vayetze
(Hosea 12:13-14:10)
7 Kislev 5768
November 17, 2007

When the prophets discerned that the children of Israel had strayed from their relationship with God, they were often wont to remind them of their humble origins and who was responsible for turning their lives around, forming them into a people and giving them a homeland. It seemed reasonable from the prophetic vantage point that recognition of the gratitude owed to God would be sufficient warrant for the people to return to God from their misdirected idolatry. However, as Hosea recognized, God's miraculous redemption of His people somehow inspired exactly the opposite reaction: "Only I the Lord have been your God ever since the land of Egypt; You have never known a [true] God but Me. You have never had a helper but Me. I looked after you in the desert, in a thirsty land. When they were fed, they were sated, they grew haughty; and so they forgot Me." (13: 4-6)

What prompted the people's misguided response? Hosea's message seems to be that the gift of plenty will lead people to assume that they produced the plenty by themselves without God's help. The Talmud derived from Hosea's message and similar messages in the Torah another simple human truth and illustrated each verse anecdotally (See Maharsha): "They said in the school of R. Yannai: A lion does not roar over a basket of straw but over a basket of flesh. R. Oshaia said: It is like the case of a man who had a lean but large-limbed cow. He gave it lupines to eat and it began to kick him. He said to it: You wouldn't have kicked me if it weren't for the lupines that I fed you? R. Hiyya b. Abba said: It is like the case of a man who had a son; he bathed him and anointed him and gave him plenty to eat and drink and hung a purse [filled with money] around his neck and set him down at the door of a bawdy house. How could the boy help but sin? R. Aha the son of R. Huna said in the name of R. Shesheth: This bears out the popular saying: A full stomach brings trouble. Isn't this as it says [in the book of Hosea]: When they were fed they became full, they were filled and grew haughty; and so they forgot Me. R. Nahman learned it from here: Then your heart will become haughty and you will forget the Lord. (Deut. 8:14) The Rabbis learned it from here: And they shall have eaten their fill and waxen fat, and turned unto other gods. (Deut. 31:10) Or, if you prefer, I can say from here. But Yeshurun waxed fat and kicked. (Deut. 32:15) (Adapted from Berahot 32a)

Rav Kook, the first Chief Askenazi Rabbi of Israel, said it this way: "Over satisfaction of a person's basic animal needs in an unnatural way is the source of all corruption both natural and unnatural." (Adapted from Ein Ayah Berahot p. 143) The consequence of such behavior, obviously, is alienation from God and all that is truly good in life.

This study piece is offered as a service of the United Synagogue Conservative Yeshiva. It is prepared by Rabbi Mordechai (Mitchell) Silverstein, senior lecturer in Talmud and Midrash at the Conservative Yeshiva. He is a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

With the permission of The United Synagogue Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Rabbi Edward S. Romm - Director of Education
© 2007

Shabbat Shalom,

Henry Ray Wengrow
Ritual Chair
Beth Shalom

Weekly Announcements, 11/12/2007

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, November 10:
9:45 a.m. Shabbat morning services will be followed by a sponsored kiddush luncheon, in memory of Felix Goldberg, sponsored by Bluma Goldberg and family.
10 a.m. Learner’s Service - Do you have a hard time following services? Do you get bored, and wonder what all these words are for? Rabbi Siff is starting a monthly Learner's service, which will be held from 10:00-11:15 a.m., in the Kline auditorium (main service, as usual, will be in the sanctuary). Each session, Rabbi Siff will take a section of the morning prayers, teach their meaning and significance, and also lead us in it together at a slower pace. This service is good for anybody not yet fully comfortable in a traditional service, whether Jewish or not, whether you went to Hebrew School or not, and for those who simply would like to find more personal meaning. We will do some chanting in Hebrew, but we will mainly be studying and discussing the content of the prayers.
7:30 p.m. Havdalah Hootenanny at the Katie & Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center. This will be a unique opening event bringing together the musical talents of our Rabbis and our community. During this joyous ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat, there will be singing & dancing. Musicians: Marvin Bienstock, Rabbi Daniel Sherman, Rabbi David Siff & Rebecca Pinsker. Event is Free.

Sunday, November 11:
7 a.m. 6th thru 10th Grade trip to Atlanta.
10 a.m. Adult Education Seminar - Topic:“How Do Christians View Jews and Israel?” Panel discussion featuring: Dr. Leon Spotts, Dr. Monte Luker, Professor, Lutheran Theological Seminary; Ms. Denise Brown, Lay Minister, New Life Ministries; Mr. Howard Stravitz.
3 p.m. The Jerusalem Lyric Trio is coming to Columbia at the Columbia Museum of Art, to perform as part of the Baker and Baker concert series. Their program at the museum will include Dr. Meira Warshauer's, “Yishakeyni (Sweeter than Wine)” as well as selections of Judeo-Spanish, Israeli and classical compositions. For more about the trio visit www.jerusalemlyrictrio.com.

Wednesday, November 14–7:30 p.m. Board of Directors meeting.

Thursday, November 15:
7 p.m. Adult Education Academy classes.
8:10 p.m. Adult Education Academy classes.

Saturday, November 17–9:45 a.m. Robert Frank’s 2nd Bar Mitzvah with a sponsored Kiddush luncheon following services, sponsored by the family of Robert Frank.

Wednesday, November 21:
4:30 p.m. No Hebrew School (Thanksgiving Holiday)
7 p.m. Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Forest Lake Presbyterian Church. Rabbi Siff will talk on “Rejoicing with the Needy, Rejoicing with G-d.” We need some people to participate in the choir and lead the community in some easy Hebrew songs. An offering of both money and canned foods will be collected to support the Harvest Hope Food Bank.

Thursday, November 22:
Office is closed for Thanksgiving.

Sunday, November 25:
10 a.m. No Hebrew School (Thanksgiving Holiday)
11 a.m. Special Congregational Meeting to vote on constitutional amendments to stagger the terms of the BOD & elect offices to two year terms - in the social hall.

Wednesday, November 28:
6:30 p.m. Board of Education meeting in the library.
7 p.m. Jewish Women’s Book Club meeting in the social hall.

Thursday, November 29:
5 p.m. Harvest Hope Food Bank project-Volunteers will staff the emergency food pantry (2220 Shop Road).
7 p.m. Adult Education Academy classes.
8:10 p.m. Adult Education Academy classes.

We are looking for someone to chair a committee to help feed the hungry in the Columbia community’s homeless shelter. This is for just one week. Please contact Rabbi Siff at 782-2500 to get more information.

Community Shabbatot
Sharing time with family and friends is an integral part of Shabbat. Many people don’t have a lot of family nearby. Others may never have experienced a traditional Shabbat. There are many who have experienced a traditional Shabbat, but have let it slip out of their lives. No matter what you experience is or motivations are, Beth Shalom wants to help bring our community together to share a traditional Shabbat.

Once a month we will gather around Columbia. Some of us will open our homes while others will be guests. Do not feel you have to be a host to participate. Many of us have homes more conducive to hosting a number of dinner guests while others of us do not. From month to month we’ll be in different locations so hosts can participate as guests as well. Bring the whole family: Kids, parents and grandparents too!

As a host all you need to provide is a dining room, Shabbat candles, kiddush cup (s), wine for kiddush, dishes and flatware. What the shul will provide is: 2 challahs, dinner for the number of people at your home, loan of Benschers, if you need them, to provide all the prayers (Hebrew and transliterated) and Zmirot for the evening. Just pick up your “Shabbat in a Box” kit Thursday or Friday before the dinner, at Beth Shalom Synagogue.

Please fill out the form on the back of this flyer to
host or attend a Community Shabbat Dinner.

Cost for all participants is: $10 per person or $25 per family maximum

What you will experience:

Candle Lighting (depending on time)
Blessing of Children
Kiddush
Washing Hands
Hamotzi
Traditional Dinner
Zmirot (singing)
Birkat HaMazon

For more information, Contact Matt Gottlieb: matt@mattgottlieb.com or 528-7312
________________________________________________

I’m Interested!

I’d like to (circle): Host Attend Both

Name: ___________________________________________

E-mail:___________________________________________

Phone: _____________________

Number of Adults: ________ Children: _________

Ages of children: ____________________________

If hosting, how many additional people can you host: _____ Adults _____ Children

Please return to the office at Beth Shalom Synagogue.

Parshat Toldot⁄Mahar Hodesh

Parshat Toldot⁄Mahar Hodesh
(1 Samuel 20:18-42)
29 Heshvan 5768
November 10, 2007

Saul's animosity for David knew no limits. Neither David nor Jonathan, Saul's son, was certain how Saul would react at David's very presence. The Rosh Hodesh meal was meant to be a test of Saul's attitude toward David. Saul's response to David's absence would serve as an indicator of his true feelings toward David. When Saul noticed David's absence, his reaction was vitriolic. He minced no words toward his son, Jonathan, for his loyalty to his friend, nor did he spare his tongue in disparaging and delegitimizing his imagined foe, David. Saul's anger toward David made it impossible for him to even mention his name: "But on the day after the New Moon (Rosh Hodesh), the second day, David's place was vacant. So Saul said to his son, Jonathan, 'Why didn't the son of Jesse (ben Yishai) come to the meal yesterday and today?'" (Verse 27) Further on, he snaps out at Jonathan: "I know that you side with the son of Jesse – to your shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness! For as long as the son of Jesse lives on earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be secure. Now have him brought to me, for he is marked for death." (Verses 30-31)

In the following midrash, the sages picked up on the fact that Saul could not mention David's name, discerning an important message about how human beings relate to each other: [David asked:] "How long will you turn the glory of my name into shame by continuing to call me the son of Jesse [instead of by my given name David], as when Saul said to Jonathan: 'I know that you side with the son of Jesse – to your shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness! For as long as the son of Jesse lives on earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be secure. Now have him brought to me, for he is marked for death?' Have I no name of my own?" (Adapted and abridged from Pesikta deRav Kahana 18:1 Mandelbaum ed. p. 293)

This Midrash recognizes that the first stage in delegitimizing a person is disparaging his or her name. When someone does this to another person, others begin to question the value of that person. The longer this is done, the more vulgar the verbal abuse, the more the abused person or people have the potential to lose their personhood in the eyes of others. When people start to think of other people as perverse things instead of people, the worst sorts of behavior towards them is possible. In our day, we have all been witness to what such delegitimization can produce.

This study piece is offered as a service of the United Synagogue Conservative Yeshiva. It is prepared by Rabbi Mordechai (Mitchell) Silverstein, senior lecturer in Talmud and Midrash at the Conservative Yeshiva. He is a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

With the permission of The United Synagogue Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Rabbi Edward S. Romm - Director of Education
© 2007

Shabbat Shalom,

Henry Ray Wengrow
Ritual Chair
Beth Shalom

Learner's Service, Nov. 10

Do you have a hard time following services? Do you get bored, and wonder what all these words are for? Rabbi David Siff is starting a monthly Learner's Service begining this Saturday, November 10th, which will be held at 10:00-11:15 a.m., in the Kline auditorium (main service, as usual, will be in the sanctuary).

Each session, Rabbi Siff will take a section of the morning prayers, teach their meaning and significance, and also lead us in it together at a slower pace. This service is good for anybody not yet fully comfortable in a traditional service, whether Jewish or not, whether you went to Hebrew School or not, and for those who simply would like to find more personal meaning. We will do some chanting in Hebrew, but we will mainly be studying and discussing the content of the prayers.

Babysitting will be provided from 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with snacks.

Not Just a Children's Book Fair

We at the Religious School are having our first fund raiser in many years: Not Just a Children's Book Fair. We need your help to make this a success and raise some of the funds we need to purchase a new copy machine for the school office.

Not Just a Children's Book Fair is a wonderful opportunity to purchase titles from adult light reading to deep study Judaic titles from Jewish Publishing Society and Jewish Lights. These publishers also offer a wonderful selection of children's books for all ages with Jewish themes that we cannot find easily here in Columbia. We are offering you these wonderful titles with free shipping, and they will be delivered in time for Chanukah gifts.

We also have Scholastic books and various fun items for purchase to take home immediately.

Please help us make this fund raiser a success. We at Beth Shalom Religious School need the rest of our family and friends to have a successful fund raiser. We ask you to consider coming in to the social hall this week to purchase your Chanukah gifts for your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. While you are looking through the catalogs and displays don't forget to purchase something for yourselves.

Hours
Monday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday: 5:00 - 9:30 p.m.

Thank you for all the support you have given Beth Shalom Religious School through the years and for your continued support.

B'shalom,

The Board of Education
The Students of Beth Shalom
Rebecca Pinsker, Director of Education