Upcoming Events:
Hebrew School Winter Break
Sunday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 2, 2007.
Hebrew School resumes Sunday, January 6, 2008.
Tuesday, January 1–The office will be closed for the holiday.
Saturday, January 5:
9:45 a.m. Shabbat morning services. Come and join us for the Installation of the 2008 Board of Directors and Board of Education. Special kiddush luncheon following services.
10:30 a.m. Junior Congregation
Monday, January 7–6:30 p.m. Fundraising Committee meeting in the library.
Tuesday, January 8–6:30 p.m. Board of Education meeting - library.
Wednesday, January 9:
5:15 p.m. Endowment Committee meeting in the library
6:30 p.m. Executive Board of Directors meeting in the library.
Saturday, January 12–10:30 a.m. Junior Congregation
Sunday, January 13:
10 a.m. 5th-7th Grade Family Education Program–Havdalah.
10:30 a.m. Sisterhood Open Meeting. It's time to re-energize & re-organize BSS Sisterhood! Please make plans to attend this very important meeting.
Wednesday, January 16–7:30 p.m. Board of Directors meeting in the library.
Saturday, January 19–9:45 a.m. Magen David Award presentation to Bill Stern; Special kiddush luncheon following services in honor of Bill Stern.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Parshat Shemot
(Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22.23)
20 Tevet 5768
December 29, 2007
Both the Torah and the prophets understood exile (galut) not simply as diaspora, but as punishment for Israel's misdeeds. Nothing brought fear to Jewish hearts more than the idea of not returning home. Almost every prophet who broached the subject of exile as penalty for sin also included the idea of redemption at the hand of God. Isaiah's message is no different: "And in that day, a great ram's horn shall be sounded; and the strayed who are in the land of Assyria and the expelled who are in the land of Egypt shall come and worship the Lord on the holy mount in Jerusalem." (27:13)
In the following midrash, a sage points out four stern decrees which had been made by Moses as punishment to mark the future sins of the people. These decrees were later abrogated by the prophets who come after him. Isaiah is one of those prophets who steped in to save Israel from Moses' stern decrees using the verse cited above from this week's haftarah: "Said R. Jose b. Hanina: Moses our teacher decreed four [adverse] decrees on Israel, but four prophets came along and revoked them. Moses said, 'And Israel shall dwell in safety, alone, at the fountain of Jacob' (Deut. 33:28) [It seems to infer here that Israel will only have security when it has among its ranks a righteous person like Jacob, a rare commodity indeed – See Rivan]; Amos came and revoked that, as it is said, 'Then said I, Oh Lord God, refrain, how will Jacob survive? He is so small' (Amos 7:5), and it goes on saying, 'The Lord relented concerning this; 'This also shall not come to pass,' said the Lord God. (Ibid. 6) Moses had said, 'Yet even among those nations you shall have no peace' (Deut. 28:65); Jeremiah came and said, 'Thus said the Lord, The people that escaped from the sword found favor in the wilderness, even Israel, when I go to afford him rest.' (Jeremiah 31:7) Moses had said, 'The Lord is . . . visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children's children, unto the third and unto the fourth generation' (Ex. 34:7); Ezekiel came and declared, 'the person who sins, he shall die.' (Ezekiel 18:20) Moses had said, 'And you shall perish among the nations' (Lev. 26:38); Isaiah came and said, 'And in that day, a great ram's horn shall be sounded; [and they shall come that were lost in the land of Assyria, etc.]' (Isaiah 27:13) Rav observed: I have misgivings about the verse: 'And ye shall perish among the nations.' (Lev. 26:38) R. Papa demurred at this [apprehension of Rav] saying: 'Could it not perhaps be understood to mean something lost and searched for, as it is written, I have strayed like a lost sheep; search for Your servant!' (Psalm 119:176) – But it was the latter part of the verse [from Leviticus that perturbed Rav]: 'And the land of your enemies shall eat you up.' Mar Zutra then demurred, saying: 'Might it not be [understood] in the way that cucumbers and pumpkins are eaten [eating parts and leaving other parts over]?'" (Makkot 24a)
This midrash prompted later rabbis to ask how it was possible for prophets to abrogate Moses' words since the words of Moses, the prophet par-excellence, were supposed to be unchangeable. This question was taken up by the famous 16th century sage, the Maharal from Prague. He explained that Moses as 'the man of God (Elokim)' represented the aspect of God know as 'Middat Hadin – the quality of absolute justice.' This aspect of God was meant to be tempered by God's quality of mercy – 'Middat Harahamim.' It was God's intention that the prophets who followed Moses would temper this absolute justice with mercy and in so doing rescue both Israel and humanity. (See Hiddushei Aggadot Makkot p. 9)
It was God's intention to balance these two qualities in his dealings with the world. We should also take care that these same qualities of justice and mercy be balanced in our dealings with each other as well.
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
20 Tevet 5768
December 29, 2007
Both the Torah and the prophets understood exile (galut) not simply as diaspora, but as punishment for Israel's misdeeds. Nothing brought fear to Jewish hearts more than the idea of not returning home. Almost every prophet who broached the subject of exile as penalty for sin also included the idea of redemption at the hand of God. Isaiah's message is no different: "And in that day, a great ram's horn shall be sounded; and the strayed who are in the land of Assyria and the expelled who are in the land of Egypt shall come and worship the Lord on the holy mount in Jerusalem." (27:13)
In the following midrash, a sage points out four stern decrees which had been made by Moses as punishment to mark the future sins of the people. These decrees were later abrogated by the prophets who come after him. Isaiah is one of those prophets who steped in to save Israel from Moses' stern decrees using the verse cited above from this week's haftarah: "Said R. Jose b. Hanina: Moses our teacher decreed four [adverse] decrees on Israel, but four prophets came along and revoked them. Moses said, 'And Israel shall dwell in safety, alone, at the fountain of Jacob' (Deut. 33:28) [It seems to infer here that Israel will only have security when it has among its ranks a righteous person like Jacob, a rare commodity indeed – See Rivan]; Amos came and revoked that, as it is said, 'Then said I, Oh Lord God, refrain, how will Jacob survive? He is so small' (Amos 7:5), and it goes on saying, 'The Lord relented concerning this; 'This also shall not come to pass,' said the Lord God. (Ibid. 6) Moses had said, 'Yet even among those nations you shall have no peace' (Deut. 28:65); Jeremiah came and said, 'Thus said the Lord, The people that escaped from the sword found favor in the wilderness, even Israel, when I go to afford him rest.' (Jeremiah 31:7) Moses had said, 'The Lord is . . . visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children's children, unto the third and unto the fourth generation' (Ex. 34:7); Ezekiel came and declared, 'the person who sins, he shall die.' (Ezekiel 18:20) Moses had said, 'And you shall perish among the nations' (Lev. 26:38); Isaiah came and said, 'And in that day, a great ram's horn shall be sounded; [and they shall come that were lost in the land of Assyria, etc.]' (Isaiah 27:13) Rav observed: I have misgivings about the verse: 'And ye shall perish among the nations.' (Lev. 26:38) R. Papa demurred at this [apprehension of Rav] saying: 'Could it not perhaps be understood to mean something lost and searched for, as it is written, I have strayed like a lost sheep; search for Your servant!' (Psalm 119:176) – But it was the latter part of the verse [from Leviticus that perturbed Rav]: 'And the land of your enemies shall eat you up.' Mar Zutra then demurred, saying: 'Might it not be [understood] in the way that cucumbers and pumpkins are eaten [eating parts and leaving other parts over]?'" (Makkot 24a)
This midrash prompted later rabbis to ask how it was possible for prophets to abrogate Moses' words since the words of Moses, the prophet par-excellence, were supposed to be unchangeable. This question was taken up by the famous 16th century sage, the Maharal from Prague. He explained that Moses as 'the man of God (Elokim)' represented the aspect of God know as 'Middat Hadin – the quality of absolute justice.' This aspect of God was meant to be tempered by God's quality of mercy – 'Middat Harahamim.' It was God's intention that the prophets who followed Moses would temper this absolute justice with mercy and in so doing rescue both Israel and humanity. (See Hiddushei Aggadot Makkot p. 9)
It was God's intention to balance these two qualities in his dealings with the world. We should also take care that these same qualities of justice and mercy be balanced in our dealings with each other as well.
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
Upcoming Events:
Hebrew School Winter Break
Sunday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 2, 2007.
Hebrew School resumes Sunday, January 6, 2008.
Saturday, December 22–9:45 a.m. Shabbat morning services followed by a sponsored kiddush luncheon in honor of the Hebrew naming and Jewish wedding of Diana & Paul Woodrow.
December 24 & 25–The office will be closed for the holiday.
Thursday, December 27
5 p.m. Harvest Hope Food Bank project-Volunteers will staff the emergency food pantry (2220 Shop Road).
6:45 p.m. Minyan will be held at Harvest Hope Food Bank.
Tuesday, January 1–The office will be closed for the holiday.
Saturday, January 5
9:45 a.m. Installation of Board of Directors and Board of Education.
10:30 a.m. Junior Congregation
Saturday, January 12–10:30 a.m. Junior Congregation
Sunday, January 13:
10 a.m. 5th-7th Grade Family Education Program–Havdalah.
10:30 a.m. Sisterhood Open Meeting. It's time to re-energize & re-organize BSS Sisterhood! Please make plans to attend this very important meeting.
Wednesday, January 16–7:30 p.m. Board of Directors meeting in the library.
Saturday, January 19–9:45 a.m. Magen David Award presentation to Bill Stern; Special kiddush luncheon following services in honor of Bill Stern.
Sunday, January 20
10 a.m. No Hebrew school.
10 a.m. Unveiling of the stone for Tillie Gendil at Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery.
Hebrew School Winter Break
Sunday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 2, 2007.
Hebrew School resumes Sunday, January 6, 2008.
Saturday, December 22–9:45 a.m. Shabbat morning services followed by a sponsored kiddush luncheon in honor of the Hebrew naming and Jewish wedding of Diana & Paul Woodrow.
December 24 & 25–The office will be closed for the holiday.
Thursday, December 27
5 p.m. Harvest Hope Food Bank project-Volunteers will staff the emergency food pantry (2220 Shop Road).
6:45 p.m. Minyan will be held at Harvest Hope Food Bank.
Tuesday, January 1–The office will be closed for the holiday.
Saturday, January 5
9:45 a.m. Installation of Board of Directors and Board of Education.
10:30 a.m. Junior Congregation
Saturday, January 12–10:30 a.m. Junior Congregation
Sunday, January 13:
10 a.m. 5th-7th Grade Family Education Program–Havdalah.
10:30 a.m. Sisterhood Open Meeting. It's time to re-energize & re-organize BSS Sisterhood! Please make plans to attend this very important meeting.
Wednesday, January 16–7:30 p.m. Board of Directors meeting in the library.
Saturday, January 19–9:45 a.m. Magen David Award presentation to Bill Stern; Special kiddush luncheon following services in honor of Bill Stern.
Sunday, January 20
10 a.m. No Hebrew school.
10 a.m. Unveiling of the stone for Tillie Gendil at Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery.
Beth Shalom Adult Education Academy
Thursday evenings: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Class Meeting Dates: January 10, 17, 24 & 31 and February 7, & 21.
Please call the office to register for classes by Tuesday, January 8, 2008.
Want to learn in an atmosphere where curiosity and enthusiasm are encouraged?
Then Beth Shalom Synagogue is the place for you.
Our Winter Academy is set to begin.
Introduction to Hebrew II
7:00 – 7:55 p.m. Taught by Marlene Roth
This course continues to enable students to recognize and use fundamental structures of Hebrew decoding and declamation. All language skills are mastered through elementary syntactic and grammatical structures. Prior class in Hebrew is required.
Introduction to the Study of Talmud
7:00 – 7:55 p.m. Taught by Dr. Joshua Frankel
$60.00 members ⁄$70.00 non-members
Note: Some previous exposure to rabbinic literature is desirable.
In this course, students will learn the skills of analyzing a variety of talmudic texts, aggadic and halakhic. How are talmudic sugyot (thematic units of a talmudic tractate) constructed? What are the recurring technical terms of a talmudic "discussion"? What are the conceptual assumptions of talmudic discourse? What are the social and cultural contexts of the sugyot? Students will learn basic talmudic terminology, including a glossary of Hebrew and Aramaic terms and concepts, and how to use reference tools to help them decipher and understand a talmudic sugya. This course also includes selections from the commentaries of Rashi and of the Tosaphot with an examination of their interpretive concerns and methods. Students will be required to record selections from the talmudic texts in order to improve skills in reading rabbinic Hebrew.
Our Tradition's Treasures: Jewish Sacred Literature
8:10 – 9:00 p.m. Taught by Rabbi Siff
Wonder about who those prophets were? Heard the phrase "mishna," "talmud," but never known quite what was being referred to? Ever confused midrash and mazda? This class will give students a basic familiarity with the fundamental works of Jewish sacred literature, from Bible through modern works of philosophy and Hassidism, exploring their riches, learning how Judaism and Jewish thought developed through the ages, and finding out how we as modern Jews may find meaning from them for our own lives. This class is appropriate for non-Jews as well as Jews, and requires no background knowledge or experience.
The Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov
8:10 – 9:00 p.m. Taught by Dr. Michal Rubin
$60.00 members ⁄ $70.00 non-members
Early in the 18th century, a new movement was developing, growing, spreading. A paradigm shift in Judaism was emerging. Join us as we enter and taste the world of the Baal Shem Tov (Besht), the father of the Chassidic movement, through reading the Besht's teachings, as written by his closest students. Early in the 18th century, a new movement was developing, growing, spreading. A paradigm shift in Judaism was emerging. Join us as we enter and taste the world of the Baal Shem Tov (Besht), the father of the Chassidic movement, through reading the Besht's teachings, as written by his closest students.
Though all the original writings are in Hebrew, no Hebrew knowledge is necessary, as translations will be provided.
Class Meeting Dates: January 10, 17, 24 & 31 and February 7, & 21.
Please call the office to register for classes by Tuesday, January 8, 2008.
Want to learn in an atmosphere where curiosity and enthusiasm are encouraged?
Then Beth Shalom Synagogue is the place for you.
Our Winter Academy is set to begin.
Introduction to Hebrew II
7:00 – 7:55 p.m. Taught by Marlene Roth
This course continues to enable students to recognize and use fundamental structures of Hebrew decoding and declamation. All language skills are mastered through elementary syntactic and grammatical structures. Prior class in Hebrew is required.
Introduction to the Study of Talmud
7:00 – 7:55 p.m. Taught by Dr. Joshua Frankel
$60.00 members ⁄$70.00 non-members
Note: Some previous exposure to rabbinic literature is desirable.
In this course, students will learn the skills of analyzing a variety of talmudic texts, aggadic and halakhic. How are talmudic sugyot (thematic units of a talmudic tractate) constructed? What are the recurring technical terms of a talmudic "discussion"? What are the conceptual assumptions of talmudic discourse? What are the social and cultural contexts of the sugyot? Students will learn basic talmudic terminology, including a glossary of Hebrew and Aramaic terms and concepts, and how to use reference tools to help them decipher and understand a talmudic sugya. This course also includes selections from the commentaries of Rashi and of the Tosaphot with an examination of their interpretive concerns and methods. Students will be required to record selections from the talmudic texts in order to improve skills in reading rabbinic Hebrew.
Our Tradition's Treasures: Jewish Sacred Literature
8:10 – 9:00 p.m. Taught by Rabbi Siff
Wonder about who those prophets were? Heard the phrase "mishna," "talmud," but never known quite what was being referred to? Ever confused midrash and mazda? This class will give students a basic familiarity with the fundamental works of Jewish sacred literature, from Bible through modern works of philosophy and Hassidism, exploring their riches, learning how Judaism and Jewish thought developed through the ages, and finding out how we as modern Jews may find meaning from them for our own lives. This class is appropriate for non-Jews as well as Jews, and requires no background knowledge or experience.
The Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov
8:10 – 9:00 p.m. Taught by Dr. Michal Rubin
$60.00 members ⁄ $70.00 non-members
Early in the 18th century, a new movement was developing, growing, spreading. A paradigm shift in Judaism was emerging. Join us as we enter and taste the world of the Baal Shem Tov (Besht), the father of the Chassidic movement, through reading the Besht's teachings, as written by his closest students. Early in the 18th century, a new movement was developing, growing, spreading. A paradigm shift in Judaism was emerging. Join us as we enter and taste the world of the Baal Shem Tov (Besht), the father of the Chassidic movement, through reading the Besht's teachings, as written by his closest students.
Though all the original writings are in Hebrew, no Hebrew knowledge is necessary, as translations will be provided.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Parshat Vayigash
Ezekiel 37:15-28
6 Tevet 5768
December 15, 2007
Religion, in some sense, constitutes the struggle to understand the significance of the lives that we lead and the events which challenge us. Each individual has his or her own challenges. Each generation has its own means for meeting what confronts it. Yet, it is sometimes possible to discern some overarching themes in that which we confront and some grand plan in that which at first glance seems unique.
Ezekiel faced, in his generation, a people torn asunder: one people into two nations - Israel and Judea. He was also confronted by the pain of exile and homelessness. He could not look at this situation without linking the two. He concluded that the people's subjugation and exile was, at least in part, caused by the disintegration of the nation's unified integrity. For Ezekiel, one nation, under one king and one God could be seen as an anthem. To this end, the thought of the reunification of the people's two struggling parts was his unique innovation to the nation's eschatological dreams and a keynote of his prophecy. (See R Kasher, Ezekiel, Mikra L'Yisrael, pp. 723-4) This message is the focus of this week's haftarah: "The word of the Lord came to me: 'And you, O mortal, take a stick and write on it, 'Of Judah and the Israelites associated with him'; and take another stick and write on it, 'of Joseph – the stick of Ephraim – and all the House associated with him.' Bring them close to each other, so that they become one stick, joined together in your hand.'" (verses 15-16)
Rabbi Mordechai Breuer (20th century Israel) saw in this prophetic message the divine culmination of the process by which the Jewish people was formed. The life of the Jewish people was formed at every stage by division and struggle. This process, which according to Breuer was a natural process (is he here invoking Darwin?), produced the line which would ultimately become the Jewish people. Beginning with the patriarchs and matriarchs, each generation was marked by struggle. There certainly was no harmony to be found among Jacob's children, who constituted the tribes of Israel. Their conflicts were not mere sibling rivalry but were deeply rooted in the struggle for primacy and power. Reuben, the first born, lost his predominance through his sin with Bilhah, yet still seeks to maintain his position as leader. Judah, the second born from Leah, takes on the mantle of leadership with both tragic and positive consequences. Joseph, Rachel's first born, sees himself as leader. The die is caste for a struggle that will far outlast this aggregate of brothers. It is a struggle as natural as breathing and life itself. So natural – so dynamic – so potentially productive – so potentially destructive. (See M. Breuer, Pirke Bereishit, pp. 244-6)
Ultimately this divisiveness must give way to the oneness implied by God's existence. His oneness demands that we conquer the natural processes which have led us to divide ourselves and separate ourselves from one each other. This banner, raised by Ezekiel, should be ours as well.
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
6 Tevet 5768
December 15, 2007
Religion, in some sense, constitutes the struggle to understand the significance of the lives that we lead and the events which challenge us. Each individual has his or her own challenges. Each generation has its own means for meeting what confronts it. Yet, it is sometimes possible to discern some overarching themes in that which we confront and some grand plan in that which at first glance seems unique.
Ezekiel faced, in his generation, a people torn asunder: one people into two nations - Israel and Judea. He was also confronted by the pain of exile and homelessness. He could not look at this situation without linking the two. He concluded that the people's subjugation and exile was, at least in part, caused by the disintegration of the nation's unified integrity. For Ezekiel, one nation, under one king and one God could be seen as an anthem. To this end, the thought of the reunification of the people's two struggling parts was his unique innovation to the nation's eschatological dreams and a keynote of his prophecy. (See R Kasher, Ezekiel, Mikra L'Yisrael, pp. 723-4) This message is the focus of this week's haftarah: "The word of the Lord came to me: 'And you, O mortal, take a stick and write on it, 'Of Judah and the Israelites associated with him'; and take another stick and write on it, 'of Joseph – the stick of Ephraim – and all the House associated with him.' Bring them close to each other, so that they become one stick, joined together in your hand.'" (verses 15-16)
Rabbi Mordechai Breuer (20th century Israel) saw in this prophetic message the divine culmination of the process by which the Jewish people was formed. The life of the Jewish people was formed at every stage by division and struggle. This process, which according to Breuer was a natural process (is he here invoking Darwin?), produced the line which would ultimately become the Jewish people. Beginning with the patriarchs and matriarchs, each generation was marked by struggle. There certainly was no harmony to be found among Jacob's children, who constituted the tribes of Israel. Their conflicts were not mere sibling rivalry but were deeply rooted in the struggle for primacy and power. Reuben, the first born, lost his predominance through his sin with Bilhah, yet still seeks to maintain his position as leader. Judah, the second born from Leah, takes on the mantle of leadership with both tragic and positive consequences. Joseph, Rachel's first born, sees himself as leader. The die is caste for a struggle that will far outlast this aggregate of brothers. It is a struggle as natural as breathing and life itself. So natural – so dynamic – so potentially productive – so potentially destructive. (See M. Breuer, Pirke Bereishit, pp. 244-6)
Ultimately this divisiveness must give way to the oneness implied by God's existence. His oneness demands that we conquer the natural processes which have led us to divide ourselves and separate ourselves from one each other. This banner, raised by Ezekiel, should be ours as well.
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
Friday, December 07, 2007
Weekly Announcements, 12/7
Friday, December 7:
6:30 p.m. 7th Grade Shabbat Service
7:30 p.m. Hanukkah Shabbat dinner at Beth Shalom. Thank you to Lisa & Ben Arnold for coordinating this Hanukkah Shabbat dinner!
Saturday, December 8:
10:30 a.m. Jr. Congregation
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. RSVP to this dinner by Wednesday, December 5th.
Sunday, December 9–10:00 a.m. Religious School Chanukah Party
Tuesday, December 11–6:30 p.m. Rabbi Siff will teach a seminar on creating a spiritual, educational and fun family Shabbat dinner.
Friday, December 14:
6 p.m. Early musical service followed by Shabbat dinners at host member's homes.
7 p.m. Community Shabbat Dinner. Family style dinners hosted at various houses following a musical service. Once a month we will gather around Columbia. Some of us will open our homes while others will be guests. From month to month we'll be in different locations so hosts can participate as guests as well. Cost is: $10 per person or $25 per family maximum. For more information contact Matt Gottlieb at 528-7312 or matt@mattgottlieb.com. RSVP to the office to host or attend this dinner by Monday, December 10th.
Saturday, December 15–10 a.m. Learner 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.
Sunday, December 16:
10 a.m. STAR Program at Starbucks in Sandhills.
9:30 a.m. Board of Directors meeting in the library (prior to the congregational meeting).
11 a.m. Annual Congregational Meeting and election of the slate for the Board of Directors and Board of Education in the social hall.
Wednesday, December 19–7 p.m. Jewish Women's Book Club meeting in the library. Book: Suite Francaise, by Irene Nemirovsky
Hebrew School Winter Break
Sunday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 2, 2007.
Hebrew School resumes Sunday, January 6, 2008.
December 24 & 25–The office is closed for the holiday.
Thursday, December 27–5 p.m. Harvest Hope Food Bank project-Volunteers will staff the emergency food pantry (2220 Shop Road).
Tuesday, January 1–The office is closed for the holiday.
Saturday, January 5–9:45 a.m. Installation of the Board of Directors and Board of Education
Sunday, January 6:
10 a.m. STAR Program
10 a.m. 4th & 5th Grade Wildewood Downs visit.
Well Wisher Support for Eugene Frost
Gene, our faithful custodian⁄maintenance worker⁄shamash for over 17 years, was diagnosed with kidney cancer and has no medical insurance. Gene has always been there for us, and we would like to be there for him during this difficult time. We are accepting gifts to help him pay for his every day needs, such as, prescriptions, medical bills, rent, etc. Please make your check out to Beth Shalom and we will make sure Gene receives the contributions made for him. Todah Rabah!
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.
6:30 p.m. 7th Grade Shabbat Service
7:30 p.m. Hanukkah Shabbat dinner at Beth Shalom. Thank you to Lisa & Ben Arnold for coordinating this Hanukkah Shabbat dinner!
Saturday, December 8:
10:30 a.m. Jr. Congregation
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. RSVP to this dinner by Wednesday, December 5th.
Sunday, December 9–10:00 a.m. Religious School Chanukah Party
Tuesday, December 11–6:30 p.m. Rabbi Siff will teach a seminar on creating a spiritual, educational and fun family Shabbat dinner.
Friday, December 14:
6 p.m. Early musical service followed by Shabbat dinners at host member's homes.
7 p.m. Community Shabbat Dinner. Family style dinners hosted at various houses following a musical service. Once a month we will gather around Columbia. Some of us will open our homes while others will be guests. From month to month we'll be in different locations so hosts can participate as guests as well. Cost is: $10 per person or $25 per family maximum. For more information contact Matt Gottlieb at 528-7312 or matt@mattgottlieb.com. RSVP to the office to host or attend this dinner by Monday, December 10th.
Saturday, December 15–10 a.m. Learner 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.
Sunday, December 16:
10 a.m. STAR Program at Starbucks in Sandhills.
9:30 a.m. Board of Directors meeting in the library (prior to the congregational meeting).
11 a.m. Annual Congregational Meeting and election of the slate for the Board of Directors and Board of Education in the social hall.
Wednesday, December 19–7 p.m. Jewish Women's Book Club meeting in the library. Book: Suite Francaise, by Irene Nemirovsky
Hebrew School Winter Break
Sunday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 2, 2007.
Hebrew School resumes Sunday, January 6, 2008.
December 24 & 25–The office is closed for the holiday.
Thursday, December 27–5 p.m. Harvest Hope Food Bank project-Volunteers will staff the emergency food pantry (2220 Shop Road).
Tuesday, January 1–The office is closed for the holiday.
Saturday, January 5–9:45 a.m. Installation of the Board of Directors and Board of Education
Sunday, January 6:
10 a.m. STAR Program
10 a.m. 4th & 5th Grade Wildewood Downs visit.
Well Wisher Support for Eugene Frost
Gene, our faithful custodian⁄maintenance worker⁄shamash for over 17 years, was diagnosed with kidney cancer and has no medical insurance. Gene has always been there for us, and we would like to be there for him during this difficult time. We are accepting gifts to help him pay for his every day needs, such as, prescriptions, medical bills, rent, etc. Please make your check out to Beth Shalom and we will make sure Gene receives the contributions made for him. Todah Rabah!
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.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Parshat Miketz
Shabbat Hanukkah
(Zechariah 2: 14 - 4:7)
28 Kislev 5768
December 8, 2007
Rabbi Yitzhak Abrabanel (14th century Spain) raised an interesting contextual question about the structure of the third prophecy in this special haftarah for Shabbat Hanukkah. In this prophecy, an angel comes to Zechariah and presents him with the fantastic image of a golden menorah constructed in an unusual way (4:1-3). The prophet inquires about the significance of this vision (4) The angel, in turn, confronts the prophet and asks him to explain the meaning of this vision (5). The prophet cannot but answer that he does not understand the significance of this vision (5). At the moment when one would expect the angel to explain its significance, the angel launches instead into a message from God to Zerrubbabel, the leader of the community who was thought to be the divinely intended leader: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerrubbabel: 'Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit' – said the Lord of Hosts" (6).
Abrabanel asks in all candor: "How can this message to Zerrubbabel be considered an answer to Zechariah's question [since it says nothing about the vision that he has just seen]?" In addition, Abrabanel asks about the relevance of the vision of the menorah, a ritual object associated with the priests and the Temple to Zerrubbabel, the temporal leader of the people who is not even a priest.
Abrabanel's questions were anticipated by Rashi's comments on these issues three centuries earlier. Rashi sees the angel's remarks to Zechariah for Zerrubbabel as an answer to his question to the angel. What is the meaning of the vision of the menorah? According to Rashi, since the menorah in the vision was self-sufficient solely through God's will, so, too, will Zerrubbabel's political leadership and Joshua the High Priest's religious leadership be self-sufficient under God's guidance. As a result the Temple will be rebuilt.
Abrabanel reject Rashi's answer on three counts: 1. no similar explanations were offered for any of Zechariah's other prophecies; 2. the Second Temple's reconstruction had already commenced before this prophecy was given; 3. the construction was carried out through the "might" and "power" of human builders. Instead he offers an alternative explanation. This message was intended as a reminder to Zerrubbabel that even though "real" temporal power rested in the hands of the Persian ruler, Darius, still, it would be Zerrubbabel who would found the new Temple and it was he who God desired to carry out this task. According to Abrabanel, this message was intended to strengthen him and give him the spirit to live up to the task.
Hanukkah is the season when each of us is put in the shoes of Zerrubbabel. Though we may not feel up to the tasks at hand, whether it be strengthening our relationship with God, preserving the integrity of our Jewish identities, building the future or restoring our Jewish present, God's spirit is with us and through it we will move from strength to strength
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
(Zechariah 2: 14 - 4:7)
28 Kislev 5768
December 8, 2007
Rabbi Yitzhak Abrabanel (14th century Spain) raised an interesting contextual question about the structure of the third prophecy in this special haftarah for Shabbat Hanukkah. In this prophecy, an angel comes to Zechariah and presents him with the fantastic image of a golden menorah constructed in an unusual way (4:1-3). The prophet inquires about the significance of this vision (4) The angel, in turn, confronts the prophet and asks him to explain the meaning of this vision (5). The prophet cannot but answer that he does not understand the significance of this vision (5). At the moment when one would expect the angel to explain its significance, the angel launches instead into a message from God to Zerrubbabel, the leader of the community who was thought to be the divinely intended leader: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerrubbabel: 'Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit' – said the Lord of Hosts" (6).
Abrabanel asks in all candor: "How can this message to Zerrubbabel be considered an answer to Zechariah's question [since it says nothing about the vision that he has just seen]?" In addition, Abrabanel asks about the relevance of the vision of the menorah, a ritual object associated with the priests and the Temple to Zerrubbabel, the temporal leader of the people who is not even a priest.
Abrabanel's questions were anticipated by Rashi's comments on these issues three centuries earlier. Rashi sees the angel's remarks to Zechariah for Zerrubbabel as an answer to his question to the angel. What is the meaning of the vision of the menorah? According to Rashi, since the menorah in the vision was self-sufficient solely through God's will, so, too, will Zerrubbabel's political leadership and Joshua the High Priest's religious leadership be self-sufficient under God's guidance. As a result the Temple will be rebuilt.
Abrabanel reject Rashi's answer on three counts: 1. no similar explanations were offered for any of Zechariah's other prophecies; 2. the Second Temple's reconstruction had already commenced before this prophecy was given; 3. the construction was carried out through the "might" and "power" of human builders. Instead he offers an alternative explanation. This message was intended as a reminder to Zerrubbabel that even though "real" temporal power rested in the hands of the Persian ruler, Darius, still, it would be Zerrubbabel who would found the new Temple and it was he who God desired to carry out this task. According to Abrabanel, this message was intended to strengthen him and give him the spirit to live up to the task.
Hanukkah is the season when each of us is put in the shoes of Zerrubbabel. Though we may not feel up to the tasks at hand, whether it be strengthening our relationship with God, preserving the integrity of our Jewish identities, building the future or restoring our Jewish present, God's spirit is with us and through it we will move from strength to strength
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)