The First Day of Rosh Hashanah

(1 Samuel 1:1-2:10)
September 30, 2008
1 Tishre 5769

Rosh Hashanah is known also as Yom Hazikaron – the Day of Remembrance. The Torah and Haftarah readings for the first day resonate with this theme. In particular, we read of our childless matriarch Sarah, whom God remembers and grants a child. Similarly, in the haftarah, we read the story of Hannah who is also childless. During one of her family's yearly pilgrimages to the Sanctuary in Shiloh, her desperation led her to offer her sincerest prayers and yearnings for a child before God. The sages draw a number of significant lessons from Hannah's prayer, some theological and others practical.

Hannah's prayer to God opens with this promise: "O Lord of Hosts (Tzvaot), if you will look upon the suffering of Your maidservant and will remember me and not forget Your maidservant. And if You will grant Your maidservant a male child, I will dedicate him to the Lord for all the days of his life; and no razor shall ever touch his head." (1:11) In Hannah's oath, she addresses God as the "Lord of Hosts", an appellation which the sages thought unusual.

In one midrash, this reference leads to a radical challenge to God: Said Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon: "Hannah said before the Holy One Blessed Be He: 'There are Hosts in the heavens and there are Hosts down on earth. The Hosts in heaven do not eat or drink, nor do they procreate or die but rather live forever; the Hosts on earth eat and drink, procreate and die. I do not know which group I belong to, to the Hosts in heaven or to the Hosts on earth. If I belong to the Host in heaven, I should not have to eat and drink, nor procreate or die. I should live forever! But if I belong to the Hosts on earth, then I should eat and drink, procreate and die. Just as I eat and drink, so should I procreate and die! (Pesikta Rabati 43 Ish Shalom ed. 179b) This midrash demands from God that He make some semblance of order out of His Hosts since He is their Master and Creator.

The Talmud seeks to make this point more directly: Said Rabbi Elazar: 'From the day that the Holy One Blessed Be He created His world no one had ever called God: 'Hosts", until Hannah came along and called Him by this name. Hannah said before God: 'Master of the World, of all the hosts that you have created in Your world, is it too difficult in Your sight to give me but a single son.'" (adapted from Berachot 31b)

What is evident from both of these passages is Hannah's acknowledgement that God's mastery extends over all of creation, on high and down below, things large and things small, the significant and the seemingly insignificant. (See Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik, Yemei Zikaron, pp. 41-42) This awareness gives us the ability to address God with our concerns and needs in this season of remembering and this is what gives God the opportunity and the power to remember and be cognizant of the needs of His creators and to show them His concern. For all these things, Hannah serves as our role model.

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

L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem
May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.


Henry Ray Wengrow
For the Ritual Committee
Beth Shalom

Parshat Nitzavim

Parshat Nitzavim

(Isaiah 61:10-63:9)

Sept 27, 2008

27 Elul 5768

The prophet assures us that God will not abide Jerusalem's lowly status. He will not remain silent until the dignity of Jerusalem (Zion) is restored: "For the sake of Zion I will not remain silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not remain still until her victory emerges resplendent and her triumph like a flaming torch." (62:1) This victory will only be realized when "nations will see your victory and every king your majesty and you shall be called by a new name which the Lord Himself will bestow." (62:2)

A name change in Biblical thinking (and in the ancient Near East in general) represented a change in status, a kind of rebirth. We already see this phenomenon earlier in Isaiah: "and you shall be called city of the Lord, Zion of the Holy one of Israel." (60:14) It is also familiar to us from Abraham's name change from Avram to Avraham and Sarah's name change from Sarai to Sarah when God changed their status (Genesis 15:5;15). (S. Paul, Isaiah 40 – 66, Mikra L'Yisrael, pp. 501-502)

The following midrash adopted this idea with an appropriate message for this season: "In the future, the Community of Israel will say before the Holy One Blessed Be He: the witnesses against me stand before us [to testify regarding our sins]: 'I call heaven and earth this day to witness against you" (Deut. 4:26) God responded: 'I will replace them', as it is written: 'For behold, I am creating a new heaven and a new earth.' (Isaiah 65:17) The Community of Israel said before the Holy One Blessed Be He: 'But my name remains the same. [Even though I have repented, still I will be answerable for my sins.] God responded: 'I will change your name', as it is written: 'you shall be called by a new name which the Lord Himself will bestow'." (adapted from Sifre Devarim 306, Finkelstein ed. p. 329)

The original idea of this verse was political in nature. Jerusalem's status would change from a conquered and vanquished city to a vibrant and renewed city. Its population would be transformed from an exiled community into a redeemed community. This midrash expresses Israel's anxiety over whether teshuva (repentance) is sufficient to transform a sinner into a recognized penitent. God's response is that He will do all that is in His power to insure this transformation. He will manipulate the witnesses and He will change the identity of the former sinner to guarantee a new start. Such is the power of repentance and such is the love of God for His creatures.

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

For the Ritual Committee

Box and Lox Program

Sunday September 21st, 9:30 a.m.
Beth Shalom Synagogue

Beth Shalom Men's Club will be welcoming Rabbi Jonathan Case. There will be a morning service with tefillin, followed by a bagel and lox brunch. All are welcome to attend. If you have your own set of tefillin, we ask that you bring it with you and maybe share it so that others can partake of this significant ritual.Brunch is being sponsored by the Men's Club.

Dan Matzner
President, Beth Shalom Men's Club

Announcements, 9/12

Sunday, September 14–10:30 a.m. Sisterhood Open Membership Brunch - To meet Rivke Case, wife of our new Rabbi. Hear updated info on Torah Fund. Rabbi Case will be the guest speaker.

Tuesday, September 16:
6:30 p.m. Board of Education Meeting in the Social Hall
7:00 p.m. Jewish Women's Book Club Meeting in the library. Join us for "The Messenger", by Daniel Silva.

Friday, September 19–6:30 p.m. Shabbat evening services followed by a family Shabbat dinner. Join us for a delicious brisket meal. To RSVP call the office at 782-2500 or send in your check to make your reservation.

Saturday, September 20:
9:45 a.m. Shabbat morning services. Sponsored Kiddush luncheon following services in honor of the last day of Sheva Brachot. Sponsored by Dr. & Mrs. Dan & Athene Shoemaker.
8:30 p.m. Community Selichot Services at Tree of Life Congregation. Dessert reception followed by a program and Havdalah and the Selichot service.

Sunday, September 21:
9:30 a.m. Lox & Box program & brunch to welcome Rabbi Case to the community. "BYOT" (Bring your own Tefillin). Brunch is being sponsored by the Men's Club. Open to anyone who would like to attend.
4:00 p.m. 12th Grade Religious School Class with Rabbi Case at Joe Muggs in Trenholm Plaza.

Thursday, September 25:
5:00 p.m. Harvest Hope Food Bank project - volunteers will staff the emergency food pantry from 5-7 pm.
6:45 p.m. Session I: "Surviving the High Holidays" and "Learn How to Chant Like a Master" and "My Mother Never Made Matzah Balls, HELP!"
7:45 p.m. Session II: "Huff and Puff and Blow the House Down" and "Why Do They Keep Changing the Music?" and "My Mother Never Made Matzah Balls, HELP!"

Monday, September 29-8 p.m. Erev Rosh Hashanah service

Tuesday, September 30-9 a.m. First Day Rosh Hashanah

*High Holiday tickets will be mailed out next Friday.

FLOWER POWER!

This week's Bema flowers are
being donated by
Catherine Buck Morgan

In honor of Beth Shalom Sisterhood

Join Sisterhood

Beth Shalom Sisterhood

Invites all members and prospective members to
brunch to welcome Rikve Case.

Sunday, September 14th
10:30 a.m.

Also hear updated information on Torah Fund.
Rabbi Jonathan Case, Speaker

R.S.V.P. by September 8th

Brunch for members or guests - $10.00
*Membership dues - $28.00

Please send in your annual dues to be a member of BSS sisterhood.

Announcements, 8/29

Baby Sitting has Returned! Shabbat morning babysitting will be provided each week from 10:15 am-12:15 pm, in the nursery, for ages 5 and under.

Saturday, August 30 –9:45 p.m. Auf Ruf for Athene Woscek & Daniel Shoemaker; Baby naming for Amy Ilana Gendil, parents are Julie & Andy Gendil and Baby naming for Violet Julia Shenkar, parents are Dana & Hilik Shenkar. Special Kiddush luncheon in honor of the baby namings and in honor of the Auff Ruff. Kiddush is being sponsored by Sheila & Steve Gendil and Barbara & Roger Blau.

Monday, September 1– Office closed for Labor Day.

Wednesday, September 3–4:30 p.m. First day of Hebrew School.

Thursday, September 4–7 pm. JCC & Jewish Cultural Arts Committee Presents: "Fiddler on the Roof" at Workshop Theatre. Join us for a Fiddler Feast and the Fiddler! Deli, Beer and Wine. $25 includes dinner & show. $15 for 18 & under. Call 787-2023 to reserve your tickets for this special night.

Saturday, September 6–9:45 a.m. Baby naming for Giana Faith Abrams, parents are Jennifer & Andrew Abrams. Special Kiddush Luncheon in honor of baby naming, sponsored by the Abrams & Matzner Families.

Sunday, September 7:
9:30 a.m. First day of Religious School.

5:30 p.m. Back to School Bingo. Fun for everyone, cash prizes! Pizza & pasta dinner.
Cost: $8 for adult, $5 for 7-12 years old. Max $20.00 per family.

Bingo cards will be available for purchase at the door, $10 each, or 3 for $25. Contact Linda Schoen Giddings with any questions at 419-0203.

Flower Power!
This week’s bema flowers are
being donated by:

Daryl Giddings
In memory of his mother, Nellie Giddings.

Barbara & Roger Blau and
Steve & Sheila Gendil
In honor of the baby namings for Violet Julia Shenkar & Amy Ilana Gendil
and the auf ruf for Athene Woscek & Daniel Shoemaker.