Shabbat-O-Gram
December 9, 2005 - Kislev 8, 5766
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman,
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Contents
of the Shabbat O Gram: (click to scroll down)
Just
the Facts (service schedule)
Mitzvah/Tzedakkah Opportunities
Required Reading and Action Items (links
to key articles on Israel and Jewish life)
Announcements (goings on in and around TBE)
THIS
WEEKEND’S TO-DO LIST (aside from regularly scheduled events)…
n
Comedy Night on Sat night at 7:30
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Youth Service for and by teens at 11 on Shabbat
n
Bar/Bat Mitzvah class lunch n’ learn after services
on Shabbat
n
Hot-Button Halacha on Sunday at
11 (church-state issues)
n
TBE
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Hanukkah-shop in our gift shop on Sunday morning
n
Shovel snow…
This
week, I voted in the World Zionist Congress elections. Have you??? Rolling registration is continuing
through 1/15, even as voting is now taking place. Register online HERE
THIS
WEEK ONLY – The acclaimed Israeli film "Ushpizin" is playing at the
Our
deepest sympathies to Rabbi Emily Korzenik on the
passing of her husband, Sidney. May
his memory be for a blessing.
Memorial donations may be made to the New
Israel Fund, the Reading Reform
Foundation of New York or the UJA-Federation of New York.
Quotes for the Week
“It's a great
shame that the Security Council couldn't speak to this terrorist attack in Netanya,
but if the Council
won't speak, the
—U.S. Ambassador John Bolton,
blaming
|
|
Winter Weather Advisory
Note that in the case of
bad weather, weekday minyan does not take place when
THIS SHABBAT MORNING – A TBE FIRST!!
A Shabbat morning service and lunch by teens and for
teens!!!! In the youth lounge at 11 (you even get to sleep late!)
Minyan
on Sunday mornings now begins at 9:30 AM.
Our ritual committee decided
to abandon the 8:30 experiment. On
the bright side, the Guaranteed Minyan experiment has worked wonderfully, using
the Rosner Minyan Maker at www.tbe.org. If you want a Guaranteed Minyan on a day
when you have yahrzeit, simply go to the site, click on the day and fill in
your name, indicating that it is a Yahrzeit, then
e-mail me at rabbi@tbe.org so I can alert
the congregation. The last time we
did it, we had 24 people turn out.
As things “quiet down” (only a little) in our Bar/Bat
Mitzvah schedule, we will be having a couple of congregational lunches over the coming weeks, including December 24 and Feb 4. The one in Feb. will
be a special JTS Shabbat when we will be welcoming a student from the Jewish
Theological Seminary who will be speaking at services and joining us for the
weekend. The one on Dec. 24 is,
well, on Dec. 24 (Hanukkah Eve), and that’s always a nice time to relax
over lunch. We are looking for
SPONSORS for those lunches. For
more information, contact the temple office.
Friday Evening
Candle lighting for
Stamford, CT: Candle lighting: 4:08pm on Friday, 09 December
2005. For candle lighting times,
other Jewish calendar information, and to download a Jewish calendar to your
PDA, click on http://www.hebcal.com/.
To see the festivals of other faiths as well, go to http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/
Family Friday Kabbalat Shabbat: 7:30 PM –
in the sanctuary
Join us as we begin our preparations for Hanukkah! (note the 7:30
time on the second week of the month)
TOT SHABBAT WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK!
Shabbat Morning: 9:30 AM – Main
service
MAZAL TOV TO, Alexander Aflalo, who becomes Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat morning!
Junior Congregation and Tot Shabbat
Morning: 10:30
Special this Shabbat: 11:00: Teen service – BY
teens, FOR teens (8th grade and up) in the youth lounge. It will be
followed by lunch.
A Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class lunch and learn will take place immediately
after services
Torah Portion: Vayetze - Genesis
28:10 - 32:3 – the Jacob story continues
1: 30:14-16
2: 30:17-21
3: 30:22-27
4: 30:28-36
5: 30:37-43
6: 31:1-9
7: 31:10-16
maf: 31:14-16
Haftarah – Hosea
12:13 - 14:10
See a weekly
commentary from the UJC Rabbinic Cabinet, at www.ujc.org/mekorchaim. Read the Masorti
commentary at http://www.masorti.org/mason/torah/index.asp. University of Judaism, JTS commentary
is at: http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/parashah/.
USCJ Torah
THE ENTIRE HEBREW BIBLE (AS WELL AS OTHER JEWISH SOURCES) CAN BE
FOUND WITH SIDE-BY-SIDE TRANSLATION AT
Morning Minyan: Sundays at 9:30 AM (note new
time!!!),
Weekdays at 7:30 AM – IN THE CHAPEL
TO ENSURE A “GUARANTEED MINYAN” FOR
THE DAY OF YOUR YAHRZEIT – GO TO THE ROSNER MINYAN MAKER AT WWW.TBE.ORG AND ALSO CONTACT ME AT RABBI@TBE.ORG.
A guaranteed minyan has been requested
for Thursday, Dec. 22 and Tuesday, Dec.
27.
If you can make it, go to www.tbe.org and click on the Rosner Minyan Maker
to let us know.
Missionary Groups on Campus
One of
our TBE college students sent me this e-mail last week:
Hi
Rabbi Hammerman-
I have having
a debate with some friends, and we are disagreeing. Did the ancient Jews
believe that Jesus was God's son? Or not?
That’s
my question, thanks so much!
Here is
my response, which I am sharing because I suspect she is not the only one of
our students to confront these types of issues on campus, especially at this
time of year. When we realize that
the Southern Baptists have allocated more money for Jewish missionary work than
all of American Jewry has allocated for Jewish education, we realize that the
obstacles are formidable and serious.
Hi ___
Great
to hear from you! Anyway, it's an
important question. The earliest
Christians were Jews, but by far most Jews refused to believe that Jesus was
the Messiah (which really bothered Christian leaders, some to this day, which
is why so much emphasis is being placed on converting Jews to Christianity).
But
most of all, the teachings of ancient Judaism, including the Talmud, were very
clear that Jesus was not the son of God.
Judaism believes in a messiah, but that the messiah has not come
yet. That is the main place where
Judaism and Christianity differ.
Those groups that try to convince Jews that it is possible to believe in
Jesus and still be Jewish are trying to manipulate us into conversion. These missionary groups are very well
funded and they are all over college campuses.
A real
good website to check if you are looking to respond to what your friends are
saying is http://www.outreachjudaism.org/
But
also feel free to ask me any questions, any time. I’d be more than happy to help.
Happy
Hanukkah!
Rabbi
H
A
Crossroads for the Red Cross
Last
week I included in the Shabbat-O-Gram some information on the proposed change
that would enable
“
So last week
Eye on the UN
But even as we hear some good news from
Spielberg and “
Some
articles on the next big controversy to hit the big screen – whether
Steven Spielberg’s new movie about the 1972 Munich massacre and its
aftermath does not reflect accurately the feelings of the Israeli participants
who responded to this seminal terrorist act. You can find also read the Time
Magazine Cover Story. I found
the first selection below, the blog from Ha’aretz, to be especially illuminating.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408306/
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/09/wmunich09.xml
http://www.laweekly.com/ink/06/02/deadline-finke.php
And
after Spielberg’s movie is done, we read that Mel Gibson’s
production company will be turning its attention to the Holocaust. It’s too early to know what the
implications of this will be, but I know two things: 1) His father’s
beliefs are irrelevant here (he’s a Holocaust denier) and 2) I have
visions of Venessa Redgrave
in the starring role, then jointly accepting the Oscar with Mel. To be continued…
OUR NEW ONLINE DISCUSSION FORUM IS OPEN
FOR BUSINESS
Now you can use our website to talk about all my
rabid rantings, all things TBE and all things
Jewish! Just go to our website at www.tbe.org, log into the discussion forum and
follow the simple directions. If
you’ve started a discussion, let me know and I’ll inform the
congregation. Naturally, all
participants are expected to adhere to the rules of Internet etiquette and
Jewish sensitivity of language.
I received this information about a fascinating Mitzvah
project, and I share it not only because the music is good, but because it sets
a wonderful example of what our own kids might consider doing….
Hi! I'm Ben Zauzmer. For my Bar Mitzvah project, I compiled a professional CD with many popular Jewish singers on it called "Mitzvah Music." These outstanding performers each graciously donated and gave me full permission to use one of their great songs: Debbie Friedman, Craig Taubman, Dan Nichols, Rick Recht, Cantor Bruce Benson, Rabbi Joe Black, Steve Dropkin, Kol B'seder, Julie Silver, Mah Tovu, Danny Maseng, Judy Caplan Ginsburgh, Mark Bloom, Matt Stamn, the Shabbatones, AND MORE!
The proceeds from the CD will go to
be kids, away from hospitals and
constant reminders of pain.
So far, generous people and
congregations in over 30 states have bought hundreds of my CD’s to
support
A complete list of the 18
songs and other information about the CD can be found at www.mitzvahmusic.com, and the CD can be purchased at
this website for $18, which includes shipping and taxes.
OR
You can mail a check
payable to Mitzvah Music, along with the order
form below, to
Thank you very much for
supporting my mitzvah project,
and I hope you enjoy this
fabulous music!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: _____________ Address: _______________________________
Number of CD’s you wish to purchase: _____ Total amount included:
______
Telephone number: _____________ E-mail address: _________________
Comments: ________________________________________________
All songs used with full permission of the
copyright holders. ©2005 Ben Zauzmer. All Rights
Reserved.
The
Highest Level of Tzedakkah
A
congregant who has been doing some home-based franchising wanted to share her
ideas with those from the congregation who might be looking for a Plan B
– it’s especially for someone finding it difficult making headway
in the corporate world right now. I
agreed to give it a shot. Here is Dara’s blurb:
Start 2006 owning your own online franchise
and partner with such marqee name retailers like
Nordstrom, Sony, Disney and Target! This at home business features
cutting edge goods and services (like VOIP and customized supplements based on
your genetic profile) and can be started part time to fit into anyone's
lifestyle. With many 401Ks and pensions sadly a reality of the
past, there has never been a more compelling time to work for oneself,
especially with a proven business model that is a residual, willable asset.
Call or e-mail Dara Tyson at 203-249-3844 or dara@daratyson.com
for more info.
BETH EL CARES
BACK FOR
Anyone interested in
participating on the committee please contact Cheryl Wolff at 968-6361.
A
Jewish
Looking for gifts to
give over the holidays? Looking for
something to read on the beach, on the boat or off the slopes? (First of all, why didn’t you
invite me along?) Here are some of
the best annotated Jewish reading lists to be found online.
Go to the
Union of Reform Judaism's Item Browser for an excellent, comprehensive
list. Among the books suggested, here are some that I also recommend:
