Shabbat-O-Gram

January 28, 2006 - Tevet 28, 5766

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Temple Beth El, Stamford, Connecticut

Send your friends and relatives the gift of Jewish awareness -- a Shabbat-O-Gram each week, by signing them up at www.tbe.org. To be removed from this mailing list, sent e-mail request to office@tbe.org. If you have signed up and are not receiving our e-mails, check your spam filter to make sure that TBE is not being “spammed out.”

Sign up for the WZO elections and vote Mercaz!!

(see more below)

Contents of the Shabbat O Gram: (click to scroll down)

Just the Facts (service schedule)

The Rabid Rabbi

Mitzvah/Tzedakkah Opportunities

Ask the Rabbi

Spiritual Journey on the Web

Required Reading and Action Items (links to key articles on Israel and Jewish life)

Announcements (goings on in and around TBE)

Joke for the Week

Quote for the Week

“Should a government be established in the Palestinian Authority with Hamas leading or participating, the PA will become a sponsor of terror. The world and Israel will ignore it and it will become irrelevant.”

-- Ehud Olmert, Acting Prime Minister of Israel, on Thursday

JUST THE FACTS

Sisterhood Shabbat

January 28, 2006 - 28 Tevet 5766

Parashat Vaera

All are welcome to join us for Shabbat services led by Sisterhood members, and for the presentation of this year’s Rose Rosner Award to a most dedicated Sisterhood volunteer! On that day, 70,000 Women’s League Sisterhood members will celebrate Sisterhood Shabbat nationwide.

Thanks and Yasher Koach to our co-chairs, Caryl Ferber Poser and Marge Shameer as well as all the participants!

A Kiddush/Luncheon follows

sponsored by the Temple Beth El Men’s Club.

Services begin at 9:30 a.m.

Friday Evening

Candle lighting for Stamford, CT: Candle lighting: 4:46 pm on Friday, 27 January 2006. Havdalah is at 5:50 on Saturday evening. 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/

Bet and Gimel class dinner and service: 5:45

Kabbalat Shabbat: 6:30 PM – in the lobby

Tot Shabbat: 6:45 – in the chapel

Shabbat Morning: 9:30 AM – Yasher Koach to our Sisterhood service leaders

Children’s services: 10:30

Torah Portion: Va’era - Exodus 6:2 - 9:35

1: 7:8-13
2: 7:14-18
3: 7:19-25
4: 7:26-29
5: 8:1-6
6: 8:7-11
7: 8:12-15
maf: 8:12-15

Haftarah – Ezekiel 28:25 - 29:21

Mincha-Ma’ariv Havdalah – 5:00 PM – Mazal Tov to A.J. Bass, who becomes Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat afternoon

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 Sparks can be found at http://uscj.org/item20_467.html. UAHC Shabbat Table Talk discussions are at http://uahc.org/torah/exodus.shtml. Other divrei Torah via the Torahnet home page: http://uahcweb.org/torahnet/. Test your Parasha I.Q.: http://www.ou.org/jewishiq/parsha/default.htm. CLAL’s Torah commentary archive: http://click.topica.com/maaaiRtaaRvQhbV2AtLb/. World Zionist Organization Education page, including Nehama Liebowitz archives of parsha commentaries: http://www.moreshet.net/web/index.asp?f=1 For a more Kabbalistic/Zionist/Orthodox perspective from Rav Kook, first Chief Rabbi of Israel, go to http://www.geocities.com/m_yericho/ravkook/index.html. For some probing questions and meditations on key verses of the portion, with a liberal kabbalistic bent, go to http://www.jewishealing.com/learning.html or, for Kabbalistic commentaries from the Zohar itself, go to http://www.kabbalah.com/k/index.php/p=zohar/weekly/intro. To see the weekly commentary from Hillel, geared to college students and others, go to http://www.hillel.org/hillel/NewHille.nsf/FCB8259CA861AE57852567D30043BA26/DF7D129F15B3DF0885256AB80058E9C3?OpenDocument. For a Jewish Renewal and feminist approach go to http://rabbishefagold.hypermart.net/Torah1.html . For a comprehensive Orthodox viewpoint from the Israeli rabbi, Yaakov Fogelman, go to the Torah Outreach Program at http://israelvisit.co.il/top/previous.shtml. Guided meditations for each portion by Judith Abrams at http://www.maqom.com/kavannah.pdf For online Parsha quizzes from Pardes in Israel, go to http://www.pardes.org.il/online_learning/parsha_quizzes/ Torah for Kids: http://www.torah4kids.net/ Weekly Lesson of Popular Israeli Rabbi Mordechai Elon: http://www.elon.org/archives/archives.htm - and his parsha sheets: http://www.mibereshit.org/special/download_eng_pdf.htm From Bar Ilan University: http://www.biu.ac.il/JH/Parasha/eng/; http://www.torahproductions.com/weekly_article.jsp

THE ENTIRE HEBREW BIBLE (AS WELL AS OTHER JEWISH SOURCES) CAN BE FOUND WITH SIDE-BY-SIDE TRANSLATION AT

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/

Morning Minyan: Weekdays at 7:30, Sundays at 9:30 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.

Winter Weather Advisory

Note that in the case of bad weather, weekday minyan does not take place when Stamford public schools are cancelled OR postponed. On Sunday, minyan is cancelled if our Religious School sessions are cancelled. Friday evening and Shabbat morning’s main service is never officially cancelled, but do use your best judgment in deciding whether to come. We will endeavor to get proper notification to WSTC radio regarding cancellations, but that may not always be possible for children’s services held on Shabbat.

The Rabid Rabbi

Hamas in Charge

So how terrified should we all be at this turn of events, with Hamas emerging victorious now holding the reigns of power on Israel’s doorstep (and in part of the backyard, for that matter; check that – they are virtually in the kitchen).

It is always amazing to see the way history unfolds. I do not tend to look at the broad strokes and see God as hacking down old leaders and propping up new ones left and right. That’s where I differ from the Pat Robertsons of the world – not to mention many Jews carrying that rather unsubtle perspective. But the impact of this election will be far-reaching and no one can predict where it will lead.

Will Hamas “moderate?” It is plausible that they will be less likely to overtly engage in suicide bombings, but the rhetoric will remain as bombastic as ever. If the Europeans decide to – for once – respond forcefully to state-sponsored Islamic radicalism, it will make a huge difference. But they’ve only shown small indications of doing that with Iran, so it’s not something I’m expecting to happen.

But was the PLO-led P.A. itself ever really moderate? On paper, perhaps, and there was a time when it looked that they might be heading there, but Arafat was always able to hide his terrorist self in the clothing of supposed moderation. Now there will be no façade. Even if Abbas sticks around as the figurehead moderate, Hamas is more far transparent.

The PLO may never have moderated, and it is true that nearly half the Palestinian population voted for a party swearing Israel’s destruction, but the most important thing that happened yesterday is that a healthy democracy is beginning to emerge, and the Palestinians took great pride in that. That is the most visible glimmer of light to take from this earthquake. Democracies, even those run by fundamentalists, are far less likely to instigate war and create suffering on the part of their constituents. Ironically, it is through occupation that the Palestinians have learned the tools of creating the freest society in the Arab world – and they’ve learned it from their supposedly ruthless occupiers. I’m wondering when we will begin seeing news accounts of fearful Palestinians begging to be on the Israel side of the security fence.

The most important thing that needs to happen over the coming weeks is for a new government to define when the next elections will be, if that has not happened already. There need to be safeguards to ensure that the multi party system prevails in the territories.

Articles from Ha’aretz and the Jerusalem Post

Abbas: We must honor the results of the elections

Acting PM Olmert: Israel and the world will ignore Hamas-led government, rendering it irrelevant

Rajoub: Fatah will not join Hamas-led government

Analysis: Olmert faces crisis, but Kadima will grow stronger

Netanyahu: 'Hamastan' created before our eyes

International reactions to Hamas victory

Arab world jubliant at 'earthquake'

Likud: Hamas victory direct result of disengagement

Hamas ready to extend calm if Israel reciprocates

Violent clashes erupt between Hamas and Fatah supporters

Hamas's charter: The martyrs' oath

IDF faces two-headed Hamas monster

The earthquake

Analysis: Is there room for optimism?

Labor: Hamas not a partner for talks

Malerie Cohen forwarded an interesting letter written today by a friend involved in an Israel-Palestinian think tank – I’ve featured it below, in the “Required Reading” section

Hanukkah in Israel

Last month, we send two of our Hebrew School’s best young journalists, Alison and Rachel Wolff, to Israel (along with their parents, David and Cheryl). I gave them the assignment of covering the holiday season and reporting back. Well, here is their report, which I am considering entering for this year’s Pulitzer Prize…. Thank you, Ali and Rachel!

Chanukah in Israel

By: Alison & Rachel Wolff

With all the decorations and holiday songs everywhere you go, Chanukah in Israel is like no other Chanukah at all! Chanukah in Israel is sort of like Christmas in America.

Chanukah in Israel was a great experience for all 23 of us, but what really helped was having our tour guide, Yaki, (who is so smart and amazing) there with us. He helped explain every thing that we did not know or understand, and told us everything that we needed to know. Having Yaki around made everyone feel extra safe and not worried at all. While we were touring all around Israel we always made sure that we had a Hanukiah and candles with us so that we wouldn’t miss one night of Chanukah. We would never want to miss a night of Chanukah when we are in Israel J

Christmas in Israel really just doesn’t exist for us, or most people. There is no such thing as Christmas carols or trees in the middle of town with lights and there it is like, “Santa Who?” One thing that we noticed that dose not happen here in CT is that almost every home has a hanukiah in their windows every night. Sometimes we even saw menorahs out side of peoples hotel rooms it is so much different in Israel.

We made it a point to light the Hanukiah every night. The first night of Chanukah we were in Tiberias, and we lit candles in the lobby of our hotel, along with many other families. Every other night we lit our Hanukiah wherever we were staying, just before we ate dinner.

The last night of Chanukah we were in Jerusalem, and it was our last night in Israel. Our family took a walk up to Ben Yahuda street, and we discovered a festival. The street was closed off, and there was a stage that was built in the middle. There were kids singing, lights all over buildings, and as we were just about to leave there was a big “BOOM” – we were treated to a surprise fireworks display, making it feel like the 4^th of July!

Alison- my feelings while in Israel were that we were safe, and happy, and with all of my family around me. Chanukah in Israel was a big treat and I am so glad that I got to spend Chanukah of 2005 in the land of milk and honey where almost everything can be sweet!!!!

Rachel-I felt really safe when I was in Israel, and Chanukah was really great. Even though I didn’t get presents every night, like we did at home, I still felt special. And we did get presents to bring home from Israel.

Mitzvah/Tzedakkah Projects

Beth El Cares

Jeffrey Rich who has been visiting the Rosenthal Hospice regularly as his mitzvah project for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah. This photo was taken with Rabbi Hammerman and Dr. Wasserman, a resident whom Jeffrey has befriended, at a recent Hanukkah lighting that Jeffrey organized at Hospice.

Sunday, April 30th 8:30am-1:30pm (before, during and after religious school)
 
Wanted: 125 adults looking to get involved in a short term project that will save lives. 
No lengthy commitment required.
 
We need at least 125 volunteers to make this blood drive a success. 
While the Red Cross provides the “beds” we need to put “arms in the beds”. 
We also need volunteers to staff a sign up table during religious school, 
make sign up phone calls, assist with registration, assist with information forms, 
and generally help during the blood drive. 
Don’t forget to sign yourself up to donate-we need 125 donors! 
Please call Cheryl Wolff (968-6361) to get involved. 
 
Religious School Book Sale: 
One Day Only: Sunday, March 26. 
BUY A DIFFERENT HAGGADAH, BUY AFIKOMAN PRESENTS and MORE.
 
Religious School Mitzvah Projects:
We are pleased to report that Grades K-3 have completed their annual class mitzvah projects. 
Depending on the grade, the children gave a Chanukkah concert at Brighton Gardens 
assisted living facility or made toiletry kits for the homeless. 
During the next few months the upper grades will participate in their class mitzvah projects:
 
Grade 4- Make pictures to cheer up the sick at Stamford Hospital 
Grade 5- Birthday closet
Grade 6- Temple/cemetery spring clean up
 
Watch for details! Students in 7th grade perform individual mitzvah projects 
in conjunction with their Bar/Bat Mitzvah!
 
Please contact us if you have ideas for mitzvah projects 
or if you are working on a mitzvah project that you need help with.
 
Special Thanks:
To all who were involved in our holiday projects. 
In prior thank yous we may have left one out: 
Again this year Julie (5th) and Todd (8th) Piskin donated all their Halloween candy 
to St Lukes Lifeworks for the annual Chirstmas dinner prepared by TBE volunteers. 
 
 
Cathy Satz (968-9191; csscounsel@yahoo.com)
Cheryl Wolff (968-6361; cwolff@optonline.net)
BETH EL CARES co-chairs
 
 

Spiritual Journey on the Web

Snow and Plagues

The month of Shevat begins this Monday.  Shevat is best known for Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish Arbor Day, which falls on Feb. 13.  We'll focus on this holiday in future O-grams, (for an introduction to Shevat, see http://www.ou.org/chagim/roshchodesh/shevat/default.htm); suffice to say for now that Shevat focuses our thoughts on the fragile balance of nature and how we are all God's partners in nurturing life on earth.  Even in the depths of winter, we look outward, both to what is growing now and what will grow in months to come -- if only we get sufficient rain. 

SNOW IN JERUSALEM
It occasionally snows at this time of year in Jerusalem, a relatively rare occurrence but a most beautiful one.  Just a slight covering of snow seems to fill this sacred landscape with even more enchantment, and all the politics seem to dissolve away.  The place seems downright peaceful.    The timelessness of snow combines with the eternal beauty of Jerusalem to proclaim purity throughout the land.  In Emerson's words (http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-4257.html), "Announced by all the trumpets in the sky, arrives the snow."  Snow in Jerusalem demonstrates the precious balance that can be achieved so rarely, between the natural and man made, the historical and the ever-present.

Here are my official top Websites with photos or articles about Jerusalem in snow:  As you peruse them, let yourself dissolve into each photo (some soft Israeli music in the background might help -- go to http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/nation?ccode=il&x=3&y=8 and choose your station).

http://info.jpost.com/2000/Supplements/Snow/index.html - Jerusalem Post supplement;

http://guy-olami.com/Jer2.htm

http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/042000/0004011.html  - this article almost makes peace seem possible

http://www.geocities.com/jelbaum/JlmSnow.html

http://www.sobo.co.il/jerusalem/snow.html - shots of Kiryat Ha-Yovel

THE PLAGUES
In the Bible, the ancient Egyptians knew all about what happens when nature's blessings turn to curses.  In this week's portion, we read of the great plagues that afflicted Pharaoh and his people.   Although Passover isn't yet around the corner, it's a good time to begin emptying our wine cup, so to speak, and figuring out what these plagues are all about.  See the cartoon at  http://www.zigzagworld.com/plagues/. Here the music and read about them at http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Uncle_Eli/10Plagues.html. See commentary on each plague from my friend and colleague Rabbi Rob Dobrusin at http://bethisrael-aa.org/rabbi.php?page=The+Ten+Plagues+and+Jewish+Tradition. See how the plagues are reenacted in Jewish homes from Arabic speaking countries, at
http://www.uwm.edu/~corre/arab/plagues.html .  Check out http://www.interhack.net/projects/library/antiquities-jews/b2c14.html to see how they were described by the ancient historian Josephus (1st century).  

ASK THE RABBI

The God Questions, Part 1

Over the next few weeks, “Ask the Rabbi” will focus on questions about God that I get so often from kids, who, by the time they become adults, begin to feel shy about asking. I’ve tried to respond to the questions in a manner that would be comprehensible either to a child or an adult. The answers are far from comprehensive, but they point us in the right direction.

1) How do we know there really is a God?

Think of all the things that are just too brilliant, too perfect, for any person or random process to have created, and the only solution that makes sense is that there is a God. I’m not just talking about sunsets and flowers. That’s easy. When we see the wonders of nature, including all the “bad” things, like earthquakes and hurricanes, we naturally come closer to God. But what of the less obvious things? Think of Shabbat, and how perfect it is, how it helps us all to survive in a very complex world by giving all of creation a day off. What human being could have devised something so brilliant? Or Matzah – the perfect symbol for a holiday that teaches us about the hardships of slavery (ever try to get the stuff out of your teeth or carpet?) and forces us to show the world how proud we are to be Jewish (ever try explaining the stuff to non Jewish friends, most of whom love to taste it?). Who else but God could have created Matzah? The best way to imagine a universe with God is to try to imagine a universe without God.

2) Where does God come from?

Although God began before the universe, God is not complete yet. As we build a better world, in a sense we are also building God. Some Kabbalistic Jews believe that God was sort of a cosmic Humpty Dumpty, who intentionally shattered part of Godself and retreated while we began to pick up and reassemble the pieces of holiness around and within us. So part of where God comes from is around us, part is within us and part is the glue that holds it all together. And as each generation reattaches its little piece of Humpty, we are adding our piece. With each hug, each kind deed and act of tzedakkah, we are making God whole. What will make God whole? When the world is whole and there is peace everywhere.

3) If there is on God, why are there so many religions?

There are certainly lots of religions. In fact, to an extent there are as many different religions as there are people in the world. And to make it more complicated, there are as many religions as there have been people who ever lived or ever will live. That’s because each of us experiences God a little bit differently. Although we all worship the same God, and there are many similarities between religions, we are different because of our different backgrounds. While each person experiences God a little differently, it helps when groups of people “speak the same language” and share together the wisdom of prior generations. Our beautiful religion enables us to learn from many great sages of the past three thousand years. It is very important for everyone to be absolutely comfortable within his or her own religion, allowing it to be a solid “home base” from which to search for God and live a good life.

To be continued…

MERCAZ USA — Slate #9

IMPORTANT WORLD ZIONIST CONGRESS ELECTION NEWS

VOTER REGISTRATION: Deadlines for voter registration are now approaching. Mail-in registration ends as of January 15th, while online registration continues to February 15th. If you have not yet registered to vote, go to www.mercazusa.org. Click "Register" to start online process. Click "Learn", scroll down to #8 to download and print out a mail-in form.

PAPER BALLOTS: A second mailing of paper ballots for those who registered after November 15th were mailed at the end of December while a third and final mailing will be going out in the third week of January. Those who register by January 15th and ask to receive a paper ballot (either initial ballot or duplicate/replacement ballot) will be included in this final mailing. Mail-in ballots must be returned to Election Services Corporation postmarked no later than February 28, 2006. Remember to place a stamp on the envelope and put only one ballot per envelope.

EMAIL BALLOTS: Voters who register online after January 15th or those who request a duplicate email ballot will be sent a ballot to the email address provided in their registration. The email ballot will arrive with the words "AMERICAN ZIONIST MOVEMENT" in the "FROM" line. The email address from which the ballot is sent is azmelections@electionservicescorp.com. Email ballots are sent out "bulk", so depending on how your email account is set up, you may find your ballot in your Spam or Junk Mail folder.

CASTING AN EMAIL BALLOT: For the internet ballot to be counted, yo