March 11, 2006 – Adar 11, 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.”

Mazal tov to dr Hazzan Rabinowitz!

I had the pleasure of attending the convocation at JTS on Thursday where he and 31 other cantors received honorary doctorates for their service to the jewish community. Past president fred and sandy golove and I had the honor of representing our congregation at this auspicious event!

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

Quotes for the Week

"There is no “us and them.” There’s only us.”

From my comments made at last Tuesday’s board meeting

JUST THE FACTS

If you have yet to RSVP for Dan’s Bar Mitzvah on 4/22, please do so at http://www.tbe.org/dansbarmitzvah/index.htm

We want to be sure to get accurate numbers to the caterer.

Thanks

The Hammermans

Friday Evening

“SHABBAT UNPLUGGED”

FRIDAY EVENING SERVICE March 10, at 7:30

‘Jazzy’ Shabbat Service Offers Fun for Jews of All Ages
from Stamford And Its Surrounding Communities…

Follows on the Heels of January’s Successful Event,
Which Brought Together Over 250 Inspired Worshipers

Candle lighting Candle lighting: 5:37pm on Friday March 12, 2006 Havdalah is at 6:16 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/

Kabbalat Shabbat: 7:30 PM – in the sanctuary

SHABBAT UNPLUGGED!!!

SPECIAL PURIM EDITION

Shabbat Morning: 9:30 AM – Mazal tov to Abby Leibowitz, who will become bat mitzvah this Shabbat morning!

Children’s services: 10:30

Torah Portion: Tetzave - Exodus 27:20 - 30:10

1: 26:1-3
2: 26:4-6
3: 26:7-11
4: 26:12-14
5: 26:15-21
6: 26:22-25
7: 26:26-30
maf: 26:26-30

Haftarah – I Kings 5:26 - 6:13

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

Mincha – Ma’ariv – Havdalah: 5:15 PM – Mazal Tov to Lauren Dubinsky, who will become Bat Mitzvah this Shabbat afternoon!

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

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.

LOWELL EITELBERG: TBE’s Minyan Man

Winter Weather Advisory

Note that in the case of bad weather, weekday minyan does not take place when Stamford public schools are cancelled OR delayed. 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.

PURIM schedule

Monday, March 13

6:00 PM Family Megilla reading, costume parade, goodies, and introducing TBE THUNDERSTIX!

7:00 – 8:30: Our SPECTACULAR carnival, put together by our USY and Kadima groups

For all ages!!!

We will be selling for this event which will give unlimited entrance to all the attractions and sand art for each child

Prices:

In advance:

$15 per child and $40 for a family package of three or more

At the door:

$18 per child and $45 for a family package of three or more

The adults are invited to our Caribbean Lounge for flavored coffee and dessert while the kids are playing

8:00 PM – Full Megilla reading in sanctuary

9:00 – “Beth El Apprentice”

Original Purim “spiel” featuring our TBE Teens and the irrepressible Donald Shlump

COME IN COSTUME!!!! (kids and adults)

BRING YOUR OWN CREATIVE NOISEMAKER!!!

BRING YOUR FRIENDS!!!

LEAVE YOUR INHIBITIONS AT THE DOOR…

AND LET’S GIVE HAMAN A LITTLE TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE!

Here’s the official press release from the Rabbinical Assembly regarding yesterday’s non-decision on the landmark issue. My take? I feel badly for those looking for a quick resolution, but I’d much rather it be done right – that the documents reflect logical, halachic thinking, than that there be a “rush” to judgment. These rulings will be studied for generations. The press release is below…

Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Jewish Law and Standards

Moves Vote on Papers Concerning Human Sexuality to Dec. Meeting

Reaffirms Inclusive Approach to Gays in Conservative Jewish Life

No Change in Current Ruling on Sexual Behavior

New York, NY, March 8, 2006 – Following an “intense yet respectful” two-day closed meeting, the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) of the Rabbinical Assembly, the central halakhic authority for the Conservative movement, the committee moved to schedule a vote for its December 2006 meeting on papers that were drafted by committee members on the movement’s current ruling concerning homosexuality, due to the need for “extensive” revisions to the papers by their authors.

At the same time, the committee reaffirmed a statement enforcing the movement’s inclusive approach to gays in Jewish life. The statement appears below.

Rabbi Kassel Abelson, chairman of the CJLS, will be briefing the members of the Rabbinical Assembly on the proceedings of the meeting at the upcoming RA Convention in Mexico City, March 19-23. The convention is open to members of the press.

The Conservative movement is concerned with maintaining its bonds to Jewish tradition and halakhic integrity even as it undertakes a topic of great social relevance and controversy. The CJLS has met several times over the past three years in consideration of this matter. Four papers by leading scholars of the movement were presented at this month’s meeting. This is the second time in which teshuvot, responsa on various aspects of the issue, were presented.

“It was an intense yet respectful meeting in which we looked at many dimensions of the issue,” reported Rabbi Joel Meyers, executive vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly, in the wake of the meeting. “The committee members expressed their opinions in a passionate and forthright manner. Due to the extensive revisions that the authors of the various teshuvot now need to make, we will be meeting next on this matter in December.”

In addition to its March and December meetings, the CJLS also typically meets in June and September.

Although there are a range of views currently held by members of the Committee, the spirit of the latest discussions was one that seeks to involve gay and lesbian Jews in Conservative Jewish communities in much fuller ways, obliging them to religious and communal responsibilities, and extending to them membership and leadership rights to the greatest extent permitted by halakhah (Jewish law).

At the conclusion of its meeting, the CJLS affirmed a four-point Statement for the Conservative Community, which was originally drafted at the conclusion of last year’s meeting. It reads as follows:

• At the heart of the Torah is the concept of holiness (kedushah) expressed in its command, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord am holy.” Flowing from this declaration are policies regulating the spiritual, ritual, social and sexual lives of Jews. Kiddushin, the sanctification of love in heterosexual marriage, is a centerpiece of Jewish life.

• For a variety of reasons, the Jewish ideal of heterosexual marriage is unrealistic for some Jews. We emphatically recognize the human dignity (k’vod habriot) of all such individuals, and invite them to participate within our religious communities.

• Recalling the Torah’s command, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, I am the Lord,” we rededicate our movement to making its congregations and educational institutions inclusive and welcoming of all Jews regardless of their marital status or sexual orientation.

• The parameters of sexual conduct for gay and lesbian Jews, their eligibility for admission to rabbinical and cantorial school, and commitment ceremonies remain the subject of a lively debate within the ongoing deliberations of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards.

The CJLS last reviewed the issue in 1992, when it emphasized the acceptance of gays and lesbians within congregational life yet upheld the biblical injunction against homosexual behavior. The process will resume at future meetings of the committee.

The CJLS is the sole body empowered to deal with, and rule on halakhic issues within the Conservative movement. Chaired by Rabbi Abelson, it is composed of 25 rabbis and 6 non-rabbinical members who are non-voting and who serve on a rotating basis for a period of at least 5 years. A list of committee members is appended to this release.

The Rabbinical Assembly, founded in 1901, is the international association of Conservative rabbis. The Assembly actively promotes the cause of Conservative Judaism, publishes learned texts, prayer books and works of Jewish interest, and administers the work of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards for the Conservative movement.

The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has been functioning since 1927 as a guide for the Conservative Movement in matters of Jewish law.

Here’s a letter from the President of the Rabbinical Assembly to rabbis – I’ve been given permission to disseminate it to you… (apologies for some of the technical jargon)

Shalom Hevre,

In light of recent developments within the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) and some spirited discussion among our members, I think a few observations are in order. Let me begin by assuring you that although I am writing to the RA membership exclusively, this letter may be shared with your constituencies or other interested parties. Nothing in this letter will be violating any confidences nor will its use elsewhere be such a violation.

The chair of our CJLS, our good colleague Rabbi Kass Abelson, invited me to address the committee and I did. As an ex officio member of the CJLS, I am also privy to the teshuvot under consideration at any given time. I have thus had the zekhut of studying the work of our CJLS colleagues and this past Tuesday, I had the added privilege of witnessing the committee at work. To see the committee at work is more than impressive. Whether one agrees or not with any given teshuvah, the way in which our colleagues struggle to maintain the halakhic integrity of the movement while addressing the pressing needs of the day is nothing short of inspirational. These are teshuvot that are well argued, in some cases bold, creative, always candid, and at times sobering.

What makes it even more impressive is that these teshuvot are only drafts. Before the CJLS votes on a given teshuvah, all committee members are given an opportunity to comment on the teshuvah, pointing to its strengths and weaknesses, its ambiguities, its errors, arguments that might require further elaboration, etc. In other words, the teshuvot are far from final form which is why they are not made public to you or to the press. Just as we would not want a rough draft of a sermon or article distributed at large, so too these teshuvot are confidential until such time that they can be deemed completed. That is when a vote on the teshuvah takes place and subsequently, the teshuvah made public.

What happened this week is that the teshuvot were reviewed and critiqued. The authors must now rework the teshuvot, crafting what may be their final form and thus preparing them for eventual adoption or rejection by a subsequent CJLS vote.

And so, although much work took place, there has been nothing to report to you other than the CJLS is hard at work, as it usually is. This may come as a disappointment to those who had hoped that the CJLS would finally resolve debate over homosexuality. This certainly has come as a disappointment to the media which was chomping at the bit for a scoop. The news this week was far less compelling than any of these groups had hoped for. And quite frankly, having read the press, I don’t see the substance of what has been reported to you. The articles have struck me as much ado about nothing.

I don’t want to speculate as to why some go to the press and speak confidentially. I share your anger and frustration when reports appear in the media and touch on issues that have not been brought to you first. Such reports are typically incomplete, biased, and more often than not, designed to embarrass. Be that as it may, people with a cause, colleagues and laypeople alike, will continue to strike out on their own, particularly if they perceive their mission to be just and urgent.

Having said all that, let me explain the matter of the 80% vote which our Executive Council has deliberated on in the past. Our constitution says precious little about the workings of the CJLS. It is, from that perspective, a true Torah shebikhtav. Over the years, the CJLS has recorded a host of internal operating procedures in order to assure consistency in deliberations and voting from one administration to the next (a Torah shebe’al Peh , if you will). It is a rather extensive guide which the committee sends to the Executive Council for review and approval. It is also available to any RA member on request, but has never been deemed so essential that it be mailed to the entire RA.

The committee itself recognized that teshuvot which are oker davar min haTorah are of such seriousness that they ought to be adopted on the basis of a majority that exceeds six votes. Their internal paper suggested a threshold of 11 or 12 votes. The Executive Council, in reviewing that recommendation, noted that the same internal procedures call for an 80% supermajority to overturn a previously adopted teshuvah. The Executive Council did not miss the irony of making oker davar min haTorah easier than overturning a previously adopted teshuvah of the CJLS. It thus voted that the same threshold for overturning a previously adopted teshuvah be applied to akirat davar min haTorah. Such a supermajority would further protect the integrity of the CJLS in reassuring all that extraordinary decisions such as takkanot or gezeirot are promulgated only on the basis of overwhelming consensus. The Executive Council deliberated on that, voted on that, and adopted it by a wide majority.

Has the Executive Council acted presumptuously or, has veShalom, in violation of the constitution? I don’t think so. The Executive Council, a representative body, works hard to reflect the will of the membership. I believe it has.

Hevre, the RA is 100 years old, but our rabbinic forebears go back centuries. We represent an approach to life that encourages debate and respectful mahloket. For centuries, colleagues of good will have disagreed over many matters. And we never shrink form a good debate or disagreement. A challenge is something we embrace for that is the essence of great leadership.

I look forward to seeing you in Mexico! Adios, amigos!

Bididut,

Rafi Rank

President, The Rabbinical Assembly

rafirank@mjc.org

Report from Israel – Ruth Ginsburg

Well a week ago I moved from Migdal Haemek to Jerusalem.... there a little different. WE live literally in the Center of the city in Kikar Zion. It is amazing. I am here doing a three week study course at a pluralistic program, and it is amazing. I have never really experienced Pluralistic Judaism and I love it. For the first week we started off with a bang, talking about G-d! Now I am very confused and figuring out what my own ideas are, I'll let you know when I figure it out. (But my new thing is my relationship to G-d as the Bus Driver of my life.. let me know if you want to know more about this.) My elective was women in Judaism and wow... it is pretty much what I expected but it is interesting to read this. And for an hour a day we do Jewish art. Very interesting. The first day we arrived in Jerusalem we got a list of everything that is going on for every day we will be here, and my roommate from Beer Sheva and I decided that we are going to take advantage and do something every day. Sunday night, we went to Israeli dance, the average age was 75 but it was fun and they invited us to their Purim party so we have to think of a great costume. Monday was my friends birthday so we went out. Tuesday night I went to a protest about women receiving gets( Jewish divorces) in Israel. Right now the man has to consent to an Orthodox divorce in order for it to occur... lots of problems arise with that and so we were there to support the cause to change the requirements of gets in Israel. Wednesday night I went to Ballroom dance class... so fun! Again the average age was 80... This Shabbat we have a Shabbaton with the other half of our group in Pardes (yeshiva) for the three-week part. Jerusalem is amazing, there is such a energy here.. (Mom and Dad don't read this) The first day I was here I got a bus pass, so I can go on any bus... very convenient. (Okay you can read again>). It is Friday morning and the excitement of Shabbat is everywhere. I am off to the Shuk.. where it is a free for all, everyone for themselves when getting the best price on vegetables...

I love it!

Shabbat Shalom

Ruthie

COMING THIS FALL!!

Mitzvah/Tzedakkah Projects

Beth El Cares
Cathy Satz (968-9191; csscounsel@yahoo.com)
Cheryl Wolff (968-6361; cwolff@optonline.net)
BETH EL CARES co-chairs
 
 
Blood Drive
Give the Gift of Life! Get involved in a short term mitzvah project that will save lives. Who benefits from these blood donations? People who are born prematurely, people with auto-immune and other blood disorders, people involved in accidents… Many people, including temple members, have received blood transfusions in the past and some people need regular blood transfusions. 
 
On Sunday, April 30th between 8:30 am and 1:30 pm we need 125 healthy adults who are at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and have not given blood since the beginning of March. The Red Cross will provide the “beds”; we need to put “arms in the beds”. Color War points will be awarded to your child’s color war team!
 
Contact Cheryl Wolff to schedule your donation time or to volunteer to help. 

Lock of Love

As promised, Beth El Cares will be hosting another group donation for children and teens to cut their hair for “Locks of Love”.  If your hair is 10” or longer (in a ponytail), mark Sunday May 7 on your calendar. Guy Sasson & Company will be coming to Temple Beth El to start haircuts at 12:00 noon (right after Religious School). Advance sign-up is required.  Mother and daughter teams will be accepted! Rebecca and Cathy Satz are hopeful they’ll both have their 10” by then-they’re close!

Contact Cathy Satz to schedule your appointment.

Beth El Cares Shabbat

We hope you can join us at Shabbat morning services on Saturday April 15, when we will be hosting a panel discussion regarding Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.  We will feature at least two panelists, Gabi Birkner, staff writer for the Jewish Week who has been to the south several times since Hurricane Katrina and has written some moving reports and Rosaline Feinstein, congregant, who has also written a moving report detailing her recent visit to the south. The panel may also include some students who recently spent a few days performing mitzvah projects in New Orleans with the JCC.

SAVE THE DATE, SAVE DARFUR.

Rally to Stop Genocide

Sunday, April 30th

2:00 - 4:00

(Group will gather beginning at 1:00)

The Mall Washington, DC

Carl Weinberg is working with Beth El Cares to organize a group from Stamford to attend this rally.  For more information about the rally and other Darfur initiatives, contact Carl at 539-5560 (day), 322-8675 (evenings) or carl.r.weinberg@us.pwc.com.

The Gods of Business: Five Global Views
by Prabhu Guptara

Prabhu Guptara's slide presentation, "The Gods of Business: Five Global Views," describes how Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Atheism can provide ethical insights into conducting business in a global culture.

Purim…

Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination. [more from Judaism 101...]

Also see the wealth of material at http://www.myjewishlearning.com/index.htm and take the Purim Quiz at http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Purim/Purim_Quiz.html

A Purim Multi-Media presentation: http://www.aish.com/a/purim.asp

And what’s Purim without a little humor??? ….

Check out http://www.jr.co.il/humor/purim.htm and take a look at Halachah Mi-Disney, which answer’s the pressing question, “Can mice serve as prayer leaders?”

Strangely, no one had any questions for the rabbi this week!

·  Former IDF Chief of Staff: There Is a Military Option for Iran - Yitzhak Benhorin
Former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon told the Hudson Institute in Washington that Israel has a military option against Iran, and that the use of such an option could significantly damage Iran's nuclear program and set it back a number of years. However, Yaalon said Iran is expected to respond with Shihab missiles, as well as missiles from Lebanon and Kassam rockets from the territories. "There will be a need to attack a few dozen sites. The air forces of Israel, the United States, and Europe can carry this out," he said. He added that Iran "would have nuclear technology within a year and a half, and will have the bomb within 3-5 years."
    "Israel has the ability to disrupt the Iranian air defense system. Israel can strike Iran through a number of ways, not only though an aerial attack." "Just as we succeed in striking a lone terrorist, we can also strike a nuclear site without causing major damage to the environment and harming innocents."  (Ynet News)
    See also Responding to the Iranian Threat - David Horovitz
Former Pentagon adviser Richard Perle, now a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told the AIPAC conference in Washington on Monday that, while he hoped it wouldn't come to this, Iran's prime nuclear facilities could be devastated on a single night, in a single strike, by a small fleet of U.S. B-2 bombers. (Jerusalem Post)

·  Six Suicide Bombings in Jerusalem Foiled in 2005 - Jonathan Lis
Israeli security forces foiled six suicide terror bombings in Jerusalem in 2005, Jerusalem District police commander Ilan Franco said Thursday. Two of the bombings were foiled once the terrorists had already infiltrated the city. (Ha'aretz)