January 12, 2007–
Tevet 23, 5767
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.”
Martin Luther King Weekend
Dr. King, whose
birthday we commemorate this week,
had a close
relationship with the Jewish community,
as is shown in the
following link:
MLK on Zionism: http://www.internationalwallofprayer.org/A-022-Martin-Luther-King-Zionism.html
Sue and Carl Shapiro, with a friend
Check out www.tbe.org for many more new pictures of our
recent Murder Mystery,
plus our extensive library of
photo albums,
articles, sermons, info about
the temple,
Shabbat-O-Grams and links to
the Jewish world.
Did you know that in December,
the TBE website had nearly 100,000 hits
(and an average of over 400
unique visits each day), from over 60 countries????
NEXT
WEEK!!!
Feb. 3
FULL
Synaplex Schedule and
The fun begins next Friday night:
SHABBAT UNPLUGGED IS BACK!!!
With Cantor Littman
And Scholar in Residence Benjamin Gampel
Dancing! Singing! Meditation! Celebration!
For all ages, the Spirit of Shabbat
Friday, Jan. 19 @7:30
Contents
of the Shabbat O Gram:
(Click
to scroll down)
Just
the Facts (service schedule)
The Beth El Bar/Bat Mitzvah Commentary
(new)
The (Occasionally) Ranting Rabbi
Mitzvah/Tzedakkah Opportunities
Required Reading and Action Items (links
to key articles on Israel and Jewish life)
Announcements (goings on in and around
TBE)
Quote for the Week
"When I was young, I admired clever
people. As I grew old, I came to admire kind people."
-Abraham Joshua Heschel, who marched with Dr. King
Friday
Evening
Candle lighting: 4:30 pm on Friday, 12 January 2006. For candle lighting times, Havdalah
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/. The United Synagogue has updated its
candlelighting information. To learn more, click here.
Shabbat Evening service:
7:30 PM (note later time)– in the chapel
Shabbat Morning: 9:30 AM
Children’s
services: 10:30 AM – (Jr.
Congregation service in the chapel, Tot Shabbat morning downstairs. 6th
and 7th graders in the main sanctuary)
Our Torah Reading
for Shabbat Morning
Parashat
Shemot
פרשת
שמות
Exodus
1:1 - 6:1 – the Exodus Saga begins
1: 4:18-20
2: 4:21-26
3: 4:27-31
4: 5:1-5
5: 5:6-9
6: 5:10-14
7: 5:15-6:1
maf: 5:22-6:1
Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6 - 28:13; 29:22 - 29:23
If
you liked Storahtelling, you’ll LOVE Storahtelling’s new weekly
blog about the Torah portion Find it at http://storahtelling.blogspot.com/. ORT
Navigating the Bible; Rashi
in English; BibleGateway:
Useful for comparing different translations: Note- this is a Christian site.
What’s
Bothering Rashi (Bonchek) Each week, one example from the parashah is
deconstructed. 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://www.jtsa.edu/community/parashah/.
USCJ Torah
THE ENTIRE
HEBREW BIBLE (AS WELL AS OTHER JEWISH SOURCES) CAN BE FOUND WITH SIDE-BY-SIDE
TRANSLATION AT http://www.mechon-mamre.org/
100
Blessings: Download information about the grace
after meals (see Birkat
Ha-mazon explained in Wikipedia and in the Jewish
Virtual Library) The actual
prayer can be downloaded at Birkat
Hamazon [pdf]
Morning Minyan
7:30 Weekdays, 9:30 Sundays
We’ve had a Guaranteed
Minyan request for a yahrzeit on Monday, January 8. If you can make it, please take a moment
to sign up at the Rosner Minyan Maker at www.tbe.org.
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.
We’ve had several people coming lately
who are saying kaddish following recent deaths in the family. We want to make sure we have a minyan
each day. Your presence any morning is greatly appreciated!
Please sign up at the Rosner Minyan Maker at www.tbe.org
The Beth El Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Commentary
During this lull
in the Bar Mitzvah season, we are filling this space with Bar Mitzvah related
material rather than speeches. This
week, in honor of Dr King, we focus on ways to add more mitzvah to the bar/bat mitzvah
The following suggestions come from the Ziv Tzedakkah Fund: http://www.ziv.org/
MITZVAH
KIPPOT
Want to have the most beautiful kippot for your guests? Ones that no one has ever seen before? Brightly colored and beautifully patterned? Call MayaWorks, Kathleen Morkert, 773-506-4905, mayaworks-chi@attbi.com, www.mayaworks.org.
These kipot
will not only wow your guests but will also help support the women who make
them in remote villages of
WHAT TO DO ABOUT INVITATIONS?
Want a really original invitation to send your family and friends? There are lots of possibilities. First, contact Carol Katzman, 402-397-9935, ckatzman@jewishomaha.org . She can tell you how she did hers. Or, be in touch with the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, 888-421-1221, www.jfr.org, jfr@jfr.org. Ziv Tzedakah Fund can also provide you with artwork to be used for original invitations, naomi@ziv.org.
CENTERPIECES
When it comes to your party, there are so many things you can do for centerpieces:
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1. Books, books and books! An
arrangement of kids’ books, audio tapes, video tapes and CD’s can
then be given away to a deserving organization in your area. |
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2. Food, food, and food! An
arrangement of canned and boxed foods in a basket can then be donated to a
local pantry or shelter. |
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3. Want to go the traditional route
with flowers or plants? Arrangements of individual plants and flowers can be
broken up and distributed to the local hospital, shelter or nursing home, or
you can ask your Rabbi or synagogue office to give you the names of
congregants who might enjoy some. You can do this with balloons and bima
arrangements, too. |
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4. Speaking of bima
arrangements….don’t forget you can make attractive baskets of toys
and stuffed animals and distribute them as well. |
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5. Are you a sports fanatic? Try
collecting sports equipment and arranging it as centerpieces. After the
party? Give it away to local shelters where kids may not have their own
equipment. |
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6. Use your imagination! There are
hundreds of ways to do this—just keep thinking Mitzvahs! |
Got a caterer preparing
your party? Make sure you tell them that you want all of the leftovers packed
up so that you can bring them to a nearby pantry or shelter after your party.
Don’t let them tell you they can’t because they don’t want to
be sued. Here is a copy of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Law (a federal
law which states that no one can be held liable for any illness resulting from
the donation of food). Many people do not know about this law. It will be your
proof if the caterer does not want to cooperate!
Selections from The New Federal Food Donation Law
The “Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act” appears in the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 as 42 U.S.C. 12672. The legislation essentially states that the donor of food to a non-profit organization to people in need is free of liability. This act provides uniform coverage for the entire country. I have italicized the sections that relate to issues of liability:
(c) Liability for damages from donated food and grocery products.
(1) Liability of person or gleaner. A person or gleaner shall not* be subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently whole-some food or an apparently fit grocery product that the person or gleaner donates in good faith to a non-profit organization for ultimate distribution to needy individuals
OK! You’ve had the service. Everyone was sooo impressed with you! The party could not have been better—everyone had a ball. One thing is left to make this a real Mitzvah Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Are you going to share some of the many gifts you received with others who are less fortunate? There are many programs described on this website that you can choose from. Just go back to the link for the 2004 Annual Report and find one that interests you. Here are some suggestions (but don’t forget to check the others)
HAMA-IL and
search for the "HAMA-IL" section (II E)
INTRA www.intra.org.il
Shoes That Fit www.shoesthatfit.org
Books, Bears and
Bonnets
And don't
miss Danny Siegel's 116 Practical Mitzvah Suggestions!
The
(occasionally)
Prayer Circles
One of the most powerful uses of the
Internet has been the way massive amounts of concern can be generated for those
in need of companionship, consolation or healing. It is with that in mind that I
circulate, with the family’s permission, this letter regarding Nancy
Leferman, who has inspired all of us with her courage and now faces a new
battle.
Dear friends and family:
Our mother's motto has always been..."it takes a village..." We
all know that this village is a strong one and with that we are writing this
letter.
As you may recall, our mother first collected socks, and then toys for children
in hospitals. She was featured each time in an article that was printed
in the Advocate. Please find these articles attached to this email if you
never had a chance to see them.
Our mom has felt a little burnt out with writing the email updates, and the
collections.....but that has seemed to be integral in getting through. As
most of you know she has been going through the "cancer dance" for
the 3rd time.
When she recurred for the 1st time about 1 1/2 years ago it was told to us that
she had recurrent Ovarian Cancer and that she had some stubborn cancer cells
that would not respond to chemo and therefore the cancer would always find a
way to return. Unfortunately, the cancer recurred earlier than anyone
would have liked....only a year after she completed the last time. Stress
can be a major contributor and unfortunately she has been under a lot of
stress....so here we are....again.
We expected her to "simply" go through the same protocol as last
time.....6 infusions of Taxotere, one time every 3 weeks. We all knew
what to expect, although they warned her that each time you go through this it
gets harder because your body has a way of remembering. After 3 infusions
her CA 125 (her tumor marker) indicated that the chemotherapy was not
working. Although this is expected....that your body builds up an
immunity to a particular protocal, this was a blow. She had gotten
through half of the treatments, only to be back to where she had started
from. The doctors have assured us all that there are plenty of protocols
to turn to and we just have to move on to the next.
As this was happening, she came down with Shingles and a ridiculous mouth
infection (unrelated to one another but both caused in part to her immune
system being compromised.) And that is more or less where we are
now....see where the needing the village comes in?
So with all of this crap....the fighter that she is....needs to pull up her
boot straps.....finish dealing with the mouth and shingles and get ready to
fight the cancer.
She first needs to take care of the mouth problem. This may require
pulling one of her teeth. She is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday...this
may or may not throw off the rest of the schedule.
She then needs a port put in in order to reduce certain risks that come along
with the new protocol. She is scheduled to have the surgery for the port
on Monday January 15th. This is a day surgery and she will be ready to
start the new chemotherapy on Wednesday January 17th. This time she will
be given the poison, I mean drug, Doxil and the infusion will happen 6 times on
the schedule of 1 time per month.
Ok, so here is where we need you all.....Our mom has always had a collection of
some sort to channel her energies and focus on something positive. We
feel that having not done this this time has been a mistake and we have decided
to start a plan. Although she has been lucky this time to have at least
some of her hair, she has enjoyed wearing hats...mostly baseball hats.
And people with cancer often need hats to help them get through. So we
thought we would start a collection of hats.....some for our mom to wear and
some to be donated to different organizations who can give them out to patients
who need them.
We have decided that the more positive energy sent our mother's way the
better....so go out get a hat or two....."fill" it with energy and
send it her way.....We would appreciate it. A prayer or two
wouldn't hurt either!
Thanks in advance, as always, for your support, prayers and hats!!!!
Love,
Lori and Phil
Randi and Craig
Marc and Susan
Minimum Wage and Maximum Justice
The new Congress took up the minimum wage as one of it’s
first concerns. On this weekend as
we recall the legacy of Martin Luther King, and Judaism’s – and
America’s - long tradition of caring for those who are weakest, the House
this week voted to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25. A new Jewish Social Action umbrella
organization has been created: the Jewish Funds For Justice - http://www.jewishjustice.org/
Here is the petition that rabbis and rabbinical students have been
asked to sign (which I’ve signed as well):
"You shall not abuse a needy and
destitute laborer... but you must pay him his wages on the same day, for he is
needy and urgently depends on it."
Deuteronomy 24:14
As rabbis and rabbinical students, guided by religious faith and Jewish ethics,
we are deeply concerned about the working poor in this country. The current
minimum wage of $5.15 fails to provide a fair opportunity for those who
struggle to escape poverty as they labor in full time, low wage jobs. We urge
you to pass a clean minimum wage bill that will help ensure dignity for working
Americans.
The medieval Jewish scholar Maimonides taught that the highest level of
tzedakah (righteousness) is reached when we help someone stand on their own two
feet. As religious leaders, we open our hearts and our hands to the poor and
ask: How can we create a society that promotes economic self-sufficiency,
reflecting this teaching?
A decent minimum wage is a critical tool in the struggle for economic
empowerment and against poverty. The minimum wage helps us to honor work by
establishing an hourly wage floor beneath which employers cannot pay their
workers. It has contributed to a reduction in the exploitation of workers. We
empathize with those in our communities who fight everyday to make ends meet
against the declining real value of today's minimum wage. It is a disgrace that
the minimum wage is worth $3 less in today's dollars than in 1968 and hasn't
been raised in almost ten years.
We applaud the stated commitment by the leadership of the 110th Congress to
raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour. We urge you to follow through
on this commitment by passing a minimum wage bill without delay and without
amendment.
On this MLK weekend, take a moment between sunning, skiing,
shopping and football watching to think of the Jewish stake in world repair,
tikkun olam, by reading some of these articles linked to the Jewish Funds for
Justice website at http://jewishjustice.org/jfsj.php?page=7.2:
Below are links to articles on Judaism and
social justice written by JFSJ staff members, board members and friends.
Simon Greer (JFSJ
President), Ruth Messinger, and Yossi Prager, “Chesed and Tzedek” from Sh’ma October 2005
Jeremy Burton,
JFSJ, “Philanthropic Responsibility and Obligation” from Sh’ma October 2001
Jeffrey Dekro and
Jeffrey Dekro,
JFSJ, “Through Wealth to Justice” Keynote address
delivered at membership celebration of Jewish Community Action (
Rabbi Jill Jacobs, “Toward a Halakhic Definition of Poverty,” Conservative Judaism Fall 2004
Rabbi Jill Jacobs,
“The Living Wage: a Jewish Approach,” Conservative Judaism Spring 2003
Rabbi Jill Jacobs,
“How to Fight Poverty” from myjewishlearning.com
Rabbi Jill Jacobs,
“Housing the Homeless” from myjewishlearning.com
Rabbi Jill Jacobs,
“For this I went to Rabbinical School?” from Lilith,
Winter 2004
Rabbi Jill Jacobs,
“From Sukkah to Ma'akeh: The Halachah of Housing”
from Tikkun, September/October
2000
Rabbi Jill Jacobs
reviews The Hebrew Prophets: Annotated and Explained by Rami Shapiro from Sh’ma October 2005
Rabbi Mordechai
Liebling, JFSJ , “Making Synagogues Vessels of Tikkun Olam” from The Reconstructionist Volume 68, Number 1 (Fall 2003)
Rabbi Mordechai
Liebling, “Tzedakah Collectives” from socialaction.com
Rabbi Mordechai
Liebling, “Money in Synagogues” from Sh’ma March 2005
Rabbi Mordechai
Liebling, “The First Jewish Shareholder Activist Group” from
greenmoneyjournal.com
Daniel Sokatch,
“Economic Justice” from Sh’ma
October 2005