June 15, 2007– Sivan 30, Rosh
Hodesh Tammuz, 5767
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Contents
of the Shabbat O Gram:
(Click
to scroll down)
Just
the Facts (service schedule)
The (Occasionally) Ranting Rabbi
Mitzvah/Tzedakkah Opportunities
The Beth El Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Commentary
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
Elie Wiesel’s
Advice for Graduates
What Are You Waiting For?
“My good friends, we are all waiting.
We
are waiting, if not for the Messiah, as such, we are waiting for the messianic
moment.
And
the messianic moment is what each and every one of us
tries to build,
meaning a
certain area of humanity that links us to all those who are human
and,
therefore, desperately trying to fight despair as humanly as possible
and--I
hope--with some measure of success.”
--
What Being
Jewish Means to Me
Our recent
7th grade graduates composed brief responses to the question,
“What does
being Jewish mean to me?”
Here is one
response. Read them all online at
http://www.tbe.org/site/sog/7thgradeWHATBEINGJEWISHMEANSTOME.htm
Sarah
Ehrlich
“There are four things
that I love about being Jewish. The
first is eating yummy food. We have our
own types of food that taste good, and remind me of being together. I love hamantashen
on Purim, latkes on Hanukkah, and special chocolate on Passover. These foods remind me of warmth and
family. Having a Bat Mitzvah is another
part of being Jewish, because you read from the Torah and step up into
adulthood. Seeing how well your friends
do and celebrating with them at their parties is also
really great. Learning about history
makes me love Judaism even more because I know about my past. Finally, I love holidays because the family
is together and we teach each other about the holidays and have fun!”
Candle lighting: 8:09 pm on Friday, 15 JUNE
2007. For 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.
Friday Evening:
Kabbalat Shabbat: 6:30 PM
– Outdoors, weather permitting
JOIN US AS WE PRESENT OUR
MEN’S CLUB SCHLARSHIPS
Tot Shabbat: 6:45 PM – in
the lobby
Shabbat Morning:
Service begins at 9:30 AM
B’not mitzvah of Emilie and Lauren Pollack, daughters
of Debra and Stephen pollack; naming of helena rose mazakaros, daughter of
heather and john mazakaros and granddaughter of darlene and larry hornstein. mazal tov to all!
Children’s Service (with Nurit ): 10:30 AM
Sunday (Rosh Hodesh)
Morning Minyan: 9:30
Special Morning Service:
10:00 AM
BAT
MITZVAH OF KATE SHERMAN, DAUGHTER OF STEPHANIE AND ROBERT SHERMAN.
MAZAL
TOV TO ALL!
Our Torah Portion
for Shabbat Morning
Parashat Korach and Rosh Hodesh
פרשת שלח־לך
1: 17:25-18:7
2: 18:8-10
3: 18:11-13
4: 18:14-20
5: 18:21-24
6: 18:25-29
7: 18:30-32
On Shabbat Rosh Chodesh
maf: Numbers 28:9-15 (7 p'sukim)
Haftarah: Shabbat Rosh Chodesh / Isaiah 66:1 - 66:24)
If you liked Storahtelling, Storahtelling’s new weekly blog about the Torah portion is at http://storahtelling.blogspot.com/. Also check out Torahquest at http://www.torahquest.org/commentary_list.php 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 TorahTHE 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
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SIGN UP AT OUR WEBSITE WWW.TBE.ORG – THE
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The
(occasionally)
I’ve included below an extensive selection
of writings from various think tanks and journalists about the very disturbing
news of Hamas’ takeover in
The
Yarmulke Bin
By Joshua Hammerman
As the year winds down, I propose that we
take some time to reflect on our most underrated and ubiquitous ritual item (as
I did last month at services): the yarmulke.
The yarmulke?
On
the surface, it seems to pale when compared to other objects. Unlike the tallit, it has no foundation in
the Torah and law; unlike the siddur, it can be tossed
into the garbage. It has long been the
butt of jokes, partly because it sounds more like a Japanese motorcycle than a
ritual garment, but mostly because our ambivalence regarding the Yarmulke
mirrors our ambivalence about Judaism itself.
A
Jew is instantly identified when wearing one, exposed not only as a Jew, but as a pious one.
Some say the name stems from the Aramaic expression “Yiray
Malka,” “fear of the king,” based on a Talmudic
anecdote that Rav Huna
never walked four cubits with his head uncovered, because “the Divine Presence
is always over my head.”
But it’s more about identity
than humility. Years ago, kippah choices were limited to the tightly stitched head
huggers of traditional Zionists, the black velvet of the ultra Orthodox and the
cheap satin blends found in the typical synagogue bin. But now, as with the rest of contemporary
Judaism, one size no longer fits all, and there’s been an explosion of
variety. You’ve got the colorful
fez-like Bukharian and brightly colored Ethiopian
models, pastel and lace feminine styles featuring embroidered gold wire and
beads, the camouflaged olive suede of the IDF, the thick-knitted ski caps
favored by Breslovers and other mystics, handsome
silk and leather folk art options, and an infinite variety of woven
styles.
There
is a yarmulke for every taste, every ideology and every hairline. Yeshiva “bochers”
tend to like it to flop on the side, while many middle aged men put it directly
over the bald spot, like a knitted toupee.
Some choose clips or Velcro to hold it in place, while others, like me,
go for the more subtle bobby pin.
Although
they are often mass produced, each Yarmulke tells a
unique story. What other ritual item can be found in the glove compartment of nearly every
Jewish-owned car? Whenever I visit a
mourner’s home, a basketful of yarmulkes, collected from every cranny of the
house, invariably greets me by the door.
So while we are saying Kaddish for Grandpa Joe, we’re wearing the kippah from Joe’s wedding or from granddaughter Lucy’s bat
mitzvah, or baby Evan’s bris. A family’s
heritage literally unfolds before us as we stretch these crumpled cloths over our
scalps. A yarmulke museum could easily be constructed within nearly every Jewish home.
My
personal history can be traced in my own overflowing
yarmulke drawer. Several of my favorites
feature my Hebrew name, some were made by girlfriends. I still have kippot
purchased in
Now the crown rests more
easily on my head than it did at the beginning of my career, although I still
don’t wear it every waking moment. I
recognize it for the powerful statement that it is – and for the superficial
bumper-sticker that it can easily become.
As proud as I am to display my loyalties, I strongly resist all
labels. Still, I feel much more
comfortable wearing a kippah on a
My
kids, of course, have an ample supply of Red Sox kippot,
plus Pokemon, Superman, Harry Potter, Big Bird and
Barney the dinosaur. Ironically, the
attire designed to promote Jewish distinctiveness now enables our kids better
to blend with the trendy. But that
blending also enables them to become more comfortable in their Jewish
skin. The kippah,
no longer an embarrassment; now signifies “Jewish cool.”
Every kippah
tells a story.
Recently
when visiting with our 6th graders, I grabbed the yarmulke storage
bin from the closet and randomly picked out three to hand to some bareheaded
students. Each kippah
told a story of a Jewish journey. One
was from the 1979 bar mitzvah of a student whose child is now in the
school. A second was more recent, from a
bat mitzvah in 1999 – but it took place in
I reached for the third kippah. What exotic
tales would it tell? Perhaps it was a
mint-condition beanie from Steven Spielberg’s Bar Mitzvah, now undoubtedly
worth millions on e-bay! Or maybe a lipstick
stained souvenir from Arthur Miller’s wedding to Marilyn Monroe. Or even the one whipped out by Begin on the
White House lawn with Carter and Sadat.
I
slowly unfolded kippah number three. Turned out it was from my own son’s bar
mitzvah. Not worth
much on e-bay, perhaps. But priceless to me.
The yarmulke bin is a time capsule
documenting our intertwined destinies and most personal life choices, a portal
to Jewish Narnia, a mysterious hamper filled with our
most sacred laundry, overflowing with fantasy, history and imagination.
The kippah
is a touchstone to our holiest moments, reminding us perpetually: “Under me
lived a Jew.”
In the glove compartment of
every Jewish car sits a souvenir from Sinai.
The TBE Kvell-a-thon Continues
Mazal tov to TBE
seniors who were awarded scholarships. Alli Kruk,
Erica Eber, Rachael Dubinsky and Joelle Braun. Please send me other names of those who have been honored recently, so we can keep this Kvell-a-thon rolling!
Some Suggestions for Revitalizing the Conservative
Movement
http://www.tbe.org/site/sog/ConservativeRevitalize.htm
Mitzvah/Tzedakkah Opportunties
Inreach and Outreach
Beth El Cares
Cathy Satz (968-9191; csscounsel@yahoo.com)Cheryl Wolff (968-6361; cwolff@optonline.net)BETH EL CARES co-chairs
Dear Rabbi
Hammerman:
Thank you
for your offer of assistance. As the Manager of Volunteer Programs at JFS, I am
training to ensure that any senior in a facility does have access to a Shabbat
service at their residence if at all possible. In turn we are trying to identify the generous volunteers in
the community who now conduct these services at the various facilities, so we
can help recruit both adults and Bar and Bat Mitzvah youngsters to fill in any
gaps. If you could please ask your e-mail list to let me know if they are
conducting a Shabbat or other holiday service, where and when, that would
greatly help with out attempt to reach as many as possible.
Thank you for
your anticipated assistance.
Best
regards,
Gilda D. Simpkin, M.S.
Jewish Family Service
733 Summer Street,
Manager of Volunteer Programs
Tel. No. 203.921.4161
Fax No. 203.921.4169
Our Conservative / Masorti Movement
is extending a hand to the citizens of Sderot, whose
city has been under siege by the
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Why is Rosh Hodesh a
Woman’s
From: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/About_Jewish_Holidays/Rosh_Chodesh/Women_Rosh_Chodesh.htm
Women And Rosh Chodesh: Women’s
association with the new moon dates far back in history.
By Leora
Tanenbaum
Rosh Chodesh has long been considered a special
holiday for women. There are a number of reasons. First, according to legend,
the holiday was a reward given to the women of
Second, many people have pointed out that the menstrual cycle is
similar to the monthly cycle of the moon. (The English word
"menstruation" derives from the Latin word for "monthly.")
Third, Penina Adelman, author of the first modem Rosh
Chodesh ritual guide for women, points out that the
words Roshei CHodshiM,
heads of the months, contain the same letters that form the word ReCHeM, womb.
Fourth, the status of the moon has often been compared to the status of women. The