Friday, February 23, 2001

Shabbat-O-Gram, Feb 21, 2001

 SHABBAT-O-GRAM: "BE HAPPY IT'S ADAR" VERSION


SEEING DOUBLE?
It appears that at least a few of you are receiving two different versions of the Shabbat-O-Gram in the same mailing.  There is a simple explanation for this, but, to my knowledge, no simple solution.  Eudora gives me the option to send it out either in plain text or "styled."  Since the O'Gram contains some advanced e-mail features (colors, hyperlinks, etc.), I must choose the "styled" option.  However, there are many out there whose computers are not set up to recieve these features; they require the "plain" setting.  In order to make it possible for everyone to recieve the Shabbat-O-Gram, I mush select a third option, "plain and styled," which sends this mailing out in BOTH formats.  The perfect rabbinic solution!  If you are recieving both, all I can do is apologize for the inconvenience and suggest that you delete one of them.

A BITE OF TORAH:
"WHEN THE MOON IS IN THE SEVENTH DAY" -- and other taxing matters
It may not be the dawning of the "Age of Aquarius," but this Shabbat is the Jewish equivalent of a lunar eclipse.  It so happens that Rosh Hodesh Adar, the new moon, is neatly aligned with a special Sabbath, Shabbat Shekalim, meaning that we will be reading from three Torahs.  This almost never happens, outside of Simhat Torah, when it always happens, and Shabbat Hanukkah, when it coincides with Rosh Hodesh Tevet.  This week's alignment last occurred in 1994, which, incidentally, was also the last time that Passover began on a Saturday night -- until this year.

We know that Rosh Hodesh is the New Month; but what is Shabbat Shekalim?  Why name a Shabbat, of all days, after Israeli currency?  As Rabbi Yitz Greenberg writes in, "The Jewish Way," "More than any other holiday, Shabbat reflects the changing moods and concerns of Clal Yisrael (the collectivity of Israel).... In the weeks before Passover, four special Shabbat days prepare the community agenda: Shabbat Shekalim, the occasion to to give the annual gift to the national treasury for Temple sacrifices;  Shababt Zachor (Remember), a reminder of the Amalekite genocidal assault on Israel and the ongoing dangers of anti-Semitism; Shabbat Parah (Red Heifer), the declaration of the need to purify in preparation for the Paschal lamb sacrifice and the central national feast; and Shabbat Hachodesh (the Month), an announcement of the arrival of the month of Passover, the new year of liberation." 

The fact that Shabbat Shekalim always comes at the time when I need to be reminded to get my own taxes in order is one way that I have tried to imbue even the secular calendar with the rhythms of Jewish sacred time.  It also reminds me that the giving of taxes is in itself a sacred activity.  Corny as it seems, I actually improvise a bracha when I put my completed tax forms in the mail, realizing that this money is going to help people who are in need, and help this nation maintain its position moral leadership, not to mention the fact that some of this money also helps to preserve Israel's security.  If you're looking for a blessing to recite, take a peek at the "Birchot Ha-Shachar" the morning blessings (p.14 of our Shabbat prayer book); almost all of them work.  Speaking of the mitzvah of paying taxes, this week's Web Journey is dedicated to none other than Marc Rich.

The week's portion, Mishpatim, often referred to as the "Book of the Covenant," is a treasure trove of laws, many bearing a resemblance to the famous Code of Hamurabi as well as other ancient Near Eastern law codes.   In it, the festival cycle is introduced, as well as the Sabbatatical cycle for the land.  What better week, then, to reflect on the cycles of our own days, months and years, and how we might come to elevate our lives by reclaiming these sacred moments.  As we raise and dress three different Torah scrolls, this is truly a week for us to reflect on the words of Abraham Joshua Heschel, that "the way to nobility of the soul is the art of sanctifying time."

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JUST THE FACTS

Candlelighting 
on Friday: 5:22 PM
Kabbalat Shabbat service: 8:15, AT TEMPLE SINAI (SEE BELOW)

Shabbat Morning: Shabbat of Sharing continues at 9:30 AM (P'sukey d'Zimra at 9:15)
 
Children's Services: 10:30 (in the Chapel and Kindergarten room)

Torah Portion (Mishpatim).  The Learn Torah With commentaries can be found at http://www.torahaura.com/Bible/here__/LTW_5761/LTW_5761_Mishpatim/ltw_5761_mishpatim.html    Ismar Schorsch's commentary and the text of the portion and Haftarah are available from the JTS Web site, at http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/parashah/5761/mishpatim.shtml.
      
Shabbat Ends: 6:22 PM Saturday

Religious School resumes on Tuesday and Thursday

Daily Minyan: 
Sunday at 9, weekdays at 7:30

SHABBAT OF SHARING
For several years, Temples Sinai and Beth El have taken one Shabbat each winter and held services in unison, on Friday there and on Shabbat morning here, as a gesture of Jewish unity and communal solidarity.  This year we welcome Rabbi Liz Rolle here for the first time.  We also welcome our guest speaker, Arthur Magida.  As has been our custom, choirs and individuals from both synagogues will be participating in the services. 

Our guest speaker is a noted columnist on religion for PBS and Beliefnet, and author of "Prophet of Rage: A Life of Louis Farrakhan and His Nation," "How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People's Religious Ceremonies" and several other books. The topics:

Friday night 2/23 (at Temple Sinai -- 8:15PM)
“We WILL Overcome!”
The Black-Jewish alliance of the 1960s was followed by almost three decades of tensions exploited by separatists and hate-mongers. Now, the decline of leaders like Louis Farrakhan, the shared calamity of the Florida elections and the renaissance of a newly strengthened NAACP gives hope for a redefined Black-Jewish relationship.

Shabbat morning 2/24 (here)
“A Meeting of the Ways: New Interfaith Realities in the 21st Century”
As increased immigration boosts Islamic, Buddhist and Asian populations in the U.S., and as Jews and Christians seek more amicable relations, barriers between religions are lowering. The new atmosphere not only enhances public dialogue,it gives all faiths a chance to better understand others -- and themselves.

--------------------------

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MAZAL TOV
: to Mindy and Allen Grafstein on the birth of their daughter, Casey Marsha, grandaughter of Marsha Gladstein of blessed memory, Gary and Judi Gladstein and Ralph and Rachel Grafstein.

ANNUAL TEEN SERVICE (Shabbat morning service for the congregation led by about 90 of our teenagers) -- March 3

SEVENTH GRADE FAMILY PROGRAM -- Sunday, March 4, 8:45 - 10:45 AM
For all parents and students of 2001 Bar Bat Mitzvah class. Through videos and discussion, we'll explore what it really means to become Bar and Bat Mitzvah.

ADULT BAR/BAT MITZVAH CLASS
By popular demand, we'll be organzing an adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah class within the next few months, with the goal of completing the course in about a year and preparing for an adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah service in May of 2002. The course of study will be taught by our senior staff and include some synagogue skills and a basic overview of Jewish history, customs and ceremonies and texts. We will gladly accomodate all levels of Hebrew proficiency. If you are at all interested, please contact the education office (322-6901 X306).

YOM HA-SHOAH: The Legacy of the Generations
This year's community-wide Holocaust Remembrance Day program, to be held here on the evening of April 19, will focus on the second and third generations of survivors.  If you are a child or grandchild of a survivor and would be interested in sharing your story, please let me know.  How have the stories you grew up with changed your life?  What do you feel is your special legacy or obligation as the descendant of a survivor?  The program will feature brief testimonies given by people of all ages, including children, and we will be collecting additional written testimonies to be distributed that night.
----------------------------------------------------

LIFE LIGHTS
A series of 16 pamphlets on the various crises and trials we all face in life, is now on display in our lobby. Feel free to take from this wide selection, which is being sponsored by our Sisterhood, for yourself and for your loved ones. Notable Jewish writers touch on topics ranging from "Taking the Time You Need to Mourn Your Loss," to "Finding a Way to Forgive," to "Easing the Burden of Stress." When we first put these on display last week, we ran out of the stress one (in other words we were "stressed out") almost instantly. But we're replenishing our supply. By using "Life Lights" and giving them to loved ones in need, we all can help to show the caring face of Beth El.
-------------------------------

WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?
Last week's Torah Bite included the Talmudic story about how Rav asked for peas and his wife kept giving him lentils, until Rav's son Hiyyah got into the mix and "fixed" matters, only to be reprimanded by his father for his white lies (see last week's O'Gram for the details).  I asked whether you agree with Rav's approach.  To which Marsha Colton responded:
Hiyyah was not instructed to lie.  In fact, he was an insightful and
sensitive person.  He knew what his father wanted, and knowing how his mother
operated, he gave instruction to his mother to get the desired result for his
father.   No harm to his mother, and everyone is happy -- there's peas in the
house!   Isn't this a case of no harm, no foul?  In fact, perhaps the
greatest transgression is that of the mother.  What lesson is she giving be
disrespecting her husband's wishes constantly -- and in front of their child
to boot?  It's not called lying, but I don't know the name of this
transgression which I find MUCH more egregious than the child trying to
create shalom bayit.
Thanks, Marsha, for your response.  I tend to agree that peace in the home is valued even higher than truth, but I think what the Talmud is gettign at here is that neither should be seen in absolute terms.  We can't have peace at all costs, if it is leading impressionable children to think that lying is the only way to achieve it.  Sometimes we need to confront domestic problems head-on.
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SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS ON THE WEB: On the trail of Marc Rich

1) And what a mess it is!  Here's a fugitive charged with massive tax evasion (he must never have observed Shabbat Shekalim) and aiding the enemies of America and Israel, who is pardoned in part because of the lobbying efforts of prominent American and Israeli Jews!   This one hits very close to home, as one of Rich's pet causes is none other than Birthright Israel, of which we are a pilot community.  It is said that only days before his pardon Rich was seen weeping at the massive gathering of thousands of Jewish college students in Jerusalem, rekindling the spark of Judaism in their souls thanks in large part to his investment.  But what kind of Judaism would condone criminal behavior of the Rich variety?  That's the question asked by Reform movement leader Eric Yoffie in last week's Jewish Week.  Read his article at http://www.thejewishweek.com/top/editletcontent.php3?artid=1065.

2) Yoffie's words are disturbing, to say the least.  And this is not the first time that prominent Jewish institutions' reputations  have been tarnished by taking massive donations from tainted sources.  A few years back The Jewish Theological Seminary had to change the name of their spanking new "Ivan Boesky Library."  But the donation was not returned -- not that it would have been possible to say whose money it really was.  It certainly wasn't Boesky's, although he donated it.  So in search of the Rich debris, I took a gander at Google and came up with the "Marc Rich Annual Seminar at the Disapora Museum," at 
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:www.hum.huji.ac.il/dinur/Events/lectures.htm+Marc+Rich+%2B+Judaism&hl=en.  This year's topic? "The Jewish Experience in the 20th Century: its Main Events and Icons - A Personal Perspective"  A little farther down on the Google list is an unsubstanitated claim that Marc Rich dollars have gone to support, of all things, Israel's "Movement For Quality Government," a grassroots organization fighting government corruption.   More articles detailing the Rich family's extensive philanthropy can be found at the Foundation Center Web Site, http://fdncenter.org/sitewide_VSearchResult.cfm.  There is little doubt that some of this money actually saves lives, which presents us with another Jewish dilemma: Since the saving of a life supercedes almost every other Jewish principle (even Sabbath observance) could not tainted money be used at least in this case?  And, by extension, doesn't Birthright Israel save Jewish souls, if not actual physical lives?

WHAT DO YOU THINK? CLICK "REPLY" AND LET ME KNOW.



This Shabbat-O-Gram goes out weekly to about 450 congregants and others, plus to a college student list of about 60. Please feel free to forward it to your friends, and if you know of any congregant, college student or anyone else who might wish to be included, please have them e-mail me at my temple address, rabbi@tbe.org.
To be taken off this e-mail list, simply click on "reply" and write "please unsubscribe" in the message box.
AND DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT OUR NEWLY UPDATED WEB SITE AT www.tbe.org!

Friday, February 16, 2001

Shabbat-O-Gram for Feb. 15, 2001

Shabbat Shalom!

Honesty and Policy

In honor of President's Day weekend and the birthdays of our two most truthful political leaders this side of John McCain, and in honor of the 9th Commandment (all ten are in this week's portion), look below for a special D'var Torah and Web Pilgrimage on the subject of honesty.  Speaking of honest, I joined several local clergy for a tete a tete with Rep. Chris Shays this past week.  It gave us a chance to air concerns about a variety of subjects, ranging from Florida (he showed us how tiny a chad is), to Ashcroft to school choice and religion-based government funding.  It was, as they say in diplomatic circles, an honest and frank exchange.  We applauded him on his courageous efforts for campaign reform and appreciated his candor in his supporting some (though not all) Bush initiatives, even those least popular to a group of primarily liberal clergy.  There was some nice give-and-take, and I must say, disagreement among the clergy on the whole faith-based charity issue.  It appears that this plan will help worthy organizations, like our Council of Churches and Synagogues, to cut through red tape more efficiently to acquire government grants.  But not all religious organizations are as meritorious as our Council.  Is it possible that some government funds might be used, even indirectly, to support missionary activities?  I expressed that concern to Shays, adding that the sectarian, exclusionary comments made by two ministers at the Inauguration did not auger well for the President who wants to be a "uniter, not a divider." 

Our special Kids Shabbat-O-Gram will also be sent out today, so send me your child's e-mail address -- and let your kids of all ages know that they can now add their rabbi to their buddy list on AOL; screen name: joshuahct@aol.com. 

JUST THE FACTS

Candlelighting 
on Friday: 5:14 PM
Kabbalat Shabbat service: 8:00, in the chapel

Shabbat MorningFamily Service at 9:30 AM, followed by lunch (If you would like to sponsor this or any other Shabbat lunch, please contact Roberta Aronovitch at execdir@tbe.org).  As is our custom, approximately once each month a service is led almost exclusively by congregants.  We call it a "Family Service," although a more appropriate title might be "Lay Led Service," or something like that.  But "Family" just sounds right.  Of course, all members of the family are always welcome in our services.
 
Children's Services: 10:30 (in the Chapel and Kindergarten room).

Torah Portion: Yitro, featuring the Ten Commandments.  The Learn Torah With commentaries can be found at http://www.torahaura.com/Bible/here__/LTW_5761/LTW_5761_Yitro/ltw_5761_yitro.html.  There are three of them this week, all interesting.  Click on the name on the author to select them.  Ismar Schorsch's commentary and the text of the portion and Haftarah are available from the JTS Web site, at http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/parashah/5761/yitro.shtml        

Shabbat Ends: 6:14 PM Saturday

There is no Religious School this coming week.  Happy Vacation!

Daily Minyan: 
Sunday at 9, weekdays at 7:30, Monday (President's Day) at 9:00 (note later time).

We've had a request for a "guaranteed minyan" for this Friday, Feb. 19, as someone is saying Kaddish.  Please let me know if you can be here!!!!

-----------------------------

The following are the names of the seven IDF soldiers and one female civilian who were killed in Wednesday's terrorist attack at Azur junction:

Staff-Sgt. Ophir Megidish, 20, from Kiryat Malachi;
Sgt. David Azoulai, 21, from Kiryat Malachi;
Sgt. Julie Weiner, 21, from Jerusalem;
Sgt. Rachel Levy, 19, from Ashkelon;
Sgt. Kochava Polanski, 19, from Ashkelon;
Cpl. Alexander Manevitz, 18, from Ashkelon;
Cpl. Yasmin Karisi, 18 from Ashkelon; and
Simcha Shetrit, 30, from Rishon Lezion.

Our hearts reach out to their families and to the whole house of Israel at this time of crisis and sadness.

---------------------------------

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SHABBAT OF SHARING, FEB 23-24
We'll be having our annual Shabbat of Sharing with Temple Sinai on Feb. 23-24. Our guest speaker will be Arthur Magida, a noted columnist on religion for PBS and Beliefnet, and author of "Prophet of Rage: A Life of Louis Farrakhan and His Nation," "How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People's Religious Ceremonies" and several other books. The topics:

Friday night 2/23 (at Temple Sinai -- 8:15PM)
“We WILL Overcome!”
The Black-Jewish alliance of the 1960s was followed by almost three decades of tensions exploited by separatists and hate-mongers. Now, the decline of leaders like Louis Farrakhan, the shared calamity of the Florida elections and the renaissance of a newly strengthened NAACP gives hope for a redefined Black-Jewish relationship.

Shabbat morning 2/24 (here)
“A Meeting of the Ways: New Interfaith Realities in the 21st Century”
As increased immigration boosts Islamic, Buddhist and Asian populations in the U.S., and as Jews and Christians seek more amicable relations, barriers between religions are lowering. The new atmosphere not only enhances public dialogue,it gives all faiths a chance to better understand others -- and themselves.

ANNUAL TEEN SERVICE (Shabbat morning service for the congregation led by about 90 of our teenagers) -- March 3

A GALA DINNER SOMETHING-OR-OTHER (I have no idea what this is all about, but they told me to ask that you get your reservations in) -- March 3

SEVENTH GRADE FAMILY PROGRAM -- Sunday, March 4, 8:45 - 10:45 AM
For all parents and students of 2001 Bar Bat Mitzvah class.  Through videos and discussion, we'll explore what it really means to become Bar and Bat Mitzvah.
----------------------------------------------------

LIFE LIGHTS
A series of 16 pamphlets on the various crises and trials we all face in life, is now on display in our lobby.  Feel free to take from this wide selection, which is being sponsored by our Sisterhood, for yourself and for your loved ones.  Notable Jewish writers touch on topics ranging from "Taking the Time You Need to Mourn Your Loss," to "Finding a Way to Forgive," to "Easing the Burden of Stress."  When we first put these on display last week, we ran out of the stress one (in other words we were "stressed out") almost instantly.  But we're replenishing our supply. By using "Life Lights" and giving them to loved ones in need, we all can help to show the caring face of Beth El.
-------------------------------

A BITE OF TORAH: "I Cannot Tell a Lie"

It is fitting that on this weekend when we celebrate our first President, the original G.W., he of the cherry tree, and our 16th, Honest Abe himself, we also read the Ten Commandments, including that final one instructing us not to bear false witness.  The ancient sages understood that civilization can be sustained only when it rests on a foundation of honesty and trust.  They also understood that truthfulness is not inherited through genetics, but through conscious parental modeling.  Take this amusing Talmudic story (Yevamot 63a) for example:  The sage Rav had an interesting marriage.  Whatever he asked his wife for, she gave him the opposite.  So when he asked for lentils, she would cook peas, and when he asked for peas, she would cook lentils.  Maybe Rav should have learned his own way around the kitchen, but that's another story.

Rav's son Hiyyah watched these shenanigans going on all his life, so when he grew up he figured out how to beat the system.  When Rav would tell his son to inform Mom that he wished to have peas for dinner, Hiyyah would tell his mother, "Dad wants lentils."  She would prepare peas and everyone would be happy.  One day Rav commented to his son, "Your mother has improved!"  To which Hiyyah responded ,"Dad, I cannot tell a lie, I chopped it down." Wait...wrong story.  Hiyyah replied, "Dad I cannot tell a lie, I told a lie.  In fact I've been telling them for some time.  I reversed your messages."

Now, as they say on TV, YOU MAKE THE CALL!

As Hiyyah's parent, would you: a) appreciate Hiyyah's attempt to maintain Shalom Bayit,"peace in the home," (or in this case, peas in the home) with manipulations that one might easily call harmless "white lies?";  or b) would honesty take precedence over tact in this case?

Well, the answer here is "b," although in other cases "a" might have been the choice.  But when we are dealing with teaching a child, we need to remember the old saying that "people who tell too many white lies can become colorblind."  The Talmud (Sukkah 46b) instructs us never to promise a child something and then fail to deliver, because as a result, the child will learn to lie.  From this, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin suggests that the Talmud is also telling us never to have our kids answer an unwanted phone call and say, "Daddy's not home" when Daddy is standing right there, and certainly never to lie about a child's age when buying tickets in a movie theater, in order to take advantage of a cheaper ticket price

Rav thanked Hiyyah for his consideration but instructed him to be truthful from then on.  In almost every case, and especially where children are watching, honesty is the best policy.  Something to think about while filling out our tax forms.

DO YOU AGREE WITH RAV'S APPROACH?  WHY OR WHY NOT? CLICK ON "REPLY" AND LET ME KNOW.  I'LL SHARE SOME ANSWERS IN NEXT WEEK'S SHABBAT-O-GRAM.
------------------------------

SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS ON THE WEB: Truth and Consequences:

1) This week we jump off from Rav and Hiyyah directly to www.radicalhonesty.com.  What is Radical Honesty?  According to the site, "Radical Honesty is a kind of communication that is direct, complete, open and expressive. Radical Honesty means you tell the people in your life what you've done or plan to do, what you think, and what you feel. It's the kind of authentic sharing that creates the possibility of love and intimacy."  It's an interesting concept, though I am wary of radical anything and would not cough up a cent for anything here.  It's interesting to look at the site's "Ten Tips to Living a Radically Honest Life" and compare them to Jewish values regarding gossip, business ethics etc.  There are some clear parallels, but the Talmud came up with these ideas 2,000 years ago.

2) To find material specifically on Jewish ethics, a good place to begin is the site, "What Would a Mensch Do?" http://www.wwmd.org/, which posits several ethical dilemmas and asks your response.  Good for teens or adults.  Looking for more advanced material?  Check out the articles at http://www.ijme.org/, the Institute for Jewish Medical Ethics, which is having its annual conference this weekend.  For business ethics see the articles at Jewish Business.com, at http://www.jewishbusiness.com/torah.html.  This site is part of the (Orthodox) Project Genesis Network.

3)  Finally, let's tie all of this together (and it even ties in to last week's Web journey about Kashrut) at http://detnews.com/2000/religion/0002/24/02250011.htm.  This article, entitled "Bearing False Witness: Pork Leaves Bad Taste at Eatery," details a year-old incident where a California chef decided to cut back on expenses by serving pork in the guise of veal.  He said it made for "superior scaloppini." The restaurant tried to contain the situation by hiring a publicity firm and contacting local synagogues in efforts to apologize to people "whose religion prevents them from eating pork."  Which is very funny indeed, since any Jew eating veal at this restaurant would be violating the Kosher laws anyway, pork or no pork.  I suppose there now are two new categories, "treif" and "glatt treif," with the latter being those who eat pork, but only outside the home.  Talk about your classic Kosher Pig stories!  The most appropriate line of the whole article came from a Moslem woman: "When you go to a restaurant, there is a basic trust that you will get what you ask for," she told the San Jose Mercury News. "That trust has been broken."

If ever we needed to be reminded that those who are habitually honest maintain the moral high ground, while those who live a lie lose all credibility, all we need to do is look at today's newspaper.  Did Yasser Arafat really call yesterday's terror attack a simple "road accident?"  It boggles the mind.  We close our exploration into ethics and honesty with two Talmudic quotes about honesty:

When a person is brought before the heavenly court for judgement the first question he is asked is whether he was honest in business.

Talmud Tractate Shabbat 31a

A person who doesn't tell the truth...it's as if he worships idols.

Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 92a

Shabbat Shalom.  Honestly!
JH


This Shabbat-O-Gram goes out weekly to about 450 congregants and others, plus to a college student list of about 60. Please feel free to forward it to your friends, and if you know of any congregant, college student or anyone else who might wish to be included, please have them e-mail me at my temple address, rabbi@tbe.org.
To be taken off this e-mail list, simply click on "reply" and write "please unsubscribe" in the message box.
AND DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT OUR NEWLY UPDATED WEB SITE AT www.tbe.org!

Tuesday, February 13, 2001

The Mark of Abel





The Jewish Week, February 13, 2001

I was flying back from Israel last July, sitting by the window as the dawn arose. Our red-eye route took us close to the arctic circle, where the summer's sun never sleeps. The sun chased us across the horizon, but it never quite caught up. The sky was filled with gorgeous hues of pink, light and royal blue, gradually brightening, then receding as we turned south across Newfoundland. Soon it was all blackness again.

No wonder Jewish days always begin with evening, I reflected. No matter how hard we try, night seems always to overtake us. Light cannot penetrate the darkness in our hearts.


Like it or not, we Jews are the Sons of Darkness, and we can never go long without confronting that perpetual shadow that envelops us. If you are looking for happily-ever-after, if you want quick and easy answers to life's perplexities, it would be best to avoid the Judaica section of your local bookstore. We Jews trudge through existence straining to elevate ourselves from the depths of victimhood; but we can't fully douse the embers of Auschwitz.

Never was this more apparent than last month, when virtually the entire Jewish people whipped itself into the utterly nonsensical belief that an apocalyptic disaster was about to befall Israel. Even the most rational among us became caught up in a Saddamized hysteria that had little basis in fact. Against all reasoned analysis, despair took hold. Of course, we figured, the Jewish people would be afflicted again.

I was in Israel again during the recent Iraqi crisis and the air was filled with fatalism. As people over there scurried for plastic tape and gas masks, my friends back here couldn't believe I would voluntarily join them -- with my family, no less. Even the El Al security guard at Newark airport asked us incredulously, "Of all the place to go in the world for a vacation, why choose Israel?"

As the crisis unfolded, the Victim within began to emerge yet again.

This is our Mark of Abel, that segment of our collective soul filled with shame, guilt, fear and a dose of neurosis. We try so hard to sugar-coat the Jewish experience; this darkness is such a turn-off, after all. It petrifies people right out of the Jewish fold. So we write lots of happy books and Jews of all denominations conjure up many happy Messiahs who can give us happy endings. And we stress joy, above all: happy-faced, have-a-nice-day saccharine, shallow smiley stuff that doesn't fool anyone and comes out looking like almost every other religion but ours. Those faiths all give us happily-ever-after, most of them without much travail. Our ending will be happy too, I believe, but not without incredible struggle -- a struggle that is primarily internal. To deny our dark side is to deny who we really are.

The gas mask is a piece of the Jewish experience now, like the gas chamber before it, and the blood libel, and the Black Plague and expulsion after expulsion that we have tried and failed to expel from our psyches. My generation tried so hard to suppress it, from the moment the feel-good Jewish Catalog appeared during the Woodstock era, but a quarter of a century later the dybbuk still hasn't gone away. That is why the Face of Jewry looks so dour, so aged right now.

We cannot neglect our dark side. If we acknowledge and even embrace the fear that pervades, perhaps we can keep it from controlling us. For this dark side, unleashed, not only brings us to premature panic; it drags us down in so many other ways. The Mark of Abel turns board meetings into screaming sessions and causes us to terrorize our closest friends with malicious gossip; it prompts us to humiliate our women and emasculate our men. The Mark of Abel unleashes hatred against those who are different, including other Jews. The Mark of Abel inevitably turns us against ourselves. Woodie Allen is the Mark, personified. Rather than celebrate or villify him, we must see in his work a significant part of ourselves. We are the Children of Darkness.

But we are also the Children of Light.

Moments later, I turned to the window again, and not only did I see another spectacular rising dawn, but beneath it, in a single panorama, the entirety of southern New England, from Gloucester to Cape Cod to New Haven, a breathing map, glittering below.

It was magical, so much so that I searched for a prayer. And then I wondered, when could I say the morning prayers, anyway? If morning comes twice, when does morning really come?

Sometimes we don't really know when the dawn really begins and ends. The very term for dawn is fraught with darkness and ambiguity. Shachar is derived from the term Shachor, which means black, and it also means "to seek" or "to long for." Shachar is the time when the angel who wrestled with Jacob turned, blessed him and fled. Shachar is when David lamented in Psalm 22, "Oh Lord, why have you forsaken me?" The break of day is our most vulnerable time, when dreams melt into reality, when we often awaken with great fear, sorrow and loneliness. But Shachar is also when new hope arises with the sun. It is the fuzzy passage from past to future.

This ambiguity of passage is instructive as we confront many changes in the world around us. Every day, it seems, someone is proclaiming the beginning of a new era, a "sea change," a "break from the past." Jews should know better. Yes, the new day will come, but we're not exactly sure when it will begin. Or perhaps it has already begun and we've just been too busy living it to notice. The dawn will always have some darkness left in it and sometimes the sun will recede before returning for the long haul. Our souls will continue to retain some darkness too, even as we struggle to forge a feel-good Judaism for the New-Age '90s. In the meantime, we might as well enjoy the ride, whether from 30,000 feet up or with both feet planted firmly on the ground. From either vantage point, the colors of dawn are equally scintillating.

Friday, February 2, 2001

Shabbat-O-Gram, Feb 2001

 Shabbat Shalom!


This week, the O'Gram franchise is off onto yet another new venture.  Later today, I'll be sending out the first "Shabbat-O-Gram for Kids," primarily to our seventh and eighth graders.  If you know someone who might want to receive a short, weekly "Shabbat Shalom" from the rabbi, plus games and surprises, send those e-mails along! 

GROUNDHOG DAY: A JEWISH HOLIDAY?
For those who might be wondering if there is a Jewish connection to "Groundhog Day," but of course.  There's a Jewish connection to everything!  Not that we are afraid to see our shadows --  I'm thinking of the other "Groundhog Day."  The movie.  The one referred to daily in the media last fall in Florida, when it seemed like we were waking up each morning to the same horrible nightmare, replaying itself again and again.

The Jewish response to Groundhog Day can be seen in a single verse from the prayer book, one recited each morning just before the Sh'ma, in the Yotzer (Creation) section of the service: "Ha-mechadesh b'tuvo b'chol yom tamid ma'ase b'reisheet."  In the midst of thanking God for the gift of light, we also express gratitude to the One who "renews each day completely the work of Creation."  What is that saying?  Not that everyday is the same old nightmare.  Au contraire.  In our tradition, every day represents a fresh start, as if all of Creation is being renewed. With that fresh start comes second chances, and third chances too.  We can keep trying until we get it right.  And if we get it wrong again, as inevitably we will, well, there's always tomorrow.  A Jewish groundhog might indeed return to the hole tomorrow if s/he sees a shadow.  But s/he will be right back out there the next day. 

JUST THE FACTS

Candle lighting Friday
: 4:57 PM
Tot Shabbat: 7:15 PM, in the lobby
Kabbalat Shabbat service: 8:00, in the chapel
Shabbat Morning: 9:30, in the sanctuary.  We're trying something different this week.  In order to enhance the community feel, we'll be roping off the sections by the windows and consolidating seating in the middle sections.
Mazal Tov to Janice and Michael Greenberg, whose daughter Jillian Risa will be named at our service this Shabbat morning.
Children's Services: 10:30 (in the Chapel and Kindergarten room). 
Birthday blessings for February 
at the end of the service
Daily Minyan: Sunday at 9, weekday mornings at 7:30, in the chapel.  We've had minyans all week (but sometimes barely).  Please let me know if you plan to be here on a given day and wish to ensure that a minyan will be present, for a yahrzeit or any other reason.

Shabbat Shalom to our 4th grade, who will be going off on their class Shabbaton this Friday afternoon.

This Week's Torah Portion: Bo
The "Learn Torah With" commentary on this portion can be found at http://www.torahaura.com/Bible/here__/LTW_5761/LTW_5761_Bo/ltw_5761_bo.html

BDT Brief D'var Torah:  A Perfect "10"
Back in the days when I had time to watch poorly-made Dudley Moore movies and laugh about men in the throes of mid life crisis (thinking I'd never get there), I was enamored by the movie "10."  No, not because of that untouchable object of Dudley's affections, Bo Derek.  Well, mostly not.  In fact, what amazed me most about the film was not how beautiful Bo looked, but how foolish looked the man who pursued her.  The definition of a "perfect 10" is rather subjective (for me, lots of beads in the hair and a perfectly sculpted nose doesn't cut it).  But whatever our ideal is, when we objectify the goal, set our sights on it and settle for nothing less, we are doomed to look foolish in the process. 

In our portion, aptly entitled "Bo," both Moses and Pharaoh seek the perfect "10," and both emerge from this test of wills tarnished.  Moses, who must have thought Pharaoh would have given in by now, keeps having to return to the palace to plead his people's case.  The word "bo" means "come," as God tells Moses, "Come unto Pharaoh" to make the case yet again.  But for Moses, the call really is to "go" unto Pharaoh, not "come," unless God is to be seen as residing in the palace.  It gets to the point where neither God nor Moses seems to know whether they are coming or going.  The cycle of plague and destruction is spinning out of control. Surely neither of them wished for the climactic catastrophe that takes place in our portion, that perfect "10" of the Ten Plagues, that nuclear option at Defcom 1 (or is it 5?), the slaying of the first born.  Those who are reliving the Cuban Missile Crisis in the current movie "13 Days" might have a special appreciation of how things can so easily spin out of control and how difficult it is to prevent that from happening.  And, in that sense, JFK did a heck of a lot better than GOD.

But for Pharoah, things have spun even more out of control.  Why does he keep hardening his heart?  A close look at the text shows us that, before the latter plagues, it is God who is hardening the king's heart. Earlier, it was the king who hardened his own heart.   Pharaoh has relinquished all control.  In the end he has lost even the power to do teshuvah, to repent.  He wanted nothing less than total victory over Moses and his God, so the result is utter catastrophe. To see Pharaoh lose control is to recall those scenes of Dudley Moore movies when he is drunk, especially in "10" and "Arthur," for no other actor so vividly portrayed that loss of self control, that pathetic helplessness, and how foolish and senseless it looks when you get that way.  That's how Pharaoh looks here.  Not like the Yul Brynner Pharaoh, who still had the world in the palm of his hand, even as his pigtailed first-born lay dead before him.  No, the Torah wants us to think of Dudley Moore's drunk, who, in the end, had barely a heart left to harden (though more than enough liver to go around), and no chance of controlling it. 

All in pursuit of the perfect "10."


ANNOUNCEMENTS

UJF Super Sunday Feb. 4
Last week might have been the Super Bowl (for which I made a super prediction), but this week is the true Super Sunday.  Please respond generously when calls are made for donations to our local federation.  The money helps Jews all over the world, including our own community.  One example of how your donation works to benefit our children directly will be held that same day....

...Children's Concert (Rick Recht), Feb. 4, at 10:00 -- sponsored by the Educators' Council of the UJF.  This annual "happening" brings together Jewish students from the religious and day schools of the Stamford and Greenwich area.  Last year over 1,000 kids (and some young-at-heart parents) piled into our building for what could only be termed a celebration of Jewish joy and unity.  How incredible it was to see Jewish of all backgrounds coming together to sing, to dance a little, and just to be happy together.

Kesher (grades 3-5) Goes Vertical: Feb 4, at 1:45.  This program is SOLD OUT; an additional one has been scheduled for April 29.

ADL Speaker on Anti-Semitism
This Sunday at 7:30
 in our library, the Beth El Discussion Group will be hosting Joel Kay, an attorney for the Anti-Defamation League, whose topic will be, "The Global Anti-Semitic Scene." All are most welcome to attend.

Special Shabbat Service for Young Couples, led by our student cantor, Laura Berman: Feb 9, at 8:00 PM.  If you know of a young couple in the area, affiliated or unaffiliated, whom you think would appreciate a special phone call invitation to this event, please let give us the name and telephone number.  This will be a great chance to meet other people and get together for a nice Friday night.

Sisterhood Shabbat is being held on Feb. 10, with a special emphasis women's issues, the crossing of the Red Sea and Tu B'Shevat.  Come and see a dramatic presentation, "The Great Gender Shift." In honor of Tu B'Shevat and the upcoming Sisterhood Shabbat on Feb 10, the Sisterhood is collecting canned and dried fruit for donation to the local food pantry.  The collection box is already set up in the lobby, so people can start donating anytime.

Do a Drash
Want to learn how to interpret the Torah? Always want to know who Rashi really was?  Even if you never wish actually to stand up in front of people and pontificate, you can still learn how to "Do a Drash" at a special one hour seminar I'll be leading on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 10 AM.  If the group wishes, we might expand the class into a more substantial workshop on later dates -- but first things first.  Let the school office know if you are interested.

They told me to add Saturday March 3 to this "save the date" list.  Don't know why.  Must be because the Teen Service will be that morning.

SHABBAT OF SHARING, FEB 23-24

We'll be having our annual Shabbat of Sharing with Temple Sinai on Feb. 23-24.  Our guest speaker will be Arthur Magida, a noted columnist on religion for PBS and Beliefnet, and author of "Prophet of Rage: A Life of Louis Farrakhan and His Nation," "How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People's Religious Ceremonies" and several other books.  The topics:

Friday night (at Temple Sinai -- 8:15PM)
“We WILL Overcome!”
The Black-Jewish alliance of the 1960s was followed by almost three decades of tensions exploited by separatists and hate-mongers. Now, the decline of leaders like Louis Farrakhan, the shared calamity of the Florida elections and the renaissance of a newly strengthened NAACP gives hope for a redefined Black-Jewish relationship.

Shabbat morning (here)
“A Meeting of the Ways: New Interfaith Realities in the 21st Century”
As increased immigration boosts Islamic, Buddhist and Asian populations in the U.S., and as Jews and Christians seek more amicable relations, barriers between religions are lowering. The new atmosphere not only enhances public dialogue
,it gives all faiths a chance to better understand others -- and themselves


BETH EL CARES ISRAEL WRITING PROJECT
Pick up Beth El Cares note cards in the office and write a note of support and friendship to an Israeli soldier.  Bring it back here and we will send it over to Israel. where the cards will be distributed among the embattled troops.  Adults and children can participate, in English or Hebrew, or, for young children, a simple picture will be just fine.  Special thanks to Rabbi Holman's fourth grade class at the Bi-Cultural Day School for their participation in this project.


JOURNEYS ON THE WEB (and some gratuitous political commentary): TU B'SHEVAT and the ISRAELI ELECTIONS

1) Looking for a portal to Jewish sites? Try http://www.hareshima.com/.  BTW, if you check Conservative synagogues, you will find that we are linked to it.  Ha-rishima, which means "the list," weaves together both Israeli and Diaspora sites, including a number of media links not found elsewhere. 

2) Looking for a liberal Jewish setting for online text study?  You'll find it at the Kollel, http://www.kolel.org/pages/lobby.html.  Click on the Mishna section to view Rabbi Neal Loevinger's thoughts on the spirituality embedded in a simple blessing over "the fruit of the tree."'

3) Which brings us neatly to Tu B'Shevat.  Some suggested links for further study: A nice introduction can be found at http://ezra.mts.jhu.edu/~rabbiars/tubshevat/ (Rabbi Sheinerman's Home Page), and at http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Judaism/holiday8.html (from JSource -- the Jewish Student Online Resource Center).  We're not doing a Tu B'Shevat seder here this year, so why not do one at home?  Some simple suggestions can be found at http://www.jewishsf.com/bk980206/ifruits.htm.  You can download a Seder format from http://www.wzo.org.il/encountr/seder.htm, and find a far more traditional and detailed packet on this festival at http://www.tckillian.com/greg/tubshevt.html.

4) Which brings us to the whole area of eco-Judaism, often emphasized on Tu B'Shevat and a growing concern for many.  Click on http://www.loop.com/~bramble/fengshui/oy.html to find a fascinating take on "Eco-Kosher and Feng Shui."  This article compares Jewish and Eastern forms of environmentalism, focusing on the rabbinic concept of "Bal Tashchit," prohibiting the needless waste of our natural resources.  Fascinating reading.  To find out more, take a trip to the Teva Learning Center.  "Teva" means nature, and this camping program has become a sort of Jewish "Outward Bound" for many students, including, I believe, sixth graders at Bi-Cultural.  Teva is at http://members.aol.com/shomadam/tlc.html, and is coordinated by an organization called Shomrei Adama (Keepers of the Land).  Last but not least, there is the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL), found at http://www.coejl.org/.  Here's there mission statement: "
The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life engages Jewish institutions and individuals in bringing the moral passion of Jewish tradition and social action to environmental stewardship in order to preserve the integrity of creation, advance social justice, protect future generations, and strengthen the Jewish community."
This site has numerous educational links and action alerts.  This comes at a time when I fear that action alerts will increase dramatically.  How ironic, that, on this New Year of Trees, with the threats of Ozone depletion and global warming already so real, our forests and wildernesses face uncertainty from an administration that goes by the green-friendly name of "Bush."  Ironic indeed, that under Bush, the environment might just hit rock bottom, or, to use another political name of note, its "nadir."

5) Finally, with Israeli elections coming up next Tuesday, check out this week's Jewish Week for a cover story on Sharon's concerns (and another nice article about Conservative women rabbis) at http://www.thejewishweek.com/, and then see a column by the always-informative Ehud Ya'ari of the Jerusalem Report, on the developing anarchy in the Palestinian Authority and what it means for Israel, at  http://www.jrep.com/Viewpoint/Article-0.html.  To follow the vote, the Jerusalem Post Web site is always helpful, and they now do real-time radio broadcasts at http://jpostradio.com/.

A CLOSING QUOTE -- IN HONOR OF TU B'SHEVAT AND IN THE SPIRIT OF GROUNDHOG DAY

This world, our world, is imbued with holiness . . . . We are not seeking to escape the everyday, but to hallow it. We do this by cleansing ourselves of the negative behaviors that keep us from encountering the world -- and all beings in it -- with a sense of awe, wonder, kindness, and compassion . . .
--Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Shabbat Shalom
JH

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