Friday, April 26, 2002

Shabbat-O-Gram for April 26-27, Iyar 15, 5762

  Shabbat-O-Gram for April 26-27, Iyar 15, 5762

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Temple Beth El, Stamford, Connecticut

 

The Web link for this week's Shabbat-O-Gram is http://www.tbe.org/sog/020427.htm. The site is continually updated during the week with corrections and additions. Feel free to forward this link to your friends. People can subscribe to the weekly Shabbat-o-Gram at www.tbe.org. If you wish to unsubscribe, contact office@tbe.org.

 

SHABBAT SHALOM (and a green, springy Lag B'Omer!)

A WORD ABOUT PARSHAT EMOR: JEWISH LAW AND CARDINAL LAW

Just as I was sitting down to reflect on this weeks portion, which talks all about how the priests (cohanim) had to be perfect exemplars devoid of physical and moral defects, I picked up the USA Today and read on the front page, "Priests must be 'perfect,' Pope says." It's nice to know that the Pope is up on his Parshat Ha-Shavua (weekly Torah study). But, as much as I abhor the behavior of any individual who takes advantage of a position of trust, especially in regard to children (a problem that is certainly not limited to Catholic priests), I wonder if perhaps part of the problem in regard to clergy is that we are too quick to place them on pedestals. It is horrifying when a clergy person abuses a child, but no less so than when anyone else does. What makes this situation worse is that the Church has felt compelled to cover up these sins fearing that, once priests were revealed to be human, the whole edifice of clerical infallibility would collapse.

Although, for the most part, Jews do not entertain such fantasies of rabbinic infallibility, it is a dangerous trap that some succumb to. When rabbis and cantors are discovered to have abused trust relationships, the inclination has been all too often to keep it quiet. We've seen that recently with the Orthodox Union regarding a rabbinic youth leader in New Jersey and at Temple Emanuel in New York, with regard to their cantor. My own take on this matter can be seen in greater detail in an article written for the Jewish Week a couple of years ago, which you can see by going to www.tbe.org, then click on "rabbi's study," then "articles and sermons." There you will find: "The Problem with Pedestal Rabbis."

Note that while the cohanim were supposed to be blemish-free, they rarely became the true leaders of the people. Now we basically give them the first aliyah and that's it. When you think of all the great leaders of the Jewish people, all had flaws that would have disqualified them from the High Priesthood. Moses stuttered, Jacob limped, David was an adulterer, Miriam had leprosy (not to mention that she was, gasp, female), etc. The message is clear: religious leaders are no better than the rest of us -- that is the only way that they possibly can lead us. Perfection is for priests only, therefore not for us "real" folk.

 

JUST THE FACTS: Services and Such

L'hitraot to our third graders, headed up to Camp Sloan this weekend for their first class Shabbaton! They will also be receiving their Siddurim at a special ceremony on Lag B'Omer (well, the day after, really), on Wednesday evening. MAZAL TOV to them!

B'ruchim ha-baim (welcome) to the Israeli soldiers on the Tzahal Shalom program of the J.C.C, including several who will be attending our service (and speaking) on Shabbat morning. They will also be with our Religious School students during both sessions on Sunday morning. Parents are invited to join with the classes in greeting the soldiers and to meet with them separately from the kids as well, at 8:45 and at 11 a.m. Yashar Koach to the families who are hosting them, David and Hazel Katz, Robin Frederick and Michael Gold, Sylvan and Honni Pomerantz and Malerie and Jeff Cohen.

MAZAL TOV to our incoming Cantor Deborah Jacobson on signing her first (of many) contract last week and on her Cantorial Senior Recital at the Jewish Theological Seminary this Sunday (see below for details if you wish to attend).

Friday Night: Candles: 7:27 PM

Teen Service and Discussion (with me): 7:30 PM (in the lobby) See below for details.

Kabbalat Shabbat: 8:00 PM, in the chapel

Shabbat Morning:

P'sukey d'zimra (psalms and meditations) 9:15 and Shacharit: 9:30

MAZAL TOV to Robert Kempner, who becomes Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat morning;

Torah Portion: Emor

Read the Masorti commentary at http://www.masorti.org/mason/torah/index.asp. 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/

Children's Services: 10:30, in the chapel (grades 3 - 6) and downstairs in the Kindergarten room for younger grades. 

Mincha - Havdalah: 7:00 PM

MAZAL TOV to Traci Lehrfeld, who becomes Bat Mitzvah this Shabbat afternoon.

Morning Minyan: Daily at 7:30, Sundays at 9:00

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

Spiritual Journey on the Web: Lag B'Omer

Monday night and Tuesday bring us the least understood and most mysterious of all Jewish holidays: Lag B’Omer. About the easiest thing to explain about it is the name. Since each Hebrew letter has a corresponding numerical value, the letters lamed and gimel add up to thirty three, and Thursday night indeed is the thirty third night of the counting period between Passover and Shavuot known as the Omer.

What’s the Omer?

OK, so what’s an Omer? The Omer happens to be explained in this week’s Torah portion, Emor. It is also known as the Sephira, which means counting, but Jewish mystics have tied that into the notion of the Sephirot, God’s emanations. So let’s see, we’ve got Omer, Emor, Sephira, Sephirot…let’s call the whole thing off!

No, let’s just go to the experts for help. At http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Shokel/880331_Omer_Light.html, you’ll find Eliezer Segal’s excellent tie-in to the portion, including an explanation as to a humdinger of a rabbinic controversy regarding the Jewish calendar. The Omer is considered a semi-mourning period. Find out why at http://jewishminds.healthekids.net/course.phtml?course_id=458. Then, for a detailed summary of the Sephira laws, go to http://www.yipc.org/new_page_62.htm, the site of Young Israel of Passaic. It is interesting to note that, even within the traditional world, "In the post-Holocaust era, uniformity of practice is virtually no longer possible to implement, since pockets of population with all sorts of customs have descended upon all Jewish communities. Accordingly, in one city it is no longer surprising to see a host of customs simultaneously observed."

This can often leads to much confusion in the scheduling of communal events, Bar Mitzvahs and weddings at this time of year. You can have a halachic field day on all this at the OU site, http://www.ou.org/chagim/sefira/default.htm.

The Kabbalalists loved the Omer concept both because of the tie-in to the Sephirot. To see how they do that, check out this from Reb Goldie Milgrom, of the New York Center for Jewish Meditation, at http://www.rebgoldie.com/Shavuot.htm. IF you really want to learn all about the Sephirot, got to http://www.aril.org/Drob.htm. For a Breslaver Hasidic view, see http://www.breslov.org/omer.html.

And finally, kudos to Rabbi Sue Fendrick and SocialAction.com for developing the concept of the seven-week counting leading us to constructive acts of world-repair. Find out how, and see some terrific articles, at http://www.socialaction.com/omer2000.html.

What’s Lag B’Omer?

Now we focus on the big day itself.

http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/festivls/shavuot/lagba.html is a good place to start. If after that you can figure out the difference between Rabbi Akiva and Shimon Bar Yochai, you’re ready for the Lag B’Omer hot sites at http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-hdayla.htm. From there you can really go to town on this stuff. I mean that quite literally, for there are several visits to those hotbeds of Lag B’Omer festivities, Meron and Safed, nestled high in the hills of northern Galilee. http://www.ascent.org.il/html/Mystic/holidays/lagbomer61.html will take you to Meron, describing the white-hot bonfires, and you’ll also be exposed to some relatively palatable selections from the Zohar, that magnum opus of Jewish mysticism. Continue to explore Mount Meron with nice photos, at http://www.starkman.com/aviva/AJS/lag_baomer.html, and find out at http://207.168.91.4/vjholidays/lagbaomer/gallery.htm how the Meron scene is really akin to "Meah Shearim meets Woodstock." On the other hand, the article at http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0599/lag.html says that Meron "’aint exactly Woodstock." Lots less rain and lots more clothes, I suppose.

Back on earth, Lag B’Omer is more of a nature festival for those non-mystics among us. (I agree with those who see a definite May Day tie in, both holidays sharing ancient pagan roots with other spring nature festivals). In the early days of Zionism, it became a perfect time to celebrate the spectacular spring weather in the Land of Israel, with bonfires and picnics. All the secular youth groups would take part. A nice photographic reminder of that can be found at http://motlc.wiesenthal.com/gallery/pg26/pg2/pg26253.html.

For the kids, a nice story about Rabbi Akiba, one of the heroes of the festival, can be found at http://www.bjeny.org/images/Judaic_Curricula_/Rabbi_Akiva__From_Shepherd_to_/rabbi_akiva__from_shepherd_to_.htm. For the cooks, some Lag B’omer picnic recipes are at http://www.fspronet.com/kosherkorner/lagbomer.html.

I loved the material at http://www.kneidlach.com/kneidlach/index.asp. I have little knowledge of the background of the sponsor of this organization in South Africa, and a few things I see there make me wary, but the Lag B’Omer material is top-notch, with a special focus on Simon Bar Yochai You’ll also find a full mystical Omer chart there, at http://www.kneidlach.com/kneidlach/jho_prayers.asp

And one final, sobering note: Yitz Greenberg teaches us the lessons of Lag B’Omer’s history at http://jewishsf.com/bk970523/comm1.htm.

"Most people think of Lag B'Omer as a warm, fuzzy semi-holiday with a nature-loving theme. But in the Talmud, the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer period is a devastating reminder of a catastrophe caused by Jews' divisiveness. Today, Jewry seems headed for a repeat of the disaster"

And, in recognition of Yitz’ valid points, I pledge to hold back in my usage of inflammatory language involving other Jews.

Happy Lag B’Omer – and Shabbat Shalom to all the people of Israel – and the world.

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

 

REQUIRED READING AND ACTION ITEMS

ISRAEL AND THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM

http://www.nyobserver.com/pages/story.asp?ID=5715 "Second Holocaust" -- Eerie echoes of a Philip Roth novel in current events.

http://www.mideasttruth.com/cartoons.html -- cartoons that "get it."

http://www.ucomics.com/patoliphant/viewpo.cfm?uc_fn=1&uc_full_date=20020409&uc_daction=P&uc_comic=po -- a political cartoon, by Pat Oliphant, that decidedly DOESN'T get it. In fact, it's got clear anti-Semitic overtones. What's worse, our own Stamford Advocate chose to print it this week. I've sent a letter of protest about it. Have you?

Other examples of "Jews with horns" anti-Semitism: http://www.joi.org/qa/persecution.shtmlhttp://www.adl.org/presrele/ASUS_12/2380_12.asphttp://www.jpost.com/Editions/2001/11/19/News/News.38354.html;

http://www.thejewishweek.com/top/editcolcontent.php3 "The Media War," from Jewish Week editor Gary Rosenblatt.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/741019.asp Meet the Press interview between Tim Russert and the Saudi FM advisor. Chilling

 

"THE REAL MASSACRE - ISRAEL’S IMAGE"

Last week, the media amplified Arab claims that 500 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in Jenin. This week, when it became clear that the death count was a small fraction of that—and that many of the dead were gunmen—some of the media regrouped to parrot charges of Israeli war crimes by denying medical care to Palestinian wounded. The Economist opined (April 20): "Israeli authorities did breach those laws of war which require them to care for non-combatants and the wounded." The Guardian’s (UK) editorial, "What really happened in Jenin camp?" compares Israeli actions to September 11:

"Jenin camp looks like the scene of a crime. Its concrete rubble and tortured metal evokes another horror half a world away in New York, smaller in scale but every bit as repellent in its particulars, no less distressing, and every bit as man-made. Jenin smells like a crime. The stench of decaying flesh, of dead bodies left to rot or buried unabsolved under collapsed buildings greets those aid workers and reporters who manage to gain access..."Jenin already has that aura of infamy that attaches to a crime of special notoriety... like the Jews’ Massada, [Jenin] could be the stuff of legend upon which dreams are built..." http://honestreporting.com/a/r/212.asp

Send your comments to:letters@guardian.co.uk

Unfortunately, most media outlets published photos that fail to show the destruction in proportion. Instead, aerial photographs show the destroyed area to be a small percentage of the entire refugee camp, which itself is a small portion of the city of Jenin. See the aerial photographs at: http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0ll60

CNN offers one clue as to what may be behind the rotting stench reportedly permeating from Jenin: U.N. official Sami Mshasha "said residents said that animals had been killed or buried in the rubble, adding to the foul smell." http://honestreporting.com/a/r/209.asp

How did your local media report the battle of Jenin? HonestReporting.com presents several important pieces of evidence acquitting Israel of the charges. Members are encouraged to write letters to the editor using the information below, which depicts damage inflicted by Palestinians themselves, as well as the involvement of Jenin’s civilian population in the fighting.

===== (1) RESPONSIBILITY FOR DESTRUCTION =====

Al-Ahram (Egypt) Weekly Online, April 18-24 edition, contains a revealing article about Omar—one of "the revered bomb-makers from the City of the Bombers." Omar chillingly described the placement of hundreds of explosives throughout the camp and the involvement of Palestinian women and children in the war effort:

"Of all the fighters in the West Bank we were the best prepared," he says. "We started working on our plan: to trap the invading soldiers and blow them up from the moment the Israeli tanks pulled out of Jenin last month." Omar and other "engineers" made hundreds of explosive devices and carefully chose their locations.

"We had more than 50 houses booby-trapped around the camp. We chose old and empty buildings and the houses of men who were wanted by Israel because we knew the soldiers would search for them," he said. "We cut off lengths of mains water pipes and packed them with explosives and nails. Then we placed them about four meters apart throughout the houses—in cupboards, under sinks, in sofas."

The fighters hoped to disable Israeli tanks with much more powerful bombs placed inside rubbish bins on the street. More explosives were hidden inside the cars of Jenin’s most wanted men. Connected by wires, the bombs were set off remotely, triggered by the current from a car battery...

And what about the explosion and ambush last Tuesday which killed 13 soldiers? "They were lured there," he says. "We all stopped shooting and the women went out to tell the soldiers that we had run out of bullets and were leaving. The women alerted the fighters as the soldiers reached the booby-trapped area..."

Read the full Al Ahram report in English: http://www.ahram.org.eg/weekly/2002/582/6inv2.htm

====== (2) IRONIC BRITISH HYPOCRISY =====

With the British media leading the hoopla against Israel, it is important to note official British documents showing how British authorities—in combating Palestinian terrorism during the Mandate years—utilized anti-terror methods considerably harsher than those used by Israeli forces. (Much of the following information comes from the Jerusalem Post, "How the British Fought Terror in Jenin," by Raphael Medoff - April 19, 2002)

Following the assassination of a British district commissioner by a Palestinian in Jenin in the summer of 1938, British authorities decided that "a large portion of the town should be blown up" as punishment. On August 25, 1938, a British convoy brought 4,200 kilos of explosives to Jenin for that purpose.

In the Jenin operation and on other occasions, local Arabs were forced to drive "mine-sweeping taxis" ahead of British vehicles in areas where Palestinian terrorists were believed to have planted mines, in order "to reduce [British] landmine casualties."

On another occasion, British forces responded to the presence of terrorists in the Arab village of Miar, north of Haifa, by blowing up house after house in October 1938. "When the [British] troops left, there was little else remaining of the once-busy village except a pile of mangled masonry," The New York Times reported.

Under Emergency Regulation 19b, the British Mandate government could demolish any house located in a village where terrorists resided, even if that particular house had no direct connection to terrorist activity. Mandate official Hugh Foot later recalled: "When we thought that a village was harboring rebels, we’d go there and mark one of the large houses. Then, if an incident was traced to that village, we’d blow up the house we’d marked."

The British describe having demolished 237 houses in a few days. See the document at: http://honestreporting.com/a/r/210.asp

In response to concerns about the morality of these methods, Lord Dufferin of the British Colonial Office said: "British lives are being lost and I don’t think that we, from the security of Whitehall, can protest squeamishly about measures taken by the men in the frontline."

Sir John Shuckburgh defended the tactics on the grounds that the British were confronted "not with a chivalrous opponent playing the game according to the rules, but with gangsters and murderers."

Ironically, the British became the target of a smear campaign by Arab propagandists, who alleged that British soldiers gouged out the eyes of Arab prisoners. These charges were publicized widely in the Nazi German press and elsewhere.

====== (3) MEDICAL CARE =====

Dr. David Zangen, a senior pediatrician at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and the chief medical officer in Jenin, told a press briefing last week:

"There was no situation where we did not allow people to get into the hospital. Every ambulance that wanted to get into the hospital could go every time. We did check the ambulances. The reason was that the hospital was used to hide highly wanted terrorists. On one occasion one of our doctors checked one of the ambulances. According to what the Palestinian doctor said, there was one severely sick person lying inside. And then we looked at him—there wasn’t a scratch on him, he just had an intravenous, just taped to his shirt, not even inserted in his veins. And this was one of the highly wanted terrorists...

"There were cases that the Palestinians asked for doctors, and their doctors did not want to come, either because it was dangerous or they just refused, and we treated them. We treated Palestinians—a case of appendicitis, and we treated a case of leg wound and a wound in the neck -- some of them were on the list of people that we knew that fought against us.

"I must tell you about how the terrorists used people, used children. A few days after the battle ended, we saw a 6-year-old child with a little bag going in the camp. One of the soldiers asked him, "Listen, what do you have there in the bag?" and so he dropped it and ran away. The bag included three booby-traps. Six years old."

Zangen’s full April 21 testimony is at: http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0llb0

The Los Angeles Times confirms that Israeli soldiers "arrested a 6-year-old boy ferrying three pipe bombs from one building to another." http://honestreporting.com/a/r/211.asp

====== (4) "HIDING A MASSACRE" =====

Kenneth Preiss, a professor at Ben Gurion University and an HonestReporting member, writes:

Please inform the reporters trying to figure out if the Israeli army is trying to "hide a massacre" of Palestinians, that Israel’s citizen army includes journalists, members of parliament, professors, doctors, human rights activists, members of every political party, and every other kind of person, all within sight and cell phone distance of home and editorial offices.

Thousands of people at the home front know exactly what is going on in the war long before they hear it on the radio or see it on TV, because they have been updated by enlisted friends and family with cell phones.

"Massacre" means willful murder of harmless civilians. Had a massacre occurred, the personal public grapevine would have been inundated with information about it, within hours. The talk of "massacre" is yet another malicious canard.

=====================================

Dennis Ross was interviewed last Sunday on Fox News. Ross, our Hoffman lecturer last year, was the Middle East envoy and negotiator under the Clinton administration and was present in the crucial Camp David and follow-up meetings in 2000. As many of you know, Israeli PM Barak was pushed by Pres. Clinton to make major concessions in order to try to get a peace treaty before Clinton left office. The concessions put on the table went far beyond anything previously offered and probably went beyond what the Israeli public and the Knesset would accept. Nonetheless, in the face of the best chance for peace ever, Arafat said NO and turned to violence with the intifada that started in September 2000. The talks collapsed after Taba in January 2001 in the last days of the Clinton presidency.

Palestine Facts has descriptions of these talks on these pages:

Camp David: http://palestinefacts.org/pf_1991to_now_campdavid_2000.php

Taba: http://palestinefacts.org/pf_1991to_now_alaqsa_taba.php

Since then the Palestinians have attempted to spin what happened, to rewrite the history to say that the deal offered to Arafat was not so favorable or to say that the Israelis, not the Palestinians, walked out of the meetings. Another story is that the talks ended because of Sharon’s election in February 2001, not because of Palestinian intransigence.

The interview with Ross puts all the Palestinian claims into one category: lies. The full transcript is available here: http://foxnews.com/story/0,2933,50830,00.html

http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/hasbara/ Bookmark this site! An authoritative guide to Israel advocacy.

 

INTERNATIONAL CARD/PICTURE/POSTER CAMPAIGN TO BOOST MORALE IN ISRAEL!

A group of American rabbinical students (from JTS) studying in Jerusalem this year, gathered recently to figure out ways that we could support Israel during these difficult times. One project that we committed to involves Jewish communities all over the world, so we’re hoping you can help in this endeavor and that you will help us by passing this email on to others who might be interested!

The task is simple: We're asking that Jews (from all over the world) send handmade and decorative cards/pictures/posters of support and encouragement to Israel. Cards should include the name, age and community of the creators and should be sent to:

Machon Schechter c/o Dana Rone Saroken, Rehov Avraham Granot #4 PO Box 8600 Jerusalem, 91083. Israel.

Once these cards are received we will be posting them all over the storefronts, bus stops, places of terrorist attacks, hospitals, as well as other central places in Jerusalem.

It’s a simple gesture but will undoubtedly bring smiles to passerby's and increase morale in a bleak situation where many are feeling isolated.

We’re asking that these cards be sent in bundles from youth groups, Hebrew schools, day schools, senior centers, synagogues, Hillels, JCC’s, book clubs... as soon as possible. In order to make this project a huge success, please forward this email to any teachers, administrators, community leaders or friends that you know, from as many states and countries as possible!

If you have any questions, please e-mail: rafianddana@yahoo.com

Thank you, in advance, for your valiant efforts and your commitment to the concept "Kol yisrael Arevim Zeh LaZeh" - All of the Jewish People are Responsible for One Another" Hopefully, we’ll all make a big difference together!!!

 

Quote of the Week:

 

"We have crippled the top of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah, Tanzim. We didn’t capture all of the people, all of the weapons or all of the labs. But we did a lot."—IDF Colonel Miri Eisin communicating that Operation Defensive Shield had netted about 70% of the leading terrorist operatives and 80% of the bomb-making labs in targeted West Bank cities [About 4,500 Palestinians were detained in the operation and while most were later released, 1,450 were formally arrested having admitted to involvement in terrorist activities. Among the weapons seized during the operation were almost 2,000 Kalashnikov rifles, 800 pistols, 388 sniper rifles, 93 machine guns, nine rocket launchers, six mortars, 40 ammunition crates and 430 explosive charges.] (National Post, April 24)

 

 "…Yesterday afternoon, in downtown Hebron, crowds of Palestinians…surg[ed] forward to have a turn at kicking or spitting on the three bound corpses strewn before them on the street. Just moments before, hooded gunmen had dragged the three victims, suspected of having collaborated with Israel, out of a PA prison. As PA policemen stood by and watched, the gunmen proceeded to shoot them to death, accompanied by enthusiastic shouts of ‘revenge, revenge’ from the rapidly swelling crowd…Diplomats and policymakers abroad may have the luxury of wringing their hands and regarding such incidents as merely ‘troubling,’ but Israel can ill afford to view them so lightly…For as yesterday’s murders…clearly show, a police state is incapable of peace with its own citizens, let alone peace with its neighbors. An insistence on independence devoid of freedom and the rule of law will not only fail to bring peace or stability, but will betray the hopes of the Palestinians themselves."—Editorial (Jer. Post, April 24)

 

 

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

MAZAL TOV to Sophie and Barry Vlessing on the birth on Tuesday of Joshua Alan Vlessing, all 8lbs 2 oz of him!

Todah Rabah and Mazel Tov to Mr. & Mrs. Peter Kempner for their contribution to the Kiddush Fund in honor of their son, Robert, who will become a Bar Mitzvah on Shabbat morning.

Todah Rabah and Mazel Tov to Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Lehrfeld for their contribution to the Kiddush Fund in honor of their daughter, Traci, who will become a Bat Mitzvah Saturday evening.

 

The congregation offers condolences to:

Ruth Haendler on the loss of her mother, Reeva Ledewitz

Andrea Scherban on the loss of her father, Philip Fightlin

Joan Wexler on the loss of her mother, Lil Hauser

 

 

Don't Forget -- Upcoming Israel-Related Programs

 

Tzahal Shalom soldiers will be here Shabbat morning and Sunday. We'll hear from them at services on Shabbat and students will hear from them in class on Sunday. Parents can also meet separately with the soldiers on Sunday, from 8:45 to 9:45 and from 11:00 to 12:00.

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

"Suicide Bombers Cannot Silence Israeli Children"

Documentary and Discussion

Thursday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth El

Dr. Mildred Pollner, President, Cinema Verite International, Inc. presents her documentary film. Panel discussion to follow. Below is a review of the evening, from a rabbi, whose congregation Dr. Pollner recently visited:

"Dr. Mildred Pollner, President of Cinema Verite International, Inc. presented her film documentary entitled, "Suicide Bombers Cannot Silence Israeli Children." Dr. Pollner interviewed Israeli children last summer after the Sbarro bombing. She manages to capture all the pathos of what it means to be a child in Israel today. There was not a dry eye in the audience when the film was over. No propaganda. She just lets the Israeli kids speak. It is a great program for Jewish and non-Jewish audiences."

THIS WILL BE THE CONNECTICUT PREMIER OF THIS FILM!! TELL YOUR FRIENDS

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

 

Teen Service and Discussion with Rabbi Hammerman

ISRAEL: WHAT NOW???

What do we think about the current situation in Israel? How do we respond to the things we're hearing in school? How can we help?

This Friday, April 26, 2002 at 7:30 p.m.

Dress (and the service) casual, but Shabbat appropriate -- RSVP to 322-6901 X324 or youth@tbe.org

Deeee-licious Oneg Shabbat follows the service

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

 

A "heads-up" from our office…..

The May Bulletin will be slightly delayed because our crack office staff has been consumed wit the production of the very long and extremely successful journal that has been put together for next week's dinner honoring Hazzan and Sandy Rabinowitz. Stay tuned to the Shabbat-O-Gram for program announcements in the interim.

 

JEWISH MEDITATION

with Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener

Sunday April 28th One Session Only 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

 Jewish Meditation is an old/new tradition. Once practiced by small circles of mystics, the world wide interest in meditation has contributed to a reflourishing and expansion of this practice. Uniquely Jewish forms of attention practice and contemplative devotions have been restored to congregational and personal worship. We will explore and practice some of the basics in this two-part class with the idea of deepening our personal practice of both meditation and Judaism.

The cost is $10.00 RSVP to 322-6901 ext. 306

(The Youth Lounge will be open for childcare from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. For your convenience, 1st session students may go to the Youth Lounge when school ends at 10:45 a.m. and remain until 12:00 p.m. 2nd session siblings may go to the Youth Lounge at 10:00 a.m. and remain until school starts at 11:00 a.m.)

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

 Cantor Deborah Jacobson & Cantor Marshall Kapell

Invite you to join them for their Senior Recital

As they celebrate their upcoming graduation from the

H. L. Miller Cantorial School

Musical Selections include Classical, Liturgical & Broadway

Recital will begin promptly at 1:00 PM

Sunday April 28, 2002

Feinberg Auditorium at The Jewish Theological Seminary

3080 Broadway

On the corner of 122nd and Broadway

Dessert Reception to Follow

 

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

 

Scholar-In-Residence

Hazzan, Dr. Joseph Levine

May 3-4, 2002

Kicking-off a special weekend honoring Hazzan and Sandy Rabinowitz

Kabbalat Shabbat 8:00 p.m.

Shabbat morning service 9:30 a.m.

We welcome Hazzan Levine at Kabbalat Shabbat services, when his topic will be "Help, Rabbi, I'm Lost." The adult and junior choirs will be participating in the service, joined by singers who have sung with the choir throughout the Hazzan's 32 years at Beth El. On Shabbat morning, Hazzan Levine's topic will be, "The Paradox of Jewish Worship."

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

 

Friday Night Outdoor Services

resume, weather permitting,

May 10, 2002 at 7:00 p.m.

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

 

Eighth Annual Elders Day

Shabbat, May 11, 2002

Honoring Norma and Milton Mann

Services begin at 9:30 a.m.

Congregational Family Luncheon to follow

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


May 4 - Dinner Dance at Temple Beth El
May 19 - Community Event to Honor Sidney and Sandy Rabinowitz
 -------------------

Junior Choir Reunion! Friday, June 14, 2002

The Committee to Honor Hazzan & Sandy is looking for former Junior Choir singers to participate in the upcoming festivities! If your son or daughter ever participated in the Beth El Junior Choir, please call Roz Perlson (323-7328), Kathy Paseltiner (356-9735) or Carol Kalter (968-1075) to give his/her name, address and phone number.

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

COMMUNITY MISSION TO ARGENTINA

A mission under the direction of Tommy Haendler, going to Argentina, will depart on the night of May 12 and return early on May 16. The cost is approximately $1000. The purpose is to assess the deteriorating economic situation in Argentina and to determine how we can help specific needs there. Contact the UJF office (321-1373) for more information.

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

 

Beth El Cares

 BETH EL CARES and AMERICARES HOME FRONT NEED YOU!

SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2002 (FLEXIBLE HOURS)

Please volunteer to help us refurbish and repair the home of an elderly Stamford resident. No experience needed, though we are also looking for people with painting and home repair experience to assist the group.

TO SIGN UP OR TO GET MORE INFORMATION CALL:

Art and Sue Greenwald at (203) 329-1662 or e-mail adg521@optonline.net

JOIN THE MAY MITZVAH TEAM!

 --------------------

 SHA’AR

Outreach to Young Jewish Singles

So, you’ve come to the Greater Stamford area and you are interested in the who’s who and the what’s what in the Jewish world. Well, you’ve come to the right place to find out. Through a grant provided by Michael Steinhardt, project SHA’AR was developed to provide information about and/or formulate welcoming Jewish educational, cultural and social programs that are geared to the interests of young Jewish singles. SHA’AR is your link to existing Jewish organizations in the Greater Stamford community.

SHA’AR will provide information about the existing Synagogues, so that you can find the one that fulfills your religious needs. A number of programming options will be available to fulfill your Jewish religious and educational desires. Additionally, SHA’AR can connect you to the popular Young Jewish Professionals singles group to accommodate your social interests.

Our program is unique, due to the fact that SHA’AR involves you in the development process of the project and that its coordinator is 26, single and can relate to and understand the needs of the young Jewish single.

For more information please contact Dan Rozett, Coordinator of SHA’AR, United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien.

203.321.1373 ext. 115 or dan@ujf.org

www.ujf.org

 

SHABBAT SHALOM and HAPPY LAG B'OMER



The Shabbat-O-Gram goes out weekly to hundreds of Beth El congregants and others. Feel free to forward it to your friends, and if you know of anyone who might wish to be included, please have them sign up at www.tbe.org. You can unsubscribe by contacting our office at office@tbe.org.

For more information on my synagogue, check out Beth El's Web site at www.tbe.org. To check out some previous spiritual cyber-journeys I have taken, see my book's site at www.thelordismyshepherd.com.

 

Friday, April 19, 2002

Shabbat-O-Gram for April 19-20, Iyar 8, 5762

  Shabbat-O-Gram for April 19-20, Iyar 8, 5762

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Temple Beth El, Stamford, Connecticut

 

The Shabbat-O-Gram is being e-mailed out in plain text, but if you wish to see it in all its html splendor (and with last-minute corrections and updates), you can click to it on the Web, at http://www.tbe.org/sog/020420.htm. If you wish to unsubscribe, contact office@tbe.org.

 

SHABBAT SHALOM

"Suicide Bombers Cannot Silence Israeli Children"

Documentary and Discussion

Thursday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth El

Dr. Mildred Pollner, President, Cinema Verite International, Inc. presents her documentary film. Panel discussion to follow. Below is a review of the evening, from a rabbi, whose congregation Dr. Pollner recently visited:

"Dr. Mildred Pollner, President of Cinema Verite International, Inc. presented her film documentary entitled, "Suicide Bombers Cannot Silence Israeli Children." Dr. Pollner interviewed Israeli children last summer after the Sbarro bombing. She manages to capture all the pathos of what it means to be a child in Israel today. There was not a dry eye in the audience when the film was over. No propaganda. She just lets the Israeli kids speak. It is a great program for Jewish and non-Jewish audiences."

THIS WILL BE THE CONNECTICUT PREMIER OF THIS FILM!! TELL YOUR FRIENDS

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

 

Teen Service and Discussion with Rabbi Hammerman

ISRAEL: WHAT NOW???

What do we think about the current situation in Israel? How do we respond to the things we're hearing in school? How can we help?

Friday, April 26, 2002 at 7:30 p.m.

Dress (and the service) casual, but Shabbat appropriate -- RSVP to 322-6901 X324 or youth@tbe.org

Deeee-licious Oneg Shabbat follows the service

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

 

AND DON'T FORGET….

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

 

JUST THE FACTS: Services and Such

Friday Night: Candles: 7:20 PM

Tot Shabbat Service (for families with pre-school children): 7:15 PM, in the lobby

Kabbalat Shabbat: 8:00 PM, in the chapel

Shabbat Morning:

P'sukey d'zimra (psalms and meditations) 9:15 and Shacharit: 9:30

MAZAL TOV to Jake Manela, who becomes Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat morning;

Torah Portion: Ahare Mot - Kedoshim-- The "holiness code" includes fundamental laws of Judaism and civilization (e.g "love your neighbor as yourself." Read the Masorti commentary at http://www.masorti.org/mason/torah/index.asp. 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/

Children's Services: 10:30, in the chapel (grades 3 - 6) and downstairs in the Kindergarten room for younger grades. 

Morning Minyan: Daily at 7:30, Sundays at 9:00 

 

Spiritual Journey on the Web:

 

REQUIRED READING AND ACTION ITEMS

This morning, April 21, 2002, Dennis Ross was interviewed on Fox News. Ross was the Middle East envoy and negotiator under the Clinton administration and was present in the crucial Camp David and follow-up meetings in 2000.

As many of you know, Israeli PM Barak was pushed by Pres. Clinton to make major concessions in order to try to get a peace treaty before Clinton left office. The concessions put on the table went far beyond anything previously offered and probably went beyond what the Israeli public and the Knesset would accept. Nonetheless, in the face of the best chance for peace ever, Arafat said NO and turned to violence with the intifada that started in September 2000. The talks collapsed after Taba in January 2001 in the last days of the Clinton presidency.

Palestine Facts has descriptions of these talks on these pages:

Camp David: http://palestinefacts.org/pf_1991to_now_campdavid_2000.php

Taba: http://palestinefacts.org/pf_1991to_now_alaqsa_taba.php

Since then the Palestinians have attempted to spin what happened, to rewrite the history to say that the deal offered to Arafat was not so favorable or to say that the Israelis, not the Palestinians, walked out of the meetings. Another story is that the talks ended because of Sharon’s election in February 2001, not because of Palestinian intransigence.

The interview with Ross puts all the Palestinian claims into one category: lies. The full transcript is available here:

http://foxnews.com/story/0,2933,50830,00.html

 

INTERNATIONAL CARD/PICTURE/POSTER CAMPAIGN TO BOOST MORALE IN ISRAEL!

A group of American rabbinical students (from JTS) studying in Jerusalem this year, gathered recently to figure out ways that we could support Israel during these difficult times. One project that we committed to involves Jewish communities all over the world, so we’re hoping you can help in this endeavor and that you will help us by passing this email on to others who might be interested!

The task is simple: We're asking that Jews (from all over the world) send handmade and decorative cards/pictures/posters of support and encouragement to Israel. Cards should include the name, age and community of the creators and should be sent to:

Machon Schechter c/o Dana Rone Saroken, Rehov Avraham Granot #4 PO Box 8600 Jerusalem, 91083. Israel.

Once these cards are received we will be posting them all over the storefronts, bus stops, places of terrorist attacks, hospitals, as well as other central places in Jerusalem.

It’s a simple gesture but will undoubtedly bring smiles to passerby's and increase morale in a bleak situation where many are feeling isolated.

We’re asking that these cards be sent in bundles from youth groups, Hebrew schools, day schools, senior centers, synagogues, Hillels, JCC’s, book clubs... as soon as possible. In order to make this project a huge success, please forward this email to any teachers, administrators, community leaders or friends that you know, from as many states and countries as possible!

If you have any questions, please e-mail: rafianddana@yahoo.com

Thank you, in advance, for your valiant efforts and your commitment to the concept "Kol yisrael Arevim Zeh LaZeh" - All of the Jewish People are Responsible for One Another" Hopefully, we’ll all make a big difference together!!!

 

Quote of the Week:

 

" I see it, yes, and I say the following. I have never been tender with the tragic and Shakespearean figure Sharon. ("I know you’ve come to add another scalp to your necklace," he murmured almost with sadness when I went to interview him in 1982.) I have often had disagreements with the Israelis, ugly ones, and in the past I have defended the Palestinians a great deal. Maybe more than they deserved. But I stand with Israel, I stand with the Jews. I stand just as I stood as a young girl during the time when I fought with them, and when the Anna Marias were shot. I defend their right to exist, to defend themselves, to not let themselves be exterminated a second time. And disgusted by the antisemitism of many Italians, of many Europeans, I am ashamed of this shame that dishonors my Country and Europe. At best, it is not a community of States, but a pit of Pontius Pilates. And even if all the inhabitants of this planet were to think otherwise, I would continue to think so."

From Oriana Fallaci's "On Antisemitism" (see the hyperlink above)

 

 

 

 OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

 Memorial Service for Jack Malin, community pillar,

Sunday, April 21 at 9:30 (immediately following minyan)

In the main sanctuary

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

 

JEWISH MEDITATION

with Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener

Sunday April 28th - One Session Only 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

 

Jewish Meditation is an old/new tradition. Once practiced by small circles of mystics, the world wide interest in meditation has contributed to a reflourishing and expansion of this practice. Uniquely Jewish forms of attention practice and contemplative devotions have been restored to congregational and personal worship. We will explore and practice some of the basics in this two-part class with the idea of deepening our personal practice of both meditation and Judaism.

The cost is $10.00 RSVP to 322-6901 ext. 306

(The Youth Lounge will be open for childcare from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. For your convenience, 1st session students may go to the Youth Lounge when school ends at 10:45 a.m. and remain until 12:00 p.m. 2nd session siblings may go to the Youth Lounge at 10:00 a.m. and remain until school starts at 11:00 a.m.)

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

 

Scholar-In-Residence

Hazzan, Dr. Joseph Levine

May 3-4, 2002

Kicking-off a special weekend honoring Hazzan and Sandy Rabinowitz

Kabbalat Shabbat 8:00 p.m.

Shabbat morning service 9:30 a.m.

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

 

Friday Night Outdoor Services

resume, weather permitting,

May 10, 2002 at 7:00 p.m.

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

 

Eighth Annual Elders Day

Shabbat, May 11, 2002

Honoring Norma and Milton Mann

Services begin at 9:30 a.m.

Congregational Family Luncheon to follow

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

 

UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS

KADIMA (6-8) REGIONAL PROGRAM, April 21ST

 

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


May 4 - Dinner Dance at Temple Beth El

May 19 - Community Event to Honor Sidney and Sandy Rabinowitz


Send us any memories, history, personal observations, programs, photos or other memorabilia. Those wishing to honor the Hazzan with a gift to the temple can do so with an entry in a journal being prepared for the May 4 event. Watch your mail for details or contact Roberta Aronovitch (for information) at 203-322-6901 ext 304 or by e-mail at execdir@tbe.org

 -------------------

Junior Choir Reunion! Friday, June 14, 2002

The Committee to Honor Hazzan & Sandy is looking for former Junior Choir singers to participate in the upcoming festivities! If your son or daughter ever participated in the Beth El Junior Choir, please call Roz Perlson (323-7328), Kathy Paseltiner (356-9735) or Carol Kalter (968-1075) to give his/her name, address and phone number.

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

 

Beth El Cares

 BETH EL CARES and AMERICARES HOME FRONT NEED YOU!

SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2001 (FLEXIBLE HOURS)

Please volunteer to help us refurbish and repair the home of an elderly Stamford resident. No experience needed, though we are also looking for people with painting and home repair experience to assist the group.

TO SIGN UP OR TO GET MORE INFORMATION CALL:

Art and Sue Greenwald at (203) 329-1662 or e-mail adg521@optonline.net

JOIN THE MAY MITZVAH TEAM!

 --------------------

 SHA’AR

Outreach to Young Jewish Singles

So, you’ve come to the Greater Stamford area and you are interested in the who’s who and the what’s what in the Jewish world. Well, you’ve come to the right place to find out. Through a grant provided by Michael Steinhardt, project SHA’AR was developed to provide information about and/or formulate welcoming Jewish educational, cultural and social programs that are geared to the interests of young Jewish singles. SHA’AR is your link to existing Jewish organizations in the Greater Stamford community.

SHA’AR will provide information about the existing Synagogues, so that you can find the one that fulfills your religious needs. A number of programming options will be available to fulfill your Jewish religious and educational desires. Additionally, SHA’AR can connect you to the popular Young Jewish Professionals singles group to accommodate your social interests.

Our program is unique, due to the fact that SHA’AR involves you in the development process of the project and that its coordinator is 26, single and can relate to and understand the needs of the young Jewish single.

For more information please contact Dan Rozett, Coordinator of SHA’AR, United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien.

203.321.1373 ext. 115 or dan@ujf.org

www.ujf.org 

SHABBAT SHALOM

The Shabbat-O-Gram goes out weekly to hundreds of Beth El congregants and others. Feel free to forward it to your friends, and if you know of anyone who might wish to be included, please have them sign up at www.tbe.org. You can unsubscribe by contacting our office at office@tbe.org.

For more information on my synagogue, check out Beth El's Web site at www.tbe.org. To check out some previous spiritual cyber-journeys I have taken, see my book's site at www.thelordismyshepherd.com.