Friday, December 19, 2003

The Litmus Tree




The Jewish Week, December 2003

In the outrageous and occasionally funny new film, “The Hebrew Hammer,” the evil son of Santa tries to destroy the Jewish people by having his henchmen distribute free bootlegged copies of “It’s a Wonderful Life” to unknowing Jewish children. When the kids get to the climactic scene in front of the Christmas tree, they shed their proverbial tzitzit and are lost forever to the Jewish people.

In Susan Sussman’s popular children’s book “There’s No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush, Sandy Goldstein,” a young Jewish girl named Robin pines for a Christmas tree, and matters only get worse when she discovers that her classmate Sandy Goldstein has a Chanukah bush in her home. Eventually Robin is comforted when her grandfather teaches her how she can help her non-Jewish neighbors celebrate their festivals, as long as it’s outside of the home.

The message that Jews constantly receive at this time of year is that it is OK, exemplary even, to help our neighbors celebrate their holidays, but that our homes should remain tree-free at all costs. In other words, as long as the Evil Evergreen doesn’t sneak past the mezuzah, Jews can have their fruitcake and eat it too.

This brings up some troubling questions. First, is it really kosher to help the O’Malleys across the street celebrate Christmas? Isn’t it rather disingenuous to say, “I’m not celebrating – I’m helping THEM to celebrate?” It sounds downright Clintonian: “I poured the eggnog – but didn’t inhale.” No, the former president didn’t commit adultery; he was simply helping Monica to her celebrate her own sexuality.

This matter hits home, because I spend each Christmas Eve (unless it falls on Friday night), whooping it up at Stamford’s homeless shelter, joining my congregants in putting on the jolliest X-mas bash this side of the North Pole. Feeding the homeless is undoubtedly a mitzvah. Filling in for the non-Jewish employees is also a nice, neighborly thing to do – sort of like being a Shabbos-goy in reverse. But for all too many Jews this kind of activity has become an excuse for real celebration on an otherwise terribly lonely night for all who don’t live in proximity of a Chinese restaurant or open movie theater.

So at the shelter, I sing “Silent Night,” because “Jingle Bells” just doesn’t cut it. I’m singing it for them, but I’m still singing it (except for the few key phrases that I mouth). One year I was asked to wear a Santa suit. I considered it for days and ultimately declined. Had I done it, it would have been for them, but the kids from my congregation might have had to be rushed into therapy.

With or without Rabbi Santa, there are always enough vicarious jollies to satisfy this room full of Jewish volunteers. Mitzvah points, yes; but there is something more subversive going on here that we have to admit: It’s great to feel that we can circumvent the rules – that we can embrace Jewish values while simultaneously partaking of the Forbidden Fruitcake. It’s not that it’s necessarily wrong for Jews to do these things, it’s simply sad that so many feel the need to.

Ah, but at least my house is an X-Mas-free zone. In the 1990 National Jewish Population survey, 82% responded that they never have a Christmas tree in their home. 44% said they light Shabbat candles. In other words, the fact of NOT having a Christmas tree is a far more definitive sign of the Jewish identity of a household than the primal Jewish act of welcoming the Sabbath. The more recent 2000-2001 survey measured Shabbat lighting at an alarming 27% but for some reason the Christmas tree question was apparently not asked.

I’m not sure why, because if you ask any Jewish student who attends a Hebrew School or Day School, including many from interfaith families, they will also see the tree as the indicator of Jewish loyalties. You can spend Yom Kippur at the racetrack downing shrimp cocktails and still be a certified Member of the Tribe; one worthy of admiration, in fact, for exercising our God given right to disdain everything we learned in Hebrew School. But if you bring the dreaded Litmus Tree into your home, if you pull a Sandy Goldstein, Jewish children go bonkers. .

I’m not sure when the Christmas tree became the prime indicator of Jewish identity. In the ‘50’s lots of solidly identified Jews had Chanukah bushes. During that era Jews wrote many of the great Christmas songs and owned many of the department stores that popularized Santa. Christmas was not seen as such a threat. But now it is.

I suspect that our Evergreen Envy began to rise concomitantly with the dimming of the Shabbat candles in our homes. As Jews became less secure in the glow of their own rituals, they became more fearful of succumbing to the ways of our neighbors, subconsciously recalling the warning of Psalm 106:35: "They mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. They worshipped their idols, which became a snare to them."

What’s nice is that, at least in some quarters, this is leading to an upsurge in observance of Jewish celebrations. People are recognizing that a Sukkah is really a Christmas tree that you can eat in, and that the warmth of Shabbat comes not once, but 52 times a year. For these Jews, what goes on at Sandy Goldstein’s is irrelevant, and what happens on the evening of the 24th is immaterial.

Once again this year, I’ll be headed down to the shelter on that fateful night, which corresponds to the 6th night of Chanukah. I’ll bring a menorah with me and light it, so that the homeless might assist their Jewish assistors in celebrating our holiday (in fact there almost always is at least one Jewish resident there as well).

And when the latkes come out of the oven, I’ll most definitely inhale.

Shabbat-O-Gram for December 19, 2003 – Kislev 25, 5764

 

Shabbat-O-Gram for

December 19, 2003 – Kislev 25, 5764

 

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Temple Beth El, Stamford, Connecticut

 

(This will be the last “official Shabbat O Gram until after New Years – there’s enough here to keep you busy!)

 

Shabbat Shalom

And Happy Hannukah

 

The Shabbat-O-Gram was recently called “perhaps the most famous of rabbinic e-mail commentaries” by the Connecticut Jewish Ledger, which added, “All the news that’s fit to print…along with weekly teaching and links to educational sites.” We now have over 900 on our e-mail list – send your friends and relatives the gift of Jewish awareness – a Shabbat-O-Gram each week, by signing them up at www.tbe.org

 

My Hanukkah gift to you is the chuckle you will have when you go to http://www.offthemark.com/hanukkah/hanukkah.htm

 

 

SECOND ANNUAL HANUKKAH CONCERT

Sunday, December 21st at 4:00 p.m.

Led by Cantor Deborah Jacobson

featuring our TBE Adult & Jr. Choirs and YOU!

Potato latkes, sufganiyot, candle lighting, dreidel tournament, raffles, prizes, A SPECIAL GIFT FOR EVERY CHILD TO TAKE HOME, special guest appearances, FUN FOR ALL AGES!

 

(for those day school students who wish to partipate in the dreidel contest, preliminary spin-offs will be held on Sunday morning at 10:15 AM.  Contrary to prior announcements, these spin-offs are open to all grades, K-7)

 

 

 

Spiritual Journey on the Web I

The December Dilemma: In Stamford, Modi’in and France

 

It is once again rearing its controversial head, that old December Dilemma thing, with exchanges of angry letters in the Advocate, complaints about decorations in public buildings like the government center (where our junior choir will be lighting Hanukkah candles on Monday at 2, BTW) and school “holiday” celebrations.  You can read some of my reflections in my column in this week’s New York Jewish Week, “The Litmus Tree,” at

http://www.thejewishweek.com/top/editletcontent.php3?artid=3168.

In that article I challenge all of us to examine closely the lines we draw at this time of year and why we draw them. I also refer to our annual Christmas Eve programs at area homeless shelters, which once again we’ll be doing next week, thanks to the efforts of Beth El Cares.  It’s a wonderful mitzvah that we do, but one fraught with uncomfortable questions (if we are truly honest wit ourselves). We’ll have an open and frank discussion of these matters this Shabbat morning during services.  Please join us.  We’ll be in the lobby this week, a locale more conducive to open dialogue than our sanctuary.

 

If you plan on attending, it would be a good idea to read that column ahead of time, and also to take a look at the three prime historical sources that we have for the Hanukkah story, for first two books of Maccabees and the account of the historian Josephus.  They can be found online at a fabulous resource for Jewish source material, Jewish Gates, whose index is found at

http://www.jewishgates.com/fullindex.aspThe Book of Maccabees source is at http://www.jewishgates.com/file.asp?File_ID=19,

and the excerpt from Josephus at  http://www.jewishgates.com/file.asp?File_ID=13..  These accounts will add some insight to our discussion of contemporary events.  As you will see, not much has changed.

 

So I leave you with this troubling question.  The December Dilemma and the festival of Hanukkah are all about Jews taking pride in who they are, even at great risk.  So how does that tie in to what is going on in France right now? This is a country where: 1) Jews are being encouraged by their own religious leaders not to wear kippot in public for fear of being attacked; and 2) If the French president has his way, Jews will not be allowed to wear kippot in French schools (nor will others be allowed to wear religious garb).

 

 

 

JUST THE FACTS…

 

IMPORTANT WEATHER ALERTOur main services on Shabbat morning and Friday evening are never cancelled, regardless of weather conditions.  Please use your better judgment when deciding how and whether to get here. Tune to WSTC radio for announcements on Tot Shabbat and religious school.  On weekday mornings when Stamford public schools are cancelled or have delayed openings, or on Sunday mornings when religious school is cancelled, the morning minyan is also cancelled for that day.

 

Healing Service at Stamford Hospital (every 1st and 3rd Friday): 2:30 PM – at the second floor chapel, or on the hospital’s channel 46.  The next one will be this week, on this Friday, December 19.  If you know of anyone in Stamford Hospital, please let him or her know.

 

Friday Evening – Shabbat Hanukkah I

 

Candles: 4:11 PM – (light the Hanukkah candle first, with all three blessings, then Shabbat candles).  For more of the how-tos regarding lighting Hanukkah candles, see some of the Hanukkah sites below

(for candlelighting times, other Jewish calendar information, and to download a Jewish calendar to your PDA, click on http://www.hebcal.com/)

Services: 6:30 PM, in the chapel -- Theme service, with the theme of, guess what…HANUKKAH!!!  We’ll sing some Hanukkah songs and discuss some aspects of the holiday.

Tot Shabbat: 6:45 PM, in the lobby

 

Shabbat Morning and the first day of Hanukkah

 

 

Service: 9:30 AM – in the lobby 

 

We’ll be having a discussion on the “December Dilemma.”

 

Children’s services: 10:30 AM (for younger children in the Kindergarten room, for grades 3-6 in the chapel; 7th graders should be in the main service

 

(WE WILL HAVE CHILDREN’S SERVICES THROUGHOUT VACATION)

 

Torah Portion – Va-Yeshev – the Joseph story begins - Genesis 37:1 - 40:23

 

Our reading is from the third triennial cycle (with slight adjustments). Click on these to see the text in the original and translation and to hear it chanted.

1: 39:1-6
2: 39:7-10
3: 39:11-18
4: 39:19-23
5: 40:1-8
6: 40:9-15
7: 40:16-23
maf: 40:20-23

See a new weekly commentary now available from the UJC Rabbinic Cabinet, at www.ujc.org/mekorchaim.

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/.  World Zionist Organization Education page, including Nehama Liebowitz archives of parsha commentaries: http://www.moreshet.net/web/index.asp?f=1 For a more Kabbalistic/Zionist/Orthodox perspective from Rav Kook, first Chief Rabbi of Israel, go to http://www.geocities.com/m_yericho/ravkook/index.html. For some probing questions and meditations on key verses of the portion, with a liberal kabbalistic bent, go to http://www.jewishealing.com/learning.html. To see the weekly commentary from Hillel, geared to college students and others, go to  http://www.hillel.org/hillel/NewHille.nsf/FCB8259CA861AE57852567D30043BA26/DF7D129F15B3DF0885256AB80058E9C3?OpenDocument. For a Jewish Renewal and feminist approach go to http://rabbishefagold.hypermart.net/Torah1.html or to http://www.reclaimingjudaism.org/TakingTorahPersonally.htm

Morning Minyan: Daily at 7:30 AM IN THE CHAPEL, Sundays at 9:00 AM (9:05 when there is Religious School).  On Major Federal holidays, such as Dec. 25 and Jan 1, minyan is held at 9:00 AM

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MINYAN!  Many of our regulars will be away over the next couple of weeks.  If you are home, we need YOU!!

 

 

A PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY -- TEFILLAT HA DERECH

IF YOU ARE TRAVELING ON VACATION THIS COMING WEEK, HERE IS THE JEWISH WAYFARER’S PRAYER: TEFILLAT HADERECH.  DOWNLOAD, USE IT, HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY, AND RETURN TO US IN PEACE!

http://brochot.tripod.com/other/derech.htm (Hebrew)

http://home.comcast.net/~judaism/Siddur/transliterations/daily/travelersprayer.htm

 (transliterated)You can also download it to your Palm at PocketYid: http://www.reznet.com/web/pocketyid/texts.htm

A nice loose, translation can be found at http://www.jacsweb.org/Library/bookshelf/articles/art_1.html

 

"May it be Your will, Adonai, My God and God of my ancestors, to lead me, to direct my steps, and to support me in peace.

Lead me in life, tranquil and serene, until I arrive at where I am going. Deliver me from every enemy, ambush and hurt that I might encounter on the way and from all afflictions that visit and trouble the world. Bless the work of my hands. Let me receive divine grace and those loving acts of kindness and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all those I encounter. Listen to the voice of my appeal, for you are a God who responds to prayerful supplication. Praised are you, Adonai, who responds to prayer."

And if your only traveling will be on your computer, here is Tefillat Haderech for Web surfers…

http://www.jasonamiller.com/funstuff/prayer.htm

 

 

 

Spiritual Journey on the Web II

Hanukkah Exotica

On the Origin and Development of Some Hanukkah Customs

by Prof. David Golinkin, President of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem

 

Read the full article online at

http://www.schechter.edu/pubs/insight30.htm

 

Most of the laws of Hanukkah are related to the lighting of the menorah or hanukkiya1 and are described in detail in the tractate of Shabbat and in the standard codes of Jewish law.2 In this article we shall describe some of the customs of Hanukkah. The main difference between laws and customs is that laws stem from rabbinic interpretations of the Torah and Talmud which then filter down to the Jewish people, while customs usually start with the people and filter up to the rabbis. Through customs, the Jewish people have shown their love for God and tradition and immeasurably enriched all aspects of Jewish observance.3

We shall begin with one well-known Hanukkah custom and then proceed to describe four lesser-known customs. In each case we shall try to trace the origin of the custom and some of its permutations throughout Jewish history.

I) The Dreidl4

The dreidl or sevivon is perhaps the most famous custom associated with Hanukkah. Indeed, various rabbis have tried to find an integral connection between the dreidl and the Hanukkah story. The standard explanation is that the letters ,'נ'ג'ה'ש which appear on the driedl in the Diaspora, stand for "נס גדול היה שם"  "a great miracle happened there". In Israel the dreidl says ,'נ'ג'ה'פ  which means "a great miracle happened here". One nineteenth-century rabbi went one step further; he maintained that Jews played with the dreidl in order to fool the Greeks if they were caught studying Torah which had been outlawed.5

Others figured out elaborate gematriot6 and word plays for the letters 'נ'ג'ה'ש. For example, 'נ'ג'ה'ש in gematria is 358, which is also the numerical equivalent of משיח or Messiah! 'נ'ג'ה'ש is also the gematria equivalent of the sentence "God is king, God was king, and God will be king"!7 Finally, the letters 'נ'ג'ה'ש are supposed to represent the four kingdoms which tried to destroy us: N = Nebuchadnetzar = Babylon; H = Haman = Madai; G = Gog = Greece; and S = Seir = Rome.

As a matter of fact, all of these elaborate explanations were invented after the fact. The dreidl game originally had nothing to do with Hanukkah; it has been played by various people in various languages for many centuries. The permutations of the dreidl game are outlined in the chart which follows8:

Country

Name of the Game

Take All 

Take Half 

Put in More 

Do Nothing 

England, Ireland
ca. 1500

Totum
(in Latin)

T=Totum

A=Aufer

D=Depone

N=Nihil

England 1801

T-totum

T=Take

H=Half

P=Put down

N=Nothing

France 1611

Toton

T=Toton

A=Accipe

D=Da

R=Rien

Sardinia, Italy

Tutte

T=Tutte

M=Mesu

P=Pone

N=Nuda

Germany

Torrel, Trundel

G=Ganz

H=Halb

S=Stell ein

N=Nichts

Hebrew or Yiddish

Dreidl

Gג=Gadol

Hה=Haya

Shש=Sham
P
פ=Po

Nנ=Nes


Furthermore, even among the Jews, this game has been called many different names. The Jews of medieval France and Italy seemed to have called this game - which was apparently not connected to Hanukkah - תם וחצי = whole and half; תם וחסר = whole and missing; or תם וכס = whole and half.9 In German, the spinning top was called a torrel or trundl and in Yiddish it was called a dreidl, a fargl, a varfl [= something thrown], shtel ein [= put in], and gor, gorin [= all]. When Hebrew was revived as a spoken language, the dreidl was called ,גלגלן, חזרזר, כרכר גלגלון and סביבון, and the latter name is the one that caught on.

Thus the dreidl game represents an irony of Jewish history. In order to celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah, which celebrates our victory over cultural assimilation, we play the dreidl game - which is an excellent example of cultural assimilation! Of course, there is a world of difference between imitating non-Jewish games and worshipping idols, but the irony remains nonetheless. ------------
 
V) The Scroll of Antiochus31

There is one custom which we would expect to find on Hanukkah which is missing - the reading of a scroll in public. After all, on Purim we read the Scroll of Esther every year in order to publicize the miracle. Why don't we read a scroll on Hanukkah in order to publicize the miracles which God wrought for our ancestors in the days of Matityahu and his sons? The result is that most Jews only know the legend about the miracle of the cruse of oil (Shabbat 21b) and not about the actual military victories of the Maccabees.

The answer is that, in truth, there 
is such a scroll which was read in private or in public between the ninth and twentieth centuries. It is called "The Scroll of Antiochus" and many other names and it was written in Aramaic during the Talmudic period and subsequently translated into Hebrew, Arabic and other languages. The book describes the Maccabean victories on the basis of a few stories from the Books of the Maccabees and Shabbat 21b with the addition of a number of legends without any historic basis whatsoever. The scroll is first mentioned by Halakhot Gedolot, which was written by Shimon Kayara in Babylon ca. 825 c.e.: "The elders of Bet Shammai and Bet Hillel wrote Megillat Bet Hashmonay [=the scroll of the Hasmonean House]...".32 Rav Sa'adia Gaon (882-942) calls it "kitab benei hashmonay", the book of the sons of the Hasmoneans, and he also translated it into Arabic.33 Rav Nissim Gaon (North Africa, 990-1062) calls it in Arabic "the scroll of the sons of the Hasmoneans".34

Furthermore, we know that this scroll was read in public at different times and places. Rabbi Isaiah of Trani (Italy, ca. 1200-1260) says that "in a place where they are accustomed to read Megillat Antiochus [=The Scroll of Antiochus] on Hanukkah, it is not proper to recite the blessings [for reading a scroll] because it is not required at all".35

In Mahzor Kaffa, which was published in the Crimea in 1735, the Scroll of Antiochus is printed in Hebrew and preceeded by the following instructions: "It is customary to read Megillat Antiochus during minhah [=the afternoon service on Shabbat] after kaddish titkabbel [=the reader's kaddish] in order to publicize the miracle [of Hanukkah]...".36

Rabbi Yahya ben Yosef Zalih, who was the leading rabbi in San'a, Yemen ca. 1715, says "that some read Megillat Antiochus on Shabbat [of Hanukkah] after the haftarah. This is not required; it is only a general mitzvah to publicize the miracle among the Jewish people".37 But Rabbi Amram Zabban of G'ardaya in the Sahara Dessert viewed this reading as a 
requirement. In his Sefer Hasdey Avot published in 1926, he states:

Megillat Antiochus according to the custom of the holy city of G'ardaya, may God protect her. The cantor should read it in public in the synagogue after the Torah reading on the Shabbat during Hanukkah. And he reads it in Arabic translation so that the entire congregation should understand [in order to] publicize the miracle which was done to our holy ancestors, may their merit protect us...translated from the Hebrew from Siddur Bet Oved of R. Yehudah Shmuel Ashkenazi [Livorno, 1853].38

This is a fascinating passage. Rabbi Zabban translated Megillat Antiouchus from Hebrew into Arabic in 1926 so that the entire congregation would understand it. He seems unaware that Arabic translations already existed. He also presents this custom as a required activity, despite the fact that he seems to have made it up! Perhaps he had heard that this was an accepted custom in other communities and wished to imitate them.

The Jews of Kurdistan, on the other hand, used to read the Scroll of Antiochus at home during Hanukkah.39 Rabbi Yosef Kafah (1917-2000) reports that his grandfather Rabbi Yihye Kafah (1850-1932) used to teach it to his pupils in Yemen in the Aramaic original along with the Arabic translation of Rav Sa'adya Gaon.40

It would seem that there is no point in reviving the specific custom of reading the Scroll of Antiochus in public, because that work is legendary in nature and not a reliable source for the events of Hanukkah. But we do possess such a source for those events -- the First Book of Maccabees, which was written in Hebrew in the Land of Israel by an eyewitness to the events described therein.41 Therefore, we should thank Rabbi Arthur Chiel who published the First Book of Maccabees, Chapters 1-4 as a separate booklet over twenty years ago under the title "The Scroll of Hanukkah".42 It is intended for reading in public or in private during the holiday. We should adopt this beautiful custom and begin to read those chapters in public every year on the Shabbat of Hanukkah after the haftarah. By so doing, we will be reviving the custom of reading a "scroll" on Hanukkah but, more importantly, we will thereby disseminate the oldest surviving account of the "miracles and triumphs" which God performed for the Jewish People "in those days at this season".

 

 

Required Reading and Action Items

 

My column in this week’s New York Jewish Week, “The Litmus Tree,”

http://www.thejewishweek.com/top/editletcontent.php3?artid=3168

The Growing Threat to Israel's Qualitative Military Edge - MK Dr. Yuval Steinitz
(Institute for Contemporary Affairs/Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)

Israel Shipyards Readies Olympic Patrol Vessel

 - David Ratner (Ha'aretz)
    The Israel Shipyards have unveiled the first coastal guard vessel built for the Greek government to be used to boost security during the upcoming Olympic Games in Athens, one of three such vessels ordered by Greece.
    The vessels are identical to the Israeli Navy's Sa'ar 4 missile boats.

Dichter: The Fence for the Existence of Israel

 - Bradley Burston
Israel security service chief Avi Dichter Tuesday told the Herzliya Conference, "It is critical to accelerate the building of the [security] fence in Judea and Samaria and the 'Jerusalem envelope'...as far as I'm concerned it can be called the 'Fence for the Existence of Israel.'" The sections of the barrier already built have hampered, slowed, and redirected would-be suicide attackers to the extent that security forces have seized three bombers laden with explosives en route to attacks within Israel in the last 10 days alone, the Shin Bet chief said.
    Dichter also said: "I do not expect dramatic changes from the PA with respect to battling terrorism." However, he voiced belief that the proponents of democratic reforms within the PA had the power to institute them, if they acted on their will. (Ha'aretz)
     

Israel Eases Conditions for Palestinians

 - Margot Dudkevitch and Arieh O'Sullivan
In Hebron, where restrictions have already been lifted, public transportation runs between the city and Bethlehem, there is unrestricted access to and from the city, hundreds of truckloads of goods transfer their provisions, and laborers are permitted to enter Israel to work, said a senior IDF officer. "Today things there are different," he said. "While there are pockets of terror, we are able to control the situation, and therefore the local population benefits. Those living in Jenin can see what happens when there is no terror - that is the carrot, the light at the end of the tunnel. Hebron residents realize that if they allow the terror to resume, the situation there will change." The most problematic areas in the West Bank remain Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm, he said. "One of our problems is bringing about a change in the Palestinian leadership....Ahmed Qurei is a straw man, Arafat's mask," he added. (Jerusalem Post)

 

Nablus Remains a Terrorist Haven

 - Margot Dudkevitch
Nablus remains the terrorist haven of the West Bank. Terrorists there attempted to launch 13 suicide attacks inside Israel and five against targets in the West Bank. There were five attempts by the terrorist infrastructure in Jenin to launch attacks, and four attacks stemming from Bethlehem were thwarted, as were two from Tulkarm and two from Hebron. (Jerusalem Post)


    See also

Nablus, Byword for Crime in Palestinian Territories

 - Ezzedine Said
According to the mayor of Nablus, Ghassan Al-Shaka, strings of revenge killings and vendettas have left 33 "innocent" people dead since September 2000, including the mayor's brother, a Jordan-based businessman gunned down on November 25. "The security services are strong enough to take action if they are ordered to do so," said Hazem Zhokan, who heads the ruling Fatah party's branch in the Balata neighborhood. Zhokan admits that a large proportion of the crime in Nablus was the work of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a radical offshoot of Arafat's Fatah. (Middle East Online-UK)

 

The Geneva Accord: A Shaky Foundation

 - Asher Susser
Supporters of the Geneva Accord have raised four main claims: Israel is recognized in the accord as the state of the Jewish people; they do not hold out the right of return of refugees to Israel; it is Israel that exclusively decides on the entry of refugees into its territory; and the accord makes it possible to close the refugee file, enabling the end of the conflict. A close reading of the accord shows these statements are not exactly true. The refugee chapter is a shaky foundation for the accord, and it is more reasonable that it will be a source of discord and strife in which Israel will often find itself in splendid isolation. The writer is head of the Dayan Center for Middle East Studies at Tel Aviv University. (Ha'aretz)
    For a contrasting view, see

Read It Before You Criticize It

 - Ron Pundak The writer is executive director of the Peres Center for Peace and was one of the authors of the Oslo and Geneva Accords. (Ha'aretz)

 

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This Day in Israels History - December 18

1911 - KUPAT HOLIM KLALIT HEALTH INSURANCE ESTABLISHED
A conference of the Agricultural Workers
 Federation of Judea adopted a decision to establish a sick fund, which eventually grew into the mass Kupat Holim Klalit (General Sick Fund) health insurance network.

1919 - THE THIRD ALIYAH BEGINS
The Ruslan ship arrived at Jaffa from Odessa with 671 returning residents and new immigrants. This event marked the beginning of the Third Aliyah.

1928 - THE MODERN CITY OF NETANYA WAS FOUNDED
The modern city of Netanya was founded as an agricultural community by the Bnei-Binyamin association, which consisted of second-generation farmers.

 
Speaking of Netanya, look for a special segment on the Channel 12 News on Dec. 20 or 21 featuring 
our own Jan Gaines, who lives for much of the year in Netanya. 
The program is aired at 5 and – I believe – repeats at 10.

 

 

Tzedakkah idea: masorti

The Masorti Movement is working tirelessly to help Jews in Israel find meaningful answers to today's challenges and is a leading force in the struggle for religious freedom in Israel. Please take a moment to open the link below.  You can help us spread the word about Masorti's vital mission with just a few clicks of your mouse.  Make sure to select the "Spread the Word" link on the left side of the "Friends Asking Friends" page.  If you have not yet made a contribution to Masorti this year, please consider doing so by selecting the "Donate Now" link.  We need your help and support more than ever!

http://masorti.kintera.org/friendsaskingfriends

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO WILL BE VOLUNTEERING AT PACIFIC HOUSE AND ST LUKES COMMUNITY SHELTERS NEXT WEDNESDAY EVENING, AND TO BETH EL CARES FOR COORDINATING THIS ANNUAL EFFORT.

 

The Highest Level of Tzedakkah

For many months we have been posting job information and situation wanted blurbs on behalf of congregants seeking to change their professional situation. We are now going to be taking our concern to the next level, with the creation of a job bank jointly with Temple Sinai.  The committee will be kept intentionally small, with one person from Sinai and one from Beth El administering it, along with the rabbis.  The goal will be to enable congregants and others to post resumes, queries and job openings where they will get maximal exposure.  I will also continue to use the Shabbat O Gram and individual e-mails to help match people with job opportunities.  If you would like to be the Beth El lay representative on this project (the Sinai person is already in place), please e-mail me ASAP. Below is the initial blurb promoting the Job Bank.

PLEASE HELP A FELLOW CONGREGANT THROUGH Temple Beth El’s JOB BANK!

 

One kind of mitzvah is giving a person something to eat. Helping a person to find a job so that he can provide his own food is even a greater mitzvah. 

 

Many Temple Beth El members are looking for jobs. We want to help. We are prepared to advertise “jobs wanted” and “positions available” in the monthly Bulletin, Shabbat-O-Gram and on the TBE website.

 

If you are interested in participating, please send no more than a 5-sentence description (longer descriptions will be shortened at the discretion of the Editor) of your skills or the job you are looking for, or of a position you have available, via e-mail to

rabbi@tbe.org

 You may also include a more detailed 3-paragraph resume or description for posting on our website.

 

If you know of any job possibilities that fit one of more of the résumés at any time, please call Rabbi Hammerman. He will relay your phone number to the appropriate party so they can follow-up with you directly if they choose.

 

A similar program is being done at Temple Sinai.  We plan to join together with them so that your ad will get exposure in their newsletter as well.

 

 

 

A Word About Day Schools and Jewish Camping

 

As many of you know, I am an advocate of Jewish day schools as an important factor in the growth of Jewish life in America. I do know that day schools are not for everyone (and I have also very impressed with our local public schools and support them as well), which is why I place great importance on our maintaining a top-notch Religious School here.  But day schools have a proven, positive impact, especially when we have excellent ones, as we do around here.

 

I have long been a solid supporter of the BI Cultural Day School and continue to be impressed by BCDS’ phenomenal growth, superb facilities and excellent faculty.  My own children love it.  This is a time of transition at BCDS, as a search for a new headmaster is well underway.  I join with the rest of the community in expressing our gratitude to Walter Shuchatowitz for the high standard of excellence he has sustained for so many years.  Beth El will continue to support BCDS through this transition into the future. For more about Bi-Cultural, go to

http://www.bcds.org/

.

 

I had the pleasure of delivering a d’var Torah today (Thursday) to the students at the WFHA (Westchester/Fairfield Hebrew Academy).  The school, now located in Greenwich, is thriving and provides an exciting an option for families looking for a day school with an egalitarian philosophy compatible with the Conservative movement. The curriculum is modeled after the Heschel School in New York.  The school is most definitely “here to stay,” adding grades each year (the oldest group is now in 6th grade) and demonstrating some bold initiatives in curriculum development.  There are a growing number of Stamford and Greenwich students now attending there.  I was thrilled to be welcomed there so graciously, following in the footsteps of rabbis of all denominations who have made guest appearances, teaching Torah to the students.  For more, go to

http://www.wfha.org

.

 

It is wonderful that there is now “something for everyone” in our community, as this will undoubtedly encourage more Jews to move to this area.  In addition, the new Solomon Schechter High School, which is officially tied to our movement and located near White Plains, is growing at a phenomenal pace.  This year, over 20 teens from Stamford are attending there, primarily BCDS graduates (but Schechter is also actively recruiting children who did not go to day school – call me if you have some interest).  In the coming years, this growth will surely continue, and the presence of Schechter could have a huge long-term impact on our community and our own congregation.   This is a good thing.  For more on this, go to

http://www.solomon-schechter.com/upper.htm

.

 

For those who choose not to opt for day school and/or Jewish high school (or those who do), Jewish camping is a superb option.  I am especially an advocate of Camp Ramah, the camping arm of the Conservative movement.  My son Daniel goes there and all I can say is that the place is beyond wonderful.  The pure joy of being Jewish comes out of every pore of ever camper and staff member.  It’s not inexpensive (like many camps), but there is scholarship money available from the camp and from our community foundation.  I implore you to look into it – and if you want to see this year’s Camp DVD, I’d be happy to share it with you.  If there is interest, we could show it for parents some Sunday morning during Religious School.  I guarantee you will not just be impressed – you will be amazed.  In the meantime, surf on over to

http://www.campramahne.org/

.

 

It has been proven statistically that these two elements: day school and camping, combined with Jewish youth group involvement and Israel travel, are THE keys to Jewish continuity for our children.  Our job as parents and grandparents is to mix and match these items to suit the needs of each child.  Our job as a synagogue (and mine as a rabbi) is to make these opportunities available to our families and promote them to the hilt.  That is what we do.  That is why I am providing an Israel option for families this summer and why we have superb youth programs (USY, Kulanu, Jr Choir, school aides, teen Torah readers, etc.) for our teens to take advantage of.

 

The rest, as they say, is up to you…

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

 

Along those lines, the WFHA has asked me to pass along the following announcement:

 

“The WFHA will be having an Open House on Sunday, January 11th from 2:00-4:00PM at the school located at 300 E. Putnam Avenue in Greenwich.  WFHA is committed to excellence in general and Judaic studies and currently serves K through 6. (Grade 7 begins in 2004, adding a grade per year through 8th). Learn about this unique integrated laptop middle school curriculum and meet some of the WFHA families. WFHA welcomes children from all branches of Judaism. Transfer students always welcome. For more information, an appointment or a private tour, call 203.863.9663 or visit the website at

http://www.wfha.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

 

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Long Anticipated Speech at the Herzliya Conference.  December 18, 2003 (speaking especially about his plans for unilateral disengagement with the Palestinians). Highlights:

"The Roadmap is the only political plan accepted by Israel, the Palestinians, the Americans and a majority of the international community. We are willing to proceed toward its implementation: two states Israel and a Palestinian State living side by side in tranquility, security and peace."

"The government under my leadership will not compromise on the realization of all phases of the Roadmap. It is incumbent upon the Palestinians to uproot the terrorist groups and to create a law-abiding society which fights against violence and incitement."

"Concurrent with the demand from the Palestinians to eliminate the terror organizations, Israel is taking and will continue to take steps to significantly improve the living conditions of the Palestinian population."

"...If in a few months the Palestinians still continue to disregard their part in implementing the Roadmap then Israel will initiate the unilateral security step of disengagement from the Palestinians."

"The purpose of the Disengagement Plan is to reduce terror as much as possible, and grant Israeli citizens the maximum level of security. The process of disengagement will lead to an improvement in the quality of life, and will help strengthen the Israeli economy. The unilateral steps which Israel will take in the framework of Plan will be fully coordinated with the United States.""The Disengagement Plan will include the redeployment of IDF forces along new security lines and a change in the deployment of settlements, which will reduce as much as possible the number of Israelis located in the heart of the Palestinian population. We will draw provisional security lines and the IDF will be deployed along them. Security will be provided by IDF deployment, the security fence and other physical obstacles. The Disengagement Plan will reduce friction between us and the Palestinians."

" In the framework of a future agreement, Israel will not remain in all the places where it is today. The relocation of settlements will be made, first and foremost, in order to draw the most efficient security line possible, thereby creating this disengagement between Israel and the Palestinians. This security line will not constitute the permanent border of the State of Israel, however, as long as implementation of the Roadmap is not resumed, the IDF will be deployed along that line. Settlements which will be relocated are those which will not be included in the territory of the State of Israel in the framework of any possible future permanent agreement. At the same time, in the framework of the Disengagement Plan, Israel will strengthen its control over those same areas in the Land of Israel which will constitute an inseparable part of the State of Israel in any future agreement." "I would like to emphasize: the Disengagement Plan is a security measure and not a political one. The steps which will be taken will not change the political reality between Israel and the Palestinians, and will not prevent the possibility of returning to the implementation of the Roadmap and reaching an agreed settlement." "The Disengagement Plan does not prevent the implementation of the Roadmap. Rather, it is a step Israel will take in the absence of any other option, in order to improve its security. The Disengagement Plan will be realized only in the event that the Palestinians continue to drag their feet and postpone implementation of the Roadmap."

Full Text of the PM Ariel Sharon's Speech

 

 

 

A Zillion Hanukkah Links – Guaranteed to Last for Eight Nights (and then some)!

 

Judaism 101, at http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm gives all you need to know about the candle blessings

Nice articles on the spirituality of lighting the candles: http://www.jewishealing.com/ and http://www.rebgoldie.com/Candlelighting.htm

Listen to (and watch, via streaming video)) Israel’s song in the 2002 Eurovision contest, “Light a Candle,” sung by Sarit Hadad.  It’s half in English and half in Hebrew, and in its simple yearning for hope captures beautifully the mood in Israel today: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Arena/2013/2002.html

CLAL Holy Days: Hanukah By Joseph Telushkin 

This Ritual Life CLAL Faculty on Rededicating Your Home at Hanukah

Links and lots of material: http://www.uahc.org/va/bnai_shalom/hanukkah/hanukkah.html

Educator Cherie Kohler Fox's eight ways to celebrate Hanukkah meaningfully:
http://www.jewishfamily.com/jc_a.php?text=http://www.jewishfamily.com/jc/holidays/hanukkah/meaningful_hannukah.txt

Chanukah educational links, coloring books, songs, etc http://www.j.co.il

Hanukkah @ JTS http://learn.jtsa.edu/hanukkah/

Virtual Jerusalem - Chanukah Megasite http://207.168.91.4/vjholidays/chanukah/index.htm

613.org: Real Audio (blessings, classes, songs) http://www.613.org/chanuka.html

Chanukah Fun & Coloring Book (Torah Tots) http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/chanuka/chanuk.htm

Kidskourt Hanukkah Coloring Pages http://www.kidskourt.com/Holidays/HanColor.htm

Kid's Domain Chanukah Coloring Pages http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/chanukah/color.html

My Hebrew Dictionary - Chanukah Related Words http://www.dictionary.co.il

Akhlah for Kids (includes blessings) http://www.akhlah.com/holidays/hanukkah/Hanukkah.asp

Everything Jewish: Hanukah http://www.everythingjewish.com/Hanukah/origins.htm

Being Jewish: Chanukah Gateway http://beingjewish.com/yomtov/chanukah/

About.com: Chanukah http://judaism.about.com/religion/judaism/library/holidays/chanukah/bl_chanukah.htm

Jewish Holiday Consumer - Chanukah http://www.jewish-holiday.com/chanukah.html

Project Genesis - On-Line Menorah http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/chanukah/

ORT's Hanukkah section http://www.ort.org/ort/edu/festivals/hanukkah/index.html

Torah From Dixie Chanukah Articles http://www.tfdixie.com/holidays/chanukah/

NCSY: Chanukah Articles http://www.shamash.org/nerncsy/publications/index.html#chanukah

Neveh Zion Chanukah Pages http://www.neveh.org/chanukah/

Halacha sheet for Chanukah http://faculty.biu.ac.il/~hm16/chanukah.htm

Darche Noam Chanuka Page http://www.darchenoam.org/articles/web/holidays/ar_chan_home.htm

Israel Museum: Galleries of Menorah (English & Hebrew) http://2002.imj.org.il/archive/?menorah/galleries.html

Machon Chagim: Chanukah (English) http://www.chagim.org.il/chanukkaheng.html

Machon Chagim: Chanukah (Hebrew) http://www.chagim.org.il/chanukkah.html

Jewish Agency: Chanukah (Easy Hebrew) http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/ivrit/corner/hanuka/index.htm

Judaism 101: Chanukkah http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm

Chanukah Gateway http://www.freeyellow.com/members6/yomtov/CHgateway.html

JIS: Online Chanukah Course http://www.jewishstudies.org/courses/HHC/information.htm

Chanukah on the Net http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/

Nishmas: Customs of Chanukah http://www.nishmas.org.il/minhagim/chanukah.htm

For Every Jew: Chanukah http://www.foreveryjew.com/chanukah.html

DundaWare ShockDreidel (req. Shockwave) http://www.dnai.com/~dunda/SW/ShockDreidel.html

CleverMedia: The Hanukkah Dreidel Game (req. Shockwave) http://clevermedia.com/game.cgi?dreidel

ZigZag Hannukah Lights (req. Java) http://www.zigzagworld.com/hanukiah/

Chanukah Word Search (req. Java) http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/chanukah/games/word2.html

Not Just for Kids: Hanukkah Certificates http://www.night.net/kids/cert-hanukkah.html-ssi

Hanukat: Celebrate Hanukkah with the Kids http://www.hanukat.com/

It's not your Father's Hannukah (Yet it is...) http://www.caryn.com/holiday/holiday-chan.html

Billy Bear's Hanukkah http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/hanukkah/hanukkah.htm

Surfing the Net: Hanukkah Coloring Book http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/holiday-cb.htm

History Channel: Amazing Hanukkah Feats (largest...) http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/hanukkah/feats.html

Hanukkah in CyberSpace http://www.designsbydaybreak.com/holidays/hanukkah/index.html

ICJI: Chaunkah http://www.biu.ac.il/ICJI/Competition/chapter7/723.htm

Misrash Ben Ish Hai (Sepharadim customs) http://www.midrash.org/halakha/hanukkah.html

WZO - Holidays with a Twist (Humor, 1996) http://www.wzo.org.il/en/resources/expand_subject.asp?id=133

Virtual Chanukah (Russian, 1999) http://www.chanuka.ru/

Clipart for Hanukkah Clipart http://www.kidskourt.com/Holidays/HanClip.htm

Free Graphics Chanuka Graphics http://www.freegraphics.com/images/downloads/chanukah/index.html

Bitsela Hanukkah Clipart http://www.bitsela.comcm@bitsela.com/hanukkah.htm

Hanukah - Jewish Agency Pedagogic Center http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/festivls/hanuka/index.html

JOI Hanukkah Activities http://www.joi.org/celebrate/hanuk/index.shtml

Adam Sandler's Hanukkah Song (Humor) http://www.asandler.com/lyrics/hanukah.shtml

Chanukka Midi Music http://www.jr.co.il/music/midi/jewish.htm#chanukka

Chanukka Humor http://www.jr.co.il/humor/chanuka.htm

RFCJ: Hanukah Recipes http://www.cyber-kitchen.com/rfcj/category.cgi?category=HANUKKAH

Epicurious: Chanukkah Recipes http://www.epicurious.com/e_eating/e06_jewish_cooking/recipes/recipes.html#HANUKKAH

Blue Mountain Animated Greeting Cards http://www.bluemountain.com/eng/hanukkah/index.html

Care2 Animated Greeting Cards http://www.care2.com/send/cathanukkah1.html

123 Greetings http://www.123greetings.com/events/hanukkah/

Sealing Wax Greeting Cards http://www.sealingwax.com/category_view?came_from=Hanukkah

Awesome Animated Greeting Cards http://www.marlo.com/heb/chanukah.htm

Judaic Greeting Cards by Raz http://www.designsbydaybreak.com/jewishgreetings/mycards_hanukkah.html

Greetz Greeting Cards http://greetz.com/chanukah/

Hanukah.com Greeting Cards http://www.hanukah.com/cards/

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Have you sent your reservations in yet?

Temple Beth El Congregational Shabbaton – Jan. 16 – 18

At the now completely renovated

Nevele Grand Resort

(the place now looks really great)

 Theme – Dreams: The Spiritual Quest

Guest Scholar: Rabbi Seymour Rossel

Here are some of the highlights:

Friday night - d'var Torah: "Religion, Magic & Meaning"

Saturday morning: a brief d'var Torah about the parashah, plus a talk after services:

Title: "A Stairway to Heaven"

Saturday, late afternoon - topic: "Wrestling with Angels"

Saturday evening, following Havdalah, a brief talk entitled: "Dream Gifts"

Sunday morning: wrap-up talk entitled: "Awakening Your Dreams"

Plus plenty of time for family activities, winter sports, swimming, etc.

And of course, more great food than Bubbe could ever make!

 

Save the dates for these two VERY IMPORTANT events:

 

JANUARY 23-24

SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE WEEKEND

“ECO-JUDAISM AND THE ART OF BICYCLE MAINTENANCE

with Nigel Savage of Hazon

 

JOIN US FOR A WEEKEND DEVOTED TO JUDAISM AND THE ENVIRONMENT

 

 And…

January 30, @ 7:30

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE!!!!!

 

 

Dear TBE Seniors,

 

Winter is upon us and with inclement weather surprising us with beautiful snowstorms,

we thought it would be better to have a break in our winter programming and resume again in the Spring.

Have a healthy and safe winter.  Happy New Year (2004)!

Be on the lookout for a postcard in March when we will meet again.

 

Stephanie and Sheila

 

 

 

Lunch and Learn Series

Led by Rabbi Joshua Hammerman

 

Judaism, Business and Ethics for Our Time –

 

Using rabbinic sources, the group will explore the ethics of the marketplace, including deceptive advertising, employer-employee relations, consumer rights (and wrongs) and insider trading.

 

Meets Monthly, next one is on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 12:30 -1:30

 

At Benjamin and Gold, P.C., 350 Bedford Street 4th floor

Parking in rear of building (at corner of Pedigree Ski Shop), or metered parking on the street in front of building and also behind Baby and Toy Superstore, across the street.

(many thanks to Dan Benjamin for providing the space)

 

 

 

 

TGIS (Thank God it’s Shabbat)

 

A rotating series of Friday night experiences

For all tastes and all ages

At 6:30 PM

Week 1 --- in the chapel, a traditional Beth El Service

Week 2 --- in the Sanctuary, Family Friday

Week 3 --- in the lobby: a creative Theme services

 

Week 4 --- a Carlebach-style service, featuring Hasidic nigunim and joyous meditation.

 

Plus our ongoing Tot Shabbat series (weeks 1 and 3 at 6:45, and Tiny Tot Shabbat on week 2 at 4)

 

 

 

 

 

SAVE THE DATE!

 

On February 1, 2004 at 10am, Sisterhood will present special guest speaker 

Rabbi Alan Silverstein,

renowned lecturer on Jewish Continuity

 and author of It All Begins With a Date: Jewish Concerns About Intermarriage  and Preserving Jewishness in Your Family After Intermarriage Has Occurred.  

Learn how to raise your children to value Judaism and to date within the faith, as well as how to preserve Judaism within interfaith marriages. 

For parents of children of all ages.  RSVP to 322-6901, ext. 306.  Admission Free.

 

 

 

Time for a Joke

 

The Jewish Samurai


There once was a powerful Japanese emperor who needed a new chief samurai. So he sent out a declaration throughout the entire known world that he was searching for a chief.

A year passed, and only three people applied for the very demanding position: a Japanese samurai, a Chinese samurai, and a Jewish samurai.

The emperor asked the Japanese samurai to come in and demonstrate why he should be the chief samurai. The Japanese samurai opened a matchbox, and out popped a bumblebee. Whoosh! went his sword. The bumblebee dropped dead, chopped in half.

The emperor exclaimed, "That is very impressive!"

 

The emperor then issued the same challenge to the Chinese samurai, to come in and demonstrate why he should be chosen. The Chinese samurai also opened a matchbox and out buzzed a fly. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The fly dropped dead, chopped into four small pieces.

The emperor exclaimed, "That is very impressive!"

Now the emperor turned to the Jewish samurai, and asked him to demonstrate why he should be the chief samurai. The Jewish Samurai opened a matchbox, and out flew a gnat. His flashing sword went Whoosh! But the gnat was still alive and flying around.

The emperor, obviously disappointed, said, "Very ambitious, but why is that gnat not dead?"

The Jewish Samurai just smiled and said, "Circumcision is not meant to kill."