Shabbat – O – Gram
September 9, 2005 and, Elul 5, 5765
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman,
Shabbat Shalom
We mourn the victims and extend support to all those suffering from Hurricane Katrina
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Contents of the Shabbat O Gram: (click to scroll down)
Just the Facts (service schedule)
Required Reading and Action Items (links to key articles on Israel and Jewish life)
Announcements (goings on in and around TBE)
JUST THE FACTS
Join us at our first Family Friday Night Service of the season!
NOTE THE SPECIAL TIME OF 7:30 PM
ASHIRA brings a unique sound to Jewish music. Comprised of Arianne Slack, Laura Lenes, and Leah Moss, this NYC based trio draws on the various backgrounds of its members, ranging from pop and musical theater to cantorial and opera, to create an exciting new sound. Singing both contemporary and traditional melodies in new settings of three-part harmony, ASHIRA involves the congregation by using sign language and teaching new melodies. Their concert repertoire is varied, including Hebrew, Yiddish, English and Ladino songs. ASHIRA’s unique vocal sound is enhanced by close bonds of friendship as well as the trio’s love of music and Judaism.
This service will also give people a chance to meet Cantor Littman as we celebrate her first Shabbat service of "the season."
The service will be followed by a special, musical, sit-down Oneg Shabbat!
21st Annual Harold E. Hoffman Memorial Lecture
Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
Featuring
DAVID HOROVITZ,
Editor-in-Chief of The
Friday Evening
Candle lighting for Stamford, CT: Candle lighting: 6:57pm on Friday, 09 September 2005. For candle lighting times, other Jewish calendar information, and to download a Jewish calendar to your PDA, click on http://www.hebcal.com/.
Kabbalat Shabbat: 7:30 PM – ASHIRA – in the sanctuary
Tot Shabbat – NONE TONIGHT – BUT AS THEY SAY AT THE END OF THE SEDER, “NEXT WEEK IN
Shabbat Morning: 9:30 AM – Mazal tov to Greg Rosenberg, who becomes Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat morning,
Children’s services: 10:30 AM, including Jr. Congregation for grades 3-6 and Tot Shabbat Morning for the younger kids.
Torah Portion: Shoftim Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9
1: 16:18-20
2: 16:21-17:7
3: 17:8-10
4: 17:11-13
5: 17:14-17
6: 17:18-20
7: 18:1-5
maf: 18:3-5
Haftarah – Isaiah 51:12 - 52:12
See a weekly commentary from the UJC Rabbinic Cabinet, at www.ujc.org/mekorchaim. Read the Masorti commentary at http://www.masorti.org/mason/torah/index.asp. University of Judaism, JTS commentary is at: http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/parashah/. USCJ Torah
Rosner Minyan Maker http://www.tbe.org/minyan/index.php
Pick a Day – or pick several – and join us for morning minyan. Check our minyan calendar often to see which days need the most help. If the day is colored red that means there is a yahrzeit scheduled for that day. Also, feel free to e-mail me at rabbi@tbe.org to ensure a guaranteed minyan for that day, indicating the date of the yahrzeit.
Hospitality is essential to spiritual practice. It reminds you that you are part of a greater whole. . . .
Putting others first puts you in the midst of life without the illusion of being the center of life.
— Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro in Minyan
Morning Minyan: Sundays at 8:30 AM (note new time!!!), Weekdays at 7:30 AM – IN THE CHAPEL
Minyan Mastery
Now you can become more comfortable with the prayers of our morning service by heading to…
http://www.tbe.org/site/sog/minyanmastery.htm
Anyone in need of a walker?
John Graubard sends us this offer:
My mother had a very good ($500) walker that is in very good condition. It has a detachable tray, a basket, and a seat someone could use while wheeling it (4 wheels) if they got tired. Do you know of someone or some organization that could use it?
Let me know if you have an interest, at rabbi@tbe.org
The Rabid Rabbi
PROTESTANT DIVESTMENT IN
Although it has been dwarfed by more recent events in the news, a great concern has been raised over the increasingly hostile attitude toward
It must be noted that
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Background and Talking Points for Conversations with
Mainline Protestant Leadership
General Points on Open Discussion and Dissent
- The Jewish Community is committed to pluralism, peace, and mutual respect and we seek to deepen our relationship with all those who share these commitments.
- We recognize that there is great disagreement about what will bring peace in the
- Divestment is singularly ill suited as a vehicle to foster peace as it is not only unlikely to impact Israeli policies, but also gives hope to extremists who, unlike Israel, seek a solution through means other than good faith negotiations.
On endorsing a policy of divestment from
Divestment is not an effective strategy to promote peace
- Jews Christians and Muslims, as well as Israelis and Palestinians of good will, all yearn for peace. There has been too much suffering on all sides for too long. But divestment will not further the peace process or end the suffering. The peace process will only succeed when both Israelis and Palestinians feel safe and secure. Divestment will make Israelis feel singled out, isolated and persecuted. This strategy will therefore only serve to undermine
Divestment is unbalanced and morally unjust
- The call to divest in
- Divestment focused only on
- We are concerned that the double standard in focusing criticism of Israel and not Palestinians will result in the Church overlooking the fact that certain companies sell products or services in Israel that protect Israelis from terrorism. Such protection of citizens is the obligation of any nation.
- The debate about use of economic sanctions is divisive and inappropriate. Advocates of peace should join organizations working toward coexistence and reconciliation between Arabs and Israelis in the
This is not the Time to Divest
- Yassir Arafat’s passing and the democratic election of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has made room for a renewed feeling of hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Several positive steps have been taken by
On Endangering Jewish-Mainline Protestant Relations
- The safety and security of
STRATEGY
Acknowledge Palestinian suffering and our goal for a peaceful solution to the conflict.
- Any place in which a single human being suffers, we should suffer. There is suffering enough in the land of our common inheritance on both sides of the conflict. We are deeply committed to the well-being of the Palestinians and the welfare and security of the Jewish people, both in the State of Israel and around the world. We know that unless there is peace and security for the Palestinians, there can be no peace and security for Israelis and Jews.
Call attention to all of the positive ways to encourage Palestinian-Israeli peace and coexistence
- There are positive ways to use economic power to help bring about peace: invest in joint Israeli- Arab business enterprises; help rebuild the infrastructure of the
Point out the complexities of the situation in Israel
- The divestment campaign is not about human rights. Israelis have acknowledged the need for a Palestinian state but they are also faced with the constant threat of terror. They do not want to oppress another people, but they also do not want to leave Israeli civilians vulnerable to suicide bombers. There is no simple solution to this conflict. Certainly, divestment will not solve the problem, or even help to bring about a peaceful solution.
Talk about your personal connection to Israel
- Research has shown us that non-Jewish influentials respond to personal connections and experiences. When discussing our feelings about divestment with mainline Protestant leaders, be sure to include your personal feelings about
Understand the Mainline Protestant Narrative
- Lessons about the history of the conflict are less effective than a sincere expression of support for peace and concern about suffering and a desire to work for reconciliation without resorting to ineffective economic sanctions that cause dissent.
- For liberal Protestants, ending the occupation is the condition precedent for peace. Even if Palestinian leaders have made mistakes, they feel that an end to the occupation combined with mutual assurances for peace will yield the desired result. These leaders need to be helped to understand that elements within Palestinian society reject
Ask the Rabbi
How can I help victims of Hurricane Katrina?
USCJ Relief Efforts
Update: SEPTEMBER 7
Relief Fund: The donations to the United Synagogue Hurricane Relief Fund continue to arrive. The outporing of support and concern for those left homeless by the hurricane has been overwhelming. Thank you to all that have contributed and to all those those that are planning to contribute. The need is still great.
Your donations to the USCJ Hurricane Relief Fund (www.uscj.org) will help us ensure that the needs of the Hurricane victims are being met. We are working with other Jewish organizations and the interfaith community to make sure there is a coordinated relief effort.
Relief officials worry that although people are very generous now, they will lose interest in hurricane relief in 30 to 45 days, and that’s when the supplies now on hand will run out. They hope that donors will remember to continue to give; we at United Synagogue hope that our members will remember the flood victims as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur approach, and give money as part of their individual teshuvah.
We have been told by all the relief agencies working with refugees that the great need – and it is a very great need – is for cash. It is far too difficult to arrange shipments of goods; cash is easy to send. It is far easier for relief officials to arrange large wholesale shipments from suppliers than to coordinate trucks laden with material. Shipments are not allowed into the relief shelters unless permissions are secured in advance, and such permissions are not easy to get.
In other words, extra stuff turns into garbage, but cash can be turned into real stuff. Keep in mind, we are told, that we should donate what flood victims need, not what makes us feel better to give.
Conservative Synagogues: The news from the Conservative synagogues most directly in the hurricane’s path is better than it could have been. Shir Chadash in
Congregation Beth Israel in
Supplies: Two Conservative synagogues in
The relief agencies in
Housing: We have been receiving many offers to house storm refugees; Harry Silverman, the director of our Southeast region, who is spearheading the hurricane relief efforts, has been storing those offers in a database. He is coordinating these efforts with the National Association of Jewish Family and Children Services. So far, the Association reports, there have not been any requests for housing, but if such requests come in we will be well positioned to fill them. The problem now, he reports, is that people need transitional housing less than they need jobs. People offering housing are being told that it’s a nine- to twelve-month commitment.
Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund |
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The United Jewish Federation has established a mailbox to accept donations for humanitarian aid for members of the Jewish and general communities impacted by hurricane Katrina in Contributions may be made below via our secure website using a credit card. |
MORE INFORMATION, FROM THE UJC
GENERAL INFO
* Approx. 500,000 people live in the city of New Orleans, and about 800,000 live in the suburbs. The
* The Jewish community in greater
* There are 8 synagogues -- 4 are Orthodox, 3 are Reform and one is Conservative.
* Even though there are four Orthodox synagogues there are only about 25 families which are Shomar Mitzvot of which about 10 each attend one of the two Chabad synagogues. The other two Orthodox synagogues have a small elderly population, of which one only has a part-time rabbi.
* There are also 2 kosher restaurants, 1 kosher deli with a mini market (tho all kosher meat and bread is bought frozen), 2 JCCs, 2 Jewish day schools, a Jewish Family Services, a Hillel, and a Jewish Federation.
* The Jewish Federation's annual campaign is $3 million; and just under two years ago they built an $11 million dollar facility of which the JFed, JCC and community day school moved into.
* Chabad is very strong. There are two Chabad Houses, plus they run a day school, the Mikvah and the
*
WHERE WAS THE FLOODING?
Several areas keep getting mentioned on TV so here is where they are including information about Jewish life in these areas.
* The "9th Ward" -- This is a short walk from the French Quarter and is where part of the levee of the
* New Orleans East -- When CNN/FOX, etc. shows flooding to people's rooftops, most of these scenes come from
* LakeView -- This is the outer-parts of the New Haven city limits right next to Lake Ponchetrain and is where the levee to Lake Ponchetrain broke. About 15% of the Jewish community lives in this area but there is only one synagogue. This area flooded about 8 feet. IF any Jews are among the dead they will probably elderly Jews who live in the LakeView area who died of heat exhaustion while waiting to be rescued.
* Uptown -- This is within the
* Metairie (pronounced "Metairie") -- This is a large suburb in
* Challemette -- East of
* Slidell -- 30 minutes east of New Orleans and across the lake, just a few Jews, and totally flooded.
* Thus, east of
MY ANALYSIS
I think that the people from the city of New Orleans are going to have a difficult time getting their life back together because their houses were completely flooded (and are still flooded a week later), and will require much long-term help from the government and other agencies with temp housing, jobs, etc. Many of them may go from third generation welfare recipients to permanent refugees.
The Jewish community, however, I think will rebound but will be a little smaller (and a little older). I say this because Uptown and
Many of those few who are not rooted in New Orleans, however, I think will decide not to come back because they could be a doctor, etc. anywhere and might be fed up with all the hurricanes and would not want to go through something of this magnitude again.
How long it takes to get one's house cleaned up and business up and running I do not know. It will be difficult and a challenge.
A problem with the New Orleans Jewish community is that there is a high rate of assimilation and intermarriage, and the less and less of the younger generation is choosing to return to New Orleans after college. Part of this has to do with the negative economy. For example, over the past 15 years all the oil companies have transferred their HQ's to
IN CONCLUSION
Financial assistance will be needed to help everyone in the short term to support their families until they get back on their feet in
As you may be aware, probably every Jewish organization now has a disaster relief fund for the
The
Southwestern
203-348-7714 203-966-5359
email: ucanhelp.org
Supplies needed for hurricane Katrina relief:
-Bottled water
-Non-perishable food and snacks
-Batteries
-Blankets
-Tarps and tents
Food Items
Flip top or cans that are easily opened
Peanuts, Nuts
Peanut butter, jelly
Children’s snacks/fruit roll ups
Boxed juice/small juices
Granola bars/power bars
Dry milk in easy open pouches/box milk
Raisins, dried fruit
Coffee instant,
Rice-instant
Canned pasta meals,
Canned tomato sauce
Canned fruit
Chunky soup
Easy open apple sauce/ fruit snacks
Crackers
Cereal
Baby Items: diapers, baby wipes, baby formula
Personal hygiene products
Six armories have been designated as collection centers: They will be staffed by members of the CT Army National Guard weekdays from
The
The Hartford Armory at 360 Broad Street
The New Haven Armory at 209 Goffe Street
The New London Armory at 249 Bayonet Street
The Putnam Armory at 25 Keech Street
The Waterbury Armory at 64 Field Street
Spiritual Journey on the Web
ELUL – the Month of Turning
This week we began the month of Elul. Elul is Judaism’s opportunity to warm-up our teshuvah muscles before engaging in the marathon of the High Holidays. As any runner knows, you can’t possibly finish the race without a proper warm-up. Below I’ve included brief texts for each day of the coming week, from Rabbi Judith Abrams’ wonderful website, “Makom.” You can find the entire month’s quotes at http://www.maqom.com/aug19_2004.html. Take some time each day to reflect on one of these passages. If you have reflections you would like to share for next week’s Shabbat O Gram, send them to me.
9 Elul
Charity Must be Accompanied with Kindness
Rich' applies to one who is rich in property and 'poor' to one who is poor in property. If the poor man stood in the company of the rich and said to him: ' Give me charity' and he did not give it to him, then 'The Lord is the maker of them all'; He who made this one poor can make him rich and He who made the other rich can make him poor. If the rich man says to this same poor man: 'Why do you not go and work and get food? Look at those hips! Look at those legs! Look at that fat body! Look at those lumps of flesh!', the Holy One, blessed be He, says to him: ' It is not enough that you have not given him anything of yours, but you must set an evil eye upon what I have given him, must you?' Consequently, If he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand (Ecclesiastes 5:13). Of all that he possessed he will not leave for his son, nor take unto himself, anything! (Leviticus Rabbah 34:4)
10 Elul
Don't Talk When People Can't Hear You
Rabbi Shimon ben Eleazar says: Do not appease your fellow in the time of his anger; do not console him while his dead lies before him; do not question him about his vow at the time he makes it; and do not attempt to see him at the time of his disgrace. (M. Pirkei Avot 4:23)
11 Elul
Let the Person Provide Their Own Meaning When They're Suffering
R. Abbahu was bereaved. One of his children had passed away from him. R. Jonah and R. Yose went up [to comfort him]. When they called on him, out of reverence for him, they did not express to him a word of Torah. He said to them, "May the rabbis express a word of Torah." They said to him, "Let our master teach us." He said to them, "Now if in regard to the government below, in which there is no reliability, [but only] lying, deceit, favoritism and bribe-taking, which is here today and gone tomorrow, [if concerning that government] it is said, 'And the relatives [of the felon] come and inquire after the welfare of the judges and of the witnesses, as if to say "We have nothing in our hearts [against you], for you judged honestly (M. Sanhedrin 6:6)" in regard to the government above, in which there is reliability, but no lying, deceit, favoritism, or bribe-taking, and which endures forever and to all eternity, all the more so are we obligated to accept upon ourselves the just decree [of the heavenly government]." (Y. Sanhedrin 6:12, 23d-24a)
12 Elul
God Feels Your Pain
Imma Shalom said… I have this tradition from my father's house: All gates [to God, even the gates of prayer] are locked, except the gates of wounded feelings [which God hears, and responds to, immediately]. (B. Baba Metsia 59b)
13 Elul
You Must Be Correct And Nice to be Right: Being Correct is Not Enough
For three years there was a dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, the former asserting: the law is in agreement with our views, and the latter contending, the law is in agreement with our views. Then a voice from heaven announced: both rulings are the words of the living God, but the law is in agreement with the rulings of Beit Hillel.
Since, however, both are the words of the living God, what was it that entitled Beit Hillel to have the law fixed according to their rulings? Because they were kindly and modest, they studied their own rulings and those of Beit Shammai, and were even so humble as to mention the words of Beit Shammai before their own.(B. Eruvin 13b)
14 Elul
Don't Let Low Self-Esteem Stop You From Doing Mitsvot
The Holy One, blessed be He, will make a great banquet for the righteous on the day He manifests His love for the seed of Isaac. After they have eaten and drunk, the cup of Grace will be offered to our father Abraham that he should recite Grace, but he will answer them, "I cannot say Grace, because Ishmael issued from me." Then Isaac will be asked to say Grace, but he will answer them, "I cannot say Grace because Esau issued from me." Then Jacob will be asked, "Take it and say Grace." But he will reply, "I cannot say Grace because I married two sisters during [both] their lifetimes whereas the Torah was destined to forbid them to me." Then Moses will be asked, "Take it and say Grace." He will answer, "I cannot say Grace since I was not privileged to enter the
MORE SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS….
There is a cyber shofar at www.ou.org: Hear how it sounds.
Check out www.myjewishlearing.com for lots of super articles about the High Holidays, including
Multimedia: How to listen to the shofar meaningfully
Guided Meditation: Focusing on the past year
Spiritual Preparations…
Here are five tips to help you get in the right frame of mind.
And Intention & Prayer How important is kavvanah--direction or intention--when praying?
http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/diduknow/jrpguide/12_part2.shtml, http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/diduknow/jrpguide/12_part3.shtml -- Rabbi Isaac Klein’s (Conservative) Guide to Jewish Practice – on Elul and teshuvah
http://www.ou.org/chagim/elul/default.htm -- from the Orthodox
http://www.inner.org/times/elul/elul.htm -- a Kabbalistic approach
http://www.franion.com/StarElul_pages/week1.html -- material (excellent) from a STAR project on Elul, in which our synagogue participated
http://www.ritualwell.org/Rituals/search.html -- Creative new rituals and meditations for the holidays.
CLAL Holy Days: Rosh Ha'Shanah
"On Rosh Ha'Shanah, Jews proclaim that God is creator and ruler of the universe. But while Rosh Ha'Shanah celebrates cosmic Creation, its central message is addressed to the individual: You are not fixed by your past. Through Creation, the world came into being; it has a beginning and an end. The individual also has a beginning and an end. In the dramatic imagery of the High Holy Days, each person is on trial for his/her life in this period. "On Rosh Ha'Shanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur, it is sealed; who shall live, and who shall die?" Facing death, would you live your life the same way? Or would you be more considerate and loving, more ethical, more adventurous, more creative?"
FOR OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS!!!
(AND PLEASE SEND ME E-MAILS OF ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS)
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Theme: "Interdating and Intermarriage" Maya Berezovsky: Joining the Tribe Joe Roberts: Wrongminded Rhetoric Ben Geyer: Date, But Don't Marry Jill Ingber: Capulets and Montagues Hillary Blank: Dating on the 'Net ADDITIONAL FEATURES Rich Moline: Choosing Hope - The Disengagement and the Hurricane Rabbi Elyse Winick: Cooking with KOACH: Blintzes (Recipe) Alyssa Appelman: KOACH's New Assistant Editor Editorial calendar / Submit an article Meet the Staff - Bios & Photos Article Index |
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FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS… AND EVERYONE ELSE
http://www.studentsfordemocracy.ca/site_files/book.pdf
Required Reading and Action Items
http://2theadvocate.com/stories/090505/new_jews001.shtml - List compiled to help save Jews in
Israelis Launch Aid Efforts for Katrina Victims
From government-sponsored relief missions to individual grassroots campaigns to collect funds and goods, Israelis are doing their part to ease the plight of the victims of last week's Hurricane Katrina in the southern US. 'America has always been there for Israel, and
U.S. Turns Down Israeli Offer of Extensive Humanitarian Aid - Zohar Blumenkrantz and Amiram Barkat (Ha'aretz)
The
A special El Al flight landed at a base in
See also Six Jewish Hurricane Victims Identified (Ynet News)
A
The team arrived in the city two days ago and is expected to go door-to-door at Jewish residences in a bid to identify the Jewish victims of Hurricane Katrina and accord them a Jewish burial
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http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=11362 – (The Jewish Week) Last week, Americans learned what it was like to be refugees in their own country.
This week, Jewish communities in the South counted their losses and Jewish communities across the country, and
In
By midweek, they had found and rescued at least 30 people, according to Adam Bronstone, the
50 New Orleans Jewish Students Interested in Studying in Israel - Shoshana Kordova
At least 50 Jewish students from New Orleans have expressed interest in coming to Israel to start the academic year, after Israeli universities and the Jewish Agency announced this week that they would provide full scholarships for students whose lives have been disrupted by Hurricane Katrina. The scholarships cover tuition and board and apply to students of all religions, as long as they are registered at Tulane University or any other New Orleans colleges and universities recognized by Israel. Click here for more information. (Ha'aretz)
Plucked From Gaza, Now We Must Rebuild Our Lives in Israel - Hanna Sender
You know what homeless is? We are now homeless. We have left behind the farm where our children grew alongside the flowers in our greenhouses, and we're living in a kibbutz near Tel Aviv. Eventually, together with the state, we hope to build a new home. We want it to be a farm, so that we can grow flowers again. It takes years to build a home. It takes mere minutes to be made homeless. We could never have imagined this moment back in 1978 when we decided to join a group of 27 families who were going to establish the
So many tears fell during those last years in Gush Katif. The IDF soldiers who came to protect us were the same soldiers who have now evicted us. But no, we did not give up. We believed in our way. Now, after 27 years, we are homeless, but I do not accept this as a defeat. In that letter that I left on the front door of the house I wrote to the soldiers, "We won because our struggle will never be forgotten. We won because Gush Katif will never be forgotten. Gush Katif will become part of Jewish and Zionist history; it will become not just another chapter, but a symbol, a model to be imitated." (
Jerusalem's Jewish Roots - Ran Shapira
The recently ended season of excavations at the top of the City of
The excavation took place in a rectangular strip 10 meters wide by 30 meters long, and the structure that has been unearthed occupies the entire site, even extending beyond its boundaries. It is constructed from immense stones that were placed on an earthen landfill in which hundreds of broken pieces of pottery were found. Dr. Eilat Mazar, the
"For years, there have been those who contended there was no evidence of public construction in 10th century BCE
Two weeks before the end of the excavation season, Mazar headed home with a rare find that had been unearthed that day in one of the structure's rooms: a bulla, a round clay seal about one centimeter in diameter in which its owner's name was inscribed. With the help of a needle and a magnifying glass, she cleaned the grains of dust from the bulla and gradually its inscription was revealed. Three lines in a Hebrew script characteristic of the late
Book Review: Still Pioneering - Amotz Asa-El
Most people are aware that the Jewish state has first-rate scientists who work in sterling research institutions; that
How many know that the Pentium technology so many use routinely when turning on their computer is Israeli, or that all phone calls in China are routed through a system developed by Israel's ECI Telecom, or that the first anti-virus software was developed in Israel? What do most of us know about Israeli firms' contribution to such things as non-invasive surgery, miniature modems, signaling systems, and NASA's Spirit rover mission to Mars? How many of us know that Israeli-grown cows have the world's highest milk-production yields? Helen and Douglas Davis's Israel in the World: Changing Lives Through Innovation presents an integrative picture of a society bent on self-fulfillment and collective achievement against all odds. (
There Are Still Jews in Pakistan - Sam Ser
After last week's meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Israel, Ishaac Moosa Akhir sent the following e-mail to the Jerusalem Post: "I am a doctor at a local hospital in Karachi....My family background is Sephardic Jewish and I know approximately 10 Jewish families who have lived in Karachi since 200 years or so." (
Shlomo and Dina Jin of China Joined in Matrimony in Jerusalem - Matthew Wagner (Jerusalem Post)
Shlomo and Dina Jin, of
http://forward.com/main/article.php?ref=michaelson20050831705 (From the Forward) “A Little off the Top,”By Jay Michaelson - Marked in Your Flesh: Circumcision From Ancient Judea to Modern America By Leonard B. Glick Oxford University Press, 384 pages, $30To put it mildly, circumcision is a delicate subject. It's almost impossible to discuss the matter without cracking a joke, probably because the ritual makes at least 49% of the population wince and cross its legs. And yet, as a quick Google search will easily reveal, in the past two decades there has been a trove of writing about circumcision — most of it negative, and a lot of it generated by cranks….
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/621403.html Starbucks to make a comeback – (Ha’aretz) Starbucks is not giving up. Its first attempt to penetrate
The New Rules of the Game If Palestinians Fire Rockets - Ze'ev Schiff
Recently the Israel Defense Forces held a comprehensive review of the steps that should be taken if the Palestinians continue to fire Kassam rockets after the evacuation of the Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip or start firing high-trajectory projectiles from the West Bank as well. The prevailing thinking at the meeting, which included experts on international law, was that the rules of the game have changed and that
Regarding attacks from the West Bank,
Gaza: The Palestinian National Laboratory - Editorial
The Palestinians have never controlled territory of their own. The state that refused to allow itself to be established under the 1947 UN partition resolution, and that then lost the subsequent war, was split between Jordanian annexation and Egyptian military rule. The Palestinians received their first opportunity at self-government from the
Now, the Palestinians are being given a chance to erase that first impression. This time, the international community is willing to invest not only diplomatic effort, but also aid totaling billions of dollars over the course of several years. There is no lack of weak, needy states in Africa and
After mid-September 2005,
Undermining Hamas and Empowering Moderates by Filling the Humanitarian Void - Matthew Levitt and Jamie Chosak
As former World Bank leader James Wolfensohn, now Washington's special envoy for disengagement, lobbies world leaders to offer significant support for Palestinian development projects, a parallel effort is necessary to create new, transparent public and private social-service organizations unaffiliated with Hamas or other groups engaged in terrorism or political violence. This is not as massive an undertaking as some suspect; the amount of money Hamas actually spends on social welfare is relatively small compared with UN aid. The UNRWA cash budget for 2005 was $339 million, while
Israel to Accept European Inspectors on Egyptian-Gaza Border - Amos Harel and Aluf Benn
Prime Minister Sharon on Wednesday approved an Egyptian compromise proposal regarding control of the Gaza-Egypt border following the Israeli pullout from Gaza. Under the arrangement,
IDF to Respond Harshly to Gaza Attacks - Sheera Claire Frenkel
The army should respond to terrorism with a heavier hand following Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tuesday. (
See also International Community Won't Give Israel Free Hand in Gaza - Herb Keinon
Israel is mistaken in believing that, by withdrawing from Gaza, the international community will tolerate all types of military retaliation against rocket fire originating from Gaza, a senior Western diplomatic official said Wednesday.
The official said the international community did not accept Prime Minister Sharon's interpretation that the first stage of the road map was sequential, with the Palestinians obligated to dismantle terrorism before
Israel: Hamas Can Run for Palestinian Council If It Disarms - Aluf Benn
Israel is demanding that Hamas disarm and abrogate its charter as a condition for participating in the elections for the Palestine National Council, scheduled to take place in January 2006. Prime Minister Sharon and Foreign Minister Shalom have been mentioning Israel's opposition to Hamas' participation in the PNC elections in their meetings with foreign diplomats, pointing to the organization's violent activities and to its charter, which calls for the destruction of
Lawlessness in Gaza Threatens All Prospects of Statehood - Editorial
In recent months, Palestinian and international human rights groups, lawyers, judges, and activists have been sounding the alarm about the climate of chaos in the Gaza Strip and warning that it threatens to undermine all prospects for peace, security and statehood. The law of the gun is now governing
Cairo Dispatch: False Choice - Joshua Hammer
As Egypt prepares for its first multiparty presidential election, the Mubarak regime's strategy can be summed up by a single word: containment. Mubarak grudgingly green-lighted the vote last February, bowing to pressure from the Bush administration, feisty opposition groups inside Egypt, and a new generation of Western-educated technocrats inside his ruling National Democratic Party. Since then, the ruling party has stage-managed every aspect of the process. Voting is open to all Egyptians, as long as they registered by December 2004 - two months before Mubarak called for the multiparty vote. By some estimates 15 million Egyptians, many of whom have become excited about politics for the first time, have been disenfranchised.
Numerous Egyptians insist that the process Mubarak has set in motion could easily spiral out of the party's control after the election. "They can't stuff the genie back in the bottle," said Diaa al Rashwan, an analyst with the Al
Israeli Government Insists on Dismantling Gaza Synagogues - Dan Izenberg
(
- The Israeli government on Tuesday asked the High Court of Justice to reject the petition calling on it to seek Palestinian or international guarantees for the survival of the
- According to the response to the court submitted by the state's representative, attorney Avi Licht, it is not in
- Licht also rejected arguments that the destruction of synagogues by
IDF Sends Aid Team to New Orleans (Israel Defense Forces)
A humanitarian and medical aid team led by Brig.-Gen. Yuval Kimhi left
The cargo onboard the plane - which includes food packages, diapers, beds, blankets, generators, and other essentials - was decided upon jointly with the U.S government.
Moussa Arafat's Killing Strengthens Dahlan - Arnon Regular (Ha'aretz)
Who gains the most from Moussa Arafat's assassination?
The answer is Palestinian Minister for Civilian Affairs Mohammed Dahlan, the patron of the Preventative Security apparatus, and its head, Rashid Abu-Shabak, who for the past two years have been waging a war to the death against Moussa Arafat.
The "death squads" of Preventative Security official Nabil Tamus and other mercenaries in the
See also Is Hamas Behind Moussa Arafat's Murder? - Amira Hass (Ha'aretz)
In 1996, Moussa Arafat's Military Intelligence detained senior Hamas operatives and shaved off their beards in what is still remembered as a major humiliation.
Moussa Arafat was linked to many incidents of corruption, extortion, and decadent hedonism, but other Fatah and PA officials have been linked to extortion rumors, including Preventive Security chief Rashid Abu-Shabak and national security chief Mohammed Dahlan.
People are sure their salaries could not support their luxury homes.
Jewish Public Rejects Unilateral Pullout from West Bank - Ephraim Yaar and Tamar Hermann (Ha'aretz)
According to a survey conducted Aug. 30-Sep. 1, 2005, by the Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research at Tel Aviv University, 42% of the Jewish public would not support a far-reaching evacuation in the West Bank under any conditions (up from 37% in April), 34% would support it only in the framework of a peace agreement with the Palestinians (up from 28%), and 14% would favor it even on a unilateral basis (down from 26%).
67% believe chaos will prevail after the IDF leaves the
68% believe the chances are high or very high that after an IDF withdrawal, attacks on
Faculty Efforts to Combat Anti-Semitism and Anti-Israeli Bias at the University of California-Santa Cruz - Leila Beckwith, Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, and Ilan Benjamin (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)
Over the past five years, a distorted and hostile attitude toward Israel has prevailed at the University of California-Santa Cruz, creating an intimidating environment for members of the campus community, particularly Jewish students.
Much of the anti-Israeli bias has been generated by faculty members who have injected their personal ideology into course curricula, classroom lectures and discussions, and events and speakers sponsored by departments, research groups, and colleges
A great resource on all things Jewish: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/news.html
The best Jewish site for Jewish learning: http://www.myjewishlearning.com
Jewish Identity Databases: http://pages.infinit.net/jackross/jt-judaism.htm
THE MOTHERLODE OF ISRAEL-RELATED LINKS: http://www.israel.org/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00kj0
http://www.myisraelsource.com./
Israel Education resources for all ages – wonderful collection http://www.myisraelsource.com/
See My Jewish Learning's Talmud section for great resources on the Talmud.
See Eliezer Siegal's Talmud Page for the best visual introduction to a page of Talmud anywhere.
A Jewish Guide to the Internet: http://www.uscj.org/metny/bellmobj/jnet2.htm
You can find an online Hebrew dictionary at http://milon.morfix.co.il/
Nice Jewish parenting site http://jewishfamily.com/
http://shamash.org/trb/judaism.html
Online Texts Related to Jewish History. All the primary sources “fit to print.”
Links to all the Jewish newspapers that are fit to print: http://www.jta.org/page_newspapers.asp
http://jokes.jewish.net/ - the best place on the planet to find Jewish Jokes
Conservative Responsa (fascinating decisions related to applying Jewish Law to our times):
Israel (Masorti – Schechter Institute): http://www.responsafortoday.com/eng_index.html
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONLINE JEWISH STUDY
- Distance learning at JTS
- eAcademy Israel Studies
- Guided Learning Mini Courses
- Halakhah Study Group (RA in Israel)
- Hashkafah Study Group (RA in Israel)
- Jewish Interactive Studies
- Jewish Online and Interactive Learning
- Jewish University in Cyberspace (JUICE)
- Mishnah Yomit Study a Mishnah a day
- Perek Yomi Study a Bible passage a day
- Rabin Mishnah Study Group (RA in Israel)
- The Virtual Bet Midrash at Yeshivat Har Etzion
MYTH #190
“
FACT
Mohammed Dahlan, the Palestinian Authority’s Minister of Civil Affairs, has claimed that Israel moved the northern border of the Gaza Strip about 1.2 miles, and that Israel's disengagement will not be complete unless it withdraws to the 1949 armistice lines (Jerusalem Post, July 4, 2005). By suggesting that Israel is holding onto a piece of Gaza, the Palestinians are threatening to create a Shebaa Farms issue that could undercut the prospects for peace created by Israel's courageous decision to evacuate all its citizens and soldiers from the area.
Substantively, Dahlan’s claim is inaccurate. The border of Gaza was determined during the 1949 Rhodes Armistice negotiations with Egypt. Israel agreed to move the border southeast, creating a bulge in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. In exchange, Egypt redrew the border in the north, moving it more than a mile southwest. According to
In the case of Shebaa Farms, the Lebanese terrorist group, Hizballah, has speciously maintained that Israel did not fully withdraw from Lebanon, despite the UN's verification that it has, and used Israel’s presence in the Shebaa Farms area as the pretext for continuing its terror campaign against Israel. If the Palestinians adopt a similar policy toward the sliver of land they claim to be part of
If the Palestinians continue terrorist attacks against Israel, and make claims to additional territory, rather than focusing on state-building within Gaza and meeting their road map obligations, Israel will have little interest in pursuing negotiations regarding the West Bank.
This article can be found at http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths/mf22.html#qqq
In case you were away this summer, here's what you missed:
Academic Freedom as a Shield for Anti-Semitism
Fact Sheet: "Consensus" Settlements
Myth #183 - "The British helped the Jews displace the native Arab population of Palestine."
Myth #186 - “Israel has been an expansionist state since its creation.”
Myth #188 - “Israel has no right to be in the West Bank. Israeli settlements are illegal.”
Source: Myths & Facts Online -- A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict by Mitchell G. Bard,
ASHIRA
Friday, September 9, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
Join us at our first Family Friday Night Service of the season!
ASHIRA brings a unique sound to Jewish music. Comprised of Arianne Slack, Laura Lenes, and Leah Moss, this NYC based trio draws on the various backgrounds of its members, ranging from pop and musical theater to cantorial and opera, to create an exciting new sound. Singing both contemporary and traditional melodies in new settings of three-part harmony, ASHIRA involves the congregation by using sign language and teaching new melodies. Their concert repertoire is varied, including Hebrew, Yiddish, English and Ladino songs. ASHIRA’s unique vocal sound is enhanced by close bonds of friendship as well as the trio’s love of music and Judaism.
NEWS FLASH!
DO YOU KNOW ANYONE Shopping for a
HAVE THEM Check out our new “Taste of TBE” offer for Kindergarten and first grade and…sample our excellent school!
PAY SCHOOL TUITION ONLY!
No need to join for the first year!
No membership dues!
No strings attached!
We just want you to try us out. We hope you’ll like us!
For registration and more information, contact the Education office @ 322-6901 x 306 or education@tbe.org.
21st Annual Harold E. Hoffman Memorial Lecture
Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
Featuring
DAVID HOROVITZ,
Editor-in-Chief of The
On Thursday, September 15th, Temple Beth El will be holding its Annual Harold E. Hoffman Memorial Lecture. This year’s speaker will be writer David Horovitz, the editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post.
Before taking over The Jerusalem Post last October, Horovitz was the editor and publisher of the award-winning newsmagazine The Jerusalem Report for 14 years. He has also contributed to such papers as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Irish Times and The (
Some of David’s personal publications include the book “Still Life with Bombers:
The Hoffman Memorial Lecture is sponsored by the family of the late Harold E. Hoffman, a former member of the
Call the
ON SEPTEMBER 16…
TOT SHABBAT TRAVELS…
TO
Join us at the Harrisons,
HAVDALAH AT THE BEACH
Join Early Childhood Development director Nurit Avigdor,
Saturday, September 17th at 5:00 p.m.
for a family service on the beach! Bring your own picnic dinner and we’ll supply dessert! The program is aimed toward families with young children, however all are welcome - members and non-members alike!
ADULT ED AT TBE
CD T’FILLAH PROGRAM
with
meets weekly on Thursday from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Class begins September 1st.
HEBREW ULPAN
with
meets weekly on Tuesday from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Class begins September 6th.
IT’S MORE THAN LOX AND BAGELS
with
meets monthly on Tuesday from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Class begins Wednesday, September 14th.
JUDAISM FOR EVERYONE
An Introductory Class for Dummies, Smarties…
and Those Who Don’t Know How to Ask
with
meets weekly on Sunday from 9:15 - 10:00 a.m.
Class begins on September 25th.
(A prerequisite for those who wish to join our newest
Beth El Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah class.)
Fee: $50 for material.
OUR HOLIDAYS: THE RYTHYM OF JEWISH TIME
with
meets on select Sundays from 9:15 - 10:00 a.m.
Class begins September 25th.
“Surviving the High Holy Days: An Introduction to the Themes, Prayers and Customs of the Days of Awe”
(Runs parallel with JUDAISM FOR EVERYONE - see above.)
PIRKE AVOT: Ethics for Our Daily Lives
with
meets monthly on Sunday from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Class begins September 25th.
NEW PRAYER BOOKS!
We are pleased to announce that a new shipment of SHABBAT MORNING PRAYER BOOKS has arrived at the
A donation of $27, made payable to Temple Beth El , will reserve a prayer book for you. A lovely, personalized book plate will be placed inside the front cover.
For further information, please call the
BETH EL CARES
Attention all Teens looking for a Mitzvah Project
Jewish Family Services needs you!
Volunteer one hour a week or one hour a month, on Friday afternoons visiting senior citizens at an assisted living facility (Thursday afternoons/evenings work too)! Host a pre-Shabbat “service”... celebrate the Jewish holidays...contact Ellie Mirne at 356-1887 for more information.
Cheryl Wolff (968-6361)
Sue Greenwald (329-1662)
HIGH HOLY DAY USHERS
Please sign up early for your High Holy Days Usher slots and to help us put up and take down the bimah platforms. We need to ensure that we have enough volunteers committed to accomplish these critical tasks. Here are the details:
High Holy Days usher slots are available for men, women and couples. Those of you who have performed this task know of its ease. For those of you who are new to this request, each “watch” is approximately 45 minutes. Please help us maintain the traffic flow and decorum that makes the services a better experience for all. Reserve your ushering slots by calling Rich Cohen at 322-1131 (email rxrphrich@optonline.net).
BIMAH SET-UP
We will be setting up the bimah platforms on Sunday, September 25th at 8:30 a.m. and taking them down on Sunday, October 16th at 8:30 a.m. We’ll have some refreshments available for both the folks who work on the installation of our bimah platforms and for those who just want to stop by and schmooze. Call Marty Israel at 325-8511 (e-mail mhisrael@optonline.net) if you want to have some fun playing steelworker for an hour or two, help set up chairs, or just lend general support.
SUKKAH SET-UP
We will also be setting up the
Look for pictures of our sukkah on Google! – at http://images.google.com/images?q=sukkah&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&start=0&sa=N
SHOFAR BLOWERS NEEDED
(during the month of Elul prior to Rosh Hashanah)
If you are thinking about buying a shofar and would like to learn how to blow, or if you already know how, we need you! Contact Chuck Donen at 847-5667.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE!
SUNDAY MORNING MINYAN WILL MEET AT 8:30 A.M.
BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 11, 2005
NEW FOR OUR YOUTH!!!
Visit this brand-new website for TBE’s youth groups!
You’ll see pictures, links and much more!
YOUTH EVENTS
USY at New
September 10th from 8 - 11:00 p.m.
Price M: $35, NM: $45
USY Meeting
September 11th from 7 - 9 p.m.
USY Shabbat Service and Lunch
September 17th from 10 - 1:00p.m.
Kadima: Rock & Bowl at Rip Van Winkle
September 17th from 8:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Price M: $20, NM: $30
Atid: Apple & Honey Dumpling Gang
September 25th, lunch from 12:30 - 2 p.m.
Price M:$10, NM: $15
USY Meeting
September 25th from 7 - 9 p.m.
DON’T MISS
…..MACCABI MANIA!
Stamford 2006 JCC Maccabi Games Kickoff Event
The JCC Maccabi Games are coming to our area
Sunday, September 25th from 1-3pm
At the JCC
Fun for all ages!!!
Try your hand on our Rock Climbing Wall, Velcro Wall or Bungee Run
Race through the Crash Course, Jump on the Moon Bounce
Win big at our Tournament of Champions
Sing out loud at our Karaoke booth
Enjoy hot dogs, refreshments, snow cones, cotton candy, and popcorn
And learn how YOU can GET IN THE GAMES!
Be an athlete! Be a coach! Be a host family! Be a volunteer!
How will you GET IN THE GAMES?
For more information call Jocelyn Sherman at 203-487-0996
Or email jsherman@stamfordjcc.org
WOMEN OF THE BOOK
It has been said that the point of reading is not how many books you get through but how many books get through to you. The Women of the Book Discussion Group is a great way to stumble on new authors, and a great motivator to read something challenging while having a chance to discuss it with various viewpoints expressed. We are an intelligent, friendly bunch who enjoy sharing ideas and are addicted to reading. Interspersed with the great books are equally great and riveting videos that we watch together and then discuss. We have a wonderful program planned for this year. The books and the videos vary and run the gamut from thought provoking, to timely, humorous and good reads. Our discussions are lively and you will leave our meetings shouting, “MORE, MORE!”
We want to encourage all of you who have thought about coming to one of our meetings but never quite made it. At our first meeting we will put the name of every newcomer in a hat, and the woman whose name is drawn will receive a complementary copy of our November book, The Kite Runner by Kheled Hosseini.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Please join us for any or all of the following programs:
SPECIAL GUEST: We will have a special guest for our first meeting on September 20th. We will meet a woman who was a “hidden child” and hear her amazing story of survival.
September 20, 2005: Hidden Children and their Rescuers
What would you risk in order to save the life of a loved one? What would you risk in order to save the life of a neighbor? What would you risk in order to save the life of a stranger? In this video we will meet some “righteous gentiles” who risked their lives and the lives of their own children to save Jewish children during the Shoah. We will also meet the gentile children whose lives were risked in order to save the Jewish children.
Rosh Hashanah Family Service at
On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Tues, Oct. 4 at 4 PM,
SUKKOT 2005
Begins on Monday evening, October 17th
Cut and paste this order form on another sheet for your lulav and etrog!
NAME
PHONE
NUMBER OF REGULAR SETS at $36 per set
NUMBER OF CHILDREN’S SETS at $18 per set
TOTAL = $
Remember… Order by Sunday, October 2nd
Please return this form with your check payable to:
Pick-up will be on Sunday, October 16th
9:00 a.m. - 12 noon
For additional information call (203) 322-6901.
We will never forget…
Help us plant a
At
Bring your shovels, gloves, and “white” daffodil bulbs
or buy bulbs at the
(Bulbs must be white daffodils.)
Join us on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005
11 AM-1 PM
Next to the Sanctuary.
For more info, call:
The Pomerances 329-8620
The Rutsteins 461-9816
Parents must supervise their children.
A Rabbi is walking slowly out of a Shul in
"Thank you very much." The Rabbi places his hand on the young man's shoulder and says, "May God bless you."
The young man thinks to himself, "I've been blessed by the Rabbi, this must be my lucky day!" So he goes to the Racetrack. In the first race, he sees that there is a horse named Stetson at 20 to 1. He bets $50 and sure enough the horse comes in first.
In the second race he sees a horse named Fedora at 30 to 1. So he bets it all and this horse comes in first also. In the third race, he bets on Bowler. In the fourth it's High Hat, and so on through the day.
.. Finally at the end of the day he returns home to his wife who asks him where he's been. He explains how he caught the Rabbi's hat and was blessed by him and then went to the track and started winning on horses that had a hat in their names. "So where's the money she says?" "I lost it all in the ninth race. I bet on a horse named Chateau and it lost."
"You fool, Chateau is a house, Chapeau is a hat. Which horse won the race?"
"It didn't matter. The winner was some Japanese horse named Yarmulka."
Previous Shabbat-O-Grams can be accessed directly from our web site (www.tbe.org)
The Web link for this week's Shabbat-O-Gram is - http://www.tbe.org/site/sog/050909.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, where you can also find some of my other writings and sermons. You can also check out my recent books, thelordismyshepherd.com : Seeking God in Cyberspace and I Have Some Questions About God.
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