January 19, 2007– Shevat 1, 5767
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THIS WEEK!!! Feb. 3 (sign up NOW)
FULL Synaplex Schedule and
The fun begins Friday night:
SHABBAT UNPLUGGED IS BACK!!!
With Cantor Littman
And Scholar in Residence Benjamin Gampel
Dancing! Singing! Meditation! Celebration!
For all ages, the Spirit of Shabbat
Friday, Jan. 19 @7:30
For the full Synaplex Schedule,
click here.
With so many events taking place here on a Synaplex Shabbat, it is hard to pick which ones to feature.
Of course we all know how amazing Shabbat Unplugged can be, or how spiritually moving many have found Rabbinic Pastor Dan Kilpper's meditative service. We'll be able to sample some other special guests this weekend - we'll be able to study the portion of the week with Rabbi Eric Hoffman and hear about Maimonides' Highest Level of Tzedakkah (finding employment) with Donna Sweidan or sharing Elise Klein's sensitive advice on issues related to interfaith families.
So many of our topics are about relationships - how we all can get along. The learner's service I'll be leading, entitled "The Power of the Word," will focus on how our prayers can teach us ways to communicate better with one another - and with God.
Mara and Elissa Stein's session was a real hit last time around, and this time they'll be focusing on family systems and how Jewish traditions, rituals and values can strengthen family relationships.
As I mentioned in prior e-mails, Arthur White's breakfast session will focus on ways to improve life for seniors, and the "No Hate But Harmony" session for teens (7th grade and up) is generating tremendous buzz. It's all about relationships.
Of course we've also got a traditional service that will be led by David Hirshfield and other congregants, Havdalah Under the Stars at the Nature Center (and, with the forecast for clear and crisp, it's filling up - PLEASE RSVP to cshapiro@optonline.net). Observatory Entrance and parking is ¼ mile up the street from the
Oh yes, there is also, of course, the scholar in residence, Benjamin Gampel, who happens to be a marvelous and entertaining speaker, who will demonstrate how relevant medieval Jewish history can be for our times.
For TBE’s Full Synaplex Schedule for the weekend, including lecture topics and times for sessions, go to
http://www.tbe.org/site/docs/temp/2007_Jan_Synaplex.pdf
All Shabbat events are free and open to the public – casual dress is encouraged
A special thank You to Our Sponsors: Penny & Michael Horowitz for the Scholar-in-Residence presentations, in memory of Bessie Silver & Millie Reiss, Our Anonymous Donor Family for Shabbat Unplugged and Sisterhood for “Havdalah Under the Stars.”
Contents of the Shabbat O Gram:
(Click to scroll down)
Just the Facts (service schedule)
The Beth El Bar/Bat Mitzvah Commentary (new)
The (Occasionally) Ranting Rabbi
Mitzvah/Tzedakkah Opportunities
Required Reading and Action Items (links to key articles on Israel and Jewish life)
Announcements (goings on in and around TBE)
Quote for the Week
"Remember that there is a meaning beyond absurdity. Be sure that every little deed counts, that every word has power. Never forget that you can still do your share to redeem the world in spite of all absurdities and frustrations and disappointments."
-Abraham Joshua Heschel
Friday Evening
Candle lighting: 4:38 pm on Friday, 19 January 2006. For candle lighting times, Havdalah times, other Jewish calendar information, and to download a Jewish calendar to your PDA, click on http://www.hebcal.com/. To see the festivals of other faiths as well, go to http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/. The United Synagogue has updated its candlelighting information. To learn more, click here.
Shabbat Evening service: 7:30 PM (note later time)
SHABBAT UNPLUGGED
Shabbat Morning: See Synaplex Schedule
Our Torah Reading for Shabbat Morning
Exodus 6:2 - 9:35– the Ten Plagues (well, seven of them)
1: 8:16-23
2: 8:24-28
3: 9:1-7
4: 9:8-16
5: 9:17-21
6: 9:22-26
7: 9:27-35
Shabbat Rosh Chodesh
maf: Numbers 28:9-15 (7 p'sukim)
Haftarah: Shabbat Rosh Chodesh / Isaiah 66:1 - 66:24
If you liked Storahtelling, you’ll LOVE Storahtelling’s new weekly blog about the Torah portion Find it at http://storahtelling.blogspot.com/. ORT Navigating the Bible; Rashi in English; BibleGateway: Useful for comparing different translations: Note- this is a Christian site.
What’s Bothering Rashi (Bonchek) Each week, one example from the parashah is deconstructed. See a weekly commentary from the UJC Rabbinic Cabinet, at www.ujc.org/mekorchaim. Read the Masorti commentary at http://www.masorti.org/mason/torah/index.asp. University of Judaism, JTS commentary is at: http://www.jtsa.edu/community/parashah/. USCJ Torah
THE ENTIRE HEBREW BIBLE (AS WELL AS OTHER JEWISH SOURCES) CAN BE FOUND WITH SIDE-BY-SIDE TRANSLATION AT http://www.mechon-mamre.org/
100 Blessings: Download information about the grace after meals (see Birkat Ha-mazon explained in Wikipedia and in the Jewish Virtual Library) The actual prayer can be downloaded at Birkat Hamazon [pdf]
Morning Minyan
7:30 Weekdays, 9:30 Sundays
We’ve had a Guaranteed Minyan request for a yahrzeit on Monday, January 22. If you can make it, please take a moment to sign up at the Rosner Minyan Maker at www.tbe.org.
TO ENSURE A “GUARANTEED MINYAN” FOR THE DAY OF YOUR YAHRZEIT – GO TO THE ROSNER MINYAN MAKER AT WWW.TBE.ORG AND ALSO CONTACT ME AT RABBI@TBE.ORG.
We’ve had several people coming lately who are saying kaddish following recent deaths in the family. We want to make sure we have a minyan each day. Your presence any morning is greatly appreciated!
Please sign up at the Rosner Minyan Maker at www.tbe.org
The Beth El Bar/Bat Mitzvah Commentary
During this lull in our Bar/Bat Mitzvah schedule, we have a chance to reflect on the deeper meaning of the event. Here is an account, from the Jewish Virtual Library, of the first Bat Mitzvah EVER… how far we’ve come in so short a time: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/firstbat.html
The First American Bat Mitzvah
(March 18, 1922)
On Saturday morning, March 18, 1922, twelve-year old Judith Kaplan, the daughter of Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan, stepped to the bimah of her father’s synagogue, the Society for the Advancement of Judaism. She recited the preliminary blessing, read a portion of the Torah sidra in Hebrew and English and then intoned the closing blessing. "That was enough to shock a lot of people," she later recalled, "including my own grandparents and aunts and uncles."
The shocking event they had just witnessed, according to historian Paula Hyman, was the first bat mitzvah conducted in the
As Hyman notes, "The bat mitzvah ritual was introduced into American Judaism as both an ethical and pragmatic response to gender divisions in traditional Judaism." In Jewish law, a girl reaches majority at age 12, but until the invention of bat mitzvah there was no ritual ceremony to mark this passage. Mordecai Kaplan intended bat mitzvah to give females equal standing with males and stimulate Jewish education for women so they would be better able to transmit Jewish knowledge to their children.
While it started with Reconstructionism, Hyman attributes the further evolution of bat mitzvah to the American Conservative movement. In the mid-19th century, American Reform began moving away from traditional ceremonies such as male bar mitzvah. Instead, Reform congregations introduced group confirmation ceremonies when the boys and girls in their religious schools completed their education, around age 15. Confirmation, then, was more of a graduation ceremony than a bar mitzvah. Traditional Orthodoxy did not allow women to read the Torah. Thus, if girls of 12 or 13 were to have a coming-of-age ceremony equivalent to bar mitzvah for boys, it fell to the Conservative Movement to define what that ceremony should be.
Change came gradually. As late as the 1930’s, despite Judith Kaplan’s pathbreaking example, only a handful of Conservative synagogues had adopted bat mitzvah. By 1948, however, one-third of Conservative congregations conducted them and, by the 1960s, the ceremony became the norm within Conservatism.
The earliest American bat mitzvot were, ritually, not quite the same as bar mitzvot. They were usually held on Friday nights, when the Torah is not read or, if held on Saturday morning like Judith Kaplan’s, the bat mitzvah girl would read from a printed humash, or book containing the Bible, rather than from the Torah scroll itself.
The first recorded bat mitzvah at a Reform congregation occurred in 1931 but, as with the Conservative movement, the ritual did not catch on right away. By the 1950’s, only one third of Reform congregations conducted them. Since the 1960s, as Reform has placed increasing emphasis on traditional rituals, bat mitzvah has grown to near universality in that movement’s congregations. A number of modern Orthodox congregations have now adopted some form of bat mitzvah as well. Bat mitzvah, an innovation in 1922, is now an American Jewish institution.
The introduction of bat mitzvah, which was originally meant only to mark the passage from Jewish girlhood to Jewish womanhood, raised a series of issues. As Paula Hyman puts it, "How could a girl be called to Torah as a bat mitzvah and then never have such an honor again?" Both Reform and Conservativism grappled with this problem and, by the 1970’s, a majority of congregations in both movements called women to the Torah.
If no thunder sounded when 12-year old Judith Kaplan read at the bimah of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism, Kaplan herself went on to make a joyful noise of her own. A brilliant child who learned to read English at age 2 and Hebrew at age 3, she studied at what is now the Juilliard School of Music from ages 7 to 18. She received her B.A. (1928) and M.A. (1932) in music education from
As Judith Eisenstein, she began a distinguished career as a teacher of musical pedagogy and the history of Jewish music at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America’s Teachers Institute. In 1959, at age 50, Eisenstein entered the School of Sacred Music of Hebrew Union College, obtained her Ph.D. and remained as a member of the faculty until 1979. By the time of her death in 1996, she had composed a significant body of original liturgical music, created and broadcast a thirteen-hour radio series on the history of Jewish music and authored a number of books, including the first American Jewish songbook for children (1937).
Of course, her monumental "first" remains her own bat mitzvah.
From: American Jewish Historical Society
The
(occasionally)
How Can Conservative Judaism Thrive Again?
That’s the question incoming JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen is going around the country asking these days. In that spirit, and in light of the recent law committee decisions, the movement sent out a detailed survey recently to rabbis and other assorted leaders. Read about it, and bloggers’ reactions, at:
JTS Poll Out (Jewish Week)
The survey itself can be found here.
Meanwhile, I’ve put together some of my own suggestions for the movement:
Some Suggestions for Revitalizing the Conservative Movement
By Joshua Hammerman
· Be “The Movement that Looks Like
o Most Americans agonize over complex issues like abortion, capital punishment and sexual orientation. Their religion should, too. Americans are craving an authentic spiritual alternative to the so-called “moral clarity” of fundamentalism, a few questions to go with all the pat answers. This muddle in the middle is an uncomfortable place to reside, but it is equally a dynamic one. So while other movements offer easy responses (which for Reform often is “Why not?” and for Orthodoxy, “No way!”), Conservatives look for the kind of dialectic that has been central to rabbinic Judaism since Talmudic times.
· Embrace Theological Humility and Intellectual Honesty
o Be the true inheritors of the title” Yisra-El” (those who struggle with God) – questioning truths rather than owning them; embracing science, validating doubt. There is no such thing as a knee-jerk Conservative response to anything, and that is how it should be, because what people yearn for is a religion based on the humble assumption that no human entity possesses the entirety of Truth. The strength of Conservative Judaism lies in the creative tension that is at the core of its ideology. Like most of us, Conservative Judaism lives in a real world of tough questions. It thrives on the unresolved conflicts that force us to confront imperfection: Judaism’s, society’s and our own.
· Advocate “Passionate Centrism” – not Muddy Compromise
o Being a passionate religious centrist means never being afraid to say “tayku,” while affirming that even diametrically opposing positions can be the words of the living God.
o Don’t apologize for not being God. That’s a strength, not a weakness.
· Revelation is Here and Now
o “The classical Jewish view teaches “the decline of the generations” — since Sinai we have grown further from revelation and stand, as a result, on a lower level of holiness. This is not a true covenantal understanding. The covenant does not fade or weaken with time. Our future is as promising as our past is powerful. For the Covenantal Jew, dialogue between the Jewish people and God began in the Bible and continues today.” (Rabbi David Wolpe)
o Our own self image has impact on our self image as a movement – we’re the movement that is always slouching, the “ever dying people.” It’s time to straighten up and stop slouching.
· “Apocalypse Later”
o “If you are planting a tree and the Messiah comes to the gates of the city, finish planting the tree, then go out to greet her.” (Talmud)
o It makes sense to finish planting the tree, for two reasons. 1) If the Messiah turns out to be Al Gore, you’ll get some real brownie points. And 2), because in rabbinic Judaism, the Messiah’s actual coming is beside the point. For the rabbis, the key to waiting for the Messiah was the waiting itself. They understood how dangerous it is when messianism gets out of hand – that’s why they call it messianism: because things get so messy -- and the Judaism that they created was expressly designed to prevent that from happening. The early rabbis following the destruction of the second temple had seen the dangers of messianism run amok at least twice in their lifetimes, with the rise of early Christianity and with the Bar Kochba rebellion of the year 132. But the rabbis didn’t dare eliminate the messianic strain entirely from Jewish tradition. The belief in some sort of end of days, the ultimate goal of a perfect world, a Nirvana -- is essential to all spiritual quests. So while we dare not eliminate speculation about the Messiah, nonetheless, authentic rabbinic Judaism falls squarely on the side of Apocalypse Later.
· “They Like Us…They Really Like Us!” We Need To Capitalize on Judaism’s Popularity
o …the Wall Street Journal ran a front-page article titled “You Don’t Have to Be Jewish to Want a Bar Mitzvah,” detailing the growing trend of non-Jewish children begging their parents for big bar/bat mitzvah bashes of their own.
When non-Jews can so casually assimilate what has long been the decisive generator of Jewish identity, it makes us wonder what sort of monster we’ve created. A successful monster, that’s what. Think about it: Mainstream
· Champion Human Dignity – Become the Mussar (Ethics) Movement
o Rabbi Eliezer says, “Let your neighbor’s dignity be precious to you as your own. (Avot 2:10) (Quote used in Gay Rights decision)
§ Gay decision based on this premise: a negative commandment can be overruled for the sake of maintaining human dignity
o Social action, yes…but Social INTERACTION even more crucial
§ Behavioral covenants – create model communities
o “I’m a good person but a bad Jew.” – Render that statement obsolete. Judaism should be seen as a tool for bettering the human condition.
§ Less focus on ritual (e.g. Shabbat and Kashrut) as cornerstones than as means to ethical ends
§ Campaign against Gossip
§ Climate change and energy policy
§ Business ethics
§ Food and contemporary life
§ Privacy Issues
§ Relationships
§ Shalom in the Home (Domestic violence)
· The Power of the Individual – One Size Doesn’t Fit All
o Synaplex / power of choice / multiple services / reaching people at different stages of the journey
o Acceptance above all – be a movement of LOVE, not rejection
o Every Jew is a Jew by Choice.
· Embrace the Sacred Journey – Welcome Fellow Travelers
o The journey is dynamic - the ladder of observance – 24/7 “striving Jew”
o Barriers to participation need to be broken down (“Judaism for Dummies”)
o “Keruv” extended to all – including non-traditional family units.
o Judaism is merely our language of expressing the universal experiences of being human. It is an exquisitely beautiful, textured language, derived from a history of astounding length, breathtaking variety and unmatched portability.
o Conservative Judaism is best equipped to draw from the wisdom of all dimensions of the Jewish experience. (Etz Hayyim)
o As we are on a journey, our operative direction should be neither left nor right, but forward.
o As a co-traveler and guide, the Rabbi’s role needs to be redefined and invigorated.
· Hybrid Judaism – Hybrid Jews
o Be the true inheritors of the title “Ivri” (“one who crosses over”)
o Maimonides learned from the Islamic scholar Averroes, Kabbalah learned from Sufi mysticism, Heschel learned from Reinhold Niebuhr. Covenantal Jews glory in this interchange, which is not threatened by the insights of others but enriched by them. (Rabbi David Wolpe)
o Racial purity is for Nazis. We live in a real world of overlapping and ever shifting identities. We are always “becoming” Jews.
· The Show Must Go On – “Sing Unto God a New Song”
o What people bemoan as clergy-centered "performance Judaism" has little to do with it being a performance and lots to do with it being a bad performance. How does one differentiate good from bad? The answer has little to do with how polished or aesthetically balanced the performance is; it's based more on how intense and authentically human are the emotions evoked by it. Almost always, the people decide. They vote with their tears, their singing voices and their feet….There is a Darwinian aspect to this that we must understand. That which brings life to our worship will survive, and that which doesn't will not. …The psalms themselves are imploring us, "Shiru L'Adonai, Shir Hadash," "Sing unto Adonai a new song." The caravan has moved on to new ways of making our ancient, sacred prayers come alive. Service attendance will continue to decline until we all understand that it's either good show -- or no-show. (Joshua Hammerman, “The Show Must Go On,” The Jewish Week,
o Shabbat service should be seen as a drama in 52 acts.
o Hebrew as strength, not a handicap – aim for authenticity and passion
· Take “Yes” for an Answer
o Judaism is a glass-half-full religion. So why, then, do so many Jews tend to be glass-half-empty people, weighed down by our glass-mostly-empty history. Why does bad karma happen to good religions? On paper at least, Judaism is optimistic to the core, a faith based on messianic aspiration and a positive view of human potential.
· A Life-Affirming Zionism –
o Israelis love everything American – they are beginning to love pluralism too. Israelis are also on spiritual quests of their own – we can share our journeys with them
o Rav Kook: “The Old becomes New and the New becomes Holy.”
o Need a Birthright
o Perhaps the most important verse in Second Isaiah is chapter 66:14: "You shall see and your heart shall rejoice, your limbs shall flourish like grass." That verse was engraved in one of the stones of the Western Wall, most likely by a Jewish worker during the rule of the Roman emperor Julian (361-363), when for a brief time it appeared that the
· Be Less About the Brain – More About the Heart
o It’s not an ideology that we need – it’s a pulse!
o The movement has tended to shed it’s most passionate parts fueling its intellectual shell: Reconstructionism, neo-Hasidism, Havurah movement, BJ, all offshoots of the movement.
· Institutionally, the movement needs to be reinvented.
o Overcome fear of change, fear of failure
o Everything needs to be re-explored
§ Name (Conservative? Covenantal?)
Jimmy Carter Morphs into Brother Billy
Jimmy Carter's offensive against US Jewry
Has Carter crossed the line? | Jerusalem Post – Alan Dershowitz
Here is an excerpt from Dershowitz’ article:
In my book, The Case for Peace, I argued that criticism of
* Employing stereotypes against
* Characterizing
* Singling out only
* Emphasizing and stereotyping certain characteristics among supporters of Israel that have traditionally been used in anti-Semitic attacks, for example, "pushy" American Jews, Jews "who control the media" and Jews "who control financial markets."
* Accusing Jews and only Jews of having dual loyalty.
* Blaming
* Falsely claiming that all legitimate criticism of Israeli policies is immediately and widely condemned by Jewish leaders as anti-Semitic, despite any evidence to support this accusation.
* Seeking to delegitimate
* Circulating wild charges against
I invite you, the readers, to review these factors and to decide for yourselves whether you believe Carter's post-publication remarks have crossed the line from legitimate criticism of
Our 5th Grade’s Winter Mitzvah Project:
A Time to Plant
During last summer’s war between
Micha Danieli is the
In the recent past, Micha was involved with Keren Hayesod a fundraising organization that primarily helps
Micha Danieli received his BA in Economics and MA in Development of Country Economy from
From the USCJ
Tzedek Hekhsher
The United Synagogue and the Rabbinical Assembly are considering the possibility of establishing the tzedek hehksher, which would certify kosher products as being consistent with Jewish social values. We are beginning by looking at the conditions for workers at meat-packing plants. To read a press release, click here; for an in-depth report, click here.
Halakhic Status of Gay Men and Lesbians
The USCJ background materials re. December 6 decisions of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards. For more information, including links to the teshuvot and to a video of panels we held before the vote.
Mitzvah/Tzedakkah Opportunties
Beth El Cares
Cathy Satz (968-9191; csscounsel@yahoo.com)Cheryl Wolff (968-6361; cwolff@optonline.net)BETH EL CARES co-chairs Mitzvah Project – Dog-related Items LINDY FRUITHANDLER WILL BECOME BAT MITZVAH ON MARCH 17. PLEASE READ THIS NOTE FROM HER REGARDING HER MITZVAH PROJECT:
For my mitzvah project I am helping Adopt-A-Dog, a volunteer organization in Greenwich, CT, which helps find good, safe homes for homeless animals. They have found homes for many Katrina dogs that lost their families in the hurricane. To help them, I am donating money I have raised, and collecting dog-related items such as toys, collars, bones, and leashes; and cat-related items such as toys, collars, and catnip. Any crates that your dog or cat no longer use would be greatly appreciated by Adopt-A-Dog You do not have to be dog or cat owner to help - Adopt-A-Dog also needs new or used blankets, pillows, soft table cloths, and really anything else that the animals can sleep on. I can collect some of these items myself, but I need your help to collect enough needed items to make a big difference.
I will have a collection box out in the
You can also help Adopt-A-Dog by saving "Weight Circles" from Purina Brand Dog Food. Adopt-A-Dog receives 8 cents for every pound of weight circles sent in to Purina. Adopt-A-Dog buys 1,000 pounds of dog food every month! Each label that you clip and donate from a 20 lb. bag gives them $1.60 towards their food bill. A 50 lb. bag label means $4.00 in meals for their pooches. Trust me, it adds up! Please clip the labels off the side of each bag you buy and place them in the envelope attached to the collection box.
On behalf of all the homeless dogs and cats at Adopt-A-Dog, thanks so much for your help!
Lindy Fruithandler
322-4712
To check out Adopt-A-Dog for yourself, please visit their website at www.adoptadog.org.
Gilad Shalit, abducted from southern Israel into Gaza on June 25, 2006
Ehud Goldwasser, abducted from Northern Israel, July 12, 2006
Eldad Regev,abducted from Northern Israel, July 12, 2006
Guy Hever, disappeared from his army base, August 17, 1997
Ron Arad, shot down over Lebanon,October 16, 1986
Zachary Baumel, missing-in-action since June 11,1982
Zvi Feldman, missing-in-action since June 11, 1982
Yehuda Katz, missing-in-action since June 11, 1982
Please do your part to bring Gilad Shalit,
Ehud "Udi" Goldwassser and Eldad Regev home to their families without delay.
Freethesoldiers.org represents a broad base of national Jewish organizations and community leaders that share a common urgency to advocate on behalf of these soldiers and their families, as well as Israel's other missing soldiers, Zachary Baumel, Tzvi Feldman, Yehudah Katz, Ron Arad and Guy Hever. Learn More
You can make a difference: Join one million people worldwide by signing the petition,
keep them close to your heart by wearing the dog tags.
http://www.freethesoldiers.org/
Why a New Year for Trees?
Tu B’Shevat will fall in two weeks and, although we are now finally feeling some of the effects of winter, it seems strangely out of place this year. We’re just not suffering enough to really year for spring. OK, now that I’ve given us the evil eye, here is something to help you prepare for this festive event that in this environmentally aware era is growing in popularity:
Click on http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/TuBishvat.htm, where you’ll find guided learning on the many aspects of this holiday, including:
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From the CT Jewish Ledger: http://www.jewishledger.com/
By Mark Mietkiewicz
Published: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 6:36 PM EST
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While winter was slow to come to most of North America, things have been quite different in
The best place to start your tour is at YouTube for videos [http://youtube.com] and Flickr for photos. [http://flickr.com] Go to those sites and search for “
After the large storm of 2000, the
Jerusalemite (and former Chicagoan) Joyce Schur says when snow hits, her city comes to a standstill. “People just want to stand around staring at it… [the] reason being because no one knows what to do with it! No one can figure out how to get it out of the way… There’s also no such thing as ice scrapers or calcium chloride. The city’s municipal workers rush to the Super-Sol and grab big blue boxes of kosher salt for de-icing streets like Herzl (I am not exaggerating).” [http://tinyurl.com/ygyh3e]
They’re better prepared up north. The Golan’s Mount Hermon, home of
With all the attention on
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Although this winter’s was a large storm, snow is nothing new to the
Mark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based Web site producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the Jewish Internet.
Let’s begin with GOOD NEWS from
and other sources
Check out this JTA article:
Renewal eyes consistency in training rabbis,
where you will see a picture including Rabbinic Pastor Dan Klipper
(who leads the Meditative Service at Synaplex). Mazal Tov to him on his ordination!
And read about Neshama Yoga (which will return at next month’s Synaplex) in this week’s Jewish Ledger: Kabbalah meets Kundalini
FROM Israel21c:
Beating heart tissue from embryonic stem cells created in Israeli lab
An Israeli scientific team from the Technion have succeeded in creating in the laboratory beating heart tissue from human embryonic stem cells. Moreover, the researchers - Dr. Shulamit Levenberg and Prof. Lior Gepstein - have succeeded in creating blood vessels in the tissue, which will enable its acceptance by the heart muscle. With heart disease the leading cause of death in the
Health | Israeli team part of international discovery of new gene for Alzheimer Disease
Israeli researchers from the Technion are part of an international team of scientists who have uncovered a major new gene - SORL1 - for late-onset Alzheimer disease. Replicated in four distinct ethnic groups (North American and European Caucasians, African-Americans, Caribbean-Hispanics, and Arabs residing in
Technology | Turning shale and asphalt into oil
Ten years ago, Haifa-based company Hom Tov tried to interest investors in their revolutionary oil-producing technique which recycles oil shale, a flinty rock impregnated with hydrocarbon. At the time, the estimates that the process could produce oil costing $16 a barrel seemed too steep to justify the huge infrastructure costs. Today, with prices over the $50 per barrel mark, interest in the technique has returned, and the company is forging ahead with developing a way to create affordable and environmentally-friendly fuel which could serve as a guide for other countries with oil shale deposits. More...
Technology | Israeli startup revolutionizes Internet to TV integration
Two-year-old Israeli company TVNGO has developed a revolutionary new hardware and software system that enables Internet overlay on TV broadcasting. This unique technology, which can be controlled by the viewer with his remote control, has already been tested successfully in
Culture | Telling Israel's stories to kids
now for the rest
Prime source: Daily Alert of the
See also http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/c.hsJPK0PIJpH/b.672581/k.CB99/Home.htm
‘Feeling Of Disgust In The Country’
Stewart Ain (the Jewish Week)
Inside
Jewish Membership in Congress at All-Time High By Elizabeth Williamson (Wahsington Post) While Democrats celebrated the election of the House's first female speaker, another milestone passed more quietly: The 110th Congress includes more Jewish lawmakers than any other in history, and all but four are Democrats.
Rice Resists Seeking Talks with Iran - Anne Gearan
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in
Rice also announced that the Quartet - the U.S., EU, Russia, and the UN - will convene a Mideast strategy session early next month in
Israel, Palestinians Gird for Talks - Richard Boudreaux
Secretary of State Rice will return to the region next month for three-way talks with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Olmert's aides said he views the encounter as part of a "pre-negotiation stage" in which the two sides build trust through initial steps, such as
Israelis feel burned for having tried to negotiate a peace deal with Yasser Arafat, only to see those talks give way in 2000 to a Palestinian uprising. Israel is also distrustful of Abbas' authority, which was weakened by the militant Hamas movement's victory in parliamentary elections a year ago, and is loath to discuss territorial concessions with a leader it sees as unable to restrain large-scale violence against the Jewish state. (
Israel to Introduce Pilot ID System to Foil 9/11-Style Attacks - Dan Williams
Danny Shenar, head of security at the Transportation Ministry, told Israel's Army Radio, "This system was developed to prevent aviation mega-terror over Israel, in the form of a plane coming through one of the borders and crashing into a target in Israel....The system should be operational by the end of the year....Using this card, it will be possible to verify that the person flying the aircraft is indeed the person qualified to fly it." Shenar said it would be impossible for a hijacker to force a pilot to hand over identifying details. (Reuters/Washington Post)
IDF Objects to U.S. Plans to Give Abbas' Forces Battle Equipment - Amos Harel
The Israel Defense Forces has raised objections to U.S. plans to equip Mahmoud Abbas' forces with battle gear as part of an $86 million U.S. program to strengthen the PA presidential guard, an Israeli security source and European diplomats said Wednesday. "The IDF's objections in this case center on equipment, such as body armor, that is liable to wind up in the wrong hands and be used for terrorism," an Israeli security source said. (Ha'aretz)
Palestinian Rocket Fire at Israel Continues
A Kassam rocket fired by Palestinians in
Global Commentary and Think-Tank Analysis (Best of
Lost in the Middle East - Editorial
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is making a high-profile effort to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process - in spite of an unfavorable situation in the region - in order to solidify an alliance of "the mainstream" against
The administration's concern about
U.S. Repeating Mideast Mistakes? - Steven A. Cook
On one level it makes sense to arm forces loyal to Abbas against Hamas, but the policy is based on the assumption that Fatah can either weaken Hamas or fight the organization to a draw. It is entirely possible that Hamas would prevail; after all, Hamas is better equipped and better organized than the Fatah-affiliated forces. The policy of training forces loyal to Abbas is in many ways similar to the mistakes the U.S. made in Iraq, where Washington essentially trained one set of militias to fight their rivals. The writer is a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. (Newsday)
The Arab Lobby "Network" - John Perazzo
According to the Arab American Institute, there are approximately 3.5 million people of Arab heritage in the
The Atlanta-based
Observations:
Can a Conventional Army Vanquish a Terrorist Insurgency?
- Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror (
- Total victory is not the sole model of victory which history recognizes. Israel enjoyed a temporary victory over Palestinian terror in Gaza in the beginning of the 1970s, when Ariel
- It is necessary to adopt an alternative concept of victory, which should be called "minimal victory," in which terror is not destroyed, but is contained at a minimal level, and one must invest constant energy in order to prevent its eruption.
- Temporary victory and minimal victory do not provide a solution to the ideological conflict. Nonetheless, a political solution is not the affair of the army, and efforts to obtain it cannot be divorced from the obligation to fight determinedly against any attempt by the enemy to secure achievements through violence, as in the case of the present attempt by the Palestinians to attain political achievements through terror.
- This "minimal victory," in which terror is contained and checked before it strikes, becomes more significant if, due to the terror organizations' prolonged lack of success, they consciously or not decide to reduce the number of their terror attempts. Such an achievement is possible, for example, when the terror bodies are too busy protecting their own lives instead of planning terror and carrying it out.
- Israel went to war in the West Bank in April 2002 in Operation "Defensive Shield" after it counted 132 dead, the majority civilians, in the preceding month (meaning the equivalent of 1,400 deaths a year). In a continuous and uninterrupted effort since that campaign,
- If the decision on the battlefield does not lead the political bodies to an understanding that the situation permits them to withstand the demands of the terror organizations, and they elect for one reason or another to compromise or surrender, withdraw or concede, then all the work invested by the military echelon will be in vain.
MYTH #248
"
FACT
Newspaper headlines in mid-January 2007 said it all: “
Abbas not only rejected the chance for peace and interim statehood, he declared his continued support for violence against
Abbas also used the type of anti-Semitic rhetoric normally associated with Hamas. While criticizing Israeli counter-terror operations, he said, “The sons of
At the very moment when the United States, Israel and Europe are trying to strengthen his position against Hamas in the belief that he will act to stop terror, Abbas was condoning attacks against Israel. Just days before Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived to ask him to fulfill his commitments under the road map for peace, Abbas announced he supported the very actions the road map calls for him to stop. This is the familiar tactic of Palestinians who pretend to be moderates in English for the Western press and then express their true feelings in Arabic to the Palestinian public.e that he is responsible for as president of the Palestinian Authority. Abbas is now just trying to survive. To do so, he must unify the factions fighting for dominance. Since he is unwilling to confront his opponents militarily, he hopes to cajole them to cease their mutiny against him by playing the
The Palestinians’ latest rejection of an offer for statehood can now be added to the long list of missed opportunities starting as far back as 1937. Will the Palestinian people ever choose a leader who will put their interests first and choose prosperity over power, peace over violence and the future over the past?
This article can be found at http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths2/exclusives.html#a66
A Moving Invocation
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner
Founding Director, Just Congregations
Invocation
Inauguration of Deval Patrick
Governor of the
January 4th, 2007
Governor Patrick, Lieutenant Governor Murray, elected and civic leaders, people of the
commonwealth, I am most deeply honored to offer these words of invocation to open this
sacred assembly.
In the Talmud, the ancient rabbis teach that whenever we encounter a large gathering of
people, it is appropriate to offer the following blessing:
“Blessed is the Wise One
Who understands secrets
For the mind of each
Is different from the other
Just as the face of each
Is different from the other.”
Source of all life,
Out of many,
You have made us ONE.
You have created us splendidly
In our distinctiveness:
You have made us a spectacular,
Living tapestry
Many colors and complexions
Rich in languages and beliefs,
Varied in our blessings,
And challenged by our curses.
Indeed the face of each one
Is different than the other –
And here we gather
Meeting,
Face to face.
Look around! See the beauty of the faces,
Each one unique
Reflecting the very image
Of the divine
Each one from a common source
A single, sacred family.
Yet behind every face
Hide so many secrets.
Private, painful secrets of suffering.
If only we would find your Wisdom O God
Revealing all the secrets,
The pained suffering
Of parents who watch helpless
As their children are plagued
By guns, drugs, and gangs
The private pain
Of children struggling to care for their parents
As they age and grow frail,
The secret suffering of immigrants
Who like us came to this place
To seek a better life
And labor hidden and underpaid in jobs
Upon which the rest of us depend,
But won’t do ourselves
Of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters
Who daily confront blatant discrimination,
Inequality and humiliation
Of those who sleep in the streets,
Those who are overworked and underpaid,
Those who are abused in their own homes
Those who are left behind
By their disabilities.
So many secrets,
Private sufferings.
Yet we have hope.
Yes we have faith.
Because we have each other.
Assembled here in the light of day
Bathing in the unseasonable warmth of your presence,
We affirm that democracy
Is not built with bricks and mortar;
We know your ancient wisdom
Is found in no cathedral,
Nor shrine –
It is here,
Face to face
It is everywhere humanity gathers
And out of many,
Makes one.
Let our secrets of suffering
Give way to stories of
Rebuilding
Repair
And Redemption
Stories of redemption
Like a kid from the South Side of
Becoming the governor of Massachusetts
Representing the people
We the people;
Let us never forget the faces
The secrets
And the stories
God, grant us your wisdom
That we may never forget that
Democracy happens out here –
Face to face –
Among the people
As we join together
In one spirit
And write one shared story:
The story of a commonwealth
That acts like a commonwealth
Where secrets of private suffering
Where tales of lonely languish
Are joined
Through the power of the people
Rising up
Together
Encountering one another
Face to face
And writing a new story
One story
Echoing Isaiah’s ancient call:
“If you banish the yoke from your midst
The menacing hand
And evil speech
And you offer your compassion to the hungry
And satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
Then shall your light shine in the darkness
And your gloom shall be like noonday…
You shall be like a watered garden
Like a spring whose waters never fail.
And you shall rebuild ancient ruins
You shall restore the foundations of many generations
You shall be called the repairer of the breach…”
This is the story of redemption;
The story of a true commonwealth
Rebuilt
Repaired
And Redeemed.
Amen. May this be God’s will.
Saturday, February 3rd, 2007
Break out your blue jeans, and your dancing shoes
and join us for a full evening of food, cocktails, dancing and good friends.
All this while you peruse the unbelievable items up for bid at the Silent Auction.
Kick off Super Bowl weekend when TBE transforms into the Temple Rock Cafe
with some rockin' music, and awesome activities.
Mark your calendars for this Temple Beth El fundraising "extravaganza".
What:
When: Saturday, February 3rd from 7:30 p.m. -midnight
Where:
Cost: Only $90 per person either by check, MasterCard or Visa.
Food: Dinner (buffet), dessert and full bar.
Entertainment: Dance to the tunes of "The In Laws" band
playing Rock and Roll and Pop music spanning the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's.
RSVP: To www.tbe.org with our NEW online RSVP form
or send us the card you receive in the mail with your payment by January 19th.
Bring your checkbook or credit card and enthusiasm--there will be plenty of opportunities for you to support the
Questions? Contact templerockcafe@tbe.org or call 203.322.6901, ext. 304
-------------------------
Dear Fellow Congregant:
We are very excited about Temple Beth El’s 2007 primary fund raising event “Temple Rock Café” that will take place at TBE on Saturday evening
February 3, 2007!
This event will prove to be a fantastic evening for all adult members (FOR ALL AGES) of
The evening will be highlighted with a Silent Auction in which we need your help in donating items and services. Silent auction items and services can be just about anything of any value such as:
Sports tickets Day of Golf Yoga Lessons
Vacation Package Salon/Nail Service Baby Sitting
Music Lessons Theater Tickets Art Work
Jewelry DVD/Music Items Time Shares
Autographs/ Frequent Flier
Memorabilia Miles
The Silent Auction is the main fund raising component of the evening as the ticket price only covers the cost of the event. All profits will go directly to the
level of services that we have all become accustomed to.
We encourage all congregants to please do their best in participating even if you do not plan on attending the event.
Contact us for a donation form for items and services that you are willing to contribute.
Thank you in advance for your participation and we look forward to hearing from you.
Break out your blue jeans and dancing shoes and get ready to rock with your friends at The Temple Rock Cafe!
Peter Kempner Elissa Hyman
Co-Chair Co-Chair
WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A FORM TO MAKE YOUR DONATION TAX DEDUCTIBLE
Synaplex Shabbat
Jan 19-20
Featuring
SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE DR. BENJAMIN GAMPEL
![[Dr. Benjamin Gampel ]](070119_files/image012.jpg)
Benjamin Gampel is the Dina and Eli Field Family Chair in Jewish History at The Jewish Theological Seminary. He teaches courses in medieval and early modern Jewish history, with a special focus on the medieval Sephardim, and lectures widely on the entire range of Jewish history.
Dr. Gampel spent close to a year doing research in local archives in Spain for his first book, The Last Jews on Iberian Soil. After a great deal of painstaking work compiling materials for the project, Dr. Gampel was able to recreate some of the long-forgotten history of the Jews of the
An energetic scholar and teacher, Dr. Gampel is dedicated to bringing the history of the Jews to a broad public audience. He has addressed synagogues and lay groups, organizations of all stripes, and scholarly conclaves.
Dr. Gampel received his doctorate from
Scholar’s Lecture Topics:
Friday Night:
“Judaism and the Rise of Islam”
Shabbat Morning:
“Sex, Food and
Saturday Afternoon:
“Gazing into the Countenance of the Divine.
Confronting the Riddle of Jewish Apostasy”
Plus
SHABBAT UNPLUGGED ON FRIDAY NIGHT
WITH CANTOR LITTMAN
o Shabbat Unplugged with Cantor Littman, Friday at 7:30. – note the time. Sponsored by an anonymous donor. Followed by Scholar-in-residence presentation, sit down oneg and Rebbe’s Tish. Plus Tot Shabbat at 6:45 and continuing at 7:30.
o Arthur White will speak during breakfast on two exciting new projects designed to increase self-sufficiency: Literacy in prisons and using technology to help seniors stay in their homes. Among his many titles, Arthur is Special Advisor to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and Founder of “
o Meditative service with Dan Klipper, Traditional Service led by David Hirshfield, Learner’s Service for adults with
o In the afternoon…
§ Study the Weekly Portion with Rabbi Eric Hoffman
§ “Finding the Right Job,” with Donna Sweidan, Career Counselor
§ Discuss how families transmit values, traditions…and baggage…”from generation to generation,” with Mara Hammerman and Elissa Stein
§ “Interfaith and the Family,” with Elise Klein, director of UJF’s Bridges program
§ Lots of surprises for kids and teens, including our TBE Winter Sports Spectacular
§ Food a plenty (of course!)
§
Then, it’s all topped off by:
o Havdalah Under the Stars (and the first sliver of the New Moon), LIVE, from the
o And more…
The Full Schedule:
Friday Night, January 19, 2007
6:45 pm & 7:30 pm - Tot Shabbat
(2 services) Nurit Avigdor
7:30 pm – Shabbat Unplugged with Cantor Littman
Following Friday Night Services
Please Join Us
Sit-down candlelight Oneg Shabbat
"Judaism and the Rise of Islam” Dr. Gampel
Rebbe’s Tish
Songs, stories and schmoozing
Saturday Morning and Afternoon
January 20, 2007
8:45 am – Breakfast with Arthur White Increasing self-sufficiency by using technology to help seniors stay in their homes and to promote literacy in prisons.
9:45 am – Adults please choose one:
Traditional Shabbat Service
David Hirshfield
Meditative Service
Rabbinic Pastor Daniel Klipper
“Living our Prayers”
10:00 am–12:30 pm – For our children:
Tot Sabbath Morning Nurit Avigdor
Special Junior Congregation Jonathan Cahr
Teen Service includes
“No Hate but Harmony”
11:15 am – All adults join together for
the conclusion of services and
Dr. Gampel’s talk.
11:30 am – “Sex, Food and
12:30 pm – Luncheon
Fun Indoor and Outdoor Children and Teen Programming for the Afternoon!!
1:30 pm - “Gazing into the Countenance
of the Divine. Confronting the Riddle
of Jewish Apostasy” Dr. Gampel
3:00 – 4:00 pm – Please choose one:
“Finding the Right Job: Essential
Strategies for Success in Your Job
Search” Career Counselor,
Donna Sweidan of Careerfolk, LLC
“Interfaith and the Family” Elise Klein, Director of Bridges, UJF. Share your own experiences on the complex realities of life in a mutli-religious family. How can we work to make all members of blended families feel welcome and respected while still staying true to our own beliefs?
Study of the Weekly Portion –
Parsha Vaera Rabbi Eric Hoffman
“The Perpetuation of Family Values and Traditions”
Mara Hammerman & Elissa Stein. How families transmit values, traditions…and baggage…from generation to generation.
6:30 – 8:00 pm – “Havdalah Under the Stars” Our first ever family Havdalah program at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center Observatory. Havdalah service, crafts, star gazing and dessert. Children must be accompanied by an adult. RSVP to Carl Shapiro at 203-353-0657 or cshapiro@optonline.net
Casual dress encouraged.
Please feel free to come and go as you please.
Visit www.tbe.org for the latest information about events and schedules (times subject to change).
And Coming February 9-10…
Synaplex features…
Sisterhood Shabbat
February 10, 2007
Including Miriam’s Minyan at 9:30am
Sisterhood Shabbat (beginning with Torah service) will begin at 10:30am
Please join us for a Synaplex weekend and annual Sisterhood Shabbat.
Members of Sisterhood will lead the service, with the d’var torah delivered by scholar-in-residence Dr.
If you are interested in participating in this wonderful event, please contact us with your name, phone number and email address. Our contact information is below for your convenience.
There are English readings, Hebrew/torah readings and non-speaking parts available.
We look forward to hearing from you and together sharing another beautiful Shabbat experience at
Denise Greenman Linda Hempel Braun
329-8594 975-7352
denise147@aol.com lkbraun@aol.com
Plus Scholar in Residence
Rabbi Burton Visotzky![[Dr. Burton L. Visotzky]](070119_files/image013.jpg)
BURTON L. VISOTZKY serves as the Nathan and Janet Appleman Professor of Midrash and Interreligious Studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he joined the faculty upon his ordination as Rabbi in 1977. He has served as the Associate and Acting Dean of the
Prof. Visotzky has been a visiting scholar at Oxford University, a visiting fellow and life member of Clare Hall, University of Cambridge, as well as a visiting faculty member at Princeton Theological Seminary, Hebrew Union
Prof. Visotzky's articles and reviews have been published in America, Europe, and
With Bill Moyers, he developed ten hours of television for PBS on the book of Genesis, serving as consultant and a featured on-screen participant. The series, "Genesis: A Living Conversation," premiered in October, 1996. Visotzky was also a consultant to Jeffrey Katzenberg of DreamWorks for their 1998 film, "Prince of
Visotzky sits on the Board of Advisors of the Stein Center for Law and Ethics at Fordham Law School, the Steering Committee of the New Israel Fund Rabbinic Council, and served on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of CancerCare. He is active in Jewish/Christian/Muslim dialogue internationally, most recently in
Rabbi Visotzky is active as a lecturer and scholar-in-residence throughout North America, Europe, and
Scholar’s Lecture Topics (for portion of Yitro):
Friday night:
“What is God’s Place in the Synagogue?”
Saturday Morning (in honor of sisterhood Shabbat):
“Three Mothers: Mother of all life, Mother of all Jews, Mother of all Prophets:
Portraits of Eve, Sarah and Miriam.”
Saturday afternoon:
“Who Spoke the Ten Commandments?
Word of God or Hand of Moses?”
Plus …
First-ever Havdalah Unplugged with Cantor Littman
o Friday night service at 7:30, followed by scholar in residence lecture and Rebbe’s tish
o Shabbat morning features the return of Yoga and meditative Shacharits and “Miriam’s Minyan.”
o children’s and teens services and programming
o Sisterhood book discussion
o Afternoon discussion of Conservative Law Committee decisions
o Israeli Movie Night: “Walk on Water”
AND MUCH MORE --- STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS!
Many thanks to Penny and Michael Horowitz for their sponsorship of our Scholar in Residence presentations,
in memory of Bessie Silver and Millie Reiss
to an anonymous donor family for sponsoring January’s Shabbat Unplugged,
and to Allen and Beverly Kezsbom for their sponsorship of Havdalah Unplugged
“HOME GAME”
This Sunday - Jan 21 at 9:00 AM
Movie and discussion from 9-11 AM, open to all.
Followed by a reunion for TBE
Our guest will be Peter Abelow of Keshet Tours,
who has been our guide on the most recent two TBE
The movie:
“HOME GAME”
Elidad Schneid usually got nervous before major games of the Gush Katif inter-settlement basketball league. As a member of the Netzer Hazani team, the winner of most of the league's championship trophies, he should have been particularly nervous hours before the tournament final against Neve Dekalim. But he wasn't. He was too busy planning for another battle scheduled for the same day: the battle over his home.
Schneid is one of the few basketball players interviewed in Home Game, a new documentary following the struggle of the Netzer Hazani community to hold on to its Gaza Strip homes in the days before the fateful August 2005 implementation of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan. The documentary was produced by Peter’s son Avi Abelow, who developed the idea for the film after taking a leave from his Tel Aviv consulting job to support the Gush Katif settlers. After infiltrating Netzer Hazani two weeks before the disengagement began, he used his digital camera to document what he hoped would not be the Gaza settlements' final days. Despite having no previous experience in the film industry, he assembled his footage to create a short film to help raise money for Gush Katif residents after their evacuation, offering donors a longer version as a bonus. This longer film eventually evolved into a full-fledged documentary.
Home Game's insider footage includes teenagers painting the settlement in orange, the color associated with the anti-disengagement movement; a near violent encounter between young settlers and border police; the settlers' return of their weaponry to the IDF; emotional meetings in which settlers discuss painful decisions about how to prepare for their evacuation; the heart-wrenching day of the evacuation itself; and, of course, the final home game.
Dr. Peter Abelow is the Managing Director of Keshet, the Center for Educational Tourism in
As a teen growing up in
A Seder in the Winter?
Family Tu B'Shevat Seder: Sunday January 28th
The Sisterhood is excited to announce our upcoming Family Event,
Family Tu B'Shevat Seder and Dinner
Sunday, January 28th at 4:00 p.m.
Join TBE in Celebrating Our Own Version of Labor Day
With Music, Learning, Fun and Food
Sponsored by
Italian Entrée for Adults
Pasta for Children
Individual Adult: $15
Individual Child (Ages 2-12): $9
Maximum Per Family: $48
Please bring Non-Member Family and Friends
Individual Adult: $16
Individual Child (Ages 2-12): $10
Be an Angel and Be A:
Patron Family: $100
Sponsor Family: $50
Special Note: This event contains nuts. Please report any nut allergies to the planning committee and we will make special arrangements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RSVP By Monday, January 22nd with Payment and Form to the Sisterhood of Temple Beth El, 350 Roxbury Road, Stamford, CT 06902. Your payment is your reservation.
Family Tu B’Shevat Seder and Dinner: Sunday, January 28th, 2007
Name: _______________________________________ Telephone Number:_______
# Adults:______________________ # Children:______ Ages of Children: ________
Total $ Enclosed: __________________
Yes -- I would like to be a Patron or Sponsor Family!
Please contact
And Speaking of Seders…
2nd Night of Passover - The Seder
Believe it or not, this outstanding event will return to our temple. We will have plenty of activities for children of all ages, and share our experiences as one giant family. We will enjoy a terrific meal, and someone else cleaning up after us. We will learn new facts about Passover, and introduce our new game, Pin the Matzah Ball on the Pharaoh! This years co-chairs, Steven Mayer is asking for help with the various committees so that we ensure a successful event. Please contact Rabbi Hammerman, or Steve Mayer at 203-316-9195; e-mail steve_mayer@mayerbenefits.com –to let us know if you plan to attend.
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Please help the 5th grade religious school students reach their tzedakah goal:
Purchase 100 trees to rebuild northern Israel
During Hezbollah’s attack on Israel this past summer, 20% of Northern Israel ’s forests were destroyed resulting in the loss of 2 million trees and 20,000 acres of land. The soil, wildlife (many animals were killed), and scenic beauty of the region were lost. Also, tourism and the economy are suffering badly.
Our 5th grade students are making a noble effort to rebuild the forests. In the spirit of tzedakah and Tu B’Shevat (February 3), please help them reach their goal by purchasing a tree or making a donation.
All funds raised will be donated to the Jewish National Fund’s Operation Northern Renewal program.
Thank you so much.
Parents of the 5th Grade Students
Please complete and return with payment by January 31st to:
Make Checks Payable to:
(in the memo please write – JNF Operation Northern Renewal)
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A Parlor Meeting
Regarding a Jewish High School in
Come hear
Rabbi Danny Lehmann
Head Master of The Gann Academy – The New Jewish High School in Greater Boston who will share his insights and experience as he celebrates his 10th year as Head Master of a pluralistic Jewish High School.
Come learn about the initiative to create our Jewish
Sunday, January 21, 2007
7:00 pm
At the home of Fred and Eileen Springer
Dessert and coffee/tea will be served.
This meeting is for anyone who cares about Jewish education and
the future of our youth and our community.
RSVP to sbirke@comcast.net or rweseley@optonline.net
Directions: From the
Turn LEFT onto CT-137 /
Support our
COLLEGE STUDENTS!
"Keeping Up with the Steins"
Movie Showing & Discussion
January 27, 2006
7:30 PM
Hosted by Sisterhood
Benjamin Fiedler has a lot to be nervous about; his Bar Mitzvah is fast approaching, and his parents are caught up in plans to make his party even more lavish than the one the Steins threw for their son. Amid his family's debate over whether to invite an estranged grandfather, the youth solves the problem by arranging for Grandpa to arrive two weeks early.
Come see the movie, "Keeping Up with the Steins," and join us for a lively discussion. This movie explores the Bar Mitzvah ritual and the family dynamics that often accompany it. Open to all adult members including B'nai Mitzvah aged children. Candy and popcorn to be provided. Free! (Movie rated PG-13)
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class of 2007
YOUR YEAR HAS ARRIVED!
Upcoming Family programs
Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM
Jan. 21 – Bima 101, Mock Wedding and Mitzvah projects
Feb. 4 – The World Wide Wrap (open to all congregants)
February 4, 2007
WORLD WIDE WRAP VII
Get Ready To Wrap & Roll!
WANTED – HELP FOR PURIM CARNIVAL:
We are looking for some volunteers to help out at a special family evening presented by the YOUTH COMMISSION for families with children of all ages.
Temple Beth El’s Annual Purim Carnival
Saturday March 3, 2007
HELP IS NEEDED TO SELL TICKETS, WORK THE PRIZE TABLE, SET UP AND CLEAN UP.
Please contact Roz Rubin at 356-0515 rozrubin@optonline.net or Carl Shapiro at 203-353-0657 cshapiro@optonline.net if you are interested in helping out
ADULT ED
“The Many Demensions of Jewish Prayer”
with
meets select Sunday mornings 9:00-10:00 am
Bimah 101:
Prepatory course for Adult Bar/ Bat Mitzvah
With Cantor
Meets weekly Sunday mornings 10:00-11:00 am
Judaism for Everyone
An Introductory Class for Dummies, Smarties…
and Those Who Don’t Know How to Ask
With
Meets weekly on select Sundays 11:00 am-12:00 pm
(A prerequisite for those who wish to join
the Beth El Adult Bar/ Bat Mitzvah Class.)
Fee: $50 for materials
Modern Conversational Hebrew Ulpan
Instructor: Eran Vaisben, Education Director
Do you have good basic Hebrew reading skills? The primary goal of this class is to further your overall
understanding and use of the Hebrew language. This class emphasis is on communicative skills that
will enable you to communicate in simple Hebrew for everyday situations. This first level Ulpan class
is covering a variety of dialogue, articles, stories and songs.
Prerequisite: Hebrew reading
Learning and Latte at Borders
featuring Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Rev. Douglas McArthur and Dr. Behjat Syed
This year’s topic:
“Moral Dilemmas for a World in Crisis”
Join us as we engage in friendly dialogue about some of the hot-button issues of the day.
Meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 7:30-8:30 PM, October-May
Topics (subject to last-minute adjustment to keep up with the headlines)
Feb. 13 - Can other religions be “true?” How can pluralism work for the believer?
March 13 – Is sexuality good, evil or neither? What are the worst “sins” for our traditions?
April 10 – What are different ways of imagining God in our traditions? How does God show love?
May 8 – What is the future of religion in
There is an $18.00 fee for non-members
Meets weekly on Tuesday evenings at 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Starting January 2nd– March 27th (No Session on February 20th)
To register please call/email the
(203) 322-6901, Ext. 306
Community Scholar-in-Residence Program
AVRAHAM INFELD
President Emeritus of National Hillel & Early Architect of “birthright
March 20, 2007
7:30 pm at Temple Beth El (opening session)
“Being Jewish in the iPod Age”
Maintaining and translating Jewish values into contemporary Jewish life
Infeld is known for his searing intellect, brilliant insights
into Jewish life and enthusiastic, dynamic speaking style,
Avraham Infeld is not to be missed.
For more information on the other events of the three-day program,
visit UJF website at www.ujf.org or contact
Dr. Ilana De Laney
203.321.1373 ext. 114 or ilana@ujf.org
This program made possible through the generosity
of the Herbert and Sarah M. Gibor Charitable Foundation
We PROMISE you won’t be disappointed!
We are proud to announce the GRAND OPENING of
Starting the first Shabbat in February, we will be offering a spectacular
assortment of weekly shabbos take out with delicacies from world famous
eateries at competitive prices. We will be offering Dougies Grill, Chopstix
Chinese, Zadies Bakery and more....All you do is shop, order and pay online;
we will then deliver the food to your home. (or you can pick it up on
Thursday night in
http://www.stamfordkosher.com and leave us your
suggestions and comments to help us best meet your needs. We look forward
to serving you and making your Shabbat a wonderfully, delicious experience.
R. Yehuda Jeiger
R. Yehuda Tucker
Havdalah Under the Stars
A special family evening presented by the YOUTH COMMISSION for families with children of all ages.
(Entrance and parking is ¼ mile up the street from the
January 20, 2007
6:30 to 8:00 pm
Price: $5 per child (Child must be accompanied by an adult)
Event will include short service, craft, view of the stars, and dessert/light snacks for everyone.
To RSVP for your family contact Carl Shapiro cshapiro@optonline.net or 203-353-0657
This program has been subsidized by a generous contribution from
Sisterhood of
This is Harrison Shapiro, the USY chapter President. I would like to see all of you (or your kids) at our trip to
Please RSVP by replying to edoecohen@gmail.com
To get the group rate we must order tickets in advance by Monday, January 22nd.
USY is going to
NEW
WHEN: Saturday, January 27th
TIME: Meet at
Plan to be picked up at
COST: $40 Members
$45 Non-Members
Please make checks payable to Temple Beth El
PRICE INCLUDES:
Go-Karts, Laser Tag,
Please RSVP by FRIDAY, JANUARY 19th to the Temple Beth El Hebrew School office or by email to edoecohen@gmail.com
Join the JCC Maccabi trip to
a 4-week action packed tour from June 24 – July 23.
We will travel all over
For more information or to register for JCC Maccabi
College Students!
Registration is now open for the
2007 KOACH KALLAH!!!
The Original FACE BOOK:
A Jewish Guide to (non-virtual) Community
February 22 - 25, 2007
- Enjoy a spirited Shabbat
- Lots of students from North America
- Meet representatives from Israel Programs
- Celebrate!!
- Community Service Projects
- Vision the future of the Conservative Movement
- Learn from peers and other scholars
- Sing, Dance and Laugh!
- Have an awesome time!
Scholar-in-Residence
Rabbi Pamela Barmash
Artists-in-Residence
Aaron Freeman and Sharon Rosensweig
Scholarships available from KOACH, some Hillels and local congregations.
For details, go to www.koach.org or e-mail koach@uscj.org
Jews in our Government
While this isn’t exactly humor, comedy has a capricious side, and the blurring boundaries of Jewish identity can, like politics, make for uncanny twists and “strange bedfellows.” Thanks to Chuck Donen for forwarding this.
1. Which sitting US Senator had the most Jewish grandparents?
a. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D,
b. Senator George Allen (R, Virginia)
c. Senator Hillary Clinton (D, New York)
a - Of the three, only Senator Feinstein is Jewish and she wins with 3 Jewish grandparents (although not her mother's mother), Senator Allen had 2 (his mother's parents) and Senator Clinton had a Jewish step-grandfather.
2. The late Israel Goldfarb was the father-in-law of:
a. Senator Russ Feingold (D,
b. Senator Arlen Specter (R, Pennsylvania)
c. Senator Harry Reid (D, Nevada - Incoming Majority Leader)
c - Incoming Majority Leader Reid's father-in-law was a Jewish immigrant from the Ukraine named Israel Goldfarb, who came to America early in the 20th century. Most of his family perished in the Holocaust. Senator Reid and his wife are practicing Mormons. Senator Specter, a practicing Jew, late father-in-law was Jewish. Senator Feingold has had a Jewish father-in-law and a non-Jewish one and currently is father-in-law-less.
3. Which Member of Congress has the most Jewish grandchildren?
a. Representative Steve Israel (D,
b. Representative Nancy Pelosi (D, California - Speaker of the House-elect)
c. Representative Eric Cantor (R, Virginia)
b - House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, who is not Jewish, has 2 Jewish grandchildren. Congressmen
4. The current Holy Book controversy in
a. The first Muslim elected to Congress wanting to take the oath on the Koran
b. Jews wanting to be able to take the oath with a Torah
c. Christians insisting on being sworn in with the New Testament
a - Incoming Congressman Keith Ellison, a practicing Muslim, plans to take the Oath of Office in January holding the Koran. Jews and Christians have been taking the oath holding their holy scriptures since the founding of the republic.
5. The current
300,000,000 people.
Which of the following is true?
a. The Supreme Court is more than 20% Jewish - the largest number of Jews in history.
b. The new US Senate will be 13% Jewish - the largest number of Jews in history.
c. The new US House will be 8% Jewish - the largest number of Jews in history.
d. All of the above
d- all of the above! We should kvell!!
I guess another miracle of modern American Jewish life if that the Chairman of the Republican National Committee is a practicing Jew, Ken Mehlman, who celebrated becoming Bar Mitzvah at age 13. The Chair of the Democratic National Committee is Howard Dean, a practicing Christian, whose Jewish son celebrated becoming Bar Mitzvah at age 13.
Previous Shabbat-O-Grams can be accessed directly from our web site (www.tbe.org)
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