This Moment: When Does Joseph First Cry? Hello, Margaret, It's Me, God; Bringing Jewish Values into the Synagogue Kitchen

 

In This Moment  The annual Yom Ha'atzmaut Bible Quiz was held yesterday in Jerusalem. Here are the two finalists grappling over the final question: When does Joseph cry for the first time? (Answer below) The Golden Rule is found in many faith traditions, and more than once in Judaism. But it all began with Leviticus 19, which we read this Shabbat. Join us for our Praying the Margins on Shabbat morning and on Friday night, we can put the mitzvah of loving our neighbor into practice as Building One Community's Jennifer WIlliams will teach us how we can save innocent people from deportation. Both services are available in person and virtually. Recommended Reading & Listening "Are you there, Margaret? It’s me, God." (Joshua Hammerman - Substack) - It was said that when one of Brennan’s predecessors as CBS anchor, the legendary Walter Cronkite, came back from Vietnam and gave a scathing report of his findings in Feb. of 1968, President Johnson famously commented, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost the country." Last Sunday morning on CBS, Netanyahu lost Margaret Brennan, and he lost America. It’s not that she was that tough on him - so was Chuck Todd the week before on Meet the Press. She simply persisted and asked follow up questions, the kind of questions not allowed in an illiberal democracy. When it comes to religion, ‘Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret’ was decades ahead of its time (RNS) Intro to Judaism - This Thurs. night's class will focus on Shabbat. Here are three info packets that we'll be using: Shabbat Info Packet 1 Shabbat Info Packet 2 A focus on the rituals of Friday night Is Holocaust Education making Antisemitism Worse? Atlantic - Dara Horn Israeli teen girls win first, second place in annual Bible quiz (TOI) - Result is first of its kind in 17 years; Emunah Cohen and Neta Lax beat out 41 contestants from 20 countries who qualified for advanced stages. See the video here. The final question? When does Joseph first cry? Answer: Joseph cries a lot! At least seven times: Genesis 42:24; 43:30; 45:2; 45:14-15; 46:29; 50:1; 50:17. The first time is when Reuben leads the brothers in pleading with Joseph not to hold Benjamin captive. Once the floodgates are opened, he basically doesn't stop crying when seeing his family. Not that there's anything wrong with that. When did you know you were Israeli? (Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt) Here are some examples: I visited New York City, and everyone seemed so polite. I texted people a question without first saying, “Hi, good morning.” I let my shopping cart hold my place in line at the supermarket while I did my shopping. I started saying “Ehhhh” instead of “Uhhhh.” Harry Belafonte, singer and civil rights activist who popularized ‘Hava Nagila’ in the US, dies at 96 (Jewish Week). See Belafonte and Danny Kaye singing Hava Nagila below. Today's Israeli Front Pages click for pdf of the full page Yediot Achronot (Hebrew) Ha'aretz (English) Jerusalem Post (English) Above: Yediot Achronot front page for Yom Hazikaron. A girl speaks of "the Father I Never Knew." She was just ten months old when her father was killed in the Second Lebanon War. Parsha Packets for Ahare Mot / Kedoshim Jews and Tattoos Don't Stand Idly By Civility and Discourse on Israel in the Jewish Community The Holiness Code and Gay Sex: New Interpretations: The author explores the complicated verses in Leviticus traditionally interpreted as forbidding gay sex, surveying several interpretations that stray from the traditional approach to these verses How to Tell People Off and When to Hold Your Peace: The Art of Moral Criticism "And Live By Them..." Jewish Law and the Infinite Value of Human Life Taking Kosher to the Next Eco-Level Although I've been a vegetarian for most of my life, I've never been an evangelist for the cause, though I do believe that humanity's natural state was vegetarian, before things got screwed up in the early chapters of Genesis. With Earth Day just behind us and with it becoming clearer that dramatic grass roots action is needed to head off disaster, an interesting alternative has sprouted: DefaultVeg. In L.A., the Jewish Initiative for Animals (JIFA) has been appearing on billboards promoting the idea that we see "fleshed out" below. It's simple and inclusive - not an imposition. Aligning food choices with Jewish values makes lots of sense, no? This is is no PETA extremism. You won't have to give up that schmear or even that chicken dinner. No need for blame and recrimination. It's not about fault, it's just about defaults. And really, if you think about it, why should the vegetarian option always be the one at the end of the table? Why are we always made out to be the fussy weirdos? And if you are a Kosher Vegetarian, you are doubly weird - bring out the cellophane airline dinner for that one! Maybe it's time to rearrange the tables as proposed by DefaultVeg. Otherwise we'll soon be rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. 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TBE Bar/Bat Mitzvah Commentary, Service Video and Screen Grab Photos: Anya Nadel on Achare Mot

Screen Grabs

Shabbat morning's service, click above

Friday night's video livestream recording at https://www.tbe.org/tbe-live/

Shabbat Shalom!

My name is Anya Sophia Nadel, and today, I am becoming a Bat Mitzvah. I have written this speech to share with you my interpretations of this week's Torah and haftarah portion.

My torah Portion, Acharei Mot, describes the time when the Children of Israel had fled Egypt making their way to their Promised Land.  Aaron, Moses’s older brother and high priest, was the only person allowed to go into the holy temple’s shrine.  However, Aaron’s two sons, as a sacrifice to G-D, brought a strange fire into the temple’s shrine, and in doing so, the two boys came too close to the presence of the Lord.  Unfortunately for them, their punishment was death.  

I interpret this story as being about two kids, possibly teenagers, wanting to do what they believed was right and with honorable intentions of getting closer to G-D by bringing G-D a sacrifice.   However, they were destructive in their approach, as they knew it was G-D’s decree not to enter the sacred shrine. Despite doing what they thought was right, they were punished for questioning authority.  

My haftarah, Machar Hodesh, takes place during King Saul’s reign, soon before David became king. Much of the text discusses King Saul’s jealousy of David, as he had become famous and celebrated for defeating the giant Goliath.  King Saul, consumed with envy and threatened by David’s popularity, wanted David to be executed.  Luckily for David, King Saul’s son Jonathan was best friends with David and did everything in his power to save his dear friend.    Jonathan intentionally ignored his father’s orders and did what he believed was morally right by preventing the murder of his friend. 

Both Jonathan and Aaron’s sons followed their heart to do what they knew was right, yet were penalized for it, whether it was with forbiddance of seeing a loved one, or death.  In both cases, young people questioned authority as a matter of principle, just as so many young people are doing today – and as a bat mitzvah, today I am joining them.

In my approximately 4,770 days of living, I have witnessed many inequalities for various groups of people.   For example, the Black Lives Matter movement has brought greater awareness for black people having the same inalienable rights as white people.   When the protests were occurring in the spring and summer of 2020, some were upset by the protests as they feared violence, and yes some of these riots were destructive.   Although violence is never the answer (just ask Chris Rock), and people should fight via peaceful protest, people need to make some noise and get the attention necessary to rewrite the wrongs.

 Another example is the LGBTQIA+ community who also have been overcoming adversity in their everyday life. They have accomplished making gay marriage allowed in the US, forbidding workplace discrimination against the community, using the correct bathroom for what gender you associate yourself with, and more. There are many more examples where people have questioned authority, made some noise, and changed and created policies to help the greater good.   

In both my torah and Haftorah portion, I believe both Aaron’s sons and Jonathan questioned authority and made their own noise and sacrifices, in order to do what they thought was right, just, and fair.  I hope I and my loved ones continue to question themselves, one another and authority. The goal should always be to make our world a better and safer place to live in.    

One small way I am trying to make the world a better place is through my mitzvah project, ART FOR LIFE.   My Mitzvah Project revolves around helping kids who have mental, physical, or emotional health issues, through art.  I love doing art, as it calms my nerves if I am feeling stressed and it lifts my spirits if I am ever having a bad day.     

By donating, you are helping the lives of kids who need healing both mentally and physically.

TBE Bar/Bat Mitzvah Commentary: Ari Ben-Zvi on Achare Mot and Machar Hodesh

       Shabbat Shalom! 

      Today’s haftarah reminds me of my great grandfather, Zami Ben-Zvi – and I want to tell you why.  My great-grandfather is a founder of a kibbutz in northern Israel, near the Sea of Galilee, the Kineret.  It is called Kfar Ha-Nassi, the village of the President, named for Chaim Weizmann, the first president of Israel.  Ironically, the second president of Israel had the same last name as my great-grandfather – and me – Yitzhak Ben-Zvi.

My great grandfather was a real self-starter – and independent spirit.  He left Germany during the holocaust and was taken to England as part of the kindertransport.  He then moved by himself, without family, to Scotland, where he met my great-grandmother Shoshana, and they together went on to Palestine. 

Just to have moved to Palestine at that time and then to have set down roots and be a leader, took a lot of initiative and courage. 

 So what does this have to do with the haftarah?  This Shabbat we read a special haftarah because tomorrow is Rosh Hodesh – it’s called Machar Hodesh.  The main characters of this story are King Saul, his son Jonathan, and Jonathan’s best friend and Saul’s greatest enemy, David.  But the story is most of all about Jonathan, who had to find a way to help his best friend while staying loyal to his father. 

           I can relate to Jonathan in many ways.  For one thing, like Jonathan, I enjoy archery. But it goes a lot farther than that.  We also share a desire to take initiatives and act independently where necessary.  Those of you who know me know that I have lots of hobbies and interests, many of which require to be a self-starter.

For instance, I taught myself electric guitar and keyboard. I’m learning German through an app, and every time I go to a new country I’ve dabbled in the language there.  I’ve learned some French and Italian – enough to get by at a local restaurant.  By the way, as a public service, “Vorrei ordinare la pasta, per favore” means, “I’d like to order the pasta, please.”

In sports I wanted to build my endurance, so I decided to run cross country.  I taught myself some football skills too, like how to track a ball into my hands or kick field goals.             

It’s important to note that even though I teach myself a lot of things, I also have had a lot of help along the way.  But as a self-starter and independent thinker, I have a real role model in my great grandfather and in Jonathan. 

Jonathan was unique and very special in the Bible, but he often goes unnoticed.  He trusted his instincts and helped David to escape death at the hands of Saul.  At the same time, Jonathan remained loyal to his dad and fought alongside him in the battle against the Philistines. 

 And that battle took place on Mount Gilboa, a short distance from the Kineret, and not far from where my great grandfather still lives.  Incidentally, he wasn’t able to make the trip, but he just turned 93 a few weeks ago.  Yom Huledet Sameach, Sabbah!  You – along with Jonathan – continue to be an inspiration to me.  And since this week is Israel’s birthday too, another Yom Huledet Sameach is in order!

 For my mitzvah project, my friend Micah and I organized a book drive for an organization called “Read to Grow,” which distributes books to children in need.  We have collected upwards of 750 books! 

I also participated in the Friendship Circle, where I volunteered to spend time with children with special needs.