Rabbi's Ramblings...... 

 

Shalom Congregants and Friends.....    


This Shabbat, again, we are going to enjoy hosting an aufruf at morning services. Come share in singing "siman tov u'mazal tov" and throwing sweet wishes at the wedding couple. The bride, when newly arrived in the area a few years ago, attended one of our High Holy Day services, and liked our synagogue and its rabbi enough to invite me to officiate at the wedding! 

This Friday evening I will talk about the plight of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier held captive and incommunicado now for five years! A number of congregants were at the JCC showing of the documentary about his family earlier this week. I include an update below! We will start the discussion on Jewish identity on July 8.

Shabbat afternoon we will have a special havdalah service and hav-deli, sponsored by the Chai-Mitzvah program! See you Saturday afternoon around sunset!

Again, if you have had a simcha or graduation in your family, be sure to let the office or me know to include in the next Chai-lites. And if you're going on a trip, I'd like to give you shaliach kesef to wish you a safe journey!

Iris and I will be on vacation Monday June 27 through Thursday July 7. I'll be back in  the office on Friday, July 8. The next e-shul (probably a brief one like this issue) should come out that day! Hope you'll enjoy your summer activities as well!

Note the dates  for Shabbat Under the Stars, coming up over the summer. And remember that morning and evening minyan continue on a daily basis!

Note the dates for the upcoming Tag Sale as well.

Shabbat Shalom ....... Rabbi Gary and Iris Atkins

 "All it takes to study Torah is an open heart,

a curious mind and a desire to grow a Jewish soul."  
 Shabbat  Services & Candle Lighting Times

CANDLE LIGHTING     
Friday, June 24,  8:10pm  DST    
Friday, July 1, 8:09pm 

SHABBAT SERVICE TIMES    

Friday, June 24-- 8:00pm  Saturday, June 25 9:30am, 

7:45pm Mincha/ Maariv/ Havdalah    HAV-DELI

Friday, July 1 - 6:15pm  (EARLY SCVE) Saturday, July 2 9:30am, 

8:00pm Mincha/ Maariv

Monday, July 4 - MORNING MINYAN 9AM

Joke of the Week 

 Why can't a woman ask her brother for help?

 

Because he can't be a brother and assist her too!

Social Action Updates    
 
There are congregants who need a ride to Friday evening services... if you want to help someone attend our worship... as well as doing a mitzvah, call Rabbi Atkins.


DONATIONS OF FOOD ARE GREATLY NEEDED FOR THE KOSHER AND REGULAR FOOD BANKS!! PLEASE DONATE AT THE SYNAGOGUE NOW!!     
 

 

It opened April 2 - Bloomfield Soup Kitchen.... Hosted at Bloomfield United Methodist Church


Be aware of those less fortunate than we are!! Carry out the mitzvah of tikkun olam!

Israel News

 

It would be nice to think that this news report is a result of the pressure being created by the documentary about Gilad!!.....

Red Cross calls for sign of life from Shalit

June 23, 2011

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Hamas must provide proof that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is alive, the International Committee of the Red Cross has demanded.

"The total absence of information concerning Mr. Shalit is completely unacceptable," Red Cross Director-General Yves Daccord said in a statement released Thursday. "The Shalit family have the right under international humanitarian law to be in contact with their son."

Friday will mark five years since Shalit was captured by Hamas during a cross-border raid. He is believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

The Red Cross has called on Hamas repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, to allow Shalit to have contact with his family. Hamas also has not allowed the Red Cross to have access to Shalit.

It has been nearly two years since Hamas has released any proof that Shalit is alive. In October 2009, Hamas released a one-minute videotape of Shalit in exchange for the release of 20 female Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamas has demanded the release of 1,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails, including some directly responsible for the deaths of Israelis, in order to effect Shalit's release.
 

 

Report from Rwanda by Joe Olzacki

"Dr. O" is currently in Rwanda, as he shared in his talk here on June 10. Here is his first update to his friends and supporters here in Bloomfield......

 

 

Good evening. It is 12:17 am in Kigali, Rwanda and I just got an internet line. Since so many of you asked about this trip or contributed to it, I thought I would, again, try to explain to you what I see. This is an amazing country with many amazing stories but also because of the poverty, stories that may never get told.

 

It took me a little over 20 hours to finally get here. There was a security problem in Amsterdam so everyone had to be checked and all bottled water, even though it was bought after you did security, was seized and thrown out. ugh. When I finally got to Kigali, I was met by Commissioner Pierre Karemera of the Rwandan Human Rights Commission (he was a former governor of the Eastern Province and head of the Rwandan Olympic Committee - fascinating man) and five singers from the International Choir of Rwanda. They were so happy to see me, they kept welcoming me back and grabbed my bags - with two young woman trying to handle my 70lb luggage, i finally said, no - I got this one. They took me to the new hotel in Kigali - the Beausejour a very nice, very clean hotel with everything painted white and stone floors. This hotel only opened about five months ago and was part of the construction I saw the first time i was here. It seems that the whole country is in the midst of a construction boom. I noticed that they had paved over the dirt roads, building new areas for public living and
took down many of the slums and the government is building modest homes with drainage and plumbing in areas surrounding the capital. It is true, things have gotten better as the power only went out once today and it only took me 2 trys to write this email. Internet is still in its infancy. There is still no street lights unless you are by the Parliament buildings and no air conditioning but it is still very beautiful.   

 
I had barely had a chance to put my bags in my room when everyone insisted we go eat. More people joined us in the restaurant - a very plain, white room with white table cloths and very polite waiters and I had barely had my napkin in my lap when one woman asked me "what do they think of us in America? Do they know we are good?" Another woman piped in and said "we are working through the Genocide"...I was a bit taken back by this as that was the last thing on my mind but this is commemoration season (the Genocide in Rwanda began in early April and ended in late June over ten years ago.). I told them it wasn''t about what happened then, it is about what people see now and I see how beautiful this country is and how much growth - that is what people see. They know I write back to all of
you and they are fascinated that you all have computers. Most families in Rwanda are lucky to have electricity but the people I was dining with are all professionals who have come back and are trying to rebuild the arts and education in Rwanda and it will be no easy task as there is no theater, no teachers of the arts and they are rebuilding schools all over the country. The International Choir is a beginning.   
  
The food was, well interesting. We had brown, very salty soup that was saved when I brought out my GARLIC POWDER. Thank God I remembered to bring that. Garlic makes everything better. The meal went down hill from there. I think I ate Goulash but am not quite sure and desert was a sort of round crepe with jelly (i think) in it. They were so gracious and so happy to see me that the meal was great in retrospect.
  
Early, today, I got a phone call from Commissioner Pierre who was on his way to the countryside to help preside over a Genocide remembrance. He said, "Mr. Joseph, I need to know your whearabouts at all times so that we can have security for you." I was a bit taken back at that and Pierre said, "oh, the country is safe, very safe...but we need to make sure you are ok." Now what did that mean??  Within minutes, we had a guard with a very old Russian rifle at the door of the hotel and he was my new friend. If you remember, we had a ton of security the last time as well. I learned later that a French delegation had come some weeks ago to try to make amends for their part in the Genocide and a near riot broke out. You see, the French provided many of the weapons used in the Genocide and stood by as thousands were killed. Needless to say, their embassy is still closed and they are persona non grata in Rwanda still and probably will be for a long time.
  
The International Choir - Pierre picked me up today and took me to some pretty run down buildings in the back of a nearby Catholic church. In the very back, was a room with about 30 people crammed into it and a keyboard. I had not given where we were to rehearse a thought but the room was deplorable. Dimly lit, very dirty, with chairs in a semi circle. The choir all had very big smiles and one woman said, "you are here to teach us to sing?" I introduced myself and promised to speak slowly (pretty difficult). I asked them to sing for me and WOW - they were good. The woman were strong and on pitch an the men sounded like the choirs that I heard in Rome when i was working for the Cardinal. I must have had a big smile on my face because they all started to laugh. "We are good, no?" I said, you are very good, yes!.  For the next three hours, we worked on English diction, breathing and dynamics. Pierre had asked me to "raise the level" much like the CD's we sent from Bloomfield, (arts festival at the Bushnell). We worked on some pieces I did in college - I made copies and brought them. They were wonderful. They worked very hard that after the three hours, I had to stop them and say- we will do more tomorrow. They were all so very happy. One woman said to me, "it is an honor to learn." Wow, I had never thought about it that way but it was true. Sharing your knowledge is a vocation and an honor on both sides.
  
Before choir rehearsal, Pierre had picked me up to show me the ministry. It was a very plain building and he had an mid sized office. We sat and he again thanked me for coming back to help teach. I told him it was an honor to be asked.  I asked him, what was it really like during the Genocide? I didn't expect the answer I received. He said, "my first recollection was when the military came to the door to order me and my family out. You see Joseph, I had four little children and I was watching my infant son die in front of me because they were starving us." He continued, "when the military man recognized my family name as being from his province, he took me to the French garrison and gave us rations and then we went to hide in the Milles Coline Hotel with other Tutsi's. He said, "you may know this hotel because they made a movie of our experiences." I said,"that was you?"  He said "yes"  and because that Hutu soldier took pity, my son was allowed to live. After we were rescued from the hotel. we stayed behind the RDF lines and waited for it to be over. Joseph, there was nothing left, nothing. I cried, we all cried." As he was talking to me, I noticed that  he had gouges on the right side of his head that looked like slices out of his skin. It dawned on me that the "slices" were where the skin healed  - he was almost killed by a machete. I must have realized I was looking at the area of his head and he put his hand over the area and said,"may the world never know what I know and yet they must know because it will happen again."  I told him what we were doing to include Genocide education in schools and he said, "I am glad but you must teach it humanly  - teach it so the children know it is real." What do you say to that? Pierre quickly changed the subject to ask me about his friend Mayor Shoooolman. Yes, I know how to spell Syd's name but it was funny to hear him refer to him that way. Pierre was so impressed that Syd took the time to send him a note, responding to his request that I return to Rwanda to teach AND the invitation to visit Bloomfield. Pierre said to me," you know, i would like to go to try the traditional foods of your area." So now what, I thought, do I get Ruth Lazowski to make Matzoh balls? Paula Walek to make the citris cookies? The sisters Gamble to make their soup or do we get Dorothy and Leroy's to cater...yes he wants to come and I had a great deal of trouble explaining that Bloomfield has many ethnic foods and he is going to like everything he tries. Again, thank GOD for Garlic powder. 
  
Well it is almost 1am here in Kigali. It is thundering and lightning outside and is very warm. Tomorrow I am going to the Kigali Genocide Memorial (they told me not to eat before I go - terrific) and then to rugby practice (there is a game in Kigali on Saturday and then to Choir rehearsal for 2 hours. Busy day. It is an amazing thing to continue your education. Performance based curriculum not only teaches the student but teaches the teacher too.
  
Good night from Rwanda - thinking of you all.
  
Joe O.

 

Weekly Torah Portion Commentary  -   

Courtesy of Rabbi Michael Gold   

 

           How do you face other people's anger?  I recall an experience when I was a young Rosh Eida   (unit head) at Camp Ramah.  A parent called me ranting and raving, demanding to speak to the Camp Director immediately.  I became frightened and ran to find the director.  "You need to call him immediately," I emphasized.  The director calmly said, "I will get back to him later today."  I said, "But he is so angry."  "That is exactly the reason not to call him right back."

       The camp director was actually following a piece of wisdom found in the Talmud.  "Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar said, Do not appease your fellow in the time of his anger."  (Avot 4:18).  When someone's anger is raging, it is best to give them time to cool down.  It is impossible to speak to someone at such a time. 

       The idea of giving people time to cool down appears in this week's portion.  Korach, Dathan, and Abiram lead a rebellion against Moses.  Moses must confront the angry rebels.  But he tells them, tomorrow God will show who is correct.  Moses gives them until the next day before confronting them.  Perhaps they will change their minds.  In fact, one of the rebels On the son of Peleth, backed out of the rebellion.  The Midrash teaches that his wife convinced him not to become involved.

       Unfortunately, with the exception of On, Moses' delaying tactic did not work.  The rebels still confronted him the next day.  This raises the question, what do you do when you are actually confronted with an angry person and cannot wait.  Moses listened to their complaints.  The wisdom of every relationships expert is to listen.  Often if people feel they are being heard, that takes away a good deal of their frustration.  "I hear you."  "I understand."  "I have felt this kind of anger."  These phrases go a long way towards pacifying someone.  Often people just want to know that someone is listening.

       What if you are confronted by anger and you feel the person has a legitimate complaint.  An apology goes a long way.  Few things take the wind of the sails of an angry confrontation like the words, "You are right.  I am sorry.  How can I correct the wrong?"  To say I am sorry often means humbling oneself before an assailant.  This was Moses' greatest strength according to the Torah.  In spite of his great leadership skills, there was no man more humble.  On the other hand, this was Pharaoh's greatest weakness when confronted by Moses.  Even when Pharaoh knew he was wrong, he hardened his heart.  He could not bring himself to admit that he was sorry.

       However, what if you are confronted by undeserved anger?   What if you did nothing wrong; you have nothing to be sorry for?  What if the person confronting you is unjustified?  In the end Moses had to stand his ground against Korach and his cronies, he was right and they were wrong.  In the end Moses had to stand his ground and not let Korach get away with it.

       As a rabbi, I have been confronted by vicious anger from people I barely know.   Sometimes they are angry at my synagogue.  Sometimes they are angry at some other rabbi they knew thirty years ago.  Sometimes they are angry at God.  But I symbolize the synagogue, I symbolize all rabbis, I am a stand in for God.  When confronted by that kind of unreasonable anger, there is not a lot I can do.  I can listen, but at some point I need to walk away.  Their unreasonable anger is their problem, it is not my problem. 

       A wise person once said that to hold on to anger is like holding onto a hot coal hoping you will burn the other person.  In the end anger only hurts the person who is angry.  Korach learned this the hard way.  Perhaps those of us who deal with other people can help them learn to drop that hot coal, to finally let go of their anger.