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Rabbi's Ramblings......
Shalom Congregants and Friends.....
Last Sunday evening, Iris and I and a number of Beth Hillel congregants witnessed an amazing sight.... thousands of people, mostly evangelical Christians, at a mammoth rally put together by a group entitled Christians United For Israel, held at the First Cathedral. The enthusiasm and outpouring of pro-Israel sentiments were non-stop. Rabbi Lazowski gave a powerful opening prayer. Later in the evening Senator Joseph Lieberman gave an impassioned talk, touching on, amongst other things, why he was proud to be a supporter of this group. I happened to be seated next to Jason Stanley, who is the regional director for AIPAC, American Israel Political Action Committee. (He will be speaking at Beth Hillel on May 11.) We agreed 1) that we have to make our political alliances where they are possible in supporting Israel... and 2) that the theological framework that looked at Israel solely as a springboard for a fulfilled Christianity was no longer operative for most evangelicals. I know that one congregant who I saw there was in tears at the fact that such a rally could be held. Now the next step is keeping alliances and friendships going.
Friday evening I will talk about this theology and how it motivates Christians to be pro-Israel, to sing Am Yisrael Chai with a fervor that even we don't have! This will be in the context of our early Shabbat service at 6:15, followed by a congregational Shabbat dinner. And it's Simcha Shabbat as well! Ethan Nash will be joining us for a special music service! On Saturday morning we conclude the reading of the book of Exodus with the reading of parts of two parshsayot. I was asked the question, "How can we chant the well-known words 'hazak hazak v'nithazayk' at the end of a book of the Torah when we have not literally read the final verses?" There is a Law Committee teshuva on this question, and we will read / study it together at this most appropriate time.
Next Friday evening, March 23, there will be a special service honoring 25 individuals and/or couples who have been members of Beth Hillel Synagogue for 50 years or more. There will be a special oneg, and the congregation will acknowledge their half century of connection. It will truly be a special evening. Put it on your calendar! Members of between forty and fifty years will be honored at a similar service on April 13 (those letters haven't gone out yet!) and then there will be a special Sunday morning brunch for both groups on April 29!
If you plan to go to the program on Reincarnation in Jewish Tradition at the JCC on Sunday morning March 25th, before the special congregational meeting, please make your RSVP now. Without sufficient reservations, the program will be canceled!
Our renewed synagogue Chesed Caring Committee had an organizational and planning meeting this past week, and is now in operation. If you know anyone who could use a call or visit, again ... let either Iris, Joel Neuwirth, or me know.
The annual Passover guide should be mailed out the end of the week. I hope it assists you in your preparations for the holiday.
Shabbat Shalom u'm'vorach......
...... Rabbi Gary and Iris Atkins
Why belong to a synagogue?........ to help you
"To Learn, Live, and Love Jewishly...." |
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The B eth Hillel Synagogue Mission Statement.....
Beth Hillel Synagogue takes its mission statement very seriously:
"Beth Hillel is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue rooted in the ancient traditions of the Torah while growing to meet the changes and challenges of our world. Its core are the many people of different ages and backgrounds who have chosen to make it their spiritual home, joining together for prayer, learning, and celebration. The many branches of Beth Hillel's community provide support to its congregants, reaching out to each other and welcoming our neighbors as together we learn from the past and teach for the future." |
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Services & Candle Lighting Times
Friday, March 16, 6:15P.M. (CLT 6:39 EST) EARLY SERVICE!!
Sat., March 17, 9:30 A.M.; Mincha, Maariv 6:30 P.M. |
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Humor for the Week
Thanks to Joel Caplin for this cute story.....
A few years ago, Joseph was finally given an exit permit by the Russians and allowed to emigrate to Israel to join his family.and pulled out a large bundle wrapped in old copies of Pravda. He unwrapped it to reveal a bust of Stalin and kissed it. He was told that he could only take what he could pack into one suitcase. At the Moscow airport he was stopped by an enormous customs officer who glared at him and snarled, "Open the case!" Joseph opened the case and the Russian rummaged through the meagre belongings
"What is that?" snarled the customs officer. "What is that?" said Joseph timidly. "You shouldn't ask 'What is that?' "What is that?" said Joseph indignantly. "You shouldn't ask 'What is that?' you should ask 'Who is that?' you should ask 'Who is that?' That is our glorious leader Stalin. I'm taking it to my new home to remind me of all the wonderful things that he did and the marvellous life that I am leaving behind." "I always knew that you Jews were mad!" said the official, tossing the bust into the case. "Go!"
A few hours later Joseph arrived at Ben Gurion airport and was confronted by an Israeli customs officer. "Shalom. Welcome to Israel . Open the case!" Once again Joseph 's belongings were examined and the customs officer came upon the bust. "What is that?" said the customs officer. you should ask 'Who is that?' That is the bastard, Stalin. I'm taking it to my new home to remind me of all the misery and suffering that he caused me for most of my life. I want to spit on it every day for the rest of my life." "I always knew that you Russians were mad!" said the official, tossing the bust into the case. "Go!"
At last Joseph arrived in his new home and eventually got around to unpacking, watched by his young nephew. He took out his few clothes and then carefully unwrapped the bust of Stalin and put it on a table. "Who is that?" asked his nephew. "Who is that?" said Joseph with a smile. "You shouldn't ask, 'Who is that?' - You should ask, 'What is that?' That is five kilos of gold and just a bit of black shoe polish."
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Torah Commentary of the Week
Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz of the Jewish Theological Seminary
For the second time in the book of Exodus, we find Torah consumed with the details of the building of the Tabernacle. Notably, one of the great Bible scholars of our time, Professor Jon Levenson, compares the building of the Tabernacle to the creation of the world. Among other similarities, one sees a pattern of sevens and a repetition of the commandment to observe Shabbat, and gets the impression that the instructions given in Exodus are dictated to impart a sense of order (just as we see at the beginning of Genesis). More than that, one is drawn to another striking feature of this building project: God once again commands, "Take from among you gifts to the Lord; everyone whose heart so moves him will bring them-gifts for the Lord" (Exod. 35:5). How may we understand this notion of being motivated by the heart?
Samson Raphael Hirsch explains,
Nadav, being generous of heart, indicates a flowing out from within. Nadiv, one who is generous, is one whose actions arise solely from the dictates of his own inner self, free, independent. This voluntary nature of the action is quite specially stressed. Any and every compelling influence, or even any exterior directing influence is definitely excluded . . . Even at the moment of bringing it, the bringer is to be generous of heart; he is still to be completely master over his decision, so that he is not absolutely and irrevocably bound by his vow to give. (Hirsch, Commentary on Exodus, 671-672)
Hirsch underscores the need for every Israelite to give of his or her own accord. At the very beginning of the parashah, Moshe assembles (va-yak*hel) the entire community. Even though he speaks to the whole entity, it is clearly understood from Torah that the individual (not simply the collective) must respond. The individual Israelite must be moved by the Divine command from deep within his or her heart and soul. Giving must come about as an independent response "flowing out from within." Hirsch's image is beautiful and poetic. More than that, his exegesis complements Jon Levenson's erudition magnificently. For a world to be created or for a Tabernacle to be constructed, it takes a profound sense of giving. We cannot simply talk about giving in abstract terms. It must be bound to action. Only through our sensitive and impassioned giving may we each create worlds in which God's Presence becomes resident. |
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Beth Hillel Synagogue Library
SPECIAL ARTICLES TO READ:
* CONGREGATON B'NAI KABUL
* BABY, YOU CAN DRIVE MY ELECTRIC CAR
Lots of new books and videos......
Read contemporary newspapers and magazines,.......
For example... Commentary/ BAR, The Jewish Week, The Forward, Consumer Reports, Moment, and others..... |
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Social Action News
Beth Hillel will participate in the Greater Hartford Seasons of Service -- day of volunteering -- by serving dinner at the "Peters Retreat" soup kitchen, 123 Retreat Ave (near Hartford Hospital) on Sunday April 1. Volunteers needed! Contact the office / Len Swade.
Also, Foodshare needs volunteers to pick up donated food. Contact them at 286-9999.... |
Upcoming Synagogue Events
* March 22 - Shmooze and Lunch with Rabbi Elliot Goldberg
* March 23 - Special Shabbat Service honoring 50 year BHS members
* March 25 - 1pm - Special Congregational Meeting
* March 25 - Special program : What Does Judaism Teach About Reincarnation -
Sponsored by Weinstein Mortuary, 10:30am at JCC.... RSVP to the office or Weinstein's |
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Report from Israel.....
by Rabbi Reuven Hammer, Past President, the Rabbinical Assembly
Civil Law and Jewish Law Agree: Equal Service For All
It has taken 25 years, but the Israeli Supreme Court has finally caught up with the rulings of the Law Committee (Vaad Halakhah) of the Rabbinical Assembly of Israel regarding service in the IDF. In 1987 the Law Committee issued two respona, one authored by this writer concerning Yeshiva students and one by Rabbi Rafael Harris concerning women, requiring all eligible men and women to serve in the defense of their country, with no exceptions because of Torah study or religious observance. Now the court has adopted that same position from the point of view of civil law, ruling the Tal law unconstitutional and discriminatory for allowing yeshivah students to receive permission not to serve. What took so long for Israeli civil law to catch up with religious law? It is sad and ironic that that those who claim to be the most observant of Jewish law are those who are blatantly in violation of it.
These religious rulings were based on Jewish Law, beginning with the Torah itself. The Torah is very clear on this matter. It contains the story of the tribes that wanted to remain on the other side of the Jordan and not settle in Canaan itself. Assuming that they did not intend to participate in the struggle for Canaan, Moses angrily said to them, "Shall your brothers go to war and you remain here!?" (Numbers 32:6). Only when they volunteered to be at the forefront of the battle and return home only after that did he permit them to settle there (Numbers 32:17-27). Furthermore, the book of Deuteronomy makes it very clear that the only exceptions to army service were very specific and only temporary. They were for those who were at a particularly sensitive point in their lives and had not had the opportunity to savor major personal developments such as those newly married. Included were those who were psychologically unfit because of excessive fear and who would have a bad effect on their compatriots (Deut 20:1-9)..Torah study is not mentioned among them
The rabbinic authorities tended to reduce even those exceptions and said that in any case they applied only to optional wars, while in wars that were commanded or necessary, wars of defense, all exemptions were void. . Indeed the Mishnah, the authoritative code of Rabbinic Judaism, goes so far as to state that in times when there is danger to our existence, "even the bridegroom and the bride must go to war" (Sotah 8:7).
The conclusion of the Rabbinical Assembly rulings was: "Service in the IDF is a halakhic duty incumbent on every Jew living in the State of Israel. Whoever sees himself as engaged in important religious work has an even greater obligation to set an example by military service. Only in this way can he be properly prepared to participate in these obligatory wars commanded for the safety of the State of Israel and its inhabitants. Not to do this involves violation of three major mitzvot: Participation in a commanded war for defense; violation of the command "do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor," (Lev.19:16); pikuah nefesh - the saving of human life which takes precedence over other commandments (see Tos.Shabbat 15:16-17) To shirk this duty is to violate the Halakhah."
When the Tal law was first proposed, the Rabbinical Assembly of Israel called upon the Knesset to "totally reject the Tal Commission Report and to immediately enact legislation which will mandate equal military service for all sectors of the Jewish population. We are shocked that the Tal Comission has recommended continuing an intolerable situation in which one section of the population sits peacefully in halls of study while others endanger their lives in defense of Israel. This stands in complete opposition to Jewish Law which unequivocally requires every eligible person to come to the defense of the nation in times of danger." Now that the Court has endorsed this position, we again call upon the Knesset not to look for ways around this issue, not to introduce legislation that will somehow permit this shameful situation to continue, but to finally act responsibly and bring about this long needed change so that we will no longer have the situation in which some brothers go to war, while others sit idly by. Rather all will share the burden as the Torah envisioned. |
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Community Events...
Where Do we Go from here...
Strategic Plan Presentation for the Bloomfield Public Libraries....
Wednesday, March 28, 7pm at Prosser Library
Tues, April 3, Identity2 - "We are all flowers of the same tree"
Bloomfield School System Concert at the Bushnell, 7pm |
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