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May/June 2012 Sivan 5772
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Welcome to the Shavuot issue of Beth Elearning!
Our second issue begins and ends with Ruth. In the first piece, Rabbi Ilana Garber introduces the dual nature of Shavuot and leads us to an understanding of the centrality of Ruth. In the final article you'll find additional insights into the Ruth story. In between, there's a potpourri of articles and videos. We hope that this issue of Beth Elearning will help to enhance the significance of Shavuot for you. Enjoy! |
Rabbi Garber shares this issue's festival message personally by video!
Transcript of Video:
Shalom and welcome to our e-video about Shavuot! When we think about Shavuot, we have two themes. Shavuot is a harvest festival, and it's also the time when we talk about receiving the Torah. There are two important texts that we read on Shavuot. One, of course, is the Ten Commandments, and the other one is the Book of Ruth.
*Editor's note: Much appreciation to Rabbi Garber for creating her first-ever webcam video!
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 Why an E-Newsletter? [top] |
Beth Elearning is designed to provide you...
with Jewish learning content that is relevant, stimulating and suitable for people at all stages of learning, from toddlers to advanced learners.
Each issue will feature...
An eclectic assortment of both web-links and original articles
authored by clergy, congregants or members of the community.
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Your feedback is very important!!!
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| Young Learners' Corner [top] |
 Shavuot Video
The Ten Commandments set to Rock Music! (from www.g-dcast.com)
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General Shavuot Information [top]
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Shavuot 101
A concise Shavuot summary
(from myjewishlearning.com)
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The Forgotten Festival
If Shavuot doesn't resonate strongly in your household, you are not alone. Michael Carasik explains in this article.
(from jewishideasdaily.com)
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Origins of Tikkun L'eyl Shavuot
It's customary to stay up all night studying Torah on Shavuot. Please see the first 2 pages of this USCJ article to find out why. This link also includes a study guide. (from metny.uscj.org)
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| Music and Dance [top] |
 Chavouot
Images, dance, and music evoking the spirituality of the Harvest. You'll want to watch this mesmerizing video several times. (from YouTube.com)
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Shavuot Primer
A beautifully illustrated summary of the basic aspects of Shavuot, set to Israeli music. No matter how much or how little you know about Shavuot, you'll enjoy it!
(from YouTube.com)
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| Israel [top] |
Religious Pluralism in Israel on Shavuot
David Newman discusses how Shavuot has become a broadly observed Jewish learning extravaganza practiced by Israelis ranging from the ultra-orthodox to the secular, and how this is seen as a unifying factor.
(from jpost.com)
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| Humor [top] |
| Food [top] |
| Advanced Learning [top] |
Megillat Ruth and Matan Torah to the World
Why do we read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot? Is Torah a unique gift to the Jewish people, or is it intended for all humankind? What's more important: yichus (family pedigree), or the influence that one exerts on his/her children? Micah Goodman probes these issues in this article.
(from hartman.org.il)
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| NEW! Interactive Online Torah Portion Review Class...Enroll Now! [top] |
 Rabbi Howard Sowalsky To Lead Online Torah Portion Review Class
Wouldn't it be great to learn about the weekly Torah portion right from the comfort of your home?
Each week Rabbi Sowalsky will present a 15-20 minute synopsis of the Torah portion. After that there will be time for questions and discussion.
Class members will sign in remotely, and may participate either over the Internet, or by telephone.
(There will be no actual class in the Beth El Temple building)
It is anticipated that class will be offered on Friday afternoons. During the Spring-Summer it will be held at 3pm. In the Fall-Winter, the class will be held at 2pm. The class is free and is limited to 25 participants.
Click here and e-mail your name if you'd be interested in more information as it becomes available!
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There are Three Ways to Comment:
1. Online Survey
2. beth.elearning@gmail.com
3. Phone 860-233-6668
Please, tell us what you like, and what you don't like. How can we do a better job in helping to fulfill your learning needs?
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Coming in the Summer Issue of Beth Elearning...Tzedakah
On the surface, Tzedakah may appear deceptively simple. Just make your annual pledges, and put some loose change into the pushka periodically. That's all there is to it. Right? Wrong. Read our next issue to find out (much) more... [top] |
Continuation of Rabbi Garber's video transcript
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One reason we read the Book of Ruth is because it's a harvest story, as Ruth comes to harvest at the fields of Boaz and their love story is really connected to the season, so that's an obvious connection. We read the Ten Commandments on the Holiday of Shavuot because Shavuot is when we talk about receiving the Torah, and so beginning with that story with the Covenant makes a lot of sense. We also read Ruth though because she chooses Judaism, she receives Torah, she's the ultimate example of somebody converting to Judaism. As we see in the words that she says to her mother-in-law Naomi, and this is from Chapter 1, starting with verse 16, Ruth says, "Do not urge me to leave you to turn back and to not follow you. For wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, your God my God. Where you'll die, I will die, and there I will be buried." Ruth pledges her love of Naomi, her support and commitment to Judaism right there in those really beautiful words. It was her choice to stay with her mother-in-law, it was her choice to be Jewish.
And so as we read the Ten Commandments this Holiday, these laws about acknowledging God, about keeping Shabbat, about honoring our parents, about not murdering, we too become Jews by choice. As we've said here before, the Ten Commandments are not multiple-choice; there is a sense though of a choice. It's not just a sense of choice; it's a sense of needing to make that commitment, needing to find the passion within us, needing to be in a way just like Ruth.
What did it mean when Ruth said, "Your people shall be my people, your God shall be my God?" That pledge isn't just for Naomi, it's to God, it's to Judaism. And so I'd like to suggest on this Holiday of Shavuot that we are all Jews by choice. You've heard that before. What does it mean for you? It means if you truly want to have a meaningful experience, you can. We need to make that commitment; we need to experience on this Holiday of Shavuot a new kind of harvest, a harvesting of the soul, a reawakening of the spirit. As we experience this receiving of the Torah on Shavuot, let's make that choice, the choice to be more passionate about Judaism, the choice to study and to learn with us here at Bethel and to truly choose the path of Judaism that's meaningful to all of us. In that way, we all become and act upon being Jews by choice. [top] |
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We are most appreciative for the guidance provided by Rabbi Rosen,
Rabbi Garber, Rabbi Rosenbaum, Rabbi Sowalsky and Cantor Ness.
Lifelong Learning Committee:
Rabbi Howard Rosenbaum, Amy Goldman, Roz Hahn, Lois Koteen,
and Steven Stier
The Beth Elearning E-Newsletter is available to members and non-members.
To add e-mail addresses or to opt out, send an e-mail request to beth.elearning@gmail.com
Newsletter Editor: Steven Stier
Newsletter layout: Amy Goldman
(Logo design assisted by Leah Goldman)
Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue,West Hartford, CT 06117
Beth Elearning Phone 860-233-6668, Main Office 860-233-9696
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