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July/August 2012 Tammuz/Av 5772
Tzedakah and Tisha B'Av
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Tzedakah: Doing Versus Giving
Tzedakah is commonly understood to mean 'charity'; like putting money into the pushka or writing a check to a worthwhile organization. We talk about giving tzedakah; but the Torah actually has very little to say about the act of giving money.
Every Israelite was expected to give one tenth of his or her income to support the Levites who served in the Temple (Numbers 18:26). They were to give a poll tax of a half shekel to be counted in the census (Exodus 30:11-16) and were encouraged to give gifts of silver to be used for the maintenance of the Temple (Leviticus 27:2-8). When it comes to discussing
how we should help the poor and others in need, the Torah is more about DOING tzedakah. [click to continue...]
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| Young Learners' Corner [top] |
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General Tzedakah Information [top]
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 Tzedakah Q&A
Here are the FAQ's of Tzedakah. In an easy to digest format, Aron Hirt-Manheimer anticipates your questions, and then answers them.
(from clickonjudaism.com)
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Maimonides' Eight Levels of Tzedakah
All Tzedakah is not the same. Maimonides (Rambam) codified 8 categories of Tzedakah, listing them in hierarchical order; very interesting to contemplate!
(from angelfire.com)
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Rethinking American Jewish Giving
How do we meld classical concepts of Tzedakah with life in the 21st Century U.S.? Find out in this piece by Larry S. Moses.
Editor's note: We are grateful to Rabbi Rosen for having recommended this article!
(from shma.com)
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Video Learning about Tzedakah [top]
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 Tzedakah Defined and
Tzedakah Tale
A complementary pair of videos by Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain. If you're pressed for time, you can watch these videos in about 4 minutes total, and learn the essentials of Tzedakah.
(on YouTube, uploaded by jinsider)
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| Advanced Learning [top] |
 The Tzedakah Treasury
An excerpt from an anthology of Teachings about Tzedakah. G-d didn't create tzedakah to help poor people; rather he created poor people in order to allow the mitzvah of Tzedkaha to be fulfilled.
(from innernet.org)
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| Tisha B'Av [top] |
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Tisha B'Av will be observed from sundown Saturday July 28th to sundown Sunday July 29th. It is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples. In addition, many other calamities have also befallen the Jewish people on Tisha B'Av. "Tisha B'Av 101" provides you with the basics. In the second article, Rabbi Avi Geller, provides insightful information about the Book of Lamentations (Eicha), which we read on Tisha B'Av.
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Tisha B'Av "A Taboo Day"
Tisha B'Av is the only Jewish holiday to fall during the summer...yet few know what it's all about! This article provides a concise summary of the ideas, beliefs, rituals and practices of Tisha B'Av.
(from judaism.about.com)
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Overview of the Book of Lamentations
Rabbi Avi Geller gives an overview of Jeremiah's Book of Lamentations (Eicha) which is read on Tisha B'Av. Many of the lessons are still true today.
(from aish.com)
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| Israel [top] |
Ten Reasons I Admire Israel
It's a tough World out there, especially in the Middle East. Much of the media's Israel coverage focuses on negatives. David A. Harris reminds us of many compelling reasons to take pride in Israel.
(from aish.com)
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| NEW! Interactive Online Torah Portion Review Class...Enroll Now! [top] |
 Rabbi Howard Sowalsky To Lead Online Torah Portion Review Class--Starts in October
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. The class is limited to 25 participants. (There will be no actual class in the Beth El Temple building)
It is planned to hold the class on Wednesdays at 1:30pm, beginning October 3, 2012.
Click here and e-mail your name if you'd be interested in more information as it becomes available!
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Coming in September Beth Elearning... the High Holidays. [top]
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Continued...
The meaning here is righteousness or justice, what we today call social justice, ensuring that every person has the basic needs of life. The Torah teaches us that "there shall be no needy among you" (Deut. 15:4). To accomplish this, we are instructed to remit debts every seven years (Deut. 15:1-3), lend to those in need whatever they need (Deut. 15:8) and provide for the nourishment of the poor through the mitzvot of Leket (Lev. 19:9-10; leaving that which is dropped or passed over), Shichecha (Deut. 24:19; leaving that which is left behind or not harvested) and Peah (Lev. 23:22; leaving the edges of your field).
Jewish tradition prescribes various occasions to GIVE tzedakah, among them erev (the eve of) Shabbat, the Yahrzeit (anniversary of death) of a loved one and while preparing for holidays such as Purim and Pesach. At Beth El Temple, we offer numerous opportunities to DO tzedakah. One can serve lunch at the Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen, cook and serve dinner to needy Hartford families at the Charter Oak Cultural Center, prepare and
serve meals at the Senior Cafes and Peter's Retreat in Hartford. Within our own Beth El community, one can provide food or rides to those in need, visit and do errands for those who are home bound, and comfort those who are in mourning. New volunteers are always welcome.
Our Rabbis taught (Talmud Gittin 7a) that "Everyone is required to give (and do!) tzedakah, even those who receive it". Helen Keller said, "Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be obtained." Our Beth El Temple community is a deeply caring community. As we strive for social justice in this world, kol ha-kavod (great job!) to all for helping to make a difference. Thanks for helping each day matter in the lives of others. [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
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Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue,West Hartford, CT 06117
Synagogue Main Office 860-233-9696
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