PARSHAT SHEMOT Michael Wolf
This week we begin the 2nd Book of Moses -Parashat Shemot - Exodus 1:1 - 6:1
Brief Synopsis:
A new generation of the Children of Israel grows into a nation. A new Pharaoh comes to rule. The Jewish people are turned into slaves.
Moses is born, hidden, found floating in a basket, raised in Pharaoh's house, turned into an outlaw when he kills to defend a Hebrew slave, and married to the daughter of the High Priest of Midian.
God talks to Moses from inside a Burning Bush.
Verse of the week "The bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed." (3:2) Moses said, "I must turn aside to look at this marvelous sight; why doesn't the bush burn up?" (3:3)
Our Rabbis have given several interpretations for this unusual occurrence. They include the following four from Exodus Rabbah:
God wanted to point out that even the lowliest of creations can miraculously become inflamed if filled with Divine sparks - a lesson that even the humblest of people can make history if filled with God's holy spirit.
Rabbi Jose said - it is characteristic of a thornbush that when a man sticks his hand into it, he is not injured, because the sharp ends of its thorns are pointed downward; but when he attempts to draw his hand out of the bush, the thorns will fasten on to it. In this sense, the thornbush symbolized the Jews' experience in Egypt, which had at first welcomed them but which then refused to let them go.
A heathen asked Rabbi Joshua ben Korhah: Why did the Holy One see fit to speak to Moses out of a thornbush and not out of another kind of tree? He replied: Had he spoken to Moses out of a carob tree or out of a sycamore tree, you would have asked me the same question; but to dismiss you with no reply is not right. So I will tell you why. To teach you that no place on earth, not even a thornbush, is devoid of the Presence.
The burning thornbush that was not consumed by fire was a way of assuring Moshe that the Jews of Egypt would not be destroyed.
Why is the Jewish Theological Seminary logo a burning bush? Perhaps it is because the burning bush is symbolic of the people of Israel and of Torah - which never get consumed. The top of the bush logo is in the shape of the Hebrew letter - Shin - which stands for one of the names of God - Shaddai. No matter how difficult things become - the presence of God is always with us.
I also believe that the burning bush serves as a reminder to us that miracles can and do occur in our daily lives if we, like Moses, "turn aside to look" at these wonderful sights.
Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom. May you have many opportunities in the upcoming year to take the time to witness the marvelous sights around us.
For further insight on the parsha, please visit:
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Mazel Tov
January Birthdays
2 Sandy Birnholtz
2 Alana Kuhn
3 Aviad Kapen
4 Aviva Lupovitch
5 David Sable
6 Lorraine Rimar
6 Corey Rosen
7 Ellen Kershenbaum
11 Laurie Kimmel
11 Warren Robinson
12 Joan Freedman
13 Joseph Eisman
13 Kobi Schmeltz
17 Rachel Margolis
18 Benjamin Schmeltz
20 Julian Nusbaum
21 Gail Beale
21 Susan Feber
23 David Hundiak
25 Itzhak Elrom
28 Amnon Reiter
29 David Chudnow
31 Robin Pappas
If your birthday or anniversary information is not listed, please email the synagogue so it can be added to our records.
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To make a donation to the synagogue click here.
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SHABBAT SHALOM
B'nai Israel extends its condolences to Leypsa Groner and her entire family on the death this week of beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother Rabbi Irwin Groner. May they be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Family Camp Applications are available now! Sign up by January 31 and save. Click here for the application. Coming soon: Painting with a Twist, Purim fun, Inter-generational women's seder and much more. Save the date: Ice skating at Campus Martius, pizza, and tour of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue. Sunday, February 3 Please consider the card that keeps on giving . . .Contact Debbie Singer today to secure a Hiller's Scrip Card. You shop . . . we benefit! Questions? Call the synagogue office: 248-432-2729.
Looking for a unique gift? Donate a humash ($75.00), a siddur ($25.00), or a set ($100.00) to the synagogue in honor or memory of someone you love.
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Shabbat Services: Shemot
Friday, January 4th
6 p.m. Services, Chapel
Saturday, January 5th
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by the Kiddush Lunch Fund. Kiddush Lunch is available through the generosity of weekly sponsors. Please e-mail or call Mindy Shuback (248) 752-6046 or call the synagogue office if you would like to sponsor a kiddush lunch. You may also make a donation to the synagogue specifically for the Kiddush Lunch Fund by clicking here.
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Learning Opportunities
Siddur Appreciation/Learning with Dr. Mitch Parker This class is held on Shabbat mornings in the lower level, Room 9. January 12 11 a.m. January 26 10 a.m.
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Upcoming Youth and Family Activities
Ice Skating: February 3, 2013. Join us for an afternoon of skating in Detroit's Campus Martius Park, along with kosher pizza and a tour of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue. More details to come via the bulletin and B'nai Israel Families Facebook group.
Supervised Youth Activities, Room 3, lower level To stay current on all youth and family activities, contact Ilana Glazier to join the B'nai Israel Families Facebook Group. |
Upcoming Community Events
TKA/BI Joint Opportunities TKA Sisterhood presents: Financial Planning for Women Wednesday, January 9th, 7 p.m. Please click here for program details and RSVP information. BOOK CLUB (Adults)Book Club meets on the Third Sunday of every month. All are welcome. The next scheduled meeting will take place
Sunday, January 20th @ 3:30-5:00 PM in the TKA/BI library. Connie Silver, librarian from the West Bloomfield Library will be joining us. Detailed program info is available. For a list of upcoming titles and dates, click here.
KNITTING has returned! Not a knitter? All stitchers are welcome. Bring your needlepoint, crochet hook or cross stitch and join the group. There is no charge to attend. January 15th, 7 PM at the TKA/BI building. Just drop-in! No registration required. For more information, e-mail Gail Raben. 81st INTER-CONGREGATIONAL MEN'S CLUB DINNER Tuesday, February 26, 2013 6 p.m., Temple Israel. Click here for complete program information and downloadable reservation form. Dietary laws observed. RELAY FOR LIFE 2013 Abby Pook (TKA) is working on a very simple quilting project that you can help with for Relay for Life 2013. Contact Abby by e-mail for more information. Steve Dines (BI) is this year's Relay for Life Entertainment Chairperson. Contact Steve by e-mail to learn how you can get involved. |
Daily Minyan
Monday and Thursday mornings, 7:00 a.m.
Rosh Chodesh mornings, 7:00 a.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, 7:15 a.m.
Monday-Friday evenings, 6 p.m.
Sunday Morning, 8:30 a.m.
Sunday evenings, 5 p.m.
Legal Holidays, 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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Caring Community Information
Our caring community reaches out to one another in a variety of ways. We welcome our new members warmly with a special visit and gift. We provide shiva minyan leaders. We call/visit/provide meals for members who are ill or home-bound, bring a home-cooked shiva meal to mourners in our community, and help to drive members who need a ride to synagogue services and events. If you would like to help in any way, please call or e-mail the synagogue.
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Refuah Sh'leimah/Wishing a Speedy Recovery
Please e-mail the synagogue office or contact the synagogue: 248-432-2729, if you have a name that needs to be placed on the mishebeirach list or needs to be removed from the list.
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May Their Memories Be For a Blessing
January Yahrtzeits
1/2/2013 (20 Tevet)
Ela Osher Dzodin
1/3/2013 (21 Tevet)
Morris Band, Hyman Ribiat Robert, Max Wasserman
1/4/2013 (22 Tevet)
Doris Lada
1/5/2013 (23 Tevet)
Edsel Kershenbaum, Muriel Trager
1/7/2013 (25 Tevet)
Mildred Robinson, Lillian Saulson
1/8/2013 (26 Tevet)
David Jacknow, Louis Weiss
1/9/2013 (27 Tevet)
Harriett J. Beale
1/11/2013 (29 Tevet)
Sophie Silverstein
1/13/2013 (2 Shevat)
Tillie Lantor, Edith Tucker
1/14/2013 (3 Shevat)
Marian Knoppow
1/15/2013 (4 Shevat)
Morris Fishman, Marie Garnick, Lisa Goldstone, Nancy Lynn Precour
1/16/2013 (5 Shevat)
Mary Wonboy
1/20/2013 (9 Shevat)
Lois Shirley Pappas
1/22/2013 (11 Shevat)
Molly Zelickman
1/25/2013 (14 Shevat)
David Benisty
1/26/2013 (15 Shevat)
Dr. David Eisman
1/27/2013 (16 Shevat)
Sheila Cohen, Harry Doneson
1/28/2013 (17 Shevat)
Sam Isaacs, Alvin Nusbaum
1/31/2013 (20 Shevat)
Gerald Sable
To make a donation to commemorate a yahrtzeit, please click here. If you are a member of the synagogue and a yahrtzeit for your loved one is not on the list, please contact the synagogue office so the information can be added to our records.
Please contact the synagogue office if you wish to permanently memorialize a loved one by purchasing a yahrtzeit plaque. |
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