B'nai Israel Synagogue - West Bloomfield
January 24, 2013
13 Shevat 5773
In This Issue
PARSHAT BESHALLACH
Mazel Tov
Refuah Sh'leimah/Wishing a Speedy Recovery
Shabbat Services:...Beshallach, Shabbat Shira
Learning Opportunities
Upcoming Youth and Family Activities
Upcoming Community Events/TKA/BI Joint Opportunities
Daily Minyan
Caring Community Information
May Their Memories be for a Blessing

 PARSHAT BESHALLACH
Rabbi Neal J. Loevinger 
The Test Of The Manna 
The manna tested the character of the newly freed Israelites--how they would respond to a situation of plenty and how they would cultivate their relationship with God 
Overview 
The Israelites leave Egypt after the final plagues force Pharaoh to surrender; however, once the Israelites have left their slavery, Pharaoh has a change of heart and decides to chase after them with his army. The Israelites come to the Sea of Reeds, but are able to cross on dry land after God parts the waters, which then come together and drown the pursuing Egyptian army. Moses sings his "Song of the Sea," and Miriam leads the women in dance and rejoicing.  
Still, the people are dissatisfied with conditions in the wilderness, and repeatedly complain, despite the fact that God provides them with "manna" and water. At the end of the parsha, there is a dramatic battle with the nation Amalek. 
In Focus 
"God said to Moses: 'See here, I will rain down for them food from heaven, and the people will go out and collect a daily portion every day. Thus I will test them, whether they will follow My Torah or not'" (Exodus 16:5). 
Pshat 
The Hebrew people have escaped to freedom in the wilderness only to find that there is no food or water in the desert; they complain and even nostalgically recall the food they ate in Egypt as slaves. They seem to blame Moses for their troubles; he, in turn, reminds them that it was God who took them out of Egypt.

God responds that God will provide food from heaven--the "manna"--as much as each person needs, with a double portion on Fridays so that the people do not need to gather on Shabbat. Each day the manna will fall, and whatever is left over will go bad; the people must collect their portion every day, and not attempt to hoard it. 
Drash 
The 15th-century Sephardic [Spanish or Mediterranean] Torah commentator R. Yitzhak Abarvanel (d.1508) notices a fundamental problem with this verse: When we say that someone is being "tested," we assume that they are going to have to do something difficult. The classic example from the Torah is in Genesis 22, when God "tested" Avraham by asking him to bring his son Yitzhak as a sacrifice.

However, as Abarvanel points out, God's beneficence in providing the miraculous "food from heaven" seems like an act of lovingkindness, not a difficult challenge! What kind of test is it to provide someone with food and water that they simply collect without any trouble at all?

Nevertheless, the plain meaning of the verse is that God is giving Israel some kind of temptation or challenge. Rashi interprets the phrase "follow my Torah" as applying specifically to the instructions pertaining to the manna. Thus, for Rashi, the test that God gives the Israelites is whether they will follow the specific commandments not to leave the manna over till the next day, and not to go out collecting it on Shabbat. (See verses 16:19-27.)
Rabbi Neal Joseph Loevinger is currently the rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Poughkeepsie, NY.

For further insight on the parsha, please visit:
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 

January Anniversaries

15 Marvin & Edith Kozlowski

To make a donation in honor of someone's anniversary, please click here.

 
If your birthday or anniversary information is not listed, please email the synagogue so it can be added to our records. 

 

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.  

Join Our Mailing List 

To make a donation to the synagogue  click here. 

SHABBAT SHALOM 

 

Our entire synagogue community extends heartfelt condolences to the following members on the deaths of their parents this past week:
   To Joanna (Jay) Abramson on the death of Joanna's father, Walter M. Stark. 
   To Jonathan (Beth) Lowe on the death of Jonathan's mother, Ida Millstein Lowe
   To Ram Orzach (Karen) on the death of Ron's mother, Rachel Orzach. 
May all their memories be for a blessing.  May they all be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Mazel Tov  
   To Larry and Elyn Charlupski on the engagement of their son Cory to Erin Prober.
   To Michael and Marybeth Rosen on the engagement of their son Jordan to Anna Jackson.
   To Jay Brown and Michelle Tukel on the recent birth of their granddaughter, Sophie Alice to parents Meryl Kramer and Benji Brown.

Todah Rabbah
   To Hilda Hamburger for sponsoring minyan breakfast marking the yahrtzeit of her beloved father, Morris Fishman.
    To Bonnie Sorkin for sponsoring minyan breakfast marking the yahrtzeit of her beloved father, Saul Garfinkle.

 

TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR EARLY BIRD PRICING!  Family Camp Applications are available now! Sign up by January 31 and save. Click here for the registration form.

Brownie Troop 613/Girl Scout Troop 613 Open House
Sunday, January 27th 
12:30-2, Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
Launching of new Brownie and Girl Scout Troops.  
RSVP to Laurel Rebenstock 248-605-5049 or email Laurel.
 
Camp Ramah in Canada Open House
Sunday, January 27th, 6:30 p.m.
at the home of Daniel and Marni Cherrin.
Click here for complete information and directions to the Cherrin residence. If you wish to attend this event, please
rsvp to Ahbra: info@campramah.com 

Save the date: 

Sunday, February 3rd, 12:30p.m.-2p.m.
Ice skating at Campus Martius Park, followed by hot chocolate and snacks at the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue. Click here for complete event information. Please rsvp to ruby.robinson@gmail.com
 
Please consider the synagogue when looking for a place for a charitable contribution or in your estate planning.
 

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Shabbat Services: Beshallach, Shabbat Shira

Friday, January 25th

6 p.m. Services, Chapel

Saturday, January 26th

9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary

Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by Evan and Lesiie Chudnow and by Temple Kol Ami. 
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.
Learning Opportunities   
 
Siddur Appreciation/Learning 
with Dr. Mitch Parker 
This class is held on Shabbat mornings in the lower level, Room 9. 
January 26  11 a.m.
February 10 and February 24, 10 a.m. 

Upcoming Youth and Family Activities
Ice Skating: February 3, 2013
Campus Martius Park followed by hot chocolate and snacks at Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue. Click here for event flyer. 
 
B'nai Israel Synagogue Kadima (grades 6-8) Activities begin in just two weeks! Family Camp:  March 8-10, 2013 Click here for downloadable application.  Contact Ilana Glazier
for more information.

Upcoming Youth Services  

Supervised Youth Activities,  Room 3, lower level 

January 26, February 9 

February 16 (special program), February 23

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
BOOK CLUB (Adults)

Book Club meets on the third Sunday of every month. All are welcome.   

Sunday, February 17th Gossip: The Untrivial Pursuit by Joseph Epstein (non-fiction)  

Sunday, March 17th:  The Invisible Bridge
by Jullie Orringer (fiction)
Sunday, April 21st
: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (memoir)

TKA Sisterhood Day of Beauty:
February 10th, 12p.m.-3p.m. 
Nordstrom, Somerset
$25.00 includes lunch and beauty consult
RSVP by February 1st to Connie Silver:  248-851-2149 or
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.

7 PM at the TKA/BI building. 

FUTURE DATES:  2/13, 3/13, 4/24/ 5/21, 6/10

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.

 

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.  

Please e-mail the synagogue or call the office (248) 432-2729 with any questions.  

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.  
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, Mel Rogoff

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.     

 


Quick Links

B'nai Israel Synagogue on Facebook, click here.

:: (248) 432-2729