Parshat Vayakhel/Pekudei
Shabbat HaChodesh
Holiness Is Not Intrinsic:
The Tabernacle and Shabbat are vehicles for infusing all space and time with holiness.
By Rabbi Aaron Cohen
Our sages note the juxtaposition of Shabbat and the Mishkan (Tabernacle) at the beginning of Parashat Vayakhel.
The Mishkan, the "resting place" of the Shechinah (divine presence), was built to serve as the focal point of religious life for the Jewish nation. But therein lay a latent danger--the possibility that the Jewish people would contrast the pristine spiritual world of the Mishkan to the mundane society at large and mistakenly perceive that any significant kedushah (sanctity), any closeness to God, could be achieved only within the confines of the Mishkan.
Such a perspective, however, undermines the very essence of the Mishkan's message: "veshachanti betocham--and I [God] will dwell among them." Ultimately, God desires not an oasis of kedushah, but a spiritual wellspring that quenches the thirst of a Jew for closeness to God, influencing, inspiring, and elevating all those encamped around it--not just inside it. God wishes to dwell among us.
Sanctifying Shabbat
Similarly, we are commanded to "remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it." The Ramban (Nachmanides) points out that in addition to the obligation of reciting Kiddush on Shabbat itself, another obligation exists: to maintain Shabbat as a focal point throughout the week. When an opportunity arises to purchase something special, such as food or clothing, one should purchase it for Shabbat.
Shabbat, like the Mishkan, is not an isolated day of spirituality, distinct and separate from the other days of the week. Rather, the rest of the week revolves around Shabbat, and Shabbat elevates and infuses the other days with its kedushah.
Click here to continue reading.
Rabbi Aaron Cohen is the rabbi of Congregation Tifereth Israel in Passaic, New Jersey.
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Passover is Coming!
First Seder is
Monday evening, March 25th.
Document must be received by Tuesday, March 19, 2013.
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Shabbat Dinner at B'nai Israel
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May Their Memories Be For a Blessing
February Yahrtzeits
2/28/2013 (18 Adar)
Alan Breitman
Rose Lifshitz
March Yahrtzeits
3/1/2013 (19 Adar)
Jewel Dorothy Shuback
Joseph Weiss
3/2/2013 (20 Adar)
Doris Barahal Tron
3/4/2013 (22 Adar)
Edith Nusholtz
Ruth Raimi
3/5/2013 (23 Adar)
Bruria Melman
3/8/2013 (26 Adar)
Esther Patent
3/10/2013 (28 Adar)
Isadore Goode
Dora Wasserman
Anne Wechselfeld
3/11/2013 (29 Adar)
Harold Goldstone
3/12/2013 (1 Nisan)
Stuart E. Allen
3/13/2013 (2 Nisan)
Leonard Kershenbaum
3/16/2013 (5 Nisan)
Bennie Mirkin
3/17/2013 (6 Nisan)
Jonas Dworin
3/18/2013 (7 Nisan)
Harold Milton Ellias
3/21/2013 (10 Nisan)
Jack Chitkin
3/22/2013 (11 Nisan)
Libby Rubinstein
Sidney Wechselfeld
3/25/2013 (14 Nisan)
Jolyn Freedman
Sadie Weiss
3/26/2013 (15 Nisan)
Mimi Schloss
3/27/2013 (16 Nisan)
Saul Waldman
3/29/2013 (18 Nisan)
Goldie Chaner
Rose Kaye
Rose Kleinbard
3/30/2013 (19 Nisan)
Bluma Stark
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 we can update our records.
Please click here if you wish to permanently memorialize a loved one by purchasing a yahrtzeit plaque.
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Caring Community Information
Refuah Sh'leimah/Wishing a Speedy Recovery
Please e-mail Michael Golob or call the synagogue: 248-432-2729 if you wish to add a name to our communal list.
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
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SHABBAT SHALOM
Shabbat Services: Vayakhel/Pekudei
Friday, March 8th
6 p.m. Services, Chapel
Saturday, March 9th
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
Wishing all of our family camp participants a great shabbat and fun weekend at camp!
Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by the Kiddush Lunch Fund.
PASSOVER KIDDUSH SPONSORSHIPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE.
SPECIAL PRICING! Please contact the synagogue office if you would like to sponsor kiddush during Passover:
March 26, 27, 30 or April 1 or 2.
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 byclicking here.
CONDOLENCES 
During the past week, we mourn the passing of
Lillian Ruskin,
mother of David (Gloria) Ruskin.
Arlene Beals,
mother of Marcia (Chuck) Seigerman.
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Notes we've received . . .
"I wanted to thank B'nai Israel for the recent Purim package I received, and all of the other holiday packages! It always makes my day to receive a package full of goodies, and to be reminded that the shul is thinking of me! It's also nice to be updated about what's going on at the shul, so I still feel connected even when I'm not there. Thanks again, Hanna."
"Thank you so much for the amazing books and Shabbat dinner set! We can't wait to come home and celebrate Shabbat with all of you!" (our newest members), Hadley and Sophia
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Yahrtzeit Plaque Orders will be placed March 15th.
Plaques ordered in March will be dedicated on the second day of Shavuot,
Thursday, May 16th.
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Upcoming Youth and Family Activities
SHABBAT MORNING, MARCH 30TH:
Kadima SHMOOZE SHABBAT
Join Marni and Shira for learning, games, fun and food, 10:30 a.m., lower level.
For a calendar of Kadima events for the remainder of the school year, click here.
For more information, contact Shira or Marni: Marni:
Upcoming Youth Services
Supervised Youth Activities, Room 3, lower level March 16, 23 and 30 Supervised Youth Activities. To stay current on all youth and family activities, contact Ilana Glazier to join the B'nai Israel Families Facebook Group.
 MCUSY (9-12 graders) MINUTE TO WIN IT SHABBAT DINNER Friday, March 15th, 6-8:45 p.m.
RSVP to Ami Nadiv. 248-996-3058
Matzah Factory Public Hours
March 10 and 17, 1-4 p.m. JCC West Bloomfield Make and Bake a matzah. Explore Shalom Street's Passport to Israel Exhitbit! Experience the Exodus from Egypt.
USY REGIONAL CONVENTION (9-12 graders) AND SPECIAL 8TH GRADE KINNUS APRIL 11-14, CAMP TAMARACK, ORTONVILLE |

Looking for a summer program? United Synagogue Youth (USY) has many opportunities, including USY Israel Pilgrimage, USY on Wheels and much more!
or call: 212-533-7800, ext.1117 to learn more.
Applications for 2013 summer programs received by March 10th are eligible for 1 Grand Prize $1000.00 scholarship and 2 $500.00 prizes to be used toward USY summer programs.
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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.
March 9th, 11 a.m. March 23rd, 10 a.m.
Mitzvah Opportunity
Donate your old eyeglasses March 8th-22nd
Collection box is located at back of daily chapel.
Yael and Ilan Elrom, upcoming b'nai mitzvah students at B'nai Israel Synagogue, are assisting "New Eyes," eyeglasses for those in need, as a mitzvah project for their b'nai mitzvah. To learn more about New Eyes,"
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Upcoming Community Events
TKA/BI Joint Opportunities
Java Havdallah
Saturday March 9th, 7:30 p.m. at TKA
Admission: $10.00. Proceeds benefit music programming at Temple Kol Ami and Temple Shir Shalom.
BOOK CLUB (Adults)
Book Club meets on the third Sunday of every month. All are welcome.
Sunday, March 17th: The Invisible Bridge
by Jullie Orringer (fiction) Sunday, April 21st: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (memoir)
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: 3/13, 4/24/ 5/21, 6/10
Just drop-in! No registration required. For more information, e-mail Gail Raben.
SAVE THE DATE:

2013 WALK FOR ISRAEL
SUNDAY, MAY 5TH
HOSTED BY TEMPLE SHIR SHALOM.
visit:www.walkforisrael.org
for more information.
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Mazel Tov
2 Joshua Abramson
3 Donald Nusholtz
7 Oren Duer
8 Rita Goldstone
12 Loraine Kuhn
13 Frank Ellias
14 Larry Charlupski
19 Keith Sirlin
20 David Pappas
20 Ariel Taub
23 Mindy Shuback 
24 Talya Berger
24 Jeremy Rosenberg
26 Karen Orzach
26 Roi Orzach
29 Brittany Beider
29 Mark Webber
30 Ryan Schmeltz
31 Sharon Knoppow
31 Meredith Weingarden
If your birthday or anniversary information is not listed, please email the synagogue so we can update our records.
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 Quick Links
B'nai Israel Synagogue is affiliated with
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
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