Parshat Vayikrah
Only One Was Called, But We Were All Chosen:
The nature of Moshe's communication with God was affected by his role as intermediary and representative of the people.
The last lines of the book of Exodus have Moses placing the finishing touches on the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle is enveloped in clouds with the presence of the Holy One emanating from its center. Moses is prevented from entering because the clouds indicate that the Holy One's presence is there in full glory. Then the next book, Leviticus/Vayikra, opens with God's inaugural meeting with Moses.
Leviticus 1:1
"And He called to Moses, and God spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting saying..."
Rashi on Leviticus 1:1
"Every time God spoke to Moses, he was welcomed by this calling which was a term of endearment. It was the same language used by the ministering angels for they too, 'called one to the other...' (Isaiah)...And the voice went to Moses alone for Israel was unable to hear the sound... Yet, everything God said to Moses for thirty-eight years was for the sake of Israel. It was only after the generation of the spies--those who were afraid to conquer the land of Israel--had died that God spoke to Moses for his sake alone. As it is written, "After all the people from the generation of the war had passed, God spoke to me." (Deuteronomy 2:16)
Your Rashi Navigator
1. What problem in the text is Rashi addressing?
2. How does he answer it? 3. Rashi says that God's calling Moses to the tent was done in an endearing manner, but God's actual words were incredibly harsh, how do you understand this contrast? 4. What allows God to finally have a conversation with Moses? 5. Why does this make a difference?
A Word
Moses finally gets that conversation after this generation is gone and before the new generation is about to conquer the land. It is there that, "God spoke to me..." Moses says, and Rashi infers that God spoke to him with the gentleness and affection Moses had always deserved. The promise that the conversation would indeed happen sometime was important enough that Rashi made note of it. It reminds us that how Moses was called made it possible for him to receive the harsh word of his Lord. Rabbi Avi Weinstein is the Head of Jewish Studies at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy in Kansas City.
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May Their Memories Be For a Blessing
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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Historic House for Rent
Historic house for rent in Charlevoix, Michigan. By the week or by the day. E-mail Debbie Singer for more information.
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SHABBAT SHALOM
Shabbat Services: Vayikrah
Friday, March 15th
6 p.m. Services, Chapel
Saturday, March 16th
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
We warmly welcome Rabbi Mark and Amy Robbins to our community this weekend.
Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by Rabbi Jonathan and Laura Berger in honor of Talya's 8th birthday, by Davida and Warren Robinson in honor of Ian's return home, and by an additional anonymous donor.
Kiddush Lunch is available through the generosity of weekly sponsors. Please e-mail 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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Shabbat Dinner at B'nai Israel
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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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Upcoming Youth and Family Activities
10:30 a.m. SATURDAY, MARCH 30TH
Join Marni and Shira for activities, food and fun, lower level.
For a calendar of Kadima events for the remainder of the school year, click here. For more information, contact Shira or Marni:kadima@bnaiisraelwb.org.
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.
Matzah Factory Public Hours
March 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
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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 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
BOOK CLUB (Adults)
Book Club meets on the third Sunday of every month. All are welcome.
No meeting for March. NEXT MEETING:
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: 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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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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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
United Synagogue
of Conservative Judaism.
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