Parshat Tzav
Shabbat Hagadol
Rabbi Ronald H. Isaacs
One of the distinctions of Shabbat HaGadol among Ashkenazi Jews is that it was one of two times during the year that the rabbi would address the congregation. The other occasion was
Shabbat Shuva --the Sabbath of Repentance--between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Often, the Shabbat HaGadol address dealt with the issues and intricacies of Passover kashrut.
One humorous explanation for the name of this sabbath is that the word "gadol" meaning "great" or "big" refers to the length of the rabbi's sermon that was traditionally delivered on this special occasion. Excerpted with permission from Every Person's Guide to Passover
The Sabbath immediately preceding Passover is called Shabbat HaGadol, the great Sabbath. According to tradition, the 10th of Nisan in the year of the exodus was a Saturday. It was considered a great event, in fact a miracle, that the Israelites could on that day select a lamb for sacrifice without being molested by their Egyptian masters, who, at other times, would have stoned them for such daring (Code of Jewish Law, Orach Chayyim 430: 1).
Another possible reason for the name is that the haftarah (Malachi3:4-24), the prophetic portion, speaks of the "great day" of God on which the Messiah will appear. A novel explanation for the name of Shabbat HaGadol is that the people used to return from the synagogue later than usual on this Sabbath because of the unusually long sermon that was customary on this day.
The custom of reciting the Haggadah in the afternoon of Shabbat HaGadol was designed to familiarize the people with its contents in preparation for the Seder service that week (Code of Jewish Law, Orach Chayyim 430)
Rabbi Ronald H. Isaacs is the spiritual leader of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater, New Jersey. He has served as the publications committee chairperson of the Rabbinical Assembly.
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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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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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SHABBAT SHALOM
Shabbat Services: Tzav, Shabbat Hagadol
Friday, March 22nd
6 p.m. Services, Chapel
Saturday, March 23rd
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 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
Friday, April 5th, just after Passover!
Join fellow congregants and our rabbinic candidate, Rabbi Jill Cozen Harel for simha davening and dinner. Reservations must be received by Sunday, March 31st.
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Passover is Coming!
First Seder is
Monday evening, March 25th.
Passover Services Schedule
Monday Morning, March 25th
7 a.m. Services followed by a siyyum (short learning presentation) to enable first-born family members to eat prior to the onset of the holiday.
Monday Evening, Erev Pesach, March 25th
5:30 p.m. Minha, Chapel
Tuesday, March 26th, First Day of Passover
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary. Kiddush following services, sponsored by an anonymous donor.
5:30 p.m. Minha, Chapel
Wednesday, March 27th, Second Day of Passover
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary. Kiddush following services, sponsored by an anonymous donor.
8:50 p.m. Minha/Maariv/Havdalah, Chapel
Thursday, March 28th and Friday, March 29th
Hol Hamoed Passover
7 a.m. Services, Chapel
6 p.m. Minha/Maariv
(including Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday evening)
Saturday, March 30th, Shabbat Hol Hamoed Passover
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary. Kiddush following services, sponsored by Ilana Glazier and Lowell Schmeltz in honor of Ryan Schmeltz'e 7th birthday, and by an additional anonymous donor.
10:30 a.m. Shmooze Shabbat, 6-8 graders, lower level
Sunday, March 31st
8:30 a.m. Services, Chapel
5 p.m. Services, Chapel
Monday, April 1st, Seventh Day of Passover
9 a.m. Services, CHAPEL. Kiddush following services, sponsored by an anonymous donor.
6 p.m. Services, Chapel
Tuesday, April 2nd, Eight Day of Passover
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary.
Yizkor Service and Dedication of Memorial Plaques:
Donald Lewis Stuart E. Allen
10:30 a.m. Supervised youth activities, lower level.
Kiddush following services. Kiddush is sponsored by Leah Lewis, Cathy and Michael Graub in loving memory of Donald Lewis and additionally by an anonymous donor.
8:50 p.m. Minha/Maariv/Havdallah, Chapel to conclude the holiday.
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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 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.
USY REGIONAL CONVENTION
(9-12 graders) AND
SPECIAL 8TH GRADE KINNUS
APRIL 11-14,
CAMP TAMARACK, ORTONVILLE
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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, 11 a.m.
April 20th, 11 a.m. April 27, 10 a.m.
Mitzvah Opportunity
Last day to donate your old eyeglasses is tomorrow, March 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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