June 13, 2013
5 Tammuz 5773
Click here for Daily Minyan Schedule

Like us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter
In This Issue
Parshat Korach
Caring Community Information
SHABBAT SHALOM
Learning Opportunities
Parshat Chukkat
Jordana Schuster

Moses' frustration and fatigue were no excuse for his refusal to accept the people's cry for help.
 

Parashat Hukkat brings one of the most famous of biblical stories: Moses strikes the rock and is thereafter barred from entering the land of Canaan.  The outline of the story is spare. Toward the end of the Israelites' 40-year journey through the wilderness, the people begin to whine and grumble (once again) about their thirst. In response, Moses and his brother Aaron consult with God, who tells them to speak to a stone and it will bring forth water. Moses, instead, berates the people--"Listen up, you rebels!"--and strikes the rock. 

 

Water comes forth and the people drink, but God punishes Moses and Aaron, saying, "Because you did not trust in Me enough to make Me holy before the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them." Everlastingly holy as God may be, Moses and Aaron fail to demonstrate God's holiness to the people and for this they are chastised and severely punished.

For more than 2000 years, rabbinic commentators have struggled to understand the nature of Moses' sin--and, thus, to understand what Moses failed to do in order to make God holy before the Israelites. The commentators have diverged significantly. Rashi, for example, says that Moses' sin is that he struck the stone, whereas Maimonides says it is that he lost his temper. Nahmanides, with a third interpretation, teaches that Moses' sin was in claiming too much power for himself.

 

The 12th century biblical commentator Ibn Ezra offers a unique and compelling reading of the text. He argues that Moses' grave error was in calling the people "rebels" when their behavior was not, in fact, rebellious. We learn later in the Book of Numbers that in God's view it was not the people who were rebels in this story but Moses and Aaron themselves. God tells them, "You rebelled against My instruction [and failed] to make Me holy in eyes [of the Israelites]."

 

Moses' failure to make God holy before the Israelites resided in his misidentification as "rebellious" the people's legitimate behavior. Their complaints about the lack of water needed to be honored with regard and compassion rather than the ire and frustration Moses meted out. 

 

Though Moses had borne 40 years of frequent complaints from these same people, their demand for water needed to be considered anew and respected in full. His frustration and fatigue were no excuse for his refusal to accept the people's request. This refusal, in turn, represented a failure to make God holy in their eyes.

click here to continue reading 

 

Jordana Schuster is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She is a graduate of Williams College and has studied at the Conservative Yeshiva and at Harvard Divinity School, from which she holds a Master of Theological Studies. 




May Their Memories Be For a Blessing 

June Yahrtzeits

6/13/2013 (5 Tammuz)         

Joseph Jacobson

James Pappas

6/14/2013 (6 Tammuz)         

Ehud Reiter

6/18/2013 (10 Tammuz)       

Jacob Kurland

6/19/2013 (11 Tammuz)       

Harry Baer

6/21/2013 (13 Tammuz)       

Beverly Weingarden

6/22/2013 (14 Tammuz)       

Jules Doneson,

Edward Feibus

Anita Sonenshein

6/23/2013 (15 Tammuz)       

Irv Belsky

Isadore Hamburger

6/25/2013 (17 Tammuz)       

Pearl Nusbaum

6/27/2013 (19 Tammuz)       

Bella Lieberman

6/29/2013 (21 Tammuz)       

Max Kleinbard

Saul Togal

6/30/2013 (22 Tammuz)       

Nathan Wonboy

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.  

Caring Community Information

Refuah Sh'leimah/Wishing a Speedy Recovery

Please email 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 
Join Our Mailing List
To make a donation to the synagogue, 
click here 
phone:  248-432-2729
SHABBAT SHALOM
Shabbat Services: Chukkat

Friday, June 14th

6 p.m. Services, Chapel
Saturday, June 15th:  CHAPEL
There is shuttle parking from Prince of Peace.
Shabbat Table
Kiddush 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.  

 

Upcoming Simcha:
NEXT SHABBAT we will celebrate the B'nai Mitzvah of Ilan and Yael Elrom, children of Itzik Elrom and Paula Levy, siblings of Rachel, Joey and Dayna and Melissa, grandchildren of Elane and Frank (z"l) Basch and Aliza and Moshe (z"l) Buncel.

 

Condolences

To the Temple Kol Ami family on the sudden passing this past Shabbat of David Henig.

 

Blood Drive

Blood Drive
Monday, June 17th
2-8 p.m., Temple Kol Ami
PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE:
Sponsor Code:  tka13

Kadima 

FINAL KADIMA EVENT 

OF THE YEAR 

THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 16TH

1-3 P.M., Paradise Park in Novi.
Cost:  $21.00 includes unlimited play and Jerusalem Pizza.  Video arcade is NOT included.  ALL 6-8 grade students welcome.Click here for downloadable flyer.

B'nai Israel Sisterhood in formation. 
Questions?  E-mail or call Betsy Wolf:  248-207-0408.

 

Honey

 
ORDER "HONEY FROM THE HEART" Click here and follow the simple instructions.  ORDER DEADLINE IS JULY 9THHoney from the Heart logo

Questions:
Contact Peter of Shelly Fenyes: pfenyes@yahoo.com
 

 

Yizkor Book 5774/2013-2014

To place names in the book for the coming year, 

Click here for a downloadable form.  Deadline:  July 14th.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Frank
 Shabbat in the Park 2013

Fridays at 6 p.m.,  

Bloomer Park, West Bloomfield

July 5th, August 2nd

Upcoming Youth and Family Activities
Upcoming Youth Services  

Supervised Youth Activities,  Room 3, lower level 

Parent volunteers staff the youth room during the summer months.

To stay current on all youth and family activities, contact Ilana Glazier  to join the B'nai Israel Families Facebook Group.

 

FINAL KADIMA EVENT:
PARADISE PARK, THIS SUNDAY, 1-3

CHILDREN SINGING
VOICES NEEDED, Youth ages 10+ 
to accompany our hazzan during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.  
E-mail Susan Knoppow if your child would like to participate.
Learning Opportunities   
Siddur Appreciation/Learnin
with Dr. Mitch Parker 
June 15, 10 a.m.  Final Class until the fall

Learn to Read Hebrew with Michael Wolf
Monday evenings, 7-8:30, July 8th-August 19th
BI/TKA Library  Materials Fee:   $36.00
Class size is limited. This class is for adults with limited or no Hebrew reading knowledge.  Click here for registration form.  Non-members of B'nai Israel are welcome to attend.

Women in Tanach:  A Four Part Lecture Series 
offered through Partners in Torah
Sarah:  Mother of a Nation click here for a detailed flyer
Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
June 19 and 26, July 10 and 17
at the home of Susan Feber
5041 Greensward Court
West Bloomfield, MI  483232
Registration required:  
248-583-2476 or info@partnersdetroit.org
Upcoming Community Events
and TKA/BI Joint Opportunities

Save the Date:  
Road Rally
Road Rally with TKA and BI 
Sunday, July 28th, 5:30 p.m.
Fun!  Food!  Prizes!  For further information contact Sallyjo Levine.

KNITTING 
All stitchers are welcome.  Bring yourKnitting1 
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:   e-mail Gail Raben.

Mazel Tov 
June Birthdays
Happy Birthday!

Birthday Cake

 

13 Bess Glazier
14 Marla Schloss

16 Ilana Glazier

20 DavidaRobinson                                       

21 Carol Golob    

21 Marni Jacobson     

22 Jonathan Lowe      

23 Daniel Kuhn   

24 Jessica Singer

25 Max Feber      

26 Herb Lantor     

26 Karen Rosenberg   

28 Madeline Kaufman

28 Ruth Webber

 

June Anniversaries  
Jewish Wedding

13  Andy and Libby Beider

13  Rabbi Mark and Amy Robbins

20 John Marcotte & Vicki Freedman

22 Steve & Joan Freedman

22 Leonard & Sharon Rosen

24 Belmont & Gertrude Kershenbaum

25 Lowell Schmeltz & Ilana Glazier

26 Ron & Sharon Gadoth-Goodman

27 Ken & Shula Brown

27 Lenny & Robin Jacobson

28 Robert & Laurie Kimmel

28 Noel & Judy Lawson

29 Mark & Loraine Kuhn

30 Alan & Barbara Funk

If your birthday or anniversary information is not listed, please email the synagogue so we can update our records.
USCJ logo
Quick Links

B'nai Israel Synagogue is affiliated with USCJ, 
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.