Parshat Eikev
Jeremy Pappas
Despite proudly displaying pictures of my eight-month-old dog Izzo on Facebook as if he were my child, I cannot claim to be an actual father. I wouldn't dare compare the task of being a parent to owning a pet. However, I do believe Abbie and I are being offered a glimpse into the world of being the sole caretakers for a living being. I distinctly remember the first night we brought Izzo home. We put him to sleep in his crate, he cried-he has a major FOMO, fear of missing out-and then sometime later he fell asleep. A few minutes later, I turned to Abbie and said, "How do we know if he is still breathing?" It was a strange moment: I felt a lack of control over the very being that I was just getting used to being in control of. And, at that moment, I had to simply trust that his mammal functions were working correctly. Simply put, I wanted to protect my dog.
What I soon realized was that I could not protect Izzo at all times of the day. In fact, offering him full protection wasn't so simple even when we tried - we put him on a leash, he wiggled out and ran off; we fed him the right amount of food, but he ate too much and threw up; we made sure dangerous items were closed and he chewed through the bottom of the aspirin! All we could do was try our best: take Izzo out to the bathroom, give him space to run and play, train him to behave well, provide him food and a place to sleep. Anything beyond the basics is out of our control. It was the first time in my life that I did not have control over something I was responsible for sustaining, and that was not easy!
This week, in Parashat Eikev, we learn in-depth the idea of responsibility. More specifically, the Torah expands on the concept of reward and responsibility: if you followmitzvot, you will be rewarded. However, while Moshe specifically outlines the rewards that the Jewish people will receive for following mitzvot, I believe he is taking a bit of a different angle. Moshe is essentially saying do what you are supposed to do and trust God to protect you. In other words, take control of what you can and let the pieces fall into place.
This lesson is challenging - as human beings we want to be fully in control; it is not natural submit control over our lives. But, as being a first-time dog owner (and God willing one day a parent), I believe that we live this lesson daily when we care for others. Even when we provide everything we can and offer as much protection as possible, some things are left to change, out of our control. I still text my parents when I take off for a flight and again when I land, letting them know that I arrived safely. And, whenever I go on a long-distance drive they call an average of three times per hour! Yet, as I've grown to learn what it means to fully take care of something else, I've also learned to love those calls. And perhaps that is Moshe's message: to work hard for what w can control, while learning to appreciate and be thankful for what we cannot.
Jeremy Pappas is completing his studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary and will receive his rabbinic ordination in May 2014.
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May Their Memories Be For a Blessing
July Yahrtzeits
7/25/2013 (18 Av)
Lillian Handler
7/28/2013 (21 Av)
Theodore P. Mason
7/29/2013 (22 Av)
Joel D. Hamburger,
Bennie Magy
7/31/2013 (24 Av)
Bertha Chitkin
August Yahrtzeits
8/1/2013 (25 Av)
Ron Taub
8/2/2013 (26 Av)
Sarah Lewis
8/4/2013 (28 Av)
Louis Jonah Lieberman
8/5/2013 (29 Av)
Mr. Max Friedman
Leonard Gaba
Robert Alan Kapetansky
8/7/2013 (1 Elul)
Moshe Buncel, Moshe
Louis Silverstein
8/8/2013 (2 Elul)
Robert Keila
8/9/2013 (3 Elul)
Louis Rose
Sam Toby
8/10/2013 (4 Elul)
Jack Harold Kaufman
8/11/2013 (5 Elul)
Lillian Katzman
8/12/2013 (6 Elul)
Franka Charlupski
8/13/2013 (7 Elul)
Beverly Togal
8/14/2013 (8 Elul)
John Eby
8/15/2013 (9 Elul)
Reinald Freedman
8/17/2013 (11 Elul)
Ernest Gans
Arthur Markowitz
8/18/2013 (12 Elul)
Alex Kuhn
8/19/2013 (13 Elul)
Pearl Leah Naimark
8/21/2013 (15 Elul)
Rabbi Carl L. Manello
8/23/2013 (17 Elul)
Yosef Garber
8/24/2013 (18 Elul)
Leo Orel
8/27/2013 (21 Elul)
Douglas Cohen
8/30/2013 (24 Elul)
Lawrence Sklar
8/31/2013 (25 Elul)
Mary Friedman
Lawrence Sklar
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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SHABBAT SHALOM
Shabbat Services: Eikev
Friday, July 26th
6 p.m. Services, Chapel
Saturday, July 27th
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.
B'NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE COLLEGE STUDENTS CONTACT INFORMATION REQUESTED.
Please e-mail Cheryl Berlin with your student's address, phone and e-mail address for the 2013-14 school year by July 31st.
Join us for a night at the ballpark!
Tuesday, August 20th
Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins
5:45 bus leaves TKA/BI.
Jerusalem Pizza, transportation and tickets all included in the price.
SPACE IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 48 RESERVATIONS.
DEADLINE: JULY 31ST.
B'nai Israel Synagogue High Holiday Tickets
6 p.m.
Bloomer Park, West Bloomfield
FINAL SHABBAT IN THE PARK:
August 2nd.
Bring your dairy or pareve picnic and join us for Shabbat music, food and fun!
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Upcoming Youth and Family Activities
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.

VOICES NEEDED, Youth ages 10+
to accompany our hazzan during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.
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Learning Opportunities
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.
Sacred Remnants: Rediscovered Treasures of the Jewish Past with Professor Howard Lupovitch
Wednesdays in July, 7:30 p.m., Beth Ahm
July 31: "The Soviet Archives: The Unknown World of Eastern Europe"
$15 per session or $50 for the series
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Upcoming Community Events
and TKA/BI Joint Opportunities
The Detroit Sisterhood Community presents
"Preparing Spiritually for the High Holidays"
Two engaging learning sessions with
Rabbi Abigail Treu
National Director of Torah Fund,
Women's Campaign for Conservative Judaism
Monday, August 5th, 7:30 p.m., B'nai Moshe
Tuesday, August 6th, 9 a.m., Adat Shalom
No Charge to attend, reservations are requested.
KNITTING
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: e-mail Gail Raben.
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Caring Community Information
Refuah Sh'leimah/Wishing a Speedy Recovery
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
e-mail the synagogue.
Congregant looking for a ride to services
West Bloomfield congregant is looking for a ride to morning or evening minyan and/or Shabbat services. The congregant lives behind Crosswinds Mall (Kroger), just north of Lone Pine Road. If you are available to assist, please contact Rabbi Robbins at (610) 574-5179 or rabbi@bnaiisraelwb.org. Thank you.
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Mazel Tov
July Birthdays
27 Barbara Kappy
28 Francine Stark-Hundiak
29 Robin Jacobson
29 David Lazarus
30 Hannah Finn
30 Ian Robinson
31 Brandon Kappy
31 Noah Weingarden
August Birthdays
1 Alissa Citron
2 Joshua Breitman
4 Steve Freedman
8 Melissa Berlin
9 Leonard Rosen
10 Julia Abramson
10 Betsy Wolf
11 Nancy Benchell-Eisman
11 Marybeth Rosen
11 Michael Soverinsky
13 Elizabeth Breitman
13 Cathy Graub
15 Andy Beider
15 Kayla Kapen
15 David Saperstein
16 Marlene Margolis
16 Marcia Seigerman
19 Katie Rosen
19 Sally Soverinsky
21 Stefani Chudnow
21 Adam Gordon
22 Maya Rosenberg
23 Vernon Gordon
25 Rabbi Jonathan Berger
26 Robyn Hoffenblum
27 Noah Marcotte
27 Cary Rosen
27 Melvin Toby
29 Edward Chudnow
July Anniversaries
19 Allan & Karen Lovinger
30 David & Gloria Ruskin
August Anniversaries
4 Steve & Nancy Kaufman
14 Jeffrey Eisman & Nancy
Benchell-Eisman
14 Steve & Tammy Dines
14 Armando & Rhonda Duer
14 Ram & Karen Orzach
15 Richard & Lois Wonboy
17 Philip & Eiileen Epstein
18 Jonathan & Laura Berger
18 David & Louise Lazarus
20 Michael & Debbie Balkin
25 Jerry & Sharon Knoppow
30 Roy & Robin Rosen
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 USCJ,
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
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