August 1, 2013
 25 Av  5773
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In This Issue
Parshat Re'eh
SHABBAT SHALOM
Learning Opportunities
Parshat Re'eh
Rabbi Abigail Treu
Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Our favorite Indian restaurant was jam-packed when we arrived, one of those nights when every table is full and you are so close to the diners at the table next to yours that, despite your best efforts, you cannot tune out their conversation. Halfway through our meal, a woman and a young man who was unmistakably her grandson were seated at the two-top next to us. Even without the grandmother's large chainecklace, they looked (as my Russian Jewish father-in-law would say) "typically Jewish," and given our neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, there was nothing atypical about that.

Try as we might to concentrate on our own conversation, we could not-they were, after all, only inches away. The grandson had just returned from a life-changing semester abroad in India, and was intoxicated by the experience. He ordered proudly from the menu, explaining the dishes to his grandmother and how they differed from what he had eaten there. He described how he had decided to major in Eastern Religion and hoped to get back to that part of the world. He talked about the Bhagavad Gita and the teachings of his favorite Hindu masters. His grandmother listened patiently, but seemed bewildered by her grandson, who was unshaven and long-haired but otherwise looked just like her, yet was learning Sanskrit and had had his world thrown open by a country, people, and culture completely foreign to her. She never said it, but you could see it in her eyes: "India? What does that have to do with you, a nice Jewish boy?"

As Jewish Americans, we have the greatest blessing our people has ever known: freedom. A freedom that grants us not only the ability to vote and educate ourselves and live as full citizens of our great nation, but also to explore faiths and traditions and cultures besides our own and to choose any of them for ourselves. If the Hindu masters move my soul more than the teachings of the Rabbis-well, it's a spiritual free market in 2012 America. I can choose to be whoever I want to be. 

The most important question of our time is, therefore: Why should I? Why should I choose a Jewish life? And more than just a "Jewish" life-which might consist of nothing more than bagels, gefilte fish, and a penchant for Seinfeld reruns: Why should I choose a life of mitzvah, of Jewish commitment and action, when there are so many other compelling religions and spiritual paths? 

Rabbi Treu is National Director of Torah Fund, Women's Campaign for Conservative Judaism.

The publication and distribution of the JTS Torah Commentary are made possible by a generous grant from Rita Dee and Harold (z"l) Hassenfeld

May Their Memories Be For a Blessing 

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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To make a donation to the synagogue, 
click here 
phone:  248-432-2729

SHABBAT SHALOM
Shabbat Services: Re'eh

Friday, August 2nd

SHABBAT IN THE PARK, BLOOMER PARK 6 P.M.
Saturday, August 3rd  
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
Shabbat Table
We will celebrate the aufruf of Casey Weiss and Brian Ginsburg, children of Marla and David Weiss and Sheri and Michael Ginsburg.  Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by Marla and David Weiss in honor of Casey and Brian.  We wish the Weiss and Ginsburg families Mazel Tov.
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.  
 
Mazel Tov
To Gail and Jerry Beale on the birth of their new granddaughter, Orlee Chava Beale.  Orlee is also the great-niece of Lisa and Frank Ellias.

Condolences
To Geri Feigelson on the death of her mother, Marilyn Feigelson.
 
B'nai Israel Synagogue High Holiday Tickets
 
Assistance Needed for High Holidays:
Silver polishing, church set up, high holiday mailing. Please e-mail the synagogue if you are able to assist with any of these activities.

  

FINAL Shabbat in the Park 2013
Frank

 6 p.m. 

Bloomer Park, West Bloomfield

TOMORROW NIGHT, 

August 2nd.

Bring your dairy or pareve picnic and join us for Shabbat music, food and fun!

 

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.

 

CHILDREN SINGING
VOICES NEEDED, Youth ages 10+ 
to accompany our hazzan during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.  
E-mail the synagogue if your child would like to participate.
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.

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. 
to register, or call 
248-258-0055,

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.

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 
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.
 
Mazel Tov 
Happy Birthday!

Birthday Cake

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

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