Parshat Ki Teitzei
Rabbi Irving Greenberg
The reward of long life for the seemingly simple commandment of shooing away a mother bird before taking her young teaches us that no act is trivial.
By Rabbi Irving Greenberg
This parasha has the largest concentration of mitzvot (commandments) of any portion; 74 out of the traditional 613 commandments are found in it. Of all these commandments, one stands out. "If [walking] along the road, you chance upon a bird's nest . . . and the mother is sitting over the fledglings or on the eggs, do not take the mother together with her young. Let the mother go and take only the young, in order that you may fare well and have a long life" (Deuteronomy 22:6).
The Talmud labels this mitzvah the "lightest" (the most insubstantial) of all the commandments, probably because it takes little effort to perform. Sending away the mother might well involve merely making a loud noise. Indeed, just walking close (or advancing menacingly) might induce the mother to fly away.
Commentators in every generation have wondered why there is so extravagant a reward (a good, long life) for so "trivial" an act! Indeed, one Talmudic commentator points out that the same reward is specified in the Torah for honoring parents. Yet fulfilling that commandment takes a lifetime and often involves money, emotion and effort without limit. He concludes that the equality of reward is the point. The "lightest" of commandments rewarded as much as the "weightiest" to teach us to treasure and observe all commandments equally--for the reward of any mitzvah is incalculable.
Through this commandment, the Torah teaches that every act is of immense significance. Therefore, no act is inherently trivial. When you eat, you can choose food and prepare it to express reverence for life or commitment to being a Jew. When you speak, you can say a word of encouragement, truth or love or you can say a word of malicious gossip, falsehood or degradation.
Maimonides writes in his laws of repentance that every person should consider himself or herself as perfectly balanced between good and bad and the world as perfectly balanced between good and evil. The next action you do--however trivial--can tilt you and the whole world toward the side of good and life or to the side of evil and death. Choose life!
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May Their Memories Be For a Blessing
August Yahrtzeits
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: Ki Teitzei
Friday, August 14th
Saturday, August 15th
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
Bar mitzvah of Adam Gordon
Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by Vernon and Karen Gordon and Donna Sklar in honor of their son and grandson, Adam, becoming a bar mitzvah. Kiddush Lunch is also sponsored by Tammy and Steve Dines in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary.
Adam is the son of Karen and Vernon Gordon and brother of Syndney. Adam is also the grandson of Donna and the late Lawrence Sklar and the late Maurice and late Maxine Gordon.
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.
Community Wide Selichot Service
Saturday Evening, August 31st
"Understanding Loss at the Days of Awe."
Guest speaker: Rabbi Daniel Greyber
9 p.m. Light Refreshments
9:30 p.m. Program
10:30 p.m. Selichot Service led by Hazzan Dan Gross, Marty Liebman and the Adat Shalom Choir.
Sponsored by The Michigan Region of the Rabbinical Assembly, Adat Shalom Synagogue, Congregation Beth Ahm, Congregation Beth Shalom, B'nai Israel Synagogue, Congregation B'nai Moshe, Congregation Shaarey Zedek and Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue.
B'nai Israel Synagogue High Holiday Tickets
ORDER DEADLINE TO ALLOW FOR PROCESSING: FRIDAY, AUGUST 23RD
Tashlikh, First Day of Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah Carry-Out, Dish Kosher Cuisine
Lulav and Etrog Sales
Deadline: September 2nd.
Assistance Needed for High Holidays:
Silver polishing and church set up, Please e-mail the synagogue if you are able to assist with any of these activities.
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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.
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Learning Opportunities
Adult Education
New and returning education opportunities will begin in October. Watch your bulletins and e-mails for details.
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Upcoming Community Events
and TKA/BI Joint Opportunities
Community Wide Selichot Service
Saturday, August 31st, Adat Shalom Synagogue
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

August Birthdays
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
15 Richard & Lois Wonboy
17 Philip & Eileen 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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