October 24, 2013
 20 Cheshvan 5774
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In This Issue
PARSHAT CHAYEI SARAH.
Tikkun Olam and Sisterhood
SHABBAT SHALOM
Youth and Family Activities
Learning Opportunities

PARSHAT CHAYEI SARAH

 Rabbi Samuel Barth

 

After the many narratives that explore deeply the life of Abraham and his family, we find in this portion an interlude in which the focus is upon Abraham's elder servant-not named in our text, but often assumed to be Eliezer (mentioned in Gen. 15:2). Eliezer has been charged by Abraham to find a wife for Isaac-not from the local (Canaanite) population, but from Aram, the place of Abraham's birth.

Let us pass over the deep and troubling questions of broad context: Why does Abraham not do this himself? Why does he not engage directly with Isaac-perhaps the two of them might make the journey together? In fact, the Torah records no occasion after the binding of Isaac on the mountain when father and son are together-until Isaac and Ishma'el come together to bury their father.

After accepting the task from Abraham, Eliezer prepares and sets out on the long journey, arriving at the city of Nahor (Gen. 24:10). And then we reach a moment (Gen. 24:12) when he . . .

My own writing pauses, for here we have a small puzzle of language, and religious behavior leaps across the millennia to our own challenges and inner life. The Hebrew word is vayomar, which would normally be translated as "and he said." This is what we find in the contemporary translation of the JPS version (in our humash Etz Hayim) and in a number of other translations. But in the translations by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan and a number of others, the word vayomar is rendered as "and he prayed."

The rendering is not unreasonable if we look at the rest of the passage:

And he said/prayed: "YHVH (Adonai, Lord), God of my master Abraham, grant me good fortune this day, and deal graciously with my master Abraham. Here I stand by the spring as the daughters of the townsmen come out to draw water; let the maiden to whom I say, 'Please lower your jar that I may drink,' and who replies, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels,' let her be the one whom You have decreed for your servant Isaac. Thereby shall I know that You have dealt graciously with my master."

Now, there have certainly been moments when Abraham spoke with God-most famously in the impassioned debate about the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah-but there is no moment that it would occur to us to say that Abraham "prayed." Jacob, when on the run from the vengeance of his brother, Esau, makes a vow to offer God a 10 percent "deal" (tithe) on any wealth that he might accrue if his life is spared (Gen. 28:20). 

click here to continue reading. 

 
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These words of Torah were taken from The JTS Torah Commentary archive: 
May Their Memories Be For a Blessing 

October Yahrtzeits

10/24/2013 (20 Heshvan)

Naomi Lillian Markowitz

Irving A. Rubin

Martin Segal

10/25/2013 (21 Heshvan)

Nathan Weiner

10/26/2013 (22 Heshvan)

Serena Weiss

10/28/2013 (24 Heshvan)

Mary Katz

Robert Braverman

Alvin Jacobson

10/29/2013 (25 Heshvan)

Fara Caplan Baer

10/31/2013 (27 Heshvan)

Linda Kozlowski

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.  

Tikkun Olam
TIKKUN OLAM/Repair the World
MITZVAH DAY 2013:  December 25th
Registration begins November 1st. 
CELEBRATE THE STRENGTH OF COMMUNITY 
AND VOLUNTEER. ONLINE SIGN-UP BEGINS NOVEMBER 1ST:  

SISTERHOOD
BOOK CLUB NIGHT at the Book Fair.
Monday, November 11th, 7:30 p.m.
West Bloomfield JCC
B'nai Israel Sisterhood plans to attend this event, when author Elizabeth L. Silver will discuss her book:  The Execution of Noa P. Singleton. Click here for registration form or contact the Book Fair office for more information:  248-432-5442.
SHOP ON AMAZON 
EARN MONEY FOR 
B'NAI ISRAEL
Don't forget.  Every time you shop on Amazon.com, click the link provided in this bulletin.  This link (which includes bi in it's url), will automatically enable us to benefit from your purchases. It's that simple.  You shop, we benefit!
click on the Amazon button to shop today!
Join Our Mailing List
To make a donation to the synagogue,  
phone:  248-432-2729
SHABBAT SHALOM 
Shabbat Chayei Sarah
Friday, October 25th
 6 p.m. Minha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv, Chapel
Saturday, October 26th
 9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
10 a.m., Youth Room for ages 12 and under.
Kiddush Lunch today is sponsored by an anonymous donor.* 
We warmly welcome Nelson and Shelly Wolf, parents of Amy and Rabbi Mark Robbins, and of course grandparents of Adina and Coby who are visiting with us this Shabbat. B'rucheem Ha'ba-eem!
Our Monthly SHABBAT SHIUR series begins today.
Shabbat Shiur 12:45-1:45, Chapel followed by minha.
Rabbi Robbins will speak on the Laws of Mourning.  All are welcome.  
Future Dates:  11/29, 12/28, 1/25, 2/22, 3/29, 5/10, 6/21.
 
*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.  
  
MUSICAL SHABBAT WITH LEE EPSTEIN
NOVEMBER 8TH AND 9TH. musical notes
SHABBAT DINNER AND SPECIAL PROGRAMMING FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING.  All are welcome. Click here for event flyer.
  
Upcoming Youth and Family Activities
Upcoming Shabbat Youth Activities 

Supervised Youth Activities,  Room 3, lower level 

Shabbat mornings, 10-11:45 a.m. for ages 12 and under

 

SHABBAT CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP DATES for youth ages 7-12.  Join our special, talented educators for 30 minutes of tefilla and parsha fun.  11-11:30, ROOM 9
NOVEMBER 9TH with Hillel Buechler, Ramah Fellow and Lee Epstein, guest artist and educator
DECEMBER 14TH with Rabbi Berger
JANUARY 11TH with Michael Wolf
JANUARY 25TH with Hillel Buechler
FEBRUARY 1ST with Rabbi Robbins
MARCH 1ST with Rabbi Berger
APRIL 5th with Michael Wolf
MAY 3 (10:30 A.M.) with Hillel Buechler
JUNE 7 YOUTH SHABBAT
To stay current on all youth and family activities, contact Ilana Glazier to join the B'nai Israel Families Facebook Group.

 

SHABBAT TEEN ACTIVITIES  hot cocoa2

D'VAR TORAH COCOA CAFE, for ages 13-17

11:00-11:45 a.m., Social Hall

Listen to the D'var Torah in the main sanctuary, then give your take over cocoa and cider.  Kiddush lunch following, with Spirited singing and Birkat Hamazon led by teens. e-mail [email protected] for more information.

DATES:  
NOVEMBER 9TH, DECEMBER 14TH, JANUARY 11TH, JANUARY 25TH, FEBRUARY 1ST, MARCH 1ST, APRIL 5TH, MAY 3RD
 
SHABBAT ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-5 COMING SOON!
 

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American Idol B'nai Israel Synagogue Style
Talent Show featuring B'nai Israel Youth Ages 3-18
Saturday, December 14th
6:45 p.m. Havdalah, 7 p.m. Show

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RAMAH CANADA LOGO Learn about 

CAMP RAMAH IN CANADA

Sunday, October 27th

9-10 a.m. Adat Shalom Religious School

11:15a.m. -12:15 p.m. at Shaarey Zedek

Ramah Fun Day 2-4 p.m.

Franklin Athletic Club, October 27th, FREE!

To RSVP for Ramah Fun Day, contact Ahbra: [email protected] or call 416-789-2193 x 2100 or 
visit www.campramah.comfor more information.
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TEEN MISSION 2014TEEN MISSION 2014

JULY 1-AUGUST 1

2013-14 Grades 9-12 are eligible.

Registration begins September 23rd.

Questions?  Contact Danielle S. Longo [email protected] or call 

248-203-1467

 

USY Summer Programs

USY Summer Programs Registration is now open.  9-12 Graders eligible.

Programs include USY on Wheels, Mitzvah Missions, Israel Adventures, Italy/Israel Pilgrimage, Israel/Poland Seminar, Eastern Europe/Israel Pilgrimage.  

Visit www.usy.org/escape/apply for more information and to download an application.

Learning Opportunities   
Adult Education
"Reflections on the Siddur," with Dr. Mitch Parker
Saturdays, 11-11:45 a.m.
November 9, 23     December 7, 14
Mitch will focus on Ashrei, Aleinu, the Kaddish, Adon Olam, Yigdal, Hallel and Birkat Hamazon. 
Class meets in the lower level, Room 9.

Shabbat Shiur Series
Shabbat Afternoons, last Saturday of the month following lunch and prior to minha.  Shiur (class) will meet in the chapel.  All our welcome.  There is no charge to attend.
October 26 "The Laws of Mourning," Rabbi Mark Robbins 
Future Dates:  November 30, December 28, January 25th, February 22nd.  Guest teachers include Joel Goldstein, Rabbi Norman Roman, Hillel Buechler, Jeff Lasday (Alliance for Jewish Education), Steve Freedman, and Michael Wolf.
Mazel Tov 
Happy Birthday!

Birthday Cake

October Birthdays 

24 Steven Dines

25 Ruby Robinson

26 Stacy Gittleman

28 Edith Wolok

29 Libby Beider

29 Adina Robbins

30 Philip Epstein

31 Benjamin Chudnow

31 Yael Duer

 
Jewish Wedding

October Anniversaries                          29 Ehud & Debi Kapen

To make a donation in honor of someone's birthday or anniversary, please click here.
If your birthday or anniversary information is not listed, please email the synagogue so we can update our records.
Upcoming Community Events
and TKA/BI Joint Opportunities
Knitting has returned! Knitting1
All stitchers are welcome.  
Meet in the TKA/BI Library.
November 5th,  December 4th, January 7th

Caring Community Information

Refuah Sh'leimah/Wishing a Speedy Recovery.  

Please e-mail Michael Golob or call the synagogue: 248-432-2729 to add a name to our communal mishebeirach list. 

 
Congregant looking for a ride to services 
West Bloomfield congregant is looking for a ride to morning or evening minyan and/or Shabbat services.  Please contact Rabbi Robbins at (610) 574-5179 or  [email protected]. Thank you.
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Quick Links
B'nai Israel Synagogue is affiliated with USCJ, 
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.