March 20, 2014
18 Adar II 5774
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In This Issue
PARSHAT Shemini/Shabbat Parah
SHABBAT SHALOM
Youth and Family Activities
Learning Opportunities

Parshat Shemini

Shabbat Parah

 from chabad.org 

 

     Following the holiday of 
Purim, preparations for Passover begin in earnest. On the home front, OperationChametz-Free House kicks into high gear. On the synagogue front, we supplement the weekly Torah readings with two special Pre-Passover readings. On theShabbat that falls on or before the first of Nissan, we read the special "Hachodesh" reading. The week before that, we read the "Parah" reading.

Parah

     The Torah reading of Parah (Numbers 19) details the laws of the "Red Heifer" and the process by which a person rendered ritually impure by contact with a dead body was purified.

     We fulfill the Temple-related rituals by studying their laws in the TorahWhen the Holy Temple stood inJerusalem, every Jew had to be in a state of ritual purity in time for the bringing of the Passover offering in the Temple. Today, though we're unable to fulfill the Temple-related rituals in practice, we fulfill them spiritually by studying their laws in the Torah. Thus, we study and read the section of Parah in preparation for the upcoming festival of Passover.

      According to some Halachic authorities, there is a Biblical requirement for all men to hear the special Parah reading. The special Parah haftorah (Ezekiel 36:16-36) discusses G-d's promise to "purify" and cleanse the Jews when He re-gathers them and returns them all to the Land of Israel during the Messianic Era.

 

JTS logo
for additional insights on this week's parsha and others, visit The JTS Torah Commentary archive: 
http://www.jtsa.edu

***************************
Ralph Williams 
SPECIAL SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE WEEKEND:  APRIL 11-12TH
B'nai Israel Synagogue is delighted and honored 
to welcome 
Professor Ralph Williams 
April 11th and 12th. 
 

Shabbat Schedule

Friday, April 11th

6 p.m. Services, Sanctuary

7 p.m. Dinner by advanced reservation only

click for dinner reservation form*

8:15 p.m., Sanctuary

Professor Williams will speak: 

"The Transition from Slavery to Freedom"

There will be a supervised youth room from 7-9 p.m. for children ages 12 and under.

Saturday, April 12th

9 a.m.  Services, Sanctuary

1 p.m., Sanctuary

Professor Williams will speak in the sanctuary:

"We Each Came Out of Egypt".

There will be a supervised youth space from 1-2 p.m. for children ages 12 and under. 

*dinner reservations MUST be received with payment in full by April 6th.
 
The community is welcome to attend.
************************

A complete schedule of religious services at B'nai Israel Synagogue during the Passover Holiday may be accessed by clicking here.

May Their Memories Be For a Blessing 

March Yahrtzeits

3/21/2014 (19 Adar II)         

Lillian Ruskin

Jewel Dorothy Shuback

Joseph Weiss

3/24/2014 (22 Adar II)         

Ruth Raimi

3/25/2014 (23 Adar II)         

Bruria Melman

3/30/2014 (28 Adar II)         

Isadore Goode

Anne Wechselfeld

 

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

 

Shiva assistance: To assist in providing a shiva meal for BI member families and/or if you are able to lead a shiva minyan, please e-mail the synagogue.

Join Our Mailing List
To make a donation to the synagogue,  click here  
phone:  248-432-2729
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SHABBAT SHALOM!
Shabbat Shemini/Shabbat Parah
Friday, March 21st
6 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv,
Chapel
Saturday, March 22nd
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by the following "Kiddush Lunch Club" participants: Mindy and Fred Shuback, Cheryl and Mitch Parker, Frank Stark-Hundiak and Dave Hundiak, Sharon and Leonard Rosen, Rebecca Tron, Laurie and Robert Kimmel, Sandy and Warren Lada, Fran and Ed Chudnow, Leslie and Evan Chudnow. 
Kiddush Lunch is also sponsored by Anaruth and Henri Bernard in honor of the anniversary of Ilana Wolf's bat mitzvah.
Click here to help with Kiddush Lunch
*Kiddush Lunch is available through donations to the Kiddush Lunch Fund, the generosity of weekly sponsors, and volunteer efforts of our congregants and regular attendees.  Please e-mail or call the synagogue office if you would like to sponsor a kiddush lunch.  To sponsor as part of a "group," please e-mail Joanna Abramson or Mindy Shuback. You may also make a donation to the Kiddush Lunch Fund by clicking here.  To sign up to help prepare Kiddush Lunch please use the "volunteer spot" button above.

PASSOVER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.  
 It is customary to "sell" all hametz in you possession prior to Passover.  CLICK HERE FOR THE HAMETZ SALE DOCUMENT/CONTRACT.
Community Opportunities
Spring Detroit Jewish Coalition for Literacy Workshop
March 28th 10 a.m.-Noon, Federation Building.
Event includes light buffet breakfast.  
There is no charge, but rsvp requested:248-642-2656 or e-mail [email protected]  Click here for complete event information.

Bookstock 2014
Bookstock Sunday, April 27-Sunday, May 4th
Laurel Park Place, Livonia
Used Book and Media Sale, Supporting the Need to Read

Upcoming TKA/BI Joint Opportunities 
TKA/BI Women's Seder 
April 8th, 2014 6-9 p.m., TKA/BI Social Hall.  Kosher Dairy.   Please rsvp to [email protected] or call Connie Silver: 248-851-2149

SOUTH OAKLAND SHELTER
HOUSING OF GUESTS AT TKA/BI,   SOS logo
MARCH 23-30, 2014
TKA will once again be housing guests for one week from South Oakland Shelter. There are many ways to get involved and help. Everyone's help is needed! Chuck Seigerman and Steve Dines are the BI point people for this. Click here to sign up online or e-mail Steve or Chuck with any questions.
Click here to assist with 3/27 Dinner
Click here to assist with 3/25 Dinner
Upcoming Youth and Family Activities
Family Night at Minyan, one Sunday/month.  
Bring your family to help make minyan at 5 p.m. and enjoy pizza dinner in the social hall following services. MARK YOUR CALENDAR:   4/27, 6/1.
Pesach Day Camp  
PESACH CAMP 
APRIL 17TH AND 18th

 
Upcoming Shabbat Youth Activities 

SHABBAT CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP DATES for youth ages 7-12. 30 minutes of tefilla and parsha fun. 

11-11:45 a.m., ROOM 9
APRIL 5thMAY 3 (10:30 A.M.) JUNE 7 YOUTH SHABBAT
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.  FUTURE DATES:
 APRIL 5TH, MAY 3RD
 
To stay current on all youth and family activities, contact Ilana Glazier to join the B'nai Israel Families Facebook Group.
Learning Opportunities
  
passover table SIYYUM, Erev Pesach
Monday Morning, April 14th
Attention first-borns and others!  
Joel Goldstein will lead us in a Siyyum, the celebratory conclusionary study of a section of rabbinic text, to suspend the customary fasting requirements of Tzom Bechorot, the Fast of the First Born. Joel has just completed the Mishnaic Seder (order) of Tehorot.
     First born traditionally fast from dawn on Erev Pesach until the seder begins, as a statement of thanksgiving to God for sparing the Israelite first born in the plague of the first born in Egypt.  
    We will enjoy a final hametz breakfast following the siyyum. 

Adult Education
"Reflections on the Siddur," with Dr. Mitch Parker
Saturdays, 11-11:45 a.m.
March 22             April 12 and 26    
May 10 and 24    June 7 and 21
Mitch will focus on Ashrei, Aleinu, the Kaddish, Adon Olam, Yigdal, Hallel and Birkat Hamazon. 
Class meets in the lower level, Room 9.

SHABBAT CLASS with Dr. Mitch Parker:    Lego Movie

SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH
12:45 P.M., CHAPEL prior to Minha
"A Hero named Emet:  Is the Lego Movie Good for the Jews?" 
Previously viewing the movie is not a requirement for the class.

Lunch and Learn Series 
with Hillel Buechler, Ramah Fellow lunch and learn
First Tuesday of every month
Next session:  12:15 p.m., April 8th.
Meet at Barnes and Noble on Orchard Lake Road Bring your own lunch.  There is no charge to attend.   Please e-mail Hillel Buechler if you plan to attend.

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. 
Future Dates: March 29th, May 10th, June 21st.  Click here for schedule and list of presenters.
Mazel Tov 
Happy Birthday!

Birthday Cake

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

20  David Pappas

20  Ariel Taub

23  Mindy Shuback

24  Talya Berger

24  Jeremy Rosenberg

26  Karen Orzach

26  Roi Orzach

29  Brittany Beider

29  Mark Webber

30  Ryan Schmeltz

31  Sharon Knoppow

31  Meredith Weingarden

 

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES
If your birthday or anniversary information is not listed, please email the synagogue so we can update our records.
USCJ logo
B'nai Israel Synagogue is affiliated with USCJ, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
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