Parshat Acharei Mot
Shabbat Hagadol
This Shabbos is called "Shabbos HaGadol," "The Great Shabbos." There is a custom to read part of the Hagada, or liturgy for the Passover Seder on this Shabbos. In that spirit, we will turn our discussion to a thought on the Hagada.
As we may know, Passover is the holiday in which we celebrate our freedom from bondage in Egypt. It's important to note that that is half of the story. The other half of the story is that Passover begins our countdown toward the holiday of "Shavuos" which takes place seven weeks later. Shavuos is the celebration of our receiving the Torah, and accepting the responsibility of learning and observing it.
The reason we count up to Shavuos is because the goal of freedom from bondage from Egypt was receiving the Torah. G-d did not free us so that we would live our lives completely according to our own limited judgement. G-d's purpose was that we should be granted the highest privilege of all - to be close to Him - The Creator - through His holy service and direction.
The more one contemplates this - that we merited the favor of The Creator - as insignificant as we are in the scheme of the entire universe...To think that The One Who is bigger than all that we can imagine and explore; be it in the depths of the ocean or at the furthest edges of outer-space, cares about what we do! It gives us a great value, importance, and responsibility. Considering all that we have from G-d, it is a labor of love.
About this point the Hagada states "anyone who speaks at length about the miraculous event of leaving Egypt is praiseworthy." The following analogy found in the "Yainah Shel Torah Hagada" illustrates this point.
A poor and ignorant man once struck it rich. He decided it was time to put an end to his ignorance, and he hired a personal teacher to educate him with a well-rounded, comprehensive education. He climbed the ladder of intellectual accomplishment, and became a notable scholar. Alas, his wealth did not endure, and he rejoined the ranks of the impoverished. Nevertheless, to the astonishment of his peers, he continued to observe the day he had attained his riches as a day of celebration. "I can understand making a party if you were still rich," they commented, "but why do you now continue to celebrate this day?" "I'll explain it to you. Before I became rich, I was an ignorant boor. Now I possess great intellectual wisdom which enlightens every moment of my life. My wisdom is something which remains with me even if my wealth did not. For that reason I continue to celebrate."
We find ourselves deep in the diaspora. We now lack the great
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for additional insights on this week's parsha and others, visit The JTS Torah Commentary archive: http://www.jtsa.edu
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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
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
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 Professor Williams' lectures, Shabbat services and Kiddush Lunch.
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May Their Memories Be For a Blessing
April Yahrtzeits
4/10/2014 (10 Nisan)
Jack Chitkin
4/11/2014 (11 Nisan)
Libby Rubinstein
Sidney Wechselfeld
4/14/2014 (14 Nisan)
Jolyn Freedman
Sadie Weiss
4/15/2014 (15 Nisan)
Mimi Schloss
4/17/2014 (17 Nisan)
Esther Manko
4/18/2014 (18 Nisan)
Goldie Chaner
Rose Kaye
Rose Kleinbard
4/19/2014 (19 Nisan)
Bluma Stark
4/22/2014 (22 Nisan)
Shmuel Muchkies
4/23/2014 (23 Nisan)
Julius Abramson
4/26/2014 (26 Nisan)
Ida (Huddle) Band
Lottie Kwiatek
4/28/2014 (28 Nisan)
Sara Garber
Morris Soloway
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 Hagadol
We warmly welcome our Scholar in Residence, Professor Ralph Williams.
Friday, April 11h
6 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv,
Sanctuary 8:15 p.m. Professor Ralph Williams will speak in the sanctuary, "The Transition from Slavery to Freedom."
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary 10 a.m. Supervised Youth Room, lower level
Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by the Im Tirtzu Development Campaign Fund.
Following lunch Professor Williams will speak in the sanctuary, "We Each Came out of Egypt."
KIDDUSH LUNCH THIS SHABBAT IS SPONSORED BY THE IM TIRTZU DEVELOPMENT CAMPAIGN FUND.
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Click here to help with Kiddush Lunch
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*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.
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PASSOVER SERVICES SCHEDULE
FIRST DAYS
4/14 Monday Evening, Erev Pesach
5 p.m. Minha, Chapel
Tuesday and Wednesday Mornings 4/15 and 4/16
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
Tuesday Evening , 4/15
5 p.m. Minha, Chapel
Wednesday Evening, 4/16
8:45 p.m. Minha/Maariv, Chapel
All Kiddushes during Passover are generously sponsored by the following families:
Feigelson, Beider, Berlin, Seigerman, Canvasser, Glazier/Schmeltz, Berger, Marcotte/Freedman, Ellias, and Dines.
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Community Opportunities
TKA Blood Drive
April 28th, 2-7:45 p.m., Social Hall
Bookstock 2014
Sunday, April 27-Sunday, May 4th
Laurel Park Place, Livonia
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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 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 5th, MAY 3 (10:30 A.M.) JUNE 7 YOUTH SHABBAT
SHABBAT TEEN ACTIVITIES 
D'VAR TORAH COCOA CAFE
for ages 13-17,
April 5th, May 3rd. 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 teens@bnaiisraelwb.org 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.
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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.
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.
Lunch and Learn Series
with Hillel Buechler, Ramah Fellow 
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.
Want to brush up on your prayer skills, tropes or birkat hamazon? C lick here.
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Mazel Tov

APRIL BIRTHDAYS
12 Brianna Dines
12 Arica Jacobson
13 Regina Meisler
13 Matthew Orel
15 Eli Eisman
15 Cheryl Litt
16 Jonathan Abramson
16 Jack Friedman
18 Karen Rosen
20 Cheryl Berlin
21 Rachel Kapen
21 Jeffrey Lupovitch
21 Cooper Myers
22 Marvin Finkelstein
24 Elianna Orel
26 Evan Chudnow
26 Marvin Kozlowski
27 Noel Lawson
27 Adam Weingarden
27 Shira Wolf
30 Charles Seigerman
30 Nathan Soverinsky
APRIL ANNIVERSARIES
If your birthday or anniversary information is not listed, please email the synagogue so we can update our records.
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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.
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B'nai Israel Synagogue is affiliated with USCJ, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
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