Barukh Dayan Ha'Emet
We mourn the loss this week of lifelong B'nai Israel Synagogue member Miriam Foxman and send our heartfelt condolences to her family.
Todah Rabbah to Isaac Yomtovian for his enlightening visit and talk on Persian Culture and Persian Jews. To purchase a copy of his book,
My Iran, please contact Joe Rose: 248-219-2111.
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Shabbat Balak
Rabbi Chaim Dovid Green
Straight From The Heart
In this week's parsha we are introduced to an interesting character - Bilaam. Bilaam was a gentile prophet who hired himself to kings to curse their enemies, and thereby cause their downfall. His curses were indeed effective, and as such, Balak the king of Moav summoned him to curse the Children of Israel who were camping uncomfortably close to his territory.
G-d did not allow Bilaam to curse the Children of Israel, as he states himself. "can I say anything (on my own)? Only that which G-d places in my mouth shall I speak." Instead, each time he set out to curse them he blessed them. "How good are your tents (nation) of Yaakov, your dwelling places Yisroel." (Numbers 24:5) What exactly was Bilaam noticing? What was so good about the tents of the Israelite nation? Rashi (11th century) explains that the tents were situated in their encampments such, that the doorways did not face each other. This was done for the sake of privacy.
There are two important values which we gain from this knowledge. Firstly, the Torah praises the Children of Israel for keeping private things private. In counter distinction to modern western culture where all dirty laundry is washed in public, the Torah attitude is that not everything is for the public eye. Some things are meant to remain known only within the community, or the family, or between husband and wife. When everything intimate is public knowledge, it violates the goodness of the tents of Yaakov. Secondly, we see that the nation of Israel voluntarily situated their tents such that they should not violate the privacy of their neighbors. That means that _they_ were not interested in their neighbor's business. They possessed the emotional refinement to prefer not to know "interesting" things about the people around them. This is a trait which requires cultivation and maturity.
A second observation about this parsha is regarding the personality of Bilaam. Bilaam was ostensibly a very religious man. Throughout the parsha he insists that he can only speak the words which Hashem his G-d allows him to speak. He brings sacrifices, he prophecies. Yet in all he is considered an extremely depraved individual. He cursed entire nations for money. The commentaries note that he practiced bestiality. He construed G-d's admonishment not to go with Balak's men to curse the Jews as a statement that these men were not honorable enough to escort him. I believe the Torah is conveying to us that it is not enough to be religious on a cognitive or even an emotional level. One's actions must complement the thoughts, the feelings, and the relationship. Bilaam's actions did not reflect his close relationship with his creator.
click here to finish reading
for additional insights on this week's parsha and others, visit The JTS Torah Commentary archive: http://www.jtsa.edu
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May Their Memories Be For a Blessing
JULY YAHRTZEITS
Donald Lewis, Florence Sklar
Joseph Jacobson
James Pappas
Ehud Reiter
Jacob Kurland
Harry Baer
Beverly Weingarden
Jules Doneson
Sarah Dzodin
Edward Feibus
Anita Sonenshein
Irv Belsky
Isadore Hamburger
Pearl Nusbaum
N. Norman Goldenberg
Victor Lawson
Bella Lieberman
7/19/2014 (21 Tammuz)
Max Kleinbard
Nathan Wonboy
7/23/2014 (25 Tammuz)
Min Parker
Maxine Gordon
Freda Kovsky
Toby Leib Myers
Esther Dworin
Abraham Nusholtz
Sophie Fischel
Molly Haar
Florence Bobry Robert
7/29/2014 (2 Av)
Milton (Billy) Graub
Saul Raimi
7/31/2014 (4 Av)
Herman Stark
Please click here if you wish to permanently memorialize a loved one by purchasing a yahrtzeit plaque.
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SHABBAT SHALOM!
Morning Minyan, Friday July 4th
8:30 a.m., Chapel
Shabbat Balak
Friday, July 4th
6 p.m. Services, Chapel
Saturday, July 5th
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by Gail Kaye, Rita Goldstone, Marlene Margolis, Sheila and Martin Kurland, Hilda Hamburger, Carol Wiseman, Rachel Kapen and Ilene Miles.
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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.
 SATURDAY NIGHT LEARNING JUNE 28TH
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HIGH HOLIDAY CORNER

ORT HONEY FROM THE HEART  FUNDRAISER HAS
RETURNED AND THE HONEY STORE IS OPEN!!!
ORDER DEADLINE: JULY 21ST.
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YIZKOR BOOK 5775
FULL PAYMENT AND ORDER FORM MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE OFFICE BY JULY 17TH TO BE INCLUDED IN THE UPCOMING BOOK.
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HIGH HOLIDAY PACKETS, WHICH INCLUDES TICKETS, WILL BE MAILED IN AUGUST TO MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING.
TO PURCHASE HIGH HOLIDAY TICKETS,
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Community Opportunities
MACCABI 2014 Detroit INFO
Host families and assistance needed. Please consider getting involved.
Contact the JCC Maccabi Hotline to get involved: 248-432-5500,
www.jccdet.org
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Upcoming Youth and Family Activities
Shabbat Youth Activities will resume in the fall.
Fall Events for Camp Ramah
September 7th
Camp Heremelin, 12:30 p.m. at the home of Doreen Hermelin
September 14th
Welcome Back from Camp Ramah
5-7 p.m., Adat Shalom Synagogue
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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Adult Education
"Making Sense of the Machzor"
A 3-Part Series as part of SNL, Saturday Night Learning
Shabbat, September 6, 13, 20 - 6:30 pm
Prepare for the Yamim Noraim over Seudah Shlishit, as we wrap up the season's Saturday Night Learning sessions.
Location TBD
"Reflections on the Siddur," with Dr. Mitch Parker
will return in the fall.
Want to brush up on your prayer skills, tropes or birkat amazon? Click here.
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITY
Jewish Spain and Portugal, Spring 2015.
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Mazel Tov

JULY BIRTHDAYS
2 Sharon Gadoth-Goodman
2 Mark Kuhn
2 Cheryl Parker
2 Marla Weiss
4 Maxwell Singer
7 Ilan Elrom
7 Yael Elrom
8 Vicki Freedman
9 Joshua Chudnow
11 Monte Schloss
13 Caleb (Coby) Robbins
16 Tammy Dines
16 Elan Rosenberg
17 Joseph Roth
18 Howard Jacobson
19 Randall Soverinsky
20 Miles Singer
21 Adina Berger
24 Leslie Chudnow
24 Bernice Handler
27 Barbara Kappy
28 Francine Stark-Hundiak
29 Robin Jacobson
29 David Lazarus
30 Hannah Finn
30 Ian Robinson
31 Brandon Kappy
31 Noah Weingarden
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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