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Shabbat Pinhas
Five Sisters: The Story of Tzelafchad's Daughters
A group of five sisters boldly approached Moses before the entire Jewish nation. These were the daughters of Tzelafchad, the women who were privileged to have a chapter added to the Torah on their behalf: Machlah, Noah, Choglah, Milkah and Tirtzah. Here is their story.
The Division of the Land
It was the fortieth year since the exodus from Egypt, shortly before the Jewish people were to enter the Promised Land. G-d had informed Moses that each tribe's territory would be determined, among other things, by lottery. Each man in the tribe would receive a parcel of land in his tribe's territory. Upon the man's death, his sons would inherit his property, thus guaranteeing that each plot would remain in the family to which it was originally assigned.
One man, Tzelafchad, of the tribe of Manasseh, had only daughters. Tzelafchad himself died in the desert (more on that soon), and his daughters were worried that they would not receive a share in the land of Israel. They therefore turned to Moses and requested that they be granted the land that would have gone to their father.
The Torah describes the scene:
They stood before Moses, Elazar the [high] priest, the leaders and the entire congregation, at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and said: "Our father died in the desert. He was not among those who banded against G-d among Korach's group; rather, he died due to his own sin-and he had no sons.
"Why should our father's name be eliminated from his family because he had no sons? Give us a landholding among our father's brothers!"
Moses brought their case before G-d. G-d spoke to Moses as follows: "The daughters of Tzelafchad have spoken correctly. You shall certainly give them a landholding among their father's brothers, and transfer their father's inheritance to them." (Numbers 27:2-7)
In fact, in their merit, the laws of inheritance follow this precedent. From then on, one who died without sons would have his daughters inherit his estate.
Tzelafchad's Sin
His daughters described Tzelafchad as having died "due to his own sin." TheTalmud1 cites two opinions as to what this sin was, though both agree that it was done with good intentions.
One view is that Tzelafchad was among the ma'apilim, the Jews who attempted to storm the land of Israel. After the sin of the spies,2 G-d decreed that the Jews would wander in the desert for 40 years, until that generation had died out.
Seeing the grievous consequences of their mistake, a group of Jews sought to rectify it. Disregarding Moses' warning that they would not succeed without G-d's blessing, they tried to invade Israel via the mountains. They were driven back and slaughtered by the Amalekites and Canaanites, but their intentions were good.
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
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
Alan Winnick
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!
Shabbat Pinhas
Friday, July 11th
6 p.m. SHABBAT IN THE PARK
BLOOMER PARK, West Bloomfield
All are welcome. Bring your own dairy or pareve dinner and join us for Shabbat songs and fun. If it rains, we will hold services in the chapel, at TKA/BI.
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by Geri Feigelson, Cheryl and Arnold Berlin, Libby and Andy Beider, Marcia and Chuck Seigerman, Ilana Glazier and Lowell Schmeltz, Robyn and Robert Canvasser, Vicki Freedman and John Marcotte, Lisa and Frank Ellias, and Tammy and Steve Dines.
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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 July 12
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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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TKA/BI Joint Opportunity
TKA/BI Indoor and Outdoor Summer Clean up.
Sunday, July 20th
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Assistance needed to organize and sort storage areas and to clean up grounds of the synagogue. No rsvp necessary. All are welcome to help.
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 RamahSeptember 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
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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