June 18, 20151 Tammuz 5775
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PARSHAT KORACH

Rabbi Yehuda Levi

 

The portion of Korah is named for the rebellious Levite Korah who started a dispute over the issue of kedushah. The concept of kedushah is central in Judaism, and its meaning can have profound impact on the environment today. Kedushah or the corresponding adjective, kadosh, are usually translated obscurely as "sanctity" or "holy"; its real meaning is: devotion to a sublime ideal.     

We Are All Kadosh?

In our portion the Torah tells us that, following his demagogic presentation, there was no longer room on earth for Korah; the earth swallowed him up. At the core of his claims was the statement: "The whole community is kadosh (Numbers 16:3)." That does not sound so terrible-does it? After all, we need go back only four verses from here to read God's demand ". . . you shall be kadosh," But really it is terrible. The obligation to be kadosh is central to the teachings of the Torah and should guide us in all aspects of our lives to strive toward kedushah. But if you are already kadosh, there is no more need to strive. Thus Korah's complacency pulled the rug from under the Torah, and his arguments were rejected.

What does it mean to strive constantly for kedushah? The first time the commandment to "be kadosh" appears in the Torah, Nahmanides quotes the Midrash which explains that most of the body of Torah law 'hangs on' this commandment (Leviticus 19:1). He explains further that the idea of being kadosh follows the specifications of what foods and relationships are forbidden in the Torah. He teaches that we may be fooled into thinking that as long as what we are consuming is permissible, the amount that we consume doesn't matter.

Resources & Over-Consumption

According to Nahmanides, one who abuses the resources of the world with the rationale that these 

click here to continue reading. 

 

May Their Memories Be For a Blessing 

JUNE YAHRTZEITS

6/19/2015 (2 Tammuz)

Rose Arbit Magy

6/20/2015 (3 Tammuz)

Arlene Gorbaty, Judy Rogoff, Alvin Winkelman

6/21/2015 (4 Tammuz)

Edward Feibus, Donald Lewis, Florence Sklar

6/22/2015 (5 Tammuz)

Joseph Jacobson, James Pappas

6/23/2015 (6 Tammuz)

Fival Ginsburg

6/25/2015 (8 Tammuz)

Betty Schwartz

6/27/2015 (10 Tammuz)

Jacob Kurland

6/28/2015 (11 Tammuz)

Harry Baer

6/30/2015 (13 Tammuz)

Beverly Weingarden

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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Sisterhood Corner
Book Club books
Click here for list of books and dates.  Thank you to Lori Orel and Shelley Fenyes for organizing Book Club.  Your suggestions are welcome.

SHABBAT SHALOM! Shabbat Table
THERE IS A TKA BAR MITZVAH THIS SHABBAT. PLEASE PLAN TO SHUTTLE PARK FROM PRINCE OF PEACE.

SHABBAT KORACH

Friday, June 19th

6 p.m., Chapel

Saturday, June 20th

9 a.m., CHAPEL

Kiddush, lower level at the conclusion of services.

10 a.m.  Supervised Youth Room, Lower Level

 

KEEP CALM AND EAT SHABBAT LUNCH
June 27th, Be My Guest Shabbat Lunch 
for synagogue members.  
Please e-mail Lori Orel if you wish to participate.

 

To help sustain Kiddush Lunch, please consider joining a Kiddush Lunch Bunch group. E-mail Mindy Shuback for more information.  

 

Donations to the Kiddush Lunch Fund can also be made online or mailed directly to the synagogue. 

 

UPCOMING YOUTH AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES

torah
Formal youth activities will resume in the fall.
To stay current on all youth and family activities, contact Ilana Glazier to join the B'nai Israel Families Facebook Group.

HONEY FROM THE HEART ORDERS 2015/5776
Honey
SUPPORT B'NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 
BY SENDING HONEY TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN TIME FOR ROSH HASHANAH
ORDER BY JULY 13TH FOR FREE SHIPPING!
$11.00/JAR, HONEY ARRIVES  WITH PERSONALIZED MESSAGE FOR RECIPIENT.
 
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ORDER TODAY . . . DON'T DELAY!!! 
Questions?  Need help ordering?  
Contact Peter Fenyes: pfenyes@yahoo.com
248-855-4033 Honey from the Heart logo

ADULT EDUCATION

SNL
Saturday Night Learning, June 20th, 8:30 p.m. at the home of Mindy and Fred Shuback 
Please 
rsvp to Mindy if you plan to attend.
Volunteers will lead a text based discussion each week on the topic of his/her choosing.  The evening will close with Maariv and Havdalah.  Everyone is welcome! Subjects are self-contained, so you can join any week you would like and not worry about "missing out" on material from the previous week. 

SUMMER LOVING

Great Love Stories of the Tanach

Dates:  Mondays, July 6, 13, 20, 27.  August 3, 10

Time:    9:30 AM to 11:00 AM

Cost:     $90

Place:    TBA

Instructor:  Mitch Parker

Begin your Mondays with a morning study of the love stories that are an integral  parts of the Tanach.  Learn the truth about the romances of Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel, Samson and Delilah and David and Bathsheba. Spend a few summer hours immersed in the verses of one of the greatest love poems of all times, The Song of Songs, Shir Hashirim.

If you are interested in enrolling or would like more information, please contact Mitch: abbadoc@comcast.net.


Mazel Tov 
Happy Birthday!

Birthday Cake

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

 18 Rami Berger

 18 Benny Berger

 20 Davida Robinson

 21 Carol Golob

 21 Marni Jacobson

 24 Jessica Singer

 25 Max Feber

 26 Herb Lantor

 26 Karen Rosenberg

 28 Madeline Kaufman

 28 Raymond Silverman

 28 Ruth Webber

Jewish Wedding

 

JUNE ANNIVERSARIES

 20 John Marcotte & Vicki Freedman

 21 Phillip & Cheryl Litt

 22 Steve & Joan Freedman

 22 Leonard & Sharon Rosen

 24 Belmont & Gertrude Kershenbaum

 25 Lowell Schmeltz & Ilana Glazier

 26 Ron & Sharon Gadoth-Goodman

 27 Ken & Shula Brown

 27 Lenny & Robin Jacobson

 28 Robert & Laurie Kimmel

 28 Noel & Judy Lawson

 29 Mark & Loraine Kuhn

 30 Alan and Barbara Funk

 

If your birthday or anniversary information is not listed, please email the synagogue so we can update our records.
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B'nai Israel Synagogue is affiliated with USCJ
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
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B'nai Israel Synagogue  
5085 Walnut Lake Road
West Bloomfield, Michigan  48323
248-432-2729