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
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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
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SHABBAT SHALOM!
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
 June 27th, Be My Guest Shabbat Lunch
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.
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UPCOMING YOUTH AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES
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.
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HONEY FROM THE HEART ORDERS 2015/5776
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.
ORDER TODAY . . . DON'T DELAY!!!
Questions? Need help ordering?
248-855-4033
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Saturday Night Learning, June 20th, 8:30 p.m. at the home of Mindy and Fred Shuback
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.
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Mazel Tov

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
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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