Beth Elearning's mission: to provide you with an eclectic assortment of
web-based Jewish learning content and original articles that are relevant, stimulating and suitable for people at all stages of learning.
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Second Year!
Welcome to the Pesach 5773/2013 issue of Beth Elearning. This issue marks the beginning of our second year of publication, with eight issues published during the past year.
We appreciate the Congregation's support for this electronic venture. Readership statistics indicate that Beth Elearning has indeed found a place in our synagogue community. Beth Elearning's eight issues were opened 2372 times with 995 articles "clicked on" by you, our readers. It comes as no surprise to many that the top two most accessed pieces during Beth Elearning's first year were posted by our very own Rabbis; Rabbi James Rosen and Rabbi Ilana Garber.
Thank you again to the following for their original contributions to Beth Elearning's first year: Rabbi James Rosen, Rabbi Ilana Garber, Rabbi Howard Rosenbaum, Rabbi Steven Chatinover, Linda Stanger, Dan Kulakofsky, Eliane Freund. In the current issue we present, and appreciate articles by congregants Rabbi Dr. Richard Freund, and Michael Schenker.
Are you interested in submitting an original piece for publication? We welcome Congregant Contributors! While there are literally thousands of articles already posted online, our statistics show that Beth Elearning's readers enjoy the congregant-contributed pieces in large numbers. By sharing with and teaching each other through Beth Elearning, we extend the warm, welcoming walls of Beth El Temple into cyberspace!
As we move forward we are reminded that the newsletter is for you, our readers. We are dependent on you to help us shape both the content and format. Please continue to share your thoughts with us. What did you like? What did you not care for? How can
Beth Elearning evolve in order to better serve your needs and interests? Access our online survey or send us an email with your thought s.
Wishing you and your families,
Chag sameach v'kasher!
A happy and healthy Passover!
The Lifelong Learning Committee,
Rabbi Howard Rosenbaum
Roz Hahn
Amy Goldman
Lois Koteen
Steven Stier
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We are most appreciative for the guidance provided by Rabbi Rosen, Rabbi Garber, Rabbi Rosenbaum,
Rabbi Sowalsky and Cantor Ness.
Lifelong Learning Committee:
Rabbi Howard Rosenbaum, Amy Goldman, Roz Hahn, Lois Koteen, and Steven Stier
The Beth Elearning Newsletter is available to members and non-members.
To add e-mail addresses or to opt out, send an e-mail request to beth.elearning@gmail.com
Newsletter Editor: Steven Stier
Newsletter layout: Amy Goldman
(Logo design assisted by Leah Goldman)
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Dr. Richard Freund: Congregant Contributor
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Who Wrote the Passover Hagaddah?
BY RABBI DR. RICHARD A. FREUND
From the Canonization of the Bible to the Canonization of the Liturgy and the Haggadah
The major works of liturgical Judaism: the daily and Sabbath prayer book or Siddur, the holiday prayer book or Mahzor, the religious poetry or Piyuttim, and the Haggadah were all created by the Rabbis over a long period of time. This started in the 2nd and 3rd century with the formulation of standardized prayers, and continued later in the 7th and 8th century with the editing skills of the Rabbinic Geonim. These different periods of creativity began in the Land of Israel and continued into Babylonia and other parts of the Diaspora, including North Africa and far away in the Iberian Peninsula. [click to continue...]
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Michael Schenker: Congregant Contributor [top]
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Passover Poetry
BY MICHAEL SCHENKER
Rated (PG-13)
We all know the story of the Exodus. G-d frees the Israelites from Egypt and the Israelites accept the Lord as their G-d; a relationship is established. There is a book--the Haggadah--that tells the story and leads us through the seder's proper order. There is structure, there are lessons, there is order.
But there is another book that tells, with poetry and passion, of our relationship with G-d. It is one of the Megilloth, part of the Tanach (the Hebrew Bible), and it is read during Passover. And this book's influence reaches beyond Passover, to Shabbat and to modern weddings. The book: Shir Ha'Shirim--Song of Songs--is said to have been written by King Solomon during his youth.
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The Rabbinical Assembly Passover Guide [top]
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A comprehensive guide to keeping Passover; everything from kashering the kitchen, to the foods that may be or may not be eaten. Very useful information!
(from rabbinicalassembly.org)
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General Passover Articles [top]
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This article will take you on an introspective journey where you'll ask yourself, "What does it really mean to be free?" A meaningful piece for the Passover season.
(from torah.org)
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Terrific tips for preparing and engaging children during this year's Seder. This article is particularly sensitive to special needs and is authored by a mother of two children, one of whom is autistic.
(from friendshipcircle.org)
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We read of the Jews' flight from Egypt in the Haggadah each year. Why, of all things, does Matzo enjoy such intense focus when the Jews had to leave everything behind?
(from forward.com)
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With four cups of wine for each adult at Passover, why not try something new? Here's an interesting profile of Shimshon Welner, an Israeli vintner with decades of experience, who is known for his fairly-priced and well received Kosher wines.
(from thejewishweek.com)
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A basic level article that covers Pesach (Passover) customs, the Seder and music. You'll also find links to recipes and even a video for putting together the Seder plate!
(from jewfaq.org)
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Passover Cultural Expression
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Passover, a celebration of freedom from oppression, is sometimes observed with new cultural references. If you have ever noticed an orange on a Seder plate, this article debunks an urban myth about the true origin of this feminist influenced addition.
(from miriamscup.com)
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The story of Exodus set to Queen's rock opera, "Bohemian Rhapsody". Need we say more? Watch it and smile!
(from aish.com)
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An informative article detailing the origin and evolution of this very unusual Jewish custom.
(from oztorah.com)
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What do you do if a non-Jewish worker in your home brings chametz into your Kosher for Passover home?
(from dailyhalacha.com)
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