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Am Kolel
Weekly News

August 24, 2016 

20 Av 5776

          

Issue 199 


Dear ,
The Torah reading this week, Ekev, in the Book of Deuteronomy, is a continuation of Moses' words to the Israelites before the conquest of Canaan. It's a tough one to read. Moses describes God's plan for dislodging and eradicating these idolatrous nations and images of their gods. The narrative continues with a review of the people standing before Sinai, the Golden Calf,  receiving the  new set of tablets of Ten Commandments, God's frustration with the people, God's forgiveness, Moses' guidance in the midst of intense social and spiritual challenges. Over and over again, Moses the Teacher, repeats the essential principles "to revere God, walk in the path of righteousness, to love God, to serve God fully and to observe the Mitzvot and the statutes."  
 
Many of us have great disdain for the anthropomorphic portrayal of an angry God in the Parsha, nothing new, but even more pronounced. The consciousness of God mirrors the anxiety and insecurity of our own human limitations. We feel the tension between a loving God and a God that manipulates, between a God of compassion and a God that is not fair.
 
Those who suffer, whether their belief in God is strong or not, entertain these notions about the meaning of their suffering.   On one hand we feel grateful for life and the blessings we have received and, on the other hand, we are angry or confused about our pain. What is the source of our pain? How do we manage pain?  
 
How we respond to life's challenges is also at the core of the Torah and in this Parsha.

We can be absorbed by the darkness, the shadow sides of life, or we can do what we can to dispel the darkness. We wrestle with this.  Being surrounded by loving and caring family and friends is essential in this process. Being in a community of holy responsiveness to societal challenges, as the Parsha lays out,  is essential to entering the Promised Land.
 
As the prophet Isaiah wrote in his words of comfort for this Shabbat, "...the Ineffable comforts Zion,  comforting her in her pain, making her wilderness like Eden once again so that gladness and joy reside there, gratitude and the sound of music."
 
Reb David

High Holiday Information
  

  HIGH HOLIDAY TICKETS INFO
Am Kolel will be sending out High holiday information the last week of August. If you are a full dues-paying member, you will receive your ticket(s) in the mail in early September.

Open Shabbes: Rosh Hodesh Elul  
September 3 at Sanctuary

Elul is a Time to Reflect
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Rosh Chodesh Elul begins on Shabbat, Saturday, September 3. Elul is also a Hebrew acronym for Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li...I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine.  What a perfect time to be at our beloved  Sanctuary with our beloved friends!
Highlights in this Issue
HIGH HOLIDAY INFORMATION
Open Shabbes, Rosh Chodesh Elul
Schedule for Shabbat Services
Shabbat Services 
 Services begin at 10:00am, followed by a potluck vegetarian/dairy lunch.  Please bring a dish to share!
 
August 27
NO SERVICES

September 3
 Led by Reb David
 
 
OPEN SHABBES
   Parsha: Re'eh
Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

September 10
Led by Reb David
   Parsha: Shoftim
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

September 17
Led by Reb David
Cedar Lane
Parsha: Ki Teitzei
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19
September 24
Led by Reb David
Cedar Lane
Parsha: Ki Tavo
Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8
 
October 1
Led by Reb David
Cedar Lane
Parsha: Nitzavim
Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20


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Garden Volunteers Needed
Reb David needs helpers 1 morning a week to work in the Gene Lippman Plus veggie garden. Contact admin@am-kolel.org
Visitors Project for People with Dementia
Seeking volunteers to be trained to visit people with Alzheimer's or dementia. Training will begin in the Fall. If interested, contact 
Community News   

Fall Day of Learning: "The Wisdom of Kabbalah" with Rabbi Daniel C. Matt
Sunday, September 11, 2016 at Kol Shalom, 9:00 am - 4:45 pm
Registration:  $45 by Wednesday, September 7th, then $54

Brunch Honoring Bob Hausman As Jewish Funeral Practices Commitee celebrates his 40 years of service Sunday, September 26, 2016, 10:30 am. For Information and Tickets visit: click here

EMBODYING THE GREAT MYSTERY, A KABBALISTIC MOVEMENT JOURNEY with Simona Aronow and Guest Faculty click here

Workmen's Circle online Yiddish courses 
For detailed Class information, click here

Jews United for Justice For a list of events endorsed by Jews United for Justice, visit www.jufj.org.

The Foundation for Jewish Studies
For detailed class offerings and locations, click click here.


Am Kolel Pardes Cemetery

 The Am Kolel Pardes is our section at the Garden of Remembrance in Clarksburg. 

 

The Garden of Remembrance is the region's only not-for-profit cemetery owned & operated by a board of Jewish community leaders.  More information about the Am Kolel Pardes can be found on the Lifecycle page of our website, or you may contact our Office Manager at admin@am-kolel.org.

 

Am Kolel Board of Trustees 2016-2017
Acting President - Annette Jolles
Vice President - Shelley Sturman
Treasurer - Fran McMahon
Secretary - Carol Perone
Trustee, At Large - Sandy Hoffman
Trustee, At Large - De Herman
Immediate Past President - Ira Levine
Emeritus - Paige Jacobson

Director - R. David Shneyer
Reb David & Staff
Am Kolel
19520 Darnestown Road  Beallsville, MD 20839
(301) 349-2799     (301) 349-2744 Fax