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Dear , |
What do we learn from this week's Parsha, Shoftim?
"Give yourselves judges and enforcement officers for your tribes in all your gates that the Ineffable your God is giving you, to your tribes, that they judge the people with just judgement. Do not bend justice and do not give special consideration to anyone; Do not take bribes, for the bribe will blind the eyes of the wise and pervert the words of the just. Justice, justice you shall pursue, so that you will live and occupy the Land that the Ineffable your God, gives you."
These instructions relayed by Moses appear, in the English, to be directed to the people. But the Hebrew is clearer. These instructions and the teachings that follow are directed to the individual. Each of us is ultimately responsible for creating a just society.
I found another lovely commentary on these words in the writings of the mid 19th century Hassidic master, Rabbi Mordechai Yosef of Ishbitz. He goes to a deeper psycho- spiritual level. He interprets that there are the "judges and officers" we "give ourselves." States of higher awareness require having justice within our hearts. The "officers" of the heart comes from our deep love of the God, to be in partnership with the Divine and to respect life.
"Give yourself...in all your gates..." The Ishbitzer teaches that "your gates" refer to the seven gateways to the soul - our two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and the mouth. And "the tribes," refer to the "twelve powers" of the body, our limbs and organs, wherein lie the hidden embodiment of God. Whew! Body, mind, spirit... sounds like Integral Yoga.
This month of Elul before Rosh HaShanah, through the encouragement of these teachings we are called do some fine tuning of our own body, mind and spirit. It's called Teshuvah.
HaRav Avraham Yitzchak Kook, the late chief rabbi of Palestine (1930's), whose Yahrzeit is today, identifies in his Orot HaTeshuvah, the Lights of Teshuvah, levels of Teshuvah practice. He teaches that "to reach inner peace and harmony with the world, an individual must first have a healthy body." He then teaches that the second level of "natural" Teshuvah is when we reflect on our psychic and moral states. At Onement (atonement) that takes place on the physical and psychological-moral plane brings us to more harmoniousness with the spiritual realm. I want to add that while the above teaching is true for most, those who have life limiting physical ailments can also find harmoniousness and peace. A physical disability can elevate our consciousness and bring us into higher places of love, life and reconciliation.
If you are interested in pursuing some Teshuvah work this month consider Rabbi Simon Jacobson's Spiritual Guide to the High Holidays at Meaningfullife.com
Come for Shabbat! Tekiah! Reb David
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Welcome Jackie Confrey
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Please welcome Jackie Confrey to the Am Kolel staff as our new Office Manager/Administrator. Jackie has two handsome sons, now young men, that were in the Olney Kehila Sunday School which Am Kolel helped guidel Her older son Sean is working full time in Gaithersburg and her younger son Gary is a freshman in college.
We are grateful to have her and her great experience and wealth of knowledge to our office. She was on of the original members of the Olney Kehila and served on their Board of Directors. We look forward to a bright future for her here at Am Kolel and welcome her with great excitement!
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| Shabbat Services | |
Services begin at 10:00am, followed by a potluck vegetarian/dairy lunch. Please bring a dish to share!
Parsha: Shoftim
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
September 17
Cedar Lane
Parsha: Ki Teitzei
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19
September 24
Cedar Lane
Parsha: Ki Tavo
Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8
October 1
Cedar Lane
Parsha: Nitzavim
Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20
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Our Healing Prayers
Refuah Shleyma for...
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Barbara Brunswick, Betsy Combs, Sarah bat Rachel Eliezer, Rosemary Emmer, Joy Esterlitz, Susan Freiband, Miriam Karram, Steve Katz,
Margalit Hannah Bat Gilah Leora, Martina Knee, Michael Knee, Ira Levine, Ruth Marks, Janet Morrison, Marjorie Robinson, Moses Sterngast, Lawrence Uman, Nancy Ungar, Neil Willens, Gerry & Gene Wixson
To add a name, please call the office at 301-349-2799
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Mazel Tov
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Mazel Tov to recent Bat Mitzvah, Emma Scharff.
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Visitors Project for People with Dementia
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Seeking volunteers to be trained to visit people with Alzheimer's or dementia. Training will begin in the Fall. If interested, contact
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High Holiday Information
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FULL MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE YOUR
HIGH HOLIDAY TICKETS!
Am Kolel full members should have High Holiday tickets in hand.
If you didn't receive them and feel you should have please call
the office. Associate members should have received information regarding High Holidays and instructions on how to order tickets.
If you are an Associate Member or need additional tickets go to
the office.
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Community Building Workship for Am Kolel September 17
**MUST RSVP by THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9**
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Community Building Workshop for Am Kolel
Saturday afternoon (after Shabbat services)
September 17, 2016 1:00p -3:00pm
Led by Cherie Brown
One of the best things about Am Kolel is our commitment to being a community for each other. We encourage everyone in Am Kolel to attend this important community building workshop. Through interactive exercises, we will learn new things to appreciate about one another. Families, partners, friends and new members are all welcome!
Cherie Brown is a longtime member of Am Kolel. She is the founder and director of a nonprofit leadership organization, the National Coalition Building Institute and she is an adjunct faculty at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College .
RSVP to admin@am-kolel.org by Friday September 9
so we can plan accordingly.
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Sunday School Open House for Kehila Chadasha September 18
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Sunday, September18, 2016
from 9:15am-12:15pm.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
at 4301 East-West Highway, in Bethesda.
FREE fall semester to first time enrollees.
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Community News
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Unity Walk starting at Washington Hebrew Congregation. Join Rabbi David, members of Am Kolel & Kehila Chadasha and other faith communities for a Unity Walk down Massachusetts Avenue. Sunday, September 11, 2016 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. For more information click here .
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
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
The Film "Denial" Did the Holocaust Occur? The whole world knows that the Holocaust occured. Now she needs to prove it." Ticket Deadline 9/26/16 for Bethesda Preview 10/6/16. For more information go to the Denial Website .
EMBODYING THE GREAT MYSTERY, A KABBALISTIC MOVEMENT JOURNEY with Simona Aronow and Guest Faculty click here
Workmen's Circle online Yiddish courses
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.
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| 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.
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| 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
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Reb David & Staff
Am Kolel
19520 Darnestown Road Beallsville, MD 20839
(301) 349-2799 (301) 349-2744 Fax
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