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BHBIRochester.org Published Monthly Vol 44/No 5 Shevat/Adar 5770 February 2010 Editor: Stan Schaffer |
Congregation
Beth Hamedresh – Beth Israel B U L L E T I N |
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February
President’s Message Friends, Somehow, the dark end
of January is a time which does not engender enthusiasm. The days are getting
longer, but it really isn’t perceptible yet. We’ve had some snowy spells and
some bone chilling cold. But, take heart! Spring is on the way. By the time
you read this, our Tu B’Shevat seder will be past. The next big event doesn’t
come until the very end of February, when we will have our traditional Purim
celebration on Saturday night February 27th. Join us for a fun
evening. Costumes are encouraged.
In early March comes
Shabbat Across America, which we will celebrate at Temple Beth Am. Passover will
be here before we know it at the end of March. Most people in our
congregation have gotten out of the habit of attending Friday night services.
One of the nice things about doing joint services with Beth Am is that their
congregation has more people who attend services on Friday nights. If you are
someone who has attended Friday night services in the past, and perhaps
stopped because they were poorly attended, please come to one of our joint
Friday night services. On the second Friday of the month we have joint
services at Beth Am, and on the third Friday we have joint services at
BHBI. You will find a friendly
service with a D’var Torah which will give you something to think about. On
February 12th, at Beth Am, Rabbi Goldberg will be officiating, as
he also will the next morning at BHBI. As I am writing this,
our wheelchair lift has been delivered. I hope it will be installed by the
time you are reading this. Please spread the word of our building’s increased
accessibility. It will be great to see some of the people who have been
unable to attend services coming back. To date we have received about $8,000
in donations and pledges. There is about $3,500 to go. I’ll spare you the
begging and pleading, you know what to do. B’shalom, Leon
Metlay |
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The Jewish Community Federation’s population study of the Greater Rochester Jewish community can now be completed on-line. The Federation plans to survey every member of our community including those who are unaffiliated. The study welcomes everyone to contribute their opinions and input. The study, sponsored by the Federation with substantial financial support from Jewish Senior Life, includes several in-depth questions for those helping to make planning decisions for aging parents, as well as those planning for their own retirement needs. Additional questions will explore the needs of interfaith families, singles, teens, and other key sub-populations. And then there’s the issue of our numbers: How has the size of our community changed since our community’s last demographic study in 1999? Help answer these questions by completing the survey today. If you don’t have a computer, call the Federation at 461-0490 to set up a phone interview.
Complete the survey on-line at http://www.countmeinsurvey.org/
BHBI CALENDAR OF EVENTS – FEBRUARY 2010
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Friday |
Feb 5 |
7:00 PM |
Shabbat Evening Service at Heather Heights in Pittsford Light candles at 5:09 PM |
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Saturday |
Feb 6 |
10:00 AM |
Joint Shabbat Morning Services with Temple Beth Am at Beth Am Torah: Yitro |
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Sunday |
Feb 7 |
9:00 AM |
Service, Breakfast and Discussion |
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Monday |
Feb 8 |
7:30 PM |
Monthly Meeting of the BHBI Board of Trustees |
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Wednesday |
Feb 10 |
7:30 PM |
Small Shul Collaborative Torah Study Session at BHBI |
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Friday |
Feb 12 |
8:00 PM |
Joint Shabbat Evening Service with Temple Beth Am at Beth
Am with Rabbi Goldberg officiating Light candles at 5:19 PM |
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Saturday |
Feb 13 |
9:30 AM |
Joint Shabbat Morning Service with Temple Beth Am at BHBI with Rabbi Goldberg officiating Blessing for the new month. Torah: Mispatim |
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Sunday |
Feb 14 |
9:00 AM |
Service, Breakfast and Discussion |
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Friday |
Feb 19 |
8:00 PM |
Joint Shabbat Evening Service with Temple Beth Am at BHBI Light candles at 5:28 PM |
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Saturday |
Feb 20 |
9:30 AM |
Shabbat Morning Service
Torah: Terumah |
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Sunday |
Feb 21 |
9:00 AM |
Service, Breakfast and Discussion |
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Friday |
Feb 26 |
8:00 PM |
Shabbat Evening Service Light candles at 5:37 PM |
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Saturday |
Feb 27 |
9:30 AM 7:00 PM |
Shabbat Morning Service Torah: Tetzaveh Purim Megillah Reading |
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Sunday |
Feb 28 |
9:00 AM |
Service, Breakfast and Discussion |
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IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE A
DONATION TO HELP US PAY FOR THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT! IF YOU HAVEN’T DONE SO YET,
PLEASE MAKE YOUR DONATION TODAY Name(s):
______________________________ Donation Amount: $________ Send this form to BHBI, 1369 East Ave.,
Rochester, NY 14610 along with your special donation for the wheelchair lift
today! |
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FROM THE RABBI’S DESK By RABBI GEOFFREY GOLDBERG February 2010 |
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During this month we read Parashat Yitro, surely one of the most
important portions of the Torah because it contains the Revelation of God and
the Aseret ha-Dibrot, the Decalogue (Exodus 20) and the events on Mt. Sinai leading
towards this momentous event. The description of the latter (Exodus 19) has
fascinated our Torah commentators. In the very first verse of the sidra we read: “On the third [new]
month, ba-ḥodesh ha-shelishi, after the Israelites had gone
forth from the Land of Egypt, on that very day, ba-yom ha-zeh, they entered the wilderness
of Sinai (Exodus 19:1).” It has been noted that, in the Hebrew,
this verse begins without the usual, vayehi, often translated as “it came
to pass.” There is no connection with anything preceding, no linkage. The
intent is to make us aware that the drama we are about to witness
(Revelation) stands alone and is unique. It is as though it stands alone in
time. The time is, however, is mentioned, but
there is a vagueness about it. Ba-ḥodesh ha-shelishi can mean “the third month” or
(on the) “third new moon.” If we take it as the latter (at the beginning of
the month), if you recall that the Exodus took place in the middle of the
month of Nisan, then this event would have been some seven weeks later, which
is why, in later rabbinic tradition, the event the Revelation was connected
to the Festival of Shavuot, the Festival celebrating the Giving of the Torah.
Seven, of course, is also, according to biblical thought, a symbol of
perfection, so that this was the most perfect and natural time for Revelation
and the Giving of the Torah. There is something strange about the
Hebrew phrase, ba-yom ha-zeh. It really means “on this day” [they entered the
wilderness of Sinai]. Surely the Hebrew should surely have been bayom
ha-hu, “on
that day” (a phrase you know from the Aleinu). As Rashi comments, “it ought
to have been written ba-yom ha-hu, not ba-yom ha-zeh. What then is the force of the
words ba-yom ha-zeh? To teach that the commands of the Torah should be to you each day
as something new, as though God had only just given them.” In other words, although the Revelation
was connected to a point in time, even though a vagueness surrounded the
exact timing of that occasion, the Revelation is not something merely of the
past, a one time event. The Revelation and acceptance of the obligations of
that Revelation is really any day, any time, any moment when one takes on the
teachings of the Torah. Moses ascends the mountain, but despite
our familiarity with the phrase “Har Sinai, Mount Sinai,” we really don’t
know where this mountain is. In Exodus Chapter 19 the text merely says that
the Israelites came into the wilderness of Sinai and encamped there in the
wilderness. This is not by accident. As the Italian-Jewish scholar Umberto
Cassuto wrote, “Just as the Torah did not desire to associate the appearance
of God expressly with a specific time, it did not want to link it with a
definite place…It is fitting that the event remains shrouded in the mists of
sanctity.” (By the way, it was
not even a proper mountain, one that towered over other mountains, perhaps to
teach us that God can reveal himself in the most unexpected of places and not
where we necessarily think God’s presence is revealed). More than a specific, identifiable
place, Sinai is a concept, a symbol, the beginning of a process of God
revealing Himself to Israel. As we move to the actual Decalogue in
Exodus Chapter 20, immediately before giving of the Aseret ha-Dibrot we read, Va-yedaber elohim
et kol
ha-devarim ha-eileh leimor, “God spoke all these words, saying.” The
rabbis of old noticed that this verse would have worked just as well without
the inclusion of the word kol, “all.” The Midrash tried to explain why the world
“all” was included. It responded by stating that the phrase indicated that
every generation has a voice in how God’s word from Sinai is translated into
life. “These are the souls that will one day be created,…although they did
not yet exist, still each one receive his share of the Torah….not only did
the all the prophets receive their prophecy from Sinai, but also each of the
Sages that arose in every generation received his wisdom from Sinai.” The
Sages in our generation include, in the humility of their wisdom and
compassion, our Conservative Committee on Law and Standards, and any Jew who
studies with diligence and love the words of our tradition. But even when we remain open and
receptive to the teachings and interpretations throughout all the generations,
not every Jew can necessarily fulfill the words of the Torah in the same way.
It is one thing to hear the words of Torah, it is another to accept them,
internalize them and practice them. The rabbis of old understood this well.
They noted the verse “kol adonay ba-koaḥ,
with voice of the Lord is with power” (Ps. 29:4). They took ba-koaḥ to refer, not to God, but to the people. According to
the power of the each person is the ability to understand, practice and
fulfill the words of the Torah. That is how the voice of God is heard. Rabbi Geoffrey Goldberg |
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YAHRZEITS
At the following Shabbat Services, we will read the
names of our late loved ones whose Yahrzeits will occur on that Shabbat or
during the following week.
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February 5-6 |
Shevat |
February 12-13 |
Shevat-Adar |
February 19-20 |
Adar |
February 26-27 |
Adar |
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Sarah Maltinsky* Bernard Falk* Marian Bernstein* Ada Goldstein* Samuel Keyfetz* * Denotes name memorialized
on BHBI Memorial Plaque |
23 25 27 27 27 |
Lottie Fink* Rose Ring* Henrietta Schaffer Boris Schvarts Sam Finkelstein* Mary Weinrib* Paula Lewin Werner Schaffer Philip Schiff* Anna Solomon Betty Glaser Anna Ruderman* Hyman Sablowsky* Emma Sarachan* Celia Lapides * |
29 29 30 30 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 |
Anna Ainspan Dora Newell* William Schwartz* Anna Schiff* Edith Berkowitz* Samuel Goldstein* Fanny Techler Levinson* Max Metlay Nachama Pincus Shanie Rachel Robinson* Irving Gold |
6 6 6 9 10 10 10 10 10 11 12 |
Charles Saul Gordon* Rose Riwkin* Marion Carton Gulack Charles Ambush* Gussie Gillenson Bernstein* Irvin Boyer* Stanley Muszynski* Haskall Isaac Smith* Abraham Alderman* Celia Engel* Max Levy Edna Astrachan* |
13 13 14 15 15 15 15 15 16 16 17 19 |
We pray that our mourners will be comforted among all the
mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and that the memory of the deceased continues to
be a blessing to all who knew them.
MEMORIAL PLAQUES
Memorialize a friend or
loved one by purchasing a BHBI memorial plaque. For more information, contact Stan Schaffer at 473-8072 or stanschaffer@frontiernet.net
AMAZON.COM
The
next time that you want to buy something from Amazon.com go to the BHBI web
page at www.BHBIRochester.org
and click on the Amazon.com link.
Each time you make a purchase after linking to Amazon.com from our web
page, BHBI gets a percentage of the purchase. Buy gifts or something for yourself or your family and
support BHBI at the same time!!
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So far our TOPS Gift Card fundraiser has been quite successful. Remember, TOPS
Gift Cards are now available through BHBI in $50 denominations. To purchase TOPS Gift Cards, contact Stan Schaffer at 473-8072 or by e-mail at stanschaffer@frontiernet.net |
TO OUR DONORS -- THANK YOU FOR
YOUR GENEROSITY!
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THE RABBI GOLDBERG FUND
Contributions to the
Rabbi Goldberg Fund enable us to engage Rabbi Goldberg to lead additional
services at BHBI during the year.
Whenever the funds in the Rabbi Goldberg Fund reach a predetermined
level, we will schedule an additional service with Rabbi Goldberg. This month, contributions to the Rabbi
Goldberg fund have resulted in us adding an additional service with Rabbi
Goldberg on Saturday morning, February 13th. To contribute to this purpose, please
send a check in to BHBI with a notation that the contribution should be used
for the Rabbi Goldberg Fund.
THANK YOU TO OUR KIDDUSH
SPONSORS
FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY
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January 9 |
Steve and Ruth
Teitel in memory of Ruth’s father, Jack Glazer |
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January 16 |
Phil and
Annette Garver in memory of Phil’s father, Nathan Goldberg |
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January 23 |
The
Congregation |
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January 30 |
Leon Metlay
and Nina Klionsky in honor of Tu b’Shevat and their nutty friends and Paula
Bobb in honor of her birthday |
CONGRATULATIONS
To
Katie Metlay on her 90th birthday!
To
Aviva Schaffer who will be attending the University of Rochester in the
fall. Aviva has been chosen as a
recipient of a 4-year Dean’s Merit Scholarship from the university in
recognition of her academic achievements.
TORAH STUDY
Join
congregants from Temple Beth Am, Temple Beth David and BHBI for our monthly
Small Conservative Shul Collaborative Torah Study session at BHBI on Wednesday
evening, February 10th at 7:30 p.m. The discussion is always lively and engaging!
Do
You Know Anyone Who is Unaffiliated and Interested in Joining a Congregation?
Let them know about
BHBI’s special free 3 month trial membership (available to prospective
first-time new members only). Have
them contact BHBI at 244-2060 or BHBI@frontiernet.net
and we will be happy to give them information about BHBI and this great offer!!
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Bar Mitzvah Thank
You Thus thanking and honoring each person who had fulfilled the words of Rabbi Hillel: "Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving your fellow creatures, and bringing them near to the Torah." (Pirke Avot 1:12). |
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When not studying Hebrew, Mark can usually be found at his Karate DoJo. He's won awards at Karate Tournaments and recently received his Junior Black Belt. A member of the local chapter of the Society of Young Magicians Mark participates in club activities. As a homeschooled student, Mark's current favorite areas of study include Ancient Greece and Rome. Other special activities are piano, Boy Scouts, reading, listening to music, playing games on his DS, and especially spending time with friends. Mark's parents are Leslie Toker and Jeffrey Nidetz and he is the grandson of Peg Toker. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY
The JCC’s Live from the 92nd
Street Y Series - The series continues with Tony-winning
actress Patti LuPone discussing the Broadway life with Leonard Lopate on Thursday, February 4th
at 8:15pm. Journalists and writers
Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Gopnik will be featured at the next Live
from the 92nd Street Y event on Tuesday, Feb. 16th at 8
pm. Tickets for these events can
be purchased at the JCC or at jccrochester.org
Israel
2010 – Daniel Gordis,
visiting professor of political science at Harvard University and a commentator
on Israeli politics will speak as part of the Israel 2010 lecture series on
Sunday, February 7th at 7:00 p.m. at Temple Beth El. The event is free and open to the public.
3
Men and the Bible – Join authors Benyamin Cohen (author
of My Jesus Year: A Rabbi’s Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of His Own
Faith), A.J. Jacobs (author of The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble
Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible) and David Plotz (author of
Good Book: The Bizarre, Hilarious, Disturbing, Marvelous and Inspiring Things I
Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible) for a discussion at the JCC
on Tuesday, February 9th at 7:30 pm.
Tickets are available at the JCC.
Dinner and a Movie with Chef
Brian Frank - Enjoy wine braised chicken with red pearl potatoes,
grilled asparagus, foraged mushrooms and caramelized pearl onions. This entree
is served with sliced grilled French baguette to soak up the delicious sauce.
Stay after dinner for a screening of Julie and Julia starring Meryl Streep and
Amy Adams. Saturday, February 13th at 6pm at the JCC.
Colonel Ron Rabin: A Professional Jewish Soldier's
Prospective - Join
retired US Army Colonel, Ron Rabin as he presents an informative lecture that
will focus on national security and selected international relationships, a
Department of Defensive overview, declarations of war and our involvement in
Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Thursday,
February 18th at 7pm at the JCC. This event
is free. Pre-registration is required at the JCC Main Desk.
Saturday with the
Classics - Enjoy exciting classical
guitar sounds in a Spanish Flamenco tradition with duo Mathew Colbert and Ryan
Carey. Saturday, February 20th at 7pm at the JCC. Free and open to the public.
Registration is required at the JCC Main Desk.
An Informal Look at the
Q’uran and the Torah – The Jewish
Community Federation and the Islamic Center of Rochester are jointly sponsoring
an event about the life of Joseph on Sunday, February 21st from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
at the Islamic Center, 727 Westfall Road.
The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
Note: This
year Temple Beth Am and BHBI will have a joint Shabbat Across America celebration at
Beth Am
OFFICE: The
synagogue office is checked regularly for mail and messages. The synagogue phone is 244-2060. For urgent issues, call Steve Teitel at
473-5741 or Stan Schaffer at 473-8072.
You can also e-mail us at BHBI@frontiernet.net
WANT TO REMEMBER OR HONOR SOMEONE OR A SPECIAL
OCCASION?
Consider sponsoring a kiddush or making a donation to any one of our funds (General Operating, Kiddush, Library, Torah, Rabbi Aaron Solomon Scholarship, Our Youth, Special Events, Rabbi Goldberg Fund or the Sam Malina Memorial Fund). Please indicate which fund you would like your donation to go to and we will send out an acknowledgement card as you indicate and print an announcement in this bulletin. A standard sponsored kiddush at BHBI costs just $40 while a larger enhanced kiddush is just $50.
BULLETIN CONTENT
What do you enjoy reading in the BHBI Bulletin? Is there something that you would like added (or taken out)? If so, please let Stan Schaffer know. We always appreciate feedback.
DID YOU MISPLACE YOUR BULLETIN?
Don’t worry.
BHBI Bulletins going back several months can now be found on our web
page: www.BHBIRochester.org
WANT TO GET YOUR BULLETIN HOT-OFF-THE-PRESS? Consider having us e-mail it to you! Contact Stan Schaffer at: stanschaffer@frontiernet.net
Congregation Beth Hamedresh-Beth Israel
1369 East Avenue
Rochester, NY
14610