Congregation B'nai Shalom
Traditionally Speaking
October, 2004
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Congregation B'nai Shalom Traditionally Speaking |
From the President
Programming
Sisterhood
Ritual
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FROM
THE PRESIDENT
- ROB CHEIFETZ
In parshat Vayelech, which we read right before Rosh HaShannah, the Jews are
commanded to fulfill the obligation of Hakhale. Hakhale (“to gather”) requires
that all the Jews be gathered together – the “men, women, and children” – to
hear a public reading of the Torah. (Dvarim 31:9-13). The commandment of Hakhale
was directed to take place every seven years, during the holiday of Sukkot. But,
in a significant way, our Shabbat service (held on the seventh day) is truer to
the mitzvah of Hakhale.
The book of Nehemiah (Chapter 8) recounts perhaps the most poignant enactment of
the Hakhale mitzvah. When the Jews returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian
exile, they were unfamiliar with many of the Torah’s laws. At the beginning of
Tishrei, the seventh month (Nisan, the month in which the holiday of Pesach
occurs, is the first month), Ezra the prophet stood on a special wooden platform
(akin to the bimah in our shul) and publicly read from a Torah scroll. The
people listened to the reading and were ashamed that they had strayed so far
from the path that G-d had laid out for them. They were so moved by the reading,
that when they learned that the holiday of Sukkot was about to begin, they
quickly set about making preparation to construct sukkot and gather the
requisite pieces to assemble a lulav. During Sukkot itself, Ezra read the Torah
to the people, and it is this reading that renewed their faith. The public Torah
reading converted the assembled masses from a group of people of Jewish ancestry
into the “Jewish People.”
Each year we ostensibly re-enact Hakhale at our Traditional shul. All of us –
the men, women, and children -- assemble in the seventh month during the
holidays of Rosh HaShannah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. But for us, the Torah reading
itself is not the focus of our holidays – we come to shul to hear the shofar,
the Rabbi’s sermons, and the Cantor’s melodies. Don’t get me wrong; all of those
things are important, but they pale in comparison to the words of the Torah.
They help enrich our experience as Jews, but it is by listening to,
understanding, and following the laws of the Torah that makes us Jews. In a way,
it is like the version of Kabbalah that celebrities such as Madonna (n/k/a
“Esther”) find fashionable. Kabbalah was not intended to be a religion unto
itself, rather it is (and was intended to be) something that can enhance the
Jewish experience. If Judaism were a meal, Kabbalah would be salt; salt adds
flavor to a meal, but no one could exist on a “meal” of salt alone.
Ironically, it is when we leave the seventh month that the Torah again becomes
the center of our focus. When the tumult of the Holidays dies down, we return to
our schedule of gathering on the seventh day for our Shabbat service. Although
(unfortunately) smaller in number, our Shabbat gathering rings truer to the
spirit of the mitzvah of Hakhale, which is to provide us an opportunity to
re-experience the beauty and logic of G-d’s Torah. In parshat Nitzavim, G-d
tells the Jews that there are two paths: one that leads to life, and the other
to death. G-d instructs the Jews to “choose life” (Dvarim 30:19), and gives them
– and us – the Torah so that we may know how to do so.
I look forward to seeing you all on Shabbat! Shalom; L’Hitraot.
It was wonderful seeing so many people at Shul on Rosh Hashanah. Audrey and
Craig Marshak did a wonderful job helping me organize Junior Congregation. I
would like to thank Audrey, Craig, and Janice Handelman, for helping set-up the
Junior Congregation rooms the Tuesday night before yuntiff. I really appreciate
your helping when you were still busy with your own family holiday preparations.
It was nice having volunteers of all ages help in the various classrooms. What a
big mitzvah! Thank you to all the teachers and helpers! I would also like to
thank Annette Leibovitz and Ilene Krakman for supplying toys in the family play
room.
Upcoming events:
Sunday, October 17th: The first Young Judaea event. A flyer will be in your mail
soon. The Young Judaea programs are run by people outside our Shul.
Friday, October 22nd: The first Shabbat Dinner of the new year. A great kickoff
to what promises to be an exciting and fun new year. This will be an Italian
meal. Please RSVP and put it on your calendars NOW!!!
Tuesday, November 9th: JVS seminar on starting your own business.
Sunday, November 14th: Our first D.E.L. (Daven, eat, and learn) program of the
year. We’re working on securing a very exciting program. One thing for sure, the
food and company will be wonderful! Information forthcoming.
Sunday, December 5th: Chanukah Party. Dreidels, dancing, latkes, music, and more
fun for ALL.
It's not too early to pay your sisterhood dues. When you pay your shul bill,
just write on it that that you want to pay sisterhood first. The shul office
will take care of the rest for you. It's that easy! Or, if you want to make it
even simpler, for $180.00 (payable over 2 years), you can become a life member.
Then, you never have to try to remember if you paid your sisterhood dues for
that year.
So, come on and "get involved." Join sisterhood, come to our meetings, and
you'll meet new and "old" friends. We're sure you'll enjoy yourself.
Any questions, contact Jody Kanter.
Entertainment Books are available in the Gift Shop. They can be purchased during
office hours or by contacting Evelyn B.
We are in the process of planning events for the coming year. Is there some
place you would like to go with your Sisterhood friends? Is there a program you
would like to see or something you would like to do at a meeting? We would love
to have your input. Please call or email me, or leave a note in the office. You
could also let anyone else on the board know of your ideas. Remember, there is
no such thing as a bad idea.
We need everyone’s help in taking down the sukka on October 17th at 9:00 a.m. If possible, bring a half inch and 9/16 inch ratchet, 6 foot ladder, and work gloves for your comfort.