Congregation B'nai Shalom Traditionally Speaking August, 2005

From the Rabbi
From the President
Ritual
Programming
Sisterhood

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THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS - From RABBI JONATHAN GLASS

Bet You Haven’t Heard of This Yom Tov!

Here’s one of the most fascinating days we celebrate-the fifteenth of Av, “Tu b’av”-it comes out on August twentieth this year.  Nowadays, there are only minor changes to our prayers that mark this day, and it goes by almost unnoticed, but in years past-the rabbis tell us-“there were no better days for Israel than…Tu b’av…when the daughters of Israel would go dancing in the vineyards wearing borrowed white dresses (in order not to embarrass those who didn’t own them).”  Through some additional reasons that the later rabbis provide, we can start to get a picture of the significance of the day:

1.   As a result of the dejection brought about when the ten spies gave a demoralizing report about the Land of Israel, the entire generation of adults were condemned to wander in the desert for forty years until they died out.  On Tu b’av of the fortieth year, the last of that generation had died.

2.   In the time of the Judges (see Judges chapter 19 for the R rated background to this story) a ban was placed on the men of the tribe of Benjamin preventing them from marrying women of other tribes.  On Tu b’av the ban was lifted.

3.   When the Israelites were split into a northern and southern kingdom, King Jeroboam of the North set up road blocks to prevent his people from making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  This policy was reversed many years later by King Hosea. Guess when? Yep-Tu b’av.

4.   After the Romans crushed the Jewish rebellion of Bar Kochba, the Jewish dead were left out in the field. The Romans finally allowed the Jews to bury their dead on…. Tu b’av.

5.   They would chop wood for the temple altar fires. They would do this during the summer months when the wood was dry.  At the end of the summer they would stop.  When exactly?  Tu b’av.

When we look carefully at this seemingly disparate list of events, we see a theme starting to emerge.  All of these events are associated with a renewal of dignity and hope.  They all mark the end of an era of difficulty, and the dawning of a brighter one.  The last reason too (which doesn’t quite seem to fit) marks the beginning of longer nights-increased time for torah study-and thus also an opportunity for spiritual brightness.

Rabbi Glass

FROM THE PRESIDENT - ROB CHEIFETZ

Ok.  Here’s what I need you to do.  Think.  Try to remember which one of your friends complained last year about their High Holiday services.  They didn’t like the choir, the Rabbi was boring, the Rabbi was egotistical, the Cantor had a screechy voice, they had to sit way in the back, they had to sit too close in front…. I guaranty that you know at least one person who complained like this.  Now, think of another friend who never joined a synagogue at all last year.  They heard that all the Rabbis are boring and all Cantors are screechy.  Do you have the names in mind?  Great.

Now call them up. Or visit them in person.  Tell them, “Hey, you should join Congregation B’nai Shalom of Buffalo Grove this year!  Rabbi Glass is brilliant, never boring, and is humble in the right sort of way.  Our Cantor, Dr. Amir, is fantastic and the farthest thing from screechy.  Our seats are good, the people are friendly, and the atmosphere is conducive to spirituality and beauty.  Oh, and the Rabbi blows shofar like no one you have ever heard.” 

How often can you give a friend a recommendation that you know they’ll thank you for later?  This is a “can’t miss” opportunity.  YOU get to be incredibly right about something very important, THEY get to participate in the most wonderful High Holiday service around - it’s the best win-win scenario in town.  And if they have Bar/Bat Mitzvah age kids, then they win even more.  Rabbi Glass is a fantastic teacher (as are Ken M. and Dan S.) and we do not ask Mitzvah kids to “double up” - each Bar/Bat Mitzvah will have his/her own special day to celebrate at our shul.  In short, your friends will hurt themselves trying to thank you appropriately for the great gift you have given them.

In all seriousness, we are at a crucial juncture.  We have an urgent need to grow our shul and raise sufficient funds to keep Rabbi Glass with us for many years to come.  We are truly blessed to have him as part of our family: he makes us better, more knowledgeable, more compassionate and spiritual people.  Those members of the congregation who have lost loved ones can’t stop talking about how caring and attentive Rabbi Glass is.  Those of you who have joined us for services during the year know how gifted a thinker and speaker he is, how beautifully he davens and reads torah, and how he inspires us with his teaching. 

While I cannot expect everyone to double or triple their pledges to the shul, it is not too much to ask for everyone to add one new family to our shul family.  If each of you brings in one new member, then we will have doubled our size.  And imagine how great it would be if everyone brings in two new families!  For years your friends have probably told you, “when you get a Rabbi, I’ll join your synagogue.”  Well, now we not only have a Rabbi, we have Rabbi Glass.  And for the High Holidays, we also have Dr. Amir, an internationally acclaimed Cantor and magnificent human being.  So, do yourself and your friends a favor.  Please help us grow our synagogue family this year.

RITUAL - BEN FRANK

As of this writing, I have been Ritual VP for about eight weeks, and in this period three different shul families have sat shiva. I don’t remember many specific details of the shiva period for my father, but one stays with me.  Our house was filled, morning and evening, with people coming to make minyan and offer their support. While our CBSBG community is smaller than the one I grew up in, and the minyanim may be smaller, we still support one another.

When I started becoming active in our shul, the Ritual VP encouraged me to do something wonderful- to go to shiva minyans even when I had no idea who the people were who were sitting shiva.  I would encourage you to do the same.  Walk in the door, introduce yourself as someone from the shul community, and help out by listening, making a minyan, or whatever is needed.  The basic act of gemilut chasadim is one that the mourners will remember- their community cares for them.  We would each want no less for ourselves when our turn comes.  In the end, caring about each other is what being part of a community is all about.

Ritual reminders: 

-Friday night services will be held at 7:30 p.m. throughout August

-The 9th of Av is Sunday, Aug 14th.

We will have Mincha/Ma'ariv (with Eicha) starting at 7:30 on Saturday the 13^th

Shacharit on Sunday will be at 9:00 a.m. and Mincha/Ma'ariv will be at 7:30 p.m.

-Names on the misheberach list will be removed after about six weeks (we will assume the person recovers) unless the office is notified.

PROGRAMMING - JONATHAN LEVIN

Upcoming events:  Picnic at the shul on August 28th.  Join your friends for food, games, and more at our annual Shul picnic!  You will have the option of eating inside the air-conditioned shul.  RSVP to the Shul office by August 13th.  Helpers needed!

“Kids Club Shabbat” on August and 27th.  Our kids are growing!  We will be starting a "Kids Club Shabbat" Junior Congregation service for grades 1-4.  The service will take place from approximately 10:30 am (Haftora reading) until 11:30.  We need volunteers to help lead it and provide snacks.

SISTERHOOD - JANICE HANDELMAN

This year our Rummage Sale was a success.  We made enough money to buy a new ice machine (no more shlepping 22 pound bags from Sam’s!) and hopefully the Sisterhood can replace some of the tables, many of which are old and broken.  Thank you to Bob Silverstein for donating the new rummage sale sign.  We would not have done so well without the new sign.  A big thank you to all who helped during the two weeks of sorting and to everyone who helped on the day of the sale.  Special thanks to everyone who came for clean up.  All leftover merchandise was donated to the Cancer Federation.  The books went to the Indian Trails Library.

On August 30 at 6:30 p.m., the Sisterhood is planning a membership dinner.  Watch your mail for more information.  Please plan on attending.

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