TTT: Shabbat Shirah 5772

January 31st, 2012 by admin | No Comments | Filed in TTT

Torah Thoughts for Today
Shabbat Shirah – B`Shalah 5772
Rabbi Mark Mallach
Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael, Springfield, NJ
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IMPORTANT NOTES FOLLOW BELOW
PARASHAT B’SHALAH – SHABBAT SHIRAH
February 4, 2012 – 11 Shevat 5772
Triennial: Exodus 14:15 – 16:10 (Etz Hayim p. 403)
Haftarah: Judges 4:4 – 5:31 (Etz Hayim, p. 424)
Prepared by Rabbi Joseph Prouser
“This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him.” (Exodus 15:2 – New American Standard Bible translation)

Derash: Study
“An alternative rendering is ‘This is my God, and I will make Him a habitation’ (the Hebrew verb anvehu – ‘and I will praise Him’ is related to the noun naveh – ‘habitation’). This means: ‘I will make a habitation for Him within my own being; I will sanctify and purify myself so that my body may become a dwelling place for the Holy Presence.’” (Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch)
“For it was taught: ‘This is my God, and I will adorn God (anvehu)’: Adorn yourself before God in the mitzvot: make a beautiful sukkah in God’s honor, a beautiful lulav, a beautiful shofar, beautiful tzitzit, and a beautiful Torah scroll – and write it for God with fine ink, a fine reed, and a skilled penman, and wrap it with beautiful silks.” (Talmud Shabbat 133b)
“We want our children to look upon religion not as something to be inherited, but rather as something to be discovered.” (Rabbi Leonard I. Beerman)
“God is to be praised with the voice, and the heart should go therewith in holy exultation.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
“It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men.” (C.S. Lewis)
Questions for Discussion:
At least three different translations of our verse (specifically of the word anvehu) are provided: to praise, to adorn, and to provide a habitation. Which do you find the most compelling interpretation? How might our synagogues (or our homes, or we) reflect all three translations simultaneously?
Arguably, we fulfill the message of this verse through public or private worship, but perhaps most explicitly through the experience of shared family worship. What formative religious experiences did you share with your parents? What potentially formative worship (in the broadest sense) experiences do you (or might you) provide for your children and their children?
The effort to beautify religious observance relies on individual tastes, personal creativity, and subjective judgment. How might we bring added beauty to our Jewish living? Physically, through the visual arts and ritual objects and accoutrements? Musically, through prayer and song? Through special attention to the quality of Sabbath and holiday meals? Through personal refinement in our interactions with others? Our conversations with them? Our treatment of them? Where else?
In the spirit of Rev. Spurgeon’s comment, what steps can we take to add “heart” (meaning, sincerity, intellectual honesty, strength of conviction) to the divine praises we recite, and to the values to which we pay lip service? Is this, too, a path to beauty?

Your thoughts as always are welcome…
REMINDERS:

A. Sunday, February 5, 2012:
1. 9 AM:
a. Religious School
b. Morning Minyan & World Wide Wrap: Come RAP with us with Tefillin, Talit, special breakfast & guest speaker – all sponsored by your Men’s Club – open to all, male & FEMALE, Teffilin help and practice pairs are available
2. 7:45 PM: evening minyan

A. Friday, February 10th, 8 PM: Guest Speaker Aaron Adler
B. Saturday, February 11th, 9:30 AM: Guest Speaker Aaron Adler
C. Sunday, February 12th, 9:30 AM: Women’s League Brunch
D. Tuesday, February 14th, 6:30 PM: Men’s Club meeting
E. February 20th, 8 PM: Guest Speaker Steve Taub
F. February 21st, 9:30 AM: Guest Speaker Steve Taub
G. Sunday, February 19th, 8 PM: TBAY Annual Comedy Night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
H. Monday, February 20th, 9 AM: MORNING MINYAN START TIME – FEDERAL HOLIDAY
I. Thursday, February 23rd, 7:45 PM: Torah on Tap
J. Friday, February 24th, 8 PM: Shabbat Shalem
K. Saturday, February 25th, 9:30 AM: Bar Mitzvah of Jason Rubin
L. Thursday, March 1st, 8 PM: Coffee & Clergy Corner – NJ Marriage Equality???? – Barnes & Noble, Rt. 22 W, Springfield
M. Friday, March 2nd, 6:30 PM: ShabbatTis4U service in honor of Kitah Bet & Hey – Shabbat dinner to follow – RSVP needed: office@templebethahmyisrael.com – NO LATE SERVICE
N. Sunday, March 4th, 12 Noon – 2 PM: Purim Carnival
O. Wednesday, March 7th, 7 PM: Megillah Readings – Sanctuary & Chapel
P. Thursday, March 8th, 6:30 PM: morning minyan & Purim continues – Megillah Reading in the Chapel
Q. Saturday, March 10th, 9:30 AM: Bar Mitzvah of Matthew Nadel

NEXT CONGREGATIONAL ISRAEL TOUR
1. Depart EWR: December 18, 2012
2. Return to EWR: January 1, 2013
3. The itinerary & application is available: www.israeltours.com/rmallach2012.php
4. INFORMATION MEETING – note date change – SUNDAY, March 11TH – 12:30 PM – IN THE BOARD ROOM – come learn more from our tour company – all questions answered

For updated information go to: http://www.tbaynj.org/

You can also visit my website at http://ridinrebbe.com/

Sermon: Shabbat Bo – The State of the Union

January 27th, 2012 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Sermons

State of the Union
Shabbat Shalom.
It must be so difficult to be a leader of a nation. We learned on Wednesday that on the eve of the upcoming State of the Union Address, another Navy Seals Mission, authorized by President Obama, had successfully rescued 2 aid workers, 1 of whom is an American, whom been held hostage by Somali pirates in Somalia. I can’t imagine the stress of sending those Seals into obvious mortal danger, and then to stand before a joint session of Congress to deliver the State of the Union address.
I did watch the speech, but I am not about to comment on the content of the speech. What I do want to share is something that I was involved in just prior to the speech; an on-line, typed conversation with a FaceBook friend, not on the public page of FB, but through private messaging.
This FB friend, is a former resident of Springfield, he grew up here, his parents of blessed memory where members of the shul, and we are primarily FB friends based on what I believe is our mutual passion for U.M. sports – Go Terps! This is person also happens to be a rabid, full-throated Republican. For example, during the weekly debates by the candidates vying for the Republican nomination to run for president, he posts on FB a running commentary. Now, I don’t have to agree with his political positions, but I usually find them an interesting read and perspective.
However, whenever he posts something that is critical of President Obama, he refers to him not as President Obama, rather by a 1 word derogatory play on his last name: Obummer. And, then Tuesday evening, just prior to the speech, he posted the following: “Everyone make sure to watch Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels deliver the GOP response to the nearly hour long crap-fest called the State of the Union.” After that posting, I had enough, and sent him a message!
What did I object to? Not his freedom of speech right to criticize the president’s policies or decisions. What deeply bothers me is the denigration of the Office of the President by the derogatory personal mocking of a president’s name, and by the insulting the constitutionally mandated State of the Union address.
Then, to add insult to injury, yesterday, Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona, with her public pointing and wagging her finger in the face of the president!?!??! You don’t like what the president says, speak out against the issues – a right protected by what those Navy Seals; do risking their lives to protect our freedom, but do so while respecting the office of the presidency – which demonstrates how democracy works!
Which brings me to this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Bo; it begins with the bringing of the last 3 plagues upon Egypt, and teaches a powerful lesson on the respect of leadership, even if you don’t agree with what the leader is doing.
After the 9th plague, the plaque of darkness, God tells Moshe to have the people collect objects of silver and gold form their Egyptian neighbors, and we read that “the Lord disposed the Egyptians favorably toward the people” (Ex. 11:3). Yes, we see God’s influence, but we are told in a midrash on this verse that it is because during that period of darkness, the Hebrews did not take advantage of the Egyptians and plunder their homes.
However, note what the 2nd half of that verse states: “Moshe himself was much esteemed in the land of Egypt, among Pharaoh’s courtiers and among the people” (Ex. 11:3). Amazing, a leader being shown respect not for his positions on issues, obviously they were in direct opposition to those of the Pharaoh’s courtiers and the Egyptian people, but still receiving the respect of the office of leadership.
There is a lot to learn from this 1 verse of our Torah; if only modern politicians and their supports could learn it, too.
Kain y`hee ratzon – may it only be….ALUASA

Preview Shabbat Bo 5772

January 26th, 2012 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Shabbat Preview

Thursday, January 26, 2012 – 2 Shevat 5772
Preview for Shabbat Bo
HELP NEEDED – SEEKING A NANNY

We have a temple family seeking a live-out nanny for Monday – Friday, 7:45 AM – 5:45 PM: non-smoking, drives, lives fairly close to Union, and with newborn baby experience.

Please contact ridinrebbe@aol.com with referrals

BirthRight – Free Israel Trip:

THE ISRAEL EXPERIENCE LTD. is offering our 5TH LGBTQ – The ORIGINAL “Rainbow “ Taglit-Birthright Israel trip again this summer! PLEASE spread the word to anyone you know who might be interested in this specialty trip. The trip will be departing in mid-July and you can learn more about the trip at http://taglit.theisraelexperience.org/trips/specialty-trips/lgbt-the-rainbow-trip/ and see the sample itinerary from the last trip at http://taglit.theisraelexperience.org/trips/specialty-trips/lgbt-the-rainbow-trip/lgbtq-sample-itinerary/ .

Registration opens on February 15th at noon EST (February 14th at noon EST for previously wait listed applicants) at http://israelexperience.birthrightisrael.com – PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD to let others know that this amazing experience is available again and THE ISRAEL EXPERIENCE LTD. is the trip organizer with the proven commitment and experience with this unique trip! Refer your friends, neighbors, relatives at http://taglit.theisraelexperience.org/lgbtq and get a chance to win an iPad2!

UPCOMING EVENT REMINDERS:

A. Sunday, January 29: Religious School

1. 9 AM: Morning Minyan

2. 5 PM: Women’s League Pasta Dinner

3. 7:45 PM: evening minyan

B. Sunday, February 5th @ 9 AM: World Wide Wrap – Come RAP with us with Tefillin, Talit, special breakfast & guest speaker – all sponsored by your Men’s Club – open to all, male & FEMALE, Teffilin help and practice pairs are available

C. Sunday, February 19th @ 8 PM: TBAY 3rd Annual A Night of Comedy, featuring Rabbi Rob Alper & Rev. Susan Sparks

You can also visit my website at: http://ridinrebbe.com/

For updated information go to: http://www.tbaynj.org/

II. January 27, 2012 – 4 Shevat: Shabbat Bo

Candle Lighting Time: 4:50 PM
8 PM – Shabbat services
8 PM Shabbat Services –
1. Kiddush Soloist: Cantor Nadel

2. Sermon Theme: State of the Union

3. L`kavod Shabbat – Special Honors

a. Responsive Readings:

b. Open Ark for Aleinu:

4. Bima Officers: Scott Rothbort & Andy Schuyler

5. Oneg Shabbat: Sponsored by Women’s League

II. Saturday, January 28, 2012 – 4 Shevat: Shabbat Bo

A. 9:30 AM: Shaharit L`Shabbat in the Sanctuary:

1. Shabbat Coordinator: Marlene Berman-White

2. Baal Tefillah Preliminary Service (Prayer Leader): David Glass

3. Baal Tefillah Shaharit: Cantor

4. Dvar Torah: Rabbi

5. Baal Koreh (Torah Readers): Karen Levine &

6. Baal Maftir (Haftorah Reader): Karen Levine

7. Gabbayim (Torah Proctors):

8. Baal Tefillah Musaf: Cantor

9. Special Aliyot

IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN ALIYAH, PLEASE LET US KNOW!!!!!

a. Congregational Aliyah:

b. B`nai Mitzvah Anniversary Aliyah:

10. Bima Officers Scheduled: Scott Rothbort & Andy Schuyler

11. The Kiddush luncheon following services is sponsored by EAC

B. 10:30 AM: Youth Services ARE in session

1. Grades 4 – 6 are in the Chapel

2. Mini-Minyan, grades K – 3 are in the Youth Lounge

C. 10:30 AM: “BABYSITTING & BLESSINGS” IS IN SESSION

Next Shabbat: Shabbat Bo

NEXT CONGREGATIONAL ISRAEL TOUR

1. Depart EWR: December 18, 2012

2. Return to EWR: January 1, 2013

3. The itinerary & application is available: www.israeltours.com/rmallach2012.php

4. INFORMATIONAL MEETING – note date change – SUNDAY, March 11TH – 12:30 PM – IN THE BOARD ROOM – come learn more from our tour company – all questions answered

Shabbat Shalom!

Preview for Shabbat Shemot 5772

January 13th, 2012 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Shabbat Preview

Friday, January 13, 2012 – 18 Tevet 5772
Preview for Shabbat Shemot

SERMONIC OPPORTUNITIES
Would you like to give a Dvar Torah, the following dates are available as well as preparatory help:
Friday, February 10th @ 8 PM service
Saturday, February 11th @ 9:30 AM service
Friday, February 17th @ 8 PM service
Saturday, February 18th @ 9:30 AM service
Let me know…

UPCOMING EVENT REMINDERS:

A. Sunday, January 15: NO Religious School
1. 9 AM: Morning Minyan
2. 7 PM: Step Up For Israel – 5th & concluding film & discussion
3. 7:45 PM: evening minyan

B. Monday, January 16th:
1. NOTE MORNING MINYAN 9 AM
2. 10 – 11 AM: Springfield Interfaith Clergy Association Martin Luther King Day Commemoration, Town-hall, 2nd Floor
C. Thursday, January 19th, 7:45 PM: Torah on Tap
D. Friday, January 20th: 6:30 PM – Kids Kabbalat Shabbat program & 8 PM – Shabbat services
E. Sunday, January 22nd @ 9AM: Kitah Vav Student/Parent Seminar #1
F. Sunday, January 29th @ 5 PM: Women’s League Pasta Dinner
G. Sunday, February 5th @ 9 AM: World Wide Wrap – Come RAP with us with Tefillin, Talit, special breakfast & guest speaker – all sponsored by your Men’s Club – open to all, male & FEMALE, Teffilin help and practice pairs are available
H. Sunday, February 19th @ 8PM: TBAY 3rd Annual A Night of Comedy, featuring Rabbi Rob Alper & Rev. Susan Sparks
You can also visit my website at: http://ridinrebbe.com/

For updated information go to: http://www.tbaynj.org/

II. January 13, 2012 – 19 Tevet: Shabbat Shemot – LEN IS BACK IN THE HAUS – Len Hausman will be accompanying cantor on acoustic guitar

A. Candle Lighting Time: 4:33 PM
B. 8 PM Shabbat Services –
1. Kiddush Soloist: Cantor Nadel
2. Sermon Theme:

3. L`kavod Shabbat – Special Honors
a. Responsive Readings:
b. Open Ark for Aleinu:
4. Bima Officers: Pam Kornspan & Linda Lieb
5. Oneg Shabbat: Sponsored by Women’s League

II. Saturday, January 14, 2012 – 19 Tevet: Shabbat Shemot

A. 9:30 AM: Shaharit L`Shabbat in the Sanctuary:

1. Shabbat Coordinator: Marilyn Garlen
2. Baal Tefillah Preliminary Service (Prayer Leader): David Glass
3. Baal Tefillah Shaharit: Cantor
4. Dvar Torah: Rabbi
5. Baal Koreh (Torah Readers): Ken Melman
6. Baal Maftir (Haftorah Reader):
7. Gabbayim (Torah Proctors):
8. Baal Tefillah Musaf: Cantor
9. Special Aliyot

IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN ALIYAH, PLEASE LET US KNOW!!!!!
a. Congregational Aliyah:
b. B`nai Mitzvah Anniversary Aliyah:

10. Bima Officers Scheduled: Pam Kornspan & Linda Lieb
11. The Kiddush luncheon following services is sponsored by EAC
B. 10:30 AM: Youth Services ARE NOT in session
1. Grades 4 – 6 are in the Chapel
2. Mini-Minyan, grades K – 3 are in the Youth Lounge
C. 10:30 AM: “BABYSITTING & BLESSINGS” IS IN SESSION

Next Shabbat: Shabbat Vaera

NEXT CONGREGATIONAL ISRAEL TOUR
1. Depart EWR: December 18, 2012
2. Return to EWR: January 1, 2013
3. The itinerary & application is available: www.israeltours.com/rmallach2012.php
4. INFORMATIONAL MEETING – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH – 12:30 PM – IN THE BOARD ROOM – come learn more from our tour company – all questions answered

Shabbat Shalom!

Seeing

January 13th, 2012 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Sermons

Seeing
Shabbat Shalom.
One of the most enriching aspects of Torah study is that each time I look at the weekly parasha; I see it with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective.
In this week’s sedra, Parashat Shemot, there is a particular verb that seems to weave the portion together: to look or see.
Pharaoh orders the midwives to look at the sex of the newborn baby.
Moshe’s mother sees the beauty of her baby boy.
Pharaoh’s daughter sees a basket in the reeds and sees that is a crying baby.
A grown-up Moshe sees the suffering of the Hebrews and sees an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew slave.
God hears the moaning of the Hebrews and sees them.
Moshe sees a burning bush and then turns aside to look at this marvel.
God sees Moshe’s readiness and calls to him from the bush.
At that moment, Moshe, overwhelmed by the awe of the moment, hides his face because he is afraid to look at God.
Moshe doubts that the people will believe that he actually saw God.
Moshe then performs wondrous signs in the sight of the people and the people believe that God has seen their suffering.
Thus, all manner of seeing: curiosity, compassion, readiness to receive the divine, and as well as the fear of seeing or inability to see permeate this parasha.
Last week, the director of the NJ region of the ADL was transferred to NY, leaving no director here in NJ; nor are there plans to replace him. The office will be kept open in NJ, but without a director, and only an assurance that attention will be given to the NJ region from the NY office.
In response, my question is, “don’t they see what is going on here in NJ?
In just a matter of a few weeks there have been four attacks on synagogues in Bergen County. Of course, each is being investigated by the police as a hate-crime, and, in addition, the one this week in Rutherford as attempted murder.
And, the NJ office of the ADL was notified of the anti-Semitic rhetoric spewed from the mouth of a 12-year old student at FMG Middle School, here, in Springfield, at a public town-hall meeting with Gov. Christie, and with the aid and support of the child’s father. And, in response to the NJJN’s article on this incident, the child’s father unleashed additional anti-Semitic venom on the blog site of the on-line edition of the NJJN in which I was slandered by this child’s father.
Do you see a pattern here? Are we seeing an increase in anti-Semitism, which had thought to be on the decline? Have we not seen such patterns in the past?
Do we have the vision to foresee some resolution to this recent rise in anti-Semitism?
Well, here’s how I see it:
• I look forward to the capture of the perpetrator or perpetrators of the attacks we have seen take place in Bergen County. And, we know that they will be treated under the law as hate crimes, which incurs additional penalties. But, what I look to see are laws that impose even stronger, mandatory sentences for such crimes.
• I also want to see laws that, although libertarians will see as an attack on our Freedom of Speech, laws that will impose sentences as a hate-crime for those who spew forth anti-Semitic rhetoric in the public arena! Such laws already exist in Germany!
• And, as ridiculous as it may sound or impossible to implement, I would like to see every expectant parent be required to read the following lyrics from the musical, South Pacific:
You’ve got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You’ve got to be taught
From year to year,
It’s got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You’ve got to be carefully taught!

Is such a vision too much to seek?
Kain Y`hee Ratzon – May it be God’s will!
ALUASA