February 2009 Shevat- Adar 5769

Transcription

1 Congregation B nai Jacob February 2009 Shevat- Adar 5769 Mitchell Kornspan, Rabbi Shabbat Services Ron Friedman, President Weekly Portion: Beshallach Candle Lighting: 5:45pm Friday February 6 th Services 7:30pm Saturday February 7 th Services 9:15am Havdalah: 6:48pm Shabbat School 9:45-11:45am Torah Class 1:00pm Weekly Portion: Yitro Candle Lighting: 5:53pm Friday February 13 th Services 7:30pm Saturday February 14 th Services 9:15am Havdalah: 6:57pm Shabbat School 9:45am-11:45am Torah Class 1:00pm Weekly Portion: Mishpatim Candle Lighting: 6:02pm Friday February 20 th Services 7:30pm Saturday February 21 st Services 9:15am Havdalah: 7:05pm Shabbat School 9:45am-11:45am Torah Class 1:00pm Weekly Portion: Terumah Candle Lighting: 6:10pm Friday February 27 th Services 7:30pm Saturday February 28 th Services 9:15am Havdalah: 7:13pm Shabbat School 9:45am-11:45am Torah Class 1:00pm

2 Tu B Shevat Seder Please join us on Shabbat February 7 th at 11:45am following service to make Kiddush and enjoy our Seder luncheon celebrating the New Year of Trees.

3 many years ago We want you, our Jewish brothers and sisters, to know that we stand with you today in watching another battle for peace in the land of Israel. We sorrow with you in watching suffering among many. Our prayers are for courage and strength, G-d s wisdom and peace. May none of us forget to Pray for the peace of Jerusalem with you. Psalm 122:6 Dear B nai Jacob family, By the time you receive this bulletin, I am hoping that the Gaza war will be finished. Our prayers have been with all of our people, and we have added prayers to our services beseeching G-d to protect our brothers and sisters in Israel. I want to thank you for your and calls asking about our children. Baruch Hashem, they are doing well. Our sons, who are in the reserves, have not been called up into active service. That would have been likely, if the war had expanded. Many of you have sent of articles and videos, which have been circulating on the Internet. They have shed light on how Hamas indoctrinates the very young to hate and battle Israel, and the difference between Israel s attempt at minimalizing civilian casualties and Hamas trickery, using civilians as shields. There are so many good sites on the Internet for you to receive the real news from Israel. Here are some: As well, I consider and Myths & Facts Online: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict, By Mitchell G. Bard (found at mftoc.html) to be important resources. I was very happy to receive such a supportive letter from a church in Hudson, Indiana. The members of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, a small country congregation north of Fort Wayne, wrote us saying that they were currently studying the book of Joshua and were reminded of G-d s hand and help in Israel s entering and possessing Eretz Israel Speaking of letters, I was delighted to receive a note from Roslyn Katz-Eling in Albion, who sent regards to all of you, and said that you may remember Cody Eling, who is now serving his country in the U.S. Air Force. He is a member of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. She sent me a copy of some of the articles that are in its monthly newsletter. They are very compelling. If you would like to see them, please let me know. Thank you Roslyn. On a personal note, I want to express gratitude to each of you who helped support the yahrzeit minyanim for my father, alav hashalom. The weather was extremely challenging! Yet, so many of you made sure, amidst the snow and the cold, to be there. I am very grateful to you. Yasher Koach! I was invited to Temple Achduth Vesholom in January for a very informative presentation on writing an ethical will, chaired by Steve Trotter and Mo Safirstein. They best described the session this way: This session will help provide you with a foundation to create your own ethical will as a true legacy you can leave to your children and other family members. It is a document from the heart for future generations to treasure. Ethical wills have no legal status, but from the time of Abraham people have written them as a valuable legacy to their loved ones. Kudos to the committee for a job well done. I have asked the Temple to let us know when they will be having another session, so that we can publicize this to you all. Please make plans to join us for the Tu B shevat Seder on Shabbat, February 7 th! As always, it will be a very enjoyable celebration. B shalom, Rabbi Mitchell Kornspan

4 Thank You!!! A big warm thank you goes out to Janet Finkel for all her efforts and for the hundreds of Kiddush luncheons she has prepared. Bnai Jacob would like to welcome our newest member Zoe Zefo to our congregation. Thank you to Steve Town for the tireless clean-up of tree debris after the recent ice-storm There are too many people to thank individually for all the help; however I need to express gratitude to Rabbi Spanger, Rabbi Kornspan, Marcia Reynolds, Pam Friedman and David Miller in particular for unending help on many matters. Furthermore the Sisterhood of B nai Jacob and the Caring Committee of Achduth Vesholom, The Chevra Kaddisha and also for all the people who help with the Shomrim, Minyans, Prayers, generosity, visits and calls for me, on the loss of my lovely wife Rosalie Becker. I thank everyone, the Jewish Community and friends for being there for me, thank you also for all the contributions in memory of Rosalie Becker. Franck Hagendorf Janet Finkel and Annie Appel would like to thank Susie Miller, Theresa and Miya Farber, Donna Tourkow, Arlene Leib and Mary Wilger for their help at the Havdalah Party. The sisterhood made a nice profit and appreciates everyone who attended. Saturday November 7 th B nai Jacob will be holding an Art Auction. Information will follow at a later date. ATTENTION SISTERHOOD There will be a sisterhood meeting at the synagogue in two weeks to revamp Friday nights and Saturday Luncheons. Date of meeting will be announced soon. Thank you to Annie Appel for all The baking she did. Mazel Tov to Dan and Lisa Bradley who have moved to a new home. Contact the office if you need their new address.

5 Partaking of Parashiot Rebbitzen Penny Kornspan Feb.7, 2009/ 13 Shevat, 5769 B shalach Triennial cycle: Sh mot 14:15 16:10 Why cry out to Me? Tell the Children of Israel to go! What a beginning! Split the sea, and go is the command from Hashem. The cloud, which led them, retreated to separate between them and the Egyptians. Tactically, this allowed Moshe time to split the sea by stretching out his hand all night, so the people went forward on dry ground. G-d strengthened the resolve of the Egyptians to chase after them. By the time the Egyptians see this is a losing scheme, Moshe is commanded by Hashem to once again raise his hands over the sea so it will close over the soldiers. The carnage was visible to the people; thus they feared and believed in Hashem and his servant. The song at the sea is then sung by Moshe and B nai Yisrael. The first verses of that song end the cycle. They discuss the L-rd being strength and song. G-d is salvation and a man of war. There is a description of the battle He led and the death of the soldiers. Three types of death are described: descending as a stone, consumed as straw and sank as lead. A pausk to ponder: The L-rd is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation; this is my G-d and I will glorify Him; my father s G-d, and I will exalt Him. 15:2 Each step of the trek out of Pharaoh s domain was dramatic; even so nothing prepared them to witness this final action. The song at the sea expresses amazement and gratitude aside from the graphic recounting of events. Why is it so hard to maintain that amazement and gratitude on a daily basis? To be sure highs and lows of life offer different vantage points and we can t always be dazzled in epic modes; yet if we were to take small slices of time through out our days, we would have to confess the splendor of our Creator. Ideas to note: a project completed with ease, an unexpected hug, coffee at the perfect temperature, getting green lights when you are running late, getting red lights when you are late to make you think. What ideas do you have? When we see G-d in all things, all things become extra ordinary. Feb.14, 2009/ 20 Shevat, 5769 Yitro Triennial cycle: Sh mot 19:1 20:23 Three months have passed since leaving Egypt, and now we are at Sinai. Moshe went up the mount to speak with Hashem, where he is told to deliver the following message to B nai Yisrael. I brought you to Myself and if you keep My covenant you will be a treasure and a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The response is that the people will do what is asked, and upon Moshe returning their response, Hashem says He will allow the people to hear His voice. Preparations take place to receive the Eternal, and a warning is issued not to trespass beyond certain points. A great spectacle took place as the time neared for the Aseret Hadibrot to be given. Hashem tells Moshe to descend the mount again to warn the people about walking on the mount. The next fourteen verses are the Aseret Hadibrot. The people are afraid of hearing the voice of G-d and suggest that Moshe should relay the information to them. A few more commands regarding idols and altars are given, along with the promise that Hashem would be with them and bless them. A pausk to ponder: Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy 20: 8-11 What starts in this pasuk continues on in three more for a total of fifty-five words. No other command has this many words assigned to it. That information in of itself must give us an idea of the importance of this mitzvah. Every year I ask students which is the only holy day mentioned in the Ten Commandments. I get various incorrect responses. Something that comes on such a regular basis seems to have lost the glow of holiness. This is one of the greatest gifts Hakodesh Baruch Hu has given to us. An island in time, as someone called it, is ours to reflect, to pray, to commune with G-d and others. A time to experience joy on a primal level is ours if we choose it. We are seldom good to ourselves in truly wholesome ways. Most of us opt for another cookie or an extra hour of late night t.v. etc. I encourage you to indulge in Shabbat; it is a weekly respite. One our Creator knew we needed. Today, I know of

6 no one not in need of the healing power of the day. Partaking of Parashiot con t Feb. 21, 2009/ 27Shevat, 5769 Mishpatim Triennal cycle: Sh mot 22:4 23:19 Financial restitution for a variety of things is continued in this portion of the cycle. Starting with cattle grazing on another s land, to holding property for another and it becomes lost, to borrowing an animal and it dies. Comment on virgins being seduced, sorcerers, bestiality and those sacrificing to idols are next. The proper treatment of strangers, widows and orphans are laid out. A warning issued concerning the improper treatment of widows and orphans: this could cause the same fate for your own family. The proper ways to lend money and treat the poor are all topics. The first born of people and cattle have a special status with Hashem. The people are not to eat t reifah meat. Rumors are not to be spread; false testimony is decried and favoritism is not allowed. Helping your enemy is mandated in some circumstances. A second time we are told not to oppress a stranger, the Sabbatical year is instituted for fields, vineyards and olive trees. Shabbat for us as well is remembered. The shalosh regalim are to be observed, via coming before the Eternal. And the last law in this portion of the cycle: You shall not boil a kid in its mother s milk. 23:19. This portion has more laws than any other Torah portion. I have tried to give you a good synopsis of the triennial cycle. A pasuk to ponder: You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22:20 Rashi and the Ramban disagree on the interpretation of this verse. The former states we are not to vex another with something applicable to ourselves, for it can be returned in kind. Ramban joins this to vs. 21 & 22 where the widow and orphan are also mentioned crying out to G-d. He contends, as we asked for help in our suffering and Hashem brought us out of Egypt, if we cause pain and suffering to others, G-d will hear their cry and deliver them from oppression, just as He did for us in Egypt. The compassion of the Eternal is for all. We may not always see the complete picture or the final edict of proper judgment, but Ramban s words surely keep us mindful of humility. Feb. 28, 2009/ 4 Adar, 5769 Terumah Triennal cycle: Sh mot 26:1 26:30 The end of the previous sedra is Moshe ascending Mt. Sinai. Here in Terumah he is given the specifications of the Tabernacle the Children of Israel are to build. Chapter 26 begins with the color of the fabric panels, their measure and how they are to be joined. The tent over the Tabernacle is to be made of goat s hair, and this is discussed fully. Acacia wood is used for the planks. And, as above, the specifications are given for their use. The last description is of the bars that hold the planks together. At the end of the portion we are told the planks and the bars are to be covered with gold and the rings are made of gold. And it is to be set up as the directions shown on Mt. Sinai. A pausk to ponder: And you shall raise up the Tabernacle according to the manner of it that you were shown on the mountain. 26:30 There is much discussion in the Mishna and Beraitot* regarding assembling the Mishkan.* In fact there are many differences of opinion on these matters, because the Torah does not spell out fully all the details; rather, it says, according to the manner you were shown That leaves room for the discussion of the unknown, which we tend to enjoy vastly. But why was that information left out? Perhaps it was too intricate. Perhaps once the original was built it was not to be duplicated. One view is that Moshe alone raised the Mishkan, so there was no need to repeat the critical facts. What do you think is the reason we aren t supplied with the info? One more thought I d like you to entertain is that all the wood was to be covered in gold. (v. 29) Compare the wood to our souls, our G-d connection. Compare the gold to our good deeds, our continued contribution to this world. When we combine together in some hidden fashion to create a people and a better world, what an incredible people with inconceivable possibility for good lay at our feet!

7 Mishna - early teachings of our sages collected by Rabbi Y huda HaNasi Beraitot -early teachings with the same weight of Mishna but not included in his vast collection Mishkan = Sanctuary = Tabernacle Stuart Block Jacob Bussell Jonathon Brateman Yitro Mishpatim Terumah February Birthdays 1 Jeff Shulkin 5 Bea Ochstein 6 Etta Gepsman 6 Joey Goltz 10 Joshua Friedman 12 Kathy Stoller 14 Steve Crell 14 Rabbi Kornspan 15 Rachel Wyman 15 Amir Ben- Yehoshua 17 Margot Krel 21 Aliza Tourkow- Rosoff 22 Hugo Kahn 25 Arthur Perlman 27 Andrew Sarratore FebruaryAnniversaries 5 Dave and Carolyn Current 14 Jerry and Sue Pownall 17 Marc Nusholtz and Mary Wilger 18 Dan and Beth Zweig Bar/Bat Mitzvah Anniversaries Susan Moyer Rabbi Mitchell Kornspan Robin Schneider Beshallach Yitro Yitro February Congregational Donations Building Fund Thank you to all the community who helped with the Shomrim and the minyans after the loss of my lovely wife Rosalie Becker Franck Hagendorf Rabbi Discretionary Fund Thank you to Rabbi Kornspan for everything he did for Rosalie Becker and Franck Hagendorf Franck Hagendorf In honor of the 4 th anniversary of Rabbi Kornspan at B nai Jacob and for the delicious Shabbat Dinner prepared by Rebbitzen Penny Kornspan Bee Siegel In appreciation of Rabbi Kornspan Marcia, Dennis and Orin Reynolds In honor of Rabbi & Rebbitzen Kornspan Bobb Mark Kiddush Fund Thank you to sisterhood for all they did for Rosalie Becker and Franck Hagendorf Franck Hagendorf In memory of Pauline Brateman Mr. & Mrs. Adolph Brateman In memory of Samuel Finkelstein Helena Finkelstein David Siegel Memorial Fund In beloved memory of Nathan Bialick (father) and Fannie Siegel (mother- in- law) Bee Siegel Torah Maintenance Fund In appreciation and happy birthday to Pam Friedman for the many Haftarah readings Keith Groman Simon/Hannah Crell Education Fund In memory of Julius Kaufman Crell Margot

8 Yahrzeit Fund In memory of Bunny Posner Steve Herman In memory of Dora Hyme/Sains Brad Finkel Thank you to the Chevra Kaddisha for taking care of Rosalie Becker s funeral Franck Hagendorf In memory of Edith Thomsen Kahn In memory of Samuel Finkelstein Finkelstein In memory of Pauline Brateman Brateman Helena Hugo & Lis Irving February Yahrzeits Shevat February Sylvia Brateman Clara Magazine Hyman Jerome Bass Eleanor Margolis Pearl Starr Sachsel David Baitcher Pearl Hertzman Jacob Schwartz Richard Sachsel Henri Hagendorf Yetta Falk Morris Kudysh Benjamin Kurzner Francis Sherman Helen Zaslawsky Abraham Edelman Meir Fichman Esther Garber Samuel Tillinger Louis Abraham Messe Elias Punsky Mark Merin Isadore Hersh Frank Winnick Hyman Marcus Mae Rifkin Jennie Zweig Norman Bosell Anna Perlman Manuel Babich John Schmitz Abe Ochstein Beckie Metzger Louis Scheinberg Robert Garber Jean Siegel Harriet Rudensky Aaron S. Heiligman Dorothy Moyer Ben Hersh Sadie Zinn Herman Rudensky Eunice Greenstein Molly Bleifeld Irving W. Rifkin Sol Greenberg Adar February Gertrude Kessler Jesse E. Ross Sam Pass Frieda Safirstein Theresa Perlman Pearl Leah Gladstone Fred Fidler Freida Barris Adar February Edward Brower Abraham Kritzer Alexander Welcher Max Salon Stephen Bosell Dr. Albert J. Kudysh VC Anderson If you would like to make a donation in honor/memory of someone, please fill out the form and submit it with your check to : Congregation B nai Jacob 7227 Bittersweet Moors Drive Fort Wayne, IN I have enclosed $ in honor/memory of: From: Fund Preference: Please indicate which fund you prefer to donate to: A.J. Ochstein Fund Building Fund David Siegel Memorial Fund General Fund Kiddush Fund Levy/Levin Endowment Fund Library Fund Rabbi s Discretionary Fund Seth Horwitz Education Fund

9 Congregation B nai Jacob Non Profit Organization 7227 Bittersweet Moors Drive U.S. Postage Paid Fort Wayne, IN Fort Wayne, IN (260) Permit bnaijacob@verizon.net Rabbi Mitchell Kornspan President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Recording Secretary Financial Secretary Treasurer Past President Past President Past President Board Members Donna Tourkow Arlene Leib Marc Nusholtz Pam Friedman David Miller Ron Friedman Mike Adams Dan Bradley Susie Miller Estelle Greenberg Mort Schaffer David Bussell Josh Tourkow Matt Farber Janet Finkel Paula Adams Yuval Fuchs Dan Appel Kitah Alef Rebbitzen Penny Kornspan This has been such an exciting year for kitah alef. We have spent so much of the first half of the year laying the foundation to phonetically read Hebrew. While there are many questions as to the best way to teach children Hebrew in an after school setting, the curriculum we are currently using tries to bring the best of many techniques. All three students are progressing very nicely! Probably the single largest key to success is once your child has learned to read Hebrew, read with him or her just as you would English.

10 We have spent time learning about each of the Holidays as they have occurred in the year, as well as some time philosophizing with our book I Have Some Questions About G-d. Two themes will remain constant: we will continue to learn prayers, now hopefully more through reading than through memorization. Secondly, we always look at the Torah portion of the week through a variety of methods.