ahavattorahla.org July 28, 2018

Transcription

1 Torah: Va ethanan Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 Torah Teacher: Judith Weintraub Torah Chanters: Michael Stevens Greeter: Helene Silber A.T. Receives Rebates From Purchases Through Our Site CLICK HERE TO SHOP smile.amazon.com AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION P.O. BOX 442 SANTA MONICA, CA THIS SHABBAT Gary Levine 9:00AM Ethics/Mussar Leonard Felder, Ph.D 10:00-12:15 PM SHABBAT SERVICES 12:15 PM - Potluck Dairy Lunch 1:15 PM Social Action Committee Meeting AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION 343 South Church Lane, Los Angeles, CA (310) ONE TORAH, ONE COMMUNITY, MANY TEACHERS COMMITTED TO REPAIRING THE WORLD ahavattorahla.org July 28, 2018 Rabbi: Miriam Hamrell MHL,MAEd Cantorial Soloist: Gary Levine Associate Cantorial Soloist: Kimberly Haynes President: Michael Stevens Treasurer: Judy Kollack Secretary: Elisa Oliveras Board Members: Sophia Avants Linda Badger Barbara Burbank Vivian Gold Ben Greenberg Mary Kalifon Gary Levine Renee Schwartz Jonathan Troper Andrea Yahudian Executive Director and Newsletter Editor: Linda Badger Past Presidents Shoshi Wilchfort Judy Kollack Michael Stevens Rena Jaffe Jean Katz Ron Estroff Sid Rosenblatt Blanche Moss Ex-officio Members: Rabbi Miriam Hamrell Charles Hamrell, MD A Light Unto the Nation: Benno Elkan s Knesset Menorah with the Shema - A flaming round plaque proclaims Shema Yisrael as the beacon of hope and strength that will lead the Jewish people from the ashes of the Holocaust to a renascent state in Palestine - today called Israel. 1

2 This week s parsha is Va ethanan which in Hebrew means and I pleaded. Moses pleads with God to let him enter the Promised Land. God refuses but allows him to see the Promised Land. Moses commands the Israelites to obey and follow the laws given to them by God so that they will be worthy of the Promised Land. Moses warns the people not to worship any other gods or idols. He sets out the areas of the land that will serve as cities of refuge. Moses solemnly repeats to the new generation the covenant that defines the relationship between God and the Israelites. Moses recounts the Ten Commandments given to him at Sinai. He emphasizes the Israelites duty to love God with all their hearts, souls and might and urges them to implant in the hearts of their children this same love of God. Moses then declares the great foundation of the Torah; the oneness of God and Israel s undivided loyalty to God; the SHEMA. The Shema is the keynote of all Judaism and has been the watchword of our faith throughout the ages. Moses continues commanding the people to retell the story of the exodus from Egypt to their children and also to tell them to observe God s commandments. This parsha concludes with Moses telling the Israelites they will defeat many nations as they enter the Promised Land. God commands them to destroy the defeated people and all signs of their gods. God tells the Israelites they are his treasured people and commands them to follow His laws. Dear Friends, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER MESSAGE FROM LINDA BADGER, Executive Director This Saturday s, July 28th Early Risers Study Circle will be led by Lenny Felder, Ph.D. Please save the date August 4th as we will be celebrating Marilyn Warsofsky s 80th Birthday Our last Hartman Video Series program will be Sunday, August 12th. Jean Katz will be the facilitator. Jean has put a lot of effort into organizing this Series and I hope everyone will show their appreciation by attending. The High Holy Days are rapidly approaching Ahavat Torah s High Holy Days, Invitations have recently been mailed. If you have not received yours, or if you have any questions, please contact Linda Badger at lindabadger0713@yahoo.com or (310) Please review the flyers and calendars for further information about all of Ahavat Torah s events. 2

3 PLEASE JOIN AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION AND OUR GUEST TEACHER LEONARD FELDER, Ph.D For Our Early Risers Study Circle WHEN: THIS Saturday, July 28th, 2018 TIME: 9:00-9:50 AM WHERE: Ahavat Torah Congregation 343 S. Church Lane, LA This week s teaching will be on GAM ZU L TOVAH, EVEN THIS SHALL BE FOR GOOD. Come and enjoy You may bring a friend. 3

4 Dear AT Community, In Loving Memory As most of you know, after a short illness, our Rabbinic intern and Principal of Temple Israel of Pomona, Rabbi Florence Dann passed away on July 11. She was deeply grateful for the expressions of care, comfort, and love she received from our congregants. Many asked what they can do to honor Florence's memory. Florence's medical and final expenses as well as the previous 8 years of rabbinical studies severely cut into her financial resources. Therefore, any donation to the fund supporting her will be gratefully received. Rabbi Florence L. Dann March 27, July 11, 2018 Donations of any amount can be made through the US Cares initiative of University Synagogue in Irvine where Florence worshipped. If you wish to participate, please contact me at jaffefam5@hotmail.com and I will you directions for donating. ATTENTION MEMBERS AND FRIENDS Ahavat Torah is now registered at smile.amazon. Please register TODAY and choose Ahavat Torah as your charity. Click on: smile.amazon.com/ch/ Send this link to your family and friends and ask them to register at smile.amazon and choose Ahavat Torah Congregation. If you have any questions please call Linda Badger. Ahavat Torah Congregation is enrolled with the Ralphs Community Program. A percentage of the total cost of your purchases is donated by Ralphs to A.T. if your Ralph s card is registered. We can register your Ralph s card for you Just contact Linda Badger at lindabadger0713@yahoo.com or (310) or see Linda after services and she will register you on-line. It is a win-win way to help our community. If you registered your card last year, we need to register you again 4

5 AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION PRESENTS JUBILEE YEAR AND BEYOND A STUDY HALL FOR THE SEEKERS with facilitator Jean Katz WHEN: WHERE: SUNDAY, August 12TH, 1:30 PM Ahavat Torah Congregation 343 S. Church Lane, LA Hartman Video-Lecture #8 On Sunday, August 12, 1:30 p.m. Ahavat Torah members and guests are invited to attend the eighth and final Shalom Hartman video-lecture in the series on Israel s historic Milestones and their Meaning. This one, called The Jubilee Year and Beyond, focuses on What comes next for Israel and world Jewry. Yehuda Kurtzer, the main lecturer, reviews the historic successes of 1917, 1947, and 1967, and then asks, Where do we go from here? Should the Israelis be guided by the past understanding that the future depends on God s action or the view that we should work with the current situation, or take responsibility for a future that is different from the past and present, with more inclusion, more democracy, and peace. He uses the example of the Jubilee Year as a Biblical precedent for enacting dramatic change. There will again be a panel video of Hartman scholars debating these issues. Jean Katz will introduce the lecture and guide participants through small group discussions. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. Light Refreshments will be served. Cost per class $7.00 Please RSVP to Linda Badger at lindabadger0713@yahoo.com or (310)

6 PLEASE JOIN AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION FOR A THEATER PARTY Brilliant Performances in Entertaining ALEICHEM SHOLOM: THE WIT AND WISDOM OF SHOLOM ALEICHEM WHEN: SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 3:30 PM WHERE: SANTA MONICA PLAYHOUSE TH ST, Santa Monica PRICE: $40.00 PER TICKET (OPTIONAL DONATION APPRECIATED) Following the production will be a light supper reception and talk back with the cast and Rabbi Miriam. Sholom Aleichem is brought to life in an original musical that centers on his speaking tours.the play takes audiences along on his travels as he and his wife, Olga, travel city to city. For more information contact Shoshi or motek2222@gmail.com To RSVP please send your check made payable to Ahavat Torah Congregation Linda Badger 6 Fleet St., #102, Marina del Rey, CA

7 Please Join Us For AHAVAT TORAH S HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES 2018/5779 7

8 8

9 9

10 10

11 Dear Rabbi Miriam, AHAVAT TORAH COMMEMORATED TISHA B AV Thank you and your talented creative team for producing a beautiful and meaningful Tisha B Av service in Sybil Michelson s beautiful condominium social hall. The music led by Phil Bell, Eli Lester, Havdalah singing by Mary Kalifon and Lamentations chanting by Jonathan Troper inspired those of us who attended to think more deeply about the ancient and contemporary meaning of the destruction of the ancient Temple and of Jerusalem. Rabbi, your review of the history of the Temple destruction and rabbinic interpretations built our understanding. Terri Scrape s important discussion questions about the losses we all have experienced in our lives, some to a greater extent than others, and Leslie Tuchman s poetry relating to what happy or sad events induce us to tears filled out an evening of learning, introspection, and wide ranging discussion. Thanks to Linda Badger for managing the logistics and practical arrangements for the evening. I hope I haven t forgotten to name any of the important contributors. Today I have continued thinking about ancient and contemporary massive destruction and how people recover to build new lives in the same generation or the next one. - Love & deep appreciations, Jean Katz Thank you Sybil Michelson 11

12 LAST SHABBAT Candies were thrown to wish the couple much happiness and Simhas in the future What a pleasure it was to celebrate the engagement of Hannah Yahudian to Elijah Kagan. 12

13 AHAVAT TORAH CONGREGATION S FRIDAY NIGHT SOUL SHABBAT 13

14 14