A Pesach/Shabbat thought--Office closed, Yizkor & reminders

Reminders—

1)Tonight, Thursday is Yomtov ,as is Friday night. 

On both nights we light candles to illumine our hearts and our homes. I encourage you to light candles and to recite the following sacred words. You might pause in the glow and consider how Jewish Time is different than ordinary time.
Ba-ruch a-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olom a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tov ve-tzi-vo-nu le-had-lik ner shel (Shabbat) v’Yom Tov.

Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with the commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the(Shabbat and) Festival Day.

2)On Friday night we add the words Shabbat and sabbath in our blessings.

The Shehecheyonu blessing:

Ba-ruch a-tah Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olom she-he-che-ya-nu vi-kee-yi-ma-nu vi-hi-gee-an-u liz-man ha-zeh.
Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and let us reach this time.

3)Kiddush may be recited both nights as well. Here are the words . A link to the kiddish is available as well. 
Ba-ruch a-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam borei pri hagafen.

(http://sidduraudio.com/pesach.html)

4. The Shul office is closed tomorrow. I will be available on my cell phone for emergencies only.

  5.   Friday services are from 6:00-7:00p.m.

Saturday morning services are from 10:00 a.m. to Noon AND INCLUDE YIZKOR (approximately 11:30).

****Chametz may be eaten on Saturday night starting about 8:00p.m.

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      Yesterday our world marked the anniversary of a great diminution of light and hope. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered and his extraordinary presence was ripped away. Too many times we have all wondered how our world would be if only he had continued on with his life’s mission;  a mission which we all came to realize we all equally share. Dignity for one only exists in a world where dignity for all is demanded and preserved. This precept is reminiscent of the teaching found in Ethics of the Fathers (Make the honor of another person as precious as your own honor -Pirke Avot 2:15). Dr. King changed our world and his exceptional prophetic power concerning the needs of ensuring liberty for all people persists in our world long after the hatred and fear of James Earl Ray stole him from us. Yet, still in our own day, as pernicious as the raw hatred of Ray, is the victimization of people who may look, appear or behave differently from a norm painted by those who think too small and care too little. 

     This day as we prepare for Shabbat’s conclusion of Pesach, we are challenged to remember the glory of the Exodus; the demand of being freed from slavery is the essential and sole element for everyone to live and breathe free. Only the Absolute Creator can be served and worshiped. No human, fallible and imperfect, can possibly be viewed as better than any other. It is no wonder that Dr. King built his life’s mission upon our ancestors’ departure from Mitzrayim and summoned all in America and the world to journey along with him to the Promised Land. 

      As we prepare to conclude the Yomtov of our freedom we embrace the humanity and compassion of this quintessential Jewish holiday and pledge to share its message until Saturday night and into the next week - a week bearing Yom HaShoah on Wednesday April 11. The community-wide service, held at the Temple will be held at 7:00p.m.and will feature artwork and poetry and prose from the hands and hearts of Mobile County Middle School and High School students. To see and hear students learning the lessons of compassion and justice reassures us all in these time during which often we hear strident cruelty and offensive incitement. Please join us all and bring two Shul friends along with you to Yom HaShoah. It is necessary.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Steve Silberman

Shabbat Thoughts- Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei -5778

“In the beginning there was complete darkness. And God said let there be light.”

     Have you ever wondered about the intensity or the magnitude of the light? One might think the entire field of darkness was completely disrupted by the initial act. Or one could say that even a small light source would have altered the universe. A candle’s worth of power changes an entire room. A weak flashlight reassures a lost camper. Even a spark renders the void less intimidating. Just as the act of creation of light is instructive, so, too is the method of its being created. God creates light by using words. Speech is the greatest of all capacities for speech conveys will and intent to interact with the world.

      In this current political and social climate we experience multiple forms of darkness; darkness of the spirit brought about by the refusal to appreciate those who are different than we; darkness of the imagination by closing ourselves off to creativity, darkness of the mind by refusing to consider different options and darkness of the heart by succumbing to fear of people who are viewed as ‘other’.

      When we offer words which are constructive such as “let there be light” we join God as partners in creation. Only a few words of uplift transform a life and brighten a spirit just as only a few words of cruelty are sufficient to darken the world and to destroy a spirit. 

      This week’s Parshah of Vayakhel-Pekude concludes Exodus. We read the detailed description of the sacred furnishings which adorn the Tabernacle including the Ark, two altars and a table displaying challah.

     The Ark is of a specific size (1.5 cubits x 2.5 x 1.5).  The small altar is 1 x 1 x 2, the large altar is 5 x 5 x 3 and the challah table is 1 x 2 x 1.5.  All of the dimensions are painstakingly enumerated in the Torah. Surprisingly, though, the Menorah bears no dimensions. No furnishing of the Tent of Meeting is more present in our mind than the Menorah and no element of Jewish symbolism is more familiar. It could be a few inches or 7 feet high; large or small. Its only characteristic is the well-known detail of 7 branches. The light which came forth could be grand or subtle. Strikingly, what truly matters is not size of the light source or the intensity of the flame but the fact of its existence. Light, no matter the size, matters.

     May this Shabbat be a time of our bringing our own light into the world, emulating God by constructive speech. When each of us, followed by one neighbor and then another, initiates light through constructive words imagine how much our darkened world will be illuminated.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Steve Silberman

Shabbat Thoughts- Parshat Ki Tissa- 5778

  The Golden Calf is one of the most famous episodes in (religious) history. We carry mental images of the players; Aaron as idol maker-in-chief, absent Moses still up on the mountain, the statue itself, the rabble clamoring for a tangible god. It is a fascinating episode and every year it takes hold of us once again. Time and again we replay the captivating story with the same actors. The drama never ends- fire, smoke, betrayal, accusations, denial of responsibility- all the  makings of a good soap opera. But, every year, we fail to include one essential player as we mentally recast the scene.

      This year we need to add one more player to the mix. This year we will include the mountain itself. Bring to your mind Mt. Sinai. It’s a familiar term but we rarely consider it. The Hebrew term is HAR SINAI. Unfortunately, we English speakers are at a disadvantage when we hear HAR SINAI. HAR can literally mean ‘mountain’ or ‘mountain of’. The Hebrew term HAR SINAI can mean a mountain named Sinai or mountain of the Sinai region. If it is a specific name then we may  feel that we can specifically identify it and the mountain comes close to us, at least in our imagination. If, on the other hand, we follow the grammatical lead of the Hebrew, we are left with an unknown mountain located somewhere in a desert. Har Sinai easily yields a vague sense of anonymity. It’s just a mountain somewhere and we are left wondering where it is and what it looks like.

       Intriguingly, a train of thought within Jewish commentary focuses on this anonymity. A number of Midrashim describe the mountain as small; even trivial. More importantly, is the well-developed attitude within Jewish lore that the location of the mountain is either intentionally withheld from us or just irrelevant. Much more important are the experiences at the mountain. At the outset was to be the sharing of God’s greatest knowledge with humanity. Because our ancestors were impatient and they trivialized religion by calling for a statue to replace the L-RD they lost out on the grandest experience of all time. 

      Historians struggle to fill in the missing pieces of life. There are two well-known mountains which are suggested as being Sinai along with other possible candidates. It is noteworthy that the best-known Mt. Sinai (Jebel Musa) is identified by Christian tradition 1,500 years after Moses’s descent described in this week’s Parshah. Jewish tradition, on the other hand, has not emphasized an exact location of Mt. Sinai. The focus best lies on the heavenly opportunity to interact with the Owner of the universe and the consequences of that interaction. Har Sinai bears greater impact by its being a locus of connection between people and God than it does by being identified with specific map coordinates.

      May we each find our own spiritual connection to God and may we leave behind the need for having a tangible god or representation of 'that' place.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Steve Silberman

Parshat Emor-Naso

Torah Tidbits and Haftarah Highlights
By Rabbi Steven Silberman
( All page numbers refer to Etz Hayim)

May 5 - Parshat Emor - pp. 722 - 727
Five pages of Torah reading describe in great detail
rituals of offerings, both of animals and grains. Food
is made holy by dedicating it to God and to Kohanim.
What does the last paragraph on p. 727 (verse 22)
teach? Is there a connection between the first 5 pages
and the last verse?
Haftarat Emor - pp. 735 - 737
Ezekiel witnesses the destruction of the Temple by
Babylon. His intense hope is that the Judeans will be
free in the future and able to reestablish Temple
ritual. Restored ritual indicates political liberty and
social autonomy. The Kohanim will direct specific
details of worship. Which other duties will Kohanim
have (verse 24)? What does that convey about how
ancient Judeans viewed their religious leaders?

May 12 - Parshat Behar-Bechukotai - pp. 744 - 752
This reading bears 3 different tones. Pp. 744 - 745:
One function of the calendar is to ensure that
Israelites who are down on their luck and sell their
services to pay off debts are not abused by fellow
Israelites. Passover is a time to not take advantage of
fellow Israelites. Pp. 747 - 748: This section
describes grand divine blessings of Israelites who are
loyal to God. Pp. 749 – 752: Why does the last
section detail so many punishments and misfortunes?
Why can’t the description of punishment be as brief
as the blessings?
Haftarat Behar-Bechukotai - pp. 763 - 765
Rewards and punishments are described in the
parshah. This may be the link to the description of
guilt and sin of Israel. Note the last sentence of the
haftarah. Does it have anything to do with guilt and
sin? How?

May 19 - Parshat Bamidbar - pp. 774 - 778
The opening section details a census of the 12 tribes
encamped in a pattern. Page 778 talks about the tribe
of Levi. Why are there differences between the 12
tribes and the Levi tribe?
Haftarat Bamidbar - pp. 787 - 790
Hosea uses marital imagery to paint a picture of
Israel and its link with God. What is the tone of pp.
787 - 788 vis-a-vis the woman (Israel)? What is the
tone of the last 3 verses on p. 790? What is Hosea
trying to teach?

May 26 - Parshat Naso - pp. 796 – 805
You will see some of the most famous blessings in all
of Judaism on p. 804. What is the original context of
these words? How might you use these words? How
have these words changed over the course of
millennia? Or have they remained unchanged?
Haftarat Naso - pp. 813 - 815
In this Haftarah Samson is introduced to us because
he is a Nazir (dedicated in a special way) and the
Torah reading of the week also contains laws of
Nazir. What is the chief element of being Nazir?
Does this make sense to you? Does this fit with
ordinary Jewish life? (Hint - Think of Shabbat.)

Torah Tidbits and Haftarah Highlights By Rabbi Steven Silberman

 Torah Tidbits and Haftarah Highlights By Rabbi Steven Silberman (All page numbers refer to Etz Hayim) 

March 31 - Special Torah reading, First day of Pesach - pp. 385 - 390 
Why do we read this passage on the first day of Pesach? Do we observe any elements of this Torah reading in our own lives today?
Haftarat Pesach - March 31 – pp. 1300 - 1302
Which ritual do the People of Israel perform under Joshua’s leadership? Why? Does this surprise you?

April 7 - Special Torah Reading, Last day of Pesach - pp. 399 - 403
What is familiar to you? What have you never noticed before? (Check out p. 401, verse 5.)
Haftarat Pesach - pp. 1316 - 1319 
Why is this Haftarah, which describes David, read on Pesach? Hint: which theme is represented by the holiday of Passover? (Think about Elijah.)

April 14 - Parshat Shemini – pp. 636 - 640
Perhaps no greater symbolic element of Jewish identity exists than eating kosher food. Consider the power of voluntarily refraining from eating certain foods and pledging to remove blood from one’s diet. Kashrut is a spiritual selfdiscipline which emerges from the mindset of a people which demanded purity of the mind and focus of the heart. The many aspects of Kashrut boil (ha ha) down to three specifics - specific animals are edible, specific slaughter is required and specifics in preparation are carried out - all to establish a specific awareness of our place in the world as partners with God and animals.
Haftarat Shemini - pp. 645 – 647 
The main element of the Haftarah touches on King David’s desire to build a Temple for the Ark. Does David do so? Do you know why?

April 21 – Tazria–Metzora - pp. 658- 663 
This passage presents the strange rituals associated with perceived ‘contagions’ known as leprosy which affected woven fabrics and human skin. A ceremony was conducted by the Cohen over a person or garments. If you were afflicted with an unknown rash and a ritual leader came to your home to pray with you and to offer you support, how would you respond? Perhaps we should not look askance at every element of this ritual.
Haftarat Tazria-Metzora – pp. 676 - 678 
These lepers, seen as threatening, were kicked out of the city. How did they react to their banishment? How would you have reacted if you had been in their situation?

April 28 - Parshat Acharei Mot- Kedoshim - pp. 687 - 695
What is the link between not cursing the deaf, not taking advantage of the blind, not consuming blood, refraining from sexual contact with relatives and paying your employees on time?
Haftarat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim - pp. 707 – 708 
This is the shortest Haftarah in our cycle! Skim page 707 and ask yourself what the message is. How does it link to the Torah reading?

Shabbat thoughts- Teztaveh and Shabbat Zachor- 5778

This week is like no other in recent memory. Thousands of high school students from many and varied walks of life have propelled themselves into the nation’s limelight. No longer content to passivity, these students are marching on the halls of legislature- state and federal alike- demanding that their voices be heard. To see students , terrorized by wickedness and brutality, standing up and proclaiming the centrality of life and safety is compelling. As parent, I am both proud to witness such maturity and passion and also ashamed that we parents, as a class, have failed to protect our nation’s children. We can argue the Founding Fathers’ intent, and indeed we must structure our daily lives in accord with our Constitution but most importantly, we are the adults of America and our children are telling us we have failed them in the most important way; to preserve their safety .

     This Shabbat has two Torah readings. The ordinary Parshah is called Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10) and describes in inordinate detail the construction of the sacred altar and Aaron’s priestly garments to be used in the portable tabernacle during the Wilderness trek of the Israelites. Details matter. If one stitch is improperly sewn then the most important garment of all of Israel may fail. If one piece of sacred furniture is misaligned thousands of people will be disappointed. So too, if one detail is improperly implemented as we build our school systems our children will suffer.  

     The Second torah reading comes from Deuteronomy and is specially read because of the approaching holiday of Purim. We read it to announce the upcoming holiday and to call to mind Haman and the Persian Jews. Shortly after the Exodus from Egypt a warrior tribe named Amalek attacked the weak and defenseless Israelites who had fallen behind the main camp. Those who had no means to defend themselves were slaughtered until the main camp learned too late and finally turned about to offer assistance. The parallel to Purim and to today’s frequent school shootings is eerily obvious. 

     We are the main camp. Both the adults who make laws to govern our nation’s body ,and the adults who elect them, have not done enough to safeguard our vulnerable ones who cannot keep up with the main group. We read the section of Deuteronomy on Shabbas and we name it ZACHOR- REMEMBER. The time has come to do more than remember. The time has come to learn from our children.

May this Shabbat bring some potential to lift up the families and communities who are in torment because of school shootings.

Shalom-Rabbi Steve Silberman

Parkland Shooting- the loss of life is overwhelming! Pray for 17 infinitely precious souls and their families

( Atlanta JewishTimes  Feb. 15,2018)

The Jewish community lost at least five members in the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 14.

The Times of Israel reports that the 17 people killed included Jewish students Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, Jaime Guttenberg, 14, Meadow Pollock, 18, and Alex Schachter, 14, as well as geography teacher Scott Beigel, 35.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, a former student at Stoneman Douglas, has been charged with 17 counts of murder, NBC News reported. He is accused of attacking the high school with a semiautomatic AR-15 rifle and “countless magazines,” Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said.

Students said Cruz was someone they joked about shooting up the school someday. He made Instagram posts with weapons and reportedly created a YouTube video in which he boasted about becoming a professional school shooter; that video was reported to the FBI last year.

Cruz trained with a white supremacist group, the group’s leader said Thursday, according to Haaretz.

Camp Coleman confirmed on Facebook that Alhadeff was a Coleman alum and that other Coleman campers were at the school during the shooting. Coleman plans a virtual memorial service at 8 p.m. Thursday on its Facebook page.

“She was a very sweet camper,” Coleman Director Bobby Harris told JTA. “Her counselors always said she did exactly what she was told to do, always helped out whenever she was needed to help out. She was like an angel. She was just a bright light and was very positive.”

Ramah Darom alums also reportedly attend the high school, which serves a large Jewish community. “We are shocked and saddened to hear about today’s shooting,” Ramah Darom posted. “Our hearts and thoughts are with all who have been affected.”

The Parkland Jewish community held a healing service Wednesday night organized by Reform congregation Kol Tikvah, JTA reported.

“I am praying for all of Parkland during this dark hour. My heart is shattered by the slaughter of so many young souls,” said The Temple‘s senior rabbi, Peter Berg, a leader of Outcry: Interfaith Voices Against Gun Violence. “As faith leaders, it is our civic and religious duty to urge lawmakers to address the gun violence so that there isn’t one more life stripped away from our community. We can prevent these horrific shootings from happening again. We must pray that all lawmakers will do their jobs and pass immediate legislation to protect our communities.”

The Reform movement posted Jewish resources for families to cope with and respond to the Parkland shooting.

“The leadership of the Orthodox Union is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life yesterday. … All schools should be places where children are safe and can learn and grow without fear of harm,” Orthodox Union President Moshe Bane said in a statement issued by the OU. “Through our OU Advocacy Center we have long worked to propose and advance important and practical policies to make schools safe. We have supported federal and state funding programs for school safety, including the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.”

Knoxville Rabbi Erin Boxt, formerly with Temple Kol Emeth in East Cobb, who has longtime involvement with Camp Coleman, posted the following video on Facebook on Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his condolences before leaving for a conference in Munich: “I wish to send my deepest condolences to the families of the slain schoolchildren and teachers in the horrible massacre in Florida. I speak for the entire people of Israel when I say to the families and to the American people, our hearts are with you.”

Purim , Shabbat Thoughts- Parshat Mishpatim- 5778

** Shul Hosting Temple for Purim Extravaganza! Saturday, March 3, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wine, nosh, Klezmer band from NOLA. Please loan your costume-ables (capes ,masks,boas, anything ) and bring them to Shul beforehand. Contact Susan Sass if you have any questions.

Let's have some fun together! Let's celebrate!

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     20 years ago a creative episode of the TV show "Star Trek:The Next Generation" captured my attention. An android named Data asked ”if you prick me do I not …leak?”. The allusion to The Merchant of Venice was powerful and immediate. Within a moment I was transported to Shylock’s famous speech in the streets of Venice. Shylock challenges status quo anti- Semitism with the famous speech “Hath not a Jew eyes? …warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh?…” (Act 3, scene 1). It is masterful presentation of the sameness of all people; at least as compelling as the playground scene in the film "To Sir With Love" during which Sidney Poitier cuts his hand while deflecting a sharp can and preventing injury to a student. One student exclaims “Hey, it’s blood !” and the retort is “what did you expect ?…ink?” 

     The sameness of all people undergirds our American ideals and resonates deeply within us. From our earliest ages we insistently clamor for fairness - and although fairness for a 5-year-old is decidedly one-sided, as we mature we come to appreciate the importance of consistency. Our call for justice is rooted in the theological premise that all are created equal.

     In this week’s Torah Reading, named Mishpatim, 53 different mitzvot are enumerated. More than any other Parshah, Mishpatim constrains our behavior. From prevention of child cruelty to protection against animal suffering, to prohibiting the charging of interest by Israelite towards Israelite and preserving rights of migrants, this Parshah repeatedly blasts forth calls for societal justice. It is this Parshah which famously contains  “ a soul for a soul, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”( Exodus 21:23-25).

      We would likely agree that a demand for removing one organ or limb from an offender does not remedy the injury done to the victim.  While It is impossible to know if this law was actually carried out in the days of Torah, the overwhelming attitude for the past two millennia has been that the only way to be consistent in justice is to develop formulae for financial compensation. Lost wages, humiliation, medical bills, pain and the actual damage are the five categories of damages developed by the Mishnah; each with governing formulae for the sake of eliminating a seemingly bloodthirsty system of vengeance which, left unchecked, would wreak havoc upon our people. In effect, the concern for compassion and fairness wrote literal implementation of ‘eye of eye’ out of existence.

      Ironically, or perhaps, maliciously, Shylock is crafted as greedy and cruel based upon his demand for exacting justice which is associated with a narrow and pecuniary reading of Torah. That our Jewish leaders developed loopholes to eliminate such practices 1,500 years before Shakespeare walked this earth is much grander than poetry and irony.

       May we continue to learn and study our Jewish tradition in order to better understand and share it, dispelling false allegations and promoting justice and compassion.

Shabbat Thoughts - Parshat Yitro -10 Statements (not commandments)- Tot Shabbat

 “Once in a blue moon” actually refers to 2 full moons in one month but its usage in common parlance is much broader and describes a rare event. Who would have thought that we Mobilians would experience winter so extremely just last month?  To close school and to see businesses and daily life brought to a standstill is certainly rare. We might expect such during Hurricane season but not due to snow and ice. We will be talking about this for years to come- especially the kids who will be hoping for future school closures; likely to be disappointed.

     Last night’s full moon, coinciding with Tu Bishvat, announced the holiday which celebrates the renewal of the trees as winter begins to subside and spring, hopefully, approaches. Originally, a temporal signpost in ancient Israel to anticipate the arrival of spring, Tu Bishvat, gained prominence about 500 years ago. Mystics in the northern and mountainous Israeli city of Tzfat who contended with snow and cold winds eagerly looked forward to warming weather and created the new ritual of the Tu Bishvat Seder which included drinking various wines, eating fruits and singing songs and saying prayers themed of rebirth and renewal.  On various occasions we have held a Tu Bishvat Seder. This year we are marking Tu Bishvat differently. Our younger Religious School students will be planting flowers on the Shul campus on Sunday Feb. 4 if the weather complies. All Shul members are welcome to join us. ( If it it is too rainy we will meet inside for other Tu Bishvat planting activities). Please feel free to join us on Sunday Feb. 4 from 10:00 a.m. -Noon.

     Many people consider Tu Bishvat a child’s holiday and fail to appreciate its value for adults. At a time during which climate change is ever more important and pollution is an issue of grave social concern, we Jews can point to an ancient holiday which bears a mighty message. To plant trees for the sake of strengthening our world, to celebrate the role of fruits and beverages in our lives and to appreciate the significance of the seasons through the lens of prayer are deeply compelling.  Packaging environmental concern within a mystical holiday whose chief expression is enjoying food is quite sophisticated. Luckily for us, the holiday of Tu Bishvat is not as rare as blue moons and we are able to enjoy it annually.

     Just as the holidays return to us every year so, too, does the Torah reading. This week’s Parshah is Yitro and contains not only the TEN GREAT STATEMENTS but also constructive criticism of the managerial style of Moses, offered by his father-in-law, the Parsha’s namesake. Strikingly, the Torah reading of the week is named after a Midianite. While the obvious reason for this naming is the fact that Yitro is the first major word in the opening sentence, I am fond of saying that the contributions to Israelite life by a non-Israelite are so dramatic that a Torah reading was named after him. In our own lives, we too, can grow in understanding by listening to all of the people who are part of our lives, regardless of being Israelite or not, when they are devoted to principles of  monotheism, justice,integrity, love and honor. May we all grow in wisdom and perspective.

       Shabbat Shalom.

On Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr.'s Birthday

 Thrice daily I recite prayers. I open my Hebrew prayer book known as the Siddur and I recite ancient words, attaching myself to generations and centuries of people who walked this earth before me. Every day I call out a prayer for healing for all the members of Ahavas Chesed.  This is a fairly recent practice on my part. Just over the past few years have I adopted the act of reciting the names associated with Torah reading and Misheberach- not because it is traditional but because I feel compelled to pray alongside all those whom are in need of support. I pray with all of those who are ill and their families; ‘let their ailments subside and their hope grow -knowing they are loved and cherished in this word and in the  reality far beyond this one.’ 
      Some days I pause and I meditate about my own family and its needs. On other occasions I pray in response to the goings-on within Mobile. There are days when my prayers are filled with joy and there are moments when my heart is heavy. Still and all, I don tallis and tefillin every weekday morning  and daven Mincha and Maariv and open my Siddur–calling out to the force beyond the universe and whispering to my own inner ear. 
     This morning, on Martin Luther King Day, while meditating upon the short prayer “Blessed are you God who has made me free” I have been repeatedly lost in thought over my then 14-year-old grandfather who immigrated from Russia in 1910. Speaking Russian and Yiddish he arrived on these shores and learned English just in time to return to France as a  G.I. in World War I. Returning to the States he met and married my grandmother and settled in High Point, North Carolina. How could he have known that someday his nine grandchildren would include self-made entrepreneurs, a teacher, a scientist, a psychologist, 2 doctors and a rabbi? How could he have ever anticipated that some day there would be 22 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren all making a mark in this world and on this society because he had been courageous enough to sail alone across the ocean as a (probably terrified) illiterate 14-year-old? 
     Each of us has a story; a story of arrival amidst fear and celebrations borne out of desperately hard work and a conviction to survive and to contribute. We commemorate the transformation of our America this day - a transformation due to uncountable thousands of people of all skin colors and creeds inspired by Dr. King who in turn was largely inspired by his and our beloved Torah as well as his own venerated Christian Scripture.  There is yet work to be done- to persuade people at all levels of our society that when we promote the flourishing of the individual, our nation will flourish and grow; when we strengthen the legal immigrant and the suffering refugee and foster his and her involvement in our country the entirety of our nation will reap the rewards years and generations later.

      That is a dream that perhaps my Poppa (Isaac Letevsky- Edward Leyton) might never have been able to put into words or maybe he could have - but now it is my honor to do so.

Shalom, Rabbi Steven Silberman ( HaRav Melech ben HaRav Chayim v’ Temma, neched 

Shabbat Thoughts-Temple Scholar-in-Residence- Parshat Va-era-5778

 Please remember that the Shul has been invited to attend the Temple Scholar-in-Residence weekend.
*Friday, January 12 - 6:00 p.m.
Shabbat Evening Service
with the Congregational Choir

Rabbi David Frankel, PhD will speak after service on
"When God Fought the Monster of the Sea - Mythological
Traditions and Their Transformation in the Bible and Midrash"

*Saturday, January 13
10:00 a.m. - Coffee & Doughnuts
12:00 p.m. -  Temple Anniversary Service
                          with the Congregational Choir

Guests:  Congregation Beth-El
After service Dr. David Frankel will speak on
"What Really Happened in the Garden of Eden"

**“Does the Hebrew Bible Foretell the Story of Jesus?  Jewish-Christian Polemics in the Middle Ages” - Saturday, January 13, 2018, 3:00 p.m., in partnership with the Christian-Jewish Dialogue - What are some of the classic arguments for a Christian reading of the Hebrew Bible?  How did the Jews of the Middle Ages respond to these arguments?  And how might Jews and Christians move beyond these polemics to a more fruitful form of dialogue today?
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     Some of us view God as Father and some of us view God as Creator. Some think of God as an old man with a long beard perhaps sitting on a cloud or mountaintop and others might think of God as beautiful aspects of nature. For some, God is the power of love; or perhaps the source of internal strength and resilience to withstand adversity. Early Genesis describes God as giver of life and maker of families, even as for some moderns God is definitely ‘seen’  or ‘felt’ and by others God is ‘known’.
     What we all have in common is the perspective that each of us individually chooses to understand God; an absence of belief in God reflects personal choice too. Freedom to think and feel is the essential foundational element in broaching the subject of belief.
     Imagine being raised as a child without any introduction to  God.  Some people may be uncertain as to their own perspectives concerning God and, as many of us do when confronting  difficult subjects, avoid the topic with the intent of “talking about it later”. It is a disservice to avoid bringing God into daily life. Rather than avoiding God because it’s hard we would be better served if we engaged in thoughtful discourse and struggled with one of the most pressing core elements of the human condition; how do I experience ultimate value in life?
     You might be surprised to consider that Moses may not have been exposed to ideas of God in his early years. Remembering that he was raised in Pharaoh’s household until he fled Egypt casts Moses in a different light. Likely, he did not see God as real until he experienced God at a much later point in his life. Only after Moses fled his native land while running for his life, serving as a shepherd to wed his wife, becoming a husband, father and son-in-law and contending with living as a stranger in a foreign society, did Moses encounter God at the Burning Bush. Living the comfortable status quo of a prince, Moshe did not know God. Like those of us who choose to look the other way Moses had looked the other way, or had perhaps intended to”talk about it later”,  potentially not taking seriously a belief in God. Could it be that his awareness of the Holy Creator of Everything came about because his life had not turned out the way he had expected?
       In this week’s Parshah, God informs Moses of God’s own mysterious name- the name none of us knows how to pronounce- the name we traditionally refer to as a noun which, over centuries, has become more than a nickname. Some of us are familiar with HaShem ( literally the Hebrew word for “the Name”) as a substitute for the unpronounceable identifier for God.
       Intriguingly, God introduces Godself ( Exodus 6:4-7) with four Hebrew letters which might be a condensed version of “was, am, will be.” Giving a nod to Stephen Hawking or to Albert Einstein, God’s name could be an attempt to summarize all aspects of time itself-the Past, the Present and the Future. God is the ultimate of all time and all Time beyond time.
       Just after God announces this special 4-letter code word, God promises that all of Israel will go free. God’s name becomes a mission code for the Exodus. God’s identity becomes expressed in the struggle for freedom which will demand great sacrifice and effort, appreciated by young and old alike - but appreciated differently by women, men, girls, boys, nursing mothers and elderly, shepherd and artisan, leader and commoner. In other words - God is different for any and all who choose to bring God into their minds and hearts; just as each of us views God differently. 
This week may we all open our minds just as Moses did.

Shabbat Shalom.

Shabbat Thoughts-Parsaht Vayigash-5778

Chanukah has departed. As we begin to clean up the wax and put our Menorot away,  I imagine that we are still seeing the bright glow of flames in our mind’s eye. For eight nights we kindled flames in the manner of 2,200 years of tradition. Any passerby has been prompted to ask “What are those flames?” and “What is Hanukkah?”.  We all know the Hasmoneans put themselves in great danger in order that their descendants be free to live as Jews. Now, as we share the last remaining gelt with any chocolate-lovers, we look forward in time with the hope that all people will be able to live in freedom. Chanukah epitomizes our fundamental value that everyone be able to celebrate the greatest of human aspirations; freedom. 

      Tomorrow, the Shabbat associated with a well-known confrontation between brothers, begins. Parshat Vayigash is as famous as any holiday reunion. Just as you and I are are well- aware of tensions which may occur as many different relatives gather around holiday tables, so, too, do we remember that Judah was the mastermind of originally selling Joseph as a slave to a caravan bound for Egypt. If not for Judah’s initiative, Joseph might have died in the wilderness. On the other hand he may have been able to escape from his brothers and return home.

      20 years later Judah and ten brothers are standing before Joseph and are, in effect, slaves to him. The turnabout is stark.  If you were Joseph how would you react to Judah’s offer to voluntarily accept a life of slavery in order that Benjamin be allowed to return home?  Perhaps it is this selfless act of concern, both for brother Benjamin and for father Jacob who may die of a broken heart if Benjamin goes missing, that eventually breaks down Joseph’s resolve.

       Each family has its own dynamic. Every family bears its own twists and turns. Joseph and Judah made choices 20 years ago. How they will interact now, decades after their last hostile encounter, will be dependent upon how they view the future and the present. May we learn life lessons from our ancestors, both from recent generations and from those who lived during the days of Torah. May we make our future a time of freedom and peace for our families and for each other.

Shabbat Shalom.

Happy 8th night of Chanukah -5778

 In a few hours we will kindle our 8 candles. Joyous Chanukah is in full swing and now we reflect upon all that we have shared and learned over this past week. Chanukah, our Jewish holiday, is the first recorded war fought for religious freedom, a lesson for any freedom-loving community. Miracles abound; the oil lasted for an extra 7 days, the Hasmoneans FOUND the oil, the Hasmoneans triumphed over a superior foe, Jewish people looked inside themselves and found a special reserve of courage and were willing to enter into combat for the sake of making better future for their children. Let us not forget that Israel, known by the name JUDEA, was a small state and completely under the power of the Greek- speaking Syrians. We must remember that after the battles of Chanukah, Judea came into its own as an independent state and Jews lived freely for 80-100 years. Gradually, Roman influence began to increase throughout the Middle East and eventually Judea succumbed to Roman control. The fact remains the Judeans were independent for about 3 generations. Independence of a small nation for even this brief period of time should be added to the list of ancient miracles. In our own lifetime we have seen a free Israel emerge.  This upcoming April 18( 5 Iyyar 5778) we mark the 70th anniversary of Israel’s life. 

        We can never take Israel for granted and we must appreciate the significance of a free, democratic, modern Jewish homeland. Tonight, as we light our candles, say a special blessing of gratitude for our homeland's being free.

        Click on the attached link and enjoy some Israeli Chanukah experiences. Enjoy a view from above the Kotel and imagine seeing a ChanukIAH made out of torches.

https://www.itraveljerusalem. com/article/hanukkah-in- jerusalem/

Happy Chanukah and may we all continue to celebrate!

Chanukah-5778- 7th Night

Uh-oh; there's a Chanukah menorah here in the social hall. One of you must have left it here last night while lighting with all who joined us for the Chanukah party. Please contact me so that you can retrieve your menorah. Nobody wants to lose an important object. In fact returning missing items is an important part of Jewish law, dating back to the Torah itself.  Missing items must be returned out of respect to the original owner. Since all people are to be treated with respect, all missing objects are to be returned whenever possible. 
     By the way, it’s  the 7th night of Chanukah. We have spoken of the beauty of light, of the Messiah’s arrival, of recognizing our soldiers, the importance of singing and celebrating and the essential need of remembering the value of dedication. What is missing from this week’s series of Chanukah messages? What could round out Chanukah for 5778? To attend to people who are not here. There are people who are missing from our community mindset- people who may be unable to attend gatherings for a variety of reasons or people who may not be able to light candles because they cannot afford them. Tonight we pledge to incorporate Tzedakah into our Chanukah awareness. Tzedakah comes in many forms. Reach out to someone whom you have not seen recently. Make a visit or a phone call or invite someone to join you for a meal. Offer a Chanukah donation to a Jewish organization. Without our thinking of others who are ‘missing’ from our lives, our tables ,our Shul, we will not be able to return to whom we truly are.


*An inspirational fund which does amazing work is the Good People Fund.
Please click on the following link. Scroll through the link for 5 minutes and you will be blown away by the caring people changing our world.
Please consider making a Chanukah gift to the world.

https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/personal-giving-tikkun-olam/program-area/

Our tzedakah will support Animal- Assisted therapy, children with cancer, caregivers who deal with loved ones suffering with Dementia, 40 different programs fighting Hunger in USA and Israel, the list goes on and on….

May this Chanukah add light and meaning to our upcoming 2018. May we make 2018 a year of 2000 + Chai.

Happy Chanukah and Shabbat Shalom

Tonight we light the 4th flame. I picture a Chanukah Menorah, named Chanukiah, half-full with candles standing straight and tall. The flames are chasing away more and more darkness. The room is becoming brighter. Tall and straight in a row as if at attention-like soldiers. The fight for freedom demanded courageous response by the ancient Hasmoneans. Warriors on our behalf in ancient times safeguarded our lives. In our modern lives our servicemen and servicewomen place themselves in hazardous circumstances to secure our lives and well-being. As a Shul we remember Alex Lichtenfeld, Jake Treichel, Dan Feirman and Lydia Losch ( and if there are any active or reserve duty personnel in any branch whom I have unintentionally excluded,I apologize and request your forbearance…and request that you contact me). And we in our lives today owe a great debt to our soldiers and sailors. Tonight, as we all kindle our flames ,say a prayer for the safety of all our armed forces and take stock of the blessings we have by living in a land safeguarded by our military services.
Happy Chanukah and Shabbat Shalom.

      ** P.S. We light Chanukah candles first and then Shabbas candles. If we light Shabbas candles then Shabbas has started and we cannot
 light Chanukah flames. 
Remember the order- Chanukah flames first and then Shabbas candles.

On Saturday night we say...

Shabbas has just ended. We kindled  a Havdalah candle- a candle of 2,4,6 or more braided wicks; a beautiful candle to accompany the arrival of the new week. Elijah (Eliyahu) the prophet, the harbinger of the Messiah, arrives at this moment. The beautiful and twisted candle serves to symbolically beautify our new week, our threshold of time wherein we anticipate the more beautiful experience of a week blessed with the potential of peace for all. May the Chanukah flames we are kindling just after the Havdalah candle go further to beautify our week and may the promise of a Messiah-present week be clearer and brighter for us and for everyone.
Shavua tov( Have a good week and Happy Chanukah)!

Rabbi Steve Silberman

Happy Chanukah -5778

Last night one lone candle sat upon my table and yours as well.  Manette and I lighted our Menorot late- against the dark night we saw two small flames -barely making a dent in the evening and the world. Tonight will bring two flames each into our world and the dark sky…a doubling of our impact and effect. Imagine our individual acts of kindness- one person’s patience or generosity against a bleak expanse of exhaustively frustrating news. And yet, the next day if each of us doubled her or his acts of courtesy, friendship and support- what an impact our actions would have. Tonight ,as you light two flames and you double your impact on our world consider how significant your touch will be upon others when you double your output of love and kindness.
Happy Chanukah! Rabbi Steve Silberman