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Torah Time Online

Exodus: Shemot

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would be as sweet.”

William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet

Exodus begins with the words Ve'eleh Shemot, "These are the names." What names are listed? Only the names of Jacob and his sons. Their wives and children are unlisted. Jacob and his sons and their families totaled a mere seventy souls who, in a relatively brief span, multiplied and prospered until the new Pharaoh "who knew not Joseph." In this atmosphere, our hero Moses is born and set afloat in the Nile. His presence looms large from the moment of his birth to his death at the end of Deuteronomy. He gets credit along with God for the Exodus from Egypt, and well he should. But, there are other heroes whose insight and bravery made possible our continued existence and liberation.

Shifrah and Puah come to mind. They were the midwives who refused to carry out Pharaoh's murderous demand to kill all male babies. Next there was Pharaoh's daughter who defied her father's decree, drew Moses out of the Nile, and raised him as her own. We do not even know her name. Then there is Yocheved, Moses's mother, who bore him in defiance of the deadly decree and who did not agree, tradition tells us, with her husband, Amram, who convinced all the Jewish males to divorce their wives and cease bearing children so as not to provide Pharaoh with further victims. We also have Miriam (here identified only as Moses' sister), whose watchful eye protects her brother, knowing he will be a great leader.

Too often our sacred texts recall only patriarchal names and patriarchal stories. We readers have been trained to pay greatest attention to the male characters it is clear that we would not exist at all were it not for the women whose bravery, insight, and faith protected, directed, and inspired us along the way.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Peter Rigler

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI

Yoga—Sundays, continuing on January 25, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Open to the congregation. No class on January 18 or February 15. $5 per session. Reservations: Religious School (215) 887-8704.

Adult Education — Survival at Auschwitz (Primo Levi), Dr. Charles Rojer, Wednesday, January 21, at 2:00 p.m. ; Women in the Prophets, Dr. Christina Ager, Sunday, January 25, at 9:45 a.m. See Adult Education Brochure for more details.

The War on Terrorism: An Assessment—Edward Turzanski, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute—Monday, January 19, at 8:00 p.m., at Adath Jeshurun, 7763 Old York Road, Elkins Park. Program co-sponsored by the Institute and A.J.

Community Martin Luther King Observance—”Building Bridges of Reconciliation,“ Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. at LaMott A.M.E. Church, 1505 W. Cheltenham Avenue, LaMott. Sponsored by the Cheltenham Area Multifaith Council. The community is welcome.

Havdalah Happening—Afternoon of interactive theater with Theater Ariel on Saturday, January 24, at 4:00 p.m. For 3rd to 6th graders, their friends and families. $8/person, maximum of $32/family. RSVP Religious School (215) 887-8704.

Toxic Pollution in the Environment: Its Effects on Our Children and Us—Brunch program on Sunday, January 25, at 10:00 a.m., at K.I. $9/person. Send checks (payable to K.I. Sisterhood) to Michele Gusdorff, 210 Waring Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027. Deadline is Friday, January 16. Sponsored by WRJ Sisterhood, Brotherhood, and K.I. Social Action Committee.

With a Pallette in the Suitcase: Immigrant Artists in the Golden Medina—Russian émigré artist Vitaly Komar will speak at opening reception of exhibition on Sunday, January 25, at 4:00 p.m., at the Temple Judea Museum.

Save the Date—Cantor Mel Luterman will join us for services on Friday, January 30.

Shabbat Service Together at Beth Sholom—Join us for Friday evening services on February 6 at 8:00 p.m. at Beth Sholom. Rabbi Sussman will speak.

Night of Jewish Learning—Sixth annual program at Gratz College on Saturday, February 7. Registration at 7:00 p.m. Havdalah at 7:30 p.m., followed by two class sessions and a coffeehouse reception featuring music by “Shir Energy.” Pre-registration is $10—$15 at the door. Register by January 30 for a chance at a prize package. Sponsored by the Kehillah of Old York Road. Registration information: (215) 635-0557.

Rabbi’s Spring Forum—Reform Judaism: A History —begins Sunday, February 22 .

Korn Memorial—Shabbat evening service on Friday, March 5, commemorating Rabbi Korn’s 25th Yahrzeit. Special appearances by Cantor Mel Luterman and the Naval Academy Choir.

K.I. Heritage trip to Italy – “Torah, Art and Opera” in Rome, Florence and Venice, July, 2004. For more information, call Fayway Travel at (215) 676-3525.

Buy a Tree for Tu B’Shevat—and support Israel. Tu B’Shevat is on February 7, 2004. Purchase trees through the Jewish National Fund at www.jnf.org or 1-888-JNF-0099.

Congregational Trip to Israel—Spring 2004. Interested? Call (215) 887-8702.

Preschool Hat & Mitten Drive— Ongoing. Please help support this drive! Drop-off basket in Preschool hallway.

Sefer Project – Please bring to K.I. new and gently used books appropriate for young readers up to 6^th grade. They will be distributed to inner city children and schools.

Sisterhood Gift Shop – Gift Certificates now available! Gift Shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday during Religious School hours and by appointment. Please call Mickie Levin (215) 698-0314 or Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926.

K.I. Outreach Committee – Are you part of an interfaith couple? Are you a Jew-by-choice? Are you a Jew-by-birth interested in relearning Jewish traditions? The K.I. Outreach Committee is interested in your participation and/or your input. Contact Sharon Buckingham (215) 885-9429.

Celebration Fund – Is there a special occasion occurring in the near future for you or a loved one? A milestone birthday? A special anniversary? Birth of a child or grandchild? Share your happiness with our congregational family. Contributions to K.I.’s Celebration Fund underwrite our beautiful Oneg Shabbat. Contact the Administrative Office, (215) 887-8700, for further details.

Shabbat Shalom Tablecloth – Join our growing list of congregants who have already added their names to our beautiful name-embroidered tablecloth. ($25/one-line name). For information, contact Babe Hernes (215) 379-5438 or Doris Parker (215) 886-9267.

	Return to KI Home Page Return to Happenings Page Weekly Services Calendar
	Links to other E-KI Updates E-KI January 16, 2004 Issue 2 Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.887.8700 Torah Time Online Exodus: Shemot “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would be as sweet.” William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet Exodus begins with the words Ve'eleh Shemot, "These are the names." What names are listed? Only the names of Jacob and his sons. Their wives and children are unlisted. Jacob and his sons and their families totaled a mere seventy souls who, in a relatively brief span, multiplied and prospered until the new Pharaoh "who knew not Joseph." In this atmosphere, our hero Moses is born and set afloat in the Nile. His presence looms large from the moment of his birth to his death at the end of Deuteronomy. He gets credit along with God for the Exodus from Egypt, and well he should. But, there are other heroes whose insight and bravery made possible our continued existence and liberation. Shifrah and Puah come to mind. They were the midwives who refused to carry out Pharaoh's murderous demand to kill all male babies. Next there was Pharaoh's daughter who defied her father's decree, drew Moses out of the Nile, and raised him as her own. We do not even know her name. Then there is Yocheved, Moses's mother, who bore him in defiance of the deadly decree and who did not agree, tradition tells us, with her husband, Amram, who convinced all the Jewish males to divorce their wives and cease bearing children so as not to provide Pharaoh with further victims. We also have Miriam (here identified only as Moses' sister), whose watchful eye protects her brother, knowing he will be a great leader. Too often our sacred texts recall only patriarchal names and patriarchal stories. We readers have been trained to pay greatest attention to the male characters it is clear that we would not exist at all were it not for the women whose bravery, insight, and faith protected, directed, and inspired us along the way. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Peter Rigler UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI Yoga—Sundays, continuing on January 25, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Open to the congregation. No class on January 18 or February 15. $5 per session. Reservations: Religious School (215) 887-8704. Adult Education — Survival at Auschwitz (Primo Levi), Dr. Charles Rojer, Wednesday, January 21, at 2:00 p.m. ; Women in the Prophets, Dr. Christina Ager, Sunday, January 25, at 9:45 a.m. See Adult Education Brochure for more details. *The War on Terrorism: An Assessment—Edward Turzanski, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute—Monday, January 19, at 8:00 p.m., at Adath Jeshurun, 7763 Old York Road, Elkins Park. Program co-sponsored by the Institute and A.J. Community Martin Luther King Observance—”Building Bridges of Reconciliation,“ Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. at LaMott A.M.E. Church, 1505 W. Cheltenham Avenue, LaMott. Sponsored by the Cheltenham Area Multifaith Council. The community is welcome. Havdalah Happening—Afternoon of interactive theater with Theater Ariel on Saturday, January 24, at 4:00 p.m. For 3rd to 6th graders, their friends and families. $8/person, maximum of $32/family. RSVP Religious School (215) 887-8704. Toxic Pollution in the Environment: Its Effects on Our Children and Us—Brunch program on Sunday, January 25, at 10:00 a.m., at K.I. $9/person. Send checks (payable to K.I. Sisterhood) to Michele Gusdorff, 210 Waring Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027. Deadline is Friday, January 16. Sponsored by WRJ Sisterhood, Brotherhood, and K.I. Social Action Committee. With a Pallette in the Suitcase: Immigrant Artists in the Golden Medina—Russian émigré artist Vitaly Komar will speak at opening reception of exhibition on Sunday, January 25, at 4:00 p.m., at the Temple Judea Museum. Save the Date—Cantor Mel Luterman will join us for services on Friday, January 30. Shabbat Service Together at Beth Sholom—Join us for Friday evening services on February 6 at 8:00 p.m. at Beth Sholom. Rabbi Sussman will speak. Night of Jewish Learning—Sixth annual program at Gratz College on Saturday, February 7. Registration at 7:00 p.m. Havdalah at 7:30 p.m., followed by two class sessions and a coffeehouse reception featuring music by “Shir Energy.” Pre-registration is $10—$15 at the door. Register by January 30 for a chance at a prize package. Sponsored by the Kehillah of Old York Road. Registration information: (215) 635-0557. Rabbi’s Spring Forum—Reform Judaism: A History —begins Sunday, February 22 . Korn Memorial—Shabbat evening service on Friday, March 5, commemorating Rabbi Korn’s 25th Yahrzeit. Special appearances by Cantor Mel Luterman and the Naval Academy Choir. K.I. Heritage trip to Italy* – “Torah, Art and Opera” in Rome, Florence and Venice, July, 2004. For more information, call Fayway Travel at (215) 676-3525. Buy a Tree for Tu B’Shevat—and support Israel. Tu B’Shevat is on February 7, 2004. Purchase trees through the Jewish National Fund at www.jnf.org or 1-888-JNF-0099. Congregational Trip to Israel—Spring 2004. Interested? Call (215) 887-8702. Preschool Hat & Mitten Drive— Ongoing. Please help support this drive! Drop-off basket in Preschool hallway. Sefer Project – Please bring to K.I. new and gently used books appropriate for young readers up to 6^th grade. They will be distributed to inner city children and schools. Sisterhood Gift Shop – Gift Certificates now available! Gift Shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday during Religious School hours and by appointment. Please call Mickie Levin (215) 698-0314 or Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926. K.I. Outreach Committee – Are you part of an interfaith couple? Are you a Jew-by-choice? Are you a Jew-by-birth interested in relearning Jewish traditions? The K.I. Outreach Committee is interested in your participation and/or your input. Contact Sharon Buckingham (215) 885-9429. Celebration Fund – Is there a special occasion occurring in the near future for you or a loved one? A milestone birthday? A special anniversary? Birth of a child or grandchild? Share your happiness with our congregational family. Contributions to K.I.’s Celebration Fund underwrite our beautiful Oneg Shabbat. Contact the Administrative Office, (215) 887-8700, for further details. Shabbat Shalom Tablecloth – Join our growing list of congregants who have already added their names to our beautiful name-embroidered tablecloth. ($25/one-line name). For information, contact Babe Hernes (215) 379-5438 or Doris Parker (215) 886-9267. This E-KI Update can be emailed to you weekly. Email your request to: kim@kenesethisrael.org We are happy to add non-members to this list as well! Note: Announcements for E-KI Must be in to the Rabbi’s office, 215-887-8702, by Monday at 12pm