E-KI

January 29, 2004         Issue 4

 Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel

8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027   215.887.8700    

 

Torah Time Online

Parshat: Bo, Exodus 10:1-13:16

"And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days; they saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings (Exodus 10:22-23)."

The lines of Torah above are taken from the scenes of the ten plagues and in the middle of the epic story of the Exodus from Egypt of the Israelites. The midrash* suggests that the darkness found within "their dwellings" refers not to the Israelite's own dwellings but to the dwellings of the Egyptians. The commentary explains that this verse is "...to show that whenever a Jew entered [an Egyptian house during the three days of darkness], light entered with him and illuminated for him what was hidden."**

On this Shabbat I am reminded of the commentary of Menahem Mendel of Kotzk (1787-1859) who was one of the outstanding and most original leaders of the hasidic movement. He commented that, “The darkness was so dense that the people could not see one another. This is the deepest darkness of all: when people are unable to “see” one another” when they ignore the pain and struggle of others and focus solely on their selves.”

The Midrash above teaches that the Israelites had a "light they brought in with them". A thick, dark cloud of worry and uncertainty hovers over all of us at different times in our lives. The cloud sometimes makes it hard for us to see each other or to even see ourselves. How can we bring light to one another during the darkest times in our lives?  When we stand together as a community there is light that emanates from our souls and as our tradition teaches, by our light and desire for life we help others to see light.

May this Shabbat be filled with the glowing light of Shabbat rest and peace.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Peter Rigler

*MIDRASH=the classical rabbinic literature of Biblical interpretation.

**Midrash Exodus Rabbah 14, 3 as quoted in THE BOOK OF LEGENDS: SEFER HA-AGGADAH, eds., Hayim Nahman Bialik and Yehoshua Ravnitzky (New York: Schocken Books, 1992) pg. 69.

 

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI

Services This Weekend: Friday, January 30 - Shabbat evening service at 8:00 p.m. Due to weather, Guest Cantor Mel Luterman will be rescheduled. Watch for a new date, possibly in April.   Saturday, January 31 - Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library;  Mini-Minyan at 9:00 a.m. in the Youth Lounge; Junior Congregation at 10:30 a.m. in the Youth Lounge; Shabbat morning service at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel.

Yoga—Sundays in January and February (not February 15)  from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Open to the congregation.  $5/session.  Reservations:  Religious School (215) 887-8704.

Jump Rope for Heart—KIFTY program for grades 2-6, family and friends—Sunday, February 1, from noon to 2:00p.m. at K.I.

Shabbat Service Together at Beth Sholom—Join us for Friday evening services on February 6 at 8:00 p.m. at Beth Sholom.  “Faith in Song: Reflections on Shabbat Shira.”  Rabbi Sussman will speak along with a joint choir from both congregations led by Beth Sholom’s Cantor David Tilman.  Yahrzeit lists from both congregations will be read.

Services Saturday, February 7 - Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library;  Upstairs Minyan at 10:30 a.m. in the Library;  Shabbat morning service at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel.

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.

Night of Jewish Learning—”350 Years of Jewish History in the United States” at Gratz College on Saturday, February 7.  Registration at 7:00 p.m.  Havdalah at 7:30 p.m., two class sessions, coffeehouse reception — music by “Shir Energy.”  Rabbi Sussman’s class “350 Years of Anti-Semitism in America.” Pre-registration is $10—$15 at the door.  Sponsored by Kehillah of Old York Road.  Registration /information:  (215) 635-0557.

Health Forum Brunch—Physician panel followed by question & answer session on Sunday, February 8, 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 Monday, February 2.   Sponsored by WRJ Sisterhood and Brotherhood.

Piano Concert—featuring a young, pianistic phenomenon Yujia Wang, a 16 year old Curtis Institute of Music student.  The program will include works by Barber, Mozart, Schubert, and Schumann.  Sunday, February 8, at 1:00 p.m., in the Sanctuary.  $12/adult  $7/child.  Lunch (salad or pizza) $4/person.  Reservations by February 6.

Cultural Council 60+ — “An Early Look at Election 2004,” Susan Myers, Thursday, February 12, at 11:30 a.m.  Lunch—K.I. members $7 by February 5; $10 for members after February 5; guests are $10.  Send checks (payable to K.I.) to Doris Parker, 1250 Greenwood Avenue, #308, Jenkintown, PA   19046.

Tot Shabbat--Friday, February 13 at 6:00 p.m.

Center City Lunch n’Learn—with Rabbi Sussman at Marc Furman’s office on Thursday, February 19, at noon.  Reservations/information: (215) 887-8702.

Blue Jean Shabbat--Friday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m.

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

Jewish Food Festival—Cooking demonstrations and Jewish food to taste from around the world—Sunday, February 22, 11:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m. in Rothschild Auditorium. $2/person; children under three are free.  Sponsored by K.I.’s Outreach Committee.

Pages to Pirouettes — The art of storytelling set to the ballet of Don Quixote on Sunday, February 22, at 1:00 p.m. in K/G Auditorium.  $5/person before February 16; $8/person after with an opportunity to join the dancers for an interactive dance following the performance.  Information and registration:  (215) 887-8704.

Healing Service--Wednesday, February 25 at 6:15 p.m.

Adult Education—Nowhere in Africa , Bella Friesel, discussion leader, Sunday, February 29 at 3:00 p.m.  See Adult Education Brochure for more details.

Korn Memorial—Shabbat evening service on Friday, March 5, commemorating Rabbi Korn’s 25th Yahrzeit.  Special appearances by Cantor Mel Luterman and the U.S. Naval Academy Choir.  Babysitting available.  Call Rabbinic Office:  (215) 887-8702.

Congregational Retreat—weekend at Camp Harlam with Rabbis Sussman and Peter Rigler, from Friday, March 19 to Sunday, March 21.  Sponsored by K.I. Brotherhood. Contact Art Silverman for information:  (215) 6438531.

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.

Art Display—Art from Social Action Committee Contest by children in our Religious School is now on display at Barnes & Noble in Jenkintown (window facing Walgreen’s). 

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.