E-KI
March 17, 2005 Vol. II No. 11
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel
8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.887.8700
Torah Time Online
Shabbat Vayikra – Leviticus 1:1
Isaiah 43:21
This week we begin a new book in the Torah, Vayikra, or Leviticus. This book is about the duties of the priests (or Levites – thus “Leviticus”) and what it means for us to be a Holy People. This week’s portion focuses on the regular (routine?) sacrifices that the priests would be called upon to make, both for themselves and their people.
I am often struck by the appropriateness of the word “sacrifice” in a Jewish context. A sacrifice, as we all know, was an animal that the people brought to be offered up to God on their behalf. By offering this sacrifice they felt that they would somehow find favor with Adonai. In Hebrew the word for sacrifice is korban, the root meaning “to draw near;” the purpose of the sacrifice was to draw near to God.
I looked up the definition of “sacrifice” and found the following: forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim. Indeed this fits – the animals that were being sacrificed were of great value to those individuals. In an agricultural society the animals were not only their food but their livelihood. Giving them up was no small thing.
But what about our modern idea of a sacrifice?
You may know that once the Temple was destroyed, or perhaps even before that, the Jews began to substitute prayer for sacrifices. They would occur at the same times -- thus we find the words for our regular services mincha, ma’ariv, and shacharit contained in this week’s Torah portion. But rather than sacrifice animals, we might recite a description of the sacrifice from the Torah and words of prayer. So what is the sacrifice?
I believe today it is a sacrifice of time. Time is perhaps the most valued possession in our society today. Rich or poor, the gift of time is something everyone craves. Not just time – but quality time. Coming to services might be perceived to many as a sacrifice of time. Rather than going out to dinner, rather than continuing with work or school or chores or the other tasks that life demands – today we are asked to make the sacrifice of time – to put other things on hold in order to connect with our fellow Jews and with God. By doing this we can indeed still achieve the purpose of the korbanot- to draw close to the Eternal.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Stacy Eskovitz Rigler
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI
Worship & Study Opportunities
This Week – Friday, March 18 –Shabbat Evening Services at 8:00 p.m. The Westminster Conservatory Youth Chorale will premiere If Then. . . a composition by Cantor Jonathan Comisar, commissioned by KI. Listen to the Chorale singing in 2003: http://www.frankabrahams.com/Chorale/Bayom%20Hahu.mp3 Saturday, March 19 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library; Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary; Shabbat service at Rydal Park at 2:00 p.m.
In the Week Ahead – Thursday, March 24 – Brown Bag Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Purim Megillah Reading and Shpiel at 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 25 – Shabbat Evening Service at 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary – Rabbi Sussman will speak. Saturday, March 26 – Torah, Toast & Tefillah – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library; Light Breakfast at 10:00 a.m. in the lobby; Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel: D’var Torah – Karen Kelly; Torah Readers – Linda Nesvisky, Bill Levy, Karen Kelly.
Coming Up:
Friday, April 8 – Tot Shabbat at 6:00 p.m. Dinner at 6:30 p.m. - $5/children; $10/adults by April 1. $8/child; $12 adults after April 1 . Information: Fran Braslow (215) 887-8704. Friday, April 22 – Brotherhood Shabbat at 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, with guest speaker, Reverend Keith Hayward of LaMott A.M.E. Church. Passover Begins Saturday Evening, April 23.
3rd Annual Super Get Ready for Passover Day – on Sunday, April 17 at 9:30 a.m. Rabbis Sussman and Rigler will speak on the history and meaning of Passover. Cantor Lefko will teach traditional Passover songs. Parents are invited to attend workshops with their children on ways to enhance their family Seder.
Dayenu! A Family Seder—on Sunday, April 24 at 6:00 p.m. in K/G—complete Passover Seder led by Rabbi Lance Sussman and Cantor Amy Lefko. Four-course traditional kosher meal—vegetarian available. $45/adult, $25/children 14 and under. Reservations must be received by April 10. checks payable to KI Brotherhood.
Listen to Most recent Shabbat evening sermon – click on this link! http://www.kenesethisrael.org/Sermons/ShabbatService.htm
Adult Education
News from the Meyers Library— Library hours are: Sunday 9:30-12:15, Tuesday 4:30-6, Wednesday 10-3:30, and Friday before 8:00 p.m. services. (You can also visit the bookcarts at the Oneg.) For Adults: Melvyn Bragg, The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language; Michael Lerner, Healing Israel/Palestine: A Path to Peace and Reconciliation; Anne Roiphe, Married, a Fine Predicament; Joseph Heller, Portrait of an Artist as an Old Man; Thomas Friedman, Longitudes and Attitudes. For Children: Noah's Ark in Hebrew and English, by Allison Greengard; Jonah and the Great Fish, retold and illustrated by Warwick Hutton; Sammy Spider's First Purim, by Sylvia A. Rouss, illus. by Katherine J. Kahn; It Happened in Shushan: a Purim Story by Harriet K. Feder, illus. by Rosalyn Schanger; A Seder for Tu B'Shevat by Harlene Appelman, illus. by Chari McLean; Here Come the Purim Players, by Barbara Cohen. illus. by Beverly Brodsky.
“What Does It Mean to Be a Jew? What Is the Essence of Judaism” – Rabbi Ruth Sandberg. Thursday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. –
Lunch and Learn for Senior Adults –on Thursday, March 24, from noon to 2:00 p.m., at KI. Catered kosher lunch. Welcoming remarks by Rabbi Sussman. Transportation available. New monthly program of Jewish Family & Children’s Service STAR/NORC – Services to Area Residents/a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Program. No charge but reservations are required by March 16. Information/reservations – Michele Kramer (215) 673-7741 x227.
WRJ Book Review Redux – rescheduled from February 24! Rabbi Sussman will review Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America on Thursday, March 31, at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome. $3 per person. Admission for WRJ members is free. Reservations by March 24: Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926.
Caring for Ourselves, Caring for Others – Second Edna S. Tuttleman Symposium on Jewish Women on Tuesday, April 5, from 8:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Adath Israel, 250 N. Highland Road, Merion Station, PA. Keynote speaker: Dr. Terri Apter, psychologist and author. To register or for more information: www.jfcs.org/events or call (215) 732-6634. Sponsored by the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia.
Rabbi Sussman will discuss The Americanization of Ben Franklin, by Gordon S. Wood, on Thursday, April 14, at 2:00 p.m.
Aaron Lansky Speaks at KI – on Sunday, May 15, at 7:00 p.m. Save the date!
Cultural Opportunities
No Israeli Folk Dancing on March 21.
Temple Judea Museum – “Boris Schatz (1866-1932): His Circle and the Beginning of the Bezalel Art School” and “Ephraim Moses Lilien: Printmaker.” Exhibitions run through April 29.
Cooking with Andrew Schloss – Monday, March 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the K/G Kitchen. Learn how to cook like a pro! Space is limited. Advance reservations are a MUST. Send $15/person (payable to KI Sisterhood) to KI, Attn: Michele Gusdorff, 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027. RSVP by March 21 and include your phone number.
A Celestial Trio – Concert with harp, viola and flute on Sunday, April 3. Concert at 3:00 p.m. Dinner at 5:00 p.m. Adults: $30 for concert & dinner; $17.50 for concert only. Children 12 and under: $10 concert only; dinner free with paid adult. Reservations required for dinner by March 30. Send checks (payable to KI Community Concerts – Trio) to KI. Sponsored by KI Music Arts Committee in cooperation with Astral Artistic Services. Information: (215) 887-8700.
A Capitol Art Ramble – Some seats still available for (Thursday) April 7 bus trip to Harrisburg, tour of the Governor’s Mansion, Capitol Building, and John Harris Mansion. $90/person (Friends of the Temple Judea Museum) or $100 (guests and non-members of Friends). Mail checks (payable to KI, attn: A Capitol Art Ramble) to KI. Information: (215) 887-2027.
WRJ/Sisterhood Annual Interfaith Luncheon – Sounds and Songs of Our Heritage on Tuesday, April 12. Cantor Lefko will present a musical dialogue at 11:00 a.m. followed by question and answer session. Complimentary luncheon at 12:30 p.m. All neighboring churches, synagogues and KI members are invited. Reservations – Mickie Levin (215) 698-0314.
Cultural Council 60+ – Iraq: Where Do We Go from Here? Trudy Rubin of The Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday, April 14. Lunch at 11:30 a.m. KI member luncheon fee is $8.00 with a reservation by April 6, $10.00 for guests and member reservations after April 6. Send checks to KI, Attn: Cultural Council. Information: Doris Parker, 215-886-9267. Sponsored by the Rosenau Fund.
Silver Simcha – Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rabbi Sussman’s ordination and the occasion of his receiving an honorary doctorate from HUC-JIR in New York with a special Shabbat Evening Service on Friday, April 8, and a festive evening dinner and entertainment (The Savoy Company with a program of Gilbert & Sullivan) on Sunday, April 10. Proceeds will benefit the programs at KI.
Mother’s Day Brunch – sponsored by the Brotherhood on Mother’s Day, May 8, at 10:00 a.m. Cantor Amy Lefko is the guest vocalist. $10/men; $5/women. Send checks to KI, Attn: Brotherhood, 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park PA 19027. RSVP by May 3.
Movin’ Out at the Merriam Theater on Sunday, May 22. This dance musical, which won a Tony in 2003, is choreographed by Twyla Tharp and features 24 of Billy Joel’s classics. $128/person includes brunch (at KI at 10:30 a.m.), transportation (bus leaves at noon) and a seat in the orchestra for the 1:00 p.m. show. Send checks payable to WRJ (with WRJ Theater Trip on the memo line and envelope) to KI. Limited space available. Questions: Barbara Bronstein (215) 673-1435.
Preschool and Religious School
New Students - Do you know someone who might be interested in KI’s Preschool or Religious School? We are enrolling now for next year. Please contact either Kathy Goldenberg at (215) 885-2425 or Rabbi Stacy Rigler at (215) 887-8704. We are always happy to speak with and welcome prospective students and their families.
Social Action Opportunities
Mitzvah Day is coming – Save Sunday, May 1, to join your fellow KI members in serving our community. Watch for more information about mitzvah opportunities on that day.
Cook for Sharing Is Caring –Help assemble meals in the K/G kitchen for clients at Newman Senior Center (Klein Branch JCC) from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on March 29 (last Tuesday of the month). Info: Gladys Segal (215) 635-5815.
Ways To Get Involved
Shabbat Pulpit Flowers --You can now sponsor the Shabbat pulpit flowers in honor of a birthday, anniversary, baby naming, safe travel, recovery from illness, or any other happy occasion. You can also sponsor the flowers in memory of a recent passing or a Yahrzeit anniversary. An acknowledgement will be listed in the weekly Shabbat folder recognizing your generosity. Please make your check for $45.00 payable to: "WRJ Sisterhood," and mail to, Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, Attn: WRJ/Sisterhood-Pulpit Flowers. Questions: Michele Gusdorff (215) 782-1446. Your information must be received at least one week in advance to be listed in the Shabbat folder.
Membership News—KI’s Membership Committee is looking for current members to partner with our new members and help them become integrated into the KI family. This is a great chance to discuss with new members all the cultural, religious and social action opportunities available at KI. If you are interested in participating, or just want to join the Membership Committee to share your love of KI with prospective members, please call Andy Brookman at (215) 887-0777.
Sharing Our Simchas – Share your happiness with our congregational family. Consider underwriting our beautiful Oneg Shabbat. Contact the Administrative Office, (215) 887-8700, for further details.
Sisterhood Gift Shop – will be open on Sunday mornings during Religious School hours and by appointment. Call Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926 or Administrative Office (215) 887-8700.