E-KI

April 1, 2004         Issue 13

 

Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel

 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027   215.887.8700    

 

Torah Time Online

Parsha Tzav Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Life is lived in the details.  This idea is one of my favorite truisms.  Perhaps it is because I tend to micro-manage, or perhaps it is because I understand the power of a missed phone call or a simple hello.  Whatever the reason, I am often more fascinated by the leaves of a tree than the entire forest.  I think this is why I am intrigued by the Torah portions at the beginning of the book of Leviticus.  Some may find them confusing and irrelevant, detailing which animals should be killed when on the altar and where you should sprinkle the blood, and how you should eat the meat.  But in between these often disgusting details lie deep and profound messages about the sanctity of life and the power of ritual.

            For example, in this week’s parsha, tzav, we find a detailed account of how the priests, the sons of Aaron, officiated at the Temple.  The portion begins with a description of the different types of daily offerings and then turns to how the priests should clean up from those offerings.  Since all offerings to God were sacred, each morning the priests were required to take off the specific clothing that they wore in the Temple and change clothes.  They were then told to bring the ashes from the previous day outside the camp to a pure place.  Therefore the first act of a priest every morning was to take a walk through the camp in ordinary clothes.  One could imagine the priests meeting and speaking with the townspeople on their way there and back.  Once he returned he would redress, putting on a special belt, an outside cover, a breast plate and a crown. 

            What profound message can we take from this ritual you may ask? The lesson lies in preserving the past.  Each day the priest takes special care to take yesterday’s ashes to a sacred place.  By treating the events of yesterday with sacred care they give honor to what came before them.  This tradition continued long after the Temple was destroyed.  To link the synagogue observance to the original Temple observance the rabbis tried to use symbolic rituals.  One example of this is the way our Torah scrolls are decorated.  Their decorations bear the same name and style as the priestly dress.  Our Torah has a special belt, an outside cover, a breast plate and a crown.  So let this be our lesson.  As we at KI move toward the future, may we always remember to treat those rituals and individuals who came before us with special care and the sacred honor that they deserve.

 

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Stacy Eskovitz Rigler

 

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI

 

Note:  Announcements for the next Shabbat folder must be submitted to the Rabbis’ Office by thursday, March 4, at 10:00 a.m.

Worship Opportunities

 

Services This Week, Friday, April 2 - Family Shabbat Service at 7:15 p.m. in the Chapel.    Saturday, April 3 - Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library;  Shabbat morning service at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel.   Monday, April 5—Seder at home; Tuesday, April 6—Passover service at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel; Community Seder at 6:00 p.m. in the Krauskopf/Ginsburg Auditorium.

Services In the Week Ahead, Friday, April 9—Tot Shabbat at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel; Shabbat Passover services at 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel.  Saturday, April 10—Shabbat Passover morning services at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel.  Sunday, April 11—Passover evening services at 8:00 p.m.  Monday, April 12—Passover services, at 10:30 a.m.  Yizkor memorial prayers will be recited.

Shabbat Together with Temple Beth Am — Friday, April 16, at 8:00 p.m. at K.I.  Prayers and music in anticipation of Yom HaShoah (Sunday, April 18) will be included in this joint service.  Rabbi Leib of Beth Am will give the sermon; and both Cantor Elena Zarkh and Cantorial Soloist Sherrie Rosenblum will participate in the service, along with the combined adult choirs from both congregations.  Greetings will be offered by Karen Sirota and Steven Pollack, Presidents of KI and Beth Am, respectively.  Join us for an evening of song, prayer and unity at KI.

Cantor Luterman — January appearance rescheduled for Friday, April 23.

Upcoming holidays

Congregational Seder—sponsored by the K.I. Brotherhood—Tuesday, April 6, promptly at 6:00 p.m.—$45/adult  $21/children 14 and under.  For reservations contact Rick Gusdorff at 215-782-1446 by March 29.

Cultural Opportunities

Cook for MasterWorks Preview Party— with Wendy Ward and Joan Shore in K.I.’s kitchen! We need your help to make thousands of hors d’oeuvres and pastries.  April 18-23 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Come one or come every day for some cooking fun!  Call Joan to sign up (215) 887-1763.

MasterWorks Is Coming!  Crafts and Antiques Festival —  contemporary crafts, designer furniture, antiques, clothing, and jewelry.  Preview Party on Saturday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. Special guest Robert Whitley, master craftsman, and Mira Nakashima, renowned wood crafter and daughter of George Nakashima. Hors d’oeuvres, pastries, and wine.  $25 ticket for Preview also includes admission on Sunday, April 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Monday, April 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  General admission is $8 ($6 with coupon in flyer or K.I. Bulletin).

Volunteer at MasterWorks—Teens and adults needed to work the admissions desk, cook and serve hors d’oeuvres and desserts, pour wine at the bar, and welcome guests to KI.  Information and sign-up: Lois Singer at (215) 947-5173 .

From Emigrant to Immigrant: Reflections on Coming and Becoming — Temple Judea Museum exhibition of original artwork and archival materials through June 30, 2004. 

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). 

Adult Education & Speakers

Rabbi’s K.I. Spring Forum—Reform Judaism: A History on Sunday, April 4, at 9:45 a.m. with “The New Reform Judaism.” (Last of four lectures).

Adult Education -- Do You Have to Believe in God to be Jewish?, Rabbi Ruth Sandberg, Thursday, April 15, 7:30 p.m.;  Book Discussion—The Far Euphrates, Wednesday, April 21, 2:00 p.m.; Jewish Ethics, Jeremy Goldstein, Thursday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. Adult Education Brochure for more details

Cultural Council 60+ — “Why Christian Fundamentalists Love Israel,” Nathan Field, Thursday, April 8, at 11:30 a.m.  Lunch—$10 for members and guests.  Send checks (payable to K.I.) to Doris Parker, 1250 Greenwood Avenue, #308, Jenkintown, PA   19046.

Techines: Women’s Personal Prayers— created over hundreds of years and still used today.  Study session with Rabbi Stacy Rigler on Tuesday, April 27, at 7 p.m. in the Krauskopf/Ginsburg Auditorium.  Refreshments.  Admission is free.  Sponsored by WRJ/Sisterhood.  RSVP to Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926 by April 21.

Distinguished Scholar in Residence— The 350^th Anniversary of Jewish Life in North America, Dr. Jonathan D. Sarna, Professor of  American Jewish History at Brandeis University.  Friday, April 30 through Sunday, May 2,.  Friday, April 30 at 8:00 p.m.— Brotherhood Shabbat, The Emergence of American Judaism; Saturday, May 1 at 9:00 a.m. Torah Study Havurah; Sunday, May 2 at 10:00 a.m. Brunch  ($6/person with reservation only) and at 10:30 a.m. free lecture American Judaism in the 21^st Century.  Dr. Sarna’s visit has been made possible by a generous grant from Eve Mennies in memory of Bernard Mennies.

Book Review — Good Harbor by Anita Diamant, reviewed by Dr. Irene Reiter, on Monday, May 10, at 7:00 p.m.  Dessert buffet.  Free to Sisterhood members.  $3 for guests.  RSVP to Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926 by Monday, May 3.

Books avaiable from the KI Meyers Library to borrow – Creating Lively Passover Seders: A Sourcebook of Engaging Tales, Texts and Activities by David Arnow; The Ten Commandments of Character: Essential Advice for Living an Honorable, Ethical, Honest Life by Joseph Telushkin; Illness and Health in the Jewish Tradition: Writings from the Bible to Today edited by David L. Freeman and Judith Z. Abrams.  New juvenile acquisitions – A Children’s Haggadah by Howard I. Bogot; Seder with the Animals by Howard I. Bogot; Jews in America: A Cartoon History by David Gantz.  Also wisit our KI website to find more new books.

Preschool and Religious School

Senior KIFTY Thousand-Bracelet Project—in memory of the victims of terror in Israel.  Bracelets available for $5 each at KIFTY Kafe and KIFTY Canteen.

Social Action Opportunities

Annual Interfaith Luncheon - Women, Named and Unnamed, in the Pentateuch, Rabbi Stacy Eskovitz Rigler, on Tuesday, April 20, at 11:00 a.m. at K.I.  Sponsored by the Interfaith Committee of WRJ/KI.  Community is invited.  Information & reservations:  Mickie Levin (215) 698-0314.

March for Women's Lives - Sunday, April 25 in Washington D.C.  Join the KI delegation and support freedom of choice. Strengthen the voice of the Reform Movement at this crucial time. Bus leaves KI at 6:30 a.m.  Bus leaves D.C. at 4:30 p.m. for return home.  The cost is $30.00 per person.  Contact Chantal Feinberg, Social Action Chairman, for information and reservation at 215-782-1483 or CLF7441@aol.com Register now—bus is filling up quickly!

Greeting Cards Benefit Sefer Project – Need to send a greeting card?  Isabel Hirshberg, a first grader in our religious school, has won the Social Action Art Contest and designed a greeting card, available for $5 in the Administrative Office (Religious School Office on Sunday). Each card purchased represents a donation of one new book to the Sefer (Book) Project, which provides books to children in need.   You can also help the Sefer Project by donating new and gently used children’s books.

Ways To Get Involved

We Need You - The membership committee is embarking on an ambitious quest to recruit new members to join our K.I. family. We can’t do it without your help! It’s a great chance to share your love of K.I. with prospective members and meet current members as well. Contact Leza Raffel at (215) 884-6499 for further details.

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.

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.

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.

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.  For extra Passover hours, call (215) 887-8700.