E-KI

May 13, 2004         Issue 19 

Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel 

8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027   215.887.8700    

Torah Time Online

B’har/B’chukotai, Leviticus 25:1–27:34

According to Thomas Jefferson, “The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.” Jefferson declared that our Creator endowed us with certain inalienable rights—among them life and liberty. He was inspired by the ideas of John Locke, who believed that every man was entitled to life, liberty, and property, but these concepts were by no means new. This week, in the double parashah B’har/B’chukotai, we are reminded that God gives us not only our lives, but also our freedom and our land. And we are taught a timeless lesson: in order for liberty to exist throughout the world, we must be willing to give up material goods and set free those who are beholden to us.

In B’har, we are told that once every fifty years—for the Jubilee year —we must “proclaim release” (d’ror) to all the inhabitants of the land. We are commanded to return to our original holdings and to release the land we have purchased from other Israelites. We are told to return to our families, freed from bonded servitude. The Hebrew word d’ror is often translated as “liberty” and refers specifically to freedom granted to bonded servants. So, in releasing lands that were not originally in our own care, as well as bonded servants, we are granting liberty and promoting the ideal of freedom.

Although the exact form of bonded servitude practiced in ancient Israel may not apply to us today, we can certainly recognize that many nations, including our own, and people throughout the world are plagued and enslaved by debt. Not only does debt bind individuals in servitude as they struggle to pay high interest rates, but it also binds nations in endless cycles of poverty. These are the type of bonds that can lead to economic inequality, which the Jubilee year was meant to prevent. A community should not remain forever torn by inequality.

We live in a land where slavery as it is commonly defined has been outlawed, but where segments of the society continue to be oppressed. In his book Godwrestling—Round 2 (Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1996), Arthur Waskow writes about a group of African Americans who gathered on the steps of the Jefferson memorial on July 4, 1976. They gathered not to celebrate our freedom but to lament those who suffer from economic injustice. One of the attendee’s held a sign saying “Proclaim Jubilee Throughout the Land.” This week’s parashah urges us to consider the plight of any oppressed people who cannot move about freely in their own land or are forced to abandon the homes of their ancestors. Without liberty or freedom, we will never see the promise of this week's parshah - to live in security and the land will not continue to yield its fruits.

 

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Stacy Eskovitz Rigler

 

UPCOMING MITZVAH DAY 2004

According to Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Union for Reform Judaism’s Religious Action Center, “It is not the study of Torah that is the essential thing, it is the doing of Torah. And, the doing of Torah means the doing of social justice. Tikkun olam, the creating of a better world, provides a powerful answer to the question of why be Jews."
            Mitzvah Day is our annual community day of service, allowing our congregation to fulfill the Jewish ideal of gemilut hasadim, doing good deeds of loving kindness. On Mitzvah Day, hundreds of our members come together to support non-profit agencies serving both our local and Jewish communities. Our congregation will participate in projects to spruce up KI. This year join us on Sunday, May 23^rd for a day of service.

The Day’s Schedule:

9:30—10:15 a.m. Religious School graduation

10:15—10:30 a.m. Mitzvah Day—Kick-off in the Sanctuary!

10:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m. Mitzvah Day activities

Projects – Sign up for as many as you want!!

10:30 a.m. to Noon

Religious School projects—each Religious School grade will be working together on a Mitzvah project from 10:30 a.m.—Noon.  Assist teachers and students with Mitzvah Day programming. Feel free to join your children! Then participate in the following activities:

KI Kitchen—Prepare food for hospices, homebound adults and homeless shelters.

Babysitting Services—Take care of babies and young children to allow parents to volunteer at other activities.

KI clean up/fix up—Assorted projects to maintain and improve KI.

Local Cleanup—Help KI clean our adopted stretch of Old York Road. Must be age 16 or older.

KI Garden—Help maintain our garden and do some planting.

KI Mitzvah Corps—Visit KI congregants in hospitals/nursing homes.

Jewish Relief Agency bringing food relief packages to needy Jewish families in the Philadelphia area.

HMS School For Cerebral Palsy—Visit with student residents.

8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Habitat for Humanity—Paint and finish the interior of a house (Please note this program is open only to those age 16+ and space is limited).

2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

KI Special Education—Assist with a project for developmentally disabled adults.

Deliveries—Drivers to drop off food, baskets, cards and projects to various agencies.

 

To register, please return the following to the Rabbinic Office:

 

Name:

Phone #:

E-mail:

Address:

First Choice

Second Choice

Third Choice

Would you be willing to be a site coordinator?

I would like to support Mitzvah Day with the following Donation. $_____________

Please make checks payable to KI and include them with your application.

 

Thank you!

 

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI

 

Worship Opportunities

Services This Week, Friday, May 14 —Tot Shabbat at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.  For pricing and reservations call the Religious School office.  Sisterhood Shabbat at 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary—Guest Cantor Mel Luterman—Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, Regional Director, PA Council, Union for Reform Judaism will speak: Women’s Wisdom and the Transformation of Traditions.  Saturday, May 15—Shabbat morning services at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel, when we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Avital Sari Sa’ad, daughter of Shelbie Sa’ad and Amnon Sa’ad; Shabbat service at 2:00 p.m. at Rydal Park. 

Services In the Week Ahead, Friday, May 21 —Shabbat evening service at 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel.  Saturday, May 22—Shabbat morning services at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel, when we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Jennifer Leigh Silow, daughter of Deenie and Gary Silow; Junior Congregation at 10:30 a.m. in the Youth Lounge; Havdalah service at 5:30 p.m., when we will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Michael Jacob Goldenberg, son of Nancy and David Goldenberg. 

Coming up:  Tuesday, May 25—Consecration of Confirmands, service at 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.  Wednesday, May 26—Shavuot service with Confirmation at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

Upcoming Holidays

Shavuot—Please join the congregation at Shavuot Services on Wednesday, May 26 at 10:30 a.m.

Cultural Opportunities

Teatime Cabaret with Sherrie Rosenblum—canceled due to death in family.

Delaware Valley Zimriyah—Regional Jewish Choral Festival on Wednesday, June 2, at  7:30 p.m. at KI.  Admission is free.

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

Adult Education & Speakers

Adult Education – Book Discussion Group—Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neal Hurston, on Wednesday, May 19, at 2:00 p.m.; Jewish Merchant Princes, Anne Edelman, on Thursday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m. Adult Education Brochure for more details.

B’nai B’rith Honors Rabbi Sussman—Tribute Brunch by York Road Wingate-Ben Gurion Unit No. 1988 on Sunday, May 16 at 10:00 a.m. at Melrose Country Club.  Invitations were mailed.

Preschool and Religious School

Brunch with the Educator—Join Rabbi Stacy Eskovitz Rigler Sunday, May 16^th at 9:30 a.m. for an informal breakfast.  She will be available to listen to any ideas and suggestions for next year as well as answer any questions about this past year.  All religious school parents are welcome.  If you know in advance you can attend, please RSVP to Fran in the school office.

Closing Community Time—Come recognize our 6th Grade students who will be promoted to the Confirmation Academy on May 23.

Confirmation—Please join us on Shavuot eve for a service of consecration for our confirmands on Tuesday, May 25 at 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, and on Wednesday, May 26, at 10:30 a.m. for the Confirmation service.

Preschool Mitzvah Crib—Please donate new baby and toddler supplies so we can help young families in need in our community.  Collection box in the preschool hallway through May 23 (Mitzvah Day).

Dorney Park Trip—Sunday, June 6, Family Day.  $35 includes transportation and entrance to the Park.  Bus leaves KI at 9 a.m. and return at 5 p.m.  For more information call the Religious School office.

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

Build New Playground at Wall Park — This project is in desperate need of volunteers—today through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Come for an hour or stay all day.  Your help is needed so the playground can be completed as planned. Everyone welcome.  No skills required.  Childcare & meals provided. Just show up or call Nomi Saunders at 215-635-3806. 

Mitzvah Day—Sunday, May 23^rd, KI’s annual community day of service allowing our congregation to fulfill the Jewish ideal of gemilut hasadim, doing good deeds of loving kindness. You can sign up to help with Religious School projects, KI Kitchen, Local Clean Up, KI Garden, KI Mitzvah Corps, Jewish Relief Agency, Habitat for Humanity, HMS School for Cerebral Palsy, or KI Special Education.

Blood Drive—In the spirit of Tikkun Olam, KI will be sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive on Mitzvah Day, Sunday, May 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., to alleviate a severe blood shortage.  Call 215-887-8700 to make an appointment.  Walk-ins are welcome.

Social Action Committee— Do you care about social justice?  Join the Social Action Committee and help shape KI’s action in the community around us. If you have ideas on how we at KI can make a difference contact Rabbi Peter Rigler through the Rabbinic Office at 215-887-8702 or rabbipcr@kenesethisrael.org  

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—Blowout Sale! -- All merchandise is on sale.  Visit us May 16 and 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to take advantage of these great prices!  Buy your Father’s Day gifts and other holiday presents.