E-KI
May 19, 2005 Vol. II No. 20
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel
8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.887.8700
Torah Time Online
Shabbat Behar – Leviticus 25:1 -
Jeremiah 32:6
“Proclaim Liberty throughout the land” we read this week in the book of Leviticus. The parashah focuses on the Sabbatical Year (seven-year cycle) and the Jubilee Year (50-year cycle). Both are meant to establish equality among the people. No matter how prosperous one becomes, every 50 years the wealth is redistributed and the land assigned back to the way it was given by God. Debts are forgiven; indentured servants go free.
Our tradition is not one of rituals and religious observances alone. Rather the Torah is a complex compilation of stories and laws, of commandments and constitution. Our tradition instructs us to take an active role in politics, not only for ethical and moral reasons, but for religious reasons.
The Torah imagined a civilization where Jews ruled other Jews in the land of Israel, but the principles which the Torah established for governance have become a foundation throughout the world. Our Torah is clear – no one majority should rule forever; we shall have equal distribution of wealth and power so that no portion of the population falls too low.
The Talmud, the legal tradition which follows the Torah preserves these principles. Though the Talmud is essentially a legal text, it preserves both majority and minority opinions. They appear side by side, even when a clear path is established.
These past few weeks in our country the fundamental systems of democracy are being threatened. The “nuclear option” being considered in the U.S. Senate threatens to take away the rights of the minority. No matter what your political beliefs are, surely we must all agree that we come from a tradition that values open political debate and believes in the rights of minority and majority to stand hand in hand. It is clear that Senator Spector from Pennsylvania holds an important and perhaps still undecided card in this issue. I urge you to call him in his Philadelphia (215-597-7200) or Washington (202-224-4254) office and ask him to vote “no “on the nuclear option. In this way we can stay true to our heritage and “proclaim liberty throughout the land.”
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Stacy E. Rigler
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI
Worship & Study Opportunities
This Shabbat – Friday, May 20 – Blue Jeans Shabbat at 7:00 p.m.; Sisterhood Shabbat at 8:00 p.m. Adult Choir and WRJ members will participate. Cantor Lefko will speak: “The Journey of Jewish Women’s Voices.” Saturday, May 21 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. when we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Marissa Raquel Zientek, daughter of Sheryl Hersh Zientek, z”l, and John Zientek; Service at Rydal Park at 2:00 p.m.; Havdalah Service at 5:30 p.m. when we will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Alexander Peyton Glass, son of Cathy and Steven Glass.
In the Week Ahead – Friday, May 27 – Evening Service at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 28 –Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Shabbat Havurah Service at 10:30 a.m. Participants: Judy Greenberg (English Reader), David Goldstein (Hebrew Reader), Carol Rick (D’var Torah), David Goldstein (Torah Reader).
Coming Up -- Friday, June 3—Family Service at 7:15 p.m.—Teacher Appreciation Service, honoring Kathy Goldenberg. Friday, June 10 – Tot Shabbat at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, June 12 – Consecration of Confirmands at 8:00 p.m. Monday, June 13 – Shavuot Festival and Confirmation Service at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 17 – Installation of Officers at 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 22 – Sizzlin’ Shabbat Barbecue & Service at 6:00 p.m.
Listen to Most recent Shabbat evening sermon – click on this link! http://www.kenesethisrael.org/Sermons/ShabbatService.htm
KI Blue Bell Campus
Open House – at our New KI Blue Bell Campus on Thursday, June 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 1802 Skippack Pike (St. John Lutheran Church). All KI members and prospective members are invited to celebrate!
Cultural Opportunities
KI Men’s Softball –We need you to cheer us to victory! Next game is TONIGHT, May 19, at 6:00 p.m. at Cedar Hill in Horsham. After that on Wednesday, May 25, at 6:00 p.m. at Mondauk 5. Everyone is invited to come support our team.
Movin’ Out at the Merriam Theater on Sunday, May 22. $128/person includes brunch,transportation and a seat for the 1:00 p.m. show. Send checks payable to KI (mark “WRJ Theater Trip” on the memo line and envelope) to KI. Only a couple of seats left! Questions: Barbara Bronstein (215) 673-1435.
Monthly Lunch and Learn Program for Seniors who want to continue to live vital and independent lives. Meets 4th Thursday of each month at KI. Sponsored by Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ STAR Program. Next meeting is Thursday, May 26, from noon to 2:00 p.m. Program: “Spiritual Health and Wellness.” For more information, reservations and transportation, contact Michele Kramer (267) 808-6264 and leave a message including your name, phone number and mailing address.
Ruth G. Kahn Concert: The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia – Ignat Solzhenitsyn, Music Director and Conductor, and Leila Josefowicz, violin soloist, on Saturday, June 4, at 8:00 p.m. at KI. $30 admission includes dessert reception. Send check (payable to KI) to KI, Family Concert Series. Tickets will be held at the door. Seating is limited. KI Music Arts Committee. Information: (215) 887-8700.
Nashirah, the Jewish Chorale of Greater Philadelphia – Inaugural concert on Sunday, June 5, at 3:00 p.m. at the Gershman Y (Broad & Pine Streets, Philadelphia). Robert A. M. Ross, Music Director. General Admission Tickets: Orchestra, $36; Center Balcony, $18; Side Balcony, $10. For reservations and ticket information, call Barbara Steinberg (215) 887-8702 or www.nashirah.org.
Social Action Opportunities
Help the Homeless – We can still use your help this week (through Sunday, May 22) at St. John’s Lutheran Church (Melrose Ave. & Old York Road). Contact Marjorie Curtis-Cohen (215)884-6169 or margie7610@comcast.net. Sponsored by the Interfaith Housing Alliance and the KI Social Action Committee.
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 May 24. Info: Gladys Segal (215) 635-5815.
Come for Dinner at the Pic”KI”nic—on Tuesday, May 24, from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. Barbecue supper at Alvethorpe Park. Novelty games, activity centers for children, music, and Fun Run/Walk to benefit Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Donation of $10 ($40 for a family of four or more) includes activities and all you can eat. Donation of $20 also includes a Fun Run/Walk tee shirt. Register in the Religious School Office. Info: Janet Luterman (215) 887-8704 x133.
We are looking for a Race Clock – to display at the end of our 5k run on May 24. Any suggestions about where we can borrow one? Contact Rabbi Rigler (215) 887-8702.
Adult Education
Yale Reisner – “Raising Atlantis: Restoring Jewish Memory in Poland” – on Monday, May 23, 7:45 p.m, at Gratz College (Old York Road & Melrose Avenue in Melrose Park). Reisner is Director of Ronald S. Lauder Foundation Genealogy Project at the Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw, Poland. $5 at the door. Sponsored by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia and Gratz College. Information: (610)363-7956 or JGSGP@comcast.net.
Preschool and Religious School
5th Grade Bar/Bat Mitzvah Meeting—on Sunday, May 22, at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel with Cantor Lefko.
Community Time All 6th graders will be honored at the final Community Time of this school year, on Sunday, May 22, from 11:15 a.m. to noon. The program includes the presentation of certificates for service attendance and special awards to students who participated in the Read-a-thon.
Teacher Appreciation Shabbat – on Friday, June 3, at 7:15 p.m. We will recognize all our teachers and honor Kathy Goldenberg on the eve of her retirement from the KI Preschool.
Build our new Playground – Save some time on Father’s Day weekend – Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday, June 17-19 – to complete this exciting project.
Story Hour – on Tuesday, June 21, Tuesday, July 19, and Wednesday, August 17, at 6:30 p.m. in KI’s Meyers Library. Children preschool to 3rd grade. Milk and cookies, too!
Do you have 10 minutes to Help the Religious School ? Rabbi Stacy Rigler needs individuals to answer two questions about Religious School for accreditation. Rabbi Stacy Rigler (Educator@kenesethisrael.org ).
Be an Advocate for KI! There are still limited spaces available for Religious School and Preschool for next year. If you know people who might be interested in KI, please give the name to Kathy Goldenberg at (215) 885-2425 or Rabbi Stacy Rigler at (215) 887-8704.
Announcements
KI Annual Meeting – on Wednesday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m. Election of Officers, Trustees, and select members of the Executive Committee. Presentation of programming and financial reports. Refreshments will be served.
Installation of Congregational Officers and Trustees, Constituent Group Officers – on Friday, June 17, at 8:00 p.m. at the Shabbat Evening Service. Festive Oneg to follow.
Free Tay-Sachs & Canavan Screening – during May at area locations. Information: (215) 887-0877 or ntsad@aol.com or www.tay-sachs.org. Sponsored by National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association of Delaware Valley.
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: Gloria Goldreich, That Year of Our War. For children: Alaister Cooke, Letter From America, 1946-2000