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E-KI May 27, 2004 Issue 21
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.887.8700
Torah Time Online Parashat Naso Numbers 4 Judges 13
In recent days, we were uplifted
by our 2004 confirmation class during the festival of Shavuot. We
heard the words of the Ten Commandments and felt that we, like our
ancestors, were standing at the foot of Mt. Sinai, once more accepting
the teachings of the Torah. The Shabbat Torah portion following Shavuot
is appropriately named Naso, which means "to lift up." We should be
uplifted with a renewed spirit to dedicate ourselves to the observance
of the commandments of the Torah and to the needs of those created in
the Divine image whom we must assist.
May God bless you and keep you! These fifteen carefully crafted words have been intoned for centuries in exactly the same way that God instructs Moses to teach them to Aaron in our Torah portion. Think how many times these words have been recited to bless another person! Perhaps we take for granted the intrinsic meaning of these words of blessing, for they are used quite often in our modern practice. The blessing was originally intoned by Aaron the High Priest and later by Aaron's descendants. In a traditional service, only the Kohanim (those descended from Aaron) recite this blessing, after preparing themselves in a special way. The rabbis taught that it was the priests who were commanded to utter the blessing in order to help establish the authority of the priesthood and the centrality of the Temple. The Kohanim were not the source of the blessing but rather the conduit for the blessing. The rabbis say that only God can bless the people. Is one person holier than another? Our teachers say that everyone is holy, and no one is holier than the next person. In addition, our holiness does not replace or approximate God but rather allows us to let God into our lives so that we become a sacred vessel of God's holy gifts. Thus we are all the holy instruments of God's blessing.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Peter C.Rigler
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI
This Week, Friday, May 28 —Shabbat evening service at 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Rabbi Sussman’s sermon will be “May God Bless You: Why We Need Ritual in Our Lives.” Saturday, May 29—Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library; Shabbat morning services at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel. In the Week Ahead, Friday, June 4 —Shabbat evening service at 7:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary – Teacher Appreciation Service. Saturday, June 5 — Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library; Upstairs Minyan at 10:30 a.m. in the Library; Shabbat morning services at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel, when we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Whitney Helene Henderson, daughter of Harriet Goldstein and John Henderson; Havdalah at 5:30 p.m. in the Chapel, when we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Kelsey Kats, daughter of Marina Kats. Upcoming Holidays Enjoy your Memorial Day Holiday. The building will be closed on Sunday and Monday, May 30-31. Congregational Events Annual Meeting of the Congregation—Sunday, June 13, at 10:00 a.m. Presentation of new By-Laws and election of officers. All members of KI are urged to attend. Annual Dinner & Installation Shabbat—Dinner, Shabbat services and Installation of Officers and Trustees of the Congregation and its constituent groups — on Friday, June 18, at 6:00 p.m. Dinner is $37.50 per person. Call Administrative Office for more information (215) 887-8700. Invitations were mailed.
Cultural Opportunities Delaware Valley Zimriyah—Regional Jewish Choral Festival on Wednesday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. at KI. Admission is free. Cultural Council 60+ - Natalie Pompilio, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter, Embedded in Iraq: The Capture of Sadam Hussein, Thursday, June 10, lunch at 11:30 a.m. KI member luncheon fee is $7.00 with a reservation by June 3, $10.00 for guests and reservations after June 3. Contact Doris Parker, 215-886-9267. 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—See Adult Education Brochure for more details. Preschool and Religious School 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 (215) 887-8704. Preschool Picnic—on Thursday, June 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Alvethorpe Park. Rain location: Rothschild Auditorium.
Mitzvah Day Clothing Drive Extended -- To donate your used (clean, wearable) clothes, bring to KI by Monday, June 14. 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 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to take advantage of these great prices! Buy your Father’s Day, graduation and other holiday presents now.
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