E-KI
June 2, 2005 Vol. II No. 22
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel
8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.887.8700
Torah Time Online
Shabbat Bemidbar – Numbers 1:1
Hosea 2:1
This week’s Torah portion emphasizes counting, numbers, camps, encampments, groupings, and formations. It is not always a real attention grabber. However, when I was reading through the text, one name among the lists in the census jumped out at me. That name was Nachshon ben Aminadav, the head of the tribe of Judah. Nachshon is a very famous character in the Midrash even though he is barely mentioned in the Torah.
According to Midrash, when the Israelites were trapped at the Red Sea with Pharaoh's army quickly approaching, Nachshon decided to take matters into his own hands and leaped into the sea. Of course, the traditional understanding of this Midrash is that we need to take action before God will help us. It is up to us to change our lives, and to change the world, with God's help.
Perhaps Nachshon didn’t jump but was pushed into the sea. In this case his fame was due to pure "dumb luck." Nachshon then becomes a reluctant hero put on a pedestal for something that he never intended to do.
I have always liked to look at Nachshon as the model of a true religious activist. He wasn't going to sit around and wait for others or even for God. He had a firm belief, but he knew that he needed to take responsibility for his actions and for his community.
Of course, it's not as simple as all that. In reality we all have the potential to be the Nachshon who leaps, but often we end up being the Nachshon who is pushed. We want to be the fearless idealist ready to jump into the water at any moment. But often we find ourselves in situations that seem not to be of our own choosing and so we are then put in a situation where we have to make a choice. Hopefully the choice will be the right one.
As we go through life we are caught between the two images of Nachshon. But the truth is that most of the time we are somewhere in between, testing the water with our toes. May the lesson of Nachson’s heroic act remind us to take the same leaps of faith in our own lives.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Peter C. Rigler
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI
Worship & Study Opportunities
This Shabbat – Friday, June 3 – Family Service at 7:15 p.m. – Teacher Appreciation Shabbat – honoring Kathy Goldenberg. Saturday, June 4 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Havurah Service at 10:30 a.m.; Morning Service at 10:30 a.m., when we will celebrate the B’not Mitzvah of Nicole Castor Hess, daughter of Wendy and Steven Hess, and Molly Jenna Levin, daughter of Mindy and Michael Levin.
In the Week Ahead – Thursday, June 9 – Open House in Blue Bell (see below). Friday, June 10 – Tot Shabbat at 6:00 p.m. Evening Service at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, June 11 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. Morning Service at 10:30 a.m., when we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Julie Elizabeth Seidman, daughter of Amy Jo Seidman and Robert Seidman. Sunday, June 12 – Consecration of Confirmands at 8:00 p.m. Monday, June 13 – Shavuot Festival and Confirmation Service at 10:30 a.m.
Coming Up – 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
KEEP KI ON THE AIR! For more than 40 years, a single fund at KI has supported our weekly Shabbat and annual High Holy Day broadcasts. With increasing broadcast costs, the Tyson Fund no longer has sufficient money to keep us on the air for long. We need your personal financial help to continue this vital service to thousand of area residents, many of whom are senior citizens and shut-ins! Send your donation to KI and note "KI Radio" on the memo line. If you want to learn more about how you could help, please call Rabbi Sussman at 215-887-8702. Many thanks for KEEPING KI ON THE AIR!
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 Wednesday, June 8, at Mondauk 5. For directions: http://www.jeffjet.com/Fields.htm Everyone is invited to come support our team.
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 at www.nashirah.org.
Cultural Council 60+ - Consul Shahar Shelef, Israeli Consul General in Philadelphia, “The Update of the Peace Process in Israel” on Thursday, June 9. Lunch at 11:30 a.m. KI member luncheon fee is $8.00 with a reservation by June 2, $10.00 for guests and member reservations after June 2. Send checks to KI, Attn: Cultural Council. Information: Doris Parker, 215-886-9267. Sponsored by the Rosenau Fund. Last meeting of the season.
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, June 23, from noon to 2:00 p.m. Program: “Medicare Changes for 2006.” For more information, reservations and transportation, contact Michele Kramer (267) 808-6264 and leave a message including your name, phone number and mailing address.
The Beauty of Holiness: Judaic Treasures – Exhibition of Judaica and Jewish art from The Leon and Julia Obermayer Collection (The Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art, Congregation Rodeph Shalom) and the Temple Judea Museum (Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel) from June 17 through August 12, 2005 at the Temple Judea Museum. Program on Friday, June 24, at 8:00 p.m. Shabbat Service at KI led by combined clergy. The exhibition will be open from 7:00 p.m. Special Oneg after the service, sponsored by The Temple Judea Museum and The Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art.
Social Action Opportunities
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 Tuesday, June 28. Info: Gladys Segal (215) 635-5815.
Adult Education
Center City Lunch ‘n’ Learn with Rabbi Lance Sussman – on Thursday, June 16, at noon at Paul Jaffe’s office. Lunch: $10. RSVP to Clergy Office (215) 887-8702. To be added to the Lunch ‘n’ Learn e-mail list, send your e-address to barbara@kenesethisrael.org.
Preschool and Religious School
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. Builders, bakers and babysitters needed. Contact Sharon Sood (215) 782-8188.
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!
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 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.
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: Sholem Asch, Salvation, the original edition, (20% longer than first presented to American audiences); Tova Mirvis, The Outside World. For children: Susan R. Topek, Israel Is, a board book illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn; Richard Goldhurst, America Is, an easy-to-read book that tells about Jews, little known and well known, from those who arrived in the United States with Columbus up to the present.