E-KI June 24, 2004 Issue 25
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel
8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.887.8700
Torah Time Online Parashat Chukat Numbers 19 Judges 11
This week’s Torah portion begins with a discussion of the red heifer. Eleazar the priest must ritually slaughter the red heifer to purify those who come in contact with a corpse. This strange ritual is highlighted by commentators as an example of the type of law that cannot be explained, only upheld as a demonstration of faith.
The text then focuses on the journeys of the people of Israel. The scene skips ahead some 38 years after most of the generation of Egypt has died. We read of Miriam and Aaron’s death as well as the decree that Moses himself will not make it into the Promised Land.
The Torah portion concludes with the Israelites trying to navigate their way to the Promised Land. They ask the king of Edom to allow them to pass through his territory but he refuses. Instead they go through the Negev where they encounter the Canaanites. Later they are attacked by the Amorites. With God’s help they defeat both. In between their journeys the people again complain about food and water. They question God’s wisdom in taking them out of Egypt and wish they had been killed. God sends snakes to bite them and they repent.
The best known section of this Torah portion is of course what gets Moses in trouble. The people ask for water, God tells Moses and Aaron to assemble the people around a rock and then order the rock to give forth water. Moses strikes the rock instead. It is for this action that Moses is told he will not enter the Promised Land. I can just hear my students saying, “but I did almost what you said”, or “You can’t get mad at me for that!” His actions hardly seem to equal the punishment he is given.
Rabbi Morris Adler, a great commentator of the early 20th century and a Conservative rabbi, remarks on Moses’s punishment that it is “the subtle and intangible and impalpable corrosions” that often lead to downfall. God says that it is “because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of the Israelite people, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the land that I have given them.” The punishment not only seems overly harsh, it is vague and confusing. Was it this action or a culmination of actions? Rabbi Adler says that the punishment teaches us that great sins “are not necessarily overt, blatant, obvious; that the important failings of great leaders could be subtle yet deep, unclear yet destructive.”
How many of our greatest regrets come not from moments where we knew we were doing wrong, but from times where we crossed into too dark a shade of gray. The lesson this week is that every action matters and the way we approach every encounter matters. Life is lived in the details. It is a lesson that even Moses, our greatest leader, had to learn.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Stacy Eskovitz Rigler
P.S. Do you enjoy reading Torah Time? Consider coming to the Torah Study Havurah - a weekly Torah discussion held at 9 am on Saturday morning in the Library. It is informal, all levels of Torah students are welcome, and you can come once or on a regular basis. No RSVP needed, The Havurah meets every single week of the year, so join us!
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI
Worship & Study Opportunities This Week, Friday, June 18 — Friday, June 25 – Shabbat evening service at 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Saturday, June 26 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library; Shabbat morning service at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel, when we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Clara Lacey Reinheimer, daughter of Joan and Craig Reinheimer. In the Week Ahead, Welcome Cantor Amy Lefko—at Shabbat services on Friday, July 2, at 8:00 p.m., and throughout July and August. Saturday, July 3 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library; Shabbat morning service at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel. Sizzling Shabbat Barbecue— Come join us for a family-style barbecue, Shabbat dinner and casual summer Shabbat service on Friday evening, July 23. This event, sponsored by the KI Membership Committee, is a great time to invite prospective members to get to know our KI community. Weather permitting, we will barbeque and eat outside together around 6p.m. More details coming soon! Summer Service Schedule – Through Labor Day, Friday evening services at 8:00 p.m. in the chapel and Saturday morning services at 10:30 a.m., also in the chapel. Torah Study Havurah will also continue on Saturday mornings in the Library at 9:00 a.m. The next Upstairs Minyan is on Saturday, August 7, at 10:30 a.m. in the Library. Cultural Opportunities Israeli Scout Caravan—Return engagement in Philadelphia on Monday, June 28, at 8:00 p.m. at Gratz College—free admission. Experience Israel with a unique blend of Hebrew & English song and dance. Hosted by Gratz College Alumni Association with additional funding by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. From Emigrant to Immigrant: Reflections on Coming and Becoming — Temple Judea Museum exhibition of original artwork and archival materials through June 30, 2004. Save the Date—Jonathan Tobin, Executive Editor of Jewish Exponent, will speak on “Israel and the Media: A journalist looks at how his profession covers the Jewish state and the conflict in the Middle East” on Sunday, September 19, at 10:00 a.m. Brunch and discussion. Watch for more details. Visit Israel—Livnot U’Lehibanot program offers highly subsidized five-month program for young Jewish adults (age 20-30). Limited number of free round-trip air tickets available. September 2004 thru January 2005. No Hebrew or level of religious observance required. Funding through the Jewish Agency for Israel. More information available at 1-888-LIVNOT-0 or click on the “Five Month Program” at www.livnot.com. Cultural Council 60+ - next program in September. Preschool and Religious School Reading and Arts & Crafts Program—Jewish folktales for preschoolers through 3rd graders (with their parents) on Thursday, July 15, at 7:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, August 11 at 11:00 a.m. in the Meyers Library. Senior KIFTY Thousand-Bracelet Project—in memory of the victims of terror in Israel. Bracelets available for $5 each in the Religious School Office. Social Action Opportunities Are you Blood Type “O?” -- Our area blood bank is running low. If anyone you know is "O", please contact them about donating blood. Pikuach Nefesh- it's a mitzvah. Call 1-800-448-4543 to schedule an appointment. Do your part—register AND vote. Pennsylvania Voter Registration and Montgomery County Absentee Ballot forms now available in the Administrative Office during regular business hours. 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 during regular business hours. 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 KI family. We can’t do it without your help! It’s a great chance to share your love of KI with prospective members and meet current members as well. Contact Leza Raffel at (215) 884-6499 for further details. KI 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 KI 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 KI’s Celebration Fund underwrite our beautiful Oneg Shabbat. Contact the Administrative Office, (215) 887-8700, for further details. Sisterhood Gift Shop—Summer hours by appointment only. Call Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926 or Shirley Sivitz (215) 884-3774.
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