E-KI
July 14, 2005 Vol. II No. 28
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel
8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.887.8700
Torah Time Online
Shabbat Balak – Numbers 22:2
Micah 5:6
If Donkeys Could Talk!
I’m not sure it’s the kind of thing I want to admit but when I was a kid I used to watch “Mr. Ed.” Remember Mr. Ed? He was a talking, mildly dismissive horse who often brayed his straight-laced owner’s name: Willlllllllllbur! It was in black and white and it was fun.
Mr. Ed is not the only talking horse out there. In Greek mythology, Arion, the son of Poseidon and Demeter, was a loquacious equine. Centaurs, part human, part horse, could talk and so could the Unicorn.
In this week’s Torah portion, Balak, we encounter a talking she-donkey, one of two fanciful animals in the Bible who speak. The other talking creature was the snake in the Garden of Eden.
The talking she-donkey in our portion belonged to a non-Jewish prophet, Balaam, who had been hired by a king, Balak, to curse the Jewish people. Taking his leave of King Balak, Balaam attempts to deliver his malevolent message but is initially thwarted by his “ride,” the talking donkey. The donkey is able to see obstacles along the way and tries to warn her master. But Balaam, intent on doing harm, is blinded by his mission. Sometimes, the Torah seems to be saying, we are so blinded by our obsessions we can’t even see what a beast of burden can recognize.
In the end, Balaam “eyes are opened” and he sees that the people of Israel are not a horrible lot but a fine community. In Numbers 24:5, Balaam even comes to praise, not slander, Israel. His words, “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob; your dwelling places O Israel!” are now recited as we enter a synagogue and have attracted significant musical interpretation.
Sometimes, it is hard to come to synagogue. Unfortunately, many people have had a bad synagogue experience somewhere along the way in life and going to a synagogue is a difficult, if not distasteful experience for them. They become Balaam-like and have a need to deride and defame our house of worship.
Our job as a congregation is to offer them a transformative experience so that they can join with a “reformed” Balaam, come to a new conclusion and exclaim, “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob!” after a new and more positive experience of the synagogue.
To make this happen, we need to work hard to make our synagogue a warm, welcoming place, a transformative place where hurts are healed and healing doesn’t hurt, a place to let go of anger and not a place which cultivates anger and ill will. It’s not easy, but it is important that we make our synagogues warm, inviting spaces, where we can all agree that the spiritual tents of Jacob and the sanctuaries of Israel are lovely, friendly places.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D., D.D.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI
Worship & Study Opportunities
This Shabbat - Friday, July 15 – Evening Service at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, July 16 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Shabbat Havurah Service at 10:30 a.m. English Reader – Claire Schweriner, D’var Torah – Sallie Olson; Rydal Park at 2:00 p.m.
In the Week Ahead – Friday, July 22 – Sizzlin’ Membership Shabbat Barbecue at 6:00 p.m. & Informal Service at 8:00 p.m. Invite your unafilliated friends to see the warmth and vitality of our synagogue. The BBQ is $6 for all KI members, but free to any members bringing prospective members and free to prospective members. If you are interested in helping to cook or set up for the BBQ, please contact Andy Brookman at (215)887-0777 or admbrook2002@yahoo.com.
Saturday, July 23 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Shabbat Havurah Service at 10:30 a.m.
Coming Up – Saturday, August 13 – Havdalah at the Jersey Shore – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the home of Karen and Rob Sirota. Members, prospective members and shore friends are invited for wine and hors d’oeuvres. Call KI (215) 887-8700 by Friday, August 5 to RSVP and to get directions.
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!
Preschool and Religious School
The KI Playground Needs Volunteers! We need your help to finalize the wonderful preschoool play area that you helped create! We will be working one more day, Sunday, July 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We are looking for volunteers to give as much time as they can. Although we are not offering childcare services or food, there will be great camaraderie working together and pride in our finished product! We need wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, and pitch forks for the finish-up work. If you are able to come, please bring these tools! TO VOLUNTEER, contact Ann Beatus at annbeatus@yahoo.com or call her at 215.635.6168. (OR simply show up that day at the given times and we will keep you busy!) THANKS AGAIN!
Help Our Discovery Garden Grow - Sponsorship opportunities for our new playground from pavers to Noah’s Ark Playhouse. Contact Sharon Sood (215) 782-8188 or via e-mail at soodlempert@cavtel.net information on how you can donate to this exciting project. A brochure was mailed to KI members and is available in the Administrative Office at KI.
Help Wanted – The Religious School is looking for someone 15 or over with computer expertise (knowledge of Windows Update, Internet, Windows XP Professional, Networking) to work with students aged 8-16 and KI teachers in the KI Computer Lab on Sundays from 9:15 a.m. to noon and Tuesdays, 4:15 to 6:00 p.m. and 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. $10/hour. Call or e-mail Rabbi Stacy Eskovitz Rigler (215) 887-8704 or educator@kenesethisrael.org.
Meet Our New Preschool Teacher at Our Summer Story Hour – on Tuesday, July 19, at 6:30 p.m. in KI’s Meyers Library. Barbara Pettinati will be joining our Preschool as the 5’s teacher and will be reading during the story hour. Beth Berman, our new Preschool Director, will also be in the library for this fun summer activity. There will be stories and arts & crafts for children preschool to 3rd grade. Milk and cookies, too! Mark your calendar for the final story hour on Wednesday, August 17, at 6:30 p.m. in KI’s Meyers Library.
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.
Cultural Opportunities
KI Men’s Softball –We need you to cheer us to victory! Next game is Monday, July 18, at 6:00 p.m., at Plymouth Field . Everyone is invited to come support our team. (http://www.jeffjet.com/Fields.htm for directions).
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.
Kehillah Pajamarama at Barnes & Noble – on Wednesday, July 20, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. First of two bedtime storytelling programs for the young and young-at-heart. Stories read by local clergy. Attire: pajamas!
KI Puppets at Pajamarama II – Save Wednesday, August 10, for this Kehillah program at Barnes & Noble. More info to follow.
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, July 28, from noon to 2:00 p.m. Program: “Successful Aging.” For more information, reservations and transportation, contact Michele Kramer (267) 808-6264 and leave a message including your name, phone number and mailing address.
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, July 26. Info: Gladys Segal (215) 635-5815.
Sharing Is Caring Hanukkah Dinner – Please join us on Tuesday, August 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room for an organizational meeting to plan for the Sharing is Caring Hanukkah Dinner to benefit area seniors in Federation and local housing. Our last dinner was a huge success and we are looking forward to continuing this wonderful tradition. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting. For information contact Debbie Zlotnick at DZlotnick@comcast.net or Ellen Edelman Grossman at Edelgross@aol.com .
Announcements
News from the Meyers Library— Library hours are: 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: Daniel Gordis, Home to Stay; Valerie Zenatti, When I was a Soldier, a young French émigré’s account of life as an Israeli soldier. For Children: Pelagie Doane, The Story of Moses; Shirley G. Milgrom, Haym Solomon.