E-KI
August 11, 2005 Vol. II No. 32
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel
8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.887.8700
Torah Time Online
Shabbat Devarim– Deuteronomy 1:1
Isaiah 1:1
Tisha B’Av – What are we mourning?
When Shabbat ends this week we will begin the observance of the Ninth of Av. One of the reasons Tisha B’Av has such an air of ambivalence around it is because the holiday itself has different meanings to different people. The Ninth (Tisha in Hebrew) of Av is the date when we are told that both of the Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed (the first by the Babylonians in 586 BCE and the second by the Romans in 70 CE). The destruction of the Temple meant the end of priestly worship and the system of sacrifices instituted by the Torah. While some Jews still, to this day, pray that the Temple will be rebuilt and the sacrifices reinstated, most modern Jews realize that for both political and ecological reasons we have no desire to see this happen. Therefore, Reform Jews have argued, the destruction of the Temple is not the greatest loss our people has suffered, and Tisha B’Av need not be emphasized.
The Ninth of Av is also symbolic of the great tragedies of our people. The Rabbis teach that our people were told on the ninth of Av that they would not reach the promised land. The Bar Kochba revolt ended on the ninth of Av. We are told that the Crusades began in 1095 on the ninth of Av. Jews were expelled from England in 1290 on Tisha B’Av. The decree leading to the expulsion of Jews from Spain was put into effect on the ninth of Av in 1492. Finally, World War I began on the ninth of Av in 1914. In this respect Tisha B’Av has become a national day of mourning for community losses and tragedies.
Personally, I believe that Tisha B’Av should be observed as a day of mourning for the combination of the two events. While I do not pray for the Temple to be rebuilt, I do mourn the loss of the Jewish community as it was. In the Talmud the Rabbis ask, “Why was the Temple destroyed? Because of sinat chinam, senseless hatred.” As our Jewish community has changed, I fear that sinat chinam has only increased. I had the privilege of observing Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem when I was in rabbinic school. There we stood, 50 men and women from the Hebrew Union College, on a stoop high above the Western Wall. Israeli guards stood watch so that no one who disapproved of men and women standing at the Wall together would harm us. It was that day that I came to understand why Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning. Once a year we mourn the loss of a cohesive Jewish community, we mourn the loss of our holy land as it was, and we mourn the current fragmented state of our Jewish community.
Tisha B’Av comes just seven weeks before its antithesis, the High Holy Days. For me, seeing over 2000 Jews in our synagogue alone on Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of all that we are today. But for one day a year, in the midst of the long hot summer, we mourn. It is perhaps the Jewish communities’ day of atonement – the day we atone for the sins against each other, the day we mourn the result of what our sins have done to one another.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Stacy Rigler
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI
Worship & Study Opportunities
This Shabbat - Friday, August 12 – Tot Shabbat at 6:00 p.m.; Evening Service at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, August 13 - Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Shabbat Havurah Service at 10:30 a.m.; 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. RSVP required. Call KI (215) 887-8700.
In the Week Ahead – Friday, August 19 – Evening Service at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, August 20 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Shabbat Havurah Service at 10:30 a.m., when we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Jaclyn Jenna Sterman Soroko, daughter of Paulette Sterman-Soroko and Skits Soroko; Rydal Park Service at 2:00 p.m.
Coming Up – Friday, August 26 – Shabbat in Blue Bell – Light dinner and Tot Shabbat at 5:45 p.m Guitar-led service at 7:15 pm. RSVP if you plan to come to dinner (215) 887-8700. Extended oneg to follow.
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
First Day of Religious School – Elkins Park: Sunday, September 11. Blue Bell: Thursday, September 15. Religious School calendar is available on our website.
click--> Religious School Calendar for 2005-06
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.
Last Summer Story Hour – on Wednesday, August 17, at 6:30 p.m. in KI’s Meyers Library. There will be stories and arts & crafts for children preschool to 3rd grade. Milk and cookies, too!
Register Now - Sunday Soccer League - sponsored by the JCC Klein Branch/Kehillah - All boys and girls, pre-K through 7th grade as of September, 2005, are invited to join our intramural instructional soccer program held on the Mandell Campus in Elkins Park for ten consecutive Sundays beginning September 11, 2005. Registration is $85.00. Information and registration forms: (215) 635-0557 (Kehillah of Old York Road).
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
The Israeli Scout Friendship Caravan – Appearing at Tiferet Bet Israel in Blue Bell on Friday, August 12, at 7:30 p.m.; Temple Sinai (Dresher) on Monday, August 15, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. Seating limited. Meet the Scouts after the show! Funding provided by The Center for Israel and Overseas, through NACIE, of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
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, August 25, from noon to 2:00 p.m. Program: “Sleepless in Elkins Park.” For more information, reservations and transportation, contact Michele Kramer (267) 808-6264 and leave a message including your name, phone number and mailing address.
Cultural Council 60+ - “The Vintage Harmony Singers, A Barbershop Chorus Sings the Oldies” on Thursday, September 8. Lunch at 11:30 a.m. KI member luncheon fee is $8.00 with a reservation by September 1, $10.00 for guests and for member reservations after September 1. Send checks to KI, Attn: Cultural Council. Information: Doris Parker, 215-886-9267. Sponsored by the Rosenau Fund. First meeting of the season.
Jews in Cuba – Jewish Cuban scholar and author Maritza Corrales speaks on Tuesday, September 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the law offices of Eisenberg Rothweiler Schleifer Weinstein & Winkler, 1634 Spruce Street, Philadelphia. Lecture is free but space is limited. RSVP by September 9 to Steven Malamud (215) 832-0900 or smalamud@hiaspa.org. Sponsored by Hias and Council migration Service.
Kesher: Jewish Americans & Israel – Making the Connection – on Sunday, September 18, at 9:45 a.m. Speakers: Dr. Mitchell Bard, Executive Director of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, leading authority on U.S. Middle East policy, and author of Myths and Facts; and Roz Rothstein, National Director of StandWithUs, prominent pro-Israel advocacy organization. Free community-wide program presented jointly by The Israel Action Committees of KI and Old York Road Temple – Beth Am. Optional breakfast at 8:45 a.m. - $5/person prepaid. Send checks (payable to OYRT-Beth Am) to Old York Road Temple – Beth Am, 971 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001. Advance registration required by Monday, September 12. Information – http://www.kenesethisrael.org/Happening/Kesher_9_18_05-1.pdf or call Selma Dafilou (215) 887-2832. Program made possible by a grant from the Kehillah of Old York Road, a project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia in cooperation with the Jewish Outreach Partnership.
Jewish Genealogy Seminar – Jewish Family Heritage: Connecting to Our Past on Sunday, September 18, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., at Adath Jeshurun. Registration: JGSGP members - $15; nonmembers - $20. Sponsored by Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia and Kehllah of Old York Road. Registration/Information: Mark Halpern JGSGP@comcast.net.
Light up the Night, Bids, Bites and a Bit of Jazz – on December 10, 2005, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., KI will host a goods & services auction to raise funds for KI’s scholarship programs. We hope you will come and bring your friends! We hope you will also consider donating a good or service. How about a weekend at your home in Aspen (or the Jersey shore) or that mint condition Dhurri rug? If you are a decorator, designer or other professional, consider offering a one-hour consultation. Let your creative juices flow and call Sharon Buckingham at (215) 885-9429 to discuss donations. This event at KI in Elkins Park will include good food, good music and good fun.
Social Action Opportunities
Good News - 31-year-old woman received new liver on Saturday and is in stable condition in New York hospital. This story underlines the importance of being an organ donor and making sure your family knows you are.
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, September 27. [No session in August.] Information: Gladys Segal (215) 635-5815.
Kesher: Volunteer Para-Chaplaincy Training Program on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., beginning on October 6, at KI (room 110). This program is run by the Joan Grossman Center for Chaplaincy and Healing of the Jewish Family and Children's Service Information about registration will be available soon.
Sharing is Caring Hanukkah Dinner for residents of Federation subsidized housing – on Wednesday evening, December 7, 2005, in the Krauskopf-Ginsburg Auditorium. Volunteers are needed to cook, set up, host/hostess or serve. Sign-up information will be available shortly in the Administrative Office and on-line at the KI website. Send contributions to help defray the cost of the event (payable to KI – Sharing Is Caring) to KI. Information: Debbie Zlotnick (215) 782-8684 (dzlotnick@comcast.net) or Ellen Edelman Grossman (215) 576-0160 (edelgross@aol.com). This is a wonderful event. We hope you will be part of this mitzvah.
Announcements
News from the Meyers Library— Library hours are: Tuesday 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday before 8:00 p.m. services. (You can also visit the bookcarts at the Oneg.) For Adults: Daniel Silva, A Death in Venice; Kurt F. Stone, The Congressional Minyan. For Children: Carol Racklin-Siegel, retold and illustrator, Rebecca, in Hebrew and English; Anne E. Neimark, One Man's Valor : Leo Baeck and the Holocaust