Shabbat Ki Tavoh– Deuteronomy 26:1
Isaiah 60:1

Parashah Ki Tavo, which we read this Shabbat, contains a list of blessings and curses. The overriding message of the parashah, as with the book of Deuteronomy in general, is that if we, the people of Israel, do not observe the teachings of the Torah and the commandments of Adonai our God, we will be punished. If we do observe the teaching of Adonai. we will be blessed.

We read, “Adonai will let loose against our calamity, panic and frustration in all the enterprises you undertake.. all these curses shall befall you; they shall overtake you, until you are wiped out.” These verses bring pain to my heart. I think of the people from New Orleans who were evacuated to Houston, and who are currently being evacuated yet again; I call to mind images of congregants who have been hit while they are already down and out, whose families think it can’t get any worse and then it does.

But I cannot believe these verses in their literal form. And I believe I am in good company. The Rabbis of the Talmud re-framed the theology of Deuteronomy so that the text is saying we will be eternally punished or rewarded in the “world to come,” not in this lifetime. We cannot necessarily conclude that those who are being punished in this lifetime did not obey the commandments; rather we must obey the commandments so that we can be rewarded in the world to come.

As a rabbi in the Modern Era I would extend it a step forward – I think we must obey the commandments so that we can endure and enjoy the curses and the blessings of life. Religion as a whole, and Judaism in particular give us moral guideposts to live our lives and give us hope that there is something greater than ourselves and some reward for those that suffer. It is this hope that moves us forward and these beliefs which I look forward to celebrating with all of you as we head towards Rosh Hashanah.

Shabbat Shalom,

SUKKOT BROWN BAG DINNER & SERVICE - Monday, October 17, at 6:00 p.m. Service at 7:15 p.m.

KI INVITES GAM YAHAD TO SHABBAT MORNING SERVICE on Saturday, October 15, at 10:30 a.m. Gam Yahad participants are adults with developmental disabilities, with family members or friends. The group has met to share Jewish identity, educational programs and social time for more than 15 years. The service will be followed by kiddush and a light lunch for the congregation, sponsored by Jewish Family & Children's Service.

SPECIAL KI HADASSAH SHABBAT SERVICE - on Friday, October 28, at 8:00 p.m. Guest speaker - Bobbie Kraft, president of Hadassah of Greater Philadelphia. KI Adult Choir will sing. If you are a member of both KI and Hadassah and would like to help with this event, contact Kim Manin/phone (215) 914-0699 or Heidi Mikels/phone (215) 836-9830.

LOWER SCHOOL FALL CARNIVAL - on Sunday, October 2, from noon to 2:00 p.m. (right after Religious School), outside in the "circle." $10/KIFTY members, $15/non-members. Includes all games. Barbecue is extra. Sponsored by Senior KIFTY. RSVP Janet Luterman (215) 887-8704 x133.

PARENT CHILD MUSIC CLASS WITH MISS TAMMY of Children's Music Express - Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., from October 12 to December 14. Ages 6 months to 4 years. Sponsored by KI Preschool. For more information, click here.

SEEDLINGS PARENT/CHILD PLAYGROUP WITH MISS TAMMY - Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., from October 12 to December 14. Ages 12-24 months. Sponsored by KI Preschool. For more information, click here.

KI COLLEGE CONNECTION – We’d like to maintain contact with all member undergraduate college students. We will send the Bulletin, birthday cards, e- mail greetings, connection to the URJ college KESHER network, holiday gift packages. Send your college student’s address to Chris Smith by e-mail. Program underwritten by KI Brotherhood.

HELP OUR DISCOVERY GARDEN GROW - Our Playground is nearly complete - Sponsorship opportunities for our new playground from pavers to Noah's Ark Playhouse. Contact Sharon Sood at (215) 782-8188 or by e-mail for 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.

COMMUNITY FAMILY CONCERT— on Saturday, October 15—Stefan Jackiw, violin, Max Levinson, piano. Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Concert at 8:00 p.m. For information, click here.

PHILLY WITH FREDDIE - a Magical History Trolley Tour with Rabbi Fred Kazan on Thursday, October 27. From the Temple Judea Museum through Two Centuries of Jewish Life in Philadelphia. For information, click here.

SONGS FOR THE JEWISH SOUL - on Sunday, October 30, at 3:00 p.m.. Concert by Cantors Amy Lefko, Marina Belenky, and Vadim Tunitsky, in conjunction with Yiddishkeit exhibition at the Temple Judea Museum. Open to the community. No admission fee. For information, click here and scroll to the second page.

CULTURAL COUNCIL 60+- Rabbi Lance Sussman—“Divergent Paths: Fundamentalism and Modernism in Contemporary Religion” on Thursday, November 10. KI member luncheon fee is $8 for members and $10 for guests with reservation & payment by November 3, $12.00 for guests and member reservations after November 3. Send checks to KI, Attn: Cultural Council. Doris Parker, 215-886- 9267.

YIDDISHKEIT: GROWING UP JEWISH IN AMERICA - Temple Judea Museum exhibition open until November 13.

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.

Jewish Children and Family Services invites you to become a Kesher Volunteer. A free eight week training program in Jewish values, listening skills, healing and issues of aging is being offered to prepare volunteers to brighten the lives of Jews in nursing homes, hospitals, hospice and who are homebound. October 6 – December 15, for 8 weeks from 7:00- 9:00 pm at Keneseth Israel. For more information call Lonnie Beer at 215 646-2115, ext. 116 or click here. This program is cosponsored by the Kehillah of Old York Road.

STEM CELL DONOR TESTING – on Sunday, October 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (Rothschild Auditorium). Michael Brecker, famed jazz saxophonist and Cheltenham High School Class of 1967, for example, needs a bone marrow transplant to fight a leukemia- like disease. His siblings and his children are not a match. There is no match in the national donor registries, where Jews of Eastern European descent are severely underrepresented. If you are tested and you’re a match for Michael, or someone else, you could literally save a life. For more information, click here or here.

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 or e-mail or Ellen Edelman Grossman (215) 576-0160 or e-mail . This is a wonderful event. We hope you will be part of this mitzvah.

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, September 29, from noon to 2:00 p.m. Program: “Seniors and Friendship.” For more information, reservations and transportation, contact Michele Kramer (267) 808- 6264 and leave a message including your name, phone number and mailing address.