Shabbat Sukkot– Exodus 33:12
Ezekiel 38:18

Simchat Torah: Rejoicing with the Torah

We are fast approaching the final holiday of the holiday-packed month of Tishri. Simchat Torah, “Rejoicing with the Torah,” will be celebrated at KI this coming Monday night with all the usual marching, dancing and singing. All our new students will be called up to the Bimah to be consecrated and a special reception will follow in the KG Auditorium. The whole evening is fun, spirited and filled with hopefulness about the enduring powers of the Jewish tradition.

At the center of the festivities is the Torah itself. At one level, the Torah is a sacred object. It is a handwritten scroll containing the Five Books of Moses, adorned with fine cloth and silver. It is Judaism’s most sacred object. It is a symbol of our faith and the repository of its oldest teachings and values. Our children are given “little Torahs” when they begin their studies. When they reach thirteen, they are welcomed into the adult fellowship of Israel by reading from the “big Torah.”

Of course, the idea of Torah is not limited to the Torah scroll. It is a much broader concept. The word “Torah” can actually be used as a synonym for “Judaism” itself. In fact, it is a better term for “Judaism” than “Judaism.” Why? The term “Judaism” was coined outside of our tradition and is not suggestive of the religious content of our tradition. It is simply the “ism” of the Jews. By contrast, the term “Torah” means “instruction” and specifically, it is the essential instruction which informs our lives as Jews.

I understand “Torah” to be an informed process, a process wherein daily life and its questions and issues are guided by the ancient teachings of Israel. Torah is the process wherein we learn to adjudicate the absolute standards of justice and truth with the practical and ideal needs for compassion and compromise. Torah is the path of our lives as Jews, both the path we’ve traversed together for centuries and the path which unfolds before us day by day as we make endless series of decisions about how to travel through life.

This time of year is called “zeman simchatenu” in our tradition, the “time of our rejoicing.” We rejoice because we have a path and a guide in life. That path is called Torah. Torah cannot always protect us from danger along the way but it always keeps us oriented, directed and on track.

As we march with the Torah on Simchat Torah, think about how you can walk the path of Torah every day. We have been doing it for a very long time, and for a very long time it has been our sure, reliable and trustworthy guide in our journey of life.

Shabbat Shalom and happy Simchat Torah!

KI DINNER CLUB - Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. in K/G. Pizza Week (+ salad & drink) or Hoagie Week (+ chips & drink). Parents, siblings & students all welcome at $5/person per day. RSVP on Thursday for following Tuesday. For more details, click here or contact Fran (215) 887-8704.

JOIN KI PUPPETS AT PRESCHOOL SHABBAT - Parents with babies and toddlers, join us on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. in the Youth Lounge (when Preschool is in session).

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 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 information, click here.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME - BARNES & NOBLE - on Thursday, November 17 from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Beth Berman, Preschool Director, will be reading the stories. Vouchers, available in the Preschool, will net the school 15% of total KI sales. Voucher also good for 10% off at Houlihan's that night.

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.

WRJ/SISTERHOOD PAID-UP MEMBERSHIP BRUNCH - on Sunday, October 23, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, featuring Dianna Marder, Inquirer columnist. Champagne Brunch. Free for WRJ/KI members*. $15 for non-members. [To pay WRJ dues, send $40 to KI, attn Evelyn Rosenfeld.] WRJ members RSVP to Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926 by October 14. [*New female congregants receive complimentary membership to WRJ.]

ASTRONOMY-TO-GO at Blue Bell Campus - on Sunday, October 23, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Explore the stars and their connection to Judaism in this giant blow-up planetarium. For families and kids of all ages. Snacks provided. $5/child. RSVP (215) 887- 8704.

BLOOMINGDALES & WRJ/SISTERHOOD 8TH ANNUAL MULTI-CHARITY EVENT "The Shopping Benefit" on Thursday, October 27. Storewide discounts, prizes, entertainment, food & beverage samplings, children's activities, cosmetics offers & discounts. Tickets $10 available at KI Administrative Office or Gift Shop. or mail check to KI, Attn Sisterhood. Redeem your ticket at Bloomingdales in Willow Grove or King of Prussia on October 27 to receive discounts of 15-20% on all purchases. Stores open 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. For information, call Michele Gusdorff (215) 782-1446 or Janice Schwartz (215) 576-5802.

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 at the door. Send checks to KI, Attn: Cultural Council. Doris Parker, 215-886- 9267.

FIRST ANNUAL "USO CANTEEN" - on Sunday, November 13, at KI. Big Band sound with Brian Pastor 's 17-piece orchestra, special appearance by the "Andrews Sisters." Donuts, coffee, soda and sandwiches are included. Tickets: $25 ($15 for students) A portion of the proceeds will go to support "Liberty USO," serving military personnel in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area.

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

BACH's GOLDBERG VARIATIONS - on Sunday, November 20, at 3:00 p.m. Bach Festival of Philadelphia presents renowned harpsichordist Jory Vinokour, direct from Carnegie Hall.

WHAT CAN YOU DONATE for 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 youth programming. Do you have a good or service you could offer? If you have a vacation property or time-share, please consider donating time at the property. If you have theater or sports subscriptions, you could donate tickets. If you are a professional, consider offering a one-hour consultation. (Lawyers: How about offering to write a will?) Let your creative juices flow and call Sharon Buckingham at (215) 885- 9429 to discuss donations.

DARFUR CALL TO ACTION - Please help the Social Action Committee as we join with the American Jewish World Service e-activism campaign for Darfur, Sudan. We hope you'll sign the Darfur Call to Action from American Jewish World Service on their website.

Jewish Family and Children's 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. Beginning October 27 (note change of date) 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.

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, November 1. Information: Gladys Segal (215) 635-5815.

ONE SUNDAY, TWO MITZVAH OPPORTUNITIES - on Sunday, November 6, you can (1) help sort food collected by the High Holiday Food drive for Federation's Mitzvah Pantry from 9:30 a.m. to noon OR 12:30 p.m to 3:00 p.m. at SHARE Food Program Warehouse, 2901 West Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia. Information: Mark Rubin (215) 831- 0525 or by e- mail. OR (2) you can deliver food packages for the Jewish Relief Agency from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. from the JRA warehouse at 9986 Gantry Road, Philadelphia (Northeast). Information: Rachel Dunaief (610) 660-0190 or by e-mail. Flyer for both, click here.

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, November 17 from noon to 2:00 p.m. Program: “Ethical Wills.” For more information, reservations and transportation, contact Michele Kramer (267) 808- 6264 and leave a message including your name, phone number and mailing address. (There is no program in October due to the holidays.)

NEW FROM THE MEYERS LIBRARY Library hours are: Tuesday 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. when Religious School is in session, 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: Rabbi Alex J. Goldman, Giants of Faith - Great American Rabbis; Abraham Rabinovich, The Yom Kippur War: the epic encounter that transformed the Middle East; Anthony Bianco, The Reichmanns - a biography of their Toronto empire. For Children and Young Adults: Carol Korb Hubner, The Silent Shofar; Allison, Greengard, Noah's Ark, in Hebrew and English; Aaron Levin, Testament : memoirs of the creation of Israel.