E-KI

November 24, 2004         Issue 47

 

Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel

8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027   215.887.8700

 

Torah Time Online

Shabbat Vayishlach – Genesis 32:4

Obadiah 1:1

This week of Thanksgiving, we continue reading about the story of Jacob in Parashat Vayishlach.  Finally after much struggle Jacob returns to the land promised to him and his descendants. He has two wives - Rachel and Leah. He has twelve children - eleven boys, and a girl, Dinah. He has cattle, and sheep, and donkeys, and camels, and servants, and is a very wealthy man. He has every reason to give thanks for what he has received and how his life has changed. Yet Jacob is uneasy. Why?  Why is he nervous, even though he has so much? For the first time, he is going back to the land where he grew up. He is going back to meet his brother Esau, and he is worried about what Esau will do to him. He is feeling guilty for tricking his brother Esau.

So Jacob sends out messengers with gifts for his brother. The messengers see Esau coming to meet them, so they send word back to Jacob. "Your brother is coming to meet you. . . and he has four hundred men with him.”

And then, in the dark of the night, someone comes to him, and they wrestle all night. We read that because he has struggled with beings human and divine, because he has struggled with himself, he will be called "Yisrael" - Israel.

And so, Jacob is changed forever. Finally, we think, appreciating all that he has, he goes to meet his brother. The two see each other and embrace. Only at that moment of reconciliation are we taught that Jacob truly satisfied with all that he has. Only then, can he truly give thanks.

Thanksgiving is a time when we pause to appreciate the bounty of our lives and our tables and give thanks. This year we should remember that not every family shares in the bounty. The problems of poverty and hunger remain critical. One way to celebrate this holiday of abundance is to share with others by contributing to Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Mazon, which means "food" in Hebrew, provides cash grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States, Israel and throughout the world. Mazon combats hunger by funding food banks and soup kitchens as well as organizations working on the root causes of hunger and poverty. It reaches beyond the Jewish community as it provides aid. If you would like to make a donation to Mazon please bring your contributions to the Rabbis’ office.

All the best for a happy and healthy holiday and a Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Peter Rigler

Driving Alert!

Township Line Road is open!  Give thanks.

 

 

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI

 

Worship & Study Opportunities

This Week, Friday, Friday, November 26 – Shabbat evening service at 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel.  Rabbi Sussman will speak: Becoming Israel.  Saturday, November 27 – Torah, Toast & Tefillah – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library; light breakfast at 10:00 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel.  Torah Reader—Nat Mayer, D’var Torah—Bill Dodies, Service Leaders—Norman Brody (English), Irv Matusow Hebrew).

In the Week Ahead – Friday, December 3 – Family Shabbat Service at 7:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary, led by the 8^th Grade in our Religious School.  Saturday, December 4 –Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library;  Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel.  Upstairs Minyan at 10:30 a.m. in the Library:  Torah Reader—Linda Nesvisky; D’var Torah—Allen Britton, Service Leaders—Evelyn Ringold (English), Irv Matusow Hebrew).

Coming up –Hanukkah Extravaganza – Friday December 10.  Tot Shabbat Service at  6:00 p.m.  Lighting of Giant Menorah and congregational dinner at 6:30 p.m.  Shabbat Hanukkah Service at 8:00 p.m. featuring Adult Volunteer Choir and Junior Choir Shir Joy, and the Hebrew Hammers (our new teen band).  Special Hanukkah Game Show Oneg.  Blue Jeans Shabbat at 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 17, with a special presentation on Camp Harlam by Acting Director, Frank DeWoskin.  New Member Shabbat Service at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 17.  “Shultide” on Friday, December 24.  Chinese dinner at 6:00 p.m.  $15/adult   $8/children 12 and under.  Reservations required by December 21.  Special music program.  Shabbat service at 8:00 p.m.  Jointly sponsored by KI Music Arts Committee and Brotherhood.

Attention Singers!! – Ongoing rehearsals for Adult Volunteer Choir on Tuesday nights 7:30-9:00 p.m.  Cantor Lefko would love to have you join!

Listen to Most recent Shabbat evening sermon – click on this link! http://www.kenesethisrael.org/Sermons/ShabbatService.htm  

Adult Education

News from the Meyers Library— Library hours are: Sunday 9:30-12:15,  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.) New Books: Tom Wolfe, I Am Charlotte Simmons; Landon Y. Jones, William Clark and the Shaping of the West; Rabbi Harold Kushner, Living a Life that Matters; Judea and Ruth Pearl, I Am Jewish: reflections inspired by the last words of Daniel Pearl;  Paul Aron, Ben the Alien Bird, an autobiography by one of the few Danish Jews to be interred at Theresienstadt.  For children: The Story of Hanukkah by Amy Erlich, illus. by Ori Sherman; The Hanukkah Story by Marilyn Hirsh; Celebrating Hanukkah by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith; Poems for Jewish Holidays by Myra Cohn Livingston, illus. by Lloyd Bloom. For young adults: The Jews in America by Frances Butwin; The Giving Tree (in Hebrew) by Shel Silverstein; Falling Up (in Hebrew) by Shel Silverstein.

Ask the Rabbi – A Conversation with Parents of Adult Children in Interfaith Relationships – Rabbi Lance Sussman – Sunday, December 5, 10:00—11:30 a.m.  Sponsored by the KI Outreach Committee.

Adult Ed Classes – Movie: Crimes & Misdemeanors at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 19 – Bella Friesel; Hebrew at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 9 & 16 – Rabbi Rav Soloff; Book discussion: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd – Beverly Green, leader.

Cultural Council 60+ - Susan Myers, Is This Any Way to Choose a President?on Thursday, December 9, lunch at 11:30 a.m.  Sponsored by the Rosenau Fund.  KI member luncheon fee is $8.00 with a reservation by December 1, $10.00 for guests and reservations after December 1.  Send checks to K.I., Attn: Cultural Council.  Information:  Doris Parker, 215-886-9267.

Lunch ‘n’ Learn – about the Torah portion of the week with Rabbi Sussman in Center City on Thursday, December 16, from noon to 1:30 p.m.  Call the Clergy Office  by noon on Wednesday, December 15, for reservations and information.  If you would like to receive e-mail reminders about Lunch ‘n’ Learn, call the Clergy Office (215) 887-8702.

WRJ Book Review - Irene Reiter will review The Georgetown Ladies’ Social Club by C. D. Heymann on Monday, December 13, at 10:00 a.m.  Refreshments.  WRJ members free.  Guests $3.00.  RSVP to Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926 by December 6.

Kehillah Trip to Israel—Family trip to Israel from December 22, 2004, to January 2, 2005, led by Rabbi Lance Sussman, Rabbi Seymour Rosenbloom of Adath Jeshurun, and Rabbi Robert Leib of Beth Am.  Visit Jerusalem, Eilat, Netivot and Tel Aviv, with opportunities for B’nai Mitzvah at Masada.  Approximate cost is $2,900 per person, double occupancy — family discounts available.  Sponsored by the Kehillah of Old York Road.  Arrangements by Ayelet Tours.  Information (800) 237-1517 or ayelet@ayelet.com.  For reservations:  Karen Kantor, Kehillah (215) 635-0557.

Cultural Opportunities

Israeli Folk Dancing -- with Don Schillinger, RAK-DAN Israeli Dancing, on Mondays from 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm. in the Rothschild Auditorium.  This NEW program will start right after Thanksgiving weekend, on November 29, and run through May 23.  $7/adult and $4/student (under 21) per session.  [Note: no sessions on December 27, January 17, February 21, April 25, or May 30.]

Hazanukah! - Concert on Sunday, December 12, at 3:00 p.m. at KI, Hanukkah songs and Broadway tunes, featuring our own Cantor Amy Lefko and guests Cantor Allen, Sherrie Rosenblum, Cantor Jordan Franzel (Temple Or Ami), Cantorial Intern Ted Labow (Temple Beth El—Hillsborough, NJ), and Cantor Elena Zarkh (Old York Road-Temple Beth Am).  Dessert reception. Free!

Tradition Reflected: The Hebrew Bible in American Stained Glass–Exhibition in cooperation with The Willet Stained Glass Studios and Rambusch Studios. Continues through January 14, 2005.

Some Enchanted Evening – Saturday, January 8, at 6:00 p.m.  favorite Broadway show tunes and light opera presented in intimate Cabaret style – stellar cast presented in cooperation with Astral Artistic Services.  Candlelight dinner – Italian or vegetarian.  $35/person Space is limited.  Reservations honored in order of receipt but no later than January 4.  Checks (payable to KI – Family Community Concerts) to KI, 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA  19027.

Preschool and Religious School

Hebrew Eagles Tees— 100% cotton long-sleeve tees with Eagles logo in Hebrew and English.  $18 either dark green with white print OR white with bright green print. Order by December 1. Proceeds benefit KIFTY. Information: Janet Luterman (215) 887-8700 x133. 

Preschool Hanukkah Havurah – Sunday, December 5, 4:00-6:00 p.m.  Make a family Hanukkiah. Make latkes, spin dreidels, celebrate with friends.  Bring a brown bag dinner.  RSVP Preschool: (215) 885-2425.

Next Religious School Community Time:  Sunday December 12 at 11:15 a.m.  We will celebrate Hanukkah!

Annual Hat & Mitten Drive – Drop off items in Preschool hallway.  drive sponsored by the Preschool.

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 November 30 (last Tuesday of the month).    Information:  Gladys Segal (215) 635-5815. 

Volunteers are needed to help feed hungry Jews in the Northeast!  Volunteers are needed to deliver Shabbat packages from the Mitzvah Food Pantry at Congregation Beth Sholom on the first and third Thursday of each month. The packages can be picked up between  11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m   Program set to begin on Thursday, December 2.  Please contact Jessica Charmont jcharmont@philafederation.org (215) 832-0855.

Federation Super Sunday - Please volunteer to make phone calls on Sunday, December 12, at Gratz College. If you are available from 9-12, 11-2, or 12-3 please call Caryl Levin at (215) 635-7078.

Red Cross Blood Drive—Wednesday, December 22, 1:30—7:30 p.m. at KI.  Appointments are preferred.  Call 215-451-4326.

For the Consultation of Conscience – Join Jewish leaders and advocates from across the nation in Washington, DC, March 13-15, to hear from key policy and government leaders about the issues that shape our lives and to explore the connection between ancient Jewish texts and current events.  Conference sponsored by URJ’s Religious Action Center.  Information:  Clergy Office (215) 887-8702.

Ways To Get Involved

 Attention, Genuardi’s Shoppers – It is now time to renew your commitment to KI by renewing your membership in the eScrip program.  You may call eScrip toll-free at 1-800-801-4973 (have your Genuardi's Club Card number handy), or if you have access to the internet, simply go to eScrip.com and click on "YES! Renew."   If you have never participated, you may either sign up at Genuardi's, use the internet (www.eScrip.com), or find a form on our information stand in the lobby.  Remember, our Group name is Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, and our Group ID# is 1002448.

Shabbat Pulpit Flowers --You can now sponsor the Shabbat pulpit flowers in honor of a birthday, anniversary, baby naming, safe travel, recovery from illness, or any other happy occasion. You can also sponsor the flowers in memory of a recent passing or a Yahrzeit anniversary.  An acknowledgement will be listed in the weekly Shabbat folder recognizing your generosity. Please make your check for $45.00 payable to: "WRJ Sisterhood," and mail to, Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, Attn: WRJ/Sisterhood-Pulpit Flowers.  Questions: Michele Gusdorff (215) 782-1446. Your information must be received at least one week in advance to be listed in the Shabbat folder.

Membership News—KI’s Membership Committee is looking for current members to partner with our new members and help them become integrated into the KI family. This is a great chance to discuss with new members all the cultural, religious and social action opportunities available at KI. If you are interested in participating, or just want to join the Membership Committee to share your love of KI with prospective members, please call Andy Brookman at (215) 887-0777.

Sharing Our Simchas – Share your happiness with our congregational family.  Consider underwriting our beautiful Oneg Shabbat.  Contact the Administrative Office, (215) 887-8700, for further details.

Sisterhood Gift Shop – will be open on Sunday mornings during Religious School hours. Special Hanukkah hours November 29 through December 10.  Call Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926 or Administrative Office (215) 887-8700