Zoom in THIS Sunday, June 13th at 11:00 a.m.for our Semi-Annual Congregational MeetingUpdates on: – Board Positions- 21st Century Projects – Committee Reports Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/83418068903?pwd=OEVOTm5YU1B3UVNzTTZJaUNRdFYxQT09 Meeting ID: 834 1806 8903Passcode: 574895Dial in: 646 876 9923
This Shabbat, the Shabbat before Purim, is called Shabbat Zachor (Sabbath [of] remembrance שבת זכור). Along with the weekly portion, we read Deuteronomy 25:17-19, which describes the attack by Amalek as we left Egypt and includes a commandment to remember this attack There is a tradition from the Talmud that Haman, the antagonist of the Purim story, was descended from Amalek, and so we read these verses right before Purim: Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt. How, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear. Therefore, when the Lord your God grants you safety from all your enemies around you, in the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a hereditary portion, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
Interestingly, we called upon to remember what Amalek did, then when we are brought to safety we blot out his memory, and don’t forget! All at the same time??? Or… is this a progression?
And this sounds pretty serious, yet isn’t Purim all fun and games? Perhaps there is a serous side. Rabbi Laura Geller, rabbi emerita of Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills, California, teaches that: Remember and blot out — this is a strategy for healing from abuse. We learn from psychologists that victims of abuse need to first recover their memories of victimization, but at some point in the healing process they need to blot out the power those memories have to control their lives. Recover the memories — then blot out their power to have control over our lives. The command was never to blot out Amalek — just his memory. The command is to take rage and turn it to healing. The command is to blot out the memory of Amalek and therefore to blot out of ourselves the tendency to do to others what others have done to us. To blot out of ourselves the tendency to do to others what others have done to us.
Purim isn’t really “just a children’s holiday.” No, quite the contrary; it is the most grown up of all of our holidays because it forces us to look at our dark side — the side that has been hurt, the side that is afraid, the side that wants to take revenge against those who have hurt us. Purim tells us that it is OK to have those feelings; to tell the story, even to celebrate the fantasy. But it reminds us not to act on the feelings of revenge. Sadly, there really are people in the world who will hurt other people. The mitzvah is to blot out the power they have to threaten the world. The mitzvah is not to take revenge, not to become what they were/are, not to kill innocent people. The mitzvah is to do what we can to blot out the power of those who can do evil without letting the memory of our hurt lead us into easy answers. At the end of the public reading of the story of Esther we say a blessing: “Blessed are you, God, who takes up our grievance, judges our claim and avenges the wrongs against us. You bring retribution on our enemies and vengeance on our foes.” This blessing reminds us, in very clear and direct terms, that vengeance should never be in our hands, but only in the hands of God. Yes, we need to remember, and… we also need to blot out the power of the memory. We need to free ourselves from despair and darkness, and we need to find a way to bring “light with joy and gladness and honor” (Esther 8:16) to everyone in the world. Rabbi Geller’s full article: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/blot-out-the-memory-on-purim_b_1323882
Many of us struggle with the kind of faith/emunah that is described in the biblical narrative.
What might appear as a random encounter can have epic proportions.
“Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel…”
This is a story of parental love… and favorites… and birthrights and blessings.
One of the most joyous mitzvot associated with the festival of Purim is Shalach Manot, the sending of treats to friends and family. This 1st annual fundraiser will be providing funds for our much-needed general fund. In honor of this mitzvah, please join in sending gifts to your fellow congregants. Each family receives one package filled with an assortment of goodies and treats, including homemade hamantaschen. Included will be a card listing the names of those sending good wishes. How to send your Beth Israel-The West Temple Shalach Manot1. Check your email for your personal link that was sent Monday evening, Jan 25.2. Select the temple members from the list that you would like to send a Shalach Manot package3. Remember that the deadline is Friday, February 19. The cost is tiered:$5.00 for the first 20 people on your list$4.00 for the 21st and each additional person.$400.00 to send to the entire congregation. We will only distribute one gift to each family. The enclosed card will include the names of everyone sending that gift. (For example – if everyone in the congregation were to give you a gift, you would not receive hundreds of gifts, you would receive one gift with a card listing everyone who gave you that gift.) *If you did not receive a personal email – please notify Robin Kaufman, treasurer@thewesttemple.com or 216-387-6630 cell And thank you for your support!
FUN FOR ALL AGES…From Babies to Bubbes!
Religious School Morning Schedule topped off with…You guessed it… Our annual…High School Purim Schpiel at 11:00 a.m.Always creative… never disappointing…Who knew there were so many ways to tell the whole megillah! Followed by our annual…Yep, you guessed it…Purim Costume Parade!Yep — even on zoom!Wear your costume AND your mask! Zoom in for a great time!https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84719269346?pwd=aFhIR0FjMHJKS3h5bVpxQjQ2b2NqUT09 Meeting ID: 847 1926 9346Passcode: 810991 But wait… That’s not all…
(Yes, another costume parade — how fun is that?!)
As we count down seven weeks to our virtual congregational retreat (January 29-30th), “Building Character – Making a Mensch,” featuring Dr. Greg Marcus, the founder of American Mussar, I thought it would be interesting to share insights into our Torah portions through the lens of Mussar. Mussar teachers through the centuries have sought deep, accurate, and useful insights into human life. These insights are based on different “middot” – the Hebrew term for “inner/character traits.” What makes us unique individuals, and what carves out a specific path for each of us, is the fact that those traits reside within each of us in different measures. (As it happens, the Hebrew word of measure is “middah.”) Our Torah portion this week is Mikeitz – Gen. 41:1-44:17. We left Joseph last week forlorn, forgotten, and left in prison, after he had interpreted dreams of the Pharaoh’s baker and cupbearer. Mikeitz opens with Pharaoh’s dreams, which none of his own interpreters or magicians can interpret. Suddenly, the royal cupbearer remembers Joseph – and recommends him to Pharaoh. Joseph is cleaned up and given a new set of clothes and brought before Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. Before he begins, he says: “Not I – It is God Who will account for Pharaoh’s well-being.” (Gen. 41:16) As he interprets the dreams, Joseph continues to give God credit for his perceived abilities. Pharaoh responds with: “Is there anyone like this to be found, a man with the spirit of God in him?” (Gen. 41:38) From his cocky teen years, tattling on his brothers, being doted on by his father, sharing his own “I’m the center of the world” dreams… basically being very self-centered… to his being sold into slavery by his brothers, imprisoned in Egypt, and now standing before Pharaoh, Joseph has developed his faith – the middah of emunah. This is a faith in something beyond ourselves; this is a faith in God. Many of us struggle with the kind of faith/emunah that is described in the biblical narrative. Rabbi Lisa D. Grant teaches that “faith may not help if material reward is our end goal… Cultivating faith can lead to greater patience, courage in facing hardship and the unknown, and acceptance that so much of life is beyond our control.” Faith is not something that can be understood intellectually or rationally, but needs to be learned from deep experience and reflection.
Joseph went through many difficult times and many opportunities for reflection and maturity. In the course of our lives… in the course of these Covid times… we, too, might find ourselves in difficult or frustrating situations. From the Mussar lens of emunah, you might consider:
Next week, we take a look at the middah/ character trait of bitachon – trust.
* Rabbi Grant’s commentary is found in The Mussar Torah Commentary: A Spiritual Path to Living a Meaningful and Ethical Life, CCAR Press, 2020.
“Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel…”
This is a story of parental love… and favorites… and birthrights and blessings.
Why is a parsha about death called “life”?
Every soul consists of both a male and female persona…
“Rohingya? And the Jews are involved?” you may ask… And the answer is “Yes!” I was introduced to the JRJN two years ago through the American Jewish World Service, and invited to serve on the JRJN committee. It is a herculean task to work to support the Rohingya people, with many organizations working together. And the work is not easy, and as you can imagine, very frustrating. As Chanukah comes to an end, let’s keep in mind so many – so many – who are in such need… here in our own country, and around the world – fighting for freedom and justice – and the right to live in peace. The news: Bhasan Char The government of Bangladesh has moved forward with plans to relocate Rohingya refugees from camps in Cox’s Bazar to Bhasan Char, an island in the Bay of Bengal. In early December over 1,600 refugees were moved to the island, joining 306 who had been detained there since May. More relocations are planned for the coming months. See here for a briefer about the situation, written by a number of coalition partners. Bangladesh has denied UN requests to access the island in order to complete independent technical and protection assessments. All relocations to the island must be halted until these assessments take place. There are reports that coercion and intimidation tactics are being used to pressure refugees to agree to relocation. There is also confusion and a lack of information about the situation on the island. For any relocation to be voluntary, Rohingya must have full access to accurate information, including the results of UN assessments, and ensured freedom of movement between Bhasan Char and the camps on the mainland. What has the JRJN done about this in the past?We came out with a joint statement a year ago condemning this threat. Now, it’s come to fruition. What can we do?Right now, raising awareness via social media is what we can do. SAMPLE TWEET:Bangladesh has begun to relocate Rohingya refugees to a flood prone island. Let’s stand with Rohingya people as they call for a UN assessment of the island and to affirm the need for any relocation to be voluntary. #JewishRohingyaJusticeNetwork If you want to link to an article in your tweet, here’s one: https://www.devex.com/news/as-bangladesh-moves-rohingya-to-bhasan-char-un-and-aid-agencies-face-a-dilemma-98757 What messaging can we use?This is a tricky, delicate scenario that is changing daily. Here are our main asks:
Hannah WeilbacherProgram Officer for Jewish Advocacy and Engagement(she/her) American Jewish World Service202.379.4277 | www.ajws.org | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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Town Hall Discussion – Feeding the Hungry in Northeast Ohio
Beth Israel – The West Temple, and Peter Sackett, will host a Town Hall Discussion,with Kristin Warzocha, President and CEO, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, and Lona Gruber, founding director of the SCAN Hunger Center Pantry. Our guests will discuss their paths to leadership, challenges in their positions, goals and needs for the upcoming holiday season and other issues. Questions may be submitted via Chat Room during the live stream. Here is the YouTube link to the livestream https://youtu.be/b2J2jRfQdbM
