MIKVEH ISRAEL RECORD 29 Nisan 5772 Shabbat Shemini April 20-21, 2012

Parashah: In this week's parashah, Moses instructed Aharon to bring certain sacrifices (korbanot) to G-d on the eighth day of the Shabbat Services ceremony to ordain the priests and consecrate the Tabernacle. After Aharon offered the korbanot, he lifted his hands toward the people and Candlelighting: 7:26 P.M. blessed them. The Presence of the Lord appeared to all the people and Friday Night Service: 7:15 P.M. fire came forth and consumed the korbanot on the altar. Shabbat Morning Service: 9:00 A.M. Acting on their own, Aharon's sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire Torah Class 6:00 P.M. pan, laid incense on it, and offered an alien fire, which G-d had not Shabbat Afternoon Service: 7:00 P.M. commanded. G-d sent fire to consume them, and they died. Moses told Shabbat Ends: 8:26 P.M.

Aharon, "This is what the Lord meant when He said: 'Through those near to Me I show Myself holy, and gain glory before all the people,'"

and Aharon remained silent. FROM THE RABBI Moses called Aharon's cousins Mishael and Elzaphan to carry away By Rabbi Albert E. Gabbai Nadab's and Abihu's bodies to a place outside the camp. Moses instructed Aharon and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar not to mourn In the Parashah this week, we talk about the laws of Kashrut and the animals that are "pure" and animals that are "impure." Nadab and Abihu by rending their garments or leaving their hair unshorn and not to go outside the Tent of Meeting. G-d told Aharon The language used in this Parashah is different from the one used that he and his sons must not drink wine or other intoxicants when in the Parashah of Noah. In Parashat Noah, it refers to "pure" they entered the Tent of Meeting, so as to distinguish between the and "not pure." This week's uses the terms "pure" and sacred and the profane. Moses directed Aharon, Eleazar, and Ithamar to "defiled" animals. In Parashat Noah, our Rabbis tell us that the eat the remaining meal offering beside the altar, designating it most Torah could have used the language of "pure" and "impure" to holy and the priests' due. Then Moses inquired about the goat of sin teach us that, even in respect to animals, we refer to them in a

offering, and was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar when he learned that softer language and therefore it will be so much more important it had already been burned and not eaten in the sacred area. Aaron when we refer to human beings. answered Moses: "See, this day they brought their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, and such things have befallen me! Had I In the Parashah this week, the Torah doesn't mince words and eaten sin offering today, would the Lord have approved?" And when uses "pure" and "defiled" to refer to the different types of Moses heard this, he approved. animals. G-d then instructed Moses and Aharon in the dietary laws of kashrut, So why is the Torah not consistant? identifying the animal species permissible and forbidden for consumption. Animals may be eaten only if they have split hooves and The answer is that, as a general rule, we should always have soft also chew their cud; fish must have fins and scales; a list of non-kosher words in our mouth but sometimes it is necessary to be birds is given, and a list of kosher insects (four types of locusts) is also blunt. This should be an exception to the rule. It is in a way given. Among the creeping creatures listed as unclean are weasels, mice similar to the two great Rabbis, Hillel and Shammai. Hillel toads, hedgehogs, lizards, snails and moles. presents the softer, more tolerant approach to Judaism; Shammai, the blunt truth. Our Sages tell us, "Elu Elu"- the words of these two schools are both the words of the living G-d. Yet, the The Haftarah is from I Samuel and will be read by Mr. Jason Vessal. preference that the Talmud calls for are the words of Hillel.

We should always use soft words and only when necessary

should we use the blunt truth.

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From The Parnas By Mark I. Wolfson Kids of Mikveh Israel, do you have an opinion? a funny joke? a drawing? a cool After much anticipation, we are excited to announce the story? or anything else you want to release of the new Mikveh Israel website! Of course, I share about the parashah or a encourage you to go through every part of the site in detail holiday? Send it in to as you have time, but I would like to point out one new important feature. In future columns, I will explore other [email protected] and we will areas of interest. publish it. This is your space. In the History & Tradition section of the site, you will see a Yom Hashoah Program choice for Archive/Art/Artifact. This brings you to the Mikveh Nashirah will present an inspirational program of music Israel Online Museum. Thanks to Joel Rudewitz and Louis during the Annual Memorial Ceremony for the Six Million Kessler for gathering the information and putting up these Jewish Martyrs on Sunday, April 22, at 1 PM. The event, exhibits. The current collection in the Online Museum sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of contains over 50 items enshrined in 5 different exhibits – Historic Congregational Items, Presidential Letters, the Gratz the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the Family Collection, the Joseph Simon Collection, and the Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Philadelphia, Portrait Gallery. will be staged at the Monument to the Six Million Jewish Martyrs, 16th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Historic Congregational Items Philadelphia. This exhibit contains fascinating documents and artifacts of the congregation dating back to the mid 18th century. Yom Hazikaron Included in this collection are Subscription Lists (pledges for donations) from the early years of the first building, The Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia and the Architectural Plans for the second building which was Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia invite the designed by the famous architect William Strickland, some community to attend a Memorial Day Ceremony honoring important letters by Isaac Leeser, our Omer Counters (in use Israel's fallen soldiers and all victims of terrorism on currently in the sanctuary), and the Myer Myers Silver Tuesday, April 24 at 7:30 PM at Har Zion Temple, 1500 Rimonin, which are the bells that adorn the top of the Torah Hagys Ford Rd., Penn Valley. Immediately following the Scrolls that were presented to the congregation at the ceremony, there will be a screening of the movie A Green opening of the first building in 1782. Kippah. This film, produced and directed by Sally Mitlas, commemorates Yom Hazikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, by Presidential Letter Collection chronicling the lives and tragic deaths of three American This exhibit contains images of all of the letters written to Jews with strong family ties to the United States: David Mikveh Israel by US Presidents, beginning with the famous Solomonov (z"l), Rita Levine (z"l) and Michael Levin (z"l). letter from George Washington. The next President to write to the congregation was Abraham Lincoln who acknowledged a warm and affectionate sermon delivered on his behalf by Beginners' Hebrew Class the Hazzan at the time, Sabato Morais. The next President to א ב ג Rabbi Gabbai’s Beginners' Hebrew Class is starting Tuesday write a letter was William Howard Taft. We have letters from April 24, 2012. This course will give you the opportunity all of the Presidents since then up to the current President to enhance your attendance during prayers. At the end of Obama, though only the letters through Bill Clinton are the course, you will read Hebrew and have some displayed in this exhibit. understanding of the grammar and meaning. You will be able to chant in harmony with the rest of the congregation Gratz Family Collection and it will make your prayers more meaningful. Bernard and Michael Gratz were very important people both in the formation of Mikveh Israel, and also in the formation Class will be held FIVE TUESDAYS, from 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 of the United States. Both were very active patriots who P.M. If you are interested you can still join by calling the participated in the activities leading up to the revolution, and office, 215-922-5446. There is no charge for the course. then provided goods to support the continental army during the revolutionary war. Michael’s son Hyman provided the inspiration and seed money to start Gratz College. He was also the treasurer of Mikveh Israel for 30 years. Perhaps the Mikveh Israel Newsletter 2 “From the Parnas” continued on p. 4

Continued from previous column…

The Chair in Front of the Tebah Congregation of Such Conduct to an applicant.” Was it the normal By Dr. Andrew Gluck custom not to acknowledge preliminary membership applications? Was Dr. Moses Lopez impertinent or perhaps ignorant about membership Almost all congregants of KKMI are acquainted with the old chair in front of requirements? the Tebah, upon which rest a tray and a ewer for the use of the Cohanim when they perform the priestly blessing. What is the history of this chair Who was Dr. Moses Lopez? All we know is that he was a dentist and how did it happen that a chair, normally used for sitting, should be and a “bleeder,” a medical practice at the time. He may have been used as a stand for washing materials? related to the famous Lopez family in Newport, begun by Aaron Lopez and his brother Moses (died 1767) early in the 18th century. Let us look at the chair itself. It has a very high back, reminiscent of some They came directly to the New World from Portugal. Aaron was a Queen Anne chairs and chairs in the front of churches. Christies declared it a famous colonial Jew, engaged in many business enterprises and in Federal chair in 1996. Its seat is mildly scooped out and slopes slightly the slave trade as many merchants were. The last Jew to leave down at the back. Most prominent of its features are the two rather Newport in 1822, a nephew of Aaron Lopez, was also named Moses disproportionately large hands representing the priestly benediction on the Lopez. We have in the archives a lunar calendar written by a Moses back. They appear to be part of the chair but closer inspection reveals them Lopez and published in Newport in 1806. to be screwed on to the back. On the top of the back in gold paint is written a Hebrew phrase. We can now tentatively answer the question regarding the apparent impertinence of Moses Lopez. If he was a member of a most prominent American Sephardic Jewish family it must have irked him להם כח תברכו את בני ישראל אמור On the bottom is written RH 5577 (Rosh ha Shana 1816). A close inspection that he was not readily accepted as a member in Philadelphia, in of the Hebrew writing reveals it to be a mangled introduction to the priestly my opinion. blessing in Numbers VI: 23. “Thus shall you bless the Children of Israel, We found no precedents for officially using a chair as a stand. .And Many people wrongly think that it is a Chair of Elijah for Brit Milah ?כה in the word ה instead of a ח saying to them...” Why is there a why is the last word the first (right to left)? Some opine that a non-Jewish It has indeed been so used under previous administrations but there craftsman wrote the letters and then found to his dismay that there was not is no indication that Dr. Moses Lopez wanted it used in that way. enough room for the last word so he wrote it in the far right. This helps to But there may have been a connection in his mind between explain the misspelling and the picture of an open book rather than a scroll. circumcisions and priestly blessings, which sometimes are recited at The first to write about this was Wolf and Whiteman, who did their research the end of the Brit Milah ceremony, though not in our Minhag. in the 1950’s. They knew that it was a gift from Dr. Moses Lopez and they Nevertheless, the Brit Milah and priestly activities are conceptually found his two letters to the congregation but they failed to find the connected in our tradition. See p.415 (verses 3 and 4 in the congregational minutes for the year 1816. They concluded that the gift was Hebrew) in the de Sola Pool prayer book in joyful gratitude of being accepted as a member after waiting three years. This turns out to be not quite accurate. A Special Shabbat with Rev. Allan Corre We made copies of the minutes and correspondence for the period Rev. Alan Corre, former Minister of Congregation Mikveh Israel, immediately before and after the donation of this chair to the congregation will be joining us on Shabbat Ha'azinu, September 29, 2012 by Dr. Moses Lopez on September 2, 1816. The minutes were in their (between Kippur and Succot). He will address the congregation appropriate folder. This is what we found. with a sermon on that Shabbat. We hope that you will plan The chair was actually donated before Dr.Moses Lopez became a member and on joining us and welcoming Rev. Corre back to Mikveh Israel. not necessarily in gratitude for being allowed to become one. He stated that he “adapted” it to hold a tray and ewer. The minutes of the congregation Adult Learning Classes indicate that on September15th, 1816 Dr. Lopez became a member and the Rabbi Albert Gabbai continues the adult education class on Monday Board acknowledged both his gifting letter and a previous letter of complaint. evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. Topic of study for Rabbi's class In those days, according to the then constitution in force, a person might on Monday nights is The Talmud. That subject begins on Monday, normally have to be a seat-holder for three years before becoming a March 5th and goes for 15 weeks. Please call the office to enroll or member. We found in his correspondence of June 16th 1816 that Dr. Moses contact Carol Marchand. Lopez was upset regarding the fact that his previous applications had been met by silence. He emphasized and underlined the word “Silence” in his Kiddush & Meals letter to the Board and Parnas. He also commented regarding the failure of We all enjoy the Kiddush after our services. If you wish to sponsor his applications to be acknowledged, “The Reason of which I could not or dedicate one in honor of, in memory of, or for any reason, please learn.” He asked the Parnas and Ajuntos “to investigate the Reason” and call the office, 215-922-5446, and reserve your date. We need your opined this was “a President [precedent?] that has never occurred in any participation in order to continue this program. CongregationContinued of on Such next Conductcolumn. to an applicant.” Was it the normal custom Mikveh Israel Newsletter 3 “From the Parnas” continued from p. 2

also the treasurer of Mikveh Israel for 30 years. Perhaps the most famous in the Gratz family was Michael’s daughter Rebecca, who in her 88 years was a leader and innovator and pioneer in Jewish society, founding such Happy Birthday this week to: institutions as the Female Association for the Relief of Women and Children in Reduced Circumstances, the Philadelphia Orphan Society, and Mr. Joseph Cohen Ms. Liliana Elkouss the Hebrew Sunday School Society. Mr. Bill Moody Burt Morris, Esq. Mrs. Jaimi Levy and Dr. Barri Weisman Joseph Simon Collection A leader of the Lancaster Jewish community, Joseph Simon was a trader

Refuah Shelemah and merchant, as were many of the early Jewish settlers in the Philadelphia area. He was well respected by the greater community for We wish a Refuah Shelamah to: being honest and fair. He was also very active during the revolutionary Mr. Leon L. Levy period and a patriot and supplier of goods for the army, often in Mrs. Sonia Schwartz Dr. George Ehrlich partnership with his son-in-law, Michael Gratz, who married his daughter Mr. Richard Marcus Miriam. Mrs. Myrna Marcus Mr. Seth Bloom Mrs. Gilda Silver Mikveh Israel Portrait Gallery Mrs. Charlotte Sady Ms. Victoria Rosin Adorning the walls of our Social Hall, are portraits of many important Ms. Liliana Elkouss, Mrs. Josie Cohen and members and leaders of the congregation, dating back to the first Minister Rabbi Michael Tayvah of Mikveh Israel, Gershom Mendes Seixas. There are also portraits of Isaac Leeser, Sabato Morais, Michael Gratz, Hyman Gratz, Jonas Phillips, the Phone calls and cards to wish someone a Refuah Shelemah are appreciated. Parnas at the opening of the first building in 1782, and Isaac Hayes, a

founder of the American Medical Association. HOLD THIS DATE! MAY 22, 2012 I hope you enjoy the new web site! As you go through it, please provide Save the date for the Annual Fellowship Evening of Kahal Kadosh feedback and comments. Remember that this will be a “living” web site, Mikveh Israel and Christ Church in Philadelphia, on Tuesday evening, that we will be constantly improving and editing. The current version is a May 22, 2012. This year the evening is hosted by Christ Church. work in progress. Look for your invitation soon! ______Thoughts on Prayer Join us for Mah Jongg by Daniel C. Cohen We have started our Mah Jongg classes and if you are interested in When the Omer is properly counted (after dark, with a blessing), it is learning how to play, please contact Fran Levy at 609-923- accompanied by a prayer for the restoration of the Temple and the 6765. For beginners or for those who want to refresh their recitation of Psalm 67. (Prayerbook p. 387) Why this psalm? I find it skills. No fee, just fun! interesting that this particularistic ritual, associated with the Temple, is accompanied by a universalistic hope that the nations of the world will SHOP IN OUR GIFT SHOP someday recognize the G-d of Israel. We have a wonderful selection of wine for Passover as well as an amazing selection of Judaica gifts that would be perfect for Bar and A bit of research discloses that the psalm was chosen because it consists Bat Mitzvahs. Come check us out! Please call the office, 215-922- of 49 words.[I don't think that delegitimizes my meditation.]. 5446, for an appointment to shop. We can arrange to have ______someone meet you. Contribution Cards Volunteers are Needed for our Gift Shop Call the office to send out a contribution card for a Simha, such as a Do you like to meet people? Do you like to sell? If so, volunteer to birthday, birth, anniversary, graduation, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Berit Milah, work in the Gift Shop. We need your help and will set up a schedule for condolence or for any other event or occasion. The cost is $10 for a according to the hours you have available. personalized message. Please call Mrs. Fran Levy, 609-923-6765

Mikveh Israel Newsletter 4