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

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MIKVEH ISRAEL RECORD 29 Nisan 5772 Shabbat Shemini April 20-21, 2012 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. Mikveh Israel Newsletter 1 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.
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