Shabbat Toldot, November 29 2008 Candle Lighting: 4:10 PM/ Shabbat Ends: 5:13 PM Torah Reading: Genesis 25:19-28:9 / Haftarah: Malakhi 1:1-2:7
A Teaching from Rabbi Weintraub
At the beginning of this week’s Parsha, we meet Jacob and Esau, son of Isaac and Rebecca, grandsons of Abraham and Sarah. The boys are twins but entirely different characters. Esau, the older is gruff, a hunter, and “man of the field”. Jacob is wholesome, studious “abiding in tents”. One day Esau comes in famished from the hunt. Jacob, taking advantage of his brother’s hunger, offers him a pot of lentil stew in exchange for his birthright. Esau responds, “Look, I am going to die, so of what use to me is a birthright?” (Genesis 25:32).
Esau is focused on physical appetite and material satisfaction. Isaac prefers him, the Torah notes graphically, “because the game was in his mouth” (Genesis 25:28). Jacob is ish tam “a wholesome man” who stayed in the Academy and found peace by introspection. Esau lives for excitement; Jacob wants insight.
The Rabbinic Midrash on Genesis (Genesis Rabbah 63:12) teaches that this sale of the birthright occurred right after the death of Abraham. If so, this incident highlights not just the twin’s different characters, but fundamentally different outlooks on life. Esau responds to his grandfather’s death by indulging himself. “Look, I am going to die so of what use to me is a birthright?” Meaning, history, legacy, search - of what use are all these since we are all going to kick it someday anyway? Jacob, in contrast, looked at his grandfather’s life, full of goodness, rich with heroism, and mostly indifferent to (even his own) wealth, and sees right away the importance of Shalshelet HaDorot the chain of generations, the meaning of Jewish life and ethics for the world.
As with all Biblical protagonists, we should appreciate Jacob and Esau not just as fictional characters but as part of ourselves. How many of us come home from work, or from working at home, famished and burnt out? Do we have the energy to sit and study, to open a book and debate with our children, to volunteer and learn? How strong is the temptation to “veg out” (recall the irony of the carnivorous Esau selling his legacy for a vegetarian stew!)? What do we need to do to change, to realize that the birthright is always ours, but can be squandered? Do we know enough about our Jewish past? Are we sufficiently equipped to tell the story to our children? And are we making time? Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Weintraub Schedule of Services
Kabbalat Shabbat: Friday at 6:00 PM Shabbat Morning: Saturday at 9:30 AM Mincha Saturday at 1:00 PM
Shacharit Sunday at 9:00 AM
Mazal Tov and Todah Rabbah
We extend a Mazal Tov to Aliyah Silverstein and Seamus Hurley on the naming this Shabbat of their new daughter. We wish also a Mazal Tov to the grandparents Tamar Laks and Jay Silverstein, and Betsy and Dick Hurley, and thank them for their generous, joint sponsorship of Kiddush in honor of the Simche. We look forward, with G-d’s help, to continued growth and celebration with the families for many years to come.
Upcoming Kane Street Events COME TO THE BOOK FAIR!! Books are the quintessential Chanukah gift, and the Hebrew School is here to help you find wonderful books while supporting the synagogue. The Hebrew School will receive a percentage of all the purchases you make at Book Court on Sunday December 14 th between the hours of 11am and 3pm. Book Court, located at 163 Court Street between Amity and Pacific, is an independently owned bookstore, and a treasure right in our neighborhood.
LIGHT UP YOUR CHANUKAH … …With beautiful Big Dipper Candles while supporting the synagogue and its Hebrew School. They make great Chanukah gifts and make lighting the chanukkiah more fun. Each bag of 44 candles is only $10. They are available in blue and white or multicolored. Samples will be on display Monday, November 24th in the lobby of the Goldman Educational Center from 5:30pm – 6:15 pm. Order forms are available in the Goldman building lobby, in the office, chapel and sanctuary. Please order by December 3rd with cash or a check payable to Kane Street Synagogue. You may drop off your order form and payment in the synagogue office or with Rabbi Valerie Lieber in the school office. You will be able to pick up your order by mid-December.
KANE STREET SYNAGOGUE FAMILY PROGRAMS… … Presents the first Shabbaton for all families with children in grades 4-7 on Saturday, December 6th from 10am – 12:15pm. The program, “This is MY Side of the Tent” presents sibling rivalry and family conflict in the Torah stories of Jacob and Esau. Children and their parents will have the chance to play interactive games and engaging learning activities to revisit these stories and apply them to 21st century life. We will end with a special KC minyan. Please note: the time has been changed from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and breakfast has been eliminated. This way, you can sleep a little later. Please refer all questions to Rabbi Valerie Lieber at [email protected] or 718-875-1550x123.
Israel Film Festival
The 5th Annual Brooklyn Israel Film Festival at Kane Street announces it slate of films! The festival will take place January 22-25 2009. As in previous years the movies are thoughtful, entertaining and award-winning. Saturday night’s movie will also feature an after-film discussion with the director!
Thursday, 1/22 at 8:00PM The Beetle (70 mins): Yishai Orian, the director of the movie and the owner of an old, beloved Volkswagen beetle is about to become a father. The exciting, funny, sad, and intimate memories of the VW Beetle’s previous owners blend with the director’s personal story. 2008 Opening Film of the DocAviv Int'l Film Festival, Israel; 2008 Audience Top Ten Laurel Choice, HotDocs International Film Festival, Canada.
Saturday, 1/24 at 8:00PM Noodle (90 mins): A touching comic drama spun around an El Al flight attendant’s life-affirming adventure and the captivating plight of an abandoned Chinese boy. It’s also the story of relationships between sisters, wives and husbands, friends and strangers. After the screening, Noodle's director Ayelet Menahemi will talk about her film. 2007 Israeli Film Academy ten nominations and Best Supporting Actress Award. “The Israeli movie of the year. Highly recommended. Charming, humanly, heartwarming and moving.” Channel One, Israel.
Sunday, 1/25 at 7:00PM Children of the Sun (70 mins): This documentary tells the profound story of the kibbutz movement and breaks down myths through personal stories and evocative rare footage that was shot at kibbutzim between 1930 through 1970. 2008 Israeli Academy Award for Best Documentary; 2008 Fiat Award for Best Usage of Archival Footage .
Stay tuned for more details about speakers. We'll also soon have more information about the films on the "kanestreet.org" website. As last year, ticket prices are $25 for series tickets and $10 for each film. We look forward to seeing you at the film festival!—The Brooklyn Israel Film Festival at Kane Street Committee
Kadima/USY
*Event For 6th to 8th Graders* Celebrate Shabbat with friends, good food, & a bunch of games! When: Friday 12/5/08 Time: 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM Location: Congregation Mount Sinai, 250 Cadman Plaza West Price: FREE RSVP: By December 3rd!!!!
*Event for 9th to 12th Graders* USY Havdallah & Night Ice Skating at Wollman Rink When: Saturday 12/6/08 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Location: Meet/Pickup @ Park Slope Jewish Center - 1320 8th Ave @ 13th Street Price: FREE Admission & Rental for Members; $15 for Non-Members RSVP: By December 3rd
Tikkun Olam / Social Justice
Volunteer for the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue's Homeless Shelter--Sign up now! The following slots still need to be filled: Cooking: December 10, 17, 23 Overnight: December 10 (one person), 16 (two people), 17 (one person), 22 (two people) Volunteers needed from December 8-December 25 (Monday-Thursday of each week). Kane Street Awarded Jewish Social Action Month Grant from UJA-Federation of New York. The $2000 JSAM grant will enable Kane Street to increase its commitment at the Brooklyn Height Synagogue Homeless Shelter. ---Spend the night at the Shelter (volunteers especially needed to stay over; you will get sleep!) ---Cook and serve a meal with others (does not require an overnight stay; perfect for families with young children)
For more information or to get involved email [email protected].
Kane Street Food Rescue -- Many thanks to Tamar Laks & Jay Silverstein and Betsy & Dick Hurley for participating in KSFR. The KSFR helps our congregation fulfill the commandment of me'achal re'evim, feeding the hungry, and the commandment of ba'al tash'chit, not wasting food. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in donating the leftover food from an upcoming sponsored kiddush or are interested in joining the KSFR team. KSFR volunteers give a very small amount of time on either Shabbat or Sunday morning to ensure that our congregation's kiddush bounty is not wasted. Join us!
MOM (Mitzvah of the Month) salutes all those who donated shoes to the September-October Soles4Souls Shoe Drive. We shipped 180 pairs of shoes- everything from patent leather to sneaker, boots to sandals. And thanks to the families at the synagogue, Kane Street Kids and the Hebrew School, 70 pairs of shoes for little people are on their way to deserving little feet. Your effort makes the difference.
MOM for November-December is a New York Cares Coat Drive Did you know that 90% of homeless adults need a new, warm coat each winter because they have no place to keep one over the summer months? But it's not just homeless people who need our help; thousands of New Yorkers are forced to make a choice between buying a winter coat and putting food on the table, or meeting other basic survival needs. Each December, New York Cares collects nearly 80,000 gently used winter coats and distributes them to thousands of men, women, and children who would otherwise go without. Please donate your gently used coats in the receptacle in the Goldman Building Lobby.
NEXT Cobble Hill Health Center Visit--December 19th For over twenty-five years, Bob Marx has made monthly Shabbat visits to the Cobble Hill Health Center. Join Bob and the Social Justice Committee, as we spend an hour with Cobble Hill residents of all ages schmoozing, conversing about current events, telling stories, and singing songs. Meet at the Center, 380 Henry Street, in the Recreation Room. All ages welcome. 9:45am-10:45am 380 Henry Street, corner of Congress St.
CAN YOU GIVE AN HOUR ON SOME SHABBAT MORNINGS TO WELCOME NEWCOMERS? In order to engage newcomers to our community warmly and knowledgably, we have re- established the “welcome station”, an innovation which was very successful during our experience on Synaplex Shabbats. Every Shabbat morning, near the Synagogue entrance, we organize a table with Synagogue literature, and with two people to shake visitors’ hands, offer a “Shabbat Shalom”, answer questions about our community, and direct people properly to our Sanctuary, alternative or youth services. These “small acts of welcome”, as numerous studies have shown, influence people’s later decisions about continued involvement in the Synagogue.
Please consider taking a shift on some Shabbat mornings. The membership committee will provide a very quick, easy training for those who want to be greeters. The shifts are 9:15-10:15, 10:15-11:15, and 11:15 – 12:15. We also ask greeters, if it is possible, to remain for the Kiddush after services to integrate newcomers even more into our community. If you can volunteer, please contact Idelle Abrams at [email protected]
Education The Kane Street Hebrew School is in full swing; for any questions or registration, contact Rabbi Valerie Lieber, Educational Director [email protected] or 875-1550.
Kane Street’s Goldman Educational Center is also home to our Preschool, Kane Street Kids. For information about Kane Street Kids, contact Director Joyce Heller, [email protected] , or call Joyce at 718-875-1550.
Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel now accepting applications The Bronfman Youth Fellowship in Israel is one of the most extraordinary opportunities for Jewish learning and leadership training available to High School students. The purpose of this Fellowship is to increase understanding and tolerance among the different Jewish denominations. Thus, Fellows range from those who are religiously observant to those only marginally affiliated with Judaism. Through discussion, study and interaction with the land, leaders and people of Israel, the Fellows learn about the whole spectrum of Jewish peoplehood. This fully endowed program will take place from June 29 to August 5, 2009. Fellows interact with a select group of Israeli teenage Fellows, and meet with Israeli leaders who have included Prime Ministers, Knesset members, and influential journalists and novelists. The fellowship is open to Jewish students of all backgrounds who are in their Junior Year of High School and will be sixteen by June 30, 2009. No prior Jewish educational background is necessary to apply. The Fellowship covers round trip transportation between New York and Israel, educational programming and room, board and travel while in Israel. Fellows also explore important Israeli historical sites and natural attractions. There is a very active alumni program, including follow up- seminars in North America, continued local and national meetings, social service, on line study, and opportunities for professional growth. Kane Street is proud to be the Synagogue home of three former Bronfman Fellows: Alice Phillips, Liba Wenig-Rubenstein, and Sam Telzak. If you would like an application, or more information, please go to www.bronfman.org
Gap-year in Israel Fair For students between high school and college Sunday, December 7, 2008 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Hosted by: IVRY PROZDOR HS of JTS Open to New York City Students and Parents 3080 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 Contact Jeremy Fine for more details: [email protected] RSVP requested, but not required Fun Things to Do Thursday, December 4, 2008, 7:30 p.m., at The Jewish Theological Seminary
Dr. Edna Nahshon will discuss her new book Jews and Shoes Jews and Shoes (Berg, 2008) boldly makes the case that in addition to their utilitarian use, shoes are artifacts that convey theological, social, and economic concepts, and can be read as biographical documents. Jews and Shoes is unprecedented in scope and subject matter, and is handsomely illustrated, with images collected from around the globe, including The Library of The Jewish Theological Seminary. In her talk, Dr. Nahshon will discuss shoes, shoelessness, and shoemakers in Jewish life from the Bible to the modern world, a topic her book approaches from a wide range of cultural, artistic, and historic perspectives. Dr. Nahshon will show images of the book’s rich illustrations
Website To find out all that Kane Street Synagogue has to offer, please visit our new website at www.kanestreet.org. Features include the KSS calendar, listing of weekly services and leaders, upcoming events, contact information, educational programs, application forms for new members and school enrolment, directions to our facilities and cemeteries, donation forms for giving online or by fax, a link to Amazon.com that supports the synagogue, access to our publications and so much more. Add www.kanestreet.org to your Favorite's List today. Visit us often.
Getting and Staying in Touch To reach the Synagogue Office and Executive Director—Linda Kass-Mahler: [email protected] , or call 718-875-1550
To reach the Rabbi--Samuel Weintraub: [email protected] , or call 718-875-1550. The Rabbi maintains “call-in hours” Tuesdays 10:15-12:15 and Wednesdays 11-1; these are times when members can be sure to snag him to make an appointment, to ask questions, etc. Feel free to call at other times; these are the times when you know he’ll be there, barring emergencies.
Shabbat Customs Thank you for joining us as our congregation gathers for Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) services. It is a special time when we seek sanctuary from our busy lives to find community with friends and family, and participate in rituals and customs common to congregations throughout the world. Our services combine traditional nuscha’ot (prayer forms and melodies) with an open spirit and democratic lay leadership.
We invite you to join in our song and celebration. Our prayer books for Friday night and Shabbat morning Services include phonetic transliteration. On Shabbat, we create an atmosphere wherein each pray-er may reflect on his/her life, and so leave shul with renewed faith and optimism. Therefore, quiet is the proper mood for synagogue.
We are blessed with an abundance of lively, lovely children. Without diminishing our kids’ playful natures and the enjoyment they take in each others’ company on Shabbat, we want to foster a safe and respectful atmosphere. When children are not participating in youth services or babysitting, we expect parents to maintain their oversight so injuries are avoided, services are not disrupted and synagogue activities and property are not disturbed.
To preserve the sanctity of our bodies, our souls and the Sabbath, please refrain from smoking, using cell phones or other electronic devices and taking pictures at any time while in or around the synagogue. Our synagogue ushers will gladly provide more information about our community and our customs.
After services we gather for an Oneg, refreshments and socializing, in the community room.
Please join us.
Submissions to the Kane Yirbu should be emailed to Kane Yirbu editor Barbara Speregen at [email protected] by the Monday preceding publication.
Kane Street Synagogue, Congregation Baith Israel Anshei Emes 236 Kane Street, Brooklyn, New York 11231 • Phone: 718-875-1550 • Fax: 718-797-1152 Email: [email protected] • www.kanestreet.org
Samuel H. Weintraub, Rabbi • [email protected] Jay Brodsky, President • [email protected]