Bulletin – Jul/Aug 2021
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Hebcal-5779.Pdf
September 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 29th of Elul, 5778 1st of Tishrei, 5779 2nd of Tishrei, 5779 3rd of Tishrei, 5779 4th of Tishrei, 5779 5th of Tishrei, 5779 6th of Tishrei, 5779 Erev Rosh Hashana Rosh Hashana 5779 Rosh Hashana II Tzom Gedaliah Shabbat Shuva 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 7th of Tishrei, 5779 8th of Tishrei, 5779 9th of Tishrei, 5779 10th of Tishrei, 5779 11th of Tishrei, 5779 12th of Tishrei, 5779 13th of Tishrei, 5779 Erev Yom Kippur Yom Kippur 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 14th of Tishrei, 5779 15th of Tishrei, 5779 16th of Tishrei, 5779 17th of Tishrei, 5779 18th of Tishrei, 5779 19th of Tishrei, 5779 20th of Tishrei, 5779 Erev Sukkot Sukkot I Sukkot II Sukkot III (CH''M) Sukkot IV (CH''M) Sukkot V (CH''M) Sukkot VI (CH''M) 30 21st of Tishrei, 5779 Sukkot VII (Hoshana Raba) Provided by Hebcal.com with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License October 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 22nd of Tishrei, 5779 23rd of Tishrei, 5779 24th of Tishrei, 5779 25th of Tishrei, 5779 26th of Tishrei, 5779 27th of Tishrei, 5779 Shmini Atzeret Simchat Torah 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 28th of Tishrei, 5779 29th of Tishrei, 5779 30th of Tishrei, 5779 1st of Cheshvan, 5779 2nd of Cheshvan, 5779 3rd of Cheshvan, 5779 4th of Cheshvan, 5779 Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 5th of Cheshvan, 5779 6th of Cheshvan, 5779 7th of Cheshvan, 5779 8th of Cheshvan, 5779 9th of Cheshvan, 5779 10th of Cheshvan, 5779 11th -
Av-Elul 5781 AUGUST 2021
Av-Elul 5781 AUGUST 2021 High Holy Days are a time for reflection, introspection, prayer, and re-connection. We welcome you to join us in celebrating and observing these special holy days either in-person or virtually. With the COVID-19 situation and restrictions constantly changing, we are doing our Friday, August 6 6 pm best to make informed decisions regarding the safety of our members, staff, and clergy. Our Courtyard Shabbat Service current plan is to have a hybrid of in-person and online services. We are awaiting direction from Saturday, August 7 10:30 am our Health and Safety Committee as to how many people we can safely allow at an indoor service Shabbat Service and then how to accomplish that goal. We may need to limit the number of people who can Abby Weiss Bat Mitzvah attend any particular service, but we are not sure yet. We promise to keep you updated as soon R’eih, Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17 as these important decisions are made. Isaiah 54:11-55:5 We plan to distribute the Mishkah HaNefesh prayer books for you to use at home if you choose Friday, August 13 6 pm to watch the livestreamed services, however, if you are interested in owning your own set, they Shabbat Service can be purchased in hard copy from CCAR Press ($44 + tax & shipping) or Kindle ($19.98 + tax) from Amazon.com. Books are also available in large print edition. CCAR Press (ccarpress.org) is Saturday, August 14 10:30 am offering a 20% discount – Use promo code MHN20 at checkout (offer expires Sept. -
Midway Jewish Center Bar and Bat Mitzvah Guide Page 2
LET’S START PLANNING A—BAR/T MITZVAH BAT & BAR MITZVAH THE ULTIMATE MJC GUIDE FOR BAR/BAT MITZVAH Perry Raphael Rank Rabbi Joel Levenson Associate Rabbi Lisa Stein Director of Education Sandi Bettan Preschool Director Genea Moore Synagogue Administrator Michael Kohler President Howard Rosen Ritual Committee Chair Office Phone (516) 938-8390 Office Fax (516) 938-3906 E-Mail [email protected] Revised December, 2016 / Kislev, 5777 Midway Jewish Center Bar and Bat Mitzvah Guide Page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 WHAT IS BAR/T MITZVAH? 3 HOW MUCH OF THE SERVICE OUR CHILDREN WILL KNOW 4 WHY WE TEACH WHAT WE TEACH 4 RABBIS' ROLES 5 THE TUTORS' ROLES 5 TIMETABLE FOR THE BAR/T MITZVAH EXPERIENCE 7 HELPING OUR CHILDREN BECOME RESPONSIBLE JEWS 7 EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS REQUIREMENTS 8 THE DIRECTIONS / DECORUM CARD 9 BAR/T MITZVAH INVITATION DISPLAY POLICY 9 HONORS 10 KIDDUSH 10 SE'UDAH SHEL MITZVAH—A MEAL EMANATING FROM A MITZVAH 10 SYNAGOGUE DECORUM 10 A TZEDAKKAH OPPORTUNITY 11 SOME TERMS YOU OUGHT TO KNOW 12 AN ALIYAH: IT’S AN HONOR -- BUT WHAT DO I DO? 18 Midway Jewish Center Bar and Bat Mitzvah Guide Page 3 INTRODUCTION Is it hard to believe that your child will soon become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah? You might as well brace yourself now. That little boy or girl that just yesterday was strapped into a car seat is today getting all set for adolescence. Our children begin to go through some dramatic changes, physically and emotionally, at the age of thirteen. The rabbis were wise in choosing this age as the proper time for becoming Bar/t Mitzvah. -
HAFTARAH – Rosh Hashana Day 2 – 2017/5778 for Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives Cynthia Greenberg / Page 1 of 6
HAFTARAH – Rosh Hashana Day 2 – 2017/5778 For Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of our Lives Cynthia Greenberg / Page 1 of 6 At this serious moment of crisis in our country, at the start of our new Jewish year, what does a middle aged, queer woman, who once had an abortion (thank you Planned Parenthood), and is a tante, an aunt, a tia, g-dmum, and stepmom, but who has no kids of her own, have to say about Hannah, and a haftarah from the books of the Prophets full of pleading with and praying to G-d to be granted a child? Hannah, who prays so sincerely and with her full heart that she becomes the paradigm for true prayer with kavannah. Hannah, who when her prayers are finally realized, and indeed she bears a child at the ripe old age of 130, then gives the child, her son Samuel, back to G-d, in gratitude and humbleness, or as some Torah interpreters tell us, with an appreciation that there is “enough for all” and perhaps she never really needed that son anyway. My first response to this harftarah – which, I confess, has not really made a huge impression on me over all these years of Rosh Hashanah observance, so much so that if you had asked me, before I began to prepare for today, who Hannah was, I would not really have been able to recall – my first response was “yuck” and “why me?” Why this tale? Why this agonizing about fertility and childbearing and the worth of women? Why yet another story about a fellow who has two wives and one of them has kids but the other doesn’t, and there are jealousies and mistreatments and resentments between them? Those stories never end well. -
A Brief Reflection for Tisha B'av
A Brief Reflection for Tisha B’Av Today is the fast day that is known as Tisha B’Av, the ninth of the Hebrew month of Av. Unfortunately, this fast day in many communities is neglected, despite the fact that the rabbis modeled the day after Yom Kippur. Like Yom Kippur, the rabbis prohibited eating, drinking, washing, perfumes, leather shoes, and conjugal relations. In addition, it is the only fast day which like Yom Kippur begins the night before. What does Tisha B’Av commemorate? Most importantly, it marks the day which the two Temples were destroyed, the first in the year 586 BCE and the second in 70 CE. When we talk about the destruction of the Temple, we are talking about much more than the destruction of a building. We are talking about the beginning of Jewish exile, a condition that we still grapple with. Growing up in a very traditional home, this concept was reinforced in prayer three times a day. In the houses of many Orthodox Jews, a section of a wall is left unfinished as a constant reminder that this is not our ultimate home. In the three weeks preceding Tisha B’Av life seemed to slow down- we did not go swimming, we did not buy new gifts, and we did not go to concerts and parties. For three weeks we mourned. I think for most American Jews the notion of mourning over exile is completely unfamiliar. That is because to be put simply, American Jews living in this country do not feel they are in exile. -
Calendar of Torah and Haftarah Readings 5776 – 5778 2015 – 2018
Calendar of Torah and Haftarah Readings 5776 – 5778 2015 – 2018 Calendar of Torah and Haftarah Readings 5776-5778 CONTENTS NOTES ....................................................................................................1 DATES OF FESTIVALS .............................................................................2 CALENDAR OF TORAH AND HAFTARAH READINGS 5776-5778 ............3 GLOSSARY ........................................................................................... 29 PERSONAL NOTES ............................................................................... 31 Published by: The Movement for Reform Judaism Sternberg Centre for Judaism 80 East End Road London N3 2SY [email protected] www.reformjudaism.org.uk Copyright © 2015 Movement for Reform Judaism (Version 2) Calendar of Torah and Haftarah Readings 5776-5778 Notes: The Calendar of Torah readings follows a triennial cycle whereby in the first year of the cycle the reading is selected from the first part of the parashah, in the second year from the middle, and in the third year from the last part. Alternative selections are offered each shabbat: a shorter reading (around twenty verses) and a longer one (around thirty verses). The readings are a guide and congregations may choose to read more or less from within that part of the parashah. On certain special shabbatot, a special second (or exceptionally, third) scroll reading is read in addition to the week’s portion. Haftarah readings are chosen to parallel key elements in the section of the Torah being read and therefore vary from one year in the triennial cycle to the next. Some of the suggested haftarot are from taken from k’tuvim (Writings) rather than n’vi’ivm (Prophets). When this is the case the appropriate, adapted blessings can be found on page 245 of the MRJ siddur, Seder Ha-t’fillot. This calendar follows the Biblical definition of the length of festivals. -
Sukkot Schedule *All Zmanim Reflect Times in Manhattan
Sukkot Schedule *All Zmanim reflect times in Manhattan Friday, October 2 Erev Sukkot Shacharit 7:30am Candle Lighting 6:17pm Include Shel Shabbat v’Shel Yom Tov, and Shehecheyanu Minchah, Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv 6:25pm An abridged Kabbalat Shabbat begins with Mizmor Shir Le-Yom ha-Shabbat Omit Ba-Meh Madlikin Kiddush for Shabbat and Yom Tov can be recited after 7:17pm in the Sukkah Recite Leyshev Ba-Sukkah and then Shehecheyanu Ushpizin can be recited every night Shabbat, October 3 Yom Tov, Day 1 Shacharit 9:30am No Lulav and Etrog on Shabbat Full Hallel Torah Reading and Haftarah Vayikra 22:26-23:44, Bemidbar 29:12-16, Zechariah 14:1-21 Yah Eli, Musaf for Yom Tov with Shabbat inclusions Hoshanot for Shabbat (Ohm Netzurah) Hoshanot can be recited at home standing in place Seudah Shlishit in the Sukkah before 5:21pm Mincha/Maariv 6:15pm Candle Lighting and all preparations for 2nd day Yom Tov not before 7:15pm Kiddush for Yom Tov with Havdalah inclusions in the Sukkah Recite Shehecheyanu and then Leyshev Ba-Sukkah Sunday, October 4 Yom Tov, Day 2 Shacharit 9:30am Lulav and Etrog with Shehecheyanu One cannot wear gloves while performing this mitzvah Full Hallel Torah Reading and Haftarah Vayikra 22:26-23:44, Bemidbar 29:12-16, Melachim I 8:2-21 Yah Eli, Musaf for Yom Tov 1 Hoshanot (Lema’an Amitach) Mincha/Maariv 6:25pm Havdalah in the Sukkah (no Leyshev) 7:14pm Monday through Thursday, October 5-8 Shacharit 7:15am Lulav and Etrog Full Hallel Torah Reading M: Bemidbar 29:17-25, T: Bemidbar 29:20-28, W: -
Kenesset Israel Torah Center Yom Kippur Guide 2777
Kenesset Israel Torah Center Yom Kippur Guide 2777 Welcome! Welcome to Yom Kippur at Kenesset Israel Torah Center! The High Holidays are a time when Jews all over the world, of all denominations and approaches to the tradition observance, come together to pray to God, to do teshuvah - to repent of our past misdeeds - and to celebrate. These are days of expressing gratitude, awe, and remorse, days of asking forgiveness and forgiving others. The liturgy that we recite on Yom Kippur is poignant and beautiful, but there is a lot of it—services are long and there are literally hundreds of pages of prayers to recite. When you find yourself lost, bored, or simply overwhelmed by unfamiliar prayers, the pace of the davening, or the sheer length of the service, I invite you to use this packet to guide you through the services and offer you inspiration along the way. Additionally, I encourage you to read the prayers in a language you understand. It is more important to understand the prayers than to try to say or read them in Hebrew. May you be inscribed and sealed in the book of life! G’mar Chatima Tova, Rabbi Garth Silberstein Navigating the High Holiday Services A. Some Sage Advice “Embodying the rhythm and texts of the Yamim Nora'im [High Holidays] requires real work. I need to find my way into the machzor, into the days themselves, into the service, as I sit in the pews. It can feel overwhelming, relentless, perhaps especially on Yom Kippur when we all regress a bit, I think, and eventually start flipping through the book to the end, wondering exactly how many hours, how many minutes to until I can sit, enjoy that bagel and lox, that bit of lokshin kugel, a few sips of water. -
A Virtual Hanukkah Travelogue by CANTOR LAUREN PHILLIPS
A Virtual Hanukkah Travelogue BY CANTOR LAUREN PHILLIPS Discuss on ReformJudaism.org As the chill of winter sets in, it's fun to fantasize about visiting warm climates and exotic destinations. In many parts of North America, we dream of a white Hanukkah (or we wish for the opposite). Other Jewish communities, Australia, for example, celebrate the Festival of Lights in the heat of summer or, as in Alaska, in constant darkness. Here are eight countries around the world — some warm and some cold — that offer unique traditions that you and your family can use to spice up your Hanukkah celebrations. 1. Cuba: In their cooking, Cubans use plantains in much the same way we use potatoes: mashing them, baking them, and frying them. It should not come as a surprise that Cuban Jews make fried plantains, otherwise known as tostones or patacones, for their Hanukkah celebrations. Here's a plantain recipe you can try at home. 2. Syria: The Jews of Aleppo were descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. When they finally found a safe haven in Syria, they vowed to light an additionalshamash (helper candle) on Hanukkah as a sign of thanks. Today's Syria is a much different country. This Hanukkah, consider adopting the Syrian Jewish tradition of lighting an additional shamash in solidarity with the refugees who are fleeing Syria in droves in search of shelter and peace. 3. France: In the wine-making region of Avignon in the south of France, it is customary to end the Shabbat that falls during Hanukkah by opening a new bottle or cask of wine. -
The Four Special Shabbatot: Shekalim, Zakhor, Parah, and Hahodesh
The four special Shabbatot: Shekalim, Zakhor, Parah, and HaHodesh As Purim and Passover approach four special Torah and Haftarah readings are added to the weekly lectionary of the Torah. They are called the Arba Parshiyot (four Torah portions). The first of these Shabbatot is Shabbat Shekalim which is read on the Shabbat prior to or on Rosh Hodesh Adar or in a leap year Rosh Hodesh Adar Sheni (Second Adar). The reading is of the census in the Wilderness of Sinai conducted by Moses by means of each Israeli giving a half- Shekel and the counting the Shekalim. ((Shemot 30:11-16). In later times the Shekalim were used for the purchase of the communal sacrifice offered morning and evening. The second Shabbat is Zakhor (Deuteronomy 25:17-19) it is read on the Shabbat preceding the holiday of Purim: 17) Remember what Amalek did unto you by the way as you came out of Egypt. 18) How he met you by the way, and killed your stragglers, all that were weak in your rear, when you were faint and weary: and he did not fear God. 19) Therefore it shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around, in the land which the Lord your god dives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget. The tie-in to Purim is that in the Haftarah First Samuel 15:2-34 King Saul makes war on the Amalekites and captures their King Agag. -
September 2019
CENTER FOR PROGRESSIVE REFORM JUDAISM IN METROWEST tebeVolumeam 64 / No. 1 / September 2019 SelichotA TIME FOR FORGIVENESS A Word from By Dena Stetson Rabbi Sobel UNDERSTANDING SELICHOT PREPARING FOR WHEN I SAW THAT TBA WAS HOSTING A SELICHOT THE NEW YEAR: SERVICE AND PROGRAM ON SEPTEMBER 21ST AT GRATITUDE, REGRET, 8:00 PM, IT GOT ME WONDERING…WHAT IS SELICHOT RESTORATION AND HOW WILL THIS PROGRAM ENHANCE MY SPIRITUALITY? I THOUGHT OTHERS MIGHT HAVE In preparation for these special THE SAME QUESTIONS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND upcoming days in our Reform REVIEWED IT WITH RABBI SOBEL. HERE’S WHAT I FOUND: Movements, I like to read Mishkan Hanefesh — Machzor What is Selichot (S’lichot)? for the High Holy Days (the Selichot are prayers said before and during the High Holidays and other gold and silver prayer books we fast days throughout the year. Literally meaning “forgiveness,” the Selichot Rabbi Sharon L. Sobel use during Rosh Hashanah and prayers may be expressed in any manner (e.g., traditional prayers, poems, music, Yom Kippur). These books are meditation) so long as they encourage individuals to reflect on the past year and filled with prayers, poems, reflections, study texts — the changes they wish to make in the upcoming one. a treasure-trove of riches to help us prepare for this special time on our calendar. Why are the Selichot services so late in the evening? We always try to give our congregants some quiet time According to www.myjewishlearning.com, “Originally, Selichot prayers were for contemplation, silent prayer and reflection with these recited early in the morning, prior to dawn. -
Laws of the Three Weeks-Nine Days-Tisha B'av
LAWS OF THE THREE From Rosh Chodesh Av until midday on the Tenth of Av, WEEKS is a period called “The Nine Days.” There are additional As we have mentioned before, the prohibitions added to those already in force from the 17th seventeen of Tammuz begins the of Tammuz. The prohibitions correspond to those of period of the time called the three Shloshim, the 30 day period of mourning for a close weeks, during which there is a relative. minhag to observe some conduct of mourning. There are varying Mishenichnas Av Mima’atin Bisimcha degrees of intensity of mourning as we get closer to Tisha • From the beginning of the month of Av, joy is B’Av. Some of these restrictions begin from the diminished. Beginning with Rosh Chodesh all seventeenth of Tammuz, some from the first of Av and forms of simcha and rejoicing are suspended. some during the week in which Tisha B’Av occurs and some on Erev Tisha B’Av, concluding with the most severe • Some additional areas of joy not already restrictions and conduct which apply to Tish B’Av itself. prohibited form the 17th of Tammuz are: Purchasing items that are not absolutely During the entire three week period, there is a custom to necessary and will be available after the 9th of Av curtail rejoicing as an outward manifestation of the at the same price; construction for pleasure (ie. sadness and sorrow that we feel during this time period. home improvements, patio, etc.) should be Weddings aren’t performed during this period of time, suspended during this time; painting of one’s even if there is no music or dancing.