Saturday Morning, Jan. 20, 2018 Parashat Bo: Exodus
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The following people are assisting Saturday Morning, Jan. 20, 2018 this Shabbat: Parashat Bo: Russ Fayer, President's Chair; Jayne Peister, Vice President’s Chair Exodus 10:1-13:16 pp. 374-394 Robyn Yairi, Gabbai; Marcia Assor and Haftarah: Stephanie Roth, Greeters; Marc Klee and Jeremiah 46:13-28 pp. pp. 396-398 Robert Patchen, Ushers Men's Club Shabbat Mazal Tovs, Condolences, & NEW: 8:45am Shabbat Discussion Refuah Shleimah with Jack Gruenberg 9:00am Shabbat Morning Services CONDOLENCES TO: 9:30am Shabbat SPACE The family of our member 10:15am Pre-Service Oneg Shabbat Mally Diamant. 10:45am Family Kehillah Services 10:45am Tot Shabbat The family of our member 12:00pm Shabbat Tween Lounge Wendy (Barney) Troodler. 12:00pm Kiddush 12:30pm Daf Shevui Sondra (Carl) Goldenberg on the loss of her 4:40pm Mincha/Maariv brother William Gordon. 5:40pm Havdalah 5:45pm Kulanu Havdalah Experience Those marking a simcha, observing the loss of a loved one, or recovering from an illness have 6:00pm Teen Havdalah and Karaoke Night been delighted/comforted that their lifecycle event has inspired generosity. If you would like This week’s Kiddush is sponsored to make a donation to Beth El in honor or in by: memory, please click here. The Beth El Men’s Club in honor of Men’s Club Shabbat. Minyan Times recount in the hearing of your sons and of your sons' sons how I dealt harshly of the Egyptians and how I displayed My signs among them in order that you may know that I am the Lord" (Exodus 10:1-2). The Sunday 8:00am Shacharit; 4:50pm medieval French commentator, Rashi (1040- Mincha/Maariv 1105 CE), explains that the Hebrew phrase, Monday 6:55am Shacharit; 4:50pm translated above as, "I ",התעללתי במצרים" Mincha/Maariv dealt harshly with the Egyptians," should be Tuesday 7:00am Shacharit; 4:50pm meaning, "I have made a - "שחקתי" Mincha/Maariv read as Wednesday 7:00am Shacharit; 4:50pm mockery". Mincha/Maariv Thursday 7:00am Shacharit; 4:50pm So according to Rashi, God hardens Mincha/Maariv Pharaoh's heart, and the heart of his Friday 6:55am Shacharit; 4:50pm courtiers, so that we can see God making a Mincha/Maariv mockery of the Egyptians? Could it be that God wants us to experience schadenfreude - A Word of Torah to laugh, cheer, and take pleasure in the From Torah Sparks: suffering of our oppressors? Matthew Nelson, Conservative Yeshiva Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapiro (1889- Student & Lishma Fellow 1943 CE), also known as the Piacezna Rebbe, takes issue with this in his book the This week's parasha tells the story of the last Aish Kodesh, written in the Warsaw Ghetto three plagues (locusts, darkness, and the during the horrors of the Shoah. Writing slaying of the first born), Moses' instructions under conditions reminiscent of the Egypt, regarding the Passover sacrifice, and and facing Nazi oppressors as arrogant and Pharaoh ultimately granting permission for cruel as Pharaoh, the Piacezna Rebbe was the Israelites to leave. While some see this nevertheless bothered by the idea that God as Pharaoh and Egypt getting their just would make the punishment of the wicked desserts after the years of harsh slavery and some kind of entertainment. child-murder imposed on the Israelites, I am nevertheless troubled. He brings a story from the Talmud that discusses the drowning of the Egyptians in The parasha opens with two verses that sum Sea of Reeds: "At that time the ministering up the story of the Exodus nicely: "Then angels requested to recite a song before the God said to Moses: 'Come to Pharoah for I Holy One, Blessed be God. The Holy One, have hardened his heart and the heart of his Blessed be God, Said to them: 'My courtiers, in order that I may display these handiwork are drowning in the sea, and you My signs among them. And that you may are reciting a song before Me?!'"(Sanhedrin 39b). The Piacezna Rebbe sees a Piacezna Rebbe's example and message. We contradiction: God makes a show of are all God's handiwork. punishing the Egyptians with the plagues, but then scolds the angels for enjoying the Shabbat Shalom. show when the Egyptians drown in the sea! According to the Piacezna Rebbe, there are BESC Featured and New only two reasons to celebrate the downfall Announcements of the Egyptians, and the suffering of the (Please follow us on wicked in general. The first is that it leads to Facebook.com/bethelsynagoguecenter, and knowledge of God. The plagues were done spread the word about news, events, and so that WE would know God, as it says in information by “liking” or “sharing!” 10:2: "In order that you may know that I am Thank You!) the Lord." And the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea so that THEY would know *Follow links to enlarge image or visit event God, as it says in Exodus 14:4: "and the page.* Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord". Evil and falsehood must be defeated so that FEATURED ANNOUNCEMENT: God and truth can be known. Don’t miss your chance to help others through the Beth El Purim Campaign! The second reason is to alleviate the suffering of the innocent. Presumably the Each year, Beth El helps our members to ministering angels were just as happy about fulfill an important mitzvah of Purim - Matanot Leevyonim, helping those whose the plagues as the drowning of the Egyptians needs are greater than our own by in the sea, but God only scolds them for contributing to major tzedakah organizations celebrating the drowning. The Piacezna and building our Youth Community. You Rebbe explains that: "in truth Israel was not received an email with your username and suffering at that exact moment [when the sea password. ceased to part and the Egyptians were drowned] so the Holy One, Blessed be He Simply log on to www.purimproject.com to was not happy from their [the Egyptians] participate. If you have any questions, feel downfall" (Aish Kodesh). Celebrating the free to contact Jen at [email protected] or Egyptians' drowning was gratuitous. The 914-235-2700 ext.247. All orders must be suffering of some is often necessary to placed by Feb. 16. We thank you in advance for your participation! alleviate the suffering of others, but that makes it no less tragic. As we look forward to the casting down of false idols and the defeat of wicked oppressors, may we all remember the NIGGUN HALEV ~ MELODY OF THE HEART ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qehaJ E276pM Beginning Saturday, January 27, 2018, join us for a new intimate, song-filled Shabbat morning service led by Deborah Sacks Mintz, Jack Klebanow and Rabbi David A. https://images.shulcloud.com/985/uploads/Ja Schuck. Services will take place at 9:00am nuary-Scholar.jpg in the Wiener Lounge on the following Saturdays: Jan. 27, Feb. 10, March 10, April Our Open Beit Midrash (OBM) begins at 14, and May 5. For more details, contact 7:30pm with drinks and a nosh followed [email protected]. Click the image by learning promptly at 8:00pm. It is held above to get a taste of what the services will on alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays with be like! Rabbis Schuck and Sitkin, and Rabbi Ethan Linden, the executive director of Ramah OPEN BEIT MIDRASH (OBM) Berkshires, simultaneously teaching on Our next scheduled OBM is this Tuesday, different areas of Jewish texts. On the last Jan. 23 with a scholar visit from Rabbi Eli week of each month a scholar will teach a Kaunfer, CEO of Mechon Hadar (more to specific topic in their field. Free and open to your right). Tradition teaches that we can the public. The OBM is subsidized by the honor a person's life by learning a text in Rabbi Melvin and Lenore Sirner Fund for their memory. Our next OBM will be Jewish Inspiration and the Sylvia and Harry sponsored by Mark and Marjorie Seidenfeld Halpern Lecture Fund. For more information in memory of Mark’s parents Bernard and or to sponsor a night, visit Rella Seidenfeld as well as Esther Mildner bethelnr.org/openbeit or contact Rabbi in memory of her mother Rhoda Elkin. Sitkin at [email protected]. CASINO NIGHT Open Bar. Open to All. AIPAC CONFERENCE The American Play games, bid on hot items, and so much Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) more! Visit www.bethelnr.org/casinonight will hold their Policy Conference at the for more. Washington Convention Center from March 4-6. We are always appreciative to have a strong representation on-hand. AIPAC discount available January 23 only! The conference is the pro-Israel community's preeminent annual gathering and attracts more than 18,000 community and student activists from all 50 states, members of Congress, and countless Israeli and American policymakers and intellectual leaders. For more information, visit www.policyconference.org or contact [email protected]. RABBI VISIT Rabbi Michael Goldman will join us for services as Shabbat Scholar - in-Residence on Saturday, Feb. 3 and hold a special discussion following NURSERY SCHOOL Register now for the Kiddush called 2018-19 school year! There is no time to BESC: A Dementia- delay. Sign up now and save. Contact Friendly Synagogue. Director Ronnie Becher at 235.2700, x250 Responding to the or [email protected] for details. need he saw for a communal Jewish response to dementia, he DAY CAMP Best. Days. Ever. Our camp founded Seivah: Jewish Life Beyond doesn’t have the best reputation in Southern Memory.