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Home , Pekudei, Terumah (parashah), Tetzaveh, Vayakhel, Yedid Nefesh

1 Adar I 5771 PARASHA 5 February 2011

Working ORG . Together Jonathan Sacks Chief Rabbi Great Britain

KAHALJOSEPH

. As soon as we read the opening lines of Te- WWW

rumah we begin the ● massive shift from the intense drama of the Prayer Schedule exodus with its signs and wonders and epic events, to the long, de- 310.474.0559

● tailed narrative of how the con- structed the , the portable sanctuary

, CA 90025 90025 , CA that they carried with call that the mishkan & them through the desert. was not a permanent feature of the spiritual ROSH HODESH

NGELES By any standards it is a life of the children of Is- PARASHA TERUMAH A part of the that rael. It was specifically Friday, February 4th OS cries out for explanation. designed to be carried Minhah & Arbit 5:00 pm , L The first thing that on their journey through Candle Lighting 5:08 pm

strikes us is the sheer the wilderness. Later, in Saturday, February 5th length of the account: the days of , it

EVASSER Shaharit 8:30 am one third of the book of would be replaced by

OULEVARD Teen Shabbat 11 am –2 pm , five parshiyot – the Temple in Jerusa- B Tehillim before Minhah Terumah, Tetsaveh, half lem. What enduring Minhah & Arbit 4:30 pm of , message are we sup- ONICA and , interrupted posed to learn from a Motzei Shabbat 6:12 pm

M only by the story of the construction that was EEKDAYS . not designed to endure? W ANTA Sunday, February 6th This becomes even Even more puzzling is Shaharit 7:30 am

M more perplexing when that fact that the story is Monday to Friday 10505 S 10505 ● we compare it with an- part of the book of Shaharit 6:30 am other act of creation, Shemot. Shemot is namely G-d’s creation of about the birth of a na- TORAH CLASSES the universe. That story tion. Hence , slav- Tuesday & Thursday 4:00 pm is told with the utmost ery, Pharaoh, the EREV SHABBAT brevity: a mere thirty four plagues, , the ONGREGATION verses. Why take some journey through the sea PARASHA C Friday, February 11th

OL fifteen times as long to and the covenant at tell the story of the Sanc- Mount Sinai. All these Minhah & Arbit 5:00 pm

OSEPH tuary? things would become Candle Lighting 5:14 pm

J part of the people’s The question becomes Please confirm daily prayer times with AHAL harder still when we re- (Continued on page 2) minyan leaders. K K P a ge 2 5 February 2011

(Continued from page 1) go together. They ex- water but it was bitter. If miracles, the division of pected someone else, Then there was no food. the sea and the revelation collective memory. But or G-d himself, to The Israelites said to at Mount Sinai fail to trans the Sanctuary, where provide them with food them, “ If only we had form the Israelites, what sacrifices were offered, and water, lead them to died by the Lord’s hand will? There are no greater surely belongs to Vay- safety, and take them to in Egypt! There we sat miracles than these. ikra, otherwise known as the promised land. around pots of meat and Torat Kohanim, Leviticus, ate all the food we That is when G-d does the book of priestly At every setback, they wanted, but you have the single most unex- things. It seems to have complained. They com- brought us out into this pected thing. He says to no connection with Exo- plained when Moses’ first desert to starve this en- Moses: speak to the peo- dus whatsoever. intervention failed: tire assembly to death .” ple and tell them to con- (Exodus/Shemot 16: 3) tribute, to give something The answer, I believe, is “May the Lord look on you of their own, be it or profound. The transition and judge you! You have Soon Moses himself is or bronze, be it from Bereishit to Shemot, made us obnoxious to saying: “What am I to do wool or animal skin, be it Genesis to Exodus, is Pharaoh and his officials with these people? They oil or , or their about the change from and have put a sword in are almost ready to stone skill or their time, and get family to nation. When their hand to kill us.” me.” (Exodus 17: 4) them to build something the Israelites entered (Exodus/Shemot 5: 21) together – a symbolic Egypt they were a single By now G-d has per- home for my presence, a extended family. By the At the Red Sea they com- formed signs and won- Tabernacle. It doesn’t time they left they had plained again: They said ders on the people’s be- need to be large or grand become a sizeable peo- to Moses, “Was it be- half, taken them out of or permanent. Get them ple, divided into twelve cause there were no Egypt, divided the sea for to make something, to tribes plus an amorphous graves in Egypt that you them, given them water become builders. Get collection of fellow travel- brought us to the desert to from a rock and them to give. lers known as the erev die? What have you done from heaven, and still rav, the “mixed multitude.” to us by bringing us out of they do not cohere as a Moses does. And the Egypt? Didn’t we say to nation. They are a group people respond. They What united them was a you in Egypt, ‘Leave us of individuals, unwilling or respond so generously fate. They were the peo- alone; let us serve the unable to take responsi- that Moses is told, “ The ple whom the Egyptians Egyptians’? It would have bility, to act collectively people are bringing more distrusted and enslaved. been better for us to serve rather than complain. than enough for doing The Israelites had a com- the Egyptians than to die the work the Lord com- mon enemy. Beyond that in the desert!” (Exodus/ And now G-d does the manded to be done ” (Ex. they had a memory of the Shemot 14: 11-12) single greatest act in his- 36: 5), and Moses has to patriarchs and their G-d. tory. He appears in a say, Stop. They shared a past. What After the division of the revelation at Mount Sinai, was to prove difficult, al- Red Sea, the Torah says: the only time in history During the whole time the most impossible, was to “When the Israelites saw that G-d has appeared to Tabernacle was being get them to share re- the mighty hand of the an entire people, and the constructed, there were sponsibility for the future. Lord displayed against the people tremble. There no complaints, no rebel- Egyptians, the people never was anything like it lions, no dissension. Everything we read in feared the Lord and be- before; there never will What all the signs and Shemot tells us that, as lieved in him and in be again. wonders failed to do, the is so often the case Moses his servant” construction of the Tab- among people long de- (Exodus/Shemot 14: 31). How long does this last? ernacle succeeded in prived of freedom, they But after a mere three A mere forty days. Then doing. It transformed the were passive and they days they were complain- the people make a people. It turned them were easily moved to ing again. There was no golden calf. into a cohesive group. It complain. The two often water. Then there was (Continued on page 4) 5 February 2011 P a ge 3 In Memoriam Community News

It is customary to light a memorial candle in the evening and to donate SEUDAH tzedakah. Family members are WELCOME encouraged to attend prayer ser- SHLISHEET Guest Speaker vices in honor of loved ones. Rabbi Seidenfeld The Zekaria Family Shabbat / 1 Adar We look forward to your Yosef ben Eliyahu would like you to join them

Dvar Torah on the topic of Sunday / 2 Adar this Shabbat “How Are We a Light Abraham ben Meneshe Aslan February 5th, 2011 Unto the Nations?” Aharon ben Yosef at 4:30 pm Yoseph Faraj ben Yoseph Haim and to your teen program

Monday / 3 Adar In memory of Maurice, z’’l “Sticking Out—The Challenges Yoseph ben Abraham of Beign a Jewish Teen Sponsored by Alice Zekaria Farang Jahanbani and Family in Los Angeles” Herschel Tzvi Sarne Abraham Shalom ben Shaul Sopher

Tuesday / 4 Adar Simy bat Mesody WRITING DOWN YOUR Baacker ben Avraham THANK YOU LIFE : M EMOIRS Wednesday / 5 Adar Sholeh & Moussa Shaaya Sami Dallal A W ORKSHOP FOR ALL LEVELS Ruth & Edmond Hagooli Leah bat Mozli 8 Tuesday Afternoons for the generous donation of Thursday / 6 Adar February 15 to April 5, 2011 games and equipment Mazeltov bat Sara KJ Library, 12 to 2 pm and Shabbat / 8 Adar $160 non-members/$60 members for the wonderful Avraham ben Yosef For information contact Dafna at arrangement & set-up Yaacov Binyamin Elias [email protected] or ben Yaacov Yehuda Yehezkel of KJ’s new Teen Room Joe Samuels at [email protected] To update, please call the office at 310.474.0559 . SHABBAT MITZVOT We offer for dona- Refuah Shlemah tion the following Mitzvot. 1. Petichat Hechal Please Read Tehillim opening of the ark; 2. Carrying of the Sefer We have a number of individuals in our Yonatan ben Alizah ▪ Mazal Tov Torah & Sefer Haftara; 3. Hakamat Sefer bat Sulha Mitana ▪ Matilda lifting of the Torah; 4. Mashlim* The seventh community undergoing surgery or com- Louisa ▪ Yaheskel ben Regina ▪ aliya to the Torah who recites Kaddish; 5. * bating illness. They need our immediate Ayala bat Naomi ▪ Khayah Noa The last aliya to the Torah which includes the prayers to support them in their recov- bat Sara ▪ Haim ben Mordechai ▪ Haftara (read by the clergy unless member ery. Take a few minutes to pray and Pnina bat ▪ Yosi ben reading is preapproved). We suggest a mini- read from the , also known as Esther ▪ Victor ben Latif ▪ Ramah mum donation of $126 or multiples of $18 or Regina bat Farha ▪ Aziza bat Sara $26. You will receive confirmation before Shab- Tehillim. In particular, Psalm 20 and Judith bat Malka ▪ Ofek ben Yochai bat to confirm if you will receive the aliya. Psalm 121 are meaningful during diffi- ▪ Efrayim Zev ben Fayga ▪ Sulha Members may reserve in advance by calling cult times. Give a little of your day and Matana bat Mozelle ▪ Gershon ben the office. Non-members reserving aliyot have a big impact on the lives of friends David ▪ Farangis bat should contact the office for availability at and families in our Kahal community. Touran ▪ David ben Leah ▪ 310.474.0559. We appreciate your support. Avraham Haim ben Miryam ▪ Yaakov ben Freda Learn to Chant The Wouldn’t you like to chant the final portion from the Torah on Shabbat—the portion known as the Haftarah? Reserve a Haftarah reading by calling Sarah in our Torah Readings office at 310.474. 0559. The Haftarah portion can be dedicated in honor of a family event such as a Parasha pp. 325 to 336 memorial, a bar/bat , or a baby-naming. Then, schedule time with Hazzan Saeed Jalali & Haftara TBA learn the authentic Baghdadi ta'amim, Iraqi melodies for singing portions from the Torah & Tanakh. P a ge 4 5 February 2011 gave them a sense of respon- sibility and identity.Seen in this context, the story of the Taber- Kahal Congregation nacle was the essential ele- Scholar in Residence ment in the birth of a nation. No wonder it is told at length; no surprise that it belongs to Rabbi Moshe Tessone the ; and there is nothing ephemeral about it. February 25 & 26, 2011 The Tabernacle did not last for- Rabbi Moshe Tessone is Director of The Sephardic Community ever, but the lesson it taught did. Program at Yeshiva University and a distinguished faculty member at Yeshiva Univer- sity’s Isaac Breuer College (IBC) where he teaches Jewish Studies. He is also a faculty It is not what G-d does for us member at the Belz School of . that transforms us, but what we do for G-d. A free society is Moshe Tessone has toured extensively throughout North America, South America, best symbolized by the Taber- Europe and both as a rabbinic speaker on Torah related topics of Sephardic in- nacle. It is the home we build terest, Sephardic history, and Jewish education and as a cantorial concert soloist featur- together. It is only by becom- ing Judeo Arabic and Judeo Spanish music and liturgy. ing builders that we turn from subjects to citizens. We have Rabbi Tessone received his rabbinic from Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac to earn our freedom by what Elchannan Theological Seminary. He is a graduate of New York University’s we give. It cannot be given to Stern School of Business and received his Masters Degree in Jewish Education and ad- us as an unearned gift. It is ministration from Yeshiva University. what we do, not what is done to us, that makes us free. That Moshe Tessone released his debut Sephardic Album/CD, entitled Odeh La’ in Jan is a lesson as true today as it 2005. His newer album of original Jewish entitled Hakshiva was released in March of 2006, to great acclaim. was then.

Summary of Parasha Terumah

G‑d commands the Israelites to build a Tabernacle. He provides the exact details of how to construct it, and how to build the different instruments and vessels which were used therein.

First : G ‑d tells Moses to accept contributions from the Israelites for the construction of a Tabernacle: "Let them make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell amongst them." The needed materials: precious metals, dyed wools and hides, flax, wood, , spices and gems. G ‑d gives detailed instructions regarding the Tabernacle and its vessels—starting with the Ark that housed the Tablets. The Ark was to be made of gold-plated acacia wood. Rings were to be attached to the corners of the Ark, wherein were inserted the poles that were used to transport the Ark.

Second Aliyah : The Ark is to be covered with a slab of pure gold. Two golden, winged are to protrude from this cover. Next G ‑d tells how to build the Table for the 12 loaves of bread. This table is made of gold-plated acacia wood.

Third Aliyah : The seven branched Menorah is next on G ‑d's list. It is to be beaten out of a single block of pure gold, with decorative cups, knobs and flowers on its body. The Torah now turns to the construction of the Tabernacle's sanctuary. The covering of the Sanctuary consists of several layers. The first layer is a woven mixture of dyed wools and . The second layer is made of 's hair. These two oversized coverings also covered the outsides of the Tabernacle's walls. The very top of the Tabernacle is then to be further covered by dyed ram skins and tachash hides.

Fourth Aliyah : The walls of the Tabernacle are upright beams made of gold-plated acacia wood. The bottom of each beam has two projections inserted into two silver sockets. The Tabernacle's front side (to the east) has no wall. Its north- ern and southern side have twenty beams each. Its western wall has eight. Altogether the inside of the sanctuary is 30 (approx. 45 feet) by 10 cubits, and 10 cubits high. The beams are held together by several crossbars.

Fifth Aliyah : The Tabernacle's sanctuary consists of two sections: the innermost chamber is the , wherein the Ark is placed; and the outer chamber is the Holy Chamber, which houses the Menorah and the Table for bread (as well as the Golden described in next 's reading). Two curtains are woven of dyed wools and linen. One is be- tween the Holy of Holies and the Holy Chamber, the other covers the eastern side of the Tabernacle—its entrance.

Sixth Aliyah : G ‑d then gives instructions for the construction of the Outdoor Altar. This altar is made of -plated acacia wood, and is to have four "horns," vertical projections, protruding from its uppermost corners. The altar, too, is equipped with rings and transportation poles.

Seventh Aliyah : The Tabernacle courtyard is to be 100 cubits (approx. 150 feet) by 50 cubits, and enclosed by mesh linen curtains. The entrance to the courtyard is on its eastern side, and the entrance is covered by a curtain woven of dyed wools and linen. 5 February 2011 P a ge 5

Yedid Nefesh Selection by Rabbi Hagay Batzri. Listen on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNGSybC0uOo

Yedid Nefesh

Yedid nefesh av ha-rachaman meshoch avdecha el retzonecha, yarutz avdecha kemo ayal yish'tachaveh el mul hadarecha, ye'erav lo yedidotecha, mi-nofet tzuf ve-chol ta'am.

Hadur na'eh ziv ha-olam, nafshi cholat ahavatecha, Ana Eil na, refa na la, be-harot lah noam zivecha, az titchazeik ve-titrapei, vehaytah la simchat olam.

Vatik yehemu na rachamecha, ve-chusah na al bein ahuvecha, ki zeh kamah nichsof nichsafti, lirot be-tiferet uzecha, eileh chamdah libi, ve-chusah na ve-al titalam.

Higaleh na u fros chavivi alai, et sukkat shelomecha Ta'ir eretz mi-kevodecha, nagilah ve-nismechah bach, maheir ahuv ki va mo'eid ve-chaneinu kimei olam.

Yedid Nefesh

Beloved of my soul, merciful Father, Ancient One, let Your mercy be aroused draw Your servant toward You. and have pity on Your beloved son. Let Your servant run as a hind For I have yearned for so long to bow before Your glory. to see Your mighty splendor. Let Your affection for him be This is the desire of my heart sweeter than a honeycomb or any other delicacy. have pity and do not hide Yourself.

Glorious One, most beautiful splendor of the world, Reveal Yourself and spread over me, beloved One, my soul is sick with love for You. the shelter of Your peace. Please God, heal it Let the earth sparkle with Your glory by revealing the delight of your splendor. We will rejoice and be happy with You. Then it will be invigorated and healed, Be quick, beloved, for the time has come, enjoying everlasting happiness. and favor us as in days of old.

Norma & Sam Dabby Talmud Torah KJ’s Religious School Program Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4 to 6 pm Molly Jalali, Director For information call 310,474.0559