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MIKVEH ISRAEL RECORD 19 Sivan 5772 Shabbat Behaalote’Ha June 9-10, 2012 MIKVEH ISRAEL RECORD 19 Sivan 5772 Shabbat Behaalote’ha June 9-10, 2012 Parashah: G-d commands Aaron to light the Tabernacle Menorah on a daily basis. Moses is then commanded to initiate the Levites into Tabernacle Shabbat Services service. The Levites are consecrated to G-d - instead of the firstborn who lost Candlelighting: 8:09 P.M. their sanctified status when they participated in the sin of the Golden Calf. On Friday Night Service: 7:15 P.M. the first anniversary of the Exodus from Egypt, the people are instructed to bring Shabbat Morning Service: 9:00 A.M. the Passover sacrifice. Certain individuals, however, couldn't participate because Torah Class 6:30 P.M. they were ritually impure. They asked Moses why they should be excluded. G-d Shabbat Afternoon Service: 7:30 P.M. responds by designating a "Second Passover" to be observed exactly one month Shabbat Ends: 9:09 P.M. later. Anyone who could not offer the Passover sacrifice in its proper time must do so on the Second Passover. The Tabernacle was covered by a cloud during the day, and a fire by night. When FROM THE RABBI By Rabbi Albert E. Gabbai the cloud lifted, the Israelites would travel, following the cloud until it came to rest in a new location of G-d's choosing. At G-d's behest, Moses makes two silver The Parashah of Beha'alotekha includes the description of trumpets, which were used to: 1) Assemble the nation or its leaders. 2) Signal the Moshe Rabbenu: "Now Moses was a very humble man, more beginning of a journey. 3) Be blown when the Jews went to battle. 4) Signal so than any other man on earth." This qualification was given when certain sacrifices were offered in the Tabernacle. by G-d himself. Obviously it could not have been given by Moses. The question we wonder is, if Moshe wrote the Torah The Israelites leave Mount Sinai, and proceed towards the Land of Canaan. Moses as dictated by G-d, why didn't he object to writing this? After all pleads with his father-in-law Jethro to join them on their journey to the Land of isn't this a contradiction of humility? Israel. Soon, the people start complaining, which angers G-d. Then they grumble about the manna, expressing their desire for meat. Moses turns to G-d and insists I believe that answer is in the definition of the word "humility." that he cannot bear his leadership role any longer. G-d tells Moses to gather Humility in Judaism does not mean to be meek, feeble, seventy elders who will assist him in his leadership duties. He also promises to ignorant, or the like. Humility in Judaism is, as Moses was, provide the Jews with so much meat that they will be nauseated by it. fiercely loyal to G-d, defending others (the Children of Israel), knowledgeable and above all, not selfish. It is therefore a G-d causes a wind to sweep in huge numbers of quail from the sea. The people reflection of who Moses was. Therefore, Moses Rabbenu gathered piles of quail and started enjoying meat. G-d became angered and killed could not have objected to writing down an exact fact given by those who craved. Aaron and Miriam, Moses' sister, spoke negatively about Moses G-d. regarding the Cushite woman he had married. Miriam is stricken by G-d with tzara'at ("leprosy") for one week. It is an excellent trait for us to emulate, as Maimonides states in Hilkhot De' ot, it is one trait that we should espouse to a Parashat Beha'alotekha has 136 verses large extent. Haftarat Beha'alotekha has 21 verses. Sefer HaHinukh: Parashat Beha'alotekha contains 5 Mitzvot. This week's Haftarah is from Zechariah and will be read by Baruch Dayan HaEmet Julien Menko in memory of grandfather, Mr. Meir Toby. We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Benjamin Pomerantz, husband of our Ida Pomerantz, on Tuesday, June 5, The StreetDevar Torah Address will be delivered by Robert Franklin, Esq. Suite 555 2012. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon. Shiva will be City, State 55555 www.webaddress.com observed for seven days at the home of Ida's son, Dr. Joel In memory of the Hashcabah of beloved husband, father and grandfather, Pomerantz, 318 N. Bowman Avenue, Merion, Pa. Our deepest Mr. E:Joseph [email protected] Gabbay, we will be reading from the Torah that was presented to P: 555-555-5555 condolences to the Pomerantz, Snyder and Kelman families. CongregationM: 555- 555Mikveh-5555 Israel by the Gabbay family. F: 555-555-5555 Mikveh Israel Record 1 The following was written by Jason Vessal on the occasion of his graduation from The Jewish Sunday June 10, 2012 Community High School of Gratz College: 12:00 P.M. Good morning classmates, teachers, family and friends. My name is Jason Vessal and I have had the Rabbi Gabbi will give the privilege of attending The Jewish Community High School of Gratz College for four years. BENEDICTION AT THE PRE-FLAG DAY CEREMONY I was told on the day of my Bar Mitzvah that I was now a man in the eyes of the Jewish people, I was now responsible for my actions, and that the weight BETSY ROSS HOUSE of the continuity of Judaism and its tradition now lies (the birthplace of the American flag) on my shoulders. That's a lot for a 13-year-old to 239 Arch Street comprehend. And quite frankly, at the age of a Bar or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Bat Mitzvah, we can't. At that age, we can't grasp the fact that we will one day carry the torch of over [2000] years of history and tradition, because we're just not ready, no matter what we say in the Bar Mitzvah speech that someone else wrote for us. That's why we made the decision to attend JCHS or more likely our parents made the decision for us that we would attend JCHS so we would become the proper Jews of tomorrow. SAVE THE DATE I legitimately believe that the greatest threat facing Please mark your calendars Judaism is not anti-Semitism or an Iranian bomb, but rather disinterest. Unfortunately, more young Jews Shabbat Hukkat than ever before simply don't care about their Saturday, June 30, 2012 heritage. Some of my Jewish peers, not at Gratz, of course, don't even know their Hebrew name. This is Join Mikveh Israel in welcoming because their parents don't care, so they don't care Mrs. Judy Gross and her sister, Ms. Gwen Saures. and their children will care even less. Fortunately for us, our parents do care, so we care, and so will our Mrs. Gross is the wife of Mr. Allan Gross, falsly children. accused by the Cuban government of being an American spy and imprisoned in It is up to us to ensure that our community only Cuba for fifteen years. grows stronger. The diplomas that we will all receive Mrs. Gross will tell his story and explore ways his today are not just certificates of accomplishment but, release from the Cuban prison can be secured. in a way, they are like contracts, agreements that we will take all that our community has invested in us This will be a very important talk and one you and give back. shouldn't miss. On the day of our Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, we may have not known exactly what was ahead of us, what our Coming Soon - Melava Malka responsibilities would be. Now we do. I would like to Congregation Mekor Habracha and thank the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College, for all that they have done to make us the Congregation B'nai Abraham will be joining us in offering a proper Jews of tomorrow. fun filled Melava Malka. There will be a live band and yummy Israeli food. Thank you. When: To be announced Where: Congregation Mikveh Israel Mikveh Israel RecordCost: $102 per person Continued on next column Mikveh Israel Record “ . From Our Archives: MIKVEH ISRAEL WELCOMES Did you know that the Lincoln Letter we have (a copy of which we proudly display in our lobby) expresses President Lincoln's thanks for Prof. Yechiel Schur a prayer composed by Reverend Sabato Morais and delivered at the synagogues on a day set aside by Presidential proclamation for Scholar-In-Residence prayer for the casualties of both armies in the Civil War, and for the preservation of the Union. The communication is addressed to Mr. A. Hart (1810-1895) who was an outstanding figure in American and Jewish life. The text of the letter reads, "Permit me to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of April 23 containing a copy of a Prayer recently delivered at your Synagogue, and to thank you heartily for Subhead. Subhead. your expression of kindness and confidence." It is signed "Your Obt. Shabbat Shelah Servant, A. Lincoln." When you’re writing26 Sivan a newsletter, 5772 write it so that someone Friday,who has never June heard 15, of 2012your company "Unpublished Lincoln Letter to Jewish Congregation can understand what you’re offering as quickly as possible. StayServices away from 7 using:15 P.M.jargon, acronyms, Discovered." Jewish Telegraphic Agency 13 Feb 1944. or complicated terms. Saturday, June 16, 2012 If you’re notServices sure what to 9:00 write, A.Mmake a. list of “what we do” and then a list of “why our products or services are the best.” Use that information to create your newsletter.Topic: TorahContine newsletter and Science text here.
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