January 2021
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Tevet – Shevat 5781 January 2021 MLK Shabbat Friday, January 15th SEE PAGE 15 FOR DETAILS january 2021 Shabbat Services FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2021 FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 In This Issue 18 Tevet 10 Shevat 6:00 p.m. Pre-neg 5:30 p.m. How ‘Bout Shabbat 6:30 p.m. Shabbat Services 6:00 p.m. Pre-neg Shabbat Services 2 6:30 p.m. Shabbat Services SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2021 Tu BiSh’vat 3 9:00 a.m. Torah Study SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 10:30 a.m. Morning Minyan 9:00 a.m. Torah Study From Strength to Strength 4 10:30 a.m. Morning Minyan Parashat Vayechi 10:30 a.m. Bar Mitzvah of Lucas Levy Clergy Corner 5 Genesis 47:28-50:26 5:30 p.m. Bat Mitzvah of Haftarah Kings I 2:1-12 Dylan Berkowitz President’s Message 6/7 Membership 8/9 FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 Parashat Bo 25 Tevet Exodus 10:1 - 13:16 Youth Engagement Religious 6:00 p.m. Pre-neg Haftarah Jeremiah 46:13-28 6:30 p.m. Shabbat Services School 10/11 FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2021 SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2021 17 Shevat Day School 12 9:00 a.m. Torah Study 6:00 p.m. Pre-neg 10:30 a.m. Morning Minyan 6:30 p.m. Shabbat Services Admissions 13 Parashat Shemot SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021 Programming 14-16 Exodus 1:1 - 6:1 9:00 a.m. Torah Study B’nai Mitzvah 17 Haftarah Isaiah 27:6 - 28:13; Isaiah 29:22-23 10:30 a.m. Morning Minyan 10:30 a.m. Bat Mitzvah Tikkun Olam 18/19 FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021 of Brianna Fields 3 Shevat 5:30 p.m. Bat Mitzvah Beyond the Curve 20 6:00 p.m. Pre-neg of Alexis Cohen 6:30 p.m. Shabbat Services Beth UMers 21 Parashat Beshalach SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2021 Exodus 13:17 - 17:16 Gators 21 9:00 a.m. Torah Study Haftarah Judges 4:4 - 5:31 10:30 a.m. Morning Minyan Auction 22/23 10:30 a.m. Bat Mitzvah of Sophia Braghin Sisterhood 24/25 5:30 p.m. Bat Mitzvah of Shira Rosenberg Our Jewish Heritage 26 Parashat Va’eira Exodus 6:2 - 9:35 Give Miami Day 27 Haftarah Ezekiel 28:25 - 29:21 Mussar 28 Erev Tov/Jewish Voice 29 our advertisers Board Nomination 30 Chef Aaron Dreilinger, Catering ............ 36 Friendship Circle ......................................... 42 Current of Life 31 Israel Bonds .................................................. 36 TLC Family Care ......................................... 42 Roberta Mandel ........................................... 37 Paradise Properties, Realtor ..................... 43 In Loving Memory 32/33 Rita Diaz, Estate Sales ................................ 37 Williamson Cadillac ................................... 44 Bea Citron, Realtor ..................................... 37 Accessible Home Health Care ................. 44 We Give 34/35 Professional Directory Listings ............... 38 Bregman, Event Planners .......................... 45 Dr. Greg Ross, Orthodontist ..................... 39 Camp Coleman ............................................ 46 Mazel Tov 35 Ilene Efthimiou, Realtor ............................ 39 Buchwald Jewelers ..................................... 46 Goldman Residential, Realtor .................. 40 Smile Miami ................................................. 46 Professional Directory 38 Kitanim, Florist/Events .............................. 40 Careaga Plastic Surgery ............................ 47 Rebecca Lenard, Pediatric Dentist .......... 40 The Palace ..................................................... 48 Tracey Spiegelman, Realtor ...................... 41 Medicare Matt .............................................. 41 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27 6:00 PM This Tu BiSh’vat, we’re celebrating the environment and getting healthy! Our TBAM PB&J (Plant-Based and Jewish) group in partnership with the Tikkun Olam committee invite you to a unique opportunity to flex your cooking skills as we learn more about the Jewish holiday of Tu BiSh’vat, which honors our relationship to the earth. Learn more about small changes you can make to incorporate a plant-based diet into your life, the benefits of eating locally, and how our Jewish tradition promotes environmentalism! Cook along with us in small groups, or watch and enjoy our take on a classic Food Network show as we share ideas and best practices for easy, healthy cooking. Fun for the whole family! RSVP for Zoom login information at www.tbam.org/chopped Interested in being one of our lead chefs? Contact Andrea LeVine at [email protected] or 786.364.9418 Page 3 Commentator January 2021 • Page 4 From Strength to Strength Rabbi Jeremy Barras [email protected] The Power of Outreach The first outreach directors for the Jewish cause were Abraham feelings towards us, then we are missing a great opportunity and Sarah. The Midrash teaches that to be Jewish in their to teach them about who we really are. We are starting to see day meant simply to believe in monotheism and reject all such recognition come to fruition in certain parts of the Middle forms of idolatry. Abraham would speak to men and Sarah East. In places like the UAE and Bahrain, where mistrust and to the women, trying to educate those around them about the skepticism once existed between Muslims and Jews, citizens of true nature of the Creator and how that Creator related to these countries are now getting to know each other, and they humankind. They struggled to get their message across far and like what they are discovering. Hopefully, this will continue to wide, but they knew that clear communication of their beliefs spread throughout the region. In our area, let us learn a lesson was essential. Since the Torah was given at Mt. Sinai, we no from the beautiful letter about Chanukah written by the local longer try to convince others to join the Jewish fold. As we Bishop. He got to know Jews, and he became their advocate. often say, we are not a proselytizing people. However, outreach Each one of us has a chance to influence those in our sphere to the non-Jewish world is as important today as it ever was. to learn about the goodness our tradition represents. Like Abraham and Sarah, we can each reach out to those around us Recently, a congregant sent me a letter written by a local and shine for them a bright light on the righteous majesty of Catholic Bishop to his congregation about, of all things, our Jewish tradition. Chanukah. He discussed how growing up in Connecticut he lived near the JCC and would spend a great deal of time L’shalom, there participating in their activities. As a result of the time spent there, he developed relationships with Jews, became familiar with the Jewish community, and learned about their Rabbi Jeremy Barras traditions. It is unlikely that he would have written such a meaningful and beautiful piece about the message of Chanukah to his community here in Miami had he not had those warm experiences at the JCC during his youth. When non-Jews who have little or no connection with Jews get to know us, then they learn about our true nature and real bonds can be formed. We learn in the Torah that when Jacob returned from exile living with his father-in-law Laban, he was worried that his brother Esau would be waiting in Israel to attack him. As the rabbis note, Jacob represents in the Torah the people of Israel, whereas Esau represents their adversaries. It is a very tense scene as Jacob approaches his brother expecting that violence is not out of the realm of possibility. In preparation for their meeting, Jacob sends ahead of him messengers bearing gifts in hopes of ingratiating Esau and tempering the hatred he had stored up for him over the past two decades since Jacob stole his blessing. When they finally meet, Esau is in fact transformed and the enmity he possessed for Jacob transforms to love. They embrace, and Esau shows Jacob love in place of hatred. We can learn from this episode that our actions towards the non-Jewish community are important and can make a great difference. If we avoid them and assume that they hold negative clergy corner Rabbi Jaime Aklepi [email protected] Who would not want a shot in the arm right about now? I to us today during the pandemic. In ancient Israel, people know I want one. It is 2021, and the prospect that a “shot used their flat roofs as another part of their home. They in the arm” in the form of a vaccine for the coronavirus is cooked on their roof, even slept on their roof. Naturally, more and more becoming a reality in the not-so-distant they needed a fence around it. Would you not put a fence future. (I wanted to write near future, but my pandemic around your pool? The law is stating the obvious—because fatigue got the best of me.) And even though we know in ancient times, as well as today, obvious is not obvious it is coming, we know that we will still be faced with for everyone. Therefore, an obvious example is used as many of the restrictions of our “new normal.” As a a law to be upheld itself and as an example that we are Jewish community, we have continued to be hopeful by commanded to protect ourselves from harm. And if we do gathering together—albeit remotely—for prayer, learning, not protect ourselves, we not only have neglected to fulfill socializing, and even celebrating new babies, B’nai a positive commandment, a “You shall…” commandment, Mitzvah and weddings. We have comforted each other but one has also broken a negative commandment a “You on Zoom funerals and shiva minyans—experiences we shall not…” commandment. TheCode of Jewish Law ends could never have imagined a year ago. Jewish tradition is with the idea “The sages prohibited many things because a relevant tradition, and its customs and mitzvot are the of danger to a person.” Judaism requires us to take care foundations which continue to support us.