The National Jewish Post & Opinion 2-9-11
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The National Jewish Post &Opinion Volume 77, Number 5 • February 9, 2011 • 5 Adar I 5771 Three Dollars www.jewishpostopinion.com Cover art by Irene Konig (see p. NAT 2). NAT 2 February 9, 2011 slaves to Pharaoh for so long that living About the Cover life without someone feeding them Editorial Shabbat Shalom and telling them what to do seemed Rabbi Alexandrai’s impossible. God seized the moment to There is a saying that everything prayer BY RABBI JON ADLAND get each person to look into their heart happens for a good reason. These days Feb. 4, 2011, Shabbat Trumah and soul and mind and say,“What could with all that is going on in the world with Written so long (Exodus 25:1-27:19) 30 Shevat 5771 I bring? What gift do I have?” This natural disasters and man-made ones, ago, Rabbi Alexandrai’s small statement of belief and faith by such as what is taking place in Egypt, prayer is good to remind This week’s Torah portion begins with God in these Israelites, our ancestors, one has to wonder what is good about ourselves that despite the words,“God spoke to Moses, saying: showed them that they really didn’t them. This is especially felt in my area of the challenges we all Irene Konig. ‘Tell the Israelite people to bring Me need the overseer, the taskmaster, or the country right now where events are face, sometimes daily, and some worse gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from Pharaoh. God encouraged them to find being cancelled and offices and schools than others, we hope to come to a point every person whose heart so moves their gifts and, thus, their potential. Isn’t are being closed because of record- where we can see the good things and him.’” I truly believe that every member this what a parent tries to do with his breaking low temperatures, snow and ice. the blessings we still have. We are lucky of the Israelite community could answer child or a teacher with his student? Not Looking only at the immediate situation, to have this wisdom that still comes this call as they all had gifts. Nothing everyone is the same and the value of it seems bleak. While experiencing a down to us through the ages. has changed today. Everyone is each person’s gift may be considered huge challenge, it may be very difficult to Konig has created many works with endowed with some gift whether it is differently, but we need each child to imagine any good coming out of it, but if Jewish themes, including works that intellectual, musical, art, athletic, or be 100% of who they are and not let one could look from a bigger picture, it have a tallit image as a background. the qualities of compassion, kindness, them fall short. might be easier to see. The Jewish-themed works range from caring, loving, or friendship. We all have What is good for our children should I remember a story about a man who calligraphy and design prints for something we can share with others or be no less for us. We need to maximize lived on a farm with his a strong and weddings to comforting works for those with this world. the gifts that are ours. I know that our able-bodied son. One day a beautiful in mourning, inspirational quotes, excerpts In the case of this week’s portion, God gifts, if allowed to flourish, will not only wild horse showed up on his property from the Song of Songs, other Psalms, is asking for gifts to be brought to help make us feel better about ourselves, but and no one claimed it. He was overjoyed quotations from some of the greats make the Mishkan (tabernacle) that is to will most likely bring this world a step to have it. Then while trying to tame the in Jewish history, home and personal be constructed as a dwelling-place for closer to the messianic age of peace, horse, his son was thrown and broke blessings, and many, many more. God. So I ask you what gift do you have harmony, goodwill, love, and kindness. both legs. The man was overwrought In addition to this large collection of that could help make a new community In essence, we can bring our gifts to God with sadness. Jewish inspired art, Konig has also created or help heal an existing community? Is to help make the world a Mishkan that The next day soldiers were scouting many other art pieces, which encompass it leadership that embraces the desire of all can enter and no one is denied a the area to find men to serve in a war a wide range of feelings, thoughts, and people? Are you a teacher or someone place. This may be a dream of mine to that was breaking out. When they saw experiences, all heartfelt. All master that can lead children on their life’s help bring about the messianic age, but the man’s son with the broken legs, they prints are made up by hand, and then journey? Are you a planner, a doer, a it won’t happen unless our gifts are said he would not qualify. The man was prints are made from this master print. worker, a helper? Can you sing songs allowed to be present and, as I have said, spared the possibility of losing his son in All in all, there are close to 300 prints, all that help others come closer to God? we all have gifts to contribute to this battle. Had the man known about this (see Cover, page NAT 15) Are you the compassionate one who is future day and this future Mishkan. the day before, his sadness of seeing his always there to hold the hand or the When you light your Shabbat candles healthy son in pain might not have been j i organizing one who makes things this week, light one as a reminder of the so difficult to bear. I don’t know if this counts as a “first,” happen? We don’t always view these as gift each of us has in our hearts and In October a tree in front of my condo the kind that Amy Hirshberg Lederman gifts. Being gifted doesn’t always mean hands. Light the other candle to help was either hit by lightening or a huge wrote about in her column from the Jan. the smartest, the fastest, the strongest, or enlighten these gifts as they contribute wind broke off about half of it. Either 12, 2011 issue of this newspaper. She the wisest. Being gifted is something to a better world. way, before I could even call the property wrote: Making 2011 the year where each each of possesses and we just need to Rabbi Adland has been leading Reform management, they were here cutting it month I try something I’ve never tried be encouraged to let it rise to the top congregations for more than 25 years in down. I remember being sad about it, before – for the very first time. Like eating like cream. Lexington, Ky., and Indianapolis, Ind. He can not only because it gave privacy to my a new food, wearing a new color or style, or At this critical moment in our journey, be reached at [email protected] Mishnah residence by blocking the parking lot reading a book I would never normally God understood the importance of Avot 2:19: Rabbi Elazar used to say: “It is next door, but it also provided shade choose to read. bringing the special gift out of each not incumbent upon you to finish the task. during the summer, and I had been so Although I have made fires in fireplaces Israelite. Our ancestors had lived as Yet, you are not free to desist from it.” looking forward to seeing the leaves that before, this was the first time I’ve were just beginning to turn beautiful done so in this place. I enjoyed this first The National Jewish colors. Where there was once a living, experience in this new location, and it growing tree, was now only a stump. made me feel alive and appreciative for When I moved into this location last this new opportunity. spring, it was already warm so I had not Another real “first”that I recently had Post &Opinion used the fireplace. My last residence did the joy to experience was ushering at the not have a working fireplace, so it had been bar mitzvah for the son of friends at www.jewishpostopinion.com a while since I had used one. However Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, the when I saw all that wood being cut into synagogue I attended every Saturday Editorial and sales offices located at The Jewish Post & Opinion 1111 East 54th St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46220 Published monthly by pieces to be hauled away, it occurred to morning when I was growing up. As you The Spokesman Co., Inc. office: (317) 972-7800 • fax: (317) 972-7807 me to ask the workers if I could keep it dear readers may remember, my father, (USPS 275-580) (ISSN 0888-0379) [email protected] for firewood. They said yes but to let it Gabriel Cohen, z”l, was very adamant Periodicals postage paid at Address correspondence to: Indianapolis, IN cure for six months before using it. about the importance of Jews attending 1111 East 54th St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46220 All circulation correspondence Who would have guessed how nice it Sabbath services every week.