CBT Nu'z Shevat-Adar 5777 ~ Feb. 2017 | Congregation B’nai Torah, Olympia, WA, USA Exhalations from the Ex-President

A modest proposal. Rabbi Akiva's teacher was a second generation tanna called Nachum, a man of Gamzo. His most famous saying is “gam zu l'tovah” “this, too, is for good.” He was a man who suffered for many physical ailments, but was never discouraged. He always had hope for the future and the sufferings that he underwent were but harbingers of good things to come.

We have a new administration, who is proposing to enact the 1995 law passed by Congress to move the United States Embassy to . All of our presidents since 1995 have refused to implement this law because of foreign-policy considerations, which come under the purview of the executive branch.

There are many who decry this move as an obstacle to peace between the stateless Arabs and the Israeli state. I would suggest, however, that this also may be a case of gam zu l'Tova.

Many years ago, a merchant by the name of Simcha Mandelbaum built a house for his large family in Jerusalem on what was later to become the , a truce line, but not a border. During the Arab pogrom against the Jews living in mandate Palestine, the , the Jewish defense force of Palestine, asked the Mandelbaum's to vacate the house and turned it over to them to protect the Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem. The Arabs at that point, declared that no Arab could sell land to a Jew ever so the house stood alone. It was finally taken over by the Arab League, under command by a mercenary English Officer, Pasha Galub after a bloody battle. It became known as the Mandelbaum gate and was not restored to Israeli control until 1967.

Establishing an American embassy at this site with a special section as envoy to the Arabs living in the West Bank could well establish a place that representatives of the Palestinian Authority could see representatives of the Israelis without coming under fire from their people that they have so doggedly trained to hate Jews and .

Abba Eban once famously said of the UN that “in order to have behind the scenes negotiations, first you have to have scenes.” This United States Embassy could serve as those scenes. Both Arabs and Israelis could be in the same building for purposes other than negotiating with each other. It would give them “plausible deniability” with their people so they can get on with the peace process. It would be a case of both acting as well as thinking locally, and avoiding foreign entanglements that will come with the manipulations of other countries who wish to settle their problems or extend their influence in the Middle East on the backs of the local Arabs and Israelis.

Gam zu l'tovah. —Len Albert Dinner on Tuesdays

We are continuing to meet for lunch for another couple of months.

Our next meeting is at 12 noon on: February 14

Curry Corner 9408 Martin Way E., Ste. 2 Olympia, WA 98516, (360) 455-8776

Let me know if you have questions or comments and if you are able to come.

Sue Cordas, (360) 456-7367 [email protected] Shalom Sisterhood of Olympia Tzimmes and Mitsvos

For current information contact Joan Wirth, (360) 705-3525

L' shalom, Shalom Sisterhood of Olympia

"To foster camaraderie and promote community involvement"

February Birthdays & Anniversaries

February 4th: David Pierik’s Birthday February 5th: Charlie Auster’s Birthday February 26th: Carolyn Cubert’s Birthday

February Yahrzeits

7 Shevat ~ February 3: Jacob Cubert, grandfather of Burleigh Cubert

9 Shevat ~ February 5: Leo Blau, Parness; father of Carol Jolly

14 Shevat ~ February 10: Miriam Finkelstein, mother of Stan Finkelstein

14 Shevat ~ February 10: Gedalya Golding, father of Steve Golding

17 Shevat ~ February 13: Phyllis Larson, grandmother of Ronda Larson

19 Shevat ~ February 15: Beckie Cubert, grandmother of Burleigh Cubert

30 Shevat ~ February 26: Samuel Cohn, father of Edith Rutel Donations

Donations are always needed and appreciated. Thank you all donors. Checks should be made out and mailed to:

Congregation B'nai Torah CBT Treasurer, P.O. Box 11432 Olympia, WA 98508-1432 Current funds include: Adult Education Fund, Building Fund, Pump house Fund, Kiddush Fund, Loan Fund, Memorial Book Fund, Morris Belling Leadership Fund, Newsletter Fund, Prayer Book Fund, Youth Education.

If you make a donation, please let the editors at [email protected] know so that we can make sure you are acknowledged promptly.

Feb. 2017 ~ Tevet-Adar, 5777

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 CBT 2:00pm

Shul Cleanup Parshat Bo

4:58 pm 7:30pm First Friday Service, (lay-led) 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2:00pm 9:30 am Shul Cleanup Morning Service with cantorial 5:09 pm. soloist Smith

Tu BiShvat

Parshat Beshalach 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Noon 2:00 pm Shul 9:30 am Dinner on Cleanup Morning Service Tuesdays with cantorial Curry 5:20 pm soloist Smith Corner Parshat Yitro 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 DEAD 2:00 pm Shul 11:00 am Cleanup Nosh & Drash -LINE for NUZ 5:31 pm Parshat Mishpatim

26 27 28 Congregation B’nai

Torah

March services: March 3rd, 7:30 pm; March 11th, 9:30 am; March 18th, 9:30 am; March 25th, 11:00 am

To view more CBT calendars, visit http://www.bnai-torah-olympia.org

Congregation B’nai Torah (CBT) Affiliated with the Conservative (Masorti) Movement

Contact Information: President: Stan Finkelstein E-mail: [email protected]

CBT Mailing Address: P.O. Box 11432 Olympia, WA 98508-1432 Phone: (360) 943-7354 WEB site: http://www.bnai-torah-olympia.org

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Congregation B’nai Torah

P.O. Box 11432

Olympia WA 98508-1432