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The National Jewish Post & Opinion 7-13-11 The Jewish Post &Opinion Volume 77, Number 10 • July 13, 2011 • 11 Tammuz 5771 www.jewishpostopinion.com “Hey, Dad, I mean Abba, will my Big Wheeler Over 100 children were among the 245 make it there okay like that?” asks twenty month- Olim who departed JFK Airport on old Haya (left) on her way from Monday, July 11, 2011 on this summer’s New Jersey to her new life in first charter Aliyah flight organized by Ramat Bet Shemesh, Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with the Israel. Photo credit: Jewish Agency. On board the plane were Shahar Azran. 45 families and 51 singles, 15 of whom will be joining the IDF. The Olim range in age from 2 months to 81 years old. Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency for Israel, is dedicated to revitalizing Aliyah from North America and the UK by removing OnOn theirtheir wayway or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles of Aliyah. The support and comprehensive social toto aa newnew lifelife services provided by Nefesh B'Nefesh to its 27,000 newcomers, has ensured that 98% of its Olim have remained in Israel. inin Israel!Israel! Visit www.nbn.org.il. July 13, 2011 The Jewish Post & Opinion 2 Teachings of the Kotzker Rebbe.” It was Editorial taught by Yitzhak Buxbaum, a mystic, a Inside this Issue maggid, and an author of ten books, including Jewish Spiritual Practices and Nefesh B’Nefesh.............................Cover The theme of this year’s 14th The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov.He Editorial.....................................................2 International Jewish Renewal Kallah was founded and directs the first ever program Rabbi Benzion Cohen “Or Chadash: Enrich, Inspire, and Brighten to train and ordain maggidim. (Chassidic Rabbi).....................................3 Your Jewish Path.”It was held June 2 –July 3 Eckelberg said there aren’t a lot of Andy Heller..............................................3 at the University of Redlands in Southern resources on teachings from this Rebbe as Rabbi Jon Adland California. Each biennial ALEPH Kallah is compared with many of the others. When (Shabbat Shalom).....................................4 held in a different location all over the I asked him what was meant by “God only Melinda Ribner United States – making it easier for more loves what is real,” Eckelberg replied, (Kabbalah of the Month) .........................5 people to eventually attend one that is “God is present where he is invited in, Julie Waldman .........................................5 close to them. where there is passion and aliveness.” Rabbi Eli Mallon As I was unable to attend this year, I Another gleaning from this class was a (Jewish Spirituality)................................6 interviewed Eliyahu Eckelberg, a CPA quote from the Rebbe: “Many go to the Rabbi Irwin Wiener from Phoenix, Ariz. to get the inside Rebbe to find God, but God is everywhere. (Wiener’s Wisdom)..................................7 scoop. (Read more about Jewish Renewal One should go to the Rebbe to find Howard W. Karsh on page 16 and see photos on page 20.) oneself.” This Rebbe went into seclusion (Jewish America) .....................................8 Approximately 500 Jews from all for the last 20 years of his life. Rabbis Dennis and Sandy Sasso .........8 denominations gathered for learning, Eckelberg attended a one time evening Sybil Kaplan praying, singing, dancing, chanting, class taught by Rabbi Wayne Dosick. It (Seen on the Israel Scene)........................9 drumming, schmoozing, eating (kosher was a presentation from his upcoming Batya Medad vegetarian) and enjoying different kinds of book, Who is God? Those who attended (Musings from Shiloh) ............................9 entertainment. Of the three different got a preview from the book of Morton Gold choirs, a cappella singing was led by meditations, prayers and chants to help (As I Heard It).......................................11 Cantor Linda Hirschhorn, Shir Ecstasy one connect with God. Avi and Adele Kallah Jospel Choir was led by Sharon Rabbi Dosick is the Spiritual Guide (Confidentially Yours) ...........................11 Dreyfus Alexander and Songs of Yearning of The Elijah Minyan and an adjunct Harold Jacobson/Rose Kleiner & Celebration was led by Shoshana professor at the University of San Diego. (Theater) ................................................12 Brown. A Jazz-type singing performance He is the author of several critically Amy Hirshberg Lederman was led by Cantor Richard Kaplan. acclaimed books, including The Golden (Jewish Educator) ..................................13 Programming for children called Kids Rules: The Ten Ethical Values Parents Need Ted Roberts Kallah was available with art, theater, to Teach Their Children. (Spoonful of Humor) .............................13 singing, swimming and more as well as This Kallah was Eckelberg’s sixth. When Rabbi Elliot B. Gertel the Bechira Teen Program for ages 13–16. I asked him how it compared to the others, (Media Watch).......................................14 Teens spent four days camping in parks he stated that it was held in a very beautiful Zalman Project News ...........................16 near the location of the Kallah. They setting.“This lends itself to people meeting Tisha B’Av – Rosh HaShannah prayers ...16 learned wild plant identification and usage, by the dining hall and having conversations Dr. Morton I. Teicher basketry, hiking and campfire cooking. which made for a pleasant week”. (Book Reviews) ......................................17 Bechira (choice) represents the conscious “People came from all over the United Rabbi Avi Shafran choices that each of us must make. States, Brazil, Canada, Israel and a few (An Observant Eye) ..............................18 Adult attendees had a choice between other countries,” commented Eckelberg. Sybil Kaplan several different morning and afternoon “Music was a highlight for me. A wealth of (My Kosher Kitchen).............................19 classes held Tuesday through Friday. The talented people in one week in one place ALEPH Kallah........................................20 same class met each day in the morning or made for an abundance of wonderful each afternoon for about two hours. performances,”he reported. The Jewish Eckelberg said his morning class, taught Eckelberg said one of the reasons he by Arthur Kurzweil, had a lot of information liked the Friday night services was Post&Opinion packed into it. The title was,“Talking with because it was more relaxed than what he 1427 W. 86th St. #281 My Children and My Parents about Death: has experienced in traditional services. Indianapolis, IN 46260 18 Jewish Texts and Teachings I Study “They were held outside in the shade and with My Family.” The class description many people wore white,”he remarked. email: [email protected] said, “Despite the inevitability of death, Our own P&O columnist, Melinda phone and fax: (317) 405-8084 discussions on the topic of death and Ribner, taught a class titled, “Initiation website: www.jewishpostopinion.com dying remain a taboo for so many of us.” into Kabbalistic Meditation and Jewish Jewish texts were studied that express the Spiritual Healing.”In the class description Kallah’s she has attended, and this was wisdom of our Sages on death and dying. it said, “Experience all the benefits of her ninth. She said the davenning was Arthur Kurzweil (www.arthurkurzweil meditation and more within our own exceptional. “The Mincha and Maariv .com) is a teacher, writer, publisher and a tradition!” Hopefully she will write about services opened my heart!” she declared member of The Society of American it for our next issue. with enthusiasm. She also communicated Magicians. His books include On the Road “The classes and Shabbat workshops that the food was excellent and the with Rabbi Steinsaltz, Pebbles of Wisdom, met and exceeded our expectations,” outdoor pool was fabulous. Kabbalah for Dummies, The Torah for Dummies, exclaimed Yehudit and Reuven Goldfarb of For more information about ALEPH: and From Generation to Generation. Tzfat and Berkeley. Alliance for Jewish Renewal and the Eckelberg’s afternoon class was titled, And Marcia Brooks from Berkeley told ALEPH Kallah go to: www.aleph.org. “God Only Loves What’s Real: The Fiery me this was one of the best ALEPH Jennie Cohen, July 13, 2011 July 13, 2011 The Jewish Post & Opinion 3 needed to call home more often. I found a Chassidic Rabbi Call your mom! lot of humor in this demand, as I knew that I already called home more than BY ANDY HELLER BY RABBI BENZION COHEN most. My mother was no stranger to effectively using “Jewish Guilt”. While I I’ve always considered myself to be a knew I was being played a bit by mom, Visiting Vancouver Part 1 good son. After moving from Florida to any son dealing with Jewish Guilt knows Atlanta shortly after college, I made it a how helpless we are when our dear For eight months we have been busy point to get home to Florida to see my mothers use this wonderful skill. Of building an addition to our apartment in parents once every six weeks. After all, my course mom got her point across, and Kfar Chabad. It hasn’t been easy. There parents married late in life, so my mom from that day forward, even while on have been many difficulties and aggravations. and dad were as old as some of my peer’s overseas business trips, I called home Two days after Purim we left Israel to grandparents. I knew I wouldn’t have every day. visit our family and go to a wedding. Our them around forever. I also made it a point Not every call was a 30-minute conver- first stop was to the Lubavitcher Rebbe in to call home every three or four days. sation. Sometimes I just said a quick hello Brooklyn. Our son Shmuel and his family One day about 20 years ago, Dad called and told Mom something about my day. live there. Four days later we traveled to and told me Mom was upset. He said I She was always proud of my professional Buffalo, to spend a few days with our son accomplishments, but I did wonder Mendi and his family.
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