MIKVEH RECORD 24 Tammuz 5772 Shabbat Pinhas July 13-14, 2012

Parashah: In this week's parashah, after the sin of Baal-Peor, G-d announced that because Pinhas had displayed his passion for G-d, G-d granted Pinhas Shabbat Services G-d's covenant of peace and priesthood for all time. G-d then told Moses to Candlelighting: 8:11 P.M. attack the Midianites to repay them for their trickery luring Israelite men to Friday Night Service: 7:15 P.M. worship Baal-Peor. Shabbat Morning Service: 9:00 A.M. G-d instructed Moses and Eleazar to take a census of Israelite men 20 years Shabbat Ends: 9:11 P.M. old and up, and Moses and Eleazar ordered it done. The census finds 601,730 men between the ages of 20 and 60. G-d instructed Moses on how the Land FROM THE RABBI is to be divided by lottery among the tribes and families of Israel. The Levi'im By Rabbi Albert E. Gabbai men aged a month old and up amounted to 23,000, and they were not included in the regular enrollment of Israelites, as they were not to have land The following is the explanation of some of the Minhagim of assigned to them. The only persons whom Moses and Eleazar counted that Tish'a Be'Ab (TBA) we do at KKMI: were counted in the first census at the wilderness of Sinai, were Caleb and The reason we call the Three Weeks (between the 17th of Joshua. Tammuz and Tish'a Be'Ab) "Yeme Ben Hametsarim" is The daughters of Zelophehad approached Moses, Eleazar, the chieftains, and because it is written in Ekha 1:3, "Her ('s) pursuers the assembly at the entrance of the Tabernacle, saying that their father left caught up with her "Ben Hametsarim". On the 17th of Tammuz no sons, and asking that they be given a land holding. Moses brought their the walls of Jerusalem were breached and on the 9th of Ab the case before G-d, who told him that their plea was just and instructed him to Temple was destroyed. Hence the name for the three weeks, transfer their father's share of land to them. G-d further instructed that if a Ben Hametsarim. man died without leaving a son, the property was to transfer to his daughter, The reason we read during the fast of TBA from the section in or failing a daughter to his brothers, or failing a brother to his father's Parashat Va'et'hannan "Ki tolidu Banim" is because of the brothers, or failing brothers of his father to the nearest relative. severity of the day. We recall the transgressions that the Children of Israel committed and the consequences that came G-d told Moses to climb the heights of Abarim and view the , or will come out of it. Otherwise we would have read the saying that when he had seen it, he would die, because he disobeyed G-d's passage of Vayehal Moshe of Parashat KiTissa as we do in all command to uphold G-d's sanctity in the people's sight when he brought other public fasts (except Kippur). That is why in Minha we water from the rock in the wilderness of Zin. Moses asked G-d to appoint read this last passage because it contains someone over the community, so that the people would not be like sheep G-d's thirteen attributes of mercy. This is very appropriate without a shepherd. G-d told Moses to single out Joshua, lay his hand on him, since at the time of Minha of TBA we recite the Nehamot, and commission him before Eleazar and the whole community. Joshua was to verses of consolation. present himself to Eleazar the priest, who was to seek the decision of the Urim and Thummim on whether to go out or come in. There is a Minhag (a custom) that the same three people called to the Torah in the morning of TBA are the same who The parashah ends with a listing of all the offerings for regular days, the are called also on Minha of TBA. The reason being is that Sabbath, Rosh Hodesh, Passover, Shabuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, when they were called in the morning they did not receive the and Shemini Atzeret. blessing of MiShebarakh and in the afternoon, the time of consolations, they will receive that blessing. You will notice that it is our Minhag not to give a Misheberakh blessing in the Parashat Pinhas (Dibre) has 168 verses morning of TBA to those called to the Torah. Haftarat Pinhas (Dibre) has 22 verses It is a Sephardic Minhag to read the scroll of Ekha both in the Sefer HaHinukh: Parashat Pinhas (Dibre) contains 6 Mitzvot. evening and in the morning of TBA, while in other communities Street Address it is read only in the evening. Those who read it only in the Suite 555 evening follow what is written in Ekha itself 1:2 Bakho Tibkeh This City,week's State Haftarah 55555 is from Jeremiah and will be read by Dr. Jonathan Kaye. www.webaddress.com Balayla, "You will surely cry in the night." However, the If you would like to deliver a Devar Torah on a special Shabbat, please talk Talmud says that we lament with dirges both in the evening to RabbiE: [email protected] Gabbai or call the office, 215-922-5446. and the day. So, some read Ekha in the evening and dirges in P: 555-555-5555 the morning and the Sepharadim read Ekha in the evening and M: 555-555-5555 F: 555-555-5555 the morning in addition to dirges. Mikveh Israel Record 1 Continued on page 3.

The Origin of the name "Mikveh Israel" By Dr. Andrew Gluck

We have all heard Rabbi Gabbai expound upon the (continued from previous column) name of our congregation and its origin in Jeremiah, denoting God as the "hope of Israel." We have also London and the American colonies. heard him warn us that it has little or nothing to do with the words "mikveh" or "mikvah," as when they denote Sometime before the year 1650, Menasseh ben Israel, collections, particularly of water in a ritual bath for a famous rabbi of Amsterdam, wrote the equally purposes of purification. This of course is true but I often famous book entitled Mikveh Yisrael and it was wondered whether there might also be a subtle play of instrumental in convincing the Puritan rulers of words between the two very different meanings of the England to re-admit the to that country. Hebrew word in question. Somewhat earlier he had met a man named Antonio Montezinos who claimed to have found some of the It might initially be noted that in Genesis I: 9-10 the lost tribes of Israel in South America. The purpose of collection and separation of water was declared a good the book was to announce the imminent coming of the thing by God. Water has often been viewed as the primal Messiah, which must be preceded by the scattering of element from which all material things emerge. Hence, the Jews to the four corners of the earth prior to the running water is often viewed as the purifying element in return to the land of Israel. He specifically mentioned material existence. In the Bible purity and impurity were the establishment of synagogues in America as proof viewed as constant and unremarkable aspects of human that this will have occurred. Many Christian existence. Unlike the ancient pagan cosmological view theologians were also eagerly awaiting these events of a universe that goes through repetitive cycles, and one of them (John Drury the chaplain to Mary, however, the prophets of Israel tended to stress the Princess of Orange), addressed a letter to Menasseh absolute beginning and end of human history as a ben Israel in 1649. The immediate answer and the process of estrangement from and return to God. The subsequent translation of his larger treatise were ultimate end (and hope) is a messianic era in which extremely influential in both the Jewish and non-Jewish many if not most of human ills would be abolished. This worlds. One of the major themes in the book was the great hope had very little to do with the endless cycles of Spanish Inquisition. At that time many so-called purity and impurity described in the priestly biblical Marranos were still leaving the Iberian Peninsula and writings but with a qualitative and irreversible change in the Jewish world was not altogether certain regarding human life that could nevertheless be described whether they were still Jews and how they were to be metaphorically as purification. Whether ritual purity rules treated. The short answer was that since the Messiah would still be in affect in such a world is open to question is coming soon all these problems will soon be but in the Mishna (tractate Yoma) an opinion is rendered resolved. But the book was addressed not only to that God, who is the hope of Israel, is also the purifier of Jews. Protestants welcomed his condemnation of the Israel. Inquisition. The looking forward to messianic times among Jews world-wide and among gentiles in While an adequate discussion of purity and impurity in England led to a revived interest in Jewish prophecies as well as questionable messianic speculation. In Judaism must await another time, it is worthy of note that SAVE THE DATE it changed from biblical times when it was mostly 1666 Shabbatai Tzvi (who many Jews believed was the Messiah)Please converted mark to Islamyour calendarsand three quarters of concentrated in the Priesthood and Temple to late Second Temple times when the Pharisees introduced the city of London was destroyed by fire. Both Shabbat Hukkat new procedures and applied them to all Jews. Some of Christopher Wren, the famous British architect, and them, such as the ritual washing of hands before eating John Evelyn, whoSaturday, planned June the rebuilding 30, 2012 of London, bread, are still practiced today. In addition there were influenced by either biblical descriptions of the occurred a further blurring of the line (never completely Temple or Joinby kabbalistic Mikveh Israel notions in ofwelcoming the relationship of clear) between impurity and sin, which is still with us Mrs.the Temple Judy Gross to the spiritual and her and sister, physical Ms. cosmos.Gwen Saures . today. Once the Temple was destroyed this became Interestingly, Mrs. Gross Moshe is the Haimwife ofLuzzato Mr. Allan in the Gross early part, falsly of particularly problematic because "sin offerings" (really theaccused 18th century by the wrote Cuban a treatise government on the similarity of being of an the impurity offerings) were no longer available. These dimensionsAmerican of the Temple spy and to that imprisoned of a mikveh in (ritual bath). These ideas as well as their architectural confused beliefs about sin and impurity weighed heavily Cuba for fifteen years. upon the minds of Jews and conversos in Spain and implications were exported to the New World. Mrs. Gross will tell his story and explore ways his Portugal. In part that confusion was reinforced by release from the Cuban prison can be secured. Christian beliefs about salvation and purification. Those In the 18th century most if not all of the early very conversos and their offspring formed the spiritual synagogues in America were formed. Many of these Mikveh Israel Record 2 backbone of the Jewish communities of Amsterdam, congregationsThis will be were a very named important "Mikveh talk Israel" and (Curacao,one you London and the American colonies. Jamaica, Philadelphiash ouldn'tand Savannah) miss. although the Continued on next column English spelling differed somewhat.Continued The synagogue on p.3 in

Mikveh Israel Record

“ ADULT LEARNING CLASSES: The Origin of the Name “Mikveh Israel” (continued from p. 2) Rabbi Albert Gabbai will continue the adult education class in the fall. although the English spelling differed somewhat. Class will be held on Monday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. If you The synagogue in Newport was originally called are interested in joining, please call the office to enroll or contact Carol "Yeshuat Yisrael," which means basically the same Marchand. thing since salvation from all manner of ills is what KIDDUSH & MEALS is generally hoped for. Messianic hopes were still rife and most of the synagogues constructed by We all enjoy the Kiddush and meals after our services. If you wish to and for converso communities differed markedly sponsor or dedicate one in honor of, in memory of, or for any reason, from the styles that were previously common in please call the office, 215-922-5446, and reserve your date. We need either Eastern Europe or the Iberian Peninsula. your participation in order to continue this program. They were designed to mimic the Temple in Jerusalem and in particular employed the ratio of CONTRIBUTION CARDS 37 to 100. These basic proportions are still evident Call the office to send out a contribution card for a Simha, such as a in many existing synagogues including our own birthday, birth, anniversary, graduation, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Berit Milah, even though many details such as windows and pillars may have been abandoned. The basic idea for condolence or for any other event or occasion. The cost is $10 for a was that the scattered Jewish communities of the personalized message. New World in their synagogues patterned after the SHOP IN OUR GIFT SHOP Temple will quickly usher in the Messiah and the rebuilding of a Third Temple in Jerusalem. This We have a wonderful selection of wine, toys, games, Shabbat candlesticks, would allow for the fulfilling of the hopes of Israel Menorahs, tote bags, and much much more for you to purchase. Our and also perhaps for the purifying rituals that are prices are very competitive. Please call the office, 215-922-5446, for an associated with the Temple. While some may no appointment to shop. We can arrange to have someone meet you. longer believe in the efficacy of those rituals, I Also, if you have any Judaic items in YOUR house that are in good suspect that almost all of us would agree with the condition and that you would like to donate, we are reserving a space in statement from the Mishna that God is both the hope and purifier of Israel. the store for these items which we will then sell. Bring your special ______things into the office. Whatever you donate may be used as a tax deduction. WineTasting Program Kosher wine- by the bottle or the case:

September 5, 2012 Barkan Merlot 2-3 volunteers are needed to represent Barkan Pinot Congregation Mikveh Israel at the annual Wine Casa Da Corca Couro Elgazi Argen. Merlot/Syrah/Temp Tasting Program held at the Gershman Y, Broad Gamla Muscato Street, on Wednesday evening, September 5, Harzog French Vouvray from 5:00 P.M to approximately 8:00 P.M. Man Kedem Concord a table, hand out our brochures, help with the Ked. Matuk Rouge Soft wine tasting and showcase the best of KKMI. Lanzur Chilean Chardonnay Lanzur Chilean Merlot This program is geared for unaffiliated young Recanati Cabernet Sauvignon Jewish adults, 21-45 years old who need a Ramon Cordova Rioja synagogue for the High Holidays. Please call the Teal Lake Muscato D’Aussi synagogue office, 215-922-5446 to let us know Teal Lake Shiraz/Cabernet Teal Lake Shiraz/Reserve if you are interested in volunteering. Tio Pepe Sherry Weinstock White Zinfandel Zakon Little Grape Petit Syrah

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Vol. 1 Issue 1

From The Rabbi (continued from p.1.)

Thank You and the morning in addition to dirges.

It is a custom that at the Tish'a Be'Ab meal (Seudat Hamafseket) To Sharon and Ellen Geller for sponsoring Kiddush in eggs and lentils are eaten. The reason for that is that their shapes memory of their beloved mother, Mrs. Dorothy Geller. are round and have no "mouth," representing a person who is in mourning who should not utter unpleasant words toward his Creator.

In Minha of TBA after the Amidah we recite two poems of consolation followed by twenty-eight verses taken from the prophetic consolations. We may ask how can we say that during Happy Birthday this week to: TBA? The answer is that we do offer words of consolation at the end of some dirges and also a special prayer is added in the Mrs. Juliet Englander Amidah of Minha. Therefore it is appropriate to recite verses of Mr. Jonathan Cohen consolation in the Minha of TBA. Our service on Minha of TBA at Dr. George Ehrlich KKMI is very moving with beautiful soothing melodies fit for hope and redemption. Refuah Shelemah We wish a Refuah Shelamah to:

Mrs. Sonia Schwartz MORNING MINYAN: Dr. George Ehrlich Mr. Richard Marcus Please check your schedule and fit into it one morning a Mrs. Myrna Marcus Mr. Seth Bloom week, one week a month, twice a month, whatever you Mrs. Gilda Silver can, to attend morning minyan. We need you! Ms. Victoria Rosin Mr. Brian Zahn Norman Skydell, Esq. Mr. Maurice Sady Mrs. Salcha Shula Sharabani and Rabbi Michael Tayvah

Phone calls and cards to wish someone a Refuah Shelemah are Thoughts on Prayer

appreciated. by Daniel C. Cohen

The daily morning service ends with a Kaddish recitedPLACE by PHOTOmourners. HERE, Usually introducedOTHERWISE by aDELETE few verses BOX from TISH'A BE'AB: Proverbs (Prayerbook p. 105), for two or SATURDAY, JULY 28 - SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012 three weeks before there is a public reading of one of the five Megillot, the Kaddish is, Services: instead, introduced by a few verses of that Saturday evening Megillah (Prayerbook pp. 105-107). July 28, 2012 9:45 P.M. Ashkenazim read Kohelet on Shabbat Sunday, July 29, 2012 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. during Succoth; Sephardim do not. My reaction is to want to read the book to see why Sephardim omit it. Our synagogue is darkened and the solemn service is conducted by candlelight.

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Israeli Independence Day Festival & Celebration –