Shavu'ot and the Treasure of Torah
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May 2013 From the study of Cantor Richard Cohn Iyar/Sivan5773 Vol. 39 No. 7 Shavu’ot and the Treasure of Torah Join Us For Shabbat In my hometown, Shavu’os (as we used to In his probing volume, One Generation After, call it!) seemed somewhat less important than Elie Wiesel recounts from one of his own Friday, May 3 other holy days. Its main claim to fame was diaries a story about Shavu’ot in post-World 6 p.m. in Pollman Hall the Confirmation service for tenth-graders, War II America. Wiesel writes about a Hasidic Tot Shabbat held annually on that date. (At Temple, as synagogue near his Manhattan apartment, 6:15 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary in many communities, Confirmation has a modest shul with services in the basement. Saturday, May 4 now been disengaged from Shavu’ot and The congregants are refugees from around 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel is convened instead on a Saturday night, Warsaw, survivors of concentration camps. On 10:30 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary coinciding with the end of Shabbat.) Shavu’ot in New York City they stand to hear 4:30 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary We knew that Shavu’ot was the recitation of the Ten Commandments, the Friday, May 10 the Festival of Weeks, but we loftiest precepts of ethical behavior. Having 6:15 p.m. in Pollman Hall weren’t so certain why. The witnessed such overwhelming atrocities, will 8:15 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary answer is that, beginning on these worshippers respond with cynicism or Union Prayer Book Service the second night of Passover, affirmation? we count seven weeks (more As the story continues, Wiesel tells of an Saturday, May 11 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel specifically, seven cycles of individual who has been designated to offer 10:30 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary seven days) in order to locate a plea for funds in support of the ongoing 4:30 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary Shavu’ot (“Weeks”), which pursuit of Torah by needy students. The Confirmation Cantor 8 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary Richard begins on the night after the speaker declares, “God has given us the Law Cohn forty-nine day period. This one time only, yet God asks us to receive it Friday, May 17 interval of “Counting the every day.” Not only on Shavu’ot, but on each 6:15 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary Omer” is marked by a blessing each evening, day, we are given the opportunity of opening followed by the designation of that day’s ourselves to God’s teaching. Wednesday, May 15 position in the sequence. Some people follow The speaker continues by stating that the 10:30 am. in Lefkowitz Chapel a practice during the forty-nine days that virtues of Torah have been proven “irrefutably” Shavuot Festival Service with Yizkor involves systematically refining character by contemporary events! He posits that “of all traits in preparation for Shavu’ot. The idea is systems, all ideologies, the Torah is the only Saturday, May 18 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel that revelation appears when we have readied one that did not betray man. It produced 10:30 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary ourselves to receive it. neither camps nor death-factories…[Those] 4:30 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary Shavu’ot also stands second in the sequence who adhere to its principles…do not see man of the “Three Festivals,” flanked by Pesach as object, as obstacle. They denounce no one Friday, May 24 before and Sukkot much later. Pesach is a and seek no vengeance. Their only wish is to 6:15 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary season of liberation, as we narrate at our devote all their time to the study of Torah.” Saturday, May 25 Seder tables the passage of the Israelites Based on this argumentation, the fund-raising 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel from servitude toward freedom. Shavu’ot is successful: “Everybody contributes, even 10:30 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary commemorates our receiving the Torah at a though everyone, almost without exception, 4:30 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary decisive moment along the Jewish journey: has difficulty making ends meet.” the famous encounter at Mt. Sinai. Finally In Wiesel’s story, the principles enshrined in Friday, May 31 – beyond the parched season of the 9th of the Ten Commandments, and the possibility 6:15 p.m. in Pollman Hall Av, the gradual ascent to Rosh Hashanah of daily revelation for those who seek it, are with its triumphant call to the spirit, and the reaffirmed on Shavu’ot in the wake of the most Saturday, June 1 transformative inner process of the Day of egregious betrayal of humanity ever recorded. 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel Atonement – beckons the ultimate harvest Generosity trumps despotism, and the renewal 10:30 a.m.in the Olan Sanctuary of Sukkot, when we rejoice in the fruition of of Torah continues. 4:30 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary the bountiful potential set in motion by the May this year’s Festival of Weeks, May 14-15, Exodus. be one during which the light of Torah burns The receiving of the Torah – the guiding with renewed brightness and hope. Complete Shabbat wisdom of revelation – is therefore central services schedule, to the Jewish narrative, making Shavu’ot an Page 3 important occasion in our calendar. Shabbat • NION • RAYER • OOK • U P B Refresh and Restore May 10 at 8:15 p.m. at our new TE Torah Honors If you would like to participate in the Shabbat Morning Service in Lefkowitz Please join us the first Saturday of the month afterPlease Shabbat morning join servicesus the to schmooze,first Chapel by dressing and undressing the Torah, carrying the Torah, or leading sit, relax and enjoy a nosh with friends! the Torah blessings, members of our new Gabbai Team can help you make Saturday of the month after the arrangements. This is a wonderful way to mark a personal milestone in ShabbatOct 6 · Novmorning 3 · Dec services 1 · Jan 5 to your life, feel connected to your community and celebrate the richness of Feb 2 · Mar 2 · Apr 6 · May 4 our tradition on Shabbat. No experience is necessary but a training session schmooze, sit, relax and enjoy will take place on May 4 following Shabbat morning services and before a nosh with friends. the Shabbat Nosh if you’d like to practice. Contact our Gabbai Team at [email protected] or by leaving a message at 214.706.0017. Our Daily Minyan in Lefkowitz Chapel May 4 Sunday-Friday at 8:15 a.m. Add your voice and your heart to this loyal and loving group of congregants June 1 who begin each day with words of prayer. The brief service includes singing, reading in English and Hebrew, prayers for healing and the opportunity for a community to support those in mourning with the recitation of Kaddish. Thanks to WRJ/ Sermons On-Line! Sisterhood We are now posting audio files on the website of the Friday night Shabbat for their support sermons. You can hear a new sermon most Mondays (and 2 on the weeks when we have a 6:15 and an 8:15 service) at http://www.tedallas.org/prayer/sermons. of Shabbat Nosh! Rosh Hodesh Rosh Hodesh, the start of each Hebrew month when the new crescent moon appears in the sky, is a time for celebration and reflection, bringing with it hope, light and promise, growth and fulfillment, not only for the moon but for us. Rosh Hodesh Sivan is Friday, May 10. Look for the new moon on Join us for ShabbaTogether and Summer Blessings, Thursday May 9! Friday, May 31 This monthly informal and creative service at 6:15 p.m. is geared toward families and children and often includes prayer projected on screens, energizing music and spirited singing. This shorter service which includes the Yahrzeit list, is followed by a traditional oneg, as well as dinner, activities for kids and conversation for adults. Please join us for dinner in the garden followed by a song session with Rabbi Amy, and of course, play gaga! Cost for each dinner: $5 for children 10 and under, $10 for adults To register for dinner please visit www.tedallas.org/shabbatogether or contact Karen Howson at [email protected] or 214.706.0000, ext. 131. 2 Shabbat Shabbat Friday, May 3 Saturday, May 18 This service includes the Bar Mitzvah 6 p.m.. in Pollman Hall 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel of Harrison Cohn. Tot Shabbat Rabbi Debra Robbins 4:30 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary Rabbi Amy Ross Rabbi Nir Barkin Rabbi Kimberly Herzog Cohen 6:15 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary Shirat HaLev Randy Pearlman Rabbi Asher Knight 10:30 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary This service will include the Bat Rabbi David Stern Rabbi David Stern Mitzvah of Jordan Mayers. Cantor Richard Cohn Randy Pearlman Friday, May 31 Temple Emanu-El Choir This service will include the Bar 6:15 p.m. in Pollman Hall Saturday, May 4 Mitzvah of Braden Krumholz. Rabbi Amy Ross 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel 4:30 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary Cantor Richard Cohn Rabbi Asher Knight Rabbi Kimberly Herzog Cohen ShabbaTogether/Summer Blessings Randy Pearlman Randy Pearlman Saturday, June 1 10:30 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary This service will include the Bat 10:30 a.m.