PESAH SERVICE VÉÇÇxvà|ÉÇá SCHEDULE 2013 / 5773 Beth Sholom Congregation Newsletter Nisan/Iyar/Sivan 5773 March/April/May 2013 Volume 93, No. 3 Bedikat Hametz Sunday, March 24 after sunset Bedikat Hametz (search for leaven) is custom- \Ç à{|á |ááâxAAA arily done on the Night before Passover imme- diately after sunset. The “Kol Hamira” (“All the Hametz…”) formula for nullifying unseen Hametz is recited at this time; it can be found in the beginning of the Haggadah. out of the house or stored away. The syna- gogue’s sale of Hametz will take place prior to Siyyum Bikhorim this hour. The Fast of the First-born Monday, March 25 at 7:00 AM If you would like to be a guest at a seder, (Sisterhood Sanctuary) followed by breakfast please call the Administration Office by A first-born (whether of the mother or the fa- March 18. ther) should fast on the day before Passover, in commemoration of the deliverance from FIRST DAYS Robert S. Cohen will be honored at Egypt. It is the custom for synagogues to make 1st Seder, Monday, March 25 the annual Men’s Club Shabbat on siyyum (the public completion of the large sec- 6:00 PM - Minhah Friday, March 8, 2013. tion of study) on the morning before Passover. Read more on page 10. Since the siyyum is followed by a seudat mitz- 1st Day Pesah, Tuesday, March 26 vah, a festive meal that follows the perform- 7:00 AM - Early Shaharit ance of certain Mitzvot, a first born who is 9:15 AM - Congregational Shaharit present may eat and having eaten need not fast that day. 2nd Seder, Tuesday Night, March 26 6:15 PM - Minhah at Adath Jeshurun Biur Hametz Monday Morning, March 25 2nd Day, Wednesday, March 27 Biur (burn) Hametz at Beth Sholom at 9:00 7:00 AM - Early Shaharit AM sharp -- and then roast some marshmal- 9:15 AM - Congregational Shaharit lows! Beth Sholom's 6th Annual Hametz Burn- 7:00 PM - Ma’ariv ing is a great way to start the holiday! Join us for a communal Hametz burning, public sale HOL HA-MOED Author Daniel Silva highlights this of Hametz, and roasting & eating marshmal- INTERMEDIATE DAYS OF PESAH year’s congregational fund raiser on lows. Bring your Hametz, a stick and Passover May 5. See insert. songs. 1st Day Hol Ha-moed Thursday, March 28, 7:10 AM Location: Beth Sholom parking lot, weather permitting. Friends and family are welcome! 2nd Day Hol Ha-moed Friday, March 29 Hametz may not be eaten after three hours 7:10 AM (from sunrise) into the day, nor stored away / 6:00 PM - Neshamah Service sold to a non-Jew / burned after four hours 7:00 PM - Dinner requires RSVP (from sunrise) into the day. This year, all No 8:00 PM service Hametz must be eaten by 9:55 AM Daylight Savings Time (DST) and stored away / sold to 3rd Day Hol Ha-moed a non-Jew / burned by 10:55 AM DST. The Shabbat Saturday, March 30 Harold Paul is the 2013 Beth Sholom symbolic “burning of the Hametz” should be 9:15 AM - Shaharit followed by a Passover Congregant of the Year! Come honor completed by this hour. After this hour, no Extended Kiddush him on Friday, April 5, 2013. Read Hametz may be used and all Hametz should be 6:50 PM - Minhah, Ma’ariv more on the back cover. Continued on page 7 Beth Sholom Congregation \Ç f{ÉÄÉÅ 8231 Old York Road Elkins Park, PA 19027-1595 Phone 215.887.1342 Rabbi David Glanzberg-Krainin Fax 215.887.6605 Human beings have a desire for self-improvement. The true path to this was debated first by the ancient philosophers, David Glanzberg-Krainin, and now by the authors of the self-help books that beg for Raymond & Ruth Perelman Senior Rabbinic Chair [email protected] space on our Kindles and I-Pads. But what is the best way? Is there a diet that will help us live better? Do we get to en- Andrea L. Merow, Rabbi lightenment through resistance, surrender or sublimation? [email protected] Should we work to reject, accept, or to transform? Every theory, philosophy and theosophy comes with the path to align yourself with its truth, a 10-step program, always an internal Shalom Zachmy, Ritual Director process - an inner journey that will bring you to your optimum self. [email protected] Harvey Friedrich, Executive Director And then there's Judaism, with its laws for life and with practices that span over three mil- [email protected] lennia. In contrast to most of the latest theories of how to make yourself the person you’ve always wanted to be, Judaism argues that philosophy and spiritual journeys must ultimately Judy Chant, Office Manager manifest themselves through actions—through how we live in the world. Passover repre- [email protected] sents the freeing of the soul from the things that clog it up and obstruct its brightness. And though that is primarily a spiritual challenge, the path to doing so is more likely to happen Allison Sasson, Religious School Director when we engage in real work and in physical activity, than it will simply by contemplating [email protected] that truth. Eileen Weingram, Preschool Director [email protected] How does this replace the spiritual journey? It doesn't. It takes the spiritual journey out of heaven, and makes it real by bringing it down to this world. We all complain about the Julie Glass, Director of Congregational work. Lots of us look to find other places to spend the eight days of the Festival. But the re- Engagement demptive part of the preparation is that it is intensely physical—and the real world schmutz [email protected] that we get rid of has the potential to transform our souls—and be ready for the journey that Aaron Landes, Rabbi Emeritus begins as the First Seder arrives. That’s how we chase the hametz from our hearts. David F. Tilman, Hazzan Emeritus We who are born in freedom do not experience liberation simply by showing up: We need to prepare! That’s why we want to invite you to come to Beth Sholom Congregation on Yaacov Lieberman, Ritual Director Emeritus Monday morning, March 25 to take part in the Siyyum Ha’Bikhorot and the burning of the hametz that will follow. When we watch the flames devouring our hametz, we see the de- Mortimer J. Cohen (zl), Rabbi 1919-1969 vouring of the hametz in our souls. When we recite the kol hamira, the prayer in which we Officers of the Board, 2012-13 disavow all hametz, it isn't an empty prayer. It will have been earned by weeks of sweat, and so been made part of us. That’s how we will know that it is real. And that, truly, is the Richelle Hittinger, Esq., President beginning of spiritual transformation. [email protected] Steven Fisher, Vice President Hag Kasher v’Sameah Jerry Hellmann, Vice President Gerald Segal, Vice President Howard Soloman, Esq., Treasurer As Chairman of the Roger Davis, Assistant Treasurer Campaign for Beth Sholom, June Feith, Secretary I am pleased to tell you that Larry Cutler, Assistant Secretary the campaign is doing well. Rick Manstein, Immediate Past President In fact, we are beyond our 50% goal of $6 million with thanks to many of you. In Judy Chant, Newsletter Editor conversations with fellow [email protected] congregants, I am struck by Carla Zighelboim, Design/Layout the many ways each one of us can participate in the life of our shul. The treasure of time we [email protected] spend together, and funds we contribute, serve our community well and for that, I thank you. Sylvia Pomerantz, Proofreader Fred Wolfson Chairman, Capital Campaign CONNECTIONS , p1 \Ç UÄxáá|Çz Four Days Rabbi Andrea L. Merow How do you experience the passage of time? Each of us feels the family is affected on this somber movement of time in different ways at various points in our lives. day. For 24 hours, places of public When one is in the midst of a joyful event, time can seem to race entertainment are closed. Two by. When one enjoys a meal with family or friends, a great day at sirens are sounded throughout the work, a vacation, or I would add a spiritual encounter with Gd and country, during which the entire holiness, time often seems fleeting. Conversely, when one is suf- nation observes two-minutes of fering through physical or mental illness, or awaiting important "standstill" of all traffic and daily activities. The first siren marks news, one can proverbially sense and hear each slow second tick the beginning of Memorial Day at 8:00 P.M. and the second is heard by. The passing of time as constructed in our society is often about at 11:00 A.M. There are public prayers in all military cemeteries. how we feel and understand the meaning and value of the time that Most of the broadcasting time is devoted to Israeli songs that has passed. convey the mood of the day. Even when we are not in Israel, it is important for our connection to our State of Israel to commemorate Our task as religious people is to bring order and meaning to the this important day here with memorials. vastness of eternal time by marking days and seasons with special qualities. In the Biblical story of creation each Yom, each day, is As the day comes to a close, the mood turns to happiness, as we remembered for what was brought into the world on that day.