Recognizing the Builders of Our Community Continuing to Build, Brick By Brick A Night to Celebrate All We've Accomplished! From Rabbi Rheins Fit to be King? Mel Brooks’ hilarious classic History of the seated on his royal throne, he shall have a copy World Part 1 includes his memorable portrayal of of this Teaching written for him on a scroll by the swaggering and vain Louis XIV gloating, “It’s the levitical priests” (Deuteronomy 17:18). That good to be the King.” With a sly smile and a wink teaching emphasizes a limitation of the King’s that revealed his lust for power, possessions and, power. The Torah warns against the abuse of well, just pure lust, Brooks’ King was a petulant power and exposes the flaws and arrogance of boor. Yes, it’s good to be the King. But is the King corrupt leaders. (or President) good for us? We can learn a lot about what makes a good Richard Rheins With the nation in full swing for the or bad leader by reviewing the relevant Biblical Senior Rabbi upcoming elections we are preparing for the and Rabbinic texts. Therefore, on Saturday beginning of a new President and his/her evening, June 11 (7pm), we will review classic administration. While the election of a new passages about the good and bad Kings and President is always a major change, it is not leaders as a part of our Erev Shavuot, Tikkun Leil overly dramatic to say that this year’s election program. will really be---um, interesting!? It is an ancient custom for Jews to study on In the Talmud it is written: “As the the night of the Biblical Festival of Shavuot. It generation, so the leader; as the leader, so the is called “z’man matan Torateinu, the season generation.” It is clearly time to reflect on the of our receiving the Torah.” It is a time to character and qualities of our potential leaders– review selected texts and engage in lively and as those qualities will speak volumes both about meaningful discussion. So come and share your them and us. Fortunately, the Hebrew Bible and thoughts. Rabbinic literature are filled with wise insights Naturally, there will be no partisan politicking, about the leaders. Kings and other leaders are but there will be plenty of ice cream! evaluated with extraordinary candor. Some Chag Shavuot Sameiach! are praised for brave and thoughtful actions. Others are pilloried for their shameful misdeeds and arrogance. Indeed, studying the Torah was one of the mitzvot assigned specifically for Rabbi Rick Rheins the Kings of Israel, as it is written: “When he is SUMMER Friday Evening SERVICES June 3 thru September 2 At Temple Sinai services begin at 6:00 PM Bible, Beers & Brotherhood At Silo Park*: We will have special Services on: Friday, Erev Shabbat on: June 17, July 15, Men Talking Torah with Rabbi Rheins August 12 & September 16 Next Session is (Tot Shabbat at 5:15 p.m. and a Wednesday, June 22, 6:00 p.m. Family Service at 6:00 p.m.) Darcy’s Pub in the DTC S. Ulster St. between Union and Belleview *Silo Park is on Orchard between Yosemite & No RSVP Needed! Dayton. There’s limited parking at the park, but more is available on the side streets. 2 Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy Shabbat in the beautiful park! Ritual Column Ask Rabbi Rheins Why is it customary to eat dairy products on the offering of new grain to Adonai on your Festival of Festival of Shavuot? Weeks (minchah chadash, la-Adonai b-shavuot-tei- There are many different explanations for the khem) you shall observe a sacred assembly. custom of eating dairy products on Shavuot, the The first Hebrew letters of the phrase“new grain Festival of Weeks. In the Biblical book, The Song to Adonai on your Festival of Weeks” are: mem, of Songs, we find the phrase (4:11), “Honey and chet, lamed, bet, which spell m’chalav, “from milk.” milk shall be under your tongue,” which many Chalav, the Hebrew word for milk, has the commentators understood to be a reference to numerical equivalent of 40 according to the Torah study (cf. Rashi and Sforno’s commentary tradition of Gematria. Forty is, of course, the to this verse). Since Shavuot is the Festival that number of days Moses spent on Mount Sinai when celebrates z’man matan Torateinu (the time of the he received the Torah. giving of our Torah), it is natural to eat foods that While there are many different reasons for symbolize the sweet nourishment of Torah. eating dairy on Shavuot, they all remind us that Rabbi Solomon Ganzfried in his Kitzur Shulchan just as the nutritional value of milk is essential Arukh (103.7) records another reason for eating for human growth and health, so too the inspired chalav or milk on Shavuot. He notes that in the wisdom of Torah is a vital part of our Jewish Book of Numbers (28:26) we find the instruction: spiritual and intellectual development. On the day of the first fruits, when you bring an Healing Service: Lunch & Learn! Thursday, June 23 at 11:00 a.m. Thursdays, Noon to 1:00 p.m. For our Healing Service, we gather together June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 in the sacred space of the Abrahams Family COME TO LEARN, DISCUSS, DEBATE, AND Chapel for prayers, meditations, and the warm MEET FRIENDS embrace of friends to renew our sense of hope, June 2: Rabbi Susan Rheins will lead a discussion strength and healing. of texts on Jerusalem (in honor of Yom The Healing Service is for those who are Yerushalayim) struggling with their health. June 9: Rabbi Rick Rheins will lead a discussion The Healing Service is for those struggling on the Biblical Festival of Shavuot: History, with sadness and grief. Laws, Customs & Midrashim The Healing Service is for caregivers who June 16: Rabbi Rick Rheins will lead a discussion seek inspiration as they pray for the welfare of on Fatherhood in Biblical and Rabbinic text: loved ones. All are welcome. “The Do’s, the Don’ts and the Do-overs!” If you are unable to attend the service, June 23: Rabbi Susan Rheins will lead a just send the name(s) of the loved ones you discussion: “Come on Baby Light My Fire” would like mentioned during our prayers to famous lights in Judaism [email protected]. Be sure to let them June 30: Rabbi Rick Rheins will lead a review of know that they are in all of our thoughts and Jews who played important roles in America’s prayers. Independence. B’vrakhah, With Blessing. Newcomers quickly and easily fit right in! Worship Services Friday, June 3 EREV SHAVUOT Saturday, June 18 6:00 p.m., Kabbalat Shabbat Service 7:00 p.m., Tikkun Leil 9:00 a.m., Shabbat Morning Minyan Saturday, June 4 8:30 p.m., Shavuot Service 10:30 a.m., B/M L. Galinkin 9:00 a.m., Shabbat Morning Minyan Sunday, June 12 Thursday, June 23 10:30 a.m., B/M S. Aseoff SHAVUOT 11:00 a.m., Healing Service 4:30 p.m., B/M H. Cantor 10:00 a.m., Shavuot Service w/Yizkor Friday, June 24 Friday, June 10 Friday, June 17 6:00 p.m., Kabbalat Shabbat Service 6:00 p.m., Kabbalat Shabbat Service 5:15 p.m., Tot Shabbat at Silo Park Saturday, June 25 w/Adult B’nei Mitzvah 6:00 p.m., Family Shabbat at Silo 9:00 a.m., Shabbat Morning Minyan Saturday, June 11 Park 10:30 a.m., B/M K. Blair 3 9:00 a.m., Shabbat Morning Minyan 6:00 p.m., Kabbalat Shabbat Service 4:30 p.m., B/M J. Spiegel at Temple Sinai From Cantor Nesis Monday, May 2nd, around 7.45 pm, we are finishing the recitation of the silent amidah, and I give him the cue: it’s time for him to play. He had a full day at school, but he looks ready; he takes this with a great deal of respect and responsibility. Out of the silence, this gorgeous melody pours out of his violin...or maybe directly from his heart: Schindler’s List theme song. It is a moving song, and he plays it exquisitely, but as I look into the congregation, that is not the only reason why they are captivated. The congregation is captivated by this young man, by his presence, by the depth in his eyes while he plays, by his level of concentration and how he’s able to be exactly there, present with heart and mind. He finishes the piece. I place my hands on his forehead, kiss him gently and say “God bless you, Teddy.” Edward “Teddy” Meyer is 13 years old, he plays violin and is a member of TMG, our Teen Music Group. This past May, TMG was part of Temple Sinai’s Yom HaShoah evening service and program. They didn’t just participate, Sheila Nesis Cantor they absolutely made the evening; they led the Maariv service, they sang special tribute songs, Edward Meyer played violin and Sam Schenkein played guitar. I’m proud of our Teen Music Group; not only because they sound really good, and they are fun to be with! I’m proud of them because of their commitment and what they give to our community. In this day and age, our children have countless options of hobbies and after school-activities, but these kids and their parents decided to make life in community priority.