Av-Elul 5781 August 2021 WelcomeCantor Tifani Coyot JOIN CANTOR COYOT FOR A SPECIAL MUSICAL ONEG AFTER SERVICES ON AUGUST 6 See page 14 for details! TBAM400_CommCover_Aug21.indd 1 7/19/21 4:59 PM august 2021 Shabbat Services FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2021 FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021 29 Av 13 Elul 6:00 p.m. Pre-neg 6:00 p.m. Pre-neg In This Issue 6:30 p.m. Shabbat services 6:30 p.m. Shabbat services SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021 SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2021 9:00 a.m. Torah Study Shabbat Services 2 9:00 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Morning Minyan 10:30 a.m. Morning Minyan High Holy Days 3 10:30 a.m. Bar Mitzvah of Parashat Re’eh Chase Dubovy Welcome Back to School 3 Deuteronomy 11:26 – 16:17 5:30 p.m. Bar Mitzvah of Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11 – 55:5 Zachary Schatzman From Strength to Strength 4 Clergy Corner 5 THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 Parashat Ki Teitzei 4 Elul Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19 President’s Message 6 10:30 a.m. Bar Mitzvah of Archer Spann Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1 – 10 New Member Shabbat 7 FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2021 FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021 6 Elul 20 Elul Membership 8/9 6:00 p.m. Pre-neg 6:00 p.m. Pre-neg Youth Engagement Religious 6:30 p.m. Shabbat services 6:00 p.m. How ‘Bout Shabbat 6:30 p.m. Shabbat services School 10/11 SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2021 9:00 a.m. Torah Study SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 Programming 12-14 10:30 a.m. Morning Minyan 9:00 a.m. Torah Study 10:30 a.m. Bar Mitzvah of Dennis Gerzvolf 10:30 a.m. Morning Minyan Grand Opening 15 10:30 a.m. Bat Mitzvah of BTC 16/17 Parashat Shoftim Maya Altman Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9 6:00 p.m. S’lichot Program and Basketball 18 Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12 – 52:12 Service After School U 19 Parashat Ki Tavo Deuteronomy 26:1 – 29:8 B’nai Mitzvah 20 Haftarah: Isaiah 60:1 – 22 PATIO 21 Ritual Reminders 22 Becoming Visible 23 Sisterhood 24/25 our advertisers Tikkun Olam 26/27 Israel Bonds .................................................. 29 Lisa Landy, Attorney ................................. 42 Committee of 100 28 Hollub Homes .............................................. 31 Kitanim, Florist/Events .............................. 42 Roofing .......................................................... Friendship Circle ......................................... 43 Our Jewish Heritage 29 College Prep ................................................ 34 TLC Family Care ......................................... 43 Amicon, Construction Project Mgmt ..... 33 Williamson Cadillac ................................... 44 New Members 30 Mirabelle, Luxury Senior Living ............. 35 Accessible Home Health Care ................. 44 Professional Directory Listings ............... 38 Bregman, Event Planners .......................... 45 In Loving Memory 32 Dr. Greg Ross, Orthodontist ..................... 39 Camp Coleman ............................................ 46 Ilene Efthimiou, Realtor ............................ 39 Buchwald Jewelers ..................................... 46 Brotherhood 33 Goldman Residential, Realtor .................. 40 Smile Miami ................................................. 46 Current of Life 34 Roberta Mandel, Esq. ................................. 40 Paradise Properties, Realtor ..................... 47 Rita Diaz, Estate­­­­ Sales ................................ 40 The Palace ..................................................... 48 We Give 36/37 Dr. Rebecca Lenard, Pediatric Dentist ... 40 Cristy Hertz, Attorney ............................... 41 Professional Directory 38 Bea Citron, Realtor ..................................... 41 Medicare Matt .............................................. 41 Chef Aaron Dreilinger, Catering ............ 42 WELCOMEMeet the Teacher First Day of School BACKFRIDAY, AUGUST 20 MONDAY, AUGUST 23 STUDENTSJOIN US FOR OUR GRAND OPENING ON AUGUST 22! FOR DETAILS, SEE PAGE 15. HIGH HOLY DAYS 5782 Welcome Home ROSH HASHANAH MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 EREV ROSH HASHANAH SERVICE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 ROSH HASHANAH SERVICES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 SECOND DAY ROSH HASHANAH SERVICE YOM KIPPUR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 KOL NIDRE SERVICE L’SHANAH TOVAH! THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 For more information on the High Holy Days, including service times, visit: YOM KIPPUR MORNING, MINCHA, www.tbam.org/HHD YIZKOR AND NEILAH SERVICES Page 3 TBAM717a_HHD21-Commentator-Aug21_8.5x5.5.indd 1 7/19/21 5:05 PM Commentator August 2021 • Page 4 From Strength to Strength Rabbi Jeremy Barras [email protected] The Rambam – A Model for Bridging the Past and the Future There is a tradition in Judaism that synagogues should have two school so that it is well-equipped for the future of education, but doorways, one to enter before prayer and another to exit from at the same time remain connected to those who came before us. when prayer concludes. The purpose of the custom points to a This is the essence of who the Rambam was: one of our people’s very fundamental principle of Judaism; we as Jews are tied both greatest heroes and scholars who held firm to the traditions of to our past and to our future. We believe that the uniqueness Judaism while melding it appropriately with the wisdom of the of our past, the links that bond generation to generation all world around him. May the new Rambam Day School Temple the way back to Sinai, are what connect us to our tradition Beth Am likewise venture boldly into the future while always and forever remind us from where we came. At the same carrying the traditions and history of yesterday at her side. time, we read and re-read the Torah anew every year to try and understand how its lessons and dictums relate to our own L’shalom, milieu. We leave the synagogue from a different door because we believe that connecting with our ancient prayers transforms us and helps us understand the world in which we live. This Rabbi Jeremy Barras second door reminds us that the experience of prayer renews and revitalizes our souls and our outlook on the future. There is no greater personification of this notion - that we as Jews must remain tethered to our past as we confront our future - than Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (known as Maimonides, meaning son of Maimon in Greek, and by the acronym Rambam). Rambam was raised in Cordoba, Spain where he was educated not only in Torah and Talmud, but also astronomy, medicine, mathematics and philosophy. He was particularly enamored with the philosophies of Aristotle and Plotinus, and became the first significant Jewish sage to incorporate Greek wisdom into his understanding of the Bible. Over the course of his life, he served Jewish communities as one of the most important and prolific scholars of his generation, and even endeavored to codify Jewish law for the first time into one 14-volume summary known as the Mishnah Torah. However, Rambam was not merely limited to Jewish scholarship. He served the greater population as a doctor, philosopher, political advisor and local legal authority. It was his unique way of combining Jewish history and thought with real world issues that led to his fame, and to his eventual position as the private personal doctor of the Sultan of Egypt. As we unveil our new Day School to students this fall, there really is no greater name that symbolizes what Beth Am has always been and what it aspires to be. The Temple Beth Am Day School is one of the crown jewels of our community, and its success has always been based on Beth Am’s willingness to Join us for the Grand Opening of our look towards the future while remaining deeply connected to new school building on Sunday, our past. Rabbi Baumgard, z”l, knew how important a Day School would be to our future, and he knew that it would have August 22! See page 15 for details. to maintain the highest standards in every generation. Our Beyond the Curve Campaign has endeavored to rebuild our clergy corner Rabbi Jaime Aklepi [email protected] Cohen and Goldstein sat in the same section of the sanctuary on the ever, the structure of having a month for introspection, repentance High Holy Days for over 25 years. Every year they would try to beat the and reconciliation will help us set a better course for the year other one to what they thought was the most desired aisle seat. Why ahead. Throughout other plagues, hardships, and calamities, the they wanted that particular seat, no one knew—not their wives, friends, Jewish people turned to this time as a period of hope. Even if the ushers, rabbi or cantor. But that seat became their ongoing struggle. One world continued to cause us fear and pain, anxiety and uncertainty, year, Mrs. Cohen said to her husband that his rivalry with Goldstein is individuals could change, end strife, make peace. ridiculous and embarrassing. Surprisingly, he agreed. When they got to the Temple on Rosh haShanah morning, Cohen approached Goldstein and Our sages teach that Elul is an acronym in Hebrew for “Ani l’dodi said, “It’s a new year, I’m changing my ways. Please take this seat, I want v’dodi li,” “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” This verse you to have it.” Goldstein responded, “Thank you, I appreciate it. For the from the Song of Songs is frequently recited under the chuppah as a new year I wish for you all the things you wish for me!” At that remark, an sign of love and devotion. Traditionally, it is meant to describe the angry and red-faced Cohen replied, “I gave you the seat and you still want relationship between God and the Jewish people. As we begin Elul, to start a fight?” we can add another layer to the meaning of the verse. This year as we reflect on our lives and explore the changes that we want to This month begins the month of Elul, an entire month of make, see yourself as your own beloved. In that way, you will find preparation for the new year. It is the time we engage in cheshbon that you are worth changing for. hanefesh, an inventory of our behavior, deeds, desires, and hopes.