KOL YISRAEL - Temple Beth Israel

KOL YISRAEL
Weekly
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SHABBAT 11-12 APRIL 2014 / 12 NISAN 5774
The President, Robert Hershan, on behalf of the Board and staff of Temple Beth Israel welcomes you to our community.
EREV SHABBAT
SHABBAT MORNING
MAIN SANCTUARY
6.15pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Board members: Robert Hershan and Rebecca Silk
Shammash:
Debrah Star
Music:Cantor Michel Laloum with Kol Simchah choir
SHABBAT PARASHAT ACHAREI MOT
Parashah:
Haftarah:
Leviticus: 16:1-18:30 (p.863)
Malachi: 4-3: 24 (p.1654)
9am Shabbat Mishpachah Service in main Sanctuary
9.45am Gesher Service in Friedlander Synagogue
10am Shabbat Shacharit in main Sanctuary
Board members: Robert Hershan, Rob Sward, Joanne Loewy
Irons, Ron Aarons, Rhys Roberts, Alain
Grossbard and Rysia Rozen
Shammashim: Rosemary Michael and Chris and
Graeme Smith
Music: Cantor Michel Laloum with Joe Stupel
Torah readers: Freya Boltman, Josh Nezon and
Sarah Edelstein
Bat Mitzvah:
Freya Boltman
Kiddush:
Kindly sponsored by the Boltman Family
SPECIAL EVENT 5pm Saturday 12 April - Induction of Rabbi Gersh Lazarow
Interfaith Concert
SAVE THE DATE - SUNDAY 15 JUNE, 2.30pm
Partners include Council of Christians and Jews, Jewish Christian Muslim Association,
St Pauls Anglican Church Choir, Salvation Army Choir and Camberwell Chorale.
DRASH ON PARASHAT ACHAREI MOT
by Cantor Michel Laloum, Temple Beth Israel
Parashah Acharei Mot opens with a reference to
the remarkable story of Nadav and Avihu who
bring ‘unauthorised flames as a sacrifice unto God,
and are consumed. Faith and ritual practice appear
to be in conflict, as their ‘death’ is supposedly
a punishment for having brought a sacrificial
flame which had not been specifically part of the
prescribed rituals.
Yet there have been alternative readings to this
reading or ‘Pshat’ - Chayyim ben Moshe ibn
Attar (also known as the Or ha-Chayyim after
his popular commentary on the Torah) wrote in
commenting on Lev Ch 16:1
“Who came close to God and died”:
“They approached the supernal light out of their
great love of the Holy, and thereby died. Thus they
died by “divine kiss” such as experienced by the
perfectly righteous; it is only that the righteous
die when the divine kiss approaches them, while
they died by their approaching it... Although they
sensed their own demise, this did not prevent them
from drawing near to God in attachment, delight,
delectability, fellowship, love, kiss and sweetness,
to the point that their souls ceased from them.”
Apparently proximity with the Divine is sufficient
in itself to bring about ‘enlightenment’ and
therefore re-union or Unio Mystico – the mystical
joining with God.
According to the Or Ha-chayim, union with God
was so desirable that the souls departure from the
physical realm was not only acceptable to Nadav
and Avihu, but rather this union was desirable.
Another example of the Midrash speaking of
the soul’s elevation to Unio Mystico from direct
exposure to the Divine is from Exodus 20:1+,
where the souls of all the Israelites who have just
escaped from slavery leave their bodies during the
revelation of the 10 commandments at Mount
Sinai. The Torah once again contrasts the horrors
of slavery with the purely spiritual in
the revelation.
Yet again the Tur (Yaakov ben Asher - Cologne,
1270 - Toledo c.1340, also referred to as “Ba’al haTurim”, “Author of the Tur”), as well as the Or Hachayim speak of the Midrash of the souls yearning
to re-join their source of inspiration. Yet ultimately
this is not what the commentaries perceive as
desirable, quite the opposite, the Tur and Or hachayim articulate our obligation is to remain alive
and bring holiness into our earthly existence.
The juxtaposition of this tension between the
desire for Unio – Mystico and the apparent
punishment of Nadav and Avihu then brings
our focus from the sublime to the ritualistic and
pragmatic structures of atonement as defined in
Parashat Acharei Mot.
Parashat Acharei Mot brings Pesach as one of
the pivotal moments in the Jewish calendar into
the context of what our responsibilities are. Our
recognition that “bayamim ha-hem bazman hazeh”
– in those days in our times’ actually refers to our
own need for ongoing personal redemption from
slavery (in whatever form we experience it). We,
just as much as each and every soul at Sinai are
in search of revelation, of meaning, purpose and
ultimately of enlightenment or of Unio-mystic.
Whether we believe in the detailed laws of Pesach
Kashrut, or not, this is our opportunity to bring
our awareness of God and our Jewish identity
into our daily lives. Whether God’s outstretched
arm is our perception of God’s role in our lives,
or our personal commitment to social justice,
and living a committed good and meaningful life,
Shabbat Hagadol and Parashat Acharei Mot invite
us to be present, aware and to participate fully in
partnership with God.
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WHAT’S ON
TBI COMMUNITY SECOND SEDER
TUESDAY 15 APRIL, 6PM
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CALENDAR
Join Rabbi Lazarow, Josh Nezon and Sarah Edelstein at TBI’s familyfriendly second night Seder. This wonderful night will be professionally
catered with all the ritual trimmings. Entry: Adults $50 members/$65 nonmembers, children to 13 yrs $23, Young TBI $40. Concessions available.
To book, please call Sue Silver at TBI on 03 9510 1488.
ZCV YOM HAZIKARON COMMEMORATION 2014
SUNDAY 4 MAY, 7.30PM
Robert Blackwood Hall Monash University, Clayton Campus
The community will gather for Melbourne’s annual Yom Hazikaron Tekes.
During this solemn commemoration, we will collectively remember and
honour the memory of the men and women who have given their lives
serving in Israel’s Defence Forces, or as victims of acts terror. For more
information please contact Eileen Freed at the Zionist Council of Victoria at
[email protected] or 03 9272 5506.
Please see WHAT’S ON for related listings below
Sunday 13 April
10.30am Aleph isn’t Tough (extra session)
3.30pmKabbalah Meditation with
Sue Beecher offsite
7.30pm TBI Kabbalah Meditation
with Sue Beecher
Tuesday 15 April - 1st day Pesach
OFFICE CLOSED
10am 1st day Pesach Service
6.30pm 2nd night Seder
SUNDAY LIMMUD SUNDAY 4 AND 11 MAY, 10.30AM
Presented by Nadav Shachmon PJV Shaliach
YOM HAZIKARON SUNDAY 4 MAY
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE IDF AND THE ISRAELI IDENTITY
From the moment Israel was established in 1948 until today the IDF have
always been a significant part of the Israeli identity. We will explore the way
the demographic and geographic changes in Israel influence the IDF and the
Israeli identity.
YOM HA’ATZMAUT SUNDAY 11 MAY
FROM A SHELTER TO A SECOND HOME
When Israel was established in 1948 the need for a Jewish state was
undeniable. Jews around the world needed a physical shelter and the bond
between Israel and the diaspora was strong. Throughout the years this bond
has changed: Is Israel still representing the Jews around the world?
What makes Israel a Jewish state? How can Jews around the world identify
with Israel today? How can you love a country that you disagree with?
Monday 14 April
6pm Erev Pesach Service
Wednesday 16 April - 2nd day Pesach
10.30am Drop in and Chat
7.30pm Trope Class
Thursday 17 April - 3rd day Pesach
7.30pm Aleph isn’t Enough
8pm TBI Choir rehearsal
Friday 18 April - 4th day Pesach
NEXT SHABBAT 19 Nissan 5774
OFFICE CLOSED Good Friday Public Holiday
6.15pm Kabbalat Shabbat with
Ruach Commmunity Choir
Saturday 19 April - 5th day Pesach
10am Shabbat Shacharit with
Ruach Commmunity Choir
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REMEMBRANCE
SHLOSHIM
YAHRZEITS OBSERVED THIS SHABBAT
• Jill Cantor
Mother of David and Peter
• John Cohen
Husband of Shirley, father of Roslyn,
Keith and Rhonda Hale
• Betty Drillich
Wife of Henry, mother of Rita Hyams
• Henry Gordon
Father of Anne and Olga
• Zara Halprin
Mother of David, Hannah, Michael and Susan
• Dora Huze
Mother of Alex and Maurice
• Barbara Jacobs
Wife of Bob, mother of Gavin and Gina
• Dora Kayman
Wife of Norm, mother of Adrian, and Selina Joseph
• Sandra Prinsley
Wife of Derek, mother of Mark, Peter, Kate and Emma
• Steffan Weiss
Partner of Jo, father of David and Lauren
• Max Adler • Emil Asznowicz • Helena Asznowicz • Sam Bando• Paul Bennett
• Hilda Brous • Margit Feldheim • Gabor Feldheim • Catherine Fellner • Chaim
Finkelstein • Allan Fradkin • Erwin Friedlander • Gemma Fuellgraf • Herta
Herling • Paul Herman • Solly Israel Jackson • Norman Klings • Franka Kranz •
Mark Langsam • Aranka Lustig • Szidonia Lustig • Eric Manning • Mirek Morley
• Charlotte Nathan • George Ross • Marcus Schlen• Nathan Schwartz • Jeannie
Segal • Benn Selby • Solly Sive • Kerrie Linda Stephens • Louis Sterling • Grace
Togget • Irma Wildberg • Hyman Joseph Wittner • Izrael Zimmerman • Rae Zines
In the event of a bereavement
please do not hesitate to contact Rhonda Nirens on 9883 6237 or 0438 464 909
This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
MISSION: Temple Beth Israel is a kehilla kedosha (spiritual community) bringing innovation
and creativity to Jewish traditions. We provide multiple pathways for our members and friends
to enjoy an engagement with Progressive Judaism that enhances their lives through spiritual
enrichment, learning and community. We are guided by principles of egalitarianism and respect
for others. We are inspired to continually develop and grow and to provide a spiritual home for all
who wish to embrace our values. Temple Beth Israel acknowledges that we are assembled on land
whose traditional custodians are the people of the Kulin Nation.
Contact TBI
Ph: 613 9510 1488 Fax: 613 9521 1229
PO Box 128 / 76-82 Alma Rd, St Kilda Vic 3182
tbi.org.au
Please take this news sheet with you

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