KOL YISRAEL - Temple Beth Israel

KOL YISRAEL
Weekly
SHABBAT 21 - 22 November 2014 / 29 Cheshvan 5775
The President, Robert Hershan, on behalf of the Board and staff of Temple Beth Israel welcomes you to our community.
SHABBAT PARASHAT TOLDOT
Parashah: Haftarah:
Genesis 26:30 - 27:27 (page 181)
1 Samuel 20:18 - 42 (page 1687)
KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICE
MAIN SYNAGOGUE
6.15pm Friday Night Shabbat Service
Board members:
Shammash: Music: Baby naming:
Robert Hershan
Rhonda Nirens
Galit Klas
Poppy Mimi Eckhaus
SHABBAT SHACHARIT
MAIN SYNAGOGUE
10am Saturday Morning Shabbat Service
Board members:
Shammashim:
Music: Torah readers: Bar mitzvah:
Kiddush:
Robert Hershan
Aviv Palti and Denise Joyner
Galit Klas
Simon Morawetz and Ashley Roth
Ashley Roth
Kindly sponsored by the Roth family
TBI Book Club
Wedneday 3 December
7.30pm
DRASH FOR SHABBAT TOLDOT
BY RABBI RABBI ALLISON RH CONYER, ETZ CHAYIM PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE
This parashat begins informing us that
Rebecca was barren. Isaac “pleaded with God
on behalf of his wife (Gen. 25:21)”, and Rebecca
conceived twins. Any of us who have had the
privilege and discomfort of carrying a child
in our bodies, can relate to Rebecca’s torment
when she screams out “Why do I exist?!” In
response to the turmoil inside her body, God
responded with an incredible message, which
we often forget as we read the rest of the story.
God said, “Two nations are in your womb, two
separate peoples shall issue from your body;
one shall be mightier than the other, and the
older shall serve the younger (Gen. 25:23).”
Then the story continues with the classic
problems of parental favourites, sibling rivalry,
and the anticipation of payback in next week’s
parashat. Isaac favours Esau, the burly brute;
while Rebecca favours Jacob, the sensitive type.
Each worked with the skills and circumstances
God gave them. Esau was a hunter, and Jacob
was a cook, and used his strength to trick Esau
out of his birthright for a bowl of red lentil
stew. Later following his mother Rebecca’s
direction, Jacob tricked Isaac into giving him
the blessing traditionally given to the first
born (Esau). He said that he should take a wife
from among his kinsmen and be blessed by “El
Shaddai… and become fertile and numerous…
and possess the land… which God assigned to
Abraham (Gen. 28:3-4).”
These are the parts with which many of us are
already familiar. This saga begs the question,
Was Jacob wrong in his actions or was he just
fulfilling his destiny as expressed by God to
Rebecca when he was still in her womb? A
closer read of the text, carefully guided by our
rabbinic commentators, suggests that indeed,
Jacob was fulfilling his destiny.
Rav Soloveitchik claims that Esau was
famished not only for food, but for purpose
and meaning which Jacob provided for him.
Many commentators suggest that Isaac was
not fooled by Jacob‘s disguise, but knew
instinctively that Jacob was the one to follow
in his grandfather, Abraham’s footsteps, as his
blessing to Jacob echoes the blessing God gave
to Abraham. On his deathbed, Isaac realised
that he had been blind to Esau’s shortcomings,
and overlooked Jacob’s strength of character.
Were these commentaries justifications after
the fact or does the Divine plan indeed have
reasons that are only revealed after the fact?
Can we change our fate, or do we just think we
can? Justification or faith – are they just two
different terms for the same concept?
For those of us with probing minds, this begs
yet another question: If this was all part of the
plan, where is there space for free will? I’ll conclude with something good to chew on - Rabbi
Akiva’s famous quote: “All is foreseen, yet free
will is given (Pirkei Avot 3:19).” Make sure to
thank Jacob for this fun food for thought.
yet another question: If this was all part of the
plan, where is there space for free will? I’ll conclude with something good to chew on - Rabbi
Akiva’s famous quote: “All is foreseen, yet free
will is given (Pirkei Avot 3:19).” Make sure to
thank Jacob for this fun food for thought.
WHAT’S ON
ROSH CHODESH WOMEN’S GROUP
SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER 7.30PM (PRIVATE HOME)
CALENDAR
Creating Friendship: presented by Kathy Kaplan. Explore friendships in the
Torah, the Talmud and the ancient world, and see what insights they offer
to questions. Contact Aliza factor 9510 1488 or aliza.factor@tbi.org.au for
locations, and to go onto our mailing list for future Rosh Chodesh women’s
group meetings.
LIVING WITH DEMENTIA CARERS GROUP
MONDAY 24 NOVEMBER 7.30PM
A Jewish support group for family carers of a person with dementia. This
is the final session for the year, and will discuss the many varied levels you
may face as a carer of a family member with dementia.
JEWISH REFLECTIONS ON THE PROBLEM OF EVIL
SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER, 7 & 14 DECEMBER 10.30AM
This three–part series presented by Rabbi Fred Morgan, follows on from
our extremely successful session in Jewish theology which took place earlier
this year. The existence of evil resulting in human suffering has probably
been the biggest stumbling block to religious faith in every age, not least for
the post–Holocaust Jewish Community. In this series we shall look at how
Jewish understanding of ‘theodicy’, the problem of evil, has changed over
time in response to changing historical experiences and thoughts. What do
we mean when we speak of evil? How can God of goodness be reconciled
with an apparently uncaring creation? Where was God in Auschwitz? Where
is God in human sufferings today?
TBI FRIENDSHIP CLUB WEDNESDAY 3 DECEMBER 11AM
We welcome back our musical entertainers Emily Wang and Andrew Kolb.
$10 includes entry, lunch, entertainment and a raffle ticket.
BOOK LAUNCH - A POETRY TRIBUTE TO RABBI FRED
MORGAN BY SUZI GHENT SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER 2.30PM
The book celebrates his recent retirement, acknowledges the impact of his
time at TBI and recognises the significant impact his teachings and
leadership have had on our community.
Sunday 23 November
7.30pm Rosh Chodesh Women’s Group
(private home)
Monday 24 November
10am Jewish Care Holocaust
Survivors Group
7.30pm Living with Dementia
Tuesday 25 November
10am English Classes
(Russian Speaking)
4pm TBI Tamid
7.30pm Introduction to Judaism
7.30pm Parashat Hashavua
Wednesday 26 November
10.30am Drop in and Chat
Thursday 27 November
10am Jewish Care Holocaust Survivors Group – Russian Speaking
7.30pm Aleph isn’t Enough
Friday 28 November
NEXT SHABBAT 27 Kislev 5775
6.15pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Saturday 29 November
9.45am Gesher Service
10am Shabbat Vayeitzei Service
Save the Date
Saturday 6 December, 10am
Volunteers Shabbat
REMEMBRANCE
SHLOSHIM
• Judith Dubiner
• Jack Frid
• Hadassah Komesaroff
• Liselotte Koopman
• Maurie Leigh
• Henry Levin
• David Poznaski
• Bob Sell
• Herbert Stein
YAHRZEITS OBSERVED THIS SHABBAT
Aunt of David Freedman
Husband of Lyn, father of Natalie, Ben and Jess
Mother of Ilona, Ruth and Paul
Mother of Ronnie, Lorraine, Michael and Elizabeth
Father of Jeffrey and Philip
Friend of Michael Aufgang and Family
Husband of Mary, father of Anna and Henry
Uncle of Len Shenker
Father of Ruth Silberman and Dorit Harvery
• Benjamin Aarons • Alexander Cummings • Henry Cymbalist • Lucian Cozens
• Sarah Davis • Graeme Emanuel • Alfred Fleischer • Phyllis Fradkin
• Bronia Freshman • Dave Friedman • Aaron Zemach Hoffman • Chloe Howard
• Moshe Katz • Henry Krindler • Solomon Kruss • Sheila Layton
• Francis Edward Levy • Julian Lewit • Franz Berthold Lippmann • Leo Phillips
• Helen Shaw • Otto Sherwin • Harry Silver • Frances Slonim • Toni Spitz
• Martha Yates
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
Twitter: @TBIMelbourne
Please take this news sheet with you