Weekly Announcements

Temple Emanuel Weekly Announcements - August 8, 2008

2008-08-08T11:15:00.001-04:00

Friday, August 8, 2008 - 8 Av 5768

Devarim Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22

The fifth book of the Torah begins with the phrase "Eleh ha-devarim," "These are the words.” for the entire book is devoted to "these words" which Moses spoke in his final speech to the children of Israel before his death. In this week's portion, Moses begins to retell the history of the Israelite people from their time at Horeb (Mount Sinai) through the forty years of wandering. He mentions the difficulty he experienced in governing the people and the establishment of a system of tribal chiefs to aid him in serving the people and delivering the word of God.

Come As You Are Shabbat at 6 pm

Shabbat Evening Service at 8 pm in the Sanctuary

This weekend…

Torah Study will be held in the Library at 10 am. August 9 begins the Jewish day of mourning, Tisha B’Av. On Tisha B’Av, we read the Biblical book of Lamentations or Eicha. During Torah Study we will watch a movie short from Israel entitled Eicha. In this acclaimed short, a young religious girl, named Eicha, questions her identity. Lively discussion with Rabbi Newburge will follow.

Plan to join us for …

Come As You Are Kids Shabbat on Friday, August 15. There will be a FREE kid friendly dinner with your child’s favorite TV characters. Please RSVP to Roberta at (856) 489-0029 x68.

Taste of Sunday School on Wednesday, August 20th at 7 pm – please come and bring your neighbors and friends. RSVP to Cindy at (856) 489-0035.

Back to School Sunday on Sunday, September 7 at 9 am – 1 pm – meet with the Temple’s committees, youth groups and more.

UPCOMING/ONGOING …

Try Something New! – Yoga & Jewish Meditation –Thursdays at 7:30 pm. Wear your comfortable clothes and be ready to have fun. You can still register by calling (856) 489-0035 or e-mailing cindy@templeemanuel.org.

Taste of Sunday School - Please plan to join us for a Taste of Sunday School at Temple Emanuel on Wednesday, August 20^th at 7 pm. Now is the time for children entering Grades K-3 and their families. Join Clergy and teachers from Temple Emanuel for this intro to Sunday School. RSVP to Cindy@templeemanuel.org or contact Rabbi Cohen at (856) 489-0035 x20. No fee is required.

Back to School Sunday – Please join us and bring your friends along for Back to School Sunday September 7 from 9 am – 1 pm. Come and meet with all the different committees that Temple Emanuel has to offer. Also, you can drop off your kids and come join us for breakfast.

Temple Emanuel’s Project Bookbag – Please help contribute to the learning of a child attending Cooper’s Poynt or Sharp Schools in Camden. When buying school supplies for your children please adopt a child in need by purchasing extra supplies. We will also be accepting monetary donations to purchase uniforms for the students. Donations should be made to Temple Emanuel’s Tzedakah Collective and designated, “Project Bookbag”. Any donations should be deposited in the religious school foyer from August 15 – September 15.

Shabbat is always a special time at Temple Emanuel. On August 15 we are inviting the community to join us for a special Come As You Are Kid Shabbat/Kid Friendly Shabbat dinner beginning at 5:45 pm. More information about this exciting event will follow.

You should have received your High Holy Day forms in the mail. Please take the opportunity to read the information in the packet and return the forms requesting High Holy Day seating, inclusion in the Book of Remembrance, High Holy Day Greetings and Registration for School Age Enrichment and Babysitting.

Our L’Dor V’Dor Pathway to Knowledge Brick Walkway will soon be a reality. Thanks to the generosity of so many, more than 350 engraved bricks will greet members and guests as they enter the building through the Religious School entrance.

The Temple Emanuel Cookbooks are here!! If you have already ordered one, please pick it up in the main office. If you would like to purchase one, they are $18. The proceeds will support the Temple Emanuel Tzedakah Collective’s Social Action initiatives. They are a great housewarming gift – one that will be enjoyed for years to come!! Contact Roberta at Roberta@templeemanuel.org to get your copy.

Do you have a preschool-age child? We have many offerings available at Temple Emanuel. For more information about our preschool program, Toddler Territory and infant programming, call Jeanie at 856 489-0034 or jblanton@templeemanuel.org.

Please make sure we have your e-mail address. If you are not currently receiving e-mails from Temple Emanuel, please send your e-mail address to mayda@templeemanuel.org.

Gift Cards (also known as SCRIP) are available for more than just grocery stores. We have bookstores, restaurants, department stores and much more available. For a complete list of available stores and gift card denominations, pickup the current list and order form at the Temple, or contact Jessica Chasen at Jesschasen@aol.com or (609) 929-4726. Orders are placed weekly for any cards we don’t have in stock. You can purchase Shop Rite scrip in the Temple Office. All purchases help fund our Temple Sisterhood and ultimately our synagogue. Thank you for your support.

Please visit our Web site at www.templeemanuel.org to learn about all that Temple Emanuel has to offer. Check out the calendar for daily activities, as well as to plan for future dates.

Shabbat Shalom from Temple Emanuel - August 9, 2008

2008-08-08T10:23:00.001-04:00

Temple Emanuel

Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Shabbat Shalom from Temple Emanuel

We hope this will add to your family's enjoyment of Shabbat

Shabbat August 9, 2008 / 8 Av 5768

Devarim - Deuteronomy 1:1 - 3:22

PARASHAH OVERVIEW

* Moses begins his final words of instruction to the Children of Israel, focusing first on recounting their physical journey. (1:1-21)

* Moses reviews the people's reactions to the negative reports of the spies and the appointment of Joshua to succeed him. (1:22-45)

* Moses recounts that all of the Israelite warriors who left Egypt died, as God had intended, and the people continued their wanderings and defeated their enemies. (2:14-3:11)

* Moses reiterates that the Land of Israel was allocated to the Israelite tribes. (3:12-20)

* God refuses to allow Moses to enter the Promised Land. (3:23-28)

The fifth book of the Torah begins with the phase "Eleh ha-devarim," "These are the words." This phrase is also the theme of the last book of Torah, Deuteronomy (in Hebrew called "Devarim"), for the entire book is devoted to "these words" which Moses spoke in his final speech to the children of Israel before his death.

In this week's portion, Moses begins to retells the history of the Israelite people from their time at Horeb (Mount Sinai) through the forty years of wandering. He mentions the difficulty he experienced in governing the people and the establishment of a system of tribal chiefs to aid him in serving the people and delivering the word of God.

Moses reminds the people that when they were told to go and take possession of the Promised Land they insisted that spies be sent out to scout the territory. The people were dismayed to hear about the strength and size of the Land's inhabitants. They refused God's command to take possession of the Land. The children of Israel were then punished for their lack of faith in God. They were sentenced to wander in the desert until the adults of that generation, those who had lacked faith in God's promise, died out. Only Caleb, son of Jephunneh, and Joshua, son of Nun, the two spies who had urged the people that conquest was possible, would live to enter the Promised Land. The people upon hearing their punishment decided to go and take the Land. Moses warned the people that God would not be with them, but they went ahead in any case and suffered a cruel defeat at the hands of the Amorites.

Moses continues his summary of the years of wandering in the desert. The Israelites were on the threshold of the Promised Land for a second time and they successfully battled Sihon, King of the Amorites, and Og, King of Bashan. The conquered lands east of the Jordan were divided between the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Menasseh.

Moses recounts to that people that at the time of these battle victories he reminded Joshua, their future leader, that it was God who had insured the victories. And it would be God who would insure all future victories as well.

COMMENTARY

This week we begin the book of Deuteronomy and Moses' long goodbye to the people.

In the Midrash Deuteronomy Rabbah 1:6 the words of Torah are described as follows: "Just as the honey of the bee is sweet and its sting sharp, so too, are the words of the Torah..."

Moses challenges this generation to trust in God and not repeat the mistakes of the previous generation who lost its opportunity to enter the Land. As Plaut states in his commentary," You are now the fathers and mothers of Israel; and in the future our people will identify with you as you do with your own forebearers. Your responsibility is therefore not to yourselves alone, it is to the generations yet unborn who will be able to say even as you do now: 'We stood at Sinai.'" (Plaut p.1323) This generation is to be the fulfillment of the promise- to be a numerous people living in their own Land -made to the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

A unique feature of Torah is its timelessness. Moses speaks to this generation of Israelites as if they had been slaves in Egypt, participated in the Exodus, wandered through the desert and did not remain faithful to God. This can sometimes be confusing but it is also show the strength and beauty of Jewish tradition, by reminding us that we are all very much an active part of our history. In the Passover Haggadah we do not recall the slavery of a long forgotten generation; we remember when we ourselves were slaves in Egypt.

LEAVING THE DESERT
Joseph R. Black

The other evening I was checking my e-mail when an "instant message" from a friend in New York popped up on the screen. A few seconds later the telephone rang: It was a friend in Minnesota. Soon after, I received another "instant message" from a colleague in California. Since we all know one another, we had a four-way "chat" via two different media. There we were, in four regions of the country, talking to one another as if we were sitting around a living room. The most amazing thing about the whole experience is that there is nothing amazing about it at all: It is a commonplace occurrence. We live in an information age that allows us to be in instant contact with anyone at any time. We are limited only by our imaginations and technology's increasingly proficient ability to match them. Our words are instantly and efficiently transmitted throughout the world.

One of the results of the ease with which we can communicate is that our words and conversations can thereby lose their import and impact. Every day we are bombarded with words. We receive junk mail and e-mail and are constantly being solicited by telephone. The Information Age is in danger of turning into a wilderness of wasted words.

The final book of the Torah, which bears the name of this week's parasha, has no wasted words. Parashat Devarim consists of Moses' final speeches to the Israelites. It begins as follows: Eleh hadevarim asher diber Moshe el-kol-Yisrael, "These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel." (Deuteronomy 1:1) Traditional commentators (Midrash Rabbah 1:15 ff.) take great pains to point out that Moses, the man who first encountered God at the burning bush with the words Lo ish devarim anochi, "I am not a man of words" (Exodus 4:10), proves to be a great orator in the final chapters of his legacy.

It is interesting to note that the Book of Devarim is linguistically linked to its predecessor, Bamidbar. They both share the same Hebrew root davar. Bamidbar is a book about growth and chaos. It is in the midbar, the wilderness, that the Israelites rebel: We challenge Moses and even God's authority. In Bamidbar we are presented with a Moses who exhibits great fluctuations of temper and temperament. He negotiates and manipulates. He is alternately filled with cockiness and self-doubt. He is a tortured soul. Anger and insecurity cause him to lose everything he holds dear. His words alternately burn with despair and compassion.

Devarim, on the other hand, is a book that brings closure. The Moses we see in Devarim has gone through a radical transformation. He now understands that his days are numbered. Self-pity has given way to self-awareness. Every moment and every word must count as he coaches, cajoles, chastises, and cheers his people on, on the eve of their entrance into the Promised Land.

In Buberian terms, the Midbar, as featured in Bamidbar, is the realm of the "It"--of daily transactional interaction. Devarim, on the other hand, is the realm of the "Eternal Thou"--of meaningful and life-changing connection to one another and to God.

Like Moses and the Israelites, each of us must travel through our own midbar in order to fully understand our role in life. As we grow as human beings, our task is to understand that life is a process of becoming aware of and accepting our limitations and gifts. Some of us never leave the midbar: We remain trapped in the seductive cycle of becoming and never fully emerge into the realm of Devarim. Most of us (most of the time) fluctuate between the two realms--shifting between higher and lower arenas of consciousness and connection. Our goal in life should be to constantly seek to make our words and our deeds reflect the potential for holiness that God has given us by creating us in the divine image. Like Moses, we should strive to understand that there are no wasted words. Every conversation and each connection that we can make with one another provide us with the opportunity to experience holiness.

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O God, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

Joseph R. Black is the rabbi of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, NM.

THE POWER OF WORDS
Hara Person

We are a people who value words. We cherish and celebrate the stories that are formed from words, telling and retelling our stories. On Simchat Torah we end one cycle of reading our stories and begin anew. On Passover we teach and reteach our children the central story of our people. And as we tell our stories again and again, each generation hears them differently and learns new lessons. Much of Parashat Devarim is the retelling of events related in Exodus and Numbers. In this portion, Moses addresses the new generation of leadership that has come of age in the wilderness, the generation that will be allowed to enter the Promised Land.

Moses is retelling a story that this new generation of leaders needs to hear in order to succeed. Moses reminds the people of their history and why it has taken them forty years to enter the Promised Land. He reminds them of the disobedience and faithlessness of the older generation in order to help the new generation learn from the mistakes of their forebears.

A good teacher, Moses takes the same material he has used in the past to create a new lesson plan, since he now knows what works and what does not. He uses carefully chosen words to convince the people that God will be with them and that they should not fear entering the Land of Israel, making specific reference to God's role during the Exodus. But because this generation has not undergone what their parents had suffered in Egypt and knows only the reality of the wilderness, Moses must find a new and fitting image to explain God's role as their compassionate protector. Therefore, Moses adds an unusual metaphor that does not appear anywhere else in the Torah in this exact form: "Adonai your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you traveled until you came to this place." (Deuteronomy 1:31) For this generation that was born in the desert and whose earliest survival depended upon their being carried by their human parents, this is a powerful metaphor. This image of God as the ultimate caring parent also provides a striking contrast to the all-too-mortal failings of their parents that Moses is recalling.

The passages in this portion about the failure of the Israelites to have faith in God and to merit entering the Land of Israel are regarded by our tradition as a rebuke. But as Moses begins to recount the wrong-doing and faithlessness of the Israelites, he adds, "May Adonai, the God of your ancestors, increase your numbers a thousandfold and bless you as God promised you." (Deuteronomy 1:11) Like a parent reminding a child that no matter what, she loves him, so, too, Moses' blessing serves to remind the people that they are God's beloved children, no matter what. Moses understands the power of words to both rebuke and bless, and he balances the harshness of din, judgment, with rachamim, mercy. Thus, through the retelling of events from Exodus and Numbers, this first portion of the book Devarim, which literally means "Words," reminds us of the power of words through the particular way in which a familiar story is retold. The folktale about the town gossip who is made to go collect feathers that she had released in the wind teaches us that words once spoken cannot be taken back and that we must, therefore, choose our words carefully. Because he chooses his words carefully, Moses, who often had difficulty speaking, teaches us indirectly by his wise example.

Questions for Discussion

Think of two different versions of a familiar folktale, fairy tale, story, or even a joke. What is the significance of the different wordings?

Does the metaphor used to describe how God carried the people in Deuteronomy 1:31 speak to you? Why or why not? Can you think of a metaphor that would be more meaningful to you?

How might Moses' balancing din, judgment, with rachamim, mercy, be a useful model for your life?

This portion reminds us that words can both heal and hurt. Cite and then discuss some examples that illustrate the power of words.

Rabbi Hara Person is the editor of the URJ Press

NOTHING BUT WORDS
Niles Elliot Goldstein

Our world is filled with words. We hear them all the time from many different segments of society; including radio and television talk show hosts, friends and neighbors, and politicians. Everyone, it seems, has something to say about one subject or another. A major criticism of today's leaders is that they use too many words and that all they do is talk without really saying-or doing-anything. Clearly, words devoid of import-words that do not lead to action-are hollow vessels.

In the first verse of this week's Torah portion, D'varim, Moses initiates what is essentially a series of farewell speeches to the people of Israel: "These are the words that Moses addressed to all Israel…." (Deuteronomy 1:1) This parasha begins the fifth and final book of the Torah, Deuteronomy, and initiates the account of the end of the great prophet's life. It is ironic that Moses, a man who said of himself that "I have never been a man of words" (Exodus 4:10), is so full of words as he nears his death. But his words, like the words of the Torah itself, are more than merely words-unlike the sound bites that trip from the lips of leaders like Bill Clinton or Tony Blair. The words of the Torah and Moses are the traces of transcendence.

As many modern scholars have maintained, the Torah most probably began as an oral tradition; in fact, it is the role that words play in this sacred document that is most relevant to our lives as contemporary Jews. In the Book of Genesis, for example, words represent the beginning of the divine act of creation: "God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." (Genesis 1:3) Later in the Torah, God reveals the Ten Words (more commonly translated as the Ten Commandments) to the community of Israel, establishing a covenant with the Israelites for all eternity. Words are thus linked in the Jewish tradition to creation and revelation. But they are also connected to redemption, to the messianic era of peace and harmony that is described so powerfully by the biblical prophets, who attribute their visions to the "word" of God.

In the spiritual context, words are the traces of transcendence, the marks of divinity that permeate our world. As limited, human constructs, words will always fail to capture fully the essence of the infinite God, yet that is the very nature of transcendence, which, like fire, is ethereal and elusive. Maimonides claims that words are the means by which human beings can come to comprehend God and God's will. The Kabbalists describe ten s'firot, or divine emanations, as the only accessible representations of the "hidden" God. In both cases, God's identity and nature must always be mediated. Words can be those mediators, which can hence be transformed from meaningless noise into sacred vessels. They can draw us closer to the Divine while, paradoxically, keeping us at a safe distance. They can serve as the lifeblood of our souls. In a sense, the last words of Moses do not precede his death. Rather, they are his channel-as well as ours-to everlasting life.

Niles Elliot Goldstein has written and edited five books, including Duties of the Soul: The Role of Commandments in Liberal Judaism, UAHC Press, 1999. He currently serves a congregation in New York City.

YOU SHALL NOT SHOW DEFERENCE
Marc Israel

Recent events in the United States and Israel have focused attention on the role of the judiciary in society. This week's parasha, D'varim, includes an important lesson on the need for an impartial judiciary. Moses instructs the people: "I further charged your magistrates as follows, 'Hear out your fellow men, and decide justly between any man and a fellow Israelite or stranger. You shall not be partial in judgment: Hear out low and high alike. Fear no man, for judgment is God's.'" (Deuteronomy 1:16-17)

Judges are commanded to act with impartiality, ignoring the social status of the litigants or defendants. This commandment-not to be deferential to the rich or the poor-is repeated four times in the Torah.

It is interesting to note that what our tradition is mainly concerned with is that the poor not receive undue benefit because judges feel pity for them and rule in their favor over the wealthy. Rashi, the medieval commentator, teaches that "hear out low and high alike" means: "Do not say, 'This one is poor and the other rich, and it is a sacred duty to support the poor. Therefore, I shall acquit the poor man so that he can make a decent living.'"

In our own day, the problem tends to be reversed: The poor are not adequately represented and the wealthy have the upper hand when they enter a courtroom. Therefore, we must make certain that our judicial system insures that the poor are accorded true due process.

In both scenarios, the need for a strong and impartial judiciary is clear. Today when the courts in America and Israel are under constant assault, we would do well to heed the Torah's command.

Rabbi Marc Israel is the director of Congregational Relations at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, DC

Fulfill Your Potential
by Rabbi Yehuda Appel

In a popular film some years ago, the main character dies and goes to the "next dimension" where he is asked to defend his life down here on earth. According to Jewish tradition, there is no concept of actually "defending" oneself in the afterlife. Yet given Hollywood's recent spate of interest in Kabbalah, one wonders if the writer of this film hadn't spent a little time studying the esoteric teachings himself. Because the mystical teachings do say that a person will be shown what he accomplished in life -compared to what he could have done had he taken full advantage of earthly existence. In fact, it is the soul's sense of embarrassment at the realization of what could have been accomplished that is, according to some sources, the Jewish definition of "hell."

This week's Parsha - and for that matter the entire fifth book of the Torah - is called Devarim which means "words." The "words" being referred to are Moses' divinely directed farewell speech to the Jewish People. Before his death, Moses presented to the Jewish people an eloquent review of the past 40 years including in his words admonishments and great moral insights. The concept of lost opportunities appears over and over again.

From the very outset, Moses chastises the Jews for "what could have been." Deuteronomy 1:2 notes that it is but "eleven days (journey) from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea." As Rashi notes, this verse was a subtle rebuke of the nation: Because of their sins, it took them 40 years to reach the Promised Land, a trip which should have taken a mere eleven days.

Next, Moses reminds the nation, how (40 years earlier) he had established a judicial system so that he would not have to guide them alone. But, as Rashi points out, here too the people erred. How could the people forego the opportunity of having Moses as their legal arbiter? Shouldn't they have protested this new arrangement?!

Perhaps most troubling of all, is Moses' next topic: the sin of the spies. Ten spies are sent as an advance guard to reconnoiter the land of Canaan prior to its invasion. The spies come back from the land and report that it is unconquerable. At this point, the people have a choice: either to believe the spies, or to believe in God's assurances that all would be well. Incredibly, the people opt to believe the messengers of flesh and blood! As a consequence, Moses now reminds his listeners, the nation was sentenced to 40 years wandering in the desert.

By contrast, we can look at the life of Moses, a man who is known to have fulfilled tremendous potential.

The book of Devarim begins by announcing "These are the words that Moses spoke before the children of Israel..." This notion that Moses had become a man identified with majestic speech is truly remarkable. Some 40 years earlier, at the Burning Bush, when the Almighty asked Moses to lead the Jewish People out of Egypt, he flatly out refused. The reason Moses gave was "I am not a man of words." Now 40 years later, this man who had felt ill equipped to express himself issued forth with wonderful month-long soliloquy that constitutes 20 percent of our Torah!

Each of us has the choice whether or not to fulfill our potential. Make the commitment today. Because tomorrow may be too late!

THIS WEEK’S PARASHA FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

Everybody wants to be fair, but sometimes it's not easy.

In our Torah portion this week, Moses tells the Jewish people about the system of Torah courts that he set up for them. He made sure to appoint fair judges, and he warned them not to show favoritism.

"Small and great alike you shall hear," the Torah tells us.

This means that the judges should only decide a case based upon who's right. They shouldn't favor a poor man because they feel sorry for him, or a rich man because they're afraid of his power or influence.

We learn from here how important it is to try to be fair, no matter what.

In our story, two sisters learn about being fair and not showing favoritism.

STORY

“Sleep Away”

It was the first day at sleep-away camp.

All the new campers were scrambling around like bees in a hive, moving into their cabins and choosing the bunks where they would sleep that summer.

"Oh, what a great spot," thought Debbie, looking at an upper bunk in the corner. It was a nice quiet space, with its own window. She lifted up her suitcase and swung it up onto the bed to claim her place.

But at the very same second her suitcase hit the mattress, she heard a thump as another suitcase swung over from the other side.

"Hey!" Debbie exclaimed. She peered over to the red-headed girl standing on the other side of the bed. Smiling nervously, she said, "Excuse me, didn’t you realize that this bunk is claimed?"

Ruthi, the other girl, stood her ground. "Yes it is claimed, by me", she answered politely but firmly.

After a few more words were exchanged, both girls realized they were getting nowhere in resolving their dispute.

"I have an idea," said Debbie. "Let's go to the counselor and let her decide."

When Ruth agreed, Debbie smiled to herself. "The bunk is as good as mine," she thought. What Ruth didn't know was that Leah, the counselor, was Debbie's older sister.

Meanwhile, Leah was in her room, busily preparing for the new campers. Hearing a knock on the door, she opened it and found the two girls standing anxiously outside. "What is it girls?" she asked.

Debbie and Ruth both blurted out their sides of the story.

Ruth explained to Leah how she needed the bunk for medical reasons -- she had asthma and needed to sleep near an open window, while Debbie felt she should get it anyway because she saw it first. They both looked expectantly at Leah and waited for her decision. Debbie gave her sister a little wink certain that Leah would rule in her favor.

After thinking for a few minutes, Leah cleared her throat. "Well, girls," she said. "After listening to both of you, I think the upper bunk should go to … Ruth." Ruth smiled and skipped happily out to set up her new bunk.

Debbie was left standing there with her mouth open. "Leah, how could you?" she asked. Her sister threw her hands up and said, "I'm sorry. I felt Ruth needed the bunk more."

"But…” sputtered Debbie. “How could you have given that beautiful space to a stranger, and not to your very own sister?

"Debbie," Leah said warmly, "You know how much I care for you. But the two of you came to me to make a decision and I had to make a fair one. The fact that you're my sister had absolutely nothing to do with it. I only gave the bunk to who I felt deserved it. I would have happily given it to you, had you needed it more than Ruthi, whether you were my sister or not.”

Debbie frowned.

“Tell me” Leah continued. “How would you feel if the counselor was Ruth’s sister? Would you have wanted her to give Ruth the upper bunk just because they were sisters?"

"No way!" exclaimed Debbie. "It would be totally … unfair."

Leah laughed. "So?" she said.

"So," answered Debbie, smiling and rolling her eyes. "So, I guess I'll be sleeping on the bottom bunk tonight. Can you give me a hand with my suitcase, sis?"

"Sure," answered Leah. "Anything for my kid sister."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Age 3-5

Q. Is it right to play favorites with somebody just because they're your relative or friend?

A. No, we should try to be fair to everyone.

Q. How would you feel if you wanted to join in a game with some kids but they wouldn't let you because they were all cousins and you weren't?

Age 6-9

Q. Do you think that it would be fair if Leah thought that Debbie should have the bunk but did not give it to her because she was afraid of showing favoritism? Why?

A: That would have been just as unfair as choosing her because she was her sister. To be fair means not showing extra favor or less favor to people because of who they are; it means ruling in favor of whoever is right. In our story, Ruth was right because she needed the bunk for her health.

Q. It is known that some great judges who sat on courts of Torah law would blindfold themselves before listening to a case. Why do you think they did that?

A. Because they didn't want to be influenced even by what the two litigants looked like. They realized how easy it is to be influenced and to make an unfair decision, so they went to great lengths to be as unbiased as possible.

Age 10-13

Q. If someone had suffered from unfair treatment in the past, do you think it's right to go out of one's way to favor them now even if by doing so it will be unfair to other people? Why?

A. While it's unfortunate that the person has unfairly suffered, and we should definitely make sure that he no longer does, if we show them preferential treatment now at the expense of causing a second person unfair suffering, we are only adding injustice to injustice. Perhaps the best option is to try to be totally fair to everyone from the start.

Q. There is a famous legend of Robin Hood, a man who would "steal from the rich and give to the poor." In your opinion was this man doing a good thing? Why?

A. He may have had good intentions, but really what he was doing was wrong. Stealing from the rich is still stealing. If he wanted to help the poor he could have figured out some way to do it without hurting anybody else.

Shabbat Shalom,

Mayda Clarke

Temple Emanuel Weekly Announcements - August 1, 2008

2008-07-31T16:59:00.001-04:00

Friday, August 1, 2008 - 1 Av 5768

Masei - Numbers 33:1-36:13, 28:9-15

Parashat Masei begins with a detailed description of the marches the Israelites took during their forty years in the desert. Their journey began immediately after the last plague - the death of the first born male Egyptians - and continued until they camped at the border of Canaan (the Promised Land), near Jericho, alongside the Jordan River. The parasha (and the book of Numbers) concludes with additional laws arising from the inheritance granted to the daughters of Zelophehad.

Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 6 pm in the Sanctuary

We mourn the passing of…

Peggy Spiegler, wife of Neil Spiegler, daughter of Herta Welsh

This weekend…

Torah Study – Saturday, August 2 at 10 am in the library. Plan to attend this informal study group. All are encouraged to attend. The ancient borders of Israel are described in Masei. We will explore the geography of Israel interactively with a giant floor map of Israel.

Plan to join us for …

Taste of Sunday School on Wednesday, August 6^th and August 20th at 7 pm – please come and bring your neighbors and friends.

Social Action Committee meeting on Monday, August 4 at 7:30 pm – new members are encouraged.

Back to School Sunday on Sunday, September 7 at 9 am – 1 pm – meet with the Temple’s committees, youth groups and more.

UPCOMING/ONGOING …

Try Something New! – Yoga & Jewish Meditation –Thursdays at 7:30 pm. Wear your comfortable clothes and be ready to have fun. You can still register by calling 856 489-0035 or e-mailing cindy@templeemanuel.org.

Taste of Sunday School - Please plan to join us for a Taste of Sunday School at Temple Emanuel on Selected Wednesday, August 6^th and August 20^that 7 pm. Now is the time for children entering Grades K-3 and their families. Join Clergy and teachers from Temple Emanuel for this intro to Sunday School. Please RSVP to Cindy@templeemanuel.org or contact Rabbi Cohen at 856 489-0035 X 20. No fee is required.

This summer, a very special interactive calendar for Shabbat Morning Torah Study has been planned. We will be looking at the weekly Torah portions through trips, art, music, guest speakers and more. Even if you have never come to Torah study, please join us as we explore the Torah and its meanings in this special way. All are welcome. Registration is not necessary (except for some special trips). Call Rabbi Cohen for more info at 856 489-0035 or dbcohen@templeemanuel.org.

Please make sure we have your e-mail address. If you are not currently receiving e-mails from Temple Emanuel, please send your e-mail address to mayda@templeemanuel.org.

Gift Cards (also known as SCRIP) are available for more than just grocery stores. We have bookstores, restaurants, department stores and much more available. For a complete list of available stores and gift card denominations, pickup the current list and order form at the Temple, or contact Jessica Chasen at Jesschasen@aol.com or 609 929-4726. Orders are placed weekly for any cards we don’t have in stock. You can purchase Shop Rite scrip in the Temple Office. All purchases help fund our Temple Sisterhood and ultimately our synagogue. Thank you for your support.

Please visit our Web site at www.templeemanuel.org to learn about all that Temple Emanuel has to offer. Check out the calendar for daily activities, as well as to plan for future dates.

Temple Emanuel Weekly Announcements - July 25, 2008

2008-07-23T17:51:00.001-04:00

Friday, July 25, 2008 - 23 Tammuz 5768

Matot Numbers 30:2 – 32:42

Moses speaks to the heads of the tribes (in Hebrew, "matot") regarding vows and obligations. At God's command a thousand men from each tribe join together to wage war with the Midianites, with Pinchas as their leader. They are victorious.

Shabbat Evening Service at 8 pm in the Sanctuary

Mazel Tov to…

Andrea & Stephen Ehrlich on their 30^th wedding anniversary

We mourn the passing of…

Samuel Kesselman, father of Beth (James) Zimmerman

This weekend…

This portion introduces the term “Chalutzim” or “Pioneers.” In our modern age, the Chalutzim were the first Jewish settlers of Modern Israel. During this Torah study, we will compare the Biblical pioneers and the modern pioneers of Israel.

Plan to join us for …

Taste of Sunday School on Wednesdays, July 30^th, August 6^th, and August 20th at 7 pm – please come and bring your neighbors and friends.

Social Action Committee meeting on Monday, August 4 at 7:30 pm – new members are encouraged.

UPCOMING/ONGOING …

Taste of Sunday School - Please plan to join us for a Taste of Sunday School at Temple Emanuel on Selected Wednesdays July 30^th, August 6^th and August 20^that 7 pm. Now is the time for children entering Grades K-3 and their families. Join Clergy and teachers from Temple Emanuel for this intro to Sunday School. Please RSVP to Cindy@templeemanuel.org or contact Rabbi Cohen at 856 489-0035 X 20. No fee is required.

Shabbat is always a special time at Temple Emanuel. Please plan to join us throughout the summer. Please remember that on Friday, August 1, we will have a Kabbalat Shabbat service at 6 pm. On August 15 we are inviting the community to join us for a special Come As You Are Kid Shabbat/Kid Friendly Shabbat dinner beginning at 5:45 pm. More information about this exciting event will follow.

Please make sure we have your e-mail address. If you are not currently receiving e-mails from Temple Emanuel, please send your e-mail address to mayda@templeemanuel.org.

Gift Cards (also known as SCRIP) are available for more than just grocery stores. We have bookstores, restaurants, department stores and much more available. For a complete list of available stores and gift card denominations, pickup the current list and order form at the Temple, or contact Jessica Chasen at Jesschasen@aol.com or 609 929-4726. Orders are placed weekly for any cards we don’t have in stock. You can purchase Shop Rite scrip in the Temple Office. All purchases help fund our Temple Sisterhood and ultimately our synagogue. Thank you for your support.

Please visit our Web site at www.templeemanuel.org to learn about all that Temple Emanuel has to offer. Check out the calendar for daily activities, as well as to plan for future dates.

Temple Emanuel Weekly Announcements - July 18, 2008

2008-07-18T11:41:00.000-04:00

Friday, July 18, 2008 - 16 Tammuz 5768

Pinchas Numbers 25:10 - 30:1

Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron, provides the name for this week's Torah portion. God tells Moses that the land of Canaan will be divided among the male members of each tribe as counted according to the census. Five women come before Moses to protest that no land would be given to their family since their father died and he had no sons. God counsels Moses, that the plea of the daughters is just and that they should be given land. The laws of inheritance are then established. Moses is reminded that he will not live to enter the Promised Land. God tells Moses that Joshua is to be the next leader. Moses is told to place his hand upon Joshua, in the sight of all the people and to transfer his authority to Joshua.

Tot Shabbat at 7 pm

Shabbat Evening Service at 8 pm - Anniversary Blessings

Mazel Tov to…

Debbie & Joseph Benjamin on their birth of their grandson Jazir

Reva & Alan Budman on their 30^th wedding anniversary

We mourn the passing of…

Rose Brick, mother of Carl (Tracy) Goodman

Eli Weidenfeld, father of Renee Gross

This weekend…

Pinchas includes a huge stride for women’s rights in the Biblical age — five sisters are given the right to inherit property. This week, in honor of these early legal activists, we will visit the Constitution Center. Meet at Temple Emanuel at 10 am. We will carpool to the Constitution Center and return by 1 pm. Entrance is $12/adults, $11/seniors and $8/children.

Plan to join us for …

Membership Committee meeting on Tuesday, July 22 at 7:30 pm – new members are encouraged.

Taste of Sunday School on Wednesday July 30 at 7 pm – please come and bring your neighbors and friends.

Social Action Committee meeting on Monday, August 4 at 7:30 pm – new members are encouraged.

UPCOMING/ONGOING …

Taste of Sunday School - Please plan to join us for a Taste of Sunday School at Temple Emanuel on selected Wednesdays June 30th through August 20^that 7 pm. Now is the time for children entering Grades K-3 and their families. Join Clergy and teachers from Temple Emanuel for this intro to Sunday School. Please RSVP to Cindy@templeemanuel.org or contact Rabbi Cohen at 856 489-0035 X 20. No fee is required.

You will be receiving your High Holy Day forms shortly in the mail. Please take the opportunity to read the information in the packet and return the forms requesting High Holy Day seating, inclusion in the Book of Remembrance, High Holy Day Greetings, Registration for School Age Enrichment and Babysitting.

Please make sure we have your e-mail address. If you are not currently receiving e-mails from Temple Emanuel, please send your e-mail address to mayda@templeemanuel.org.

Gift Cards (also known as SCRIP) are available for more than just grocery stores. We have bookstores, restaurants, department stores and much more available. For a complete list of available stores and gift card denominations, pickup the current list and order form at the Temple, or contact Jessica Chasen at Jesschasen@aol.com or 609 929-4726. Orders are placed weekly for any cards we don’t have in stock. You can purchase Shop Rite scrip in the Temple Office. All purchases help fund our Temple Sisterhood and ultimately our synagogue. Thank you for your support.

Please visit our Web site at www.templeemanuel.org to learn about all that Temple Emanuel has to offer. Check out the calendar for daily activities, as well as to plan for future dates.

Temple Emanuel Weekly Announcements - July 18, 2008

2008-07-18T11:28:00.000-04:00

Friday, July 18, 2008 - 16 Tammuz 5768

Pinchas Numbers 25:10 - 30:1

Tot Shabbat at 7 pm

Shabbat Evening Service at 8 pm - Anniversary Blessings

Mazel Tov to…

Debbie & Joseph Benjamin on their birth of their grandson Jazir

Reva & Alan Budman on their 30^th wedding anniversary

We mourn the passing of…

Rose Brick, mother of Carl (Tracy) Goodman

Eli Weidenfeld, father of Renee Gross

This weekend…

Plan to join us for …

Membership Committee meeting on Tuesday, July 22 at 7:30 pm – new members are encouraged.

Taste of Sunday School on Wednesday July 30 at 7 pm – please come and bring your neighbors and friends.

Social Action Committee meeting on Monday, August 4 at 7:30 pm – new members are encouraged.

UPCOMING/ONGOING …

Please make sure we have your e-mail address. If you are not currently receiving e-mails from Temple Emanuel, please send your e-mail address to mayda@templeemanuel.org.

Gift Cards (also known as SCRIP) are available for more than just grocery stores. We have bookstores, restaurants, department stores and much more available. For a complete list of available stores and gift card denominations, pickup the current list and order form at the Temple, or contact Jessica Chasen at Jesschasen@aol.com or 609 929-4726. Orders are placed weekly for any cards we don’t have in stock. You can purchase Shop Rite scrip in the Temple Office. All purchases help fund our Temple Sisterhood and ultimately our synagogue. Thank you for your support.

Please visit our Web site at www.templeemanuel.org to learn about all that Temple Emanuel has to offer. Check out the calendar for daily activities, as well as to plan for future dates.