Parashat Bo follow-up: Jewish Elvis? Read on...

Dear Chaverim,
During yesterday's Torah discussion, I was trying to make the point of how strong a faith our ancestors must have had to paint the doorposts with blood to make their homes stand out as Israelite homes BEFORE they were actually redeemed.  I talked about how Jews choose to identify or hide their Jewish backgrounds today. We talked about our own names, and how they were changed and under what circumstances. We talked about famous people who we may have known or not known were Jewish.  Below is the list I provided.  What got the MOST attention yesterday was Elvis Presley's name on the list of famous Jews.  Realizing I better follow up, below is both the original list, as well as a follow up on Elvis.  If you did not come to Shabbat services yesterday, see what you missed?
Shavua tov,
Rabbi Michael

Famous Jews - Famous Jewish Actors - Celebrity Jews Al Jolson - Alan Arkin - Ali MacGraw - Alicia Silverstone - Barbra Streisand - Ben Kingsley - Ben Stiller - Bette Midler - Billy Crystal - Bronson Pinchot - Claire Bloom - David Duchovny - Debra Messing - Debra Winger - Douglas Fairbanks - Dustin Hoffman - Dyan Cannon - Ed Ames - Edward G Robinson - Elizabeth-Taylor - Elliott Gould - Elvis Presley - Erich von Stroheim - Gaby Hoffmann - George Burns - Gwyneth Paltrow - Hank Azaria - Harrison Ford - Harvey Fierstein - Harvey Keitel - Howie Mandel - Jane Seymour - Jason Alexander - Jerry Stiller - Joaquin Phoenix - John Banner - Jon Lovitz - Joshua Malina - Judy Holliday - Juliana Marguiles - Kate Hudson - Katey Sagal - Kevin Kline - Kirk Douglas - Lainie Kazan - Lauren Bacall - Laurence Harvey - Leonard Nimoy - Lilyan Tashman - Lisa Bonet - Mandy Patinkin - Martin Balsm - Matthew Broderick - Mel Brooks - Mia Kirshner - Michael Douglas - Michael Landon - Michele Lee - Mindy Cohn - Natalie Portman - Noah Wyle - Paul Newman - Paulette Goddard - Paul Reiser - Peter Falk - Peter Sellers - Piper Laurie - Rachel Weisz - Red Buttons - Richard Benjamin - Richard-Dreyfuss - Richard-Lewis - Robbie Roberts - Robert Downey Jr - Robert-Clary - Rob Schneider - Rodney Dangerfield - Roseanne-Barr - Sammy-Davis Jr - Sarah Jessica Parker - Sarah Silverman - Sarah-Bernhardt - Seth Green - Stephen Fry - Steve Bond - Steven Berkoff - Tanya Roberts - Taylor Negron - Theodore Bikel - Tom Baker - Tony Curtis - Tracy Pollan - Walter Koenig - William Shatner - Woody Allen - Wynona Ryder - Yasmine Bleeth - Yves Montand Jewish Elvis: In the  book "Elvis and Gladys" - Elaine Dundy discovered the Presley and Smith family tree to be a mixed bag of ethnic lineage from Native American Indian to Elvis' Jewish ancestry. Tobe of Jewish  is a maternal acquisition because there is no mistaking who is the mother of a child.  Because Elvis' Jewish line ran uninterrupted through his maternal grandmothers according to Jewish law Elvis Aron Presley is considered Jewish.  This is what Dundy discovered in her research: "... Nancy Burdine was married to Abner Tacket. Nancy was of particular interest to Gladys for her Jewish heritage, often remembering Nancy's sons for their Jewish names Sidney and Jerome. Nancy and Abner had a daughter Martha (Tacket) who married White Mansell. The daughter which they named Octavia nicknamed Doll who was Elvis' maternal grandmother." Doll and Robert had nine children. Gladys Love was the fifth daughter born followed by three brothers and a sister. Gladys' sister Clette Smith married Vester Presley making Patsy Presley a double cousin to Elvis. Patsy Anderson worked at Graceland in Elvis Fan Club liaison. After his mother died Elvis personally sought to design his beloved mother’s gravesite which included a Star of David on Gladys Love Presley's tombstone. The decision was made by him in honour of his Jewish heritage. Something his mother was proud of and acknowledged to Elvis at a very early age.  The "Chai" symbol is simply the Hebrew word for "Life" with the two Hebrew letters Chet & Yod attached together. It refers to Living with G*d. [Due to the bizarre August 29,  1977 " break in" to steal Elvis's body -  on the evening of October 2, 1977, Elvis and his mother's bodies were moved from their original places of burial at Forest Hill Cemetery and reburied side by side in the grounds of Graceland in an area Elvis had named the Meditation Garden.] Later in life, when Elvis discovered the teachings of Judaism, Zen Buddhism and the occult teachings through his hairdresser Larry Geller he became familiar with the Hebrew alphabet and its symbols. Throughout 1977 Elvis wore a "Chai" necklace. When Charlie Hodge asked Elvis why this particular piece of jeweler was so important, without missing a beat Elvis retorted  "I don’t want to miss out on going' to heaven on a technicality." In Judaism the word Chai has great significance. The typical Jewish toast is l'chayim (to life) Gifts to charity are routinely given in multiples of 18 (the numeric value of the word Chai) religious cannons. The book In Search of Elvis Presley's Jewish Roots outline numerous aspects of Elvis' Jewish identity, including the fact that his mother, Gladys, was part Jewish and part Indian. William Mansell married Morning White Dove, a full blooded Indian. They had several children, one of which was John Mansell, who fathered White Mansell. White Mansell married Martha Tackett. Martha's mother Nancy was Jewish. Elvis was well aware of his Jewish ancestry, as a child was instructed not to advertise the fact because "people didn't like Jews" according to his parents. Yet, Elvis, who lived in an apartment below a Jewish rabbi, would often visit. The widow of the rabbi talks about Elvis. She recalls how, Elvis would visit their house on Saturday in order to turn on lights and do things they weren't allowed to do. Elvis carried a yarmulke in his pocket. He was fascinated by Jewish music. As an adult, she remembers how Elvis donated to several Jewish organizations.  Elvis Presley wearing a Star of David  1972 From the book: "Oh yes. One day the Memphis Jewish Welfare sent a delegation to Graceland to see him and ask if he could contribute. At Christmas every year he would donate $1,000 to a number of Memphis charities and one of them was the Memphis Hebrew Academy, and so they thought maybe they could get something. They explained what they do, taking care of poor Jews and orphans. Elvis excused himself for a minute. When he came back, he handed the leader of the delegation a check. They didn't know what to expect. They thought $1,000 would be nice. When they looked at the check, it was for $150,000. The equivalent of more than a million dollars today. The man said, 'Elvis, you must have made a mistake.' Elvis said, 'I didn't make a mistake, I know what I'm doing.' Later on, he also donated a room to the old Memphis Jewish Community Center."

Rabbi Michael's WeekEND NOTES Jan 27: Parashat Bo

Dear Chaverim,

     In my non-stop pursuit of enticing you to attend Shabbat services, I present for your consideration:

THIS SHABBAT'S SERMON TOPICS!!

 

* Tonight, Friday night, 6:30 pm (Happy Hour at 6 pm):

CHOOSE LIFE!!! WHAT JUDAISM HAS TO SAY ABOUT ABORTION

IN LIGHT OF THE 39TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE AND THE UPCOMING FLORIDA PRIMARY

 

* Saturday, Services begin at 9:30 am (co-led by the Presidential Twins)

PUTTING BLOOD ON THE DOORPOST OF YOUR HOMES:

JUST HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO LET OTHERS KNOW YOU ARE A JEW?

 

And don't forget Saturday night's Jewish Community Game Night at Adas Kodesch

(plus youth programming at the Siegel JCC).

     Shabbat Shalom!

      Rabbi Michael

Rabbi Michael's WeekEND Notes

Dear Chaverim,

*Tonight, aside from it being "Pirate Shabbat," for those who are a little less daring, I promise to lead a fairly conventional Shabbat service beginning at 6:30 p.m., featuring melodies which are familiar ... although I am sure the Adon Olam will be set to a tune related to the evening's theme. 

 

*Tomorrow, aside from the wildly-popular 9:30 a.m. Shalom Yeladim program for our children, ages 0 - 5, my Dvar Torah for Parashat Vaera will focus on controversies of Four Versus Five: From Four Cups of Wine to Four Children ... and Beyond.  Material will be passed out which will be appropriate for the Seder table.  And why ARE we reading about spring-time Passover themes in the Torah reading while we are freezing with a "wintry mix" anyways? Only one way to find out --- come to Shabbat services!!

 

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Michael

Rabbi Michael's WeekEND Notes

Dear Chaverim,

I hope to see all of you tonight, at 8 pm, at our Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Birthday Shabbat celebration.  We will be joined by Congregation Beth Emeth's congregants, clergy & choir, Wilmington Mayor James Baker, and African American Church leaders from throughout Wilmington.  This will be my first time hearing the "Prince of Kosher Gospel, " Josh Nelson, who will lead us in worship.  However my fellow Conservative rabbi friends say he is simply AMAZING!!

 

Speaking of Conservative rabbi friends, I was with the best and brightest of them , including the Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, during a week of study at the Rabbinical Training Institute, at the Pearlstone Retreat Center.  I will give you a taste of what I learned this Saturday, when my sermon will address Parashat Shemot: From Avitar to Neurobiology.  I promise you a very ecclectic experience.

 

Hope to see you all throughout Shabbat.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Michael

Ethical Wills

Dear Friends,

      Most of you who attended this past Shabbat's morning service expressed interest in having the Ethical Will template I referenced in my sermon on Parshat Vayehi made available to you.  I could not be happier to oblige.  I suggested this morning that if you create an Ethical Will you provide me with an electronic copy, at mhtml:{0FCC146D-1BBA-459F-8769-883B1B58A1B0}mid://00000008/!x-usc:mailto:rabbimichael@cbswilmde.org  and that you provide a hard copy to be placed in your Congregation Beth Shalom membership file.  This is but one way of ensuring your values and life experience outlive you and influence future generations.

     The Ethical Will template was created by Rabbi Jack Reimer, in his book, So That Your Values Live On-Ethical Wills and How to Prepare Them.  It was reprinted from Dr. Ron Wolfson's book, A Time to Mourn A Time to Comfort, published by The Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs.

May you live to be 120 and may your vision and wisdom live on even longer. 

       B'shalom, Rabbi Michael

   

Dear Friends,

      Most of you who attended this past Shabbat's morning service expressed interest in having the Ethical Will template I referenced in my sermon on Parshat Vayehi made available to you.  I could not be happier to oblige.  I suggested this morning that if you create an Ethical Will you provide me with an electronic copy, at mhtml:{0FCC146D-1BBA-459F-8769-883B1B58A1B0}mid://00000008/!x-usc:mailto:rabbimichael@cbswilmde.org  and that you provide a hard copy to be placed in your Congregation Beth Shalom membership file.  This is but one way of ensuring your values and life experience outlive you and influence future generations.

     The Ethical Will template was created by Rabbi Jack Reimer, in his book, So That Your Values Live On-Ethical Wills and How to Prepare Them.  It was reprinted from Dr. Ron Wolfson's book, A Time to Mourn A Time to Comfort, published by The Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs.

May you live to be 120 and may your vision and wisdom live on even longer. 

       B'shalom, Rabbi Michael

    1.  Start by writing sentences on important topics, among them:

The formative events in my life were...

The people who influenced me most...

The important lessons I've learned in life...

My definition of true success...

The Jewish values I cherish most...

The things I want to ask your forgiveness for...

I forgive you for...

How much I love you...

    2.  Organize what you want to say using this format.

Opening

     1.  "I write this to you, my ____in order to _____"

The family

     1.  My parents, siblings, antecedents were/are...

     2.  Events that helped share our family ...

Personal history

     1.  People who strongly influenced my life...

     2.  Event(s) that helped shape my life...

Religious observances, insights

     1.  The ritual(s) of most meaning to me...

     2.  Specific teachings from Jewish source(s) that moved me most...

Ethical Ideals and practices

     1.  Ideals that found expression in my life...

     2.  I would like to suggest to you the following...

Closing

     1.  My ardent wishes for you...

     2.  May the Almighty...

3.  Personalize and strengthen the links with words that have special meaning to you and your family, favorite sayings, anecdotes, and stories that help crystallize the memories of your life.

4.  Write the will on acid-free paper with foundtain pen, or use modern technologies of communicaiton, including audio and videotape.

5.  Decide when to present the ethical will--before your death, leave it as a spiritual legacy afer your death, or both.

6.  Attach the ethical will as a codicil to other wills, estate plans or living wills.

You may want the rabbi to read portions of your ethical will as part of the eulogy.

Rabbi Michael's WeekEND Notes

Dear Chaverim:

     Some quick final notes before you light your Shabbat candles:

 

1.  We have a brand-new Congregation Beth Shalom member: Introducing LUCY RUTH (Chaya Rifka) CLARK, first-born daughter of Rachel and Brian Clark, and first granddaughter of Nate and Bonnie Zahn, born last night, January 5, 6:48 p.m., 6 lbs, 10 oz., 20".  Mother and baby are doing great!!

 

2.  Tonight is FIRST FRIDAY FAMILY FRIENDLY Shabbat.  That means hot chocolate in addition to wine and cheese in the attrium during the 6-6:30 pm Happy Hour, and another selection from the Jewish Federation's PJ Library.  This month's selection: Esti The Mench, in honor of the upcoming Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Birthday Celebration. Services will be co-lead by our Hebrew School Kindergarten and First grades.

 

3.  Tomorrow's sermon, in conjunction with Parashat V'yehi, will be on    ETHICAL WILLS - WHAT REAL LEGACY WILL YOU LEAVE FOR YOUR KIDS?

                        Shabbat shalom!

                        Rabbi Michael