Imagine. Meditate. Speculate.

Dear Haverim:

Imagine.  Meditate.  Speculate.

*Friday, February 28^th, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.  Consecration and Teacher Recognition Shabbat. (After Kitah Bet family potluck in Lower Level)  Kvell as our Kitah Bet students help lead services, receive their first siddurim from their parents, and explain why Jewish Identity is important to them, as expressed through their art and prose.  Then we will honor all our teachers, and reveal CBS TEACHER OF THE YEAR (even Ellen DeGeneris has no idea!).

7:30 p.m.  IMAGINE

Rabbi Elie Spitz, Visiting Kraft Scholar, will speak on “The Spirituality of Imagination.” This is the first of three opportunities to learn with Rabbi Spitz, my mentor and friend.  He has been the rabbi of my hometown in Tustin, CA (where it is physically SO much warmer than here) since 1988, and been a guide and inspiration to me ever since.  He inspired my own application to rabbinical school and has been a valued friend. (Note: Babysitting is available with Ha Moreh Meri in the Chapel to accommodate Hebrew School parents who would like to continue their Jewish Adult learning by attending this special lecture).

*Saturday, March 1^st, 9 a.m. MEDITATE

Rabbi Spitz will lead us through a 30-minute Jewish Meditation program in the Chapel, prior to 9:30 a.m. Shabbat services. You must be on time and if you are running late, please enter quietly through the chapel entrance closest to the Sanctuary.  If you like this experience, please let me know and we will try to incorporate it into future worship experiences in our shul.  Your input is vital, so please make a point of attending and then giving me feedback.

11:30 a.m. SPECULATE

Rabbi Spitz will begin a fascinating talk on the subject, “Does the Soul Survive?”  Issues regarding Jewish views of the afterlife, continue to capture the imagination and attention of my students, from my JCC DVLI Programs to my Introduction to Judaism classes on Jewish Beliefs.  Rabbi Spitz’s approach is different as he has so many first-hand case studies to share from his congregants, combined with his scholarship. 

During Shabbat Lunch, Rabbi Spitz will expand his discussion on this speculation on our soul’s journey, and entertain questions from the congregation.  Do note that his book, “Does the Soul Survive,” as well as “Healing from Despair,” are both available together for $36 in our Gift Shop on Sunday morning for a limited time only.

7 p.m. Monte Carlo Night.  Please come together for CBS’ most important fundraiser of the season.  Tickets available at the door.

IMAGINE. MEDITATE. SPECULATE.

Join me, and my mentor and friend, Rabbi Elie Spitz, for a transformative Shabbat.

Rabbi Michael

SHABBAT CELEBRATIONS:From New Members to Birthdays

Dear Haverim:

*Tomorrow night, Friday, February 21, 6:30 p.m., New Member Shabbat (preceded by a special, extended Happy Hour beginning at 5:45 p.m.).  Please celebrate our New Members, who will each be given honors in our service, and be presented with the gift of a mezuzah, along with the offer to have the rabbi or cantor make a house call to help affix it and bless their respective homes.  We are counting on veteran members to come in large numbers to properly welcome the newest segment of our CBS community.

*Saturday, February 22, 9:30 a.m., Shabbat services (10:15 a.m. Torah service).  We will continue our celebrations with February birthday merrymakers who will be sponsoring Shabbat lunch. Sermon topic: Parshat Veyakel: Getting Your Priorities Straight.

Looking ahead…

*Next Friday, February 28, 7:30 p.m. (following 6:30 p.m. Teacher Recognition and Student Consecration), Rabbi Elie Spitz, my mentor visiting from California, will be our Kraft Shabbat Scholar-in-Resident.  Topic: Jewish Imagination.

*Next Saturday, March 1, 9 a.m. Rabbi Spitz leads a pre-service Jewish Meditation Session.  11:30 a.m., Rabbi Spitz speaks on “Does The Soul Survive?” – Jewish views on the afterlife.(His book on this subject is now available for purchase in the Gift Shop).

Please join us both this Shabbat and next, for some wonderful programs.

Shabbat shalom!

Rabbi Michael

DOES THE SOUL SURVIVE?

Does The Soul Survive?

A fine question which will be explored in Rabbi Elie Spitz’s book, by the same name, THIS SUNDAY, 10:15 a.m., CBS Library, right after 9 a.m. minyan.

Both of Rabbi Spitz’s books, Does the Soul Survive? ($19) and Healing from Despair ($17) will be on sale at our Gift Shop prior to the Book Club Meeting (and throughout February) – purchase the set for $36, checks made payable to the Congregation Beth Shalom, Memo: Gift Shop.

Meet the author, himself, at the end of the month, for the Rabbi Jacob Kraft Adult Education Committee program, featuring Rabbi Spitz, after Friday night Shabbat Services, February 28, 6:30 p.m.; for guided Jewish meditation, just prior to Saturday morning Shabbat Services, March 1, at 9 a.m., and during services and after lunch, also on March 1.

                                                        --Rabbi Michael

From LOVE Shabbat to Don't Destroy Us:What Would the Neighbors Say?

Dear Haverim:

     Before we get all grumpy about the snow, I thought I would share this observation from my colleague, Rabbi Josh Heller, of Atlanta:

Looking outside, I am struck by the words of Psalm 147, part of the daily morning service, which remind us of the power of God's hand in nature:
"He lays down snow like fleece, scatters frost like ashes.
He tosses down hail like crumbs- who can endure His icy cold?
He issues a command-it melts them; He breathes-the waters flow."

Even strengthened by Psalm 147, there are ramifications for all this snow.  So first, please thank William Taylor and Merrill Dorph for all their efforts to keep our synagogue building open and available to us over Shabbat.

*Friday, February 14, 7:30 a.m. AKSE has CANCELLED their morning minyan on account of the weather.

*Friday, February 14, 8 p.m. LOVE-THEMED FRIDAY NIGHT SHABBAT Services.  Every woman will be rewarded with roses and Hershey’s chocolate kisses for attending services tonight.  My sermon will explore love texts in our Scripture and Liturgy.  Every couple will be given their own copy of Song and Songs, to read to each other in the privacy of their own homes, following services. (We are obviously doing our best to be timely, topical and incentivize your Shabbat service attendance, so come and partake).

*Saturday, February 15, 9:30 a.m. Shabbat services. (10:15 a.m. Torah service).  Sermon topic: Parshat Ki Tissa: Don’t Destroy Us! What Would the Neighbors Say?

*Sunday, February 16, 9 a.m. Morning Minyan – No Hebrew School so please help us make a minyan.

11 a.m. George Rosenberg Funeral, Chapel.

7 p.m.  Shiva for George Rosenberg at the Olicker residence, 6 Ross Ct., Wilmington, 19810.  Shiva will be held Sunday through Tuesday evenings, at 7 p.m.

*Monday, February 17, LATE 9 a.m. service for President’s Day.

Please brave the elements and help us make up minyanim during our inclement weather.  Come to Congregation Beth Shalom, where it’s always warm inside.

Warmly,

Rabbi Michael 

Bribery, Pure and Simple

Oh no! Cantor Elisa is not well enough to sing tonight.

It’s time for BRIBERY!

Tonight’s Shabbat-in-Sochi Russian-themed Happy Hour includes:

Pieroggis w/sour cream, Blintzes w/sour cream, Russian Borscht with … yes sour cream, and Vodka (not w/sour cream but oj is available). 

During Shabbat services, we will pay homage to the 50^th anniversary of the British Invasion when the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, by asking all attendees to please dress in the red, white and blue of the Union Jack. 

Adon Olam will be set to a very sing-a-able Beatles’ classic.

Our February birthday honorees and their friends will be treated to chocolate mousse birthday cake as an added incentive for attending tonight.

Bribery, pure and simple.  But, hey, I need you.

See you tonight.  Shabbat in Sochi Happy Hour begins at 6 pm.  Kabbalat Shabbat services begin at 6:30 p.m.

1.                             до свидания

do svidaniya – in honor of the Sotchi Olympics--

(Cheerio) – in honor of the British Invasion--

Rabbi Michael

SHABBAT IN SOCHI

Dear Haverim:

*Friday, January 7, 2014, 6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Services (6 pm, Olympian Happy Hour). With Cantor Elisa and I both shaking off our respective flu viruses, we are in even greater need for your energy and ruach to help carry us through services tonight. My sermon topic: SHABBAT IN SOCHI. I’ve got the inside track on what your life would look like if you were a Shomer Shabbat Jew traveling to Sochi for the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics, and you might be very surprised when you find out what they’ve got planned. This is also FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY SHABBAT. If you have a birthday in February and would like a special blessing from the clergy, plus a rousing rendition of Yom Hooledet Sameach, please come and celebrate with us!

*Saturday, January 8, 2014, 9:30 a.m. MEN’S CLUB SHABBAT. By that title you might wrongly thing this Shabbat is just for Men. Ha Ha. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is the Shabbat when the Men’s Club says, “ladies (and clergy) sit back and relax. We are going to lead the service. Feed you. Take care of you.” This is your Men’s Club saying, “You deserve a break today, so get up and get away to …to the CBS Men’s Club Shabbat.” You will be impressed to see what our men have cooked up both on and off the bima. And bravo to our ladies for an amazing Sisterhood Shabbat last week. I could get used to this! Please join us.

Shabbat shalom!

Rabbi Michael