Kaddish for Amb. Stevens & Choose Life: Lose Weight!

Dear Haverim,


Whether you took a Shabbat hiatus or not during the summer, it’s time to come home to Congregation Beth Shalom, and why not experience the intimacy of a Shabbat service before we all come together for High Holy Days, beginning this Sunday evening?

· This Friday, September 14, 8:00 p.m., join us for a Second Friday of the Month Late Service, where we reintroduce all the melodies you grew up with at Beth Shalom (and perhaps a few new ones too). Our Sermon Topic Theme will be:

A Time for Memories,

 and we are indebted to Marv Cytron for his leadership. A CBS Hebrew School-sponsored good ol’ fashion ice cream social will follow. As a united American family we will say Mourner’s Kaddish for Ambassador Chris Stevens, and the other members of the Consulate Staff in Ben Gazi, Libya who lost their lives in the service of our country on September 11th.

· This Saturday, September 15, services begin at 9:30 a.m. My sermon topic will be:

Nitzavim: CHOOSE LIFE! (Lose Weight)

· This Sunday, September 16, no Hebrew School (so please help make a minyan at 9 a.m.). Erev Rosh Hashana services beginning after dinner, at 8 p.m.

Be moved. Be improved. Attend Shabbat services at Beth Shalom.

Shabbat Shalom! L’shana tova!

Rabbi Michael

Free Shabbat Dinner + Peanut's View of Reward & Punishment

Dear Chaverim:


*Friday night, 5:30 p.m. FREE BBQ Shabbos dinner followed by Shabbat Under the Stars, 6:30 p.m., JCC Picnic Grounds, 101 Garden of Eden Way, Talleyville. (No services at 1801 Baynard). Guitar music, sedra scenes. Please bring unaffiliated friends who are shul shopping.

*Saturday morning, 9:30 a.m., at CBS. Amanda and Benjamin Ebner b'nei mitzvah and guest darshanim: "Our Israeli B'nei Mitzvah" plus a little from Rabbi Michael, on

Ki Tavo: A Peanut's View on Reward & Punishment.

*Saturday evening, 8:30 p.m., Selichot: Gateway to High Holy Days. Havdalah, Nasherei, Charlie-Rose'esque Panel Discussion with President Karin Karel, Cantor Elisa and Rabbi Michael hosted by former newscaster Michael Sigman. Topic: Our Vision for CBS. Selichot services to follow.

*Sunday morning, 9 a.m., Open House including start of Hebrew School, Kugelmania, 1:30 p.m. - first-ever joint AKSE-CBS Pre-High Holy Day Cemetery Visit and Program, Jewish Community Cemetery on Foulk Rd.

Be moved. Have fun. Bring in the High Holy Days at CBS.

Shabbat shalom!

Rabbi Michael

Labor on the Bimah + Kindness to Animals Legislation

Dear Haverim:

     *This Friday, August 31, 6:30 p.m. services will be mindful of Labor Day.  My Sermon Topic will be:

Labor on the Bima: Insights from the Torah. 

I will be focusing on the rights of restaurant employees, immigrant workers and advances in Hegsher Tsedek, which is the Conservative Movement’s efforts to add another layer to labeling meat kosher, which would include standards involving how the employees who process the kosher food are treated.

        *This Saturday, September 1, 9:30 a.m., my d’var Torah will be Ki Tetzei: (Tsa’ar Baa’lei Hayim) Kindness to Animals legislation, from shooing away mother birds to not yoking an ox with a donkey.  I will be exploring modern applications as well as asking medieval rabbinic questions like: are we doing this for the animal or we doing this for our own moral development?

        (Note later 9 a.m. service on Monday, Labor Day, September 3).

        Be relevant. Stay informed.  Attend Shabbat services at Congregation Beth Shalom.

        Shabbat shalom!

        Rabbi Michael

Shabbat Mincha correction

Dear Haverim:




Correction: Shabbat Mincha services will begin this Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. (not 5 p.m.)



My apologies for the mistake.



Shabbat shalom,



Rabbi Michael

Helpful Marriage Hints & Torah take on Paul Ryan Veep Nomination

Dear Haverim,

This week, Shabbat services will be held:

*Friday, 6:30 p.m., (happy hour 6-6:20 pm), featuring my drash:

Helpful Hints I’ve Learned After 18 Years of Marriage.

*Saturday, 9:30 a.m., my drash will be:

Tsedek,Tsedek Tirdof–“Justice,Justice Thou Shalt Pursue”     In Light of the Paul Ryan Veep Nomination.

Note: There will be an additional Shabbat Mincha service at 5 p.m., in which David Alonzo will serve as shaliach tsibor, as he is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.

Stay informed, seek relevancy, be moved, attend Shabbat services at Congregation Beth Shalom.

 

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Michael

Hava Nagila @ Olympics + Is it Kosher & Why Do I Care?

Dear Friends,

       It’s great to be back home in the First State after several family reunions, reconnecting with old friends, and attending a wonderful wedding in Southern California.  This marks my first Shabbat working with our newly-hired Education Director/Hazzan, fellow Californian Cantor Elisa Abrams.  Please come and celebrate Shabbat with us.

        Friday, August 17, 6:30 p.m., (happy hour 6 p.m.).  My sermon topic will be:

 Hava Nagila at the Olympics !

      Saturday, August 18, 9:30 a.m., we are celebrating the bat mitzvah anniversary of our outgoing Education Director, Dina Lipshultz.  She will be chanting haftarah to mark the occasion, and she and Alan will be sponsoring Kiddush lunch.  We will also be beginning a tradition of integrating youth into our cadre of Shabbat Torah readings.  My sermon topic will be:

 Parashat Re’eh: Is it Kosher and Why Should I Care?

      Be relevant. Stay informed. Be moved. Celebrate Shabbat at Congregation Beth Shalom.

        Shabbat shalom!

        Rabbi Michael

Jews of the Olympics/Jews of Aleppo: Looking at Current Events through a Historical Lense

Dear Chaverim,

     During the summer months it becomes more challenging to attract people to Shabbat services, so I ask you to make an extra effort to come if you are in town, knowing that your presence makes a difference.

·        Tonight, July 27, 6:30 p.m. (happy hour begins at 6 p.m.).  Sermonic topic: Jews of the Olympics & Jews of Aleppo: Looking at Current Events Through the Lens of History.

·        Tomorrow, July 28, 9:30 a.m.  Sermonic topic:

Making Tisha B’Av Meaningful TODAY

·        Tomorrow evening, July 28, 9 p.m. Erev Tisha B’Av services.  The ark is opened, bereft of our Torah, the chapel is lit with yarhzeit candles, we listen to congregants chant from Eicheh (the Book of Lamentations) and remember the destruction of the Temple some 2,000 years ago. Twenty-four fast begins at sundown.

·         Sunday morning, July 29, 9 a.m. Tisha B’ Av services with a special Torah and Haftarah service to make this sad day.

Note: During Shabbat services, you will be able to greet Cantor Elisa Abrams (and her visiting mother, Vicky) for the first time since she accepted our new position as Cantor/Education Director -- Yet another reason to come to Shabbat services.  Also, beginning on Monday, I am going to take a two-week opportunity to visit my parents and celebrate a wedding in Southern California.  Cantor Elisa begins on August 1^st. Please make a special effort to attend her first solo service, Shabbat under the Stars, next Friday night, 6:30 pm., at the JCC Picnic Area. Merrill is preparing a meat bbq Shabbat dinner.  Mark your calendars now.