CONGREGATION AM HAYAMamhayam.org/2013January.pdf · 1 HAMIGDALOR CONGREGATION AM HAYAM 4839 Market...
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1 HAMIGDALOR CONGREGATION AM HAYAM 4839 Market Street, Unit C, Ventura, Ca. 93003 Phone (805) 644-2899 Fax (805) 644-2887 Website: www.amhayam.org From The Rabbi’s Study—January 2013 Continued next page I grew up always hearing some version of the following story around the time of Tu B’Shevat: The gardener set out to plant several trees for the Rabbi. Mit in drinen—in the middle of everything, they heard a great tumult arising from the city. Hundreds, if not more, were making their way to the surrounding fields and farms. Those approaching were joyous; dancing their way, their voices rang with praise, their faces lifted heavenward. They exclaimed: “Come quickly! The Messiah has arrived. Join us as we go out to greet the Messiah. The gardener dropped his hoe, but the rabbi laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder and bade him to wait. “How dare you keep me from the Messiah!” the gardener cried, his voice a mixture of anger, desperation and despair. The rabbi picked up the hoe and handed it to his friend, the gardener. Messiahs come and go,” he responded gently, “but the task of planting never ceases.” Thus Rabbi Nathan reminds us: If you are planting a tree, and they come to you declaring, “Come and greet the Messiah,” first plant the tree and then go. Redemption is the very act of planting. This story, told on Tu B’Shevat, reminds us how important the act of planting trees is in Jewish tradition, and so Tu B’Shevat, “the Jewish Arbor Day,” may be a “minor” holy day in that we do not refrain from work to go to services, but it embraces major concerns: our care for the earth has messianic implications! This connection has surely been enhanced with the emergence of Zionism and the return of our people to our homeland in Eretz Yisrael. Our land has been that precious to us! Indeed, with the establishment of the Jewish National Fund (JNF), reclaiming the actual land has been a top priority for us. In the early decades of Zionism, even the poorest of Jews had a pushke (tzedakah box) for the JNF and gave on special occasions to the JNF to plant trees in honor of some occasion or in memory of our dearly departed, traditions that continue to this day. Such interpretations and uses of the story are reasonable and honorable readings. But I wish to focus for a moment not on the plant- ing of the tree but of the notion of the perception of the townspeople in the story that the Messiah arrived at long last. Dr. David Ruder- man (University of Pennsylvania) recently gave a fascinating lecture on the history of messiahs in Judaism. He spoke of those who pretended to be the Messiah, and the disappointment that followed their failure. Indeed, the history of messianism in Judaism is the history of failure. We still wait. Yet the perception of people like those in the story is not entirely amiss. We can note messianic gestures, and messianic aspirations, even among those who cannot lay claim to the title Messiah. In the Talmud, Samuel teaches that the Messiah will be the one who lib- erates Israel from the yoke of the nations; that is, from being ruled by others. Similarly, in his novel, The Days of Simon Stern, Arthur Cohen creates a character who seeks to become a modern Messiah by saving the doomed Jews of Eastern Europe. Then, too, Theo- dore Herzl was, even in his lifetime, hailed by some as a modern Messiah. The task of a Messiah is to save, to redeem, to uplift the lowly, to humble the proud. None of those tasks, on a small scale, is beyond our capacities. We can undertake to be everyday Messiahs, quotidian saviors. In the epilogue to the story, Rabbi Nathan acknowledg- es this by reminding us that even small acts like that of planting a tree, are redemptive. In an age of energy dependence and global warming any act that conserves important human resources or extends the life of our planet, is surely redemptive. But so are the small acts of graciousness and kindness that we might do for each other or for others. "To believe in the heroic," stated Disraeli, "makes us heroes." Perhaps the most important part of messianism is the faith that messian- ism is real—not only ultimately in history but daily in our lives. Maimonides writes that the Messiah will not overturn the order of nature but will, rather, bring international understanding and peace. The Messiah, as understood by Samuel in the Talmud, is not superhu- man, just an exemplar of humanity. Such a noble vision should inspire us all. BEING A MESSIAH
Transcript of CONGREGATION AM HAYAMamhayam.org/2013January.pdf · 1 HAMIGDALOR CONGREGATION AM HAYAM 4839 Market...
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HAMIGDALOR
CONGREGATION AM HAYAM
4839 Market Street, Unit C, Ventura, Ca. 93003 Phone (805) 644-2899 Fax (805) 644-2887
Website: www.amhayam.org
From The Rabbi’s Study—January 2013
Continued next page
I grew up always hearing some version of the following story around the time of Tu B’Shevat:
The gardener set out to plant several trees for the Rabbi. Mit in drinen—in the middle of everything, they heard a great tumult arising from the city. Hundreds, if not more, were making their way to the surrounding fields and farms.
Those approaching were joyous; dancing their way, their voices rang with praise, their faces lifted heavenward. They exclaimed: “Come quickly! The Messiah has arrived. Join us as we go out to greet the Messiah.
The gardener dropped his hoe, but the rabbi laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder and bade him to wait. “How dare you keep me from the Messiah!” the gardener cried, his voice a mixture of anger, desperation and despair.
The rabbi picked up the hoe and handed it to his friend, the gardener. Messiahs come and go,” he responded gently, “but the task of planting never ceases.”
Thus Rabbi Nathan reminds us: If you are planting a tree, and they come to you declaring, “Come and greet the Messiah,” first plant the tree and then go. Redemption is the very act of planting.
This story, told on Tu B’Shevat, reminds us how important the act of planting trees is in Jewish tradition, and so Tu B’Shevat, “the Jewish Arbor Day,” may be a “minor” holy day in that we do not refrain from work to go to services, but it embraces major concerns: our care for the earth has messianic implications! This connection has surely been enhanced with the emergence of Zionism and the return of our people to our homeland in Eretz Yisrael. Our land has been that precious to us!
Indeed, with the establishment of the Jewish National Fund (JNF), reclaiming the actual land has been a top priority for us. In the early decades of Zionism, even the poorest of Jews had a pushke (tzedakah box) for the JNF and gave on special occasions to the JNF to plant trees in honor of some occasion or in memory of our dearly departed, traditions that continue to this day.
Such interpretations and uses of the story are reasonable and honorable readings. But I wish to focus for a moment not on the plant-ing of the tree but of the notion of the perception of the townspeople in the story that the Messiah arrived at long last. Dr. David Ruder-man (University of Pennsylvania) recently gave a fascinating lecture on the history of messiahs in Judaism. He spoke of those who pretended to be the Messiah, and the disappointment that followed their failure. Indeed, the history of messianism in Judaism is the history of failure. We still wait.
Yet the perception of people like those in the story is not entirely amiss. We can note messianic gestures, and messianic aspirations, even among those who cannot lay claim to the title Messiah. In the Talmud, Samuel teaches that the Messiah will be the one who lib-erates Israel from the yoke of the nations; that is, from being ruled by others. Similarly, in his novel, The Days of Simon Stern, Arthur Cohen creates a character who seeks to become a modern Messiah by saving the doomed Jews of Eastern Europe. Then, too, Theo-dore Herzl was, even in his lifetime, hailed by some as a modern Messiah.
The task of a Messiah is to save, to redeem, to uplift the lowly, to humble the proud. None of those tasks, on a small scale, is beyond our capacities. We can undertake to be everyday Messiahs, quotidian saviors. In the epilogue to the story, Rabbi Nathan acknowledg-es this by reminding us that even small acts like that of planting a tree, are redemptive. In an age of energy dependence and global warming any act that conserves important human resources or extends the life of our planet, is surely redemptive. But so are the small acts of graciousness and kindness that we might do for each other or for others.
"To believe in the heroic," stated Disraeli, "makes us heroes." Perhaps the most important part of messianism is the faith that messian-ism is real—not only ultimately in history but daily in our lives. Maimonides writes that the Messiah will not overturn the order of nature but will, rather, bring international understanding and peace. The Messiah, as understood by Samuel in the Talmud, is not superhu-man, just an exemplar of humanity. Such a noble vision should inspire us all.
BEING A MESSIAH
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Mondays With Mort will be, IY"H, on Monday January 28th.
Roz and I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous secular new year.
Question of the Month:
Why must the Kaddish be recited in the presence of a minyan?
The answer can be found at http://www.mondayswithmort.com/doyouknow.htm Also be sure to check out the entire
Mondays with Mort web site at http://www.mondayswithmort.com and the CAH web site at http://www.amhayam.org.
Mort
MONDAYS WITH MORT
GREETINGS:
Welcome to 2013. Sadly we have had to say Goodbye to Ilana Wolfson and Morse Taxon as they have started out on their new
adventure in Erie, PA. There loss will be felt by CAH.
Ilana and Morse and their children helped make a Minyan at our Saturday morning services. So now we need your help to make
sure that we continue to have a Minyan. Please mark down the first Saturday and the third Saturday of every month and attend our
services. You will be doing a Mitzvah.
Another way of helping CAH is by buying scrip. You will find all the places where you can purchase scrip or gift cards. Also Brent’s
Deli and Ventura Kosher Meats.
There is no better way to aid CAH by emailing me your needs. Scrip (gift cards) can be purchased for practically any store that you
would shop at. . For every gift card you purchase, Am HaYam makes a percentage. You spend $25, $50, $100 and you get that same
amount in gift cards and Am HaYam earns money. And you make your checks payable to Congregation Am HaYam. So let me
know your needs by email. Practically anyplace that you can think of I can supply scrip (gift cards). PRACTICALLY ALL GAS
STATIONS; MOST CHAIN RESTAURANTS; MOST FAST FOOD PLACES; MOST SUPERMARKETS; MOST
DEPARTMENT STORES; LOWES; HOME DEPOT; BRENT’S DELI; VENTURA KOSHER MEATS.
Just email me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SUPPORT CONGREGATION AM HAYAM
Shalom, Brenda
"To believe in the heroic," stated Disraeli, "makes us heroes." Perhaps the most important part of messianism is the faith that messianism is real—not only ultimately in history but daily in our lives. Maimonides writes that the Messiah will not overturn the order of nature but will, rather, bring international understanding and peace. The Messiah, as understood by Samuel in the Talmud, is not superhuman, just an exemplar of humanity. Such a noble vision should inspire us all.
May all our words and actions plant the seeds of a better world, so that we might all be worthy to live in a messianic time.
TU B’SHEVAT—SEDER & DESSERT RECEPTION
On Friday, January 18 as we celebrate Tu B’Shevat on Friday, January 18 at 7 p.m. with an original Tu B’Shevat seder followed by Shabbat services at 8 p.m. The Tu B’Shevat seder celebrates the land of Israel, particularly the seven species—wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. We’ll honor each of these agricultural products of the land through history, song, poetry, and—of course—food! After finishing your Shabbat dinners at home, please join us for this special Tu B’Shevat celebration.
Rabbi J.B. Sacks
Message from Brenda Rich
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In Memory Of
Dianne & Jerry Ruthman
In Honor of of CAH
Rabbi J. B. Sacks, the Board of Directors and members of CAH extend our condolences to Maurice Kozak and Family on the loss of Maurice's beloved Father, Abraham Israel Kozak.
May his memory be for a blessing
Ruth Resnick donation IMO Baylis Resnick
Cookie Dimant donation IMO Grandmother Feiga Sobol
Myra Matlin donation IMO Grandmother Sylvia Fogol
We welcome ALL Jewish Veterans of any War, to join our
Bernard I. Becker Post 123
We now meet at
the 3rd Sunday of each month
For information contact:
Quartermaster Bill Green 805 499-4633
Sen. Vice Commander Irv Bergman 805-482-6542
or Commander Joseph Ettenberg 805-484-4181
Donations to C A H
Congregation Am HaYam 4839 Market Street, Unit C
Ventura, CA, 93003
Attention Jewish War Veterans
Ruth Resnick to Joe and Dara Fiss in honor of baby namings of
Becca Hope and Jocelyn Maya Fiss.
Tributes
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January Anniversaries
January Birthday’s
If your birthday or anniversary is not acknowledged please email me at [email protected]
Get Well
Judye Newberger 3
Hilda Kunstadt 10
Rabbi Sacks 13
Arnie Rich 16
Belated Greetings to
Neal & Betty Abramson 12/14
Seymour Barr
Bunny Kaufman
Vivian Barr
Elaine Allen
Ann Jacobs
Dianne Ruthman
Jinx Gates
Lee Rothschild
Roz Resnick
Fred Rosen
Mort Margolis
Milt Rothschild
Stella Berman
Gail Packer
Jerry Cordova
Bob Packer
Murray Kaufman
Sheila Myles
Mort Resnick
Jack Sperber
Tributes
Celebrating Jewish Global Learning Day
Donna Gustafson
Brenda Rich
Sandy Lebman
Lois Lebman
Lee Rothschild
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January 4, Louis Bardfield, Husband of Deanne Bardfield
Sadie Levine, Mother of Vivian D. Barr
Benjamin Dennis, Father of Renee Becker
Leah Dennis, Mother of Renee Becker
Nathan Cushnir, Brother of Robert Cushnir
Hannah Macina, Mother of Elayne Edelstein
Louis Spitalnick, Father of Elayne Edelstein
*Irving Prilook, Father of Elaine Hanig
*Ida Kaufman, Mother of Murray Kaufman
*Tillie Kerbel, Mother of Bunny Kaufman
Roselyn Matlin, Wife of Gene Matlin
Roselyn Matlin, Mother of Myra Matlin
Rose Matlin, Grandmother of Myra Matlin
Rose Matlin, Mother of Gene Matlin
Selig Becker, Grandfather of Eileen Walker
Jerome Wolfson, Brother of Ilana Wolfson
January 18
Ruth Greer, Sister of Morton Margolis
Edward Strasser, Father of Diane Mautner
*Clara Perlmutter, Mother of Buddy Perlmutter
*Esther Finkel, Mother of Roz Resnick and Brenda Rich
Nachama Pugach, Aunt of Leonid Skuratovsky
*Inscribed on Memorial Wall
YAHRZEIT
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Light first candle
January 2013 Tevet/Shevat 5773
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5
NEW YEAR’S
DAY
Happy Birthday
Judy Newberger
EREV SHABBAT
SERVICE 8:00 PM
Candle Lighting
4:42PM
SHABBAT
SERVICE
10:00AM
Shabbat Ends
5:42PM
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
NO MONDAYS
WITH MORT
Happy Birthday
Hilda Kunstadt
Candle Lighting
4:48PM
Shabbat Ends
5:48PM
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Happy Birthday
Rabbi Sacks
Ritual Meeting
9:30 AM
Board meeting
10:30 A M
NO MONDAYS
WITH MORT
Happy Birthday
Arnie Rich
Tu B'Shevat Seder 7 p.m.
EREV SHABBAT
SERVICE 8:00 PM
Candle Lighting
4:55PM
SHABBAT
SERVICE
10:00AM
Shabbat Ends
5:54PM
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Jewish War
Veterans
Meeting
NO MONDAYS
WITH MORT
Ways & Means/
Membership
Meeting 7:00 PM
Candle Lighting
5:02PM
Shabbat Ends
6:00PM
27 28 29 30 31 MONDAYS
WITH MORT
10:30 A. M.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT Brenda Rich
VICE-PRESIDENT—
TREASURER - Lois Lebman
SECRETARY - Donna Gustafson
WAYS & MEANS VP -
MEMBERSHIP VP -
RITUAL VP - Milt Rothschild
Ilana Wolfson
HOUSING VP - Arnie Rich
IMMEDIATE PAST PRES - Brenda Rich
DIRECTORS—ONE YEAR
Janice Aharon-Ezer
Sandy Lebman
DIRECTORS—TWO YEARS
Eva Lowe
Diane Mautner
PAST PRESIDENTS
Mort Resnick
Arnie Fingerhut
Jerry Ruthman
Peter Shack
Brenda Rich
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Kiddushim Elaine Hanig
Gail Packer
Oneg Shabbat Fil Barton
Librarian Donna Gustafson
Programming
Tributes Ann Jacobs
Telephone
Purchasing Lee Rothschild
Yahrzeits Jack Sperber
Migdalor Bev Rosen
Sunshine Ann Sperber
Webmaster Mort Resnick
Publicity
