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Our Minyan Needs Your Help!
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KIDDUSH
Join us for Kiddush on Shabbat. This is the perfect opportunity for us to experience community and get to know each other better.
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Mazal Tov!
Birthdays & Anniversaries
February 11th - 17th
Reina Stern
Myra London
Loren Wasserman
Hannah Rak
Karen Brady
Sara Ravid
Robert Mohl
Irith Insler
Milton Breit
Audrey Altschul
Philip & Judith Gliksman
Gary & Lisa Maier
 Sunday February 12th
Tuesday February 14th
Visiting Scholar Janet DiNardo White 1:00 pm
Thursday Feb 16th
Rabbi's Class Cancelled
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Friday Feb 17th
Bible Study 11:30 am
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Some of you may recall, with great fondness, last year's Purim Torah! In it I concocted a fictitious religious institution,
The Torishaymo Yadi Apostolic Church
(buying our air rights, giving us 4 berths along the Hudson, etc.)
You should know that
Torishaymo Yadi was not invented out of thin air: it is a phrase found in tomorrow morning's Torah reading! It is poetic, Biblical Hebrew--part of the song of gratitude and victory that Moses and the Israelites sing after the Egyptian are drowned in the Sea of Reeds. This song gives this Shabbat its special name,
Shabbat Shira (Shabbat of Song),
Torishaymo Yadi
means "My hand will subdue them."
Tu B'Shvat
Since to night/tomorrow is T"U b'Shvat, I thought I would begin with Masorti's Newlsetter, highlighting this minor rabbinic holiday-and a few other items:
 A beautiful way to celebrate: Planting Trees
Planting trees is especially relevant for Masorti, both here and in Israel. We are working together to help the Movement in Israel grow--our roots are deepening, we are sending out shoots and branches throughout the Land. We are now over
250,000 strong and growing stronger every day with your help!
Another beautiful way to celebrate: a Tu B'Shvat Seder
A sweet custom: eating fruits and the Shivat Haminim, the seven species with which Israel is said to be blessed:
wheat, barley, pomegranates, dates, figs, grapes and olives.)
Drinking red and then white wine (or juice) may also be a part of the Seder, symbolizing us moving from darkness to light.
Here is the blessing for the fruits of the trees for those who don't (yet) read Hebrew:
Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha'Olam borei pri ha-aitz.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.
 Closing Thoughts: Barbara Kavadias
Nothing would make me happier than to report that the egalitarian prayer space at the Kotel--promised, voted upon and agreed to by the Israeli Cabinet--is now a reality. Sadly, I cannot. And what's worse, there is new legislation, proposed by Shas, that would make non-Orthodox prayer at the Kotel a crime.
How have we come to this? A leadership that cares more about its position than about doing what is right? A leadership vacuum in which Shas and others of their ilk will see how much they can get away with? One thing is absolutely clear; we cannot
acquiesce and must become even more assertive in defending, and insisting upon our rights.
Over 30,000 of us have sent emails to the prime minister and other government leaders. We must keep up the pressure. If you've sent your email, thank you! If you haven't there is still time. Please do raise your voice...for us, for our children and for our grandchildren.
Finally, I wish you and your family a happy Tu B'Shvat--plant a tree, taste a new fruit, raise a glass of wine (or juice) and think about all the ways you might get involved this year in helping Masorti grow!
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Ring in the new year of the trees, even when it's the middle of winter
On Tu B'Shevat, recalling how planting trees in the Civilian Conservation Corps helped immigrants' children become Americans
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And this is a great way to begin today's "regular" shab sha! News. Hope this spirit carries over into Shabbat and stays with you:
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AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, DC
March 26, 27, 28
I have purchased a block of registrations and it would be my pleasure to have you join me! So please contact me...
And if you can't see your way to the Conference in DC,
how about making your way to:
Congregation Bnai Yeshurun
641 West Englewood Avenue
Teaneck, New Jersey 07666
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Israel News
As one of my friends, a prominent Israeli lawyer put, this legislation "is legalized stealing":
Well, this sure is a creative way to interpret the new settlement law passed by the Knesset! Read on:
How one group of settlers became a potent political force-even though some are too young to vote
I am with the Israeli Police on this one. I think they acted nobly and respectfully, and that it was the settlers who defiled/desecrated the synagogue. The settlers should have made their last stand elsewhere in Amona. kas
Some of the neighborhoods you think of as being in the New City of Jerusalem are really built on land conquered in 1967
Some facts about most of Israel's settlements (the author had great credentials; the publicatiion is right-wing):
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This article sheds some light on what Palestinians really think about and how they see any non-Muslims/non-Palestinians. (The article also shows the convoluted semantic gymnastics used by the Palestinians: Palestinian police enforcing a PA decision about real estate in Hevron/Hebron, but it's in the occupied West Bank!) :
Do the Jewish people have legal 'rights of entry, sojourn, and settlement' to the land of Israel?
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Antisemitism
When I saw this op-ed headline, I was sure it was referring to the anti-Semitism that would be unleashed by Israel's provocative new settlement annexation/legalization law. No, it's about how Israel has to balance and carefully pick its fights over holocaust complicity, denial, and taking a stand anti-Semitism/anti-Semites.
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Israel and Britain
Hmmm...this is an interesting perspective:
It's always a boost to read an editorial like this one-especially in a British publication!
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Hamas & Terrorism
I'm not shedding any tears for him:
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China and the Middle East
China has been working, with Israel and producing practical mutual benefits for thirty years. Both countries have an entirely pragmatic approach to this cooperation.
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Pop Culture
From family correspondences to scholarly writing and paintings, the LOC's archive is a trove of Freud's life
The Israel Prize-winning Hebrew University scholar, a native of Iowa, tackles Tamil in his new book
Sefaria, a website that aims to put the nearly infinite Jewish canon online for free, has published an acclaimed translation of the Talmud in English.
The Los Angeles millennials behind Challah Hub take their passion to the streets and mobile platforms
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Traditional. Egalitarian. Modern...Masorti
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Join Masorti's Mission to HELP in Israel
F
ebruary 19th, 2017 - February 27th, 2017
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H
ear from rabbis and congregants who sustain our kehillot
E
xplore Masorti programs; see how they make a difference
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earn about the challenges to religious pluralism
P
ray with Women of the Wall on Rosh Hodesh Adar
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Exciting and urgent news! The Masorti Foundation is organizing a mission to Israel in support of our Masorti Movement rabbis, lay leaders and congregants.
We will stand with our Masorti brothers and sisters in Israel to protect our core values: religious freedom, pluralism and the right to observe Masorti traditions honored all around the world. These values are being challenged today by those who will not tolerate--and will seek to discriminate against--all forms of observance other than orthodox.
The purpose of the mission is recruit and develop champions to be ambassadors for Masorti in their communities so together, we can make change and help create the Israel we want for our children, our grandchildren and ourselves. We know this is short notice and you will need to decide quickly if you want to go or if you want to recruit someone from your community, but we believe that the time is now for us to go.
Please join us. Stand with us!
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Protect Masorti Rights
Masorti stands for tradition. It also stands for inclusion, religious freedom and modernity. Our rights in Israel are being challenged. Raise your voice in Israel. For Israel. Stand
with
Israel...in
Israel.
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Meet Knesset Members
On our mission, you will meet with Knesset members, with Executive Director, YIzhar Hess, with the director of Jewish Pluralislm Watch, with mayors, rabbis and lay leaders. Get behind the scenes. Deepen your understanding. And help Masorti take action to assert our rights.
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Visit Kehillah Moriah
This oldest Masorti/Conservative kehillah in Israel was badly damaged by the fires in November. But with your help, the kehilla is rebuilding and restoring. Meet with congregants and the rabbi and learn first hand how important it is to stand with Masorti.
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Ganze Megillah: Avner Moriah
In celebration of Purim, The Laurie M. Tisch Gallery is pleased to exhibit the stunning, large-scale illuminated Scroll of Esther created by the well-known Israeli painter Avner Moriah. This Scroll of Esther tells the ancient story by mixing Persian, Indian, and Islamic art miniature style paintings with Italian Renaissance styling and contemporary humor, politics and sensibilities.
Ganze Megillah (Yiddish for "The Whole Story") will feature 18 framed illuminated manuscript on parchment, along with process drawings and video of the artists.
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Creative Action Network
Creative Action Network and the Anti-Defamation League are teaming up to invite artists to illustrate refugee stories from across time and geography. Maybe your family fled pogroms in Eastern Europe, from Nazism, from political oppression in Iran or the Soviet Union. Maybe you know someone who fled Uganda or other countries that persecute members of the LGBT community, maybe you are concerned about how many today have to flee extreme violence and persecution. No matter where refugees came from or their reason for fleeing, each story is unique--but connected. We hope to build a collection of pieces that rise above the noise and hateful rhetoric by humanizing the refugee experience.
Crowdsourced, creative campaigns that enlist artist and designers to create work around different ideas and causes. All designs that meet the requirements in their respective creative briefs will be published and made available for sale as prints and other merchandise. Artists retain ownership of their work but grant us permission to promote, license and sell it in exchange for 40% of the proceeds.
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TORAH Page 399 HAFTARAH Page 424
God leads the Israelites out of Egypt, appearing as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The Egyptians pursue the Israelites to the shore of the Sea of Reeds and appear to have them cornered. The sea parts for the Israelites, who cross through on dry land, but the waters crash down upon Pharaoh's army. Having been saved by God, the Children of Israel break into a song of praise, acclaiming God's victory and affirming their faith in God. Miriam, Moses' sister, leads the women in song and dance. (This shabbat derives its name, Shabbat Shira, from these songs.)
The Israelites wander for three days without fresh water. They come to Marah and encounter bitter water there. God tells Moses to throw a branch into the water and it becomes potable. Subsequently the Israelites complain that they want meat to eat. God sends quail in excessive quantities, and in the morning the Israelites are provided with manna, which will sustain them throughout their years in the wilderness. As the manna does not keep overnight, the people need to gather manna each day, but miraculously, the double portion gathered on Friday remains fresh through Shabbat. At Refidim the Israelites again complain about the lack of fresh water. Moses cries out to God, who tells him to take his rod and strike a rock to produce water.
While at Refidim, the Amalekites attack the Children of Israel. Joshua recruits an army to launch a counter-attack. Moses ascends a hilltop and while he keeps his hands aloft, the tide of battle favors the Israelites. As Moses tires, Aaron and Hur support his arms until the Israelites are victorious.
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