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Upcoming Etz Chaim Events
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THIS Saturday Night!!!
February 10th
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February 25th
Youth Hamantaschen Baking & Chesed Project
February 28th
Purim Carnival
March 4th
JRA &
Purim Program at Federation - 12:30 pm
March 9th
Community Friday Night Dinner
with
Scholar-in-Residence, Rabbi Alex Israel
March 13th
Sisterhood Book Club Meeting
March 20th
Men's Club "Man's Seder"
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Kiddush Sponsor
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Kiddush this week is sponsored by the
Etz Chaim Community
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Rabbi's Message
Parshat Mishpatim
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There is a well known phrase that embodies Jewish commitment. "Na'aseh V'Nishmah." This means that Bnai Yisrael said: "We will do and we will listen." Those fateful words are found in this week's Parsha. (The easy way to remember this is that it is in Chapter 24, verse 7 - meaning that the commitment has to be 24/7).
Offhand, it would seem that this phrase is out of place and should be found in (last week's) Parshat Yitro when we read of the Divine Revelation at Mount Sinai. We find it instead at the end of Mishpatim - the portion that deals with a slew of technical laws - in a second episode or accounting of the Revelation.
The placement and context of this chapter is vital to our understanding of Torah and Hashem. It is not enough to have fireworks and light shows and thunder with the giving of the Torah. A life of Torah means having a life of laws and Halacha and structure. The Chumash purposely inserted these dozens of Mishpatim in between the two "Revelations" to teach us what accepting the Torah really entails. It is not enough to just feel good about Hashem and Judaism without actually practicing Judaism. The Mishpatim are as important as the experience of Divine Revelation.
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Friday Night Raffle
THIS Friday, February 9th
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THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, February 9th!
New Friday Night Raffle
You must be in Shul to win!
This Week's Prize:
A New Drone!
Complete with WiFi, HD camera and 2 extra batteries for
long-flying time!
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New Tuesday Night Class with
Rabbi Klibanoff
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Almost every Tuesday evening for the last four and half years, a group of dedicated Shiur goers have met to study Gemara.
We have just completed Masechet Sotah and we will now begin our next stage of Talmud. We will study the tenth chapter of Pesachim known as "Arvei Pesachim." This deals with all the laws related to the Pesach Seder.
Now is the time to join our Chevra as we begin a new Shiur. One need not have any prior Talmud experience and I promise that you will greatly benefit from the class.
So, come join us on Tuesday evenings after Davening and you will never look back.
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Havdalah in Pajamas
THIS Saturday Night, February 10th
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Please join us for this fun family event!
Saturday night, February 10
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Havdalah with Rabbi Klibanoff
Dinner
Dessert
Crafts for Kids
Please RSVP to Jessica Wise by February 8th
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Purim Card Fundraiser
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Mishloach Manot Fundraiser
With Purim around the corner, now is
the time to sign up for our
Mishloach Manot Fundrasier, and be included in the greetings that go with the Purim baskets sent to every
Etz Chaim member.
The deadline to be included in the Card is February 9th
If you don't have your login code, which was sent last week, no problem! You can request it on the sign-up page.
If you don't remember whether you signed up or not, give it a try.
The system will not let you sign up twice.
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Youth Hamantaschen Baking &
Chesed Project
February 25th
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Pre-Passover Chesed Program with Seniors at Federation Housing
Sunday, March 4, 2018
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Save the Date!
Sunday, March 4, 12:30 pm
Pre-Passover Chesed program with the Seniors at Federation Housing
Crafts, singing, memories, refreshments
Bring the kids!
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Etz Chaim's Community
Friday Night Dinner & Women's Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday Night, March 9th
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Please join us for our
Community
Friday Night Dinner &
Women's Kabbalat Shabbat
Scholar-in-Residence,
Rabbi Alex Israel.
Friday Night, March 9th
*Lecture & Dinner Immediately Following Davening*
$36 adults (ages 14 & up)
$18 kids
About Rabbi Israel:
Rabbi Alex Israel teaches at Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies where he serves as Director of Community Education and the Summer Program. He is a popular lecturer at campuses and communities on three continents. In 2013, he published his first book, a commentary to Sefer Melakhim.
Born and raised in London, Rabbi Israel was an active youth leader in Bnei Akiva and was the director of the Sixth Form study centre at LSJS. He moved to Israel in 1991 and gained rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate following several years of study at Yeshivat Har Etzion.
He holds degrees from London School of Economics, the Institute of Education, London, and Bar Ilan University, and
lives in Alon Shevut, Gush Etzion, with his wife Aliza and their four wonderful children. He enjoys running, music and everything to do with contemporary Israel.
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Next Book Club Read
The Indigo Girl
Tuesday, March 13th
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Next Book Club Meeting
Tuesday, March 13th
The Indigo Girl
by Natasha Boyd
A historical fiction account of how a teenage girl produced indigo dye, which became one of the largest exports out of South Carolina, an export that laid the foundation for the incredible wealth of several Southern families who still live on today.
Set between 1739 & 1744, based on the life of
Eliza Lucas.
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Etz Chaim Men's Club "
Man's Seder"
Tuesday, March 20th
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Join us March 20th for our Annual Men's Club Man's Seder
More Details Coming Soon!
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NORPAC Mission to Washington
Wednesday, April 25th
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Mission to Washington
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
NORPAC's Mission to Washington is an annual event where we bring close to a thousand citizen activists to Washington, DC, in order to advocate for a stronger U.S.-Israel relationship with Members of Congress.
Mission attendees are bused (or can use their own transportation) to Washington in the morning, and arrive at the Warner Theatre where they attend a brief plenary session with presentations by Congressional leadership. Afterwards, individuals converge to their assigned groups - usually of 4 to 6 people - and meet with Members of Congress and their staff to discuss this year's talking points regarding pressing legislation on U.S.-Israeli concerns.
The event wraps up the same day in the early evening, and transportation is provided to get back home.
Contact Eliane Levy at 973-422-1705
for more information.
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| Yiddish Class Wednesday Evenings |
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Updating
Cholim List
Prayer for the Ill
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