Congregation Etz Chaim
1 Lafayette Drive
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 597-1655
office@etzchaimnj.com

E. Samuel Klibanoff, Rabbi

March 16, 2019 | 9 Adar II 5779
Parshat Vayikra
Parshat Zachor *
Friday
6:46 pm | Candle Lighting
6:50 pm | Mincha

Shabbat Day
8:30 am | Shiur
9:00 am | Shacharit
9:45 am | Teen Minyan
10:07 am | Z'man Kriat Shema
6:45 pm | Mincha
7:45 pm | Shabbat Ends
Weekday Services
March 17 - 22

Shacharit
8:30 am | Sunday
6:45 am | Mon | Tues | Fri

Mincha/Ma'ariv
6:55 pm | Sun | Mon | Tues | Thurs


*There is a biblical obligation for everyone to hear Parshat Zachor, therefore there will be a second reading after the conclusion of services.
PURIM SCHEDULE 5779


Sunday| March 17 | 10 am - 12:15 pm
ETZ CHAIM PURIM CARNIVAL!
BLOW-UP RIDES, CARNIVAL GAMES, FACE PAINTING, PHOTO BOOTH, PRIZE-LOADED RAFFLE!

Monday | March 18 | 7:15 pm
PURIM FESTIVITIES WITH SENIORS!
*ALL ADULTS AND CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND
Federation Plaza
750 Northfield Ave.
West Orange

Wednesday | March 20
5:49 am | Fast of Esther begins 
6:30 am | Shacharit/Selichot 
6:45 pm | Mincha
7:40 pm | Ma'ariv followed by Megillah 

Thursday | March 21 
6:30 am  | Shacharit followed by Megillah
10:00 am| 2nd Megillah Reading
6:55 pm  | Mincha/Maariv 

*If anyone is interested in a later megillah reading, please contact the shul office (973-597-1655) or Rabbi Kapustin at natan@heschel.org.
Special Devar Torah from Erica Brown
Taxes and the Book of Esther
Dr. Erica Brown

Who loves taxes? No one. It seems from the megilla , that King Ahaseuerus didn’t like them either. He wanted to be popular, and popular kings don’t overtax their people. How else are we to explain that when he crowns Esther, he gives everyone a tax break across his vast empire of 127 provinces? “He proclaimed a remission of taxes for the provinces and distributed gifts as befits a king” [2:18]. Perhaps he understood that for those in his extensive empire to celebrate, they would need to feel it in their wallets. It was an ancient stimulus package, so to speak. Rashi on this verse explains the remission in this very way: “In her honor, he released them from the tax that was levied upon them.”

The problem here is that in the very verse, the king also made a lavish banquet in Esther’s honor, following his last banquet a chapter earlier that lasted 187 days. While the people may have rejoiced at the tax break, Ahasuerus’ accountant was likely scratching his head. Who was going to pay for all of this schmooze and booze?

The Jews of this book were clearly tax payers because when Haman made his request to get rid of them, he had to fill the kings coffers with the 10,000 talents of silver to make up for the revenue generated through Jewish taxation. The treasury would suffer their loss and had to be supplemented for Haman to go through with his plan.

When Haman was hanged with his evil brood and the Jews triumphed, Mordechai became vizier to the king, and the king reinstated taxes. “King Ahaseurus imposed tribute on the mainland and the islands.” Because taxes appear in the very last chapter of Esther, one scholar in the Talmud concludes that the king was “wicked from beginning to end.” Some have the custom to boo and hiss in shul when this verse is read, the same way that people make noise when Haman’s name is mentioned. Other commentaries connect Mordechai’s rise to the reinstatement of taxes. Mordechai rose to power precisely because he helped his own people while he stabilized the economy.

Robert Half, the famous founder of a job agency, said of taxes, “ People try to live within their income so they can afford to pay taxes to a government that can't live within its income. ” Mordechai’s contribution to the King’s empire was to help the king live within his means, a good message before Purim and tax season!

Happy Purim Everyone!


Kiddush this week is sponsored by the Etz Chaim Community
Upcoming Etz Chaim Events

Shabbat | March 23 | 10:15 am
Special Kids Services (Grades 2-6)

Sunday | March 17 | 10:00 am
Etz Chaim Purim Carnival

Monday | March 18 | 7:15 pm
Purim Festivities with Seniors

VIEW THE COMMUNITY EVENTS SECTION FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING
Monday | March 18 | 7:15 pm
Purim Festivities with Seniors

Wednesday | March 20
Fast of Esther - Purim begins

Shabbat | March 23
Rav Meir Goldvicht- Scholar in Residence

Shabbat | March 30
Dr. Erica Brown- Scholar in Residence

Saturday | March 30 | 9 pm
NJ Jewish Film Festival: Etz Chaim Sponsored Film

Tuesday | April 2
Sisterhood Book Club

Wednesday | April 3 | 7:30 pm
Men's Club: Fourth Annual "Man's Seder"

Shabbat | April 6
Yesh Tikvah Shabbat
19th Annual NJ Jewish Film Festival: Etz Chaim Sponsored Films
Double Feature ( Travelogue Tel Aviv & The Unorthodox ) | March 30 | $10 (special price)
*Contact the shul office to register by Wednesday, March 20th.
Saturday | March 30 | 9:00 pm
JCC MetroWest
Maurice Levin Theatre
760 Northfield Ave.
West Orange, NJ 07052
Sisterhood Book Club:
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Tuesday | April 2
Time and Location TBA

Men's Club: Fourth Annual "Man's Seder"
Wednesday | April 3 | 7:30 pm
Congregation Etz Chaim
1 Lafayette Drive
Livingston, NJ
Community Events
19th Annual NJ Jewish Film Festival
March 27 - April 7
JCC MetroWest
Maurice Levin Theatre
760 Northfield Ave.
West Orange, NJ 07052
Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest Presents:
CommUNITY Mitzvah Day

A DAY FILLED WITH HANDS-ON VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES FOR ALL AGES AND STAGES, TAKING PLACE ALL OVER GREATER METROWEST!
Sunday | April 7
Parshat Hashavua (Women)
Tuesday | 10:30 am

Talmud Shiur - Arvei Pesachim
Tuesday Evening | After Davening

Yiddish Class
Monday Evening | After Davening
Zumba at Etz Chaim
Monday | Wednesday | Thursday

Updating Cholim List
To add or remove a name from the list, please contact SHELLY PARADIS.
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