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Shabbat Kiddush
Join us for Kiddush on Shabbat. This is the perfect opportunity for us to experience community and get to know each other better.
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Simcha Hausman
Nathan Herzig
June Kerman
Naomi Fein
Marcia Sherman
Diana Dasgupta
Anne Sommer
Richard Danoff
Ryan Levi
Andrea Oriel
Suzanne & D. Scott Alenick
Lynda & Alvin Sussman
Doryne & Milton Davis
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday 6/23
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Minyan
9:30 am
Minha, Meal, Maariv & Havdalah 8:00 pm
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Thursday 6/28
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Visiting Scholar David Fine "Judaism and Islam through the Ages" 12:45 pm
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Friday 6/29
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Bible Study 11:30 am
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WISHING MARTHA DAWSON A VERY FOND FAREWELL AND ALL THE BEST FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER IN HER LIFE.
WE OWE MARTHA A TREMENDOUS DEBT FOR ALL THAT SHE HAS DONE FOR OUR CONGREGATION DURING HER TENURE HERE
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Torah Rea
ding
883 Haftarah 892
HUKKAT
The overwhelming emphasis on life that is basic to Judaism can be discerned in the ritual that begins this week's parasha: the use of ashes from a slaughtered red heifer for purification of anyone who has come into contact with the dead.
The thirty-eight years of additional wandering in the wilderness (as a punishment for the lack of resolve to conquer Canaan) are passed over with little detail. Miriam dies in the fortieth year of the journey, and shortly thereafter, following Moses' impatience when he strikes a rock to bring forth water from it rather than speaking to it, Aaron dies as well.
The Israelites now prepare to conquer the land in earnest. Unable to enter directly from the west, they journey south of Edom to avoid conflict with Esau's descendents; they will enter the land from the east. They successfully repulse an attack from the king of Arad. But spiritual weariness and the recurrent complaint about lack of food and water result in divine punishment: fiery serpents whose stings are lethal. Moses fashions a brass serpent that is carried throughout the camp suspended from a pole; whoever looks upon it will recover from the snake bites.
The Israelites journey northward, conquering Emor and Bashan. The Israelites are now in possession of all territory east of the Jordan River from the Arnon to Mount Hermon. They encamp on the east bank of the Jordan, opposite the Moabite town of Jericho.
Tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m.
Jeff Session quoted the New Testament to silence critics of government policy. How different is that the rabbinic dictum Dina d'Mal'chuta Dina (The Law of the Land is the Law)?
Come and find out....
Tomorrow at 8:00 p.m.:
Minha, Seudah Shlishit, Ma'ariv & Havdalah
During Seudah Shlishit we will read:
Iftar at the Israeli Embassy
The Ambassador expressed the hope that Israel would become as much a home to Muslim Israelis, as America has become to American Jews.
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This Week's Yahrzeit Observances
We hope that our weekly listing of yahrzeit observances will serve 2 purposes:
1) To remind those who have the yahrzeit for a second time, much closer to the date of the actual observance
2) To alert friends and acquaintances that someone they know is observing a yahrzeit. We hope that you will show them your support by joining them at our minyanim, and helping to assure that Kaddish can be recited with a minyan
Charlene Stern will be observing yahrzeit for her father Benjamin Kobrin on Friday night, June 22nd |
Mark Laufer will be observing yahrzeit for his mother Sylvia Laufer on Friday night, June 22nd |
Renee Gruenspecht will be observing yahrzeit for her Brother-in-Law Helmuth Gruenspecht on Sunday night, June 24th |
Hilda Reisner will be observing yahrzeit for her Father Michael Bortz on Monday night, June 25th |
Ruth Korn will be observing yahrzeit for her Father Herman Korn on Monday night, June 25th |
David Korn will be observing yahrzeit for his Father Herman Korn on Monday night, June 25th |
Stuart Kimberly will be observing yahrzeit for his Mother Karen Bleiberg on Tuesday night, June 26th |
Sally Seymour will be observing yahrzeit for her Mother Mimi Brender on Tuesday night, June 26th |
Renee Gruenspecht will be observing yahrzeit for her Father Bertold Scheuer on Wednesday night, June 27th
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Important Reads
This is the feature article in the most recent New Yorker Magazine. It's a behind-the-scenes look at the shift in US policy from aiming for a balance between Israel and the Gulf states versus Iran, to trying to bring Iran to its knees. It's a fascinating, if long read, and as far as I can judge, it's a pretty objective account. The one exception to that is a brief paragraph about what is transpiring along Israel's border with Gaza: "As the May 14th ceremony in Jerusalem celebrating the establishment of the new U.S. Embassy got under way, Israeli soldiers were firing on Palestinians who had gathered at the security fence that surrounds the Gaza Strip to protest the occupation. Nearly sixty Palestinians died that day."
I hope you find it as absorbing as I did:
How Donald Trump, Israel, and the Gulf States plan to fight Iran - and leave the Palestinians and the Obama years behind
The following item corroborates the above article's central thesis about the Arab states sacrificing the Palestinian cause:
Moderate Arab States Press PA's Abbas to "End Trump Boycott"
The Daughter of Holocaust Survivors Founded a Jewish Film Festival in Germany. She Just Won a Big Award
There are some rays of hope last week's UN General Assembly vote condemning Israel:
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Israel and Russia: Lots of Activity
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What Makes AIPAC Superior to Both J-Street and ZOA: NON-PARTISANSHIP
AIPAC advocates for Israel, plain and simple. It does not have a PAC. On the other hand, it is not a charitable organization (your contributions are not tax-deductible). But AIPAC is non-partisan; neither J-Street nor ZOA can make that claim.
That point was driven home to me, yet again, when I read this first sentence in a JTA report about J-Street: "The political action committee affiliated with J-Street added Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts to its list of endorsed senators, with the result that over half of the Senate's Democratic caucus now has the endorsement of the liberal Jewish Middle East policy group."
Further on in the article it reports on the shift at J Street in the last decade: "J-Street, which at its launch in 2008 was at least nominally bipartisan, now makes no bones about opposing GOP policies." How can J- Street advocate effectively for Israel at the same time as it antagonizes one party with its endorsements?
Thank God for AIPAC.
kas
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Russia recognized Jerusalem - West Jerusalem - as Israel's capital, and simultaneously proclaimed its recognition of East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state. Did you hear any objections to that declaration? I didn't. That's in part due to the fact that it was a more balanced recognition, but I think it's largely because no one wants to mess with Russia (they all know that Putin can be limitlessly brutal). And so, without any protest...
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Military Tech
A very important footnote to the article below: Even Yediot Achronot has bought into Palestinian propaganda, calling Gaza the most densely populated place on the planet. It's not. See the comment/post at the end of the article by Philipp Kämpfer: Gaza isn't "the most populated area in the world". It ranks at around the 50th place worldwide. Actually, the Tel Aviv metropolitan area is much more densely populated. Even Gaza City as the most densely populated spot in Gaza (11.500/km2) doesn't come close to cities like Bnei Brak (26.600/km2). On average, the Gaza Strip is about as populated as Vienna or Munich.
Associated videos:
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Gaza
Helium Balloons
A week ago Tuesday, Israel announced it was limiting the entrance of helium into Gaza. "The entrance of helium gas into Gaza will be limited in light of its use by terrorists to fill incendiary balloons," said the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Maj.-Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon.
Helium balloons, which can fly further than kites, can carry explosive devices such as pipe bombs that are set off by cellphones once they approach troops. Two weeks ago, Friday, one of dozens of these devices exploded in the air above troops, causing no injuries. "These are terror attacks, with IEDs," IDF Intelligence Directorate head Maj.-Gen. Tamir Heyman told the International Homeland Security Forum in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
Palestinians Fire 45 Rockets and Mortars at Israel from Gaza on Tuesday
A different kind of Israeli response to what's happening on its southern border:
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EVENTS
Music
Shai Rosenboim in His New York Debut Recital
Wednesday, June 27 | 7:30 PM
Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center
Si-Yo Music Society Foundation, a non-profit educational and cultural organization dedicated to inspiring a global community with classical music, and International Music Institute of China present "Symphonic Reflections", a rich cross-cultural concert performed by China-based Israeli pianist Shai Rosenboim.
Music
Yotam Ben-Or Quartet Album Release Show
Sunday, June 24| 8:00 PM
Cornelia Street Café
The Yotam Ben-Or Quartet are celebrating the release of their debut album in NYC. Yotam Ben-Or, harmonica; Gabriel Chakarji, piano; Agustin Uriburu, cello; Alon Near , bass; Noam Israeli, drums; Rogerio Boccato, percussion
You might think it is too late to come to Jerusalem this summer to connect with Israel, improve your Hebrew, and/or wrestle with traditional Jewish texts, but I assure you that if you act fast, it's not. The special Early-Bird Prices for the Conservative Yeshiva Summer Program are in effect throughMay 22. Inexpensive flights can still be found. And new options for accommodations are being posted all the time.
Some basic information about our program:
There are two 3-week sessions, from June 17-July 5 and from July 8-26. They are not repetitive, so you can do either or both, for a full day or half. In the mornings, you can choose between meaningful volunteer work or one of 5 levels of Hebrew ulpan. In the afternoons, you can put together your own schedule of eye-opening walking tours and inspiring classes in Talmud, Bible, Jewish Thought, and Jewish Law.
All summer students are able to participate in special yeshiva programming, including morning prayers at the Egalitarian Kotel, community meals, and guest speakers.
The program takes place at the Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center, which is ideally located close to downtown, the Machane Yehuda Market, the Old City, and more. You find your own short-term housing in the area (with our assistance, if needed), and get to experience all that Jerusalem has to offer - during the week and on Shabbat.
Summer in Jerusalem has a very special atmosphere, and a beautiful community develops each year among the student, who really do range in age from 18 to 80.
If you have specific questions, please reply to this email and I'll be happy to answer them.
We hope to see you in Jerusalem!
Sincerely,
Rabbi Andy Shapiro Katz
Director of North American Engagement
The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem
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