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Shabbat Kiddush
Today's kiddush is sponsored
Alan & Charlene Stern have enhanced today's Kiddush
in celebration of the naming of their granddaughter, born to Reina Stern and Aaron Landis on April 20th.
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Norman Silverberg
Eileen Haber Zlotnick
Gilad Gensler
Sharon Starr
Walter Strasfeld
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Saturday 6/16
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Minyan
9:30 am
Minha, Meal, Maariv & Havdalah 8:00 pm
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Monday 6/18
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Congregational Meeting 8:00 pm
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Tuesday 6/19
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Sisterhood Book Club 1:00 pm
Eternal Life
By Dara Horn
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Thursday 6/21
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Rabbi's Class 10:30 am
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Friday 6/22
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Bible Study 11:30 am
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The Most Important Read
(Other Important Reads will appear further on in this Shab Sha!)
The recent suicides of prominent individuals brings its increased prevalence home forcefully. The fact that these people were "names" does not make them role models to be emulated or imitated.
If you are having any suicidal ideation, please know that you do not need to feel alone or to be alone. Please call me: I care and I want to help. KAS
The piece below appeared in this week's New York Times:
In the last week, we lost two prominent New Yorkers to suicide.
But Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain were not outliers - New Yorkers, as elsewhere in the country, are taking their own lives in increasing numbers.
The suicide rate here has been increasing about 2 percent a year since 2008. In 2014, the most recent year for which there is data, 565 New Yorkers died from suicide, according to the health department - by comparison, 328 people were murdered in the city that year.
"The thing about suicide is that it's preventable," said Anitha Iyer, the chief clinical officer for the Mental Health Association of New York City. "People can be connected to care and feel better."
There are things you can do if someone you know seems to be at risk for suicide, Dr. Iyer said. Here is some guidance she gave us on how to handle such a situation, as well as resources for those seeking help.
How can I tell if someone close to me is contemplating suicide?
"There are indicators," Dr. Iyer said, including talking about wanting to die and looking for a means to accomplish it. A potentially suicidal person may talk about feeling trapped, hopeless or as if there is no reason to live, and could discuss physical or emotional pain. Other indicators include increased alcohol and drug use, increasingly dangerous behavior, changes to sleep patterns and isolation.
How can I help?
Ask them. "If you're worried that someone is having suicidal thoughts, ask them," Dr. Iyer said. "There's a common myth that if you ask somebody if they're having thoughts of suicide, you're going to put that thought in their head. We know that's not the case." And when you ask, she added, "give them the space to tell you what they're feeling."
Keep them safe. "If they're telling you they're having thoughts of suicide, ask them if they've thought of how they would do it," she said. If someone had considered buying a gun, "then help them plan for their safety by taking away the lethal means."
Other things you can do: Be there for them, help them connect to resources, and then follow up. "Let them know that you care," Dr. Iyer said. "That goes a long way." (More resources can be found at bethe1to.com.)
What are things I shouldn't say or do?
"It isn't helpful to negate or invalidate," Dr. Iyer said. "Like, 'No, you're not really feeling that way.'" That stops the conversation, she said. "Anything that will shut the person down and prevent them from letting you in isn't helpful."
Today, as always, let's look out for each other.
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Torah Rea
ding
863 Haftarah 877
KORAH
In this week's sidra, Moses confronts a series of interrelated rebellions. Korah, a Levite, and a group of Reubenites along with two-hundred-fifty other prominent Israelites voice their discontent at being excluded from the religious leadership of the people.They express their resentment toward Aaron, the High Priest, and accuse Moses of unfulfilled promises.
God causes the earth to open; Korah, his two ringleaders and their families descend into the abyss. A fire consumes the two -hundred- fifty Israelites who made common cause with Korah. The people react angrily against Moses, blaming him for the deaths of so many men of renown. As punishment for holding Moses responsible for these deaths, a plague breaks out killing 14,700 before Aaron can perform rites and offer prayers of intervention.
A final vindication of Aaron's claim to the priesthood occurs when the princes of all the tribes are asked to deposit their staffs before the ark in the Sanctuary. The following morning Aaron's rod alone has produced blossoms, buds and almonds. Aaron's staff was then preserved beside the ark as a sign for generations to come.
With the priests' and the Levites' positions confirmed, the Torah now stipulates which sacrifices were to be designated for the maintenance of the priests, and allocates a tithe on all produce for the Levites.These benefits are in compensation for the priests and the Levites not receiving any real property in the apportionment of the Land of Israel among the tribes.
Tonight at 7:00 p.m.
It's Sisterhood Shabbat! Come out and support the ladies of our Sisterhood!
Tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m.
We have a baby naming!
Tomorrow at 8:00 p.m.:
Minha, Seudah Shlishit, Ma'ariv & Havdalah
During Seudah Shlishit we will read Why Israelis Won't Apologize For Killing Of Gaza Nurse
Talmud and Tangents - Just Tangents
Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
What do we mean when we talk about the messianic era? And then we'll analyze a few more biblical passages that we Jews and Christians interpret radically differently.
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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
| Ira Smilovitz will be observing yahrzeit for his father Jerome Smilovitz on Friday night, June 15th |
| Anita Krauss will be observing yahrzeit for her father Erwin Krauss on Sunday night, June 17th |
| Norman & Ann Schaer will be observing yahrzeit for their son Scott Schaer on Sunday night, June 17th |
| Paul Cohen will be observing yahrzeit for his son Richard Cohen on Monday night, June 18th |
| Leatrice Weiss will be observing yahrzeit for her mother Jennie Prince on Monday night, June 18th |
| Ann Bloch will be observing yahrzeit for her grandfather Max Wisotzky on Tuesday night, June 19th |
| Douglas Krakauer will be observing yahrzeit for his father Jack Jacob on Tuesday night, June 19th |
| Myrna Weissman will be observing yahrzeit for her husband Ira Weissman on Wednesday night, June 20th |
| Roberta Mathes will be observing yahrzeit for her uncle Henry Mathes on Wednesday night, June 20th |
| Richard Goldman will be observing yahrzeit for his brother David Goldman on Wednesday night, June 20th |
| Joseph Hyman will be observing yahrzeit for his brother Samuel Hyman on Thursday night, June 22nd |
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And that the article below appeared in Ha'aretz, the most liberal Israeli newspaper, is an indication of the widespread support for the IDF's measured actions on the Gaza border:
Why Western 'Liberals' So Easily Buy Into Hamas' anti-Semitic Blood Libel
The story of a Gaza baby's death illustrates how symbols are constructed from a narrative that ignores the facts
Two significant take-aways from this piece:
- According to Haaretz, about 2,770 were wounded, of these an estimated 1,350 from live ammunition. This means that 95 percent of those hit by snipers were neutralized without being killed, despite the smoke, noise and pandemonium. Of the 61 killed, about 50, according to Hamas, were members of that organization (which is not to say that there were no members of other military organizations among the remaining 11). This means that 80 percent of the casualties were not innocent civilians, but rather out-and-out terrorists who were picked off successfully even though they were hiding in a large crowd, amid the smoke and noise. Any journalists worth their salt would have had to come to the conclusion that Israel was using extreme caution.
- What should Israel have done, then? Avoid using nonlethal means, too? Stand aside and, since women and children are among the rioting crowds, just let them breach the fence, even though we know they were planning to slaughter civilians in the adjacent Israeli communities? I haven't seen anyone suggesting explicitly that we do nothing, but there were many moralists who seemed to support the breaching of the fence, at least implicitly.
The Women's March leader delivered a racist rant on her recent visit to Israel. We deserve much better than that.
(And she left out that before the creation of the State of Israel by the UN, an act which should clearly establish Israel's legitimacy, Jews bought large swaths of land; they did not confiscate anything until Arab countries attacked the nascent country. kas)
Breaking News!
Israeli High Court of Justice has stayed the deportation of Ugandan Jew Yosef Kibita. The case proceeds...
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The Tonys
It's Elsa!! (Caissie Levy from FROZEN) She's not only Jewish; she's a Ramahnik!
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We Sure Could Use Some...GOOD NEWS!
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Under- and above-water wall will strip Hamas of another strategic capability, defense minister says
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June 11, 2018/ 28 Sivan 5778
Dear Colleagues:
Earlier this year, a number of young Ramah alumni started a protest campaign against Ramah's decades-long Zionist education and strong pro-Israel programming. According to these individuals, who were acting under the umbrella of a group called If Not Now, Ramah needs to "teach the Occupation" so that our campers and staff better understand "the truth."
Ramah camps have not engaged--and will not engage--in any way with If Not Now as an organization. This past winter, members of the National Ramah staff agreed to meet with 15 Ramah alumni affiliated with If Not Now, who wanted to share their perspectives. After listening to their views, we made it very clear to them that while liberal pro-Israel views on the conflict can be voiced and taught at camp, we do not allow any anti-Israel, anti-Semitic or anti-Zionist education at Ramah.
In recent weeks, some press reports have erroneously stated that Ramah was partnering with If Not Now. We are not. Ramah will not partner with any organization that is not unequivocally pro-Israel. As we say in the statement we released last Wednesday (see below), Zionism is one of our core educational pillars, and always will be.
Please take this opportunity to actively promote Ramah in your community, and clarify any misconceptions that you may encounter. We greatly appreciate your ongoing support as we proudly continue to nurture a deep love for Israel among our thousands of campers and staff.
With deep appreciation,
Rabbi Mitchell Cohen, Director
Amy Skopp Cooper, Associate Director
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, President National Ramah Commission, Inc. of The Jewish Theological Seminary
National Ramah Commission Statement on Israel Education
June 6, 2018/ 23 Sivan 5778
Dear Friends of Ramah,
We, the leadership of Ramah, are proud that Zionism is a central part of our core mission, as we nurture within our campers and staff members a deep and enduring love for Israel.
Unfortunately, some recent articles in the Jewish press have mischaracterized our educational mission, leading some to believe that our 70-year history of strong pro-Israel ideology has changed. It has not.
We are delighted that so many of our alumni have chosen to live in Israel, and that many others are actively engaged in strengthening Diaspora-Israel relations.
Every Ramah camp hires dozens of Israeli shlichim as counselors, teachers, and program specialists, ensuring that our campers and staff members develop friendships with young Israeli adults. Hebrew is a central element of daily life at Camp Ramah, and our campers and staff members spend significant time in Israel, including participation in Ramah movement-wide programs.
Our older teens and staff members represent a range of opinions on many contemporary issues, and a wide variety of positions supporting Israel can be voiced and discussed. We do not, however, permit the sharing of anti-Israel educational messages at camp.
We look forward to welcoming over 11,500 young people to our camps and Israel programs this summer. As we have done for more than seven decades, Ramah will continue to create educational communities based on meaningful and lasting connections to Judaism and Israel.
Rabbi Mitchell Cohen, Director
Amy Skopp Cooper, Associate Director
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, President National Ramah Commission, Inc. of The Jewish Theological Seminary
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Getting Ready to Strike Iran-or Heavy-Duty Saber Rattling?
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EVENTS
Dance
Yossi Berg and Oded Graf
Friday, June 15 | 5:30 PM
SFU, Vancouver BC
In-class "showing" by visiting dance artists Yossi Berg & Oded Graf, who are returning Iris Garland Guest Artists at the School for the Contemporary Arts.
Music
North Shore Chamber Music Festival
June 15, 16
The Village Presbyterian Church
Artists & directors Vadim Gluzman (violin) and Angela Yoffe (piano) invite you to North Shore Chamber Music Festival with the participation of Ariel Quartet that has earned its glowing international reputation.
Literature
'If Architecture is a Language, then Building is a Story' by Eliezer Armon
Wednesday, June 20 | 6:30 PM
Rizzoli Bookstore
Presentation of Desert Architect and Master Planner Eliezer Armon's new book which delves into intriguing and beguiling architectural works by Armon and Inspired by images from Israel and its landscape, worldwide cultures and more.
Film
An Article of Hope: Film Screening
Thursday, June 21 | 6:30 PM
Center for Jewish History
"An 'Article of Hope' is a hero's story, and at the same time, a universal story. A shining moment of what can happen when you 'go from the depths of hell, to the heights of space.'" - Director Dan Cohen
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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