SHABBAT SHALOM, GESHER SHALOM!


 
May 31st, 2019
 
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Shabbat Times: 
Candle Lighting
Evening service
Morning Service
Minha
8:02 pm
7:00 pm 
9:30am
7:45pm
 
  Forecast: 79/partly cloudy

IN THIS ISSUE...
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 and Anniversaries 
Marcus Seeger
Lucille Laufer
Barbara Sussman
Jordyn Fein
Steven Kolitch
 
Gladys & Robert Gordon
Lia & David Pitchkhadze
Beth & Jeffrey Kaplan
Helene & Emanuel Rabin
Ayelet & Jacob Kindler
Suzanne & Mordechai Warshavsky
 

   UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday 6/1
Morning Service 9:30 am
Minha, S'uda Shlishit (3rd Shabbat Meal), timely topic, Maariv and Havdalah 7:45 pm
Wednesday 6/5
Sisterhood Shabbat Rehearsal 1:00 pm
Thursday 6/6
Rabbi's Class 10:30 am
Visiting Scholar Eitan Kastner " Judaism between Rome and Persia" 1:00 pm
Friday 6/7
Bible Class 11:30 am


Torah Reading 753               Haftarah 763
B'HUKKOTAI

This sidra brings us to the conclusion of the Book of Leviticus. The prominent feature of our portion is the tocheicha - a sevenfold series of warnings or reproofs, which are chanted in a subdued voice. After outlining the rewards for the observance of God's Torah (peace, prosperity, and agricultural overabundance), the consequences for disobedience (disease, famine, siege, conquest and exile) follow.
 
The rules regarding the valuation and redemption of voluntary pledges are found in this parasha. An individual could vow to donate the value of an animal, a plot of land, an edifice, himself/herself or another family member to the upkeep and maintenance of the Sanctuary. The procedure for doing so and for determining the value of the property or person are set forth.

Tonight: Evening service at 7:00 p.m.
Tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m.
Minha, Seudah Shlishit, Ma'ariv & Havdalah at 7:45 p.m.
During Seudah Shlishit we will read:
The Insider Story of How Israel Destroyed Syria's Nuclear Potential by Ya'akov Katz                    




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 
     
   
Joseph Lempel will be observing yahrzeit for his aunt, Dora Fischer on Friday evening, May 31st
Esther Eisdorfer will be observing yahrzeit for her mother, Renee' Katz on Friday evening, May 31st
Mark Laufer will be observing yahrzeit for his father, Isack Laufer on Friday evening, May 31st
Andrea Elrom will be observing yahrzeit for her father, Barry Levites on Friday evening, May 31st
Israel Gerstein will be observing yahrzeit for his sister, Rose Shapses on Friday evening, May 31st
Walter Strasfeld will be observing yahrzeit for his brother, Mr. Ronald Strasfeld on Friday evening, May 31st
Rose Jakoby will be observing yahrzeit for her brother, Faivel Bendiger on Sunday evening, June 2nd
Rita Berliner will be observing yahrzeit for her father-in-law, Aron Berliner on Sunday evening, June 2nd
Rita Berliner will be observing yahrzeit for her brother-in-law, Martin Berliner on Sunday evening, June 2nd
Rita Berliner will be observing yahrzeit for her mother-in-law, Regina Berliner on Sunday evening, June 2nd
Rose Jakoby will be observing yahrzeit for her brother, Michael Bindiger on Sunday evening, June 2nd
Rose Jakoby will be observing yahrzeit for her sister, Seril Bindiger on Sunday evening, June 2nd
Rhea Hess will be observing yahrzeit for her father, Charles Silberstein on Monday evening, June 3rd
Mordechai Warshavsky will be observing yahrzeit for his sister, Bracha Ben-Zvi on Tuesday evening, June 4th
Jerome Margolin will be observing yahrzeit for his mother, Molly Margolin on Tuesday evening, June 4th
Solomon Arbeiter will be observing yahrzeit for his father-in-law, Daniel Sonkin on Tuesday evening, June 4th
Rose Jakoby will be observing yahrzeit for her sister, Ms. Helen Schnoll on Wednesday evening, June 5th
Rhea Hess will be observing yahrzeit for her brother-in-law, Herbert Hess on Thursday evening, June 6th
Renee Gruenspecht will be observing yahrzeit for her mother, Johanna Scheuer on Thursday evening, June 6th





Interesting and/or Important Reads

I don't like seeing Israel being thrown into turmoil, but a lot of this is Bibi's own doing. While under investigation and indictment, perhaps he should not have run for office. (Does anyone really believe that he is innocent? Is his own Attorney General, who was his Cabinet Secretary, now out to undermine him with baseless, politically-motivated charges???)
And, ever the politician, Bibi is more concerned with his own survival than the country's wellbeing: he out-maneuvered the country's President, Reuven Rivlin (who is also from his political party, Likud) to prevent Rivlin from-God forbid!!-asking Blue and White to try to form a governing coalition. Bibi would rather dissolve the Knesset and spend money on a costly election (for which he is blaming Avigdor Liberman rather than looking himself in the mirror).

Knesset Votes for New Elections on September 17 After PM Fails to Form Coalition
 In a shocking turn of events, Netanyahu unable to secure a majority coalition in parliament; Likud-drafted motion to dissolve Knesset passes 74-45 in late-night vote  
What You Need to Know About Israel's New Elections 
Foreign Policy Magazine's Guide to Benjamin Netanyahu                                                            
Introducing A New Guide to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict  
It's no secret that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is very, very complicated. We don't claim to have all the answers (because, um, nobody does), but we're here to help you learn the basics and take a deeper dive into some of the thornier issues at play.  
More importantly, he broke with Human Rights Watch in 2009, an organization that he founded, over its anti-Israel bias:

Robert L. Bernstein, Publisher and Champion of Dissent, Dies at 96
West Point Graduates 1,000th Jewish Student                                                                       
'Flying the Hizbullah Flag Risks Arrest' at Quds Day Marches                                                        
Son of Jewish Engineer Elected President of Latvia                                                                
 
Only in Israel, not mentioned in this story, at all (as if Israel is not part of the Middle East), is the Christian population increasing!

The Impossible Future of Christians in the Middle East 
South Koreans Are Flocking to Israel for Bible Study... Why? 
A cultural fascination with Israel and the Hebrew Bible has brought scores of South Korean students to study at Israel's Bar Ilan University   
                                                                                    

Israel
Egypt Sent Military Helicopters to Battle Wildfires in Israel                                                              
U.S. Army Veterans Find Comfort in Israel on U.S. Memorial Day                                       

Wounded British and Israeli Veterans to Compete in Sporting Event     
What's Beijing Doing in Haifa?                                                                                  

Sara Netanyahu Signs Plea Deal in Restaurant Meals Fraud Case 
Young Israeli Engineers Bring Clean Water to Ugandan Community                                                                           When two students from northern Israel discovered that drinking water cannot be taken for granted in the impoverished African nation, their first act after graduation was to build purification device for 900 children who were drinking swamp water                                                                            
                                                 



BDS / anti-Semitism / anti-Zionism           

NYT Editorial: The Old Scourge of Anti-Semitism Rises Anew in Europe                                                 

Measles Can Be Contained. Anti-Semitism Cannot 
Ju st as the anti-vaccination movement feeds off a handful of fringe outsiders, long-standing stereotypes about Jews have found a new vector in the latest outbreak of the disease                                               
Why Are Israeli and other Jewish Academics Legitimizing Anti-Semitism?                                                   
Pitzer College President Visits Haifa U to Reiterate His Opposition to Israel Boycott                                            
Student Claims NYU Has Allowed 'Extreme Anti-Semitism' on Campus
  A strong community has earned Birmingham the nickname "Jewniversity"                                        
 
People will do what they want-what they think is best. Personally, I'd
wear a baseball cap:

German Anti-Semitism Official: Don't Wear Kippot in Public                
Top German Paper to Print Cutout Kippah in Solidarity with Jews                                                  
German Government U-Turns to Urge Solidarity in Wearing of Jewish Kippa                                          

Germany's Merkel Admits Threat to Jews 
Murderer of Sarah Halimi Will Avoid Criminal Trial, French Jewish Defense Group Says                                    




The Palestinians
Swiss Minister: UNRWA Is Part of the Problem in the Middle East                                                      

Give credit where credit is due:

Palestinian Authorities Thwarted an ISIS Terror Attack in Israel 
Suha Arafat Calls for Recognition of Israel: 'No One Can Doubt Israel's Existence'



Iran / Syria / Hezbollah
Israeli Army Says It Found 'Most Significant' Hezbollah Attack Tunnel                                                    
Tensions Grow between Russia, Iran in Syria                                                                         
Iranian Militias in Syria under Pressure from all Sides                                                              
Israel Reveals Details of Samir Kuntar's Assassination Near Damascus                                                      
IDF Attacks Syrian Anti-Aircraft Battery                                                                          
New Report Shows How a Pro-Iran Group Spread Fake News Online                                                          
German Intel: Iran Wants to Expand to Weapons of Mass Destruction                                                     
VOA Persian Broadcasts a Powerful Message from an Iranian Regular Army Officer to the People of Iran                                                                                                                                                 
Amid Tensions, Iran's Crude Buyers Jump Ship                                                                                                          


Hi-Tech
Intel Launches New Processors that Bring AI to the PC, Sired by Haifa Team                                        
HP Using Israeli Cybersecurity Technology on its New Computers                                                       
China's Sichuan Province Signs 18 Cooperation Agreements, MOUs with Israel                                             
 
Japan's Mitsubishi to Open Innovation Center in Israel                                                              
 
Why Agritech Is Israel's Next Big Import                                                                       
 
Israel's 'Uber For First Responders' Goes Global                                                                  
They isolated specimens from ancient pottery and created a libation imbibed by the Egyptian pharaoh and ancient Jewish leaders.                 

Can Israel Become A Nation Of Startup Marathoners?                                                                     





Pop Culture                     

And what about Jewish Dead-Heads???

Why So Many Jews Love the Band Phish   
Vampire Weekend's "This Life" Music Video Invites the Viewer to a Passover Seder
Famed producer Mark Ronson, wearing a yarmulke, gives a toast.                                   
 
The Hippest Artist In 1960s New York Was This Incredible Jewish Woman                                                  
 
Mah Jongg at Jason's Deli: A Surprising Jewish Tradition 

AND SPEAKING OF MAH JONGG...
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY?
PLEASE EMAIL ME:RABBI@GESHERSHALOM.ORG
(THIS OFFER IS OPEN ONLY TO GESHER SHALOM MEMBERS)

                                                                             






     
 
Register Now & Join the Ride to Fight Hunger!
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Early-Bird Pricing Ends on May 31!
Memorial Day is almost here, and we hope you have been taking advantage of the beautiful weather to start training for the  9th Annual Wheels-for-Meals Ride to Fight Hunger .  We are excited for an amazing morning in June. Come out for Friends, Family, Sun, Community, and Raising funds for an important cause!

Things to remember:
  • This year's Ride will take place on Sunday morning, June 23, 2019
  • Start/Finish at Temple Emanu-El in Closter, NJ
  • The ride benefits the JFCS Food Assistance Programs, including Meals-on Wheels and the Food Pantries
  • As a loyal supporter of JFCS, we would like to offer you  30%  off the standard registration fees. Please use   Promo Code  NEWBLAST .   A nd make sure to register by  May 31  to take advantage of Early Bird pricing. Registration fees go up June 1.
     REGISTER NOW
  •  











 

Year-Round Offerings: Families, Teens, & Adults
April 2019 / Nisan 5779

There are many ways to enjoy Ramah experiences year-round, whether it's with your own Ramah camp or with the Ramah mishpacha at programs throughout North America, Israel, and the world. Use these links or scroll down to learn more:

No prior Ramah affiliation is needed to participate in these programs, so please invite friends and family to join you, or forward this email to anyone who might be interested in these terrific program offerings!

New for 2019!
The Ramah Sports Academy Family Experience
From August 5-7, 2019,  Ramah Sports Academy, located on the beautiful campus of Fairfield University in Connecticut, will hold its first  RSA Family Experience, a sports program for families. This is a great opportunity for families to enjoy camp together. Open to families from any Ramah community and their friends! For more information,  click here, or contact  Dave Levy, camp director.
Travel with Ramah Israel Institute (RII) and Reshet Ramah
Poland Journey for Adults  | July 22-28, 2019

Summer Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Adventure in Israel  | Aug. 13-22, 2019  (New trip!)

Ramah Morocco Experience  | Sept. 8-19, 2019

Ramah Nyack Chanukah Family Trip to Israel|  Dec. 23, 2019 - Jan. 1, 2020  (all camps welcome)

Winter Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Adventure in Israel  | Dec. 23, 2019 - Jan. 1, 2020
Adult Camps & Retreats
Singles Weekend at Ramah Berkshires  (for singles in their 40s, 50s, and up) | May 24-27, 2019

Shabbat Plus at Ramah Poconos |  July 19-21, 2019

Ramah Darom Jewish Women's Getaway  | Nov. 10-13, 2019
Family Camps & Retreats
Ramah New England Family Camp  | May 24-27, 2019

Ramah Darom Summer Family Camp  | June 26-30 , 2019 and July 17-21, 2019



LimmudFest at Ramah Darom  (partnership with Limmud Atlanta and Southeast)  | Aug. 30  -   Sept. 2, 2019

Sukkot at Ramah Poconos  | Oct. 18-20, 2019

Ramah Darom Winter Break Family Camp  |  Dec. 27, 2019  -  Jan. 1, 2020
Families with Children with Disabilities

Ramah Darom Camp Yofi   | Aug. 7-11, 2019

Ramah Poconos Tikvah Family Camp  | Aug. 14-18, 2019

Ramah California Camp Ohr Lanu   | Aug. 15-19, 2019
Programs for Teens & Young Adults
Do you know a young adult struggling to find their path in life? Ramah is working to address mental health and wellness within the Jewish community.  BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy is our answer. Following a successful pilot season in Spring 2018, BaMidbar is open for year-round enrollment.








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