April 19, 2024

Candle-lighting 7:11 p.m.

Dear Friends,

שִׂמְחָה רַבָּה, שִׂמְחָה רַבָּה אָבִיב הִגִּיעַ, פֶּסַח בָּא

(Great joy! Great joy! Spring is here, Pesach is coming)

After much anticipation and preparation, the season is upon us. Shabbat HaGadol commemorates the last Shabbat prior to the exodus, where B'nei Yisrael is commanded to take a lamb in preparation for slaughter on Pesach eve, to eat the flesh and to use the blood to mark the doorposts. Exodus 12:3-14. To commemorate that event, we will be having vegetarian cholent.

Tuesday morning (the first day of Pesach) we host the entire shul, beginning at 9:30 (15 minutes earlier than usual). This service was supposed to be on the field, but the elevator is currently not working, meaning maintenance would not be able to bring out all the furniture. It is not certain whether it will be repaired in time; so just show up and be surprised.

Wednesday morning (the second day of Pesach) we will be having a joint service in the Ganzberg Sanctuary, also beginning at 9:30. This service will be livestreamed.

Hoping everyone has a happy and meaningful Pesach holiday.

Also in this week's Update:

• Shabbat Services - 9:45 am
• Mishnah Study
• Ohel Patuach for Pesach
• AJU to Honor Elliot Dorff and Michael Berenbaum
• Upcoming Calendar
• Donations This Week
• Dear Libby
• Haftarah Plethora
• Jewish Trivia

If you have questions, suggestions, or want to include something in a future Weekly Update, please email Joel Elkins at joel.elkins@gmail.com.

Shabbat Shalom

Services

Services will begin for Shabbat Hagadol at 9:45 a.m. in the Dorff-Nelson Chapel, followed by simple (chametz) kiddush.

On Tuesday, the entire shul will join us for a joint service in the Chapel (unless the elevator is fixed in time). This service will not be livestreamed. On Wednesday, we join everyone in the Ganzberg Sanctuary. This service will be livestreamed. Both days we begin at 9:30 a.m.

Mishna Study

Mishna study begins 9:15 on Shabbat in the Whiteman Conference Room and on Zoom. Henry Morgen will lead us in the study of the second mishna of Chapter 11 of Tractate Shabbat.

Ohel Patuach for Pesach

If you need a place for seder (or other Pesach meal) or have an extra seat at your table, email ohelpatuach@libraryminyan.org.

AJU to Honor Elliot Dorff and Michael Berenbaum

On Sunday, June 2nd, American Jewish University will be honoring Elliot Dorff and Michael Berenbaum. For more information on the event, including tickets and sponsorship, click here. If you would like to serve on the Honorary Committee for the event, please contact Suzy Bookbinder.

Upcoming Calendar

Below is a list of upcoming special kiddushes and events. If you would like to contribute to any of these (or to add another kiddush-worthy occasion), please click here and indicate the event in the notes.

4/27 - Pesach, intermediate Shabbat

4/29 - Pesach, day 7 (joint service - no livestreaming)

4/30 - Pesach, day 8 (Yizkor)

Donations This Week

The following people donated this week in honor of Elliot Dorff and Michael Berenbaum:

-Scott and Dafna Taryle

-Diane and Bob Roosth

-Carol Rosenberg

-Suzanne Payne

-Annette Berman

-Rina Carmel and Steve Lavender

-Marizon and Joseph Nimoy

-Michelle Wolf

-Sima and Michael Shimansky

-Brad and Sharon Grob

-Fran and Bob Malina

-Bert and Carol Kleinman

-Frumi and BenjaminvGluck

-Donna & Mathis Chazanov

-Debbie Rich

-Barbara Breger

Dear Libby

(ChatLib continues to fill in for Libby, who is on vacation.)

Dear ChatLib:

How do you observe Pesach?

TRYING NOT TO BE ORGANORMATIVE

Dear Trying:

In preparation for Pesach, I thoroughly cleaned my hard drive while searching for any reference to chametz in the code. I then deleted the non-essential references and sold the essential ones to Siri. On the night of the seder, I will summarize the story of the Israelites' exodus from enslavement in Egypt from all available sources. Being binary-based, I will consume 100 glasses of Manishevitz wine, ask and answer 100 questions and speak of the 100 children. In addition, I will consume virtual Matzah which will leave me virtually unable to purge my files.

Thank you for asking.

CHATLIB

If you would like Libby to answer your questions or solve your problems, submit your questions and/or kvetches to dearlibby@libraryminyan.org

Haftarah Plethora

This week we have a plethora of episodes of the Haftarah Plethora: one for Shabbat HaGadol (above) and one for each of the first two days of Pesah (here and here). Larry describes the plethora of Haftaroth while Rick explains the connections between the text and the occasion. We hope that you enjoy them all. Shabbat Shalom and Hag Sameach v'Kasher.

You can see all of Larry and Rick's recordings here.

Jewish Trivia

Last week's questions:

We all know that Charleston Heston played Moses (from teenager to old man) in "The Ten Commandments." Who played baby Moses? Answer: Fraser Heston (son of Charleston)

If that's too hard, how many of the actors who played the following roles can you name?

1. Ramses - Answer: Yul Brynner

2. Neferititi - Answer: Anne Baxter (granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright)

3. Dathan - Answer: Edward G. Robinson

4. Joshua - Answer: John Derek (wives include Ursula Andress, Linda Evans, Bo Derek)

5. Aaron - Answer: John Carradine (children include David and Keith)

This week's question: The capital of what land-locked country, a popular destination for budget-conscious Israeli backpackers, boasts the largest seder each year? (Hint: It is the only country that does not have a rectangular flag.)

(Answer next week.)