Shabbat Newsletter - January 28, 2022

Shabbat Shalom!

All Zoom links have migrated to our webpage! Click here to get there!

WWW.SHIRCHADASH.ORG

Kabbalat Shabbat

Friday, 4:30 PM

ON ZOOM ONLY

Shabbat Morning Services

Saturday, 9:30 AM

in-person and live-streamed

Kids' Services

Saturday, 10:30 AM

Minyan with

Men's Club

Sunday, 9:15 AM

In person in the Chapel,

followed by breakfast.

Also available on Zoom

‌

Security Training Program:

Situational Awareness and

Threat Response

Sunday, 10:30 AM

in-person and live-streamed

COVID-19 UPDATE

The Health Committee recommendations for general activities are as follows:

in-person programming and services may continue
registration is only needed when large events are anticipated
everyone must be masked
cloth masks alone are not adequate
surgical masks will be provided at the door as needed
N95/KN95/KF94's are strongly encouraged
everyone over age 12 who is eligible must be fully vaccinated
social distancing between pods should be observed
more relaxed liturgical practices will be in place (e.g. aaliyot may be taken either by the ark or by the Torah reader)
people may schmooze/gather after services, but they must remain masked and food/drink will not be provided
if a small group (e.g. Men's Club) chooses to have food/drink, it must be consumed outdoors

Click HERE for our full Covid Guidelines.

Torah Tidbits

Mishpatim

On the Discontinuity of the Torah’s Narrative.

Here is where the Torah feels like someone had the typed manuscript, dropped it, and then put the pages back in the wrong order. Here is the way the story goes. Moses goes up to Mt. Sinai to get the Ten Commandments and never comes back [Yitro, Ex.20]. Next, in Mishpatim, we go off on a multi-chapter tangent listing slave rules, torts, and all kinds of other practical stuff. We write the entire MISHNAH or at least the proto-text for Nezekin, Damages) in chapters 21-23. Then Moses leaves to go up on the mountain again [Ex. 24]. Then Chapter 25 (Trumah, Tetzaveh,) and forward involves us in building the Tabernacle. Finally, in Chapter 31 (the middle of Ki Tissa), Moses comes down the mountain and encounters the Golden Calf.

Yesterday’s Hebrew High class explained this passage to me. Not through words, but through actions. I was teaching the sidrah: “Every parent must tell his child about the Exodus” when Yoni asked, “Here is something we debated in shul this Shabbat: if you were a rabbi, would you perform an intermarriage?” Before I could answer him, I stopped my lesson to deal with Adam and Michael who were messing around. As soon as I had done my evil eye stare, before I could answer Yoni, Lindsey asked me if I had read this “feminist” novel about a woman in some Arab land and her struggle for rights. I wrote down the name of her novel. Then, I turned back to Yoni, who should be answered before I returned to our Torah text. And, per usual, the bell rang.

This is the message of Mishpatim – Torah Interrupts. We are always going up and down Mt. Sinai. Halfway up, we are called on to apply a Mishnah to Adam and Michael’s classroom behavior or to answer Yoni’s inquiry about congregational policy. The moment always makes its demands and teaches Torah in its own pragmatic way. Then eventually, we continue to tell the story, continue the ascent up the mountain to meet in spirit and intellect the God we already know through practice and application. This is what I learned about Mishpatim this week.

- Joel Lurie Grishaver

Torah Service Prayer

Here is the new prayer we have created for our Torah service. Thank you to Elliot Finkelstein for the idea! Please join in from home.

____________________________________

Nishmat Kol Hai, Breath of Life

bless the people of this community

their families and their friends

here and at home.

HaShekhinah, Beloved One

bless our neighbors in this city

may we live in harmony

may we be proud of each other.

HaTzur, Protecting One

bless this country, its government,

all who strive for its welfare

all who risk themselves to protect it.

Elohei Avoteinu, God of our ancestors

bless the land of Israel

may it flourish in hope and in honor

spread over it a shelter of peace.

Ma’ayan Hayyenu, Wellspring of our lives,

bless the Jewish people

may we be ambassadors of our tradition

may we be spared from distress and shame.

Hamakom, All-present One

bless the world and all that is in it

help us defend it and preserve it

for the generations that will follow us.

May all this be so,

And we say,

Amen.

Click here to view in PDF form and print prior to Shabbat

Parashat Mishpatim

Shabbat Mevarchim HaChodesh

Torah: Exodus 23:20 - 24:18

Maftir: Exodus 24:15-18

Haftarah: Jeremiah 34:8-22, 33:

The Torah reading for this week is in the panel above. If you do not have a Humash at home you can find it on the link below. We are reading Triennial Year 3, but you might like to read the full portion (“Full Kriyah”).

Brochure

Our Shabbat brochure with yahrzeits and simchas for this week is attached. You might wish to take special notice of those who are sick and take a moment to direct your thoughts towards them.