February 2012 - Beth El Synagogue

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notable times Candle Lighting ,urb ,eksv February 3 . . . . . . . . .5:05 p.m. February 10 . . . . . . . .5:15 p.m. February 17 . . . . . . . .5:25 p.m. February 24 . . . . . . . .5:35 p.m. Havdalah vkscv February 4 . . . . . . . . .6:07 p.m. February 11 . . . . . . . .6:17 p.m. February 18 . . . . . . . .6:27 p.m. February 25 . . . . . . . .6:37 p.m. Services ,ukhp, Friday Evening ,ca crg Kabbalat Shabbat . . . .5:45 p.m. Shabbat ,ca Shaharit . . . . . . . . . . . . .9:00 a.m. Minha . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4:30 p.m. Sunday & National Holiday Minyan 9:00 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Daily Minyan ihbn 7:00 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Beth El Choir leads Friday night services at Knollwood on: Feb 10, Mar 9, Apr 20 and May 11 Located on the Sholom Home West Campus Family and friends of Knollwood residents are encouraged to attend. general information Beth El Synagogue 5224 W. 26th Street Minneapolis, MN 55416-1901 952-873-7300 FAX: 952-873-7301 www.bethelsynagogue.org Office Hours Mon-Thurs....9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Fridays..........9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sundays........9:00 a.m.-Noon Aleph Preschool: 952-873-7320 Youth Dept: 952-873-7330 2 a a view from the bimah The Marriage Amendment Act by Rabbi Alexander Davis In the Torah’s description of creation, over and over we are told that God’s creation is good. On the first day, God separated light and darkness and called the light “good.” With the formation of plants and animals and humans, God looked out over all that was created and declared it “good.” For all the goodness, there was one thing that was “not good”- human loneliness. God said, “it is not good for a person to be alone; I will make a helpmate for him.” Companionship is a basic human desire. The Torah is not talking about just any friendship. It is speaking of a relationship so intimate that your companion feels like your other half (or in my case, my “better half”). That is why the passage continues by describing the companion fashioned for Adam as formed from his ribs. Eve literally completed Adam. The desire for companionship is shared by all people regardless of their sexual orientation. If we look closely, we’ll notice that the Torah does not say, “it is not good for Adam to be alone” but rather “for a human being (adam, in Hebrew)” to be alone. Only after this recognition was the as-of-yet-gendered human separated into male and female. This essential truth was the underlying value (though not the halakhic or legal justification) of the Conservative movement’s decision to normalize the status of gay and lesbian Jews in the Jewish community. A 2006 decision of the Committee of Jewish Law and Standards states, “we consider stable, committed, Jewish relationships to be as necessary and beneficial for homosexuals and their families as they are for heterosexuals.” This value also guides my thinking on a question before our State known as the Marriage Amendment Act. dniadn The Marriage Amendment Act seeks a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. I oppose such an amendment for I believe that as Jews we are called upon to affirm the dignity and oppose the discrimination of all people-- including gays and lesbians. Besides being unnecessary and redundant (the legislature has already passed laws defining marriage), besides sending the wrong message about Minnesota as a welcoming State for all people, besides the dangerous increase in anti-gay violence sparked by the rhetoric of some marriage amendment proponents, besides all of those things and more, from a Jewish perspective, the Marriage Amendment Act strikes at the very heart of k’vod habriot (human dignity). In the words of the Law Committee’s teshuvah, for gays and lesbians, “it is impossible to ensure an internal state of dignity as long as their social status is one of utter humiliation. They have, in effect, been told to walk alone, while the great majority of people are expected to walk in pairs and as families. In such a context, where is the dignity of homosexuals? How can we hide from their humiliation?” I believe that those who favor the amendment are thinking, caring and ethical people. I also understand the discomfort and concerns they feel. And yet, given our people’s history, it is hard for me to believe that proponents want to see gays and lesbians become second class citizens. But that is exactly what this bill would do. It would put our children, our neighbors, our classmates, our co-workers on the back of the marriage bus. For this reason, the Minnesota Rabbinical Assembly, the organization representing the majority of Minnesota rabbis, has passed a resolution opposing the marriage amendment act. Rabbis Abelson and Olitzky and I endorsed this resolution which follows a similar resolution passed by the JCRC. Continued on Page 10
synagogue news Purim Purim Purim! Purim Carnival Don’t miss loads of fun for the whole family! Enjoy games, drawings, food, friends, and so much more! 12:00-3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 4, 2012 Free and open to everyone! Brought to you by the Beth El USY Hamantashen Time! Come help "Make and Bake" Hamantashen every Sunday morning in the months of January and February from 9:15-Noon in the Beth El Kitchen. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! We put the "fun" fundraiser! Any questions contact Linda Tell at 952-938-7177 or LRNTELL@gmail.com. Purim Extravaganza March 7, 2012 • 13 Adar 5772 Begins with 5:45 p.m. Minha/Ma’ariv, followed by 6:45 p.m. Havdallah & Megillah Reading and Extravaganza at 8:00 p.m. Join us again Thursday monring, March 8th for our annual “Pretty Good Jokes” Megillah Reading. And for the Young Jewish Adults ages 21-36 Cirque du Purim! March 8th, 2012 @ 8:00 p.m. Location TBD For more info, contact Shana Cohen at 952-417-2351, scohen@mplsfed.org or Sarah Gruber at 612-578-1404, sarahg987@hotmail.com Farewell to Jessica Zehavi It is with a mixture of emotions that we said ‘goodbye’ last month to Jessica Zehavi. Jessica returned to her love of programming and design for a local firm that develops and maintains websites. For the last 5 Years, Jessica has been Beth El’s Technology Director. Under her direction, we upgraded and serviced our file server and computers, installed new phone, fire protection and security systems and of course, designed and managed our website. For Jessica, Beth El was more than a job, it was a home. For us, Beth El was fortunate to have such a highly skilled IT professional as part of our staff. We will miss her but wish her only the best of luck in her new position. We are currently finalizing plans for a new IT staff consultant who will ensure that Beth El’s technology needs are met into the future. Beth El Military Support Initiative Over 3,000 MN National Guard soldiers and airmen are currently deployed overseas. If you are interested in supporting the MN National Guard and their families, a committee is being formed to explore a new Beth El Military Support Initiative. Contact Cindy Amberger at cindy.amberger@gmail.com or 952-200- 1699 or Rachel Parnes at rachelparnes@comcast.net or 763-519-1370. Mah Jongg Learn or play Mah Jongg from and with the best, every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Join us next Sunday, January 22 at 12:00 p.m. at Beth El. Cost is just $5 and includes lunch. For more information, contact Freada at 952-922- 6667 or Marcy at 763-559-4593. Beth El Adult Learning Opportunities • Pizza and Prayer Next studies: February 14th and 28th Meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 6:15-7:30 p.m. Facilitated by Rabbi Olitzky and Cantor Abrams. Dinner is $5. For more information, contact Bruce Campbell at 612-418-1984 or bmcampbell5150@gmail.com. • Women’s League Study Group Next study: February 14th Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Facilitated by Rabbi Olitzky. Take an in-depth look at the Wives of the Rabbis of the Talmud. All are welcome. Contact Carolyn Gerr at 952-938-1774 or carolyngerr@gmail.com for details. • Nosh ‘n Drash Next studies: February 6th and 20th Meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30. Facilitated by Rabbi Olitzky. Lunch is $5. RSVP to Roger Rubin at bikingdad@q.com. In the spirit of Jewish Disability Awareness Month, Rabbi Olitzky’s February 6th Nosh and Drash will focus on Parashat Yitro: God Gives Us the Strength to Be Able • Siddur Hebrew Literacy A new 10-week class with Cantor Art Shragg, is currently meeting on Sunday mornings, from 10:15 - 11:15 a.m. (after minyan and minyan breakfast). Examine the structure of the liturgy, both daily and Shabbat, as well as build basic siddur hebrew vocabulary. For more information, please contact Carol Weingart at 952-873-7313. b 3
Page 1: BETH EL SYNAGOGUE S H O F A R FEBRU
Page 5 and 6: `iypdna message from our president
Page 7 and 8: miigd xefgn life cycles Anniversar
Page 9 and 10: committees & affiliates Women’s L
Page 11 and 12: ONLINE ordering available at www.be
Page 13 and 14: zenexz tributes Yahrzeit Contributi
Page 15: Rabbi Alexander Davis Assistant Rab

February 2012 - Beth El Synagogue

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