December 2009 Messenger - Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue

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4 The Messenger Happy Chanukah! Our BSBI Sisterhood is off to a fabulous start this year. We had a wonderful “Welcome Meeting” on September 1st. Dr. Mitchell Weinstein gave a very informative slide presentation as he shared with us his journey on discovering the meaning of tzedakah. Denise Berry chaired the brunch which included a delicious quiche recipe out of our very own cook book “A Garden of Eatin”. Our Soup and Salad Meeting was held on November 3rd. Ashley Kirshtein and her hard working committee prepared a delicious brunch of black bean soup, corn salad, fresh baked corn bread, crackers, cheese and sorbet for dessert. Dr. Joshua Shanes spoke to us about the birth of Rabbinic Judaism. Our members enjoyed learning about the role of the Oral Law and the development of scholars and rabbis. Camilla Rosenberg and her creative committee have done a fabulous job decorating the tables and room for our meetings. The Sisterhood’s focus this year will continue to be on growing our membership in involvement and numbers. We have been highlighting one of our committees at each meeting to assist members in learning more about our committees and becoming involved. Sarah Finkelstein discussed the Ronald McDonald House Project at our September Meeting. At the end of the meeting, 5 members expressed an interest in helping Sarah on that project. At our November meeting, we highlighted the Condolence Committee which now has an additional 6 volunteers. The Shaloch Manos and Donor Projects have historically been our two largest income generators. These two fundraisers provide the Sisterhood with the funds needed to run our programs and projects. The money raised has allowed us to help sponsor the Matan Bat Mitzvah Project, replace equipment in our kitchens, and subsidize our brunches, holiday dinners and community projects. Shera-Lee Berlin and Freida Sokol will chair our Donor Project this year. Please become donors and support the Donor Project so that the Sisterhood can continue the wonderful work that we do. There is more exciting news. We have nine new members so far this year. We would like to welcome Bonnie Silverberg, Ellen Levin, Pamela Leonard, Heidi Davenport, Sandi Perry, Camilla Rosenberg, Carol Berlin, Laura Chandler and Harriet Gross to our Sisterhood. Congratulations to Laurel (Lolly) Fox for becoming a life member. We have a fabulous Chanukah Dinner and Program, “Searching for G-d in a Magic Shop”, planned for December 16th. Adults and children ten and older will be awed by Illusionist Arthur Kurzweil’s demonstrations that are intertwined with Torah. Younger children will enjoy Chanukah crafts, games and activities. Invite your friends and make your reservations early as seating will be limited. See our Chanukah advertisement for more information. Our next meeting will be January 5th at 7 pm. I look forward to celebrating Chanukah with you. ~Deborah Ellison, BSBI Sisterhood President
Why is Shabbat candle lighting a woman’s Mitzvah? The mitzvah of Shabbat candles applies to men and women equally and if there isn’t a woman in the house, then the obligation to light the candles falls on the man. However, for several reasons the rabbis instituted that if there is a woman (over the age of bat mitzvah) in the house, she should be the one who fulfills the obligation for the entire household: a. In the home of the first Jewish couple, Abraham and Sarah, it was Sarah who lit the Shabbat candles. b. Generally speaking it is the presence and contribution of a woman that transforms a house into a home; it is therefore her privilege to transform it into a Jewish home - filling it with the light of Judaism through the lighting of Shabbat candles (and other Mitzvahs associated with the home, such as Kosher and Family Purity etc). c. Eve, the first woman, introduced sin and darkness to the world through convincing her husband to eat from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. In an ongoing effort to restore the world to its original light women throughout history were given the opportunity to add light, through the Shabbat Candles, and reverse Eve’s mistake. Why is there a chair for Elijah at a Brit? It is customary at a Brit to set aside a chair for Elijah the Prophet who is called the “Angel of the Brit”.1 He attained this honorable position due to his zeal in upholding this great Mitzvah. G-d therefore promised him that he would be present at every Brit. When the baby is brought into the room he is placed on this chair for a brief moment, during which the Mohel says: “This is the Seat of Elijah the Prophet, may he be remembered for good. For Your deliverance I hope, O Lord. I have hoped for Your deliverance, Lord, and I have performed Your commandments. Elijah, angel of the Covenant, here is yours before you; stand at my right and support me. I rejoice in Your word, like one who finds great spoil. Those who love Your Torah have abounding peace, and there is no stumbling for them. Happy is the man You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courtyards; we will be satiated with the goodness of Your House, Your Holy Temple.” The Messenger 5 Why is it important to have a Bat Mitzvah? Just like a Bar Mitzvah, a Bat Mitzvah happens whether we “have” it or not. Bat Mitzvah means “Daughter of Mitzvah.” It is the age at which a Jewish girl becomes obligated to fulfill G-d’s commandments. That age is 12. We turn 12 automatically. It is important to CELEBRATE the Bat Mitzvah because it is a beautiful day. It is the day when a girl enters a binding relationship with G-d in which she has the opportunity to actually do things for Him. It is the day on which she joins the ranks of the Jewish people who are carrying out G-d’s mission, to make this world a place of good, a place that welcomes G-d. To celebrate properly, a girl should study what G-d expects and desires of a Jewish girl. Why do we give tzedakah (charity) before praying? Giving charity before prayer is usually referring to the established prayer times of Shacharit and Minchah. The source of this custom is in the Talmud (Bava Bathra 10a) “R. Eleazar used to give a coin to a poor man and afterwards pray because, he said, it is written, ‘I in righteousness shall behold your face.’” The word ‘righteousness’ in Hebrew is “Tzedakah” which is also the word used for what we commonly call giving charity. So the word in the verse ‘B’Tzedek’ - “in righteousness” - suggests that we should approach G-d in prayer after giving to someone in need. Giving tzedakah before praying reminds us that we are like a poor person standing before G-d and asking His help. When we give something to a poor person, G-d acts “measure for measure” - likewise, and does charity with us by granting our requests. On a deeper level, Chassidic philosophy explains that when we give charity, we are giving that person life, i.e. vitality and energy - so too G-d will repay us giving us life in our prayers, that they should be filled with vitality and energy
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Page 3: y Stanley Baker, President The rece
Page 7 and 8: Chanukah in the Square Sunday, Dece
Page 9 and 10: Anna Oberman Hyman Karesh Ida S. Fi
Page 11 and 12: Janette Wolper David Karesh Warren
Page 13 and 14: • Mazal Tov to the following B’
Page 15 and 16: The Messenger 15 The holiday of Cha
Page 17 and 18: What Menorah to Light To publicize
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December 2009 Messenger - Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue

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