Friday, October 23, 2020

What we do after the Great Flood? See below: Also - this week's schedule

 If you want to join a Zoom event  please contact Rabbi Yaffe rabbi@bnaitorahma.org

Shabbat Noach

Dear All,

What we do after the Great Flood? See below:

After the article,  I will be listing all events, services, and classes day by day in this weeks email, so just scroll down to find anything you need for a given day

Thoughts on the a Post-Flood  Program for Today
By (Rabbi)Shlomo Yaffe

All the Torah speaks to us as new and relevant in every moment and every situation

In this week’s Torah portion Noah -upon emerging from the ark into a world that would need to learn to transcend the errors of the Antediluvian Epoch  is instructed upon the fundamental ethical laws that apply to all Human beings -given by G-d – the Noahide Laws

Maimonides writes “Moreover, by Divine ordinance, Moshe, our teacher, commanded us to sway all human beings to accept the commandments enjoined upon the descendants of Noach. “

This means that every Jew is responsible to encourage all denizens of the world to act in accordance with the Seven Noachide Commandments and their associated values. In the olden days there was great potential danger involved in this type of activity -- for it could be misconstrued as an attempt to proselytize. In our generation, however, there is no danger in this respect

As Jews we must be concerned with the welfare of all peoples, for the world was "formed to be a place where all can live in felicity “–rather than anarchy
As Isaiah states (45:18)
יח  כִּי כֹה אָמַר-ה בּוֹרֵא הַשָּׁמַיִם הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים, יֹצֵר הָאָרֶץ וְעֹשָׂהּ הוּא כוֹנְנָהּ--לֹא-תֹהוּ בְרָאָהּ, לָשֶׁבֶת יְצָרָהּ; אֲנִי ה, וְאֵין עוֹד.               
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens, He is God; that formed the earth and made it, He established it, He created it not a waste, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD, and there is none else.

The foundation and basis of the Seven Noachide Laws -- is love and brotherhood. Even the word Noach indicates - pleasantness and friendliness. And when all humankind observes the Seven Noachide Laws they are called "pious (righteous), which indicates kindness and love.

In reaching out to encourage the observance of the Seven Noachide Laws we must also show kindness and emphasize the goodness and pleasantness which their observance will bring to the world and society. This is especially true in the United States of America, and after the 20th Century horrors perpetuated by Fascism and Communism (and those horrors continue today in States influenced by these ideas)


The only durable morality is that based on a Divine Lawgiver. Any set of ethics derived from human intellect is subject to argument and refutation.

Indeed, one of the core premises of the American experiment is that there must be complete freedom of religion and government should not in any way be involved in favoring one religion over another “The Establishment Clause” of the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
However, the premise that morality must flow from G-d is deeply rooted in our Nation and its Constitution.

To quote the landmark Supreme Court of the United States ruling in Zorach Vs. Clauson (1952)

“We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being. We guarantee the freedom to worship as one chooses”
In other words – because G-d is so crucial to the American ethos – we must be free to relate to G-d as we see fit. However -it is equally understood that our Institutions and society stand and are successful based upon “The presupposition of a Supreme Being”

The Noahide Laws represent universal values that transcends Creed, Race or Nationality.

It is our job the help realize their vision in each and ever society we live in. Not for the sake of the Jewish people but for the sake of All, bar none.
We are challenged today to bring the harmony that emerges from shared basic values.

These Noahide values that do not diminish the great variety of Human expression and experience, but rather,  enhance our ability to be free to do so in a nation and planet that become a  “safe space” by virtue of those values. We must find ways to help all of us get there - together.


 
Schedule for Week of  10/23 - /10/30 

Friday/ Shabbat  10/23

Candle Lighting for Shabbat Noach - no  later than 5:37 PM

Mincha / Kabbalat Shabbat  in Social Hall 5:35 PM
 
Shabbat Noach  10/24
1. Morning Services 9 AM 
Please recite all prayers (except Baruch She'amar)  before Mizmor Shir l'yom Hashabbat before arriving at Synagogue . We begin with Baruch She'amar and Mizmor Shir
Torah Reading: Bereishit - Genesis 6:1 -11;32  (Hertz pg. 26 / Artscroll pg. 30) 
Haftarah Isaiah 54:1 - 55:5  (Hertz pg 41 /Artscroll pg 1131)
 
2.  Mincha 5:25  PM

3. Motzei Shabbat- Shabbat ends 6:37PM



Sunday  10/25
1. Sunday Zoom Shacharit service  @ 8AM



SUNDAY TALMUD CLASS  Mastering Talmud Class 9:30 AM 

Also on Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1

 
Monday 10/26 
Morning services @ 7AM by Zoom:


New Jewish Ethics and Thought Class:  Amazing Aggadah - The Non-Legends of the Talmud



Tuesday 10/27 
Morning services by Zoom:

New Jewish Ethics and Thought Class: 
Amazing Aggadah - The Non-Legends of the Talmud 
8:30 - 9AM

Also on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1


New Class! Explore The Haftarot!
Haftarah -in Depth  7:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Also on Facebook Livehttps://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1


Wednesday 10/28
Morning services by Zoom:



No Morning Class


Thursday 10/29
Morning services by Zoom:

New Jewish Ethics and Thought Class: 
Amazing Aggadah - The Non-Legends of the Talmud 
8:30 - 9AM
h

Also on Facebook Livehttps://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1


The Real News!
Torah for Now: Thursday  1PM  
Explore the real current events - pertinent insights the Torah we read this week....
Also on Facebook Live: 
https://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1
The Big Idea  Thursday  7:30 PM EDT
Chosen By Whom For What?

Also on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1


Friday  10/23
Morning services by Zoom:

Call in information: +1 646 558 8656  Meeting ID: 838 6405 2924  Password: 248365 


New Jewish Ethics and Thought Class: 
Amazing Aggadah - The Non-Legends of the Talmud 
8:30 - 9AM

Also on Facebook Livehttps://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1

 

Shabbat Lech Lecha  Eve:

Candle Lighting: 5:28PM

Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat : 5:25 PM

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Zoom class and service didn't happen

Due to a series of related events, the Zoom class did not happen last night or the Zoom minyan this morning. Everything is OK and we resume with our regular schedule Thursday morning. On a related note, Chani and I are happy to report that - Thank G-d! - our son Moshe (with some drama) is off to Israel to study at Yeshivat Beit David in Qiryat Gat. Please note that there is no Thursday afternoon class this week, it resumes next week G-d willing.

Friday, October 16, 2020

Schedule for Shabbat Breishit /Shabbat Mevarchim Cheshvan and the whole week

Please Contact Rabbi Yaffe for Zoom log-in information:

rabbi@bnaitorahma.org

413.567.0036

Shabbat Breishit /Shabbat Mevarchim Cheshvan 
Dear All,

We know enter the test of how reral we can make the inspiration of these holidays we have just ended. See below:
After the article,  I will be listing all events, services, and classes day by day in this weeks email, so just scroll down to find anything you need for a given day

Question: Which is the most important week  of this year?
 
Answer: This week, the week after all the Holidays
 
Before you run to choose in which of the 86 Jewish calendars you have received from various worthy charities you want to look this day up, relax — I'll tell you which holiday falls on week . None. This week -  the week after a packed, 23-day flood of special days is also the most important week of this year
 
Picture the launch of a space vehicle being sent to explore some distant reach of the universe on a journey never before attempted. The countdown is over, a button is pressed, and — hopefully — away it goes, to where silicon has never gone before. Countless thousands of top-quality man-hours have been invested in this project by people who are, indeed, rocket scientists. Yet, if when the button is pressed, the rocket explodes or otherwise malfunctions, all that genius is for naught.

The button does not require an engineer to press it — it is such a simple task even a politician can do it. Yet, that very pressing of the button is the purpose of all those expert hours. If that single event does not occur as it should, then something has gone very wrong in all those preparations, and the mission is a failure.
 
Spiritually speaking, during the Tishrei festivals we are in the position of the "rocket scientist"; a savant of Jewish life. We focus on our soul-life more than any other time of year. We find ourselves praying more intensely and more often. We are more careful in the way we treat others and more generous in our charitable donations. The Shofar inspires us, Yom Kippur uplifts us, and we find meaningful joy in our families and communities on Sukkot. We are on a high level and doing great things.
 
However, after the holidays are over, we go back to our ordinary workaday world. When we get up that morning, is the spirit of closeness to G‑d we experienced during the High Holidays in our prayers? Do we rise to a high standard of integrity, a standard easily imagined in the synagogue but challenged by the prevailing norms as we get back to our careers? When we leave the "laboratory" of the Holy Days, do our resolutions work on the "launch pad" — in the real world where our commitments are challenged at every turn?
 
If we did our equations properly in this laboratory, they will work in the real world. But if we do not live our workaday lives differently, then all the drama of the holidays is impressive, but they miss their entire goal: that we lead our everyday lives as a journey to G‑dliness and integrity that takes us this year to places we have never been before.

In the Haftarah (reading from the Prophets) for the morning of Yom Kippur the Prophet Isaiah challenges us to do precisely this — that we "launch" our holy days into the real world:
Is such the fast that I have chosen? The day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to G‑d?

Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the fetters of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?

Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When you see the naked, that you cover him, and that thou hide not yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your healing shall spring forth speedily; and your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of G‑d shall be your rearward.

Then your shall call, and G‑d will answer; you shall cry, and He will say: 'Here I am.' If you take away from your midst the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedness.

And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in darkness, and your gloom be as the noon-day;

And G‑d will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make strong your bones; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (Isaiah 58:5-11)

 
By Shlomo Yaffe
 

Schedule for Week of  10/16 - /10/23

Friday 10/16
1. Morning Services in main sanctuary @ 7AM by Zoom



2. Candle Lighting for Shabbat Breishit /Shabbat Mevarchim Cheshvan . No later than 5:48 PM

Mincha / Kabbalat Shabbat  in Social Hall 5:45 PM
 
Shabbat Breishit /Shabbat Mevarchim Cheshvan 10/17 
1. Morning Services 9 AM 
Please recite all prayers (except Baruch She'amar)  before Mizmor Shir l'yom Hashabbat before arriving at Synagogue . We begin with Baruch She'amar and Mizmor Shir
Torah Reading: Bereishit - Genesis 1:1 - 6:8 (Hertz pg. 2 / Artscroll pg. 2) 
Special Haftara for the Eve of Rosh Chodesh: "Machar Chodesh" Samuel 1 20:18-42 (Hertz pg 948 /Artscroll pg 1207)
 
2.  Mincha 5:35  PM

3. Motzei Shabbat- Shabbat ends 6:48PM



Sunday  10/18/20 Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan Day 1 
1. Sunday Zoom Shacharit service  @ 8AM



SUNDAY TALMUD CLASS  Mastering Talmud Class 9:30 AM  zoom

Also on Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1

 

 
Monday 10/19 Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan Day 2
Morning services @ 7AM by Zoom:

 


No Morning Aggadah Class due to Rosh Chodesh



Tuesday 10/20 - We Resume Tachanun
Morning services by Zoom:



New Jewish Ethics and Thought Class: Amazing Aggadah - The Non-Legends of the Talmud zoom

8:30 - 9AM

Also on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1
New Class! Explore The Haftarot!
Haftarah -in Depth  7:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) by Zoom

Also on Facebook Livehttps://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1



Wednesday 10/21
Morning services by Zoom:




 

Thursday 10/22
Morning services by Zoom:



New Jewish Ethics and Thought Class: Amazing Aggadah - The Non-Legends of the Talmud

8:30 - 9AM Zoom

Also on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1


The Big Idea  Thursday 10/22  7:30 PM EDT
The Wrong Apple - A Deeper Dive into Eden, Eatin', and Excuses

Also on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/bnai.torah.1

Friday  10/23
Morning services by Zoom:

 


New Jewish Ethics and Thought Class: Amazing Aggadah - The Non-Legends of the Talmud

8:30 - 9AM Zoom
 

Shabbat Noach Eve:
Candle Lighting: 5:35PM
Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat : 5:45 PM



A Tutorial -based Supplemental School  for Jewish Children.
Don’t Let The Pandemic Get In the Way of Your Child’s Jewish Education!


A Bespoke Hebrew School Tutoring Program for Your Child at Bnai Torah  - Open to All

We offer Hebrew reading and Language, Judaism, Holidays and Judaic Ethics

We will study with your children individually and develop a curriculum for each of them tailored to each child.

We abide by all necessary COVID-19 Precautions. We will be meeting outdoors, weather permitting - with masks.

As it gets colder, or in inclement weather, we will begin socially distanced indoor study with each family separately -in appropriate spaces in the Bnai Torah building. Our building is sanitized regularly.

We meet one-on-one once or twice a week for 30-minute sessions

Fees: Members of Bnai Torah:  Weekly: $15 for one session a week, $25 for two sessions a week

                             Non-Members: Weekly: $25 for one session a week $40 for two sessions a week

Please contact Chana Yaffe via email  at chanieyaffe@gmail.com or call /text on 857.230.8826 for more information and to register

Follow our website and Blog at https://www.bnaitorahma.org/

Friday, October 9, 2020

Important Correction! Havdalah time and zoom Service times

 Important Correction!


Havdalah / End of YomTov

on Sunday, 10/11 - Simchat

Torah is at no earlier than: 


6:56 PM

(Not! 5:56 PM)


Also - Zoom Shacharit services are at 7:00AM all week