THE KISS

22 Tishrei 5774 / 26 September 2013
Shemini Atzeret (The Eighth Day of Assembly)
Torah: Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17; Numbers 29:35 - 30:1
Haftarah: 1 Kings 8:54-66 (some add 9:1)

23 Tishrei 5774 /  27 September 2013
Simchat Torah (Joy of the Torah)
Torah: Deuteronomy 33:1 - 34:12 (V’zot Hab’rakhah); Genesis 1:1 - 2:3 (Bereishit); Numbers 29:35 - 30:1
Haftarah: Joshua 1:1-18

24 Tishrei 5774 / 28 September 2013

Parashat Bereishit
Torah: Genesis 1:1 – 6:8
Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5 – 43:10

For a complete Calendar of Events, as well as lots of other information on our community, check out our web site at: http://bethmeier.org/ 

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The Kiss
 
"So Moses the servant of God died there, in the land of Moab , by the mouth of the Lord. He buried him in the valley, in the land of Moab , near Beth-Peor; and no one knows his burial place to this very day." Deuteronomy 34:5-6

This parashah has one of the most touching scenes in the Torah. Moses has spent the entire book of Deuteronomy (I call it "The Long Goodbye") recounting his life and times, as the leader of the Israelites and as the intercessor between them and God. Moses' relationships with the people and with God were fiery. He shepherded the Israelites, protected them from God's wrath, and castigated them.

In their conversations with each other, Moses and God seemed in a strange way like an old married couple - reminding each other of the old days, both good and bad; blaming each other for the faults of the Israelites, like parents arguing over children; seeking deeper understanding of each other; and finally, saying goodbye in a tender way. The Babylonian Talmud says that when Moses died, God took his soul by kissing him.

Today, many of us, whether Jewish or not, say we are seeking spirituality - we may want religious services to be spiritually uplifting, or we may want to feel closer to God in some way. But virtually all of us want it on our terms. It reminds me of my second year in rabbinical school, when there was an early attempt to develop a spirituality program for the students. We used to joke that the program required that "you will be spiritual every Thursday at 10".

What we need to acknowledge is that spiritual life can be like a lovers' relationship - it has its ups and downs, passion, loneliness, anger, intimacy, forgiveness. Why should our relationship with God be easier than our relationships with people? Like any other relationship, it takes a commitment of time, learning and emotion to develop a spiritual life. The payoff is that we know that at the end of our days, we will be able to look back at a life fulfilled, ending in a warm embrace from those we love.

Chag Shemini Atzeret v’Simchat Torah Sameach V'shabbat Shalom!
These are the seasons of our joy!
 
Rabbi Richard A. Flom - ZSRS '00
Congregation Beth Meier
Studio City, CA
http://www.bethmeier.org
Visit me on Facebook

"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still." Isaiah 62:1

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Candlelighting:

Shemini Atzeret begins Wednesday evening – light Yizkor candle before festival candles

Wednesday: 6:27 pm
Simchat Torah begins Thursday evening
Thursday: 7:21 pm
Shabbat begins Friday evening
Friday: 6:24 pm

Events:

 

Thursday: Shemini Atzeret Morning Service, including Yizkor – 10:00 am

Thursday evening: Simchat Torah Evening Service – 7:30 pm
Friday: Simchat Torah Morning Service – 10:00 am
Friday evening: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm
Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am
Sunday: Religious School – 9:30 am
 
Watch out for our new Adult Education Classes! Lynda Foster and Deb Sigel will be teaching Introductory Hebrew on Sunday morning, beginning in late October. Rabbi Flom’s (Re)Introduction to Judaism will meet on 18-20 Thursday evenings, beginning October 10, through May. Curriculum and reading list will be posted Sunday.

Don't forget to bring non-perishable food items (no glass) for SOVA the next time you come to Beth Meier.
 
This d'var torah is offered in honor of Dustin Kronzek, becoming a bar mitzvah this Shabbat. Mazal tov!
 
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Boaz ben Dina, Dov Nechemya Hakohen ben Rachel Chaya Sarah, Eve Beatty, Howard Ehrlich, Joshua Erenmark, Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Sara Lanxner, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Gil Robbins, and Rachel Robbins.
 
Please let me know if there is anyone you would like to add to this list or if there is anyone who may be removed from this list.

My weekly divrei torah are also available from the Cyber Torah list. 
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