13 Adar II 5774 / 14-15 March 2014
Parashat Tzav (Shabbat Zakhor – The
Sabbath of Remembering)
Torah: Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36
Maftir: Deuteronomy 25:17-19
Haftarah: 1 Samuel 15:2-34 (Ashkenazim); 1
Samuel 15:1-34 (Sephardim)
Dedications and Beth Meier Upcoming Events
follow. Full calendar available at: http://www.bethmeier.org
Please feel free to pass this on, and cite
the source.
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TO THE FUTURE!
“If he offers it for a thanksgiving, he
will offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with oil,
and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mixed with oil, of fine
flour, fried.” Leviticus 7:12
The Midrash says that in the future, all
of the sacrifices will be abolished except for the thanksgiving
sacrifice. A Chasidic teaching explains that a person who has never
sinned, even through negligence, and who has never needed to bring a sacrifice
for any sin, must nevertheless bring a thanksgiving sacrifice - to thank God
for the fact that he had been saved from sin.
The end of this Shabbat brings on the
festival of Purim, which celebrates the rescue of the Jews of Persia, under the
leadership of Mordechai and Esther, from the hands of the evil
Haman. Interestingly, another Midrash teaches that, in the future, all of
the Jewish festivals will be abolished except for Purim and Yom Kippur.
How do we reconcile these two
teachings? If there is no sin (implied by the elimination of the sin
offerings), why would we need to have Yom Kippur, a Day of Atonement for asking
God to forgive our sins? Perhaps the only possible sin would be to fail to
observe Purim, a day for celebrating the elimination of Amalek, the symbol of
evil.
Let’s get a jump-start on the
future. Pesach starts in one month - we can start spring cleaning in our
own spiritual houses now, by eliminating evil inclinations, like greed and
envy, from our own lives. Then we'll really have something to celebrate! The
future will be here sooner than we think!
Mishenichnas Adar, marbim b’simchah!
With the entry of the month of Adar, we
increase joy!
Be Happy! Purim is coming!
Shabbat Shalom! Purim Sameach!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Congregation Beth Meier
Studio
City, CA
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: 6:41 pm
Friday: Family Shabbat Evening
Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00
am. Torah: Warren Trauman; Rabbi Flom; Haftarah: Melinda Trauman. Kiddush
lunch follows.
Saturday evening: PURIM! Havdalah,
followed by chanting of Megillat Esther by Dr. Samuel Fersht – 8:00 pm.
The entire congregation is invited to join in the fun! Don’t forget to
wear your costume! Hamentaschen and appropriate beverages, of course! Barukh Mordechai! Arur
Haman!
Sunday: Religious School Purim happening. More Hamentaschen! Kids, come
in a costume!
Tuesday: NO Lunch and Learn – Rabbi Flom out of town. Meet again
March 25.
Wednesday: NO (Re)Introduction to Judaism
Class. Next meeting – March 26.
This d'var torah is offered in honor of
Jane and Barry Glass, celebrating their wedding anniversary on Sunday – Purim.
Mazal tov!
This d'var torah is offered in honor of
Melinda and Warren Trauman, celebrating their wedding anniversary on Tuesday.
Mazal tov!
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah
shleimah for Blimah Reizel bat Ruchel, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Serach bat
Miriam, Eve Beatty, Howard Ehrlich, Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Rose
Jordan, Steven Kleiger, Lizzie Legnine, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider,
Marguerite Rassiner, and Neil Turbov.
Please let me know if there is anyone you
would like to add to the refuah shleimah list or if there is anyone who may be
removed from the list.
My divrei torah are also available via
e-mail from the Cyber Torah list.
Cyber Torah list management (no salesman
will call!):
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e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
Send requests for dedications of Cyber
Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah
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