Thursday, March 27, 2014

HOLD THAT THOUGHT - REALLY!

27 Adar II 5774 / 28-29 March 2014
Parashat Tazria (Shabbat Hachodesh)
Torah: Leviticus 12:1-13:59
Maftir (Hachodesh): Exodus 12:1-20
Haftarah (HaChodesh): Ezekiel 45:16-46:18
 
Dedications and Beth Meier Upcoming Events follow. For more information about our community, please visit: http://bethmeier.org
 
Please feel free to pass this on this to a friend, and please cite the source.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOLD THAT THOUGHT - REALLY!

‘And the person with tzara’at, in whom there is affliction, his clothes shall be torn, his hair shall go uncut, and he shall cover over his lips; and “Contaminated!  Contaminated!” he will call out. All the days the affliction is in him, he will be contaminated, he is contaminated; he will dwell in isolation, his dwelling will be outside the camp.’ Leviticus 13:45-46

The term tzara’at is often mistranslated as “leprosy”, but it is obvious from a close reading of the text that this is no typical physical disease. The person with tzara’at is called a “metzora”, and the Rabbis taught that this is a contraction for “motzi shem ra” - one who brings forth a bad name, i.e., a slanderer or gossip. Slander itself is referred to as “lashon hara” - evil language.

In Jewish tradition, this is a spiritual disease, one that each and every one of us contracts from time to time - some seem to have a chronic condition! It is a highly contagious disease that is difficult to stop from spreading. The story is told of a man who repented of lashon hara. He asked a rabbi how to atone. The rabbi said, “Cut open a feather pillow, and empty it out into the wind. Then go and collect all of the feathers.”

The Torah’s “cure” is to require one to separate oneself from the community for a time, cover up the lips, and cry out “Contaminated!” Rabbi Israel Salanter says that the metzora is told, “If you are so good at finding fault in others, separate from the community, live in isolation and search out your own faults!”

How can we cry out when our lips are sealed? We must cry within. Consider the meditation, following the Amidah, which begins: “My God, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking guile.” 

This is a form of self-inoculation. If we isolate ourselves from slander and gossip by covering our ears, if we cover our mouths before we speak, if we examine ourselves before criticizing others, and if we cry out from the heart, then we can eliminate the contagion of lashon hara. Don't speak your mind - hold that thought!

Shabbat shalom v'lashon tovah - a Shabbat of peace and good language.
 
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Candlelighting: 6:52 pm
 
Friday: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.
Sunday: Religious School – 9:30 am. Adult Hebrew Class – 10:00 am.
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn - noon.
Wednesday: (Re)Introduction to Judaism Class – 7:30 pm. This is a special session – “A Stroll Through the Seder” - all are invited to attend, as we study the Hagaddah shel Pesach in preparation for the Passover Seder. If you want, bring a copy of the hagaddah you’ll be using at your seder – otherwise, we’ll provide for the class.
 
This d'var torah is offered in memory of Zoe Sorkin, who passed away on Tuesday. Funeral is Friday, March 28, at Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, at 11:30 am. Y’hi zikhronah liv’rakhah.
 
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, Leonard Foint, Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Steven Kleiger, 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!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an 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 to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net

Thursday, March 20, 2014

YOU CAN’T BE HOLY BY PLAYING WITH FIRE


20 Adar II 5774 / 21-22 March 2014
Parashat Shemini
Torah: Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47
Maftir: Numbers 19:1-22 (Shabbat Parah)
Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:16-38 (Shabbat Parah) 

Calendar follows below.  See our web site at www.behmeier.org for complete listings. 

Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOU CAN’T BE HOLY BY PLAYING WITH FIRE

A fire came forth from the Lord, and devoured (Nadav and Avihu), and they died before the Lord. Moses said to Aaron, "Of this did the Lord speak, saying: 'I will be made holy (ekadesh) through those who are nearest Me, thus I will be honored before the entire people.'" And Aaron was silent. Leviticus 10:2-3

For I am the Lord your God - you are to make yourselves holy (v'hitkadishtem), and you shall be holy (vi'yitem kedoshim), for I am holy (kadosh ani). Leviticus 11:44

The deaths of Nadav and Abihu have troubled readers for millennia.  Were they being punished? Or, were their deaths actually some form of reward?

The Midrashim suggest that both questions might be answered in the affirmative. The brothers brought "strange fire", an incense offering not commanded by God, to the Kodesh Hakadoshim, the Holy of Holies, which was to be entered only by the high priest, only on Yom Kippur. Put in the best light, they wanted to "do more", to be extra holy, by bringing an offering of their own. Their sin was in entering the Holy of Holies and making a strange offering. The reward was in being brought directly to God, for they had desired to show their own deep love and devotion to God.

However, I believe Nadav and Avihu sinned. Their actions are self-indulgent, "holier than thou." Their deaths are not a reward, but punishment, for having gone beyond the commandments, and entering forbidden territory. No form of the root word "k'd'sh" (holy) is used regarding them. God made God's Self holy by destroying those who drew too near, in the wrong way.

The way for us to be holy, according to the Torah, is to draw near to God in the right way, by "merely" following the commandments. There is enough to do without going beyond their limits. God desires that we not draw so near through false or misconceived piety that we get burned, for in death, there is no remembering God (Psalm 6) nor praising of God (Psalm 115).

Shabbat Shalom.
 

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
-----------------------------------------------
Candlelighting: 6:47 pm

Friday: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows. Service conducted by Warren and Melinda Trauman.
Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Service conducted by Barry Glass, Kerry Katz, Warren Trauman, and Melinda Trauman. Torah: Barry Glass; Haftarah: Linda Foster. Kiddush lunch follows.
Sunday: Religious School – 9:30 am. Adult Hebrew Class – 10:00 am.
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn - noon.
Wednesday: (Re)Introduction to Judaism Class – 7:30 pm. 

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!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an 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 to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

TO THE FUTURE!

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.
----------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------------------
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!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an 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 to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

YOU'RE GETTING CLOSER

Parashat Vayikra
6 Adar II 5774 / 7-8 March 2014
Torah: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26
Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23


Calendar of Events follows.  Full calendar available at: http://www.bethmeier.org/ 


Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
--------------------------------------------------
You’re Getting Closer


“When a person from among you should offer (yakriv) an offering (korban) to the Lord ...” Leviticus 1:2


Rabbi Elazar: Doing deeds of charity is greater than all of the sacrificial offerings (korbanot). BT Sukkah 49b


The word “korban” has an interesting etymology. The word is usually translated as “offering” or “sacrifice”. The book of Leviticus uses the word, or some variant of it, numerous times in this and succeeding parshiot, describing in graphic detail the various animal and grain sacrifices. The root of the word is k-r-v, which means “to draw near”.


The rabbis wondered why the sacrificial rite should use this particular term. One classic explanation is that the smoke of the sacrifice rose up to God, and drew God near to the person making the offering. Another explanation is that, by offering something of significant value, the person was bringing him/herself closer to God, a not-so-subtle difference. There were many types of sacrifices: atonement, freewill, thanksgiving, purification, and others. With the Temple destroyed and the sacrifices gone, we might ask how it is possible to draw close to God. I do not believe that Rabbi Elazar’s answer is sufficient, for giving charity, or performing any other “good deed”, in and of itself, does not necessarily make any spiritual connection for us, even if fulfilling the commandment makes us “feel good”.


Now consider this brief statement, recited before donning tefillin: “For the sake of the unification of the Holy One Blessed is He, and His Presence ... Here I am, intending to fulfill the mitzvah of my Creator ...” The Kabbalists teach that performing the mitzvah of tefillin brings us closer to God, and God closer to us, IF THAT IS OUR INTENT. I would go a step further. We ought to focus on bringing ourselves closer to God whenever we observe ANY mitzvah, whether it is giving charity or lighting Shabbat candles or reciting the Sh’ma or praying.


In other words, every mitzvah is a “korban”, an offering of drawing closer to God, if we intend that it be so. There is a world of difference between lighting candles for atmosphere and reciting a blessing over them. And there is a significant difference between reciting a blessing by rote and intending that one truly bring God into one’s life through an act and accompanying blessing. But that is a sacrifice that should be easy to make.


Shabbat Shalom!


Rabbi Richard A. Flom
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
--------------------------------------------------------
Candlelighting: 5:36 pm


Friday: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.
Sunday: Religious School – 9:30 am. Adult Hebrew Class – 10:00 am. Installation of Rabbi Flom and Silent Auction – 1:00 pm. Contact the Beth Meier office for details and tickets.
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn - noon.
Wednesday: (Re)Introducion to Judaism class– 7:30 pm.
Saturday, 15 March: Purim evening – 8:00 pm havdalah followed by reading of Megillat Esther. Come and party down! Wear a costume! Nosh hamentaschen! Imbibe a bit! Barukh Mordechai; Arur Haman!
Sunday, 16 March: Purim morning – 9:30 am. Religious School Purim fun. Don’t forget to wear a costume and nosh some hamentaschen!


The Rabbinical Assembly's annual guide for Pesach is available on-line for download. It's not too early to start thinking about your spring cleaning and Passover prep! The guide is available at: rabbinicalassembly.org/pesah-guide


This d'var torah is offered in honor of my mother, Annabelle Flom, whose birthday (second bat mitzvah!) is on Tuesday, March 11. Yom huledet sameach, ima! Ad meah v’esrim!


This d’var torah is offered in honor of the members of the Rabbi Installation Committee, under the leadership of Ken Goodman, for the great event this coming Sunday. Y’yasher kochakhem!


This d’var torah is offered in honor of Rabbi Dan Shevitz, my teacher, colleague and friend, who is presiding at my installation this Sunday. Thank you!


This d’var torah is offered in honor of the members of Congregation Beth Meier in thanks for the honor and privilege they have bestowed upon me. Thank you!


This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Blimah Reizel bat Ruchel, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Eve Beatty, Howard Ehrlich, Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Steven Kleiger, Lizzie Legnine, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Margeurite Rassiner, and Neil Turbov.


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 divrei torah are also available via e-mail from the Cyber Torah list.
Cyber Torah list management (no salesman will call!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an 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 to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net

NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTS!

Parashat Vayikra (Shabbat Zakhor) 2 Adar 13, 5784 / March 22-23, 2024 Torah: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 Maftir: Deuteronomy 25:17-1 Haftarah (Zakh...