GOD PROVIDES, PROVIDED YOU PROVIDE

Parashat Beshalach – Shabbat Shirah

11 Shevat 5775 / 30-31 January 2015
Torah: Exodus 13:17 - 17:16
Haftarah: Judges 4:4 - 5:31 (Ashkenazim); Judges 5:1-31 (Sefardim)

For a full calendar of events and other info about the Congregation Beth Meier community, check out: http://www.bethmeier.org

Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source
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GOD PROVIDES, PROVIDED YOU PROVIDE

"The Lord will fight (y'lachem) for you, and you will hold your peace (tacharishun)." Exodus 14:14

The commentary P'ninei Hatorah uses word play to understand this text. "God will arrange for you your livelihood, your bread (lechem), provided that 'you will hold your peace' - you must not rebel or quarrel among yourselves, because 'a single argument drives away one hundred livelihoods'" (quoting Shelah Hakadosh).

Rebbe Meir of Premishlan goes one better. "It is true that God provides bread to all - provided it is your obligation to work and to plow (l'charosh, punning on tacharishun)." (Both comments appear in "Itturei Torah")

Our teachers have simple but important messages. First, God provides us with a livelihood - provided we don't destroy each others' livelihoods through petty disputes. To me, this means even more - that which God creates, we have the power to destroy. Second, God helps those who help themselves. God creates wheat, but we must sow, work, harvest, grind and bake before it becomes bread. We are able to beautify and improve upon God's handiwork in order to make use of it.

This Tu Bish'vat, remember - we are the ones who have the power to improve the world - or destroy it.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00

Congregation Beth Meier

Studio City, CA

http://www.bethmeier.org

Visit me on Facebook

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Candle lighting: 5:03 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 – 12:00 Noon.

Wednesday: Tu Bish’vat – The New Year of the Trees.

Friday, 6 February: Deadline to RSVP for Shabbat Dinner on 13 February. Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday, 7 February: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.

Sunday, 8 February: Religious School – 9:30 am. Adult Hebrew class – 10:00 am. Tu Bish’vat Seder – 10:00 am – All invited!

Tuesday, 10 February: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 Noon.

Friday, 13 February: Shabbat Dinner (reservations required – see above) – 6:00 pm. New members - free; adults - $5; 12 and under - $2. We’ll light, we’ll eat, we’ll sing …, followed by Family Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

The quadrennial elections for the World Zionist Congress are taking place NOW. This Congress, through the elected delegates, exercises control over budgets/expenditures of Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael (JNF), the Jewish Agency (aliyah and absorption) and the World Zionist Organization. Any Jew 18 years and older, residing in the United States, is eligible to participate. MERCAZ, the Zionist arm of the Conservative/Masorti movement, of which Beth Meier is an affiliate, is on the ballot. A very handy guide to the issues, parties and voting can be read at:

http://www.jewishjournal.com/religion/article/world_zionist_congress_elections_a_voters_guide

Watch your in-box for a brochure about a planned trip to Israel – May 7 – May 18, 2015

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah Mindel bat Toby, Stewart Benkle, Elsbet Brosky, John Todd Brosky, Howard Ehrlich, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Gig Flom,, Jerry Forman, Leo Hoenig (Leib ben Bella), Neal Hoffman (Nachum ben Dina), Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Jayne Kaplan, Lina Kniter (Lina bat Batya), Jeannie Kottler, Shirley Kronzek, Annie Rivera, and Rabbi Marc Wilson.

My weekly divrei torah are also available by free subscription to 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

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

Parashat Bo

Torah: Exodus 10:1 – 13:16

Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28

4 Shevat 5775 / 23-24 January 2015

Candle lighting: 4:56 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. Congregation Beth Meier Annual Members’ Meeting – 2:00 pm. Be there!

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 Noon.

Watch your in-box for a brochure about a planned trip to Israel – May 7 – May 18, 2015

For a full calendar of events and other info about the Congregation Beth Meier community, check out: www.bethmeier.org

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah Mindel bat Toby, Bonnie Baird, Stewart Benkle, Jeff Bluen, Elsbet Brosky, John Todd Brosky, Howard Ehrlich, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Gig Flom, Jerry Forman, Leo Hoenig (Leib ben Bella), Neal Hoffman (Nachum ben Dina), Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Jayne Kaplan, Lina Kniter (Lina bat Batya), Jeannie Kottler, Shirley Kronzek, Dr. Martin Lee, Annie Rivera, and Rabbi Marc Wilson.

Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.

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ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

Pharaoh called to Moses and said, "Go - serve the Lord; only your flocks and herds shall remain; even your little ones may go with you." And Moses said, "... And our livestock will go with us; not a hoof will remain; for from it we will take to serve the Lord our God." Exodus 10:24-26

The Yehudi Hakodesh of Pshischa understands this conversation as follows: Pharaoh said, "One may serve God purely in one's mind, without any action. If in truth you desire to serve God, why do you need your animals? Go - serve the Lord, with pure heart and intention, and you will need no animal sacrifices." Moses replied, "Intention alone, with no action associated with it, is unimportant and meaningless. The whole point is the action, which makes the intention profound." The Holy Jew concludes, "It is through action that one is aroused to serve God enthusiastically and to adhere to Him."

Let me be clear - prayer is an important and wholly (holy?) proper way to serve God. That is why we call prayer “avodah” - service. On the other hand, words may be viewed as cheap - we give up nothing, we make no sacrifice, in uttering them. And truthfully, the passive nature of prayer may have no lasting impact on anyone, including ourselves - unless the words ultimately motivate us to action. It’s easy to talk the talk. But walking the walk? Well, that doesn't have to be hard, but it still needs to be done.

If we are to have a positive effect on the world itself (tikkun olam), if we are to truly improve ourselves - then it is through the observance of the physical mitzvot. Whether charity, deeds of loving kindness and promoting peace, or kashrut, teaching our children and lighting Shabbat candles - it is through these actions that we truly serve God. We can improve our inner spiritual selves by going beyond ourselves. If you want God to act, you have to act. You too can be an action hero!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00

Congregation Beth Meier

Studio City, CA

http://www.bethmeier.org/

Visit me on Facebook

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My weekly divrei torah are also available by free subscription to 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

BREATHLESS IN EGYPT

Parashat Va’era

Torah: Exodus 6:2 – 9:35

Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25 – 29:21

26 Tevet 5775 / 16-17 January 2015

Calendar and dedications follow below. For a full calendar of events and other info about Congregation Beth Meier, check out: www.bethmeier.org

Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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BREATHLESS IN EGYPT

"And Moses spoke thus (as God had instructed him) to the Children of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses because of shortness of breath (mikotzer ruach) and hard work." Exodus 6:9

Rashi: Whoever is troubled, his wind and his breathing are short, and he cannot breathe a long breath.

Sforno: Their spirit prevented them from having faith in God, and they did not focus their hearts to understand.

Moses, following God's directions, has told the Israelites that they will be redeemed by God. But they ignore Moses, apparently because they are worn out - they are out of breath from being worked so hard by the Egyptians.

The 16th-century commentator, Sforno, understands "kotzer ruach" to mean a shortness of spirit ("ruach" can mean breath or spirit). Although we might think that their spirits were broken by slavery, so they could not listen to Moses, Sforno says “no”. He suggests that they were spiritually weak, unfocused, and consequently, they were punished by not being taken to the Promised Land - only their children, who had not had their spirits broken, would enter the land of Israel.

This seems rather harsh, somewhat like blaming the victim. But it is just the beginning of a pattern. No matter what God promises or does for the Israelites, before and after the exodus from Egypt, they never really believe - they never have faith. Even after all of the miracles, as we shall see in a few weeks, the Israelites create a golden calf to worship.

We often believe we are entitled to be redeemed simply because we have suffered. But we should also know that, just as one cannot recover from alcoholism (an insidious slavery) without working through the necessary steps, and just as one cannot firm up flabby muscles without physical exercise, one cannot be spiritually healed without doing spiritual work. We have to exercise our spiritual muscles the same way we work out at the gym - study Torah, pray, work at finding God, meditate, practice and live Judaism. You can get a spiritual rush - if you get pumped up!

Feel the burn - have a great Shabbat workout!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00

Congregation Beth Meier

Studio City, CA

http://www.bethmeier.org/

Blogging at: rav-rich.blogspot.com/

Visit me on Facebook

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Candlelighting: 4:49 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. Women's Rosh Chodesh Group - "New Moons, Shofars, and Women: Celebrating Rosh Chodesh Then and Now", presented by Jeannette Hartmann. 12:00 Noon - light lunch served. RSVP to office. 

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 Noon.

Sunday, 25 January: Congregation Beth Meier Annual Members’ Meeting – 2:00 pm.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Boaz ben Dina, Michah ben Dina, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah Mindel bat Toby, Bonnie Baird, Stewart Benkle, Jeff Bluen, Elsbet Brosky, John Todd Brosky, Howard Ehrlich, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Jerry Forman, Leo Hoenig (Leib ben Bella), Neal Hoffman (Nachum ben Dina), Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Jayne Kaplan, Lina Kniter (Lina bat Batya), Jeannie Kottler, Shirley Kronzek, Dr. Martin Lee, and Annie Rivera.

My weekly divrei torah are also available by free subscription to 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

THE UNBEARABLE BURDEN OF PATIENCE

Parashat Sh’mot
18 Tevet 5775 / 9-10 January 2015

Torah: Exodus 1:1 – 6:1

Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23

Calendar and dedications follow below. For a full calendar of events and other info about Congregation Beth Meier, check out: www.bethmeier.org

Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.

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 THE UNBEARABLE BURDEN OF PATIENCE

“And they set taskmasters over them in order to afflict them with their burdens ...”  Exodus 1:11

“And so it was in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked upon their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man, one of his brethren. Turning this way and that, and seeing that there was no man, he struck the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” 2:11-12

“Therefore say to the Children of Israel, ‘I am the Lord and I will bring you out from under the burdens of Egypt (mitzrayim).... and you will know that I am the Lord your God who brought you out from under the burdens of Egypt.’” 6:6-7

The Hebrew word for “burdens” is “sivlot” (סבלות), from the root s-v-l (ס-ב-ל). The root means “tolerate, endure, suffer”. It is also the root for the word “savlanut” (סבלנות), meaning “patience”. What exactly was the “burden”? Was it the slavery itself, or was it the acceptance of that slavery? Some commentators understand Moses’ actions to mean that he saw no man among the Hebrews who was willing to stand up and defend his fellow. No one would or could "man up!" They had come to accept their slavery and were not willing or able to fight for themselves. 

Many of us are in a type of Egypt. The Hebrew word for Egypt, “mitzrayim” (מצרים) literally means “narrow places”, but can be understood to mean “between a rock and a hard place”. In the case of addictions and other self-destructive behavior, it is usually we ourselves who set the taskmaster over us, who create the burden. We (initially) choose to take drugs or gamble, etc., and then get caught up in it. Once we become accepting of our self-inflicted suffering (we might even like it in a way), we find it difficult, if not impossible to pull ourselves out. True, we might be rescued by a Moses, who will fight for us when he sees that we have lost our ability to save ourselves. But we can't count on that.

If we turn ourselves over the “higher power” (God as we understand Him) that the Twelve Step programs advocate, if we acknowledge our inadequacy and inability, and seek help, then perhaps we will be delivered by God’s grace from the narrow, constricting space we find ourselves in. God did not act until He heard the groaning and cries for help from the Israelites. More important, perhaps, if we take positive, constructive action to eliminate our burdens, then we demonstrate we deserve or have earned deliverance. We need to take the first step. God helps those who help themselves.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00

Congregation Beth Meier

Studio City, CA

http://www.bethmeier.org

Blogging at: rav-rich.blogspot.com/

Visit me on Facebook

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Candlelighting: 4:43 pm

Friday: Family Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 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 – 12:00 Noon.

Looking ahead:

Sunday, 18 January: Women's Rosh Chodesh Group - "New Moons, Shofars, and Women: Celebrating Rosh Chodesh Then and Now", presented by Jeannette Hartmann. 12:00 Noon - light lunch served. RSVP to office. 

Sunday, 25 January: Congregation Beth Meier Annual Members’ Meeting – 2:00 pm.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Boaz ben Dina, Michah ben Dina, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah Mindel bat Toby, Bonnie Baird, Stewart Benkle, Jeff Bluen, Elsbet Brosky, John Todd Brosky, Howard Ehrlich, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Jerry Forman, Leo Hoenig (Leib ben Bella), Neal Hoffman (Nachum ben Dina), Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Jayne Kaplan, Lina Kniter (Lina bat Batya), Jeannie Kottler, Shirley Kronzek, and Annie Rivera.

My weekly divrei torah are also available by free subscription to 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