GOT A LIGHT?

Parashat Tetzaveh

Torah: Exodus 27:20 - 3010
Haftarah: Ezekiel 43:10-27

11 Adar 1 5776 / 19-20 February 2016

Calendar of events for the next two weeks follows. For a full calendar and other info about our community, check out:  www.bethmeier.org

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

Congregation Beth Meier has developed a GoFundMe page: Please visit the page and consider a donation. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

https://www.gofundme.com/saveourschul

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GOT A LIGHT?

“And you shall command the Children of Israel, that they take for you pure olive oil, beaten for the light, that a lamp burn continually (tamid).” Exodus 27:20

What was the purpose of the lamp? For whom was the lamp kept burning? Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani interpreted the verse to mean: “They take for you and not for Me; I do not need the light.” The commentary Torah Temimah, citing Sefer Chinukh, says that the commandment for lighting the menorah was so that the sanctuary would be brightly lit, and that would be for “the glory of Israel”. All of the commandments regarding the sanctuary were for Israel’s glory. Thus, the Torah says, “Take for you” - and not for Me; it is for the glory of Israel.

Although our synagogues today all maintain a Ner Tamid, which we frequently translate as the “Eternal Lamp”, I have to wonder if that is sufficient glory for Israel. Note that Rashi, citing other verses in the Torah, explains that the Ner Tamid in our verse did not burn continuously; rather, it was lit “regularly”, on a schedule. It did not burn 24/7. 

That being the case, I would suggest that every one of us can establish our own Ner Tamid. You can turn your very own home into a sanctuary by kindling Shabbat candles on a regular basis. Get a new kind of light in your home - do it for the glory of Israel, and for sanctifying your own life.

Be Happy – It’s Adar! Shabbat Shalom!

Grand Rabbi Abba Reuven ben Menachem Mendel Flom, Sh’lita

Der Heiliger Shlabodkieville Rebbe
Av Beis Din - Chelm

Mishenichnas Adar, Marbim B’simcha - From the beginning of Adar, we increase joy!

Congregation Beth Meier - Studio City , CA

Website: http://bethmeier.org

Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com

"From the place where we are absolutely right, flowers will never grow in the spring."

"מן המקום שבו אנו צודקים לא יצמחו לעולם פרחים באביב"

Yehuda Amichai

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Candlelighting: 5:22 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. 

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon

Friday, 26 February: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday, 27 February: Shabbat morning service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.

Sunday, 28 February: Religious School – 9:30 am. Adult Hebrew Class - 10:00. 

SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA is coming – Friday, March 4 – Learners’ Service and Shabbat Dinner – mark your calendar. Cost - $5.00/person – RSVP MANDATORY! You can now view the flyer at:

http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2016/01/shabbat-across-america-at-beth-meier.html

For Shabbat Across America, off-street parking will be available at First Christian Church cattycorner from the synagogue.

Next time you come to Beth Meier, please bring some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal items (no glass) for SOVA.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah bat Devorah, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Peter Chernack, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Leonard Foint (Eliezer Moshe ben Esther), Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Stephanie Kane, Philip Kovac, Suzanne Rosenthal (Sima Devorah bat Chanah), and Deborah Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga).

           

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.

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