REMEMBER?

13 Adar 5777 / 10-11 March 2017

Parashat Tetzaveh (Shabbat Zakhor)

Torah: Exodus 27:20 - 30:10
Maftir (Shabbat Zakhor): Deuteronomy 25:17-19

Haftarah (Shabbat Zakhor): 1 Samuel 15:1-34

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REMEMBER?

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Zakhor (Remember) because of the first word of the Maftir, the additional Torah reading, which instructs us to remember what Amalek did to our ancestors on the way out of Egypt. This serves as a connection to the observance of Purim, Saturday night and Sunday, when we commemorate the defeat of Haman, a descendant of Amalek. However, I want to focus on a different kind of remembering, mentioned in the regular portion for this Shabbat.

"And you shall put the two stones upon the shoulder pieces of the ephod, stones of remembrance for the Children of Israel; and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a remembrance... And Aaron shall bear the names of the Children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, for a remembrance before the Lord perpetually." Exodus 28:12, 29

"For a remembrance - that the Holy One Blessed Be He should see the tribes written before Him and remember their righteousness." (tzidkatam – their righteousness) Rashi to verse 12, citing Midrash Exodus Rabbah

"Memory is the source of redemption; exile comes from forgetting." Baal Shem Tov to verse 29.

The names of the tribes were engraved on the stones as a reminder - to whom? Rashi teaches that God needs to be reminded of the righteousness of our ancestors. Perhaps it is to remind God of our righteousness; we also are the Children of Israel. Does God really need to be reminded of anything - as if God could forget! Yet many of the prayers which we regularly offer do just that.

I understand the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chasidism, as saying "no!" We are the ones who need to remember. If we are righteous, we need to remember that we once were not. If we are not righteous, we must remember that we can become so - if we try. Remembering takes on redeeming qualities, because it can compel us to perform acts of righteousness. So it is imperative to remember what you once were; to be reminded of what you have the potential to become; and to do something about it, by performing acts of tzedek and tzedakah, of justice and of righteousness.

Have a wonderful Shabbat! Purim Sameach! Barukh Mordechai; Arur Haman! 

HaRav HaGaon HaTzaddik Abba Reuven Ben Menachem Mendel Flom, Sh’lita

Der Heileger Rebbe of Studio City

Rosh Yeshivah – Lower Slobbovia

Slivovitz Taste Tester
משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה

From the beginning of Adar, we increase joy.

BT Ta’anit 29a

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Candle lighting: 5:38 pm

Friday – Family Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday – Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush luncheon follows. Purim at Temple B’nai Hayim - 7:00 pm. Light dairy dinner (reservations at B’nai Hayim, please!), followed by Purim Shpiel and Megillat Esther at 7:45 pm. Turn clocks ahead one hour tonight!

Sunday – Purim at Beth Meier – Haman Lunch 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Songs, games, costumes, lunch (reservations please!) Adult Hebrew class – 10:00 am.

Tuesday – Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.

Friday, 17 March – Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows. 

Saturday, 18 March – Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush luncheon follows. 

Sunday, 19 March – Religious School – 9:30 am. Adult Hebrew Class – 10:00 am

Tuesday, 21 March – NO Lunch and Learn. Resume 28 March.

This d'var torah is offered of my mother, Annabelle Flom, celebrating her birthday this Shabbat. Yom huledet sameach, ima! Ad meah v’esrim! Happy Birthday, Mom! Til a hundred and twenty!

This d'var torah is offered in honor of Rochelle Kronzek and Steve Miller, who are getting married on Thursday, March 16. Mazal tov!

This d'var torah is offered in honor of Jane and Barry Glass, celebrating their Jewish wedding date anniversary on Purim. Mazal tov!

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Yaakov Rani Ben Margalit, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Kyree Beacham, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky (Serach bat Miriam), Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Leonard Foint (Eliezer Moshe ben Esther), Jerry Forman, Beth Goldstein, Myra Goodman, Simon Hartman (Shimon ben Serach), Fouad Kay (Yehoshua ben Salima), Philip Kovac, Tonya Kronzek, Toni Linder, Roy Miller, Carol Rosen (Tsharna Aliza bat Leah), Deborah Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), and Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina).

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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