SERVICE OF THE HEART

25 Adar 1 5779 / 1-2 March 2019

Parashat Vayakhel - Shabbat Shekalim

Torah: Exodus 35:1 – 38:20

Maftir (Shekalim): Exodus 30:11-16

Haftarah (Shekalim): 2 Kings 12:1-17 (Ashkenazim); 2 Kings 11:17 - 12:17 (Sephardim)

Dedications and this week’s calendar are below. For more information about our community, visit: http://bnaihayim.com

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

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SERVICE OF THE HEART

"Take from among you gifts to the Lord; everyone whose heart so moves him shall bring them ... Every man and woman whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded to be done, through Moses; the Israelites brought free will offerings to the Lord." Exodus 35:5; 35:29

The free-will gifts mentioned here relate to the construction of the tabernacle and the ritual objects and vestments utilized by the Israelite priests. With no more Temple in Jerusalem, we have found different ways to make holy gifts, in the form of tzedakah (charity) and gemilut chasadim (deeds of lovingkindness). Specifically for Purim, we have Mishlo’ach Manot (sending gifts of food) and Matanot L’evyonim (gifts of food or money to the poor). For Pesach we have Ma’ot Chittim (tzedakah specifically so the poor can observe the festival). Although these are mitzvot, acts which are commanded, just like the half-shekel donation, we must admit that we give more and we do more when our hearts are moved to do so.

We have been told by our Rabbis that the Temple was destroyed because of sin'at chinam, senseless hatred, and that we will be redeemed through ahavat chinam, senseless love of our fellow human beings.

Observance of the mitzvot may be seen as a form of worship – just as our prayer services are. Perhaps our path to redemption, for ourselves, for our communities, and for our world, is for our hearts to be constantly moved with love of these mitzvot and of those who benefit from them, so that we continually engage in Avodat HaLev - the service of the heart

Our society is engaged in a struggle between love and hate, between caring for each other and treating people like they were disposable. God promises us through Ezekiel (36:21),"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit into you; I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh."

Don’t wait for God’s heart transplant! Don't wait until your heart moves you! Move your heart!

Shabbat Shalom!

Der Heiliger Shlabodkieviller Rebbe Abba Reuven ben Menachem Mendel Flom
Av Beis Din - Chelm

Slivovitz Taste Tester

משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה

From the beginning of Adar, we increase joy.

BT Ta’anit 29a

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CALENDAR

Candle lighting: 5:32 pm

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

Saturday – Breakfast and Torah study - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service - 9:30 am. Kiddush luncheon follows.

Sunday - Religious School - 9:30 am.

Tuesday – Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon. Continuing with learning Midrashim on Purim! Rehearsal (everyone is welcome! – even if not at previous read-through) for this year’s Disney-themed Purim Shpiel – 7:00 pm.

Friday, March 8 – Tot Shabbat Service – 6:30 pm. A 45-minute Guitar-Accompanied Service and a Kids’ Story with Reb Jason and Rabbi Flom, with a kid-friendly Oneg Shabbat. Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows

Saturday, March 9 – Breakfast and Torah study - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service - 9:30 am. Kiddush luncheon follows.

Looking ahead:

Sunday, March 17 - We need help in assembling and delivering Mishloach Manot baskets on.  Please contact Susan Burke or Melinda Trauman if you can pitch in.

Wednesday, March 20 - Purim dinner, shpiel and megillah reading, beginning 6:00 pm. RSVP to TBH office.

Sunday, March 31 – Sisterhood Meeting – 11:00 am. Movie Time! Yentl, starring Barbara Streisand - 2:00 pm.

Saturday, April 6 – Women’s Rosh Chodesh Shabbat Morning Service – contact Carol Herskowitz or Lynn Kronzek for more details. 

Saturday, April 13 – Sh’MA Service (Shabbat Morning Adventure) – 9:30 am. A Guitar-led, singalong service with Dr. Steve Pearlman. Designed for the whole family! Followed by kiddush luncheon.

Saturday, April 20 – Community Second Seder Shel Pesach – more info to follow.

Sunday, May 19 – TBH/CBM Concert and Fundraiser – with music, comedy, silent auction, and food and drink. Check our website: http://bnaihayim.com for details. Or contact the TBH office.

Sunday, June 2 - Afternoon at the Colony Theater – “Old Jews Telling Jokes” – a bawdy (may not be suitable for minors) visit to the Catskills with Jokes, Skits, Song & Dance! More info to follow.

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

TBH Religious School and TBH Preschool have open enrollment. Enroll your children now! Contact the TBH office for information.

And be sure to tell your neighbors, friends, and relatives about our warm and welcoming community and our programs!

We are looking for volunteers for services: chant Torah or Haftarah, daven, lead English readings, deliver d’rashot, and have aliyot and other Torah/bimah honors. Training available! Contact Rabbi Flom by e-mail for details and to sign up!

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Elisheva bat Malkah, Ze’ev ben Adeline, Liora bat Sarah, Eilite bat Miriam, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Bernard Garvin, Leah Granat, Brandon Joseph, Gabor Klein, Philip Kovac, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Imanu), Marilyn Lee, David Marks, Debra Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), Bernie Seeman, Irwin Silon, William Sragow, and Jonathan Woolf.

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 weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call! Cyber Torah list management:

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To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body.