SOMETHING OF VALUE

Parashat Ki Tisa
Torah: Exodus 30:11-34:35
Haftarah: 1 Kings 18:1-39

18 Adar 1 5779 / 22-23 February 2019

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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SOMETHING OF VALUE

“And the people broke off the golden earrings that were in their ears - and brought them to Aaron.” Exodus 32:3

“And the Lord repented of the evil that He had thought to do to His people.” 32:14

Rabbi Eizel of Slonim on verse 3: “Truly this was a great sin committed by Israel in making the golden calf. For all that, we must admit that that generation was better than our own. The members of that generation were willing to cast away their silver and gold in order to make gods for themselves; but today, in our great iniquity, we think it permissible to cast away God solely for wealth and happiness.”

Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk on verse 14: “Why did He forgive the sin of the golden calf even though the people did not repent, while He did not forgive the sin of the spies even though the people did repent? The sin of the calf had at least a spark of holiness, a thirst for the Divine. But the sin of the spies was all about a better material life.”

These are fascinating comments. Our teachers boldly imply that even mistaken worship of false gods is better than denying divinity altogether. It is not that money and happiness are innately sinful. Certainly not true happiness! Greed and narcissism are the true enemies of holiness. The evil arises from giving up on any sense of Godliness in order to pursue only worldliness.

Shabbat Shalom U’Mevorakh - A Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat!

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: 5:2 pm

Friday – Shabbat Rocks, with Reb Jason and the Shul of Rock – 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 at 9:30 am.

Tuesday – Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon. Continuing with our 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 1 – Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows

Saturday, March 2 – Breakfast and Torah study - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service - 9:30 am. Kiddush luncheon follows.

Friday, March 8 – Tot Shabbat Service. More info to follow.

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 - Movie Time! Yentl, starring Barbara Streisand. 2:00 pm. More info to follow.

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). A Guitar-led, singalong service with Dr. Steve Pearlman. Designed for the whole family! Followed by kiddush luncheon. 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, 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.