WAYS AND MEANS

Parashat Behar
Torah: Leviticus 25:1 – 26:2
Haftarah: Jeremiah 32:6-27

20 Iyar 5779 / 24-25 May 2019

Barukh Dayan Ha’emet. We regret to advise you of the passing of Abraham “Avremi” Manzur, husband of Brenda Manzur, on Thursday – Lag B’omer. Graveside funeral is Friday at Eden Memorial Park, Mission Hills, at 10:00 am.

A reception will follow at Avremi and Brenda’s home, 7673 Quakertown Avenue, Winnetka 91306. Shivah minyanim will be held at their home Sunday-Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm. The congregation extends its condolences to Brenda and to Avremi’s sons Gideon Manzur and Yoram Manzur. Hamakom yenachem otam … May the One Who is in Every Place grant comfort to the family and friends of Avremi Manzur.

Dedications and Calendar of Events follow. Full calendar and lots of other info available at:  http://www.bnaihayim.com/

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

"And if you say, 'What will we eat in the seventh year? Behold, we do not sow and do not gather in our crop', then I will command My blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth fruit for three years." (Leviticus 25:21)

Every seventh year, known as shmittah, the land of Israel is not to be tilled. During that year, the people are to live on the harvest from the end of the sixth year plus anything growing wild. During the eighth year (the first year in the next cycle), they are to survive on surplus from the sixth plus anything growing wild in the seventh and eighth years until the new crop comes in. Imported food is also permitted.

A number of commentators have suggested that one purpose of the shmittah year is to teach the wealthy what it is like to lack resources and not have all that they want. They will develop humility and an understanding of the need to help the poor.

But will they? After all, the rich will merely plan ahead with extra stores, or use their wealth to purchase what they need. So, what does God mean by "I will command My blessing"?

Perhaps this: "And if your brother becomes poor and his strength fails him, you shall support him, even if he is a convert or a sojourner among you, that he may live with you." (Leviticus 25:35) That is certainly a command - but where is the blessing? As we will read in the opening lines of next week’s parashah, B’chukotai, "If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in due season, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will yield their fruit." (Leviticus 26:3-4)

It's a simple lesson for the haves, which is just about all of us reading this e-mail. If you take care of the needy when you have the means, you will continue to be blessed with the means. Otherwise, you might eventually be denied the means even to take care of yourself.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier

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

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"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"

"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”

BT Yevamot 88a

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Candle lighting: 7:35 pm

Friday: Cool Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. It’s a GAS! – A Guitar-Accompanied Service, with Steve Pearlman. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday – Torah Study/Breakfast – 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Light Kiddush lunch follows.

Sunday: NO Religious School – Memorial Day weekend.

Monday: Memorial Day. Before you prepare for your barbecue, please - raise a flag, take a moment of silence, show gratitude and respect for those who died in service to our country.

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.

Friday, May 31: Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday, June 1: Torah Study/Breakfast – 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Light Kiddush lunch follows.

Sunday, June 2 – Religious School – 9:30 am. Afternoon at the Colony Theater – “Old Jews Telling Jokes” – a bawdy (not suitable for minors) visit to the Catskills with Jokes, Skits, Song & Dance!

Saturday, June 9: Tikkun Leil Shavuot - 9:00 pm.

Sunday, June 10: Shavuot Morning Service –9:30 am.

Monday, June 11: Shavuot Morning Service and Yizkor – 9:30 am.

This d’var torah is offered in honor of Irving Rosenstein and Lauren Mulligan, marrying this Sunday. Mazal tov!

This d’var torah is offered in memory of Avremi Manzur. Y’hi zikhro liv’rakhah – his memory is a blessing.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Mark Brownstein, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Annabelle Flom (Channah Bella bat Kreina), Bernard Garvin, Leah Granat, Carol Herskowitz, Diana Hirsch, Brandon Joseph, Gabor Klein, Philip Kovac, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Imanu), Marilyn Lee, David Marks, Sandra Raab, Marguerite Rassiner, Debra Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), Bernie Seeman, 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.

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!

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

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”.

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