YOU HAVE TO BE THERE TO BE COUNTED

Parashat Bamidbar

Sivan 5 5779 / June 7-8 2019

Torah: Numbers 1:1 – 4:20

Haftarah: Hosea 2:1-22

Shavuot 1

Sivan 6 5779 / June 8-9 2019

Torah: Exodus 19:1 – 20:22; Numbers 28:26-31

Haftarah: Ezekiel 1:1-28; 3:12

Shavuot 2

Sivan 7 5779 / June 9-10 2019

Book of Ruth

Torah: Deuteronomy 15:19 – 16:17; Numbers 28:26-31

Haftarah: Habakkuk 3:1-19

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

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND INVITATION!

Dear fellow congregants and friends:

We are pleased to announce that we will be holding a Religious School graduation for David Danhi, Adi Buchnik, and Eitan Buchnik this Sunday, June 9, during our Shavuot service, beginning at 9:30 am. These three young men, and also their younger Religious School classmates, will also be leading portions of our service. We hope you can join us for this joyful event and service. Kiddush luncheon in honor of all our children follows.

Shabbat Shalom! Chag Sameach!

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

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YOU HAVE TO BE THERE TO BE COUNTED

In Hebrew, this book of the Torah is titled “Bamidbar” - “In the wilderness”. However, the old name was “Chamesh - Hapekudim” - “one fifth (of the books of the Torah), that of the countings”. The English name of Bamidbar is “the Book of Numbers”, because the initial subject of the book is the numbering of the Israelites. One must wonder why God instructs Moses to take a census of the entire Israelite community, listing the names, head by head. (Num. 1:2)

Rashi says, "Because they were dear to Him, He counted them (literally) every hour. When they left Egypt, He counted them (Ex. 12:37); when [many] fell because [of the sin] of the golden calf, He counted them to know the number of the survivors (Ex. 32:28); when He came to cause His Divine Presence to rest among them, He counted them. On the first of Nissan, the tabernacle was erected, and on the first of Iyar, He counted them." 

God is like a shepherd, constantly counting the flock. But there is more to it, according to Rambam (Maimonides), who says, "God brought them out according to the number of their hosts, God called all of them by name." The idea that God called every Israelite by name speaks volumes about the importance of every Jew. The commentary Bet Aharon says that every Jew is obligated to know and consider his/her uniqueness in the world. There has never been another identical Jew, for if there had been, one of them would have been superfluous. Each of us is an entirely new creation. Each of us has a unique perspective of the Torah. Each of us has a Torah to share with everyone else. This is because each of us was, and is, present at the giving of the Torah, and each of us saw, and sees, it from a unique point of view. When we conclude the blessing over the reading of the Torah, we refer to the giving of the Torah in the present tense - Blessed are You, Lord, the One who gives the Torah.

God is constantly giving us the Torah, through our own study and through our fellow Jews. But to be counted, to receive your Torah, you have to be there, you have to be at your Sinai. If you are not open to receiving God's Torah, you won't be counted, and the loss will not only be yours, but that of every other Jew. If your children do not receive Torah, then their Torah, and the Torah of their descendants, will be lost as well. This Saturday evening through Monday, we will be celebrating Shavuot, the anniversary of the giving of the Torah. Go to the synagogue, study and consider the Ten Commandments, read the Book of Ruth, receive your Torah. Let you and your Torah be counted.

Shabbat shalom v'chag sameach!

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:

Friday 7:45 pm

Saturday: After 8:46 pm from a transferred flame

Sunday: After 8:46 pm from a transferred flame

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

Saturday: Breakfast/Torah Study – 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush luncheon follows. Tikkun Leil Shavuot - an evening of Torah study for Shavuot - 9:00 pm, with Rabbi Flom, Reb Jason, and some nice refreshments.

Sunday: Shavuot Morning Service - 9:30 am

Monday: Shavuot Morning Service, with Yizkor - 9:30 am.

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.

This d'var torah is offered in honor of David Danhi, Adi Buchnik, and Eitan Buchnik, graduating from TBH/CBM Religious School this Sunday morning during Shavuot service. Mazal tov!

This d'var torah is offered in memory of my beloved father, Martin Flom, whose yahrzeit falls on Monday. Y’hi zikhro liv’rakhah - his memory is a blessing.

This d'var torah is offered in memory of my beloved grandfather, Jacob Slome, whose yahrzeit falls on Tuesday. Y’hi zikhro liv’rakhah - his memory is a blessing.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Leah bat Sarah Imanu, 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”.

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

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.