SING A NEW SONG

Sh’vat 13, 5780 / February 7-8, 2020

Parashat Beshallach

Torah: Exodus 13:17-17:16 (Shabbat Shirah)
Haftarah: Judges 4:4-5:31 (Ashkenazim); Judges 5:1-5:31 (Sephardim)

CASTING CALL! PURIM IS COMING!

Anyone who wishes to take part in our annual Purim Spiel is invited to come for a read through of this year’s spiel, based on Beach Boys tunes – Tuesday, February 11 at 7:00 pm. No one will be turned away. Purim dinner, spiel and megillah reading will be Monday, March 9, at 6:30 pm. Thanks to Reb Jason and Rebecca Marcus for creating this year’s spiel!

Calendar and dedications follow below. For a full calendar of events and other info about Temple B’nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier, check out: www.bnaihayim.com

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

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SING A NEW SONG

"Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song ..." Exodus 15:1

"And Miriam chanted to them ..." Exodus 15:21

"And the women dancing with their timbrels, Followed Miriam as she sang her song" Miriam's Song by Debbie Friedman

The well-known Song at the Sea, Exodus 15:1-18, has become part of the daily liturgy. This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shirah, the Shabbat of the Song, in honor of the song. But Miriam also sang a song, only one verse, according to the Torah, to which the women danced and played musical instruments.

Ellen Frankel, in her Torah commentary The Five Books of Miriam, notes that modern biblical scholars "believe that Miriam's song was censored or lost, due to a later generation's uneasiness with female leadership." Curiously, this week's haftarah includes the Song of Deborah and Barak (Judges 5:1-31). This is after Barak had told Deborah (at 4:8), "If you will go with me, I will go (to fight the Canaanites); if not, I will not go." Over the centuries, the idea of leadership by such charismatic women as Miriam and Deborah became lost. Whatever ritual rights and obligations may have existed became lost as well.

In the past generation, Jewish women have fought to regain their proper place on the bimah, as b'not mitzvah, and as rabbis, cantors, and synagogue leaders. Now, egalitarianism is a given in most non-Orthodox congregations. Sadly, it is also taken for granted.

If Jewish women wish to retain the rights they fought so hard to achieve, they must recapture their song, and like the men, sing it every day! Whether it be tallit, tefilin, or public reading of the Torah, those rights are meaningless if never exercised. And that goes for the men, too! If BEING Jewish is to have any meaning, you should be DOING Jewish! "Sing to the Lord a new song!" Psalms 96:1; 98:1

Shabbat Shalom U'vrakhah - A Shabbat of Peace and Blessing

Tu BiSh’vat Sameach!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם

Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.

Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1

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Candle lighting: 5:10 pm

Friday: Shabbat Evening Service – 6:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday: Torah study/breakfast - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush Luncheon follows.

Sunday: Religious School – 9:30 am. Religious School Tu BiSh’vat Seder – 10:30 am. Rabbi Flom’s “(Re)Introduction to Judaism” class is on hiatus for the month of February. Class will resume March 8. 9:30 am. David Silon’s "History of Israel and the Middle East" class – 11:00 am.

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:30 pm. NOTE TIME CHANGE

Friday, February 14: Cool Shabbat Evening Service with Steve Pearlman and his guitar – 6:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday, February 15: Torah study/breakfast - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush Luncheon follows.

Friday, February 21: Simchah Shabbat Evening Service – 6:30 pm. Complimentary Shabbat Dinner follows. RSVP to synagogue office.

Saturday, February 22: Torah study/breakfast - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush Luncheon follows. Amy Cecil of Jewish World Watch will deliver a drash during the service and take questions during lunch.

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

This d'var torah is offered in memory of Shirley Kronzek, whose yahrzeit is this Wednesday, 17 Sh’vat. Y’hi zekherah liv’rakhah – May her memory be a blessing.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Leah bat Sarah Imanu, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Mark Brownstein, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Bernard Garvin, Leah Granat, Gabor Klein, Philip Kronzek, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Imanu), Barbara Levy, Gail Neiman, Sandra Raab, Josef Sands, Shirley Sands, Debra Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), and William Sragow.

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.