THE REASONS FOR SHABBAT

Adar 18, 5780 / March13-14, 2020
Parashat Ki Tisa (Shabbat Parah)
Torah: Exodus 31:18 - 33:11
Maftir: Numbers 19:1-22
Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:16-38 (Ashkenazim; Sephardim read 36:16-36)

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

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

"And the Children of Israel shall observe the Shabbat; to make the Shabbat for all their generations is an eternal covenant. Between Me and the Children of Israel it is a sign forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed." Exodus 31:16-17

The Ten Commandments, at Exodus 20:8, instruct that Shabbat is to be remembered. The Torah instructs that no work is to be done, as a remembrance that God rested on the seventh day of creation. At Deuteronomy 5:12, it is commanded that Shabbat is to be observed. No work is to be done, as a memorial of Egyptian bondage.

Note, however, that in our verses, there is no mention of remembrance, and no instruction to refrain from work. The given reason is that Shabbat is an eternal covenant, a sign forever between God and Israel. But there seems to be a redundancy. If Shabbat is eternal, then what is the meaning of "all their generations"?

I believe that "all their generations" means our children, our grandchildren, our descendants. If all we do is rest, and remember creation and slavery, we are only observing Shabbat in two ways, or for two reasons. In a sense, creation and slavery were one-time events, part of history. But if we observe Shabbat for (and with) our generations, our children, we are observing Shabbat for a third reason - eternity. That gives Shabbat staying power. Even if we have no memory of creation or slavery, we have our descendants before us. Don't do it only for yourself - do it for your children!

Shabbat Shalom!

HaRav HaGaon HaTzaddik Abba Reuven Ben Menachem Mendel Flom, Sh’lita

Der Heileger Rebbe of Sherman Oaks

Rosh Yeshivah – Lower Slobbovia

Slivovitz Taste Tester
משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה

From the beginning of Adar, we increase joy.

BT Ta’anit 29a

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Candle lighting: 6:41 pm

Friday: Tot Shabbat Service – 6:30 pm. Shabbat Evening Service – 7:15 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday: Torah study/breakfast - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Junior Congregation – 10:00 am. Kiddush Luncheon follows.

Sunday: Religious School – 9:30 am. Rabbi Flom’s “(Re)Introduction to Judaism” class – 9:30 am. David Silon’s "History of Israel and the Middle East" class - 11:00 am.

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn - 12:30 pm. 

Friday, March 20: Simchah Shabbat Evening Service – 6:30 pm. Complimentary Shabbat Dinner follows. RSVP to synagogue office.

Saturday, March 21: Torah study/breakfast - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush Luncheon follows.

Sunday, March 29: Israeli Wine Tasting and Tapas – 3:00 pm. A wonderful array of wines, all kosher for Passover, and delicious tapas, with wine broker Carmit Becker. Wines available for purchase. $30 per person in advance; $35 at the door. Must be 21 years or older. RSVP no later than March 25.

Thursday, April 9: Community Second Seder – 6:30 pm. Cost – Adults: $50 (members), $60 (non-members); Ages 6-12: $18; Ages 5 and under: gratis. RSVP no later than March 31!

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 for a refuah shleimah for Elisheva bat Malkah, Chanah bat Minnie Leah, 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), Martin Lee, Barbara Levy, Gail Neiman, Sandra Raab, Josef Sands, Shirley Sands, Gina Seeman, 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.