Shevat 14, 5781 / January 29-30 2021
Parashat Beshallach
Torah: Exodus 13:17-17:16 (Shabbat Shirah)
Haftarah: Judges 4:4-5:31 (Ashkenazim); Judges 5:1-5:31 (Sephardim)
SPECIAL BULLETIN! PURIM IS COMING!
Anyone who wishes to take part in our annual Purim Spiel should contact Reb Jason at rebjason613@gmail.com ASAP. No one will be turned away. A virtual Purim spiel and megillah reading will be Thursday, February 25 at 7:00 pm. Thanks to Reb Jason for creating this year’s spiel!
Candle-lighting: 5:02 PM PST - Sherman Oaks, CA
Our Refuah Shleimah/Prayer for Healing List can be found at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iT0tdp45ITSU6o1tykah41m3IXBxBwLxe8FORSIXzDo/edit?usp=sharing
If you would like to have a name added or removed from this Refuah Shleimah/Prayer for Healing list, please write to me at: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
This week's Yahrzeit list can be found at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IvKK6of7m1YFiwWATXCfQXrBrjmLMfS_CAM3WhZ_fu4/edit?usp=sharing
A list of all of our on-line activities can be found below.
All our services and programs are available at: https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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GOD PROVIDES, PROVIDED YOU PROVIDE
"The Lord will fight (y'lachem) for you, and you will hold your peace (tacharishun)." Exodus 14:14
The commentary P'ninei Hatorah uses word play to understand this text. "God will arrange your food, your bread (lechem), provided that 'you will hold your peace' – that you not quarrel among yourselves, because 'a single argument drives away one hundred livelihoods".
Rebbe Meir of Premishlan goes one better. "It is true that God will provide bread - provided it is your obligation to work and to plow (l'charosh, punning on tacharishun)." (Both comments appear in Itturei Torah)
Our teachers have simple but important messages. First, God provides us with sustenance, a livelihood, a way to earn our bread - provided we don't destroy each other’s livelihoods through petty disputes. To me, this means even more - that which God creates, we have the power to destroy. Second, God helps those who help themselves. God creates grain, but we must sow, work, harvest, grind and bake before it becomes bread. We are able to beautify and improve upon God's handiwork in order to make use of it.
Earlier this week we observed Tu Bish'vat to remind us - we are the ones who have the power to improve the world - or to destroy it.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
TBH/CBM
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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UPCOMING EVENTS AND OTHER USEFUL INFO!
All our services and programs are available at:
Shabbat Evening Service with Reb Jason and Rabbi Flom this Friday evening at 6:30 PM PST.
Shabbat Morning Service with Reb Jason and Rabbi Flom this Saturday at 10:00 AM PST.
Downloadable and printable Siddur for Kabbalat Shabbat, Shabbat/Festival Ma'ariv, Shabbat/Festival Morning, and more, including the weekly Parashah and Haftarah, all available at:
Fill out the form - the download is free.
David Silon’s on-going class “Jewish History” meets Sunday at 11:00 am PST.
Join us every Tuesday at 12:30 pm PST for Lunch and Learn, a 60-90 minute study session. We're learning Hasidic teachings on the weekly parashah.
Some excellent on-line Jewish resources are available at:
You can subscribe to the Conservative Yeshiva’s weekly Torah Sparks via email here:
Cyber Torah list management (no salesman will call!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, and receive Cyber Torah every week in your mailbox, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
