THE WORLD YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN

 
Parashat T’rumah – Shabbat Zakhor
Adar 8, 5781 / February 19-20, 2021
Torah: Exodus 25:1 – 27:19
Maftir (Zakhor): Deuteronomy 25:17-19
Haftarah (Zakhor): 1 Samuel 15:1-34
 
SPECIAL BULLETIN! PURIM IS COMING!
A virtual Purim spiel and megillah reading will be Thursday, February 25 at 7:00 pm on-line. Thanks to Reb Jason for creating this year’s spiel! Barukh Mordechai! Arur Haman!
 

Candle-lighting: 5:22 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/1iT0tdp45ITSU6o1tykah41m3IXBxBwLxe8FORSIXzDo/edit?usp=sharing  
 
All our services and programs are available at: 
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Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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THE WORLD YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN
 
“Speak to the Children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering; from every person whose heart so moves him you shall take My offering.” Exodus 25:2

The word “v’yik’khu”, usually translated here as “that they bring”, literally means “that they take”. The idea is that the Israelites willingly take from among their possessions and donate for the building of the tabernacle. Some commentators understand the verse to mean that leaders of the people are to “take” up a collection. However, the Hasidic master Menachem Mendel of Kotzk has a different “take” on the matter (pardon the pun).

He teaches that “v’yik’khu” also means to trade or engage in business. Simply because one has a setback in business, he doesn't stop trading, for then his business will collapse completely. The Kotzker says that the same is true for the Torah and the mitzvot. If one does not succeed once or twice, he must nevertheless continue to work at self-improvement, and not give up.

This all seems straightforward enough. But then he says, “If the Torah is not learned and the mitzvot not performed, the world simply cannot exist.” This is an astonishing statement! The world needs Jews who actually practice Judaism! Even if one disagrees with him about the state of the world (I happen to agree with him wholeheartedly), one cannot dispute the state of the Jewish people, which needs Jews who practice Judaism! If all we have is an identity fostered by lox and bagels (foodaism), or observance limited to a once a year visit to the synagogue (nostalgic tourist Judaism), we simply will not exist as a people. If our children see that Torah and mitzvot mean little to us, they will wonder why Judaism should mean anything at all to them. But if we live Jewish lives, then the Jewish people will survive and thrive.

“Take” the time to offer your heart and your mind and your limbs for learning and for doing Jewish. It might just save the world.
 
Be Happy – It’s Adar! Shabbat Shalom!

Grand Rabbi Abba Reuven ben Menachem Mendel Flom, Sh’lita
Der Heiliger Sherman Oaks Rebbe
Av Beis Din - Chelm
Mishenichnas Adar, Marbim B’simcha - From the beginning of Adar, we increase joy!

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UPCOMING EVENTS AND OTHER USEFUL INFO! 
 
All our services and programs are available at: 
https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim 
 
Shabbat Evening Service with Reb Jason and Rabbi Flom this Friday at 6:30 PM. 
 
Shabbat Morning Service with Reb Jason and Rabbi Flom this Saturday at 10:00 AM. 
 
Religious School this Sunday at 9:00 am.
 
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: 
https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/form-download-e-siddur-0
Fill out the form - the download is free. 
 
David Silon’s on-going class “Jewish History” meets Sunday at 11:00 am. 
 
Join us every Tuesday at 12:30 pm for Lunch and Learn, a 60-90 minute study session. We're learning Hasidic and classic teachings on the weekly parashah. 
 
Some excellent on-line Jewish resources are available at: 
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/  

You can subscribe to the Conservative Yeshiva’s weekly Torah Sparks via email here: 
https://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/torahsparks/  
 
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