Parashat Sh’lach L’kha
Sivan 25, 5781 / June 4-5, 2021
Torah: Numbers 13:1-15:41
Haftarah: Joshua 2:1-24
Mazal tov to Reb Jason Van Leeuwen on receiving his Doctor of
Divinity (H.C.) this Sunday at 10:00 AM PT. You can register to attend at: https://inspired.jtsa.edu/event/jts-rabbinic-convocation-spring-2021/e337730
*****************************
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE AT SERVICES!!
WE'VE OPENED UP!
Don't worry. You can still Zoom in or attend via Facebook if you're not fully vaccinated as of May 21, or just feel like waiting a bit longer.
ALL ATTENDEES MUST:
PRESENT PROOF OF VACCINATION AT THE DOOR;
SIGN THE VACCINE REGISTRY LINKED BELOW IN ADVANCE;
MASKS ENCOURAGED BUT NOT REQUIRED
Vaccine Registration link:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE AT SERVICES!!
WE'VE OPENED UP!
Don't worry. You can still Zoom in or attend via Facebook if you're not fully vaccinated as of May 21, or just feel like waiting a bit longer.
ALL ATTENDEES MUST:
PRESENT PROOF OF VACCINATION AT THE DOOR;
SIGN THE VACCINE REGISTRY LINKED BELOW IN ADVANCE;
MASKS ENCOURAGED BUT NOT REQUIRED
Vaccine Registration link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFFxLO26XiejbcROJXY2eCaC7K7wZYgJzRe4PO3smAOaN3cg/viewform
*****************************
RABBI FLOM’S RETIREMENT GALA
Sunday, June 13th, 2021. 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Event will be Live at Temple B’nai Hayim (maximum of 70 people in person) and via Zoom. Tickets: In Person $65, on Zoom $50
There will be food, desserts, beverages, entertainment, silent auction, reverse 50/50 auction and many testimonials.
For more information or to purchase tickets or an ad, visit:
https://bnaihayim.org/special-events/
*****************************
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 to 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
All our services and programs are live-streamed at:
https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim
More info about our services and programs follows below this d'var torah. And even more info about our community is available at our website:
https://bnaihayim.org
Please feel free to pass this on, and please cite the source.
-------------------------------------------
YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY! OR HAVE YOU?
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Send for yourself men to scout out the Land of Canaan that I give to the Israelites; send one man from each of the ancestral tribes, each man a prince." Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran at the word of God; all of them heads of the Israelites. Numbers 13:1-3
Rashi: Why does God say "send for yourself" and not simply "send"? "I am not commanding you - if you want, you may send."
Rabbi Ephraim of Lunshitz (1550 - 1619), author of the noted commentary Klei Yakar, takes Rashi one step further, and questions another word. He asks, why doesn't God want Moses to send "men"? He recalls the Rabbinic teaching that the Israelite men despised the Land, and wanted to return to Egypt . But the Israelite women loved the Land so much, their demand for an inheritance led to a change in the law as it was understood at that time (the daughters of Tzeloph'chad - Numbers 27). And because God knew what was going to happen (the spies would spread fear among the Israelites), He would have preferred that Moses send women. The women would have kept better faith with God, and not spread lies about the Land.
Historically, Jewish women were denied the right to observe many of the mitzvot, such as tallit and tefillin, or to engage in many Jewish rites of passage, like b'nai mitzvah. At the same time, as we see here, there was a strong undercurrent of Rabbinic teaching regarding the spiritual superiority and commitment of Jewish women.
The Torah, and all Jewish learning, is more of an open book than ever. There are a larger number of Jewish learning opportunities, more diverse in scope, than ever before. Jewish learning is for everyone, not a limited number of yeshivah bochers. How ironic it is, then, that now that more Jews than ever are free to practice Judaism without fear or hardship, a diminishing percentage of Jews (men and women) are taking advantage of these opportunities. In truth, like the Land of Israel , the landscape of modern Judaism indeed flows with milk and honey. Spy out the land, eat of its fruit, and be satisfied!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier
Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Visit me on Facebook
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
-----------------------------------------------
Candle lighting: 7:43 PM
*****************************
RABBI FLOM’S RETIREMENT GALA
Sunday, June 13th, 2021. 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Event will be Live at Temple B’nai Hayim (maximum of 70 people in person) and via Zoom. Tickets: In Person $65, on Zoom $50
There will be food, desserts, beverages, entertainment, silent auction, reverse 50/50 auction and many testimonials.
For more information or to purchase tickets or an ad, visit:
https://bnaihayim.org/special-events/
*****************************
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 to 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
All our services and programs are live-streamed at:
https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim
More info about our services and programs follows below this d'var torah. And even more info about our community is available at our website:
https://bnaihayim.org
Please feel free to pass this on, and please cite the source.
-------------------------------------------
YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY! OR HAVE YOU?
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Send for yourself men to scout out the Land of Canaan that I give to the Israelites; send one man from each of the ancestral tribes, each man a prince." Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran at the word of God; all of them heads of the Israelites. Numbers 13:1-3
Rashi: Why does God say "send for yourself" and not simply "send"? "I am not commanding you - if you want, you may send."
Rabbi Ephraim of Lunshitz (1550 - 1619), author of the noted commentary Klei Yakar, takes Rashi one step further, and questions another word. He asks, why doesn't God want Moses to send "men"? He recalls the Rabbinic teaching that the Israelite men despised the Land, and wanted to return to Egypt . But the Israelite women loved the Land so much, their demand for an inheritance led to a change in the law as it was understood at that time (the daughters of Tzeloph'chad - Numbers 27). And because God knew what was going to happen (the spies would spread fear among the Israelites), He would have preferred that Moses send women. The women would have kept better faith with God, and not spread lies about the Land.
Historically, Jewish women were denied the right to observe many of the mitzvot, such as tallit and tefillin, or to engage in many Jewish rites of passage, like b'nai mitzvah. At the same time, as we see here, there was a strong undercurrent of Rabbinic teaching regarding the spiritual superiority and commitment of Jewish women.
The Torah, and all Jewish learning, is more of an open book than ever. There are a larger number of Jewish learning opportunities, more diverse in scope, than ever before. Jewish learning is for everyone, not a limited number of yeshivah bochers. How ironic it is, then, that now that more Jews than ever are free to practice Judaism without fear or hardship, a diminishing percentage of Jews (men and women) are taking advantage of these opportunities. In truth, like the Land of Israel , the landscape of modern Judaism indeed flows with milk and honey. Spy out the land, eat of its fruit, and be satisfied!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier
Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Visit me on Facebook
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
-----------------------------------------------
Candle lighting: 7:43 PM
COOOOL Shabbat Evening Service with Steve Pearlman and Rabbi Flom this Friday at 6:30 PM
via Zoom and Facebook ONLY. NO Shabbat Evening services in the sanctuary until further notice.
Shabbat Morning Service with Steve Pearlman and Rabbi Flom this Saturday at 9:30 AM
IN THE SANCTUARY and via Zoom and Facebook. ***See important note above***
All our services and programs are live-streamed at:
https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim
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.
Religious School culmination and graduation this Sunday at 9:00 AM.
David Silon’s on-going class on Israel meets NEXT Sunday at 11:00 AM. No class this week.
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.
Cyber Torah list management:
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
