Upcoming Eventssee home page for accurate info and see calendar for complete info.
Important notices
SEE HOME PAGE
5783 Calendars are available upon request.
Kosher? Trader Joes sells kosher meats and poultry as well as other kosher items!
Looking for a particular type of book? Maybe we have it in our Mona Maggio Library. Ask- you might be pleasantly surprised!
Please call 237-0390 or write ansheitorah@gmail.com if you can help with keeping in touch with the folk.
Important notices
SEE HOME PAGE
5783 Calendars are available upon request.
Kosher? Trader Joes sells kosher meats and poultry as well as other kosher items!
Looking for a particular type of book? Maybe we have it in our Mona Maggio Library. Ask- you might be pleasantly surprised!
Please call 237-0390 or write ansheitorah@gmail.com if you can help with keeping in touch with the folk.
Torah nutshell from kolel.org
SEE HOME PAGE
SEE HOME PAGE
Interesting quotes from famous Jews
My father never lived to see his dream come true of an
all-Yiddish-speaking
Canada.
-David Steinberg
I once
wanted to become an atheist but I gave up. They have no
holidays.
-Henny Youngman
Look
at Jewish history. Unrelieved lamenting
would be intolerable. So, for every
ten Jews beating their breasts, God
designated one to be crazy and amuse the breast beaters. By the time I was five
I knew I was that one.
-Mel Brooks
The time
is at hand when the wearing of a prayer shawl
and skullcap will not bar a man from the
White House, unless, of course, the man
is Jewish.
-Jules Farber
Even
if you are Catholic, if you live in New York,
you're Jewish. If you live in Butte, Montana, you are
going to be a goy even if you
are Jewish.
-Lenny Bruce
The
remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served us nothing
but leftovers. The original meal has never been
found.
-Calvin Trillin
Let me
tell you the one thing I have against Moses. He took
us forty years into the desert in order to bring us to the one place in the
Middle East that has no
oil!
-Golda Meir
Even a secret
agent can't lie to
a Jewish mother.
-Peter Malkin
My
idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with
me.
-Benjamin Disraeli
It's so
simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say
it.
-Sam Levenson
Don't be humble; you are
not that great.
-Golda Meir
I
went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy eating, and in fourteen days I had
lost exactly two
weeks.
-Joe E. Lewis
A
spoken contract isn't worth the paper it's written
on.
-Sam Goldwyn
I don't want to achieve
immortality through my work. I want to achieve immortality through not
dying.
-Woody Allen
Whoever called it
necking was a poor judge of
anatomy.
-Groucho Marx
A
politician is a man who will double cross that bridge when he comes to
it.
-Oscar Levant
Too bad that
all the people who know how to run this country are busy driving taxis and
cutting hair.
-George Burns
A committee is a
group that keeps minutes and loses
hours.
-Milton Berle
I don't
want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth, even if it
costs them their
jobs.
-Sam Goldwyn
Television is a medium
because it is neither rare nor well
done.
-Ernie Kovacs
When I bore
people at a party, they think it is their
fault.
-Henry Kissinger
"DAILY JEWISH WISDOM" is found @ Beliefnet.com
JEWISH WISDOM:
Fear builds walls to bar the light. - Baal Shem Tov
Engage in Torah and charity even with an ulterior motive, for that habit of right doing will lead also to right motivation. - Talmud: Pesahim, 50b
The sword comes into the world because of justice delayed and because of justice perverted.- Ethics of the Fathers 5:8
Ever since Rabbi Akiba used the Passover seder to plan a revolutionary struggle against the Roman occupiers, the Jews have used the seder to begin concrete work on tikkun (healing and transformation).
- Rabbi Michael Lerner, the Tikkun Magazine Passover supplement 2006
To work out ends of righteousness and love are you called; not merely to enjoy or suffer.
- S.R. Hirsch, "Nineteen Letters," 1836
“Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself.” Golda Meir
The worship of God, though desirable as an end itself, can somehow never be in the right spirit, unless it impels one to the service of man. - Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan
Concentrate on three things and you will not fall into the grip of sin. Know from where you came, where you are going, and before Whom you will have to give account and reckoning.- Pirkei Avot 3:1
We cannot learn from general principles: there may be exceptions. - Johanan, Talmud: Kiddushin
A truly generous man is he that always gives, whether it be much or little, before he is asked.- Orchot Tsadiqim
The best security for old age: respect your children.- Sholem Asch
A Jew can be Jewish with God, against God, but not without God.- Elie Wiesel
He who promotes his own honor at the expense of his neighbor's has no portion in the world to come.- Judah b. Hanina, Genesis Rabbah
Even if all the world tells you, "You are righteous," consider yourself a sinner. - Rabbi Simlai
Prayer is meaningless unless it is subversive, unless it seeks to overthrow and to ruin the pyramids of callousness, hatred, opportunism and falsehood. The liturgical movement must become a revolutionary movement, seeking to overthrow the forces that continue to destroy the promise, the hope, the vision.- Abraham Joshua Heschel, "On Prayer"
Lose with truth and right rather than gain with falsehood and wrong.- Maimonides, "Tzavaah"
Seek the good in everyone, and reveal it, bring it forth.- Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772-1811), "Likutey Moharan"
Just as we love ourselves despite the faults we know we have, so should we love our neighbors despite the faults we see in them.- Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov
A man should never impose an overpowering fear upon his household. - Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 6b
If you add to the truth, you subtract from it.- The Talmud
Love unaccompanied by criticism is not love....Peace unaccompanied by reproof is not peace.- Genesis Rabbah 54:3
Quote of the Day
The least outlay is not always the greatest gain.
Aesop (620 BC-560 BC) |
Site Visits
Fair Use Act
FAIR USE NOTICE: Many of the articles on this site contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making this material available in its efforts to advance the understanding of different issues related to this site. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use such copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Shabbat Nasso
Due to health difficulties All activities are cancelled until further notice except phone consultations and discussions possible as needed/ desired [928-227-0582]. Newsletter will continue. If we have pleasant Shabbat weather, we can do an early outdoors Shabbat Morning service/torah study. A zoom Kabbalat Shabbat will be every Fri. at 4 pm. call to arrange or get link.
========================================================
Shavuot Chaos 82-3
The Feast of Weeks has come amid such chaos
From War in the East to massacres in schools.
With horrid wars still raging throughout the world,
It's as if People no longer follow rules
Of common decency, respect for others,
Accepting we all are sisters and brothers...
No Peace can we reach in this Shavuot time.
Study and Prayers just can not tow the line...
====================================
Chag Shavuot Sameach and Shabbat Shavuot Shalom! We at Beit Torah ask how can we study to best understand our liturgy?
Shabbat Shavuot 5783; First Fruits, Converts, Equality of All; Torah 1= Shemot
ch. 19-20, B'MIdbar 28:26-31; 2= Dvarim 14:22-16:17, B'Midbar 28:26-31
Haftorot: 1= Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:12; 2= Chavakuk 2:20, 3:1-19
==================================================
Day 1 Shavuot Torah:
Moshe’s People kept on their way while Yitro went on home.
Refidim to Mt. Sinai’s desert, from Egypt three moons.
A volcanic area with quakes, smoke, fire, and earth groans -
Mt. Sinai’s South South East - ish of Midian in Arabia’s dunes...
There HaShem promised if to the Brit you do adhere,
You will be my Special Treasure, Holy Nation I will near
With a kingdom of Priests... Folk replied: We'll follow the laws
And we'll study to understand, too, their why's and because...
There's a rest place with three days of purification tasks:
Do not touch the mountain nor your women; wash clothes;
Then listen to the words coming from behind the smoke cloud:
This is our covenant, ten terms to our Brit...
So said HaShem, “These covenant terms are ones you must meet”:
The only deity that you shall have must now be me!
No idols are allowed! By my name, no swearing falsely!
Keep the Sabbath day of rest with all livestock and folks -
Except wives are not on the list to not work for their blokes!
Honor your parents! No murder allowed! No adultery
With married women permitted! Stealing of spirits, souls,
Or the selves of others is forbidden! Dishonesty
In tales about neighbors also a very big no-no!
Yet was it only about neighbors or of any folk?
Just like don’t covet neighbors’ holdings – or others’ also?
The mountain of lightning, thick smoke, and thunder was so loud
The mountain trembled, horn blasts grew louder scaring the crowd.
Those very frightened People begged Moshe to intercede
So they themselves would not hear directly HaShem’s words.
Moshe did as they asked so HaShem’s words only he heard:
“Build now an earthen altar, for sacrifices to be blessed -
No idols thereon nor ever should be built anywhere…
So use then un-hewn stone for an altar without steps.
No lewd dancing, modesty in worship, joy should be there...”
Haftorah: Ezekiel and the ET
After thirty years a captive, Ezekiel saw
A vision of a most unexplainable awe!
A whirlwind from the north brought a fiery cloud
From which emerged four strange, sparkling robotic probes
Each with four faces and four wings and noise very loud
From a man in a bridge window above light strobes
Pulsing rainbow colors within the cloud cover.
While the probes raced about like lightning, he hovered...
Each probe stood on tripod: two legs and a gyro wheel
Which kept the probes stable as upper whirling wings
[Rotor] and lower wings [rudders] could then reveal.
When stopped, the soft cloven footed, straight legs could bring
A view of the four faces: eagle, ox, lion, man;
And the claws under each wing; rudder wings closed tight;
And a rim full of eyes, - all burning bronze, sparkling with light...
Above, the amber colored man, on throne of flame
Engulfing a crystal base, was heard to exclaim:
Blessed be! Glory to HaShem from HaShem's stand!
==========================================
Day 2 Shabbat Shavuot Torah
All offerings should be at the designated place,
Although must be observed even if too far away -
So if tithes the trip to the Holy Site won’t survive
Then they are to be sold with all funds hence to be used
On many goods at the designated Holy See
Of the Levites’ refuge, to boost the economy,
While making sure strangers, orphans, widows, and needy
Are always provided for not just on all feasts!
Now each seventh year remission of debts for the poor
Expected to default yet still given loans before…
Further release of indentured servants if they want
So all released plus the poor can get a new start…
Compassion’s the lesson for generations to flaunt…
We’re told the first born are consecrated to the Priests.
No repeat mention is made of the Pidyon HaBen…
Of importance it is said to celebrate all Feasts
With no work for all folk on Shabbatot Holy Days
(includes strangers and servants despite all their strange ways-)
Pascal offering, seven unleavened days, and then
The Feast of Weeks and of Booths the whole household rejoices
At pilgrimage times with Feast special rites until when
First fruits or harvests' produce appear on our tables
And each person will offer as much as one's able:
Sephard unblemished offered; Ashkenaz other choices…
Haftorah:
Chavakuk's prayer is our Haftorah today.
He witnessed HaShem's glory in controlling all
Heaven and Earth with both mercy and wrath in play,
With afflictions and salvations bad and good did call...
Seeing this he declared: In HaShem I'll rejoice
For the strong uplifting strength that gives me his voice!
======================================================
In the news: Friday Kabbalat Shabbat Zoom Link, 4 pm MST. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82350746255?pwd=UTNLYzUrMHhObnpKbCtyRm9Rc0FlQT09
Meeting ID: 823 5074 6255 - if asked: Passcode: Peace
Shavuot 5783
Seven weeks we have counted since Seder times,
Even less since Lab B'Omer bar-b-q time...
So now we are ready our first fruits to eat;
Boaz's Ruth to study as converts we greet;
Our Loved Ones to recall with Yiskor prayers
After staying up all night for soul repairs...
We embrace with open hearts this Feast of Weeks
And fervent pleadings that our World soon finds Peace!
5/20
Shabbat B'Midbar Shalom! We at Beit Torah ask what expectations should we have of our leaders?
Shabbat B'Midbar 5783; Leaders, Protectors, Obligations, Responsibilities;
BaMidbar 1:1-4:20; Hosea 2:1-22
Why ‘Numbers’ when ‘in the desert’ the Hebrew says
For this next Book of Torah we now embrace?
Perhaps since it starts with many a census counts:
Of elected tribal Chiefs (for just dealings – a fount);
Of draft aged men; of one month old males and older;
(Giving a basis for assessing taxes due;)
Of all Levites en toto and by each clan’s case -
Not once but twice to assign tasks each must shoulder
Ages thirty to fifty, light tasks for older base
When post-fifty wisdom is the skill used best:
How to dismantle and assemble Mishkan parts;
How to organize the camp, all facing the ark,
By each unit of each tribe at Moshe’s behest.
In charge of Priestly functions were Aaron and sons
For some of tasks needed they were the only ones!
Now when the counts and task appointing were all through,
Aaron's family line and Moshe's were described -
Too for other clans, later leading to much strife...
If elef is one thousand, the census seems wrong.
Yet if elef is a unit of six or five,
The numbers to camp for forty years and survive
Are reasonable in a desert clime to belong.
Since Reuven’s misbehaviours it possibly seemed
That the Levites were viewed like first born by HaShem…
Hence first born sons for the Priests could then be redeemed
At five shekels a head by the Pidyon HaBen.
Haftorah, Hosea
Of a spiritual desert Hosea wrote
In our Haftorah portion for this week’s readings.
By temptations refused, the Exodus recalled,
Our bond with HaShem restored by Mitzvot heeding;
To HaShem our Nation espoused in faithfulness
With Children of the Living G!d in righteousness;
To our Brit: mercied devotion through just goodness...
How then was it a spiritual desert place?
The chasing of wealth and gods did goodness erase,
Bounty from G!d misused in unethical pursuits,
Like a 'wife' engaged in harlotry gave G!d the boot...
Israel's the wife, mother to be rebuked
Until enticed to return to the Law once more
So that full bounty and mitzvot can be restored
Without harlots, idolatry, hate emoted -
So that a Brit of safety's made with the devoted
To HaShem's Laws and Mitzvot so as to become
HaShem's "my people", a Nation acting as one
With an end to strife for all that lives - war no more!
==========================================
Shabbat Naso, 6/3
Shabbat Nasso 5783; Vows, Priestly Duties, Nazarites, Gifts vs. Bribes;
BaMidbar 4:21-7:89; Judges 13:2 -13:25
Now we learn more of how Levites special were made:
Merarites stood to protect Mishkan contents all
Which were sacred to HaShem and the Tribes it’s said;
Gershonites transported Mishkan parts without falls;
Kohathites maintained the Tent of Meeting quite well
While each clan performed its tasks, too many to tell…
With the Mishkan fully anointed and all therein,
With appointed duties to different Levite clans,
Daily offerings each by another Chieftain,
Twelve came to dedicate the Altar as per plan.
Above the Ark of the Pact in the Meeting Tent
Moshe spoke with, heard from HaShem when there he went.
One said to be impure outside the camp was placed
While those who had stolen were then given a break
At a hundred twenty percent repayment take,
Not two hundred... [ Was it guilty conscience based?]-
Yet since perishable gifts to named Priests were okay,
One wonders: were there bribes to limit costs that day?
Communal non-perishable gifts to coffers saved
Allowed Mishkan functioning in every case
Such as for women accused of being unchaste,
Then given floor dirt and cursed ink flavored water
To cause childlessness if an unfaithful daughter,
But not death, just shaming, from the cursed bitter ink
Or bitterness when falsely accused one might think…
Yet no consequence for a false accuser was made…
[Paranoid misogynistic men on parade?]
Now the Nazarite vows were not taken lightly,
Required no takes of grapes or ferments in any form,
No hair cuts, no nearing the dead. So was the norm.
If someone present died, vows restarted once more
After seven days impure shaved rightly,
With purifying rites for spirit to restore.
Speaking of Nazarites, it’s good to know
That the Haftorah for this week, as Judges goes,
Is of the birth of Samson with his Mother’s vows
Of no grapes nor ferments nor wines nor nearing death
To finally have a child to raise with each breath,
Nazarite child to suppress Philistines somehow,
A male child who grew to be by HaShem quite blessed
Like our portion ending with three Priest blessings blessed...