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Marathon Jewish
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Shabbat
Tetzaveh
Exodus
27:20-30:10
Candle Lighting Time:
Friday, February 15, 2008 5:11 P.M.
The story is told
about a small boy who was being cared for by a nursemaid. When he saw a
beautiful vase in a china cabinet, he wanted it. When he was refused,
he began crying, screaming, and kicking. His mother, hearing the fuss
came into the room to find out what the problem was. Picking up her
child, she said to him, “What do you want, darling?” He pointed to the
vase, so she gave it to him. But that didn’t satisfy him and soon he
began crying again. “Now what does my little darling want?” “I want-I
want,” said the boy between sobs, and then he blurted out, “I want
anything I’m not supposed to have!”
The desire for
what is off-limits is not confined to spoiled children. We are all
subjected to this temptation. Even the High Priest! In this week’s
Torah reading, Tetzaveh, we read about the special clothing the High
Priests wore. “The Talmud understands the priestly vestments as
designed to protect human beings against the sins to which they are
prone. Thus the breastpiece-called ‘the breastpiece of judgment’ (mishpat)
in 28:15-was meant to prevent miscarriages of justice. The jacket (m’il,
similar to the word for betrayal, ma-al would discourage gossip. The
ephod (a coat also used to decorate idols, as in Hos. 3:4) would protect
them against the danger of succumbing to idolatry. The fringed tunic
(the same Hebrew phrase used for Joseph’s coat in Gen. 37) would protect
against bloodshed (as the brothers nearly killed Joseph). The robe,
covering the entire body, would protect them against sins of unchastity;
and the headdress, against prideful arrogant thoughts (BT Zev.88b as
quoted from Humash Etz Hayyim on verse 28:4 below the line on page 505)
We recognized that
many practices and attitudes common in today’s society must be
rejected. But that in itself often fuels the flame of desire. It is
therefore important to strengthen our will power through the study of
Torah, the observance of the mitzvot, and choosing good company to
keep. Then we can proclaim like Job did, “I put on righteousness, and
it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a diadem.” (29:14)
Rabbi Gary Greene
Services
Schedule:
Friday night
7:00 p.m.
Shabbat
9:00 a.m.
Mon. & Thurs
6:30 a.m.
Sun. -Thurs night
7:30 p.m.
Announcements:
Shabbat, February 16, Lunch
and Learn. This week’s topic will be “Does ‘Thou shalt not steal’ include
intellectual property? The internet has blurred the lines of ownership,
particularly over words, images, and most critically ideas. We shall
explore the halachic challenges presented to us by the ease with which we
can appropriate intellectual property-plucking it out of the very air- and
the issues of ownership and theft must resolve.
Saturday, February 23rd
7:00 P.M. Join us for our Third film in our Israel Film Festival in honor of
Israel’s 60th Birthday Featuring
"The Cemetery Club"
Every Sabbath morning the Mt.
Herzl Academy Social Club meets at the eponymous National Cemetery, where
its members-elderly, in-your-face Polish-born Jerusalemites (the director’s
stupefying great-aunt among them)-debate Immanuel Kant, declaim poetry,
argue incorrigibly, and together face inexorable losses. Don’t miss this
tremendously moving, hilarious portrait of Israel’s emotionally rugged,
dwindling Holocaust generation.
Winner of the European Film
Academy best Documentary in 2006
Winner of the Asian
International Best International Documentary in 2006
Winner of the Leipzig Golden
Dove for the Best Documentary in 2006
Winner of the best
international women's film in Israel 2006
Donation of $5.00 in advance
or $7.00 at the door. All children accompanied by an adult are invited in
for free. All donations will be put towards refurbishing our lobby. Please
make all checks out to MJCC with a notation Israel Film Festival
Mark your calendars!
Monday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m.
The sisterhood presents: A Purim Happening: Learn to Belly Dance with Miss
Lena. $15.00 per person. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP By March
3rd at the synagogue 718-428-1580. Bring Out Your Inner Vashti!
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