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Marathon Jewish
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Shabbat Ki Tissa
Exodus 30:11-34:35
Candle Lighting Time: Friday, February 22, 2008 5:17 P.M.
An experienced factory
worker approached his supervisor at the end of the day looking confused.
“How do I turn off my machine?” he asked. “You don’t remember?” his
boss asked. “No,” the employee said. “In fact, I’m not sure where I am
and what I am doing here.” The concerned supervisor sent him to a
neurologist who specializes in diseases of the nervous system. The
diagnosis: Amnesia. According to the doctor, the man’s experience was
not uncommon. The hospital where he works sees people with memory loss
almost daily.
This situation has a spiritual parallel in this week’s Torah portion of
Ki Tisa. The Children of Israel apparently had forgotten who they were,
who they worked for, where they had come from, and how much the Lord had
done for them. Right after hearing a God’s revelation from upon Mt.
Sinai declaring, “I the Lord am your God who brought you out of the land
of Egypt, the house of bondage: You shall have no other gods besides Me.
You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of
what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters
under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them.” (Exodus
20:15), they built a golden calf idol because Moses had tarried on the
Mountain. (Exodus 32:1ff). After Aaron made the golden calf the Torah
records: “Early next day, the people offered up burnt offerings and
brought sacrifices of well-being; they sat down to eat and drink, and
then rose to dance.” (Exodus 32:6)
What could be worse than forgetting that we have a covenantal
relationship with the Holy One! Let’s check ourselves. Maybe we, like
our ancestors, have had a lapse of memory. If so, let’s forsake our
erroneous ways, return to the Lord, and remember who we are and why we
are here.
Spiritual amnesia is a dangerous condition, but can be reversed.
Shabbat Shalom,
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:
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!
Our next Tri-Community Blood Drive is March 9th at the Young Israel of New
Hyde Park.
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