Shabbat Emor
Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Candle Lighting Time: Friday, May 9, 2008 7:42 P.M.
This week’s Torah portion reviews the holiday cycle of the Jewish
calendar year. We learn about the 3 Pilgrimage Holidays, Passover,
Shavuot, and Sukkot, the High Holidays, and of course Shabbat. Already
during the month of May we have celebrated the two newest holidays in
the Jewish year, Yom Hashoa, Holocaust Memorial Day, and Yom Ha’atmaut,
Israel Independence Day.
In a span of just 3 years, the Jewish people witnessed the greatest
tragedy to ever befall the Jewish people and our greatest triumph. By
1945 and the victory of the allies ending the Holocaust one third of the
Jewish people perished by the hands of the Nazis. 3 years later, the
Jewish people in Palestine established the Jewish State of Israel in our
ancient homeland, the Land of Israel, after a hiatus of 2000 years.
Arabs and others question the legitimacy of the State of Israel saying
Jews are a foreign element imported onto Arab Land. We Jews have always
belong to the Land of Israel from time immemorial. Abraham Joshua
Heschel wrote: “From the time of Joshua to this day, for a period of
more than 3,300 years, Jews have lived in the land of Israel in unbroken
sequence…(Even after the destruction of the independent Jewish state
first by the Babylonians in 586 BCE and then by the Romans in 70 C.E.)
Jews continued to dwell in the land. Thought the major part of the
nation was forced into exile, there has always remained a Jewish
settlement in Palestine. Its fortunes varied from generation to
generation, but its continuity was never broken…” (“Israel: An Echo of
Eternity, page 67-8)
Another current fallacy states that the Jewish State was imposed upon
the region. European guilt over the Holocaust facilitated this foreign
nation to gain a foothold in the land called Palestine. Nothing could
be farther from the truth. I do concede that the Holocaust acted as a
catalyst that helped speed up the establishment of the State of Israel;
nevertheless, the State of Israel would have come into being just as
other countries like India or Jordan came into being in the Post WWII
years. Heschel again teaches us that the work towards this goal was
part and parcel of the Jewish people from time immemorial. “The
restoration of Zion began on the day of its destruction. The land was
rebuilt in time long before it was restored in space. We have been
building it daily for nearly 2000 years... The Jewish people has never
ceased to assert its right, it title, to the land of Israel. This
continuous, uninterrupted insistence, an intimate ingredient of Jewish
consciousness, is at the core of Jewish history, a vital element of
Jewish faith. (Ibid, page 54-5).
The miracle of Israel never ceases to amaze me. What we have
accomplished in a mere 60 years after surviving the Holocaust is nothing
short of remarkable. Did you know that Israeli enginee4rs developed the
world’s first cell phone at Motorola’s lab in Haifa, its largest
research center in the world? Did you know that Israeli scientist
developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic
instrumentation for breast cancer? Did you know that Israel is the
country in the world that has entered the 21st century with a net gain
of trees? The list goes on and on.
So celebrate the newest holiday and give thanks to the Lord.
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:
Wednesday, May 7th at 7:00 P.M. for our final film in our series “Like a
Fish Out of Water” In honor of Israel Independence Day a dinner before
the movie of falafel, chumus, and Israeli salads at 6P.M. Cost $15.00
(includes the movie) Movie alone only $5.00 in advance or a $7.00
donation at the door. RSVP for dinner a must by May 2nd.
Shabbat, May 10th We celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Philip Mann.
Save 10% off your automobile liability and collision insurance for 3
years. Come to Traffic Survival Workshop Wednesday May 14 and 21,
7-10PM Seating limited. $35.00 per person RSVP by May 7
Shabbat, May 17 We celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Michael Levin
MJCC Sisterhood presents a Mah Jongg/Card Party, Thursday, May 22 at
12noon. $15.00 per person. Lunch will be served. RSVP by May 13th.
A gift from METNY Celebrating Israel’s 60th Birthday. Thursday, May
22. A free concert for the entire family at Shelter Rock Jewish Center,
Roslyn. Blue Fringe, the Jewish Rock Band and Tismoret, and outstanding
a cappella group. Admission by reservation only. Call Don Schiller:
211-533-7800 ext 212544
Sunday, June 1st Salute to Israel Parade Join family and friends as
we march in this year’s Salute to Israel Parade. Spectators also
welcomed! RSVP required. Cost is only $18.00 per person and includes
round trip air-conditioned bus (from MJCC and back), special
commemorative T shirt, a light snack and bottled water. Even if you
can’t attend show your support by donating $18.00 or more by May 5th and
receive the official Salute to Israei Parade T shirt as our gift.
Learn to Belly Dance with Miss Lena. 3 Wednesdays in June, June 12, 19,
26. $10.00 per class or $25.00 for all three RSVP by May 30th MUCC
office 718-1580
July 13th MJCC is going to another Brooklyn Cyclone’s Game! It is
Jewish Heritage Night at the stadium where the Cyclones will be playing
the Spikes. Tickets are only $18.00. RSVP at the synagogue office no
later than May 15th for our block of tickets to be purchased on time.
