Friday, June 9, 20 Sivan 6:00 PM Please join Ellen Allard for a Hybrid Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Saturday, June 10, 21 Sivan, 9:30 AM Please join Cantor Ellen Band for a HYBRID Shabbat Morning Service with special Torah reading by Toni and Rose Spitzer
If you have a simcha, please share it with us and receive a special blessing from Rabbi Plumb during an upcoming Shabbat service. Sponsor a Kiddush by virtually inviting us to your home as you lead the community in Kiddush and HaMotzi prayers. (we will provide challah and grape juice!) Please contect Rosalie Reszelbach, Janet Stein Calm or Toni Spitzer to arrange.
Please click here for the link to the new Conservative prayerbook, Siddur Lev Shalem: Shabbat Shaharit Siddur Lev Shalem The prayers will be the same as in our usual blue siddur, so feel free to use that instead if you wish.
Please click here for the link to the page numbers for Shabbat morning prayers in Sim Shalom (Blue) and in Lev Shalem Page Numbers for Shabbat Morning
Annual General Meeting June 13, 7:00 PM
The Congregation Mishkan Tefila Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 13, 7:00 PM
The meeting will be in-person, in M8 (on the Fuller Street entrance corridor) Beginning at 5:00 PM: Drop in to get your picture taken for your Campus ID/ New Key Fob in the downstairs main office.
7:00 PM: Minyan and Meeting Stay for make-your-own sundaes following meeting.
All members in good standing are eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting. Please contactToniif you need to discuss your membership status.
We Remember: This week's upcoming Yahrzeit Observances
Shloshim Barry "Buddy" Hyman Neil Levin
Saturday
Sunday Freda Band Sara Rosenthal
Monday Min Harran Charles Diamond
Tuesday Philip Katz Samuel Krentzman Chaim Davidi Samuel Tichnor Albert S. Frager
Wednesday Sydney Miller Elaine Davidovsky William Kopans Dr. Jacob Mezer
Thursday Mitchell Selig Leonard Rosendorf
Friday Irving Kaplan Ida Sudikoff
A Teaching from our Rabbi
בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת
God said to Moses, Say to Aaron, when you raise the lights…. Num 8: 2
The lights seem to refer to lighting the seven branched menorah. The verse begs the question however: where did the fire come from that was meant to kindle the lights? The Torah doesn’t mention any fire.
The Talmud suggests that the flame lights itself, rising of its own accord. B’ha’alotecha has within it the root of l’alot—to rise. According to Kabbalah, the candle flame rose toward the Shechina, God’s loving presence. The flame was like a sunflower, leaning toward the sun.
There is another possibility for the unseen source of the light. It comes from those who yearn and strive for holiness. In the wilderness it was the Levites; in our days, it is from those who work for the good. It emerges from the desire for a healthy society that will act as a light to other nations.
The land of Israel represents the light to the nations for Jews. Yesterday, the Israeli Consulate held a celebration for Israel’s 75th birthday. The Economic minister Nir Barkat was invited. Barkat is a leader of the move to denude the Israeli Supreme Court and push through laws that would limit democracy and human rights in Israel. The American-Israeli movement that is trying to protect these rights is called UnXeptable, and has a chapter in Boston. It is made up of Israelis who are deeply concerned about the future of Israel. They lead peaceful protests at Boston Common every Sunday. We at CMT welcomed them in our sacred space in place of their rained out protest a few weeks ago.
They organized the peaceful protest against Nir Barkat. The rabbi of the synagogue where the event was being held stated that he would join the protestors.
There has been much discussion among Jewish leaders in Boston about the pros and cons of participating in the demonstrations. Should Jews living in America, whether Israeli or not, protest against the plans of Israel’s current government? Or should we stay quiet for fear of increased antisemitism? Should we in Boston support Israelis who ask for our help to encourage Israel to maintain her democracy?
As I have said since my trip to Israel in February, I believe in Israel’s need for a democratic and pluralist society, and our need for Israel to continue to be open and welcoming to all Jews, regardless of observance.
The protests are not anti Israel. They are the opposite. They exist to help the state of Israel continue to be what she was, in part, created for: to be a homeland for all Jews. They exist because of the deep love for ,and support of, the state.
Should we abstain because of fear of antisemitism? If we did, it would imply that antisemitism is in our control somehow, which it isn’t. Antisemitism is complicated but I know for certain that the victims of antisemitism are not the creators of it. I have been asked to participate in the demonstrations. I felt it was, and still is, important to do so. Israelis have asked for our help in keeping our beloved state a light for the nations. We are the lamp lighters. The flame comes from our hopes and efforts to help Israel be the Zion that our prophets and poets dreamt of for thousands of years.
This Shabbat may our homes be filled with G*ds light. May our souls rise to light the nerot of justice,love and hope.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Marcia Plumb
Congregation Mishkan Tefila 384 Harvard St. Brookline, MA 02446
