From the Rabbi's Desk...
 
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
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March 20, 2009
Shabbat Across America
Come celebrate Shabbat Across America with us tonight.
We are expecting close to one hundred as CTI celebrates Shabbat along with hundreds of communities across North America.
We’ll be serving a great meal and will have a number of musicians on hand for a full musical Shabbat. There is also a separate children's program.
Cost is $24 for adults; there is no charge for children. Please call me if cost is an issue. Please call the office immediately (676-5080) if you would like to attend, or just come and we will bill you later. If necessary, please leave a message on the answering machine.
Come welcome Shabbat with song and dance. Musicians are welcome to join our CTI band.
We’ll begin at 6:30pm with dinner. The Kabbalat Shabbat service starts just after 7:30pm.
Pre-Passover Service and Breakfast
Wednesday, April 8 will be a special morning at CTI.
CTI will mark the morning before Passover with a special service that is of particular interest to "Bichorim" or first-born in every family.
Tradition tells us that on that morning, first-born are to observe a fast ("Ta'anit Bichorim") to thank God for sparing us in Egypt during the tenth plague. As we know from the Haggadah (the Passover story), the Egyptians first- bores perished, while the Jewish "Bichorim" were spared.
However, first-borns are exempt from the fast if they attend services on that morning.
There are two other reasons to attend. As they have for decades, the Udell family will sponsor a full bagel and lox breakfast.
And following breakfast, we will participate in something which only comes around once every 28 years, "Birkat ha’Chammah," the blessing over the sun.
Once Every 28 Years
It has been called the "Rosh Hashanah of all Rosh Hashanahs" and it’s something Jews celebrate only once every 28 years.
On Wednesday, April 8, after services and before breakfast, weather permitting, we will recite the "Birkat ha’Chammah," the blessing over the sun.
The Talmud tells us that once every 28 years the sun rises exactly in the position it shone at the point of creation.
There is a short but special series of prayers which are recited as we recall the birth of the world, and the awesome nature of God and the universe.
A special book has been created for the occasion which not only includes specified psalms and prayers, but also contemporary poems and songs, including "Here Comes the Sun."
The book also includes archived newspaper accounts about this service, and some are quite bizarre and comical. You can purchase your own copy of the "Birkat ha’Chammah" book through the office for $10.
The blessing may be said any time from dawn to about noon, and I will share more information as the date approaches.
This week, I met the author of this book, Rabbi Joseph Prouser, and commented to him that he is indeed a very dedicated author to write a book that will only sell once every 28 years.
And it occurred to me, once we are finished using the fifteen books we ordered for this service, where will they go and when will they be used again?
I intend to pack them away in a box with a sealed letter to those who will be leading this congregation in 28 years.
Wouldn’t it be interesting to provide future CTI members with a record of 2009 to be opened in 2037? I welcome your contributions to this time capsule.
The fact that this phenomenon occurs once every 28 years provides us an opportunity to flash back in time. That is why it is called the "Rosh Hashanah of Rosh Hashanahs."
I will be teaching an adult class session regarding this fascinating service. The day and time of this class is currently being finalized.
Exodus Decoded
By popular demand, this week CTI will offer a repeat screening of the History Channel movie, "Exodus Decoded."
This past week’s showing attracted about forty, and I’ve heard many positive comments about the material presented.
The movie provides extremely interesting, if not controversial, evidence regarding Jewish slavery in Egypt, the Exodus, the Ten Plagues, and the crossing of the Sea of Reeds.
As I’ve mentioned, I guarantee this will make interesting conversation around the Seder table.
The movie will be re-shown this Wednesday at 7:30pm.
Name Updates
There are many occasions in synagogue life when we mark dates, and recall those whose shoulders we stand on.
CTI keeps a calendar to mark the "Yorzteits," the anniversaries of the passing of congregants and their close relatives and friends.
If you have someone you wish to add to our database, please e-mail the office with that person’s name and their date of passing. We have a computer program that automatically matches the English calendar date with the proper day on the yearly Jewish calendar.
Please call or e-mail the office if you would like someone added to the list.
As well, it may be helpful now to ask your parents and/or grandparents what their Jewish names are and the names of their parents.
As generations become more removed from the "old country," there has been a tendency in recent years to forget the Jewish names of our parents and grandparents.
These names are important for "life cycle" events, both now and in the future.
As well, please let us know if there is someone, a friend or relative, who would benefit from a prayer for healing. We read these names and pray for those on this list every Shabbat morning.
This and That
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The Alan Dershowitz movie, "The Case for Israel" will be shown on Wednesday, April 1. A discussion will follow the movie. We’ll begin the evening at 6:30pm with a light dinner.
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There is a fascinating "books on tape" series that I’ve been listening to in my travels to and from the Bronx. The series features Rabbi Berel Wein discussing a number of Jewish topics and rabbinical personalities. You can find these on rabbiwein.com. I have finished the first of these three hour lectures, "The Life of the Chofetz Chaim," for anyone wishing to borrow it.
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There are still eight tickets left for the April 2 Islanders versus Canadiens game. Tickets regularly priced at $70 have been discounted to $40. That includes a kosher hot dog.
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New Moon of Nissan
Happy new year!
This Wednesday evening marks the beginning of the Jewish month of Nissan, which as tradition tells us actually marks the Jewish new year.
We often regard Rosh Hashanah as the new year, but actually Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar and commemorates the anniversary of creation.
There are four new years in our tradition: a new year for trees, a new year for tithing, Rosh Hashanah, and the first of Nissan.
The concept of freedom is so vital to Jewish people that we mark our Exodus from Egypt as a new year. Such is the value and importance that we place on freedom, not just for us, but for all of humanity.
As we move closer to Pesach, I will be speaking about what the mystics remind us is the true meaning of Pesach.
Indeed, it is important from a legal and traditional point of view to clean our homes, and rid ourselves of bread and other yeast products. But more significant is the importance of addressing the yeast in each of us.
Are we often too stubborn? Do we often turn to our egos and self interest rather than incline our hearts towards others?
Do we "puff" ourselves up like loaves of bread when, sometimes, the best approach is humility, simplicity, and self sacrifice?
What can we do before Passover to address the "chametz" in our hearts?
I will be speaking about this tonight at Shabbat Across America, and on Shabbat morning as we work our way toward Passover, our true new year, as we recommit toward freedom, compassion, and the true meaning of our lives.
Shabbat shalom. Kol tuv (with all goodness)
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
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