From the Rabbi's Desk...
 
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
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February 12, 2010
Sunday Study: Purim’s Unmasked
CTI’s women’s group, Kol Isha, continues its ongoing study series Sunday with feminist rabbi Molly Karp, who will teach a session titled “Vashti and Esther Unmasked.”
This will be a fascinating look at two of Purim’s female protagonists. Who was Vashti? And what was the real reason she refused to dance for the king?
Who was Esther? Was she real, or a figment of the Jewish imagination?
Rabbi Karp will begin at 10:30am, preceded by a bagel breakfast.
Come see why this Kol Isha series is growing in popularity. Rabbi Karp will complete her series with us in April with a discussion on sexuality in the Torah.
CTI Cares Meeting
As we are all aware, there are many in our community who fall through the cracks.
These are tough economic times, and many are struggling. As well, there are many dealing with wellness issues at home or in assisted living facilities who could use a helping and compassionate hand.
That’s why our synagogue has its “CTI Cares” committee.
Committee members are connected by computer and through clergy to make phone calls, to assist hose who need a lift to doctor appointments, and to help in other ways.
But it is always healthy to ask, “are we doing enough?”
On Sunday, February 21 at 7:00pm, we will hold a CTI Cares meeting to discuss whether we are as good as we can be.”
A community and a synagogue should always be judged by the way it treats all individuals across the spectrum of need.
We are looking for more volunteers to assist on this committee, and to reflect on ways to be even more attentive, compassionate, and caring.
Hebrew Classes
Dates for our five week “Learn Hebrew” series are now confirmed.
The class will meet from 6:30pm to 7:45pm beginning Thursday, February 25 and running through March 25.
The sessions are ideal for those who have none or very little Hebrew background. Classes will be taught by Liliana Halac.
Liliana is a wonderful and patient teacher who showed great success with similar classes last year.
Cost for the five weeks is $60 per person. Speak to me if cost is an issue.
If you’ve been frustrated trying to learn Hebrew over the years, then please give Liliana a try.
An e-mail list if being developed of those interested in this class. Please contact me if you wish to be added.
This ‘N That
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Although I am at the synagogue on most days, Tuesdays and Thursdays have been designated as “official office hours.” Please come to talk about whatever is on your mind. My office is a safe place.
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We are still looking for volunteers to help with our ongoing services at assisted living facilities and the Glen Cove Hospital. Please e-mail me if you can help.
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Prices for CTI’s memorial plaques will be rising on March 1. Please check out
our offerings.
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We are still collecting sealed notes of prayer and for healing to be placed by one of our congregants in the Western Wall in Jerusalem later this month. Deadline is Monday at 5:00pm.
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Our United Synagogue Youth (USY) Chapter will be hosting Ronnie Baras, the Kosher Hypnotist, on Saturday night, March 13. This will be open to all young people as we look to grow our USY chapter. Stay tuned for more details.
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Laws Between People
It is an amazing statement in our tradition that the Torah portion which we read this week, following last week’s giving of the Ten Commandments, deals primarily with the laws affecting humanity.
Many religions concern themselves with what needs to be done to earn a place in the hereafter. Many actually view a person’s religious explorations and experimentation as committing adultery toward God, and these “crimes” within some religions are punishable by death.
But Judaism takes another view. Time after time in the Torah, our connection with God takes a back seat in order to perform acts of lovingkindness.
Our tradition tells us God paid a visit to see how Abraham was faring the day after he circumcised himself. But Abraham runs off and leaves God “standing there” in order to open his tent and provide hospitality to three strangers.
In this week’s Torah portion, we read about Mishpatim, those laws that flow from the original revelation at Sinai.
It is actually an interesting characteristic of Judaism that there is no real obligation in the Torah for a Jew to believe in anything, or to win God’s favor in any direct way.
We are told only “to do.” This week’s Torah portion contains the important phrase “Na’aseh V’Nishma” telling us to “do” first and to “hear” later. It reminds us that there is godliness in the performance of acts of compassion and lovingkindness.
When we behave, and belong, then we believe. And we do so not because there is a reward in the hereafter, but because each of us has the capacity to heal a broken world through our day to day actions. That is what God wants.
The Torah this week inspires us to find God and to embrace life through behavior and action. And when we do so, we unite to form a great family under God’s loving and patient hand.
Please join us tonight at 8:00pm as we also pay final respects to Patricia Workman, a regular at our Friday night services, who passed away this week after a fall in her home.
Please bring a friend. Bring a musical instrument. Let us fill our hearts by doing.
Saturday morning services begin as usual at 9:30am.
Shabbat shalom, Kol tuv (with all goodness)
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
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