- Congregation Beth El–Keser Israel
85 Harrison Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1724 | P: 203.389.2108 | office@beki.org
85 Harrison Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1724 | P: 203.389.2108 | office@beki.org
…m immigrants from Arab countries, Africa and Europe. The fact that my great-great-great grandfather Dov ben Ze’ev lived in northern Israel does not give me a “first come” claim over people who subsequently lived there. But the notion that Arabs are somehow more “native” than Jews is an historical absurdity. Yet it is a notion that underlies much of the writing of the European and American press, and that is held dearly by some Palestinian Arab pro…
…n, including Sarah Palin, promised that once the law came into effect, life-and-death decisions would be made for the elderly and infirm by government death panels. From our personal acquaintance, you may know that I am experienced and credentialed in the realm of “who shall live and who shall die.” Beyond my rabbinic training and ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, I served for a summer as an intern (pastoral field worker) a…
…ommunity leaders have warned him (`ein anu kofin et ha-ba`al liten la get u-le-hagbotah ketubata `ad she-yitru bo) … and when he receives the warning and he is made to wait under the observer, if the observer testifies that he repeated his violence we collect her alimony for her.23 Rashba seems to conclude similarly in one of his responsa.24 Moreover, Rabbenu Simha ben Shemuel, cited in many sources, states explicitly that the court may turn to ge…
…e]” (Sefer Shaarei Teshuva, Bloch ed. (Berlin), #27). The Shemesh Tsedaqa, writing in the early 18th century [1681-1740], forbade hunting as a profession and for sport. He said that those who hunt “have taken hold of the occupation of Esau the wicked, and are guilty of cruelty in putting to death God’s creatures for no reason. It is a doubled and redoubled duty upon people to engage in matters which make for civilization, not in the destruction of…
…, he does not want to tell that to the blasphemer, his reason being that he-Moses-had killed the blasphemer’s father. If he sentences the blasphemer to death as well, people may think that Moses does not like the family, and therefore the Israelites will not trust him. Rabbi Heller differs, suggesting that maybe Moses did know the punishment is death, but he did not know what manner of death. In some ways, this story is similar to one about a stic…
…This is part of the dynamic of effective communication. For this reason in-person oral learning is inherently superior to book-learning. To enhance the communication value of the BEKI Bulletin, readers are invited to submit their opinions, responses and questions on any matters of concern. Please address your letter to the Bulletin Editor at the shul address or via the internet to me at jjtilsen@beki.org. Unless otherwise requested by the writers…
…All worship services and children’s programs are member-led. Education Director Annie Norman Schiff (anormanschiff@beki.org) arranges the rotation for children’s programs. To sign up to lead part of the Saturday morning services, or to read Torah or Haftorah, make your selection via our online spreadsheet. Just scroll down to the proper date to see details about each aliyah. Questions? Consult Rachel Adelstein at ritualcoordinator@beki.org. …
…Elohei Avraham, Elohei Yitshaq, vElohei Ya`aqov, ha-El ha-gadol ha-gibor ve-ha-nora. Blessed are You, Adonai, our God and God of our ancestors, God of Avraham, God of Yitshaq, and God of Ya`aqov, God the great, the mighty, and the awesome. We may ask, how does mention of the Divine attribute of nora add to the two preceding ones of gedula and gevura? I would suggest, in essence, that nora is the first to describe God’s nature as relational. To be…
…hips of life in modern Israel. “Four weeks a year in the Army Reserves, sky-high taxes, rock-bottom salaries, meshuga drivers, terrorists, corrupt politicians, rampant sexism, poor postal service, rude and lazy bureaucrats — who can stand it?” “You’re right,” said the other, “it’s terrible. As soon as they open another Jewish State, I’m moving!” While we must recognize that there are certain aspects of Jewish culture and Synagogue culture that oug…
…Shabbat Afternoon Schedule Change: The Shabbat Minha (Saturday Afternoon) services in February 2017 will be 1p – 1:35p in the Posener Beit Midrash, and (as in the summer) the evening service will not be held at BEKI on those four days. This early service time will allow participants to avoid the round-trip to the synagogue on what are the snowiest and coldest nights. Comments or questions to jjtilsen@beki.org . …
