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"To be a teacher in the right sense is to be a learner.  I am not a teacher, only a fellow student."  (Soren Kierkegaard)

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Service Schedule

February 8th - February 14th

Wed, & Thurs Morn
7:00am
Mon - Thurs Evenings
6:00pm
Sunday Mornings
8:00am
 
Friday, February 12th
Kabbalat Shabbat Services
7:30pm
Candlelighting
5:20pm
 
Saturday, February 13th
Shabbat Services
9:15am
Jr. Congregation
10:30am
Havdallah
6:20pm
 
   
Upcoming Events
2/8 Israeli Dance
2/10 Limmud
2/11 Lunch & Learn
2/11 Adult Hebrew with Judy Holzer
2/12 Traditional Late Shabbat Services
2/13 Jr. Congregation
2/20 Anniversary/Birthday Shabbat
2/20 Kadima Hippie Party
2/26 Drum Circle
2/27 Erev Purim - Megillah Reading
2/28 Purim Activities at Beth Sholom
3/4 Bar/Bat Mitzvah Selection Meeting
3/5 Shabbat Services & Dinner
3/6 Starbucks Shabbat
3/6 Shabbat First
3/6 Greenberg Mitzvah Minyan
3/6 Israeli Dance Workshop
3/11 Old Enough Evening of Laughter
3/12 Traditional Shabbat Service
3/12 Jr. Congregation
3/14 Sisterhood Women's Seder
3/16 Men's Club at the Grizzlies
3/19 Rubinstein's Rockin' Ruach
3/20 Anniversary/Birthday Shabbat
3/21 USY Pre-Pesach Car Wash
3/21 Chocolate Seder
3/26 Drum Circle
3/29 First Seder
3/30 First Day of Passover

 

Archived Articles:

Good and Evil
Psalms On Our Tongues
Memorial
Torah
Ties That Bind
Happy Birthday Rabbi!
Sderot Journey
Shabbat Hachodesh
Seder 09
June 20, 2009
July 4, 2009
July 18, 2009
August 5, 2009
August 07, 2009
August 14, 2009
August 28, 2009
September 4, 2009
October 22, 2009
November 4, 2009
November 15, 2009
November 19, 2009
November 24, 2009
December 4, 2009
December 10, 2009
December 17, 2009
December 24, 2009
December 31, 2009
January 8, 2010
January 15, 2010
January 21, 2010
January 29, 2010


A FEW PRE-SHABBAT WORDS FROM RABBI AARON

Sharing the Load 
The Revelation at Sinai is such a dominant component of Partashat Yitro - each of the commandments presents a rich potential for discussion. But before we get to the foot of the mountain there's a virtual transcript, a transformative interchange between Moshe and his father-in-law, Yitro. Yitro spent a day watching Moshe lead the people, and he decided that Moshe was in need of leadership coaching. "Lo tov hadavar asher atta oseh - the thing you're doing, the way you're doing it, it isn't good, it is not working....Navol tibol gam atta gam ha'am hazeh asher imach - you will surely wear out, along with this nation that is with you." These are blunt words. But Yitro could honestly claim that the critique was offered with loving support. Upon reuniting with Moshe, Yitro shared his great enthusiasm and joy for the Israelite  journey from slavery to freedom. He also brought an offering of Thanksgiving before Israel's God. Moshe knew that Yitro was not simply taking shots at his leadership style.

What was wrong with Moshe's way of doing things? "Vaya'amod ha'am al Moshe min haboker ad ha'arev..." The Israelites stood, they waited on line all day, they took a number. Moshe was a great person. He was a listener, he cared deeply. He really was a shepherd, and God was moved by that quality - enough to recruit Moshe for the position. But one person can only do so much. Some leaders, in their desire to get it perfectly right, prefer to handle the project solo. They are reluctant to hand it over to others because they worry about the project being done sloppily. They sense that others don't bring the same detail-oriented passion, they have been burned by people dropping the ball. In our own lives we can easily identify with Moshe's micro-management. He really wanted to make everything right for every single Israelite. But, as we know, when any leader insists upon holding the reins tightly, when they rebuff offers of assistance, the project's success will all be tied to that one individual. Yitro, in his emphasis upon a chain of command - officers of tens, fifties, hundreds, etc. - was urging Moshe to step back and take in the big picture. Moshe knew that his father-n-law was spot on in his assessment. That's why he urged Yitro to stay on. Yitro politely declined; he had his own path to pave. And so, Moshe, equipped with a terrific leadership blueprint [great outside consulting!], had to work on implementing Yitro's vision. I suspect that it was difficult. Throughout the wilderness narratives, Moshe Rabbeinu [our leader, our rav]  expresses a sense of isolation and feeling over-stressed. We begin to glimpse the staggering burden and the Israelites' constant harping almost immediately after the Parting of the Sea. The journey - filled with the perils of the unknown - will test Israel's leaders [Moshe, Aharon, Miriam], and it will also test the Israelites, and even God.

In our shul family, we have just welcomed a new crew of leaders who have taken the helm. They will benefit from the wisdom and sacrifice of those leaders who came before them and who have lovingly labored on our behalf. Sometimes those leaders felt the triumph of success, other times they felt isolated, misunderstood, unthanked. The journey is a testing ground. I'm not limiting my focus to Moshe and the Israelites. We could be discussing the ongoing efforts of our shul board. And we could ponder the many personal journeys that describe our own lives, the challenges we face as families, as individuals. What does Yitro teach Moshe, what does he teach each of us? No one can do it alone. The most fulfilling journey is shared. Our new shul president along with the board depend upon your support and your active commitment. You - shul members - are the ticket to successful fund raising, to stimulating educational events, to enjoyable and entertaining get-togethers, to a sense of family, and a sense of feeling at home. This is what Yitro meant when he said to Moshe, "if you do this thing [delegate responsibility to dedicated leaders] and God instructs you, you will be able to stand firm, and this whole people will their place in harmony."

Yitro didn't offer any guarantee of trouble-free success. Moshe and the people will know failure and disappointment. There will be bruised egos, petty grudges, well-meaning folks who, nonetheless, are difficult to get along with. All those features are standard equipment that comes along with the journey. Still, we are a family. We care about each other even when we sometimes feel let down or annoyed. We kvetch - that very tendency seems to be etched into our chromosomal inheritance, a set of embedded dominant murmuring genes of complaint - but we must also cheer our leaders on. These bonds of family - in all our imperfection - will strengthen us as we build  and enjoy the place we call home, a house of peace and harmony, Beth Sholom.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Aaron

jethro and moses 1

jethro and moses 2

chosen

moses on the mountain

 

haiti

 

 

Note from Rabbi Aaron

Kol Foods