Shabbat Shalom GRJC

Weekly Emails to the Congregation

Shabbat Emor 2008

Shabbat Shalom to the GRJC family,

We light our Shabbat candles this week at 7:43 pm.  Friday evening services will begin at 8 pm and Saturday morning services will begin at 9 am.  The Bernstein family invites the entire congregation to participate in services this Shabbat as Eliana becomes a Bat Mitzvah.

Tot Shabbat and Shabbat Sheli will begin at 6:30 pm on Friday evening.

We will read from parshat Emor in Sefer Vayikra, the Book of Leviticus, this Shabbat morning.  This week’s parasha begins to describe some of the job description of the priest in ancient Israel.

The job of a priest and a rabbi are only somewhat similar.  The priest served in the Temple.  Herein lies the first distinction between priest and rabbi.  The Temple was the earthly location where God’s presence resided.  The synagogue, where rabbis serve today, is a place where religious and other events occur.  The Torah and the presence of the Jewish community represent God’s presence here.  The Torah teaches us, however, that in the Temple there was an almost ‘physical’ presence of God.  Therefore, the setting of the priest and rabbi’s work is different.

A priest also carried out the work of the sacrifices and related labors in the Temple.  A rabbi, by virtue of the fact that we no longer have a Temple, does not serve as one who offers sacrifices.  The Rabbis who collected the ancient teachings of the Mishna and Talmud teach us that Jews in the post-Temple world offer prayer (avodah) and deeds of lovingkindness (gemilut hasadeem) instead of animal and grain offerings.  In a sense, then, the goal of worship is the same even though the means are different.

The major similarity between priests and rabbis is that both serve as teachers.  Priests and rabbis transmit the wisdom of the Torah from one generation to the next alongside parents who are understood to be the primary teachers of Jewish identity.

Since we are all, in some way or another, teachers in our lives, what lessons do you think are most important to pass on to Jewish youth today?  Please email me back with your ideas:  rabbi@grjc.org

With blessings,
Rabbi Tow

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Israel during her 60th birthday for FREE… this Sunday, May 11 from 10 am –12:30pm  when the GRJC Religious School transforms our Center into Eretz Yisrael.  Experience walking through Israel on a giant floor map and seeing the sites our school has created.  Israeli foods and crafts too! This is a community-wide event…come and bring your friends!

AND PLEASE, We must hear from you immediately if you and/or your family are planning to march with us in the Israel Day Parade in NYC on Sunday, June 1. Call Rachel Blumenstyk or Roann Rubin at 201-652-6624 to sign up!

Also, if you traveled with us from Jersey to Jerusalem in February 2007 OR if you’re possibly interested in traveling with us in February 2009, please come to the UJANNJ’s community wide kickoff event for J2J2 Sunday, May 18, 2-4 pm at Temple Emanuel of Pascack Valley in Woodcliff Lake.  Contact Roann Rubin, GRJC J2J2 Captain, for further details.


And don’t forget: SATURDAY NIGHT, MAY 17 9:00 PM - COMEDY NIGHT AT THE GLEN ROCK JEWISH CENTER RSVP by tomorrow, May 9, and get an early-bird discount on seating See the reservation form on the GRJC website or in the May bulletin Or call Marc Radin 201-493-1199.

The GRJC Nursery School is accepting donations for its 4th Annual Garage Sale (Sunday, May 18, 9am-3pm in the GRJC parking lot …or Social Hall in case of rain). See the flyer in the May bulletin for requested items and drop them at the Center during Nursery School hours.

On Sunday, June 8, from 11:30 am- 1:00 pm, Rabbi Tow will host a brunch for our graduating high school and college seniors; An informal opportunity to wish our young men and women a hearty Mazel Tov and hear about their upcoming plans.  If you want to be certain your grad receives an invitation, email rabbi@grjc.org right away!

MITZVAH ALERT:  We’ve received an urgent request from the CENTER FOR FOOD ACTION for non-perishable food items; Its pantry stock is at a very low level.  The center especially needs 100% juice in bottles (apple is best), Canned meat (Spam, Stew, Chicken), Canned Fruit, Peanut Butter, Dry Cereal, Hardy soups (with protein).  If you would rather donate a gift card from a local supermarket you may do so; the CFA volunteers will do the grocery shopping.  All items and gift cards can be dropped at the Glen Rock Jewish Center during office/school hours and our Social Action committee will deliver them.

BBYO Elections Monday, May 12, 4:45 pm, Youth Lounge

Melton I Adult Ed, Monday, May 12, 7:30 pm, Social Hall

Mommy & Me, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 13-14, 9:30-10:45 am

Senior Aerobics, Thursday, May 15, 9:45 am, Social Hall
 

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