This Shabbat Shalom is sponsored by Michael Hoffman and Shanie Asaria in honour of their forthcoming wedding & Anne, Ellen and Arny Sokoloff in memory of Julie Sokoloff
✡מזל טוב ✡ Mazal Tov to Simon Mandel and his family celebrating becoming Bar Mitzvah this morning & Mazal Tov to Michael Hoffman and Shanie Asaria in honour of their aufruf for their upcoming wedding. ✡
Parashat Vaethanan Shabbat Nahamu Deuteronomy 5:1-7:11 (Etz Hayim p. 1015) Isaiah 40:1-26 (Etz Hayim p. 1033)
Standing at the frontier of Canaan, Moses pleas with God to be allowed to enter the Promised Land with the Israelites, despite the more than anticipated answer. Of course, this is not in real time, but part of the discourse delivered by Moses sharing the wilderness narrative of the past 40 years with the generation that is about to embark on entry and conquest. We know what God’s response is and Moses shares that rejection of his entreaty, as well.
Sometimes our own congregational prayers have the sense of not being in real time – retelling a ritual narrative already experienced and is repeated for the umpteenth time. Our rabbis instruct us to adopt and maintain the routine form and content of our liturgy in the hope that we will experience genuine and spontaneous spiritual inspiration on occasion through that kavanah and repeated formula.
That is a bold and ambitious directive. How might we help that occur? One of the real-time and unique elements of our daily siddur and minyan experience is to engage with each other liturgically. The way we do that is by being attentive to the Ba’alat / Ba’al Tefillah, particularly when there is a required response from us – during the various kaddishim, the barchu at the beginning of Shacharit, the kedushah, the Torah blessings, etc. At the same time, the prayer leader needs to be patient and attentive to the responses of the congregation (or to the lone voice of whoever is running the service in the virtual context) and not blandly and heedlessly move on to the next line. In this way we can create a genuine dialogue and interaction which should be the purpose of any community gathering.
Moses knew how God would respond, no matter how many times he beseeched God to reconsider. We often anticipate the responses to be received when engaging in dialogue with our family, friends, colleagues and even foes. We are also fully certain of the liturgical responses offered during the minyan. However, if we strive to have some significant interaction with our fellow human beings in whatever context, we might best take the time, at least when that attentiveness and patience is required and helpful, to lend our ears to the tone and timing of what is uttered, even if the words themselves are overly familiar.
Havdallah is sponsored by David, Sam and Mike Cohen in memory of their father, Daniel Cohen on his 42nd yahrzeit & Rene & Mel Katzman in memory of Rene's mother Ester Warsh 🕯
Join us for in-person services on Thursday mornings and stay for breakfast. To register for Thurs. Aug 18, CLICK HERE. Deadline is Wed. Aug 17 at noon.
The Monday, August 15th morning minyan is sponsored by Ronnie & Marsha Klein in memory of Ronnie's mother Phyllis Klein & Rosalie & Avram Selick in memory of Rosalie's father Sol Daniels 〰
Morning Minyan: Sunday, Aug 14 at 8:30am Morning Minyan: Monday, Aug 15 to Friday, Aug 19 at 8:00am Evening Minyan Sunday, Aug 14 to Thursday, Aug 18 at 7:00pm
We remember with reverence and love those for whom Yahrzeit will be observed this week.
Ira Abraham Morris Agulnik Frances Arzem Adolph Bain Max Baker Michael Banks Brauna Berkovich Belle Birken Louis Bloom Moses Borsuk David Charney Daniel Cohen Helen Cohen Albert Cooper Sol Daniels Alice Feldman Matilda Feuerstein Pearl Gelkopf Mario Ger Abe Gertler Jack Gertzbein Joseph Glass Mortimer Max Golberg Sophie Goldenberg Mordechai Goldfluss Hyman Goldhar
Moshe Goldshmid Sonja Goldstein Doreen Goodman Shirley Goretsky Zysla Leah Granek Aaron Gruszka Girda Halperin Sheldon Halpern Sarah Faige Hattin Hilda Hilf Sophie Hoffman Elimelech Jacobson Bert Kahn Max Katchky Phyllis Klein Rose Klimitz Elsie Kosower Sarah Kruger Jacob Kuperberg Basia Kuperberg Faye Kushnir James Larventz Jerome Levine Helen Levinson Prosper Mastey 🕊
Natan Moses Robert's Mother Ruby Orlan Anne Page Henry Ritchie Rebetzin Shoshana Leah Rizenman Gedalyah Rosenfeld Joachim Schoenfeld Gertrude Shacter Al Sherman Morris Shinezinger Rebecca Shreiber Rose Silver Julius Jacob Sokoloff Mildred Sonshine Rachel Soussan Saul Spears Clara Steinberg Jean Strasberg Hyman Title Sarah Vigodny Ann Wagman Aishie (Rosalind) Wagman Andrew Weisz Faye Zionce
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITES Clickonline here or contact Faye at 437-770-2302
Shabbat morning Kiddush $450 | Thursday morning breakfast $200 Weekday Afternoon/Evening Minyan $36 | Saturday Evening Havdallah $36 Weekday Morning Minyan $54 | Friday Afternoon Kabbalat Shabbat $100 Shabbat Shalom newsletter $100 | Events & Opportunities newsletter $100 Shabbat morning Livestream Service $100 Deadline for sponsorships to appear in the Shabbat Shalom is Wednesday at noon the week prior.
Covid Policy Update
Proof of vaccination is not currently required to attend services or programmes at Beth David. Vaccines and boosters are still strongly recommended as they are proven to be effective at helping to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. Masking will continue to be required in all areas of the shul, except when eating. Pre-registration continues to be required for all in-person events. Physical distancing (maintaining a 6 ft. distance from others not in their bubble) is still required.
CONTACT THE SHUL For emergencies please call the office at 416-633-5500 and listen to the instructions.
Philip S. Scheim Rabbi Emeritus rabbi@bethdavid.com
Marshall Loomer Cantor cantor@bethdavid.com
Michael Rubin Ritual Director mrubin@bethdavid.com
Ian Borer, Executive Director 416-633-5500 ext. 22 ian@bethdavid.com
Adina Krupnik, Youth and Family Engagement Coordinator 647-278-4259 adina@bethdavid.com
Helene Jacobs, Administrator 437-770-2756 helene@bethdavid.com
