eWeekly

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

eWeekly: Dec 31, 2008

TOS eWeekly Volume 3 Issue 14, December 31st, 2008

Parashat Vayigash
The Joseph Story—Part III: Absolute Exile
David H. Aaron
The most intractable theological conundrum of all monotheistic religions is the question of how God is manifest in history. Oftentimes the whole issue of divine involvement in historical events is distilled to the problem of evil and undeserved suffering—what is frequently labeled the problem of"theodicy."The issue can be framed simply as: if God is benevolent and able to act upon God’s sense of what is just, why do innocent people suffer? Almost as pressing is the problem of free will. If God has a hand in designing the unfolding of human affairs, how can free will be possible? Theologians since antiquity have contrived a vast array of thought games to get around the obviously irresolvable tensions that result when people insist on sustaining belief in a moral deity, while also granting that deity power over the intricacies of nature and history alike. Attempts at rationalizing history vis-à-visan ethical and potent deity generally result in three scenarios: (1) believers are required to suspend critical thinking and form a faith somehow unaffected by the travails of history they readily experience; (2) believers are required to accept and integrate the paradoxical into their approach to life; or (3) believers are required to withdraw into the mind-set that our inability to resolve this tension is the result of our intellectual limitations and not something problematic about the ideas or, for that matter, God.
(for the complete text on this weeks portion, go to http://urj.org/torah/ )

Meditation & Torah Study

On Saturday, January 10th, Tifani Katof will lead a Yoga Meditation Service from 10:00-11, and a Torah Service and Study from 11:00-11:40AM.  Have fun and study in the same service!  No double reverse lotus positions will be required!

INTERFAITH COMMUNITY MEETING
Once again, Temple Ohav Shalom will be hosting this event Sunday, March 22, 2009. More details will be provided as the date approaches!

MEMBERSHIP
Everyone is invited to TOS Community Night on Saturday, January 24th. So even if you do not have a business to pitch, come and schmooze and learn about all the other congregants’ businesses.  If you have a business, come and tell us about it in 45 seconds or less.  RSVP to Matt Lifson at 724-940-1080 or to me at 724-449-2779.  We have some really cool door prizes.  Come, you’ll have a good time and you will be doing a good thing for the TOS Community.

Thanks,

Laura Flieder

SUPERBOWL FUNDRAISER
The Annual TOS Super Bowl Fundraiser is on!  Tickets are $10 and $20 each.  Half the proceeds of the fundraiser goes to the Temple and the other half is paid out.  Members will receive a phone call about purchasing tickets.  If you are not contacted or have any questions about the Super Bowl Fundraiser, please contact Brian Kline (412) 487-4927.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN HEBREW?
Would you like to learn Modern Hebrew, Prayer Book Hebrew or both?

Come learn to read Hebrew in a convenient, easy, fun way – while your children are learning! Or even if you don’t have children in Sunday school!

Sundays – 8:45 to 9:30
Beginning January 4th, 2009
Cost: $36 for 6 weeks:
Jan. 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th
Feb. 1st & 8th

RSVP to Marci Barnes at 412-369-0900 x14
or

GIANT EAGLE GIFT CARDS
One way to help TOS without spending extra money is to buy GIANT EAGLE cards from us. We can mail them at the first of the month to you (we have the numbers recorded so don’t worry about them getting lost in the mail!). We send them out in the first couple of days of the month. All we ask is that you pay for them upon receipt. If you are interested, email Elliot at and we will place you on a monthly schedule. Kathy Kline is coordinating this.  You have to eat and if you shop at Giant Eagle or buy gas at GetGo, it is a simple way to support your temple! You can use your Advantage Cards too.

Genocide Awareness Shabbat
As members of the human race and the Jewish community we must stand up and speak when innocent people are being murdered. Within the past century, genocide has occurred for different reasons in different areas, but we have yet to learn from this history, for it continues to repeat itself. Join us on January 30, 2009 at 7:30 PM as we discuss past genocides and pray that the current genocide in Darfur region of the Sudan will be the last.  For more information please contact Rachel Dougherty I am launching a postcard drive. All you must do is complete a postcard that will be sent to Washington D.C. in time for the inauguration to urge the Obama administration to take humanitarian action in Darfur. They are located in the education wing. Please fill out a postcard when you find a spare second. Postage will be taken care of. Thanks.

GIFT SHOP
The Gift Shop is open during Sunday School and by appointment. Contact Elaine Cohen - 412-364-8484 or Andi Turkheimer 412-367-7864. We have many beautiful items for all aspects of Jewish life. There is no need to go to Squirrel Hill - visit us first!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, January 15th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Saturday, January 24th Special Needs Shabbat Celebration 9:00AM-9:45AM
Saturday, January 24th TOS Community Night
Sunday, January 25th 1:00-4:00PM Mah Jongg
Friday, February 20th 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, led by Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof
Open Discussion about new siddur in Social Hall following Service
Thursday, March 5th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Sunday, March 22nd Interfaith Community Meeting Temple Ohav Shalom-Details Coming!
Saturday, April 18th NIGHT AT THE RACES!  TOS Social Hall
Saturday, April 25th 9:00AM Special Needs Shabbat

Schedule of Worship Services for January

Parashat Vayigash
Friday, January 2 ---6 Tevet , 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Marshal Auron
Saturday, January 3 --- 7 Tevet, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Sandy Berkowitz
Parashat Vayechi
Friday, January 9 --- 13 Tevet, 5769
6:00pm FIRST FRIDAY DINNER—4th Grade
7:00pm Friday Family Service
Tifani Katof, Cantorial Intern
Saturday, January 10 --- 14 Tevet, 5769
10:00-11:00 AM—Yoga & Meditation
11-11:40AM is Torah Service & Study
Tifani Katof, Cantorial Intern
Parashat Shemot
Friday, January 16 --- 20 Tevet, 5769
6:15pm Tot Shabbat
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Tifani Katof, Cantorial Intern
Using Mishkan T’Filah
Saturday, January 17 --- 21 Tevet, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Tifani Katof, Cantorial Intern
Parashat Vaera
Friday, January 23--- 27 Tevet, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Rabbi Donsky & Shara Taylor
Saturday, January 24 --- 28 Tevet, 5769
9:00AM-9:45AM Special Needs Shabbat with Rabbi Donsky
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Rabbi Donsky
Parashat Bo
Friday, January 30 ---5 Shevat, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Rabbi Donsky & Marshal Auron
Genocide Awareness Discussion
Saturday, January 31 --- 6 Shevat, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Moring Service
Adelman Baby Naming
Rabbi Donsky & Bill Lowenberger

Happy January Anniversary

2 Mimi and Mike Pasternak
26 Rachel and Sam Hartzberg

Happy January Birthday

1 Rebecca Flieder
4 Jason Weis
Ryan Schwartz
8 Nathaniel McCandlish
9 Grayson Geller
10 Martin Hoberman
12 Noah Dickter
13 Jordan Rosenbaum
Levi Zvirman
17 Hunter Rose Greenberg
18 Jacklyn Shepard
20 Joseph Markowski
21 Max Ginsburg
Grant Goldberg
26 Jessica Mazur
29 Hannah Fassler
30 Carly Eisner
Sarah Mass
31 Coleman Dougherty
Jason Hertzberg

May Their Memories Be For A Blessing

January 1 / Tevet 5
Rueben Levy
Father of Lois Lebovitz

January 4 / Tevet 8
Iris Bressler
Mother of Marti Swiger

William Solomon
Father of Edward Solomon

January 6 / Tevet 10
Dorothy Glick
Mother of Helaine Locke

January 7 / Tevet 11
Noah Mass
Son of Jonathan & Alyson Mass
Brother of Sarah Mass

Romola Newman
Mother of Maury Locke

January 8 / Tevet 12
Robert Rosenberg
Father of Ellen Rodwick

January 11 / Tevet 15
Sonia LeWinter
Mother of Jay Arnold LeWinter

David Oberndorf
Father of Richard Oberndorf

Ann Schwartz
Mother of Donald Schwartz

January 12 / Tevet 16
Saul Garber
Father of Lawrence Garber

January 13 / Tevet 17
Ruth Tack
Mother of Sandy Berkowitz

January 16 / Tevet 20
Pearl Goldman
Mother of Mark Goldman

January 17 / Tevet 21
Stan Charney
Father of Erica Burg

January 18 / Tevet 22
Elaine Schwartz
Sister of Audrey Baker

January 21 / Tevet 25
David Fox
Brother of Helen Krause

January 23 / Tevet 27
Harold Sapinkopf
Father of Robert Sapinkopf

January 24 / Tevet 28
Albert Lebovitz
Father of Joe Lebovitz

January 25 / Tevet 29
Melvin Buchbinder
Father of Jeff Buchbinder

Charlie Marx
Brother of David Marx

January 27 / Shevat 2
Marion Markowitz
Mother of Daryl Jean Marks

January 28 / Shevat 3
Milton Berkowitz
Father of Harry Berkowitz

January 29 / Shevat 4
Bernice Berlin
Mother of David Berlin

January 30 / Shevat 5
Brian Kenji Eger
Son of Jay Eger

Friday, December 26, 2008

eWeekly: Dec 24, 2008

TOS eWeekly Volume 3 Issue 13, December 24th, 2008

Mikeitz, Genesis 41:1−44:17

The Joseph Story—Part II: Fantasy, Jewish Style
David H. Aaron
Surely the most fanciful aspect of the entire Joseph story is the status achieved by Joseph in the administration of the Egyptian monarchy. Upon interpreting a dream as predictive of a national disaster, Pharaoh ascribes to Joseph the “spirit of God” (Genesis 41:38) and straightaway places him in charge of his people’s administration. Pharaoh tells him, “You shall be in charge of my household, and all my people shall obey your word; only I, The Throne, shall I be greater than you” (41:40).

If we relate to this literature as history, we will apply the wrong genre criteria in evaluating its meaning. There is no evidence of there ever having been an Israelite who governed over Egypt. Attempts to link Joseph with historical personages or to sketchy references in ancient annals to short-lived foreign rulers all fail. This is not history. We have here a Cinderella-like fairy tale, where the despised brother not only ends up making good, but of all things, ascends to the most powerful political position in a foreign land, barely a notch below the authority of the monarch himself.

Moreover, what gets him there is the interpretation of dreams, a symbolic activity meant to represent a form of divinely sanctioned wisdom—but here, wisdom put to work in exile and quite distinct from other forms of sign reading that are associated with priests, prophets, and temples. 

I think it fair to say that kings do not regularly promote men who are prisoners on Monday to secretary of state on Tuesday (although recent events in American politics may force us to rethink such things). In real life, we should imagine that a king’s loyal advisors would be less than pleased about being bypassed for this prized position, not to mention subordinated to a former Hebrew slave of unknown origins. One is expected to suspend all calls for plausibility in fairy tales, because the rules of this literary genre demand as much. Were we to seek historical feasibility, we would be ignoring all of those literary signals that instruct us on how to read and understand this story. This is fantasy, pure and simple, but fantasy with deep meanings. 

The Book of Genesis is ostensibly about the creation of a clan that has a privileged status vis-à-vis a patron deity. That status is to be expressed through three rewards: possession of a land, the production of progeny, and the accumulation of wealth. Strangely enough, Genesis never raises the question of governance, either in terms of a monarchy or a priestly oligarchy. How odd that a people, in writing of its origins, fails to mention the ascendancy of its king, or even outline the structure of its governing bodies. Of course, later in Israel’s history there will be chronicles of various kings and stories of clan leaders, but these are written subsequent to or independent of the Book of Genesis. The Books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles are later attempts at more normative annals, bringing Israelite narratives somewhat more in line (thematically and structurally) with those of foreign peoples.
(for the complete text on this weeks portion, go to http://urj.org/torah/ )

STATEMENTS
Statements go out every month if you have a balance. If you have not been getting statements, please contact Elliot at the temple so he can look into the problem.  We will send out calendar tax statements for the capital campaign and temple the second week of January.

SPECIAL BOARD ELECTION
This week, Temple members in “good standing” will receive in the mail a packet with ballots to fill a seat on the Board of Directors for At-Large Director. “Good standing” is determined by fulfillment of financial obligations for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2008, and an effort to meet obligations for fiscal 2009. Any financial questions should be addressed to the Treasurer, Martin Greenberg, or to the President, Ralph Karsh.

The election packet is dated December 24 and the deadline for returning marked ballots by mail is January 7, 2009. Two other seats on the Board were uncontested based on nominations that closed on December 5 and those two nominees as selected by the Board were seated at the December 15 Board meeting. The new Board members are as follows: 

Vice President-Social Action:
-Chip Dougherty: TOS member since 1988. Resides in Shaler.  A partner at the law firm of Reed Smith LLP with an active counseling and litigation practice in the field of Intellectual Property. Has previously served TOS as both member and chair of the Social Action Committee in years past, and was part of the team that initiated the High Holiday food drive in the early 1990s.

Corresponding Secretary:
-Ken Knapp: TOS member since 1993. Resides in Pine. A relationship manager for BNYMellon. Board member since 1998 of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Previously, township supervisor in Pine for six years, involved in many committees. Former board member of the following organizations; Allegheny County Library Board, Greater Pittsburgh Downtown YMCA, Pittsburgh Marathon.
Congratulations to Chip and Ken!

Meditation & Torah Study
On Saturday, January 10th, Tifani Katof will lead a Yoga Meditation Service from 10:00-11, and a Torah Service and Study from 11:00-11:40AM.  Have fun and study in the same service!  No double reverse lotus positions will be required!

INTERFAITH COMMUNITY MEETING
Once again, Temple Ohav Shalom will be hosting this event Sunday, March 22, 2009. More details will beprovided as the date approaches!

MEMBERSHIP
Everyone is invited to TOS Community Night on Saturday, January 24th. So even if you do not have a business to pitch, come and schmooze and learn about all the other congregants’ businesses.  If you have a business, come and tell us about it in 45 seconds or less.  RSVP to Matt Lifson at 724-940-1080 or to me at 724-449-2779.  We have some really cool door prizes.  Come, you’ll have a good time and you will be doing a good thing for the TOS Community.

Thanks,

Laura Flieder

SUPERBOWL FUNDRAISER
The Annual TOS Super Bowl Fundraiser is on!  Tickets are $10 and $20 each.  Half the proceeds of the fundraiser goes to the Temple and the other half is paid out.  Members will receive a phone call about purchasing tickets.  If you are not contacted or have any questions about the Super Bowl Fundraiser, please contact Brian Kline (412) 487-4927.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN HEBREW?
Would you like to learn Modern Hebrew, Prayer Book Hebrew or both?

Come learn to read Hebrew in a convenient, easy, fun way – while your children are learning! Or even if you don’t have children in Sunday school!

Sundays – 8:45 to 9:30
Beginning January 4th, 2009
Cost: $36 for 6 weeks:
Jan. 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th
Feb. 1st & 8th

RSVP to at 412-369-0900 x14

Genocide Awareness Shabbat
As members of the human race and the Jewish community we must stand up and speak when innocent people are being murdered. Within the past century, genocide has occurred for different reasons in different areas, but we have yet to learn from this history, for it continues to repeat itself. Join us on January 30, 2009 at 7:30 PM as we discuss past genocides and pray that the current genocide in Darfur region of the Sudan will be the last.  For more information please contact .  I am launching a postcard drive. All you must do is complete a postcard that will be sent to Washington D.C. in time for the inauguration to urge the Obama administration to take humanitarian action in Darfur. They are located in the education wing. Please fill out a postcard when you find a spare second. Postage will be taken care of. Thanks.

ONEGS
Are you looking for something special to do on Friday January 23rd or 30th?  How about host a TOS Oneg that evening?  Please contact by email or by phone at (724) 933-3923.

Men’s Club Mailing List PROBLEM FIXED!
Please consider signing up!

Several weeks ago in the eWeekly we advertised our new mailing list for the Temple Men’s Club, asking interested members to sign up. Due to an unforeseen technical glitch most of the registrations did not get processed. We’ve fixed the problem, so it’s time to try again. If you are interested in receiving email from the organizers of the Temple Men’s Club, please consider becoming a part of the mailing list.

To sign up, go to the Temple Website at http://www.templeohavshalom.org, and login (you must be logged in for this to work). Click on “Get Involved”, then on “Adult Organizations. Under the Men’s Club you will see a link to join the list.

Be aware that once you register you will receive a confirming email with a link in it. This email may end up in your spam filter, so check there if you don’t see it a minute or two after signing up.

Thanks very much!

GIANT EAGLE GIFT CARDS

One way to help TOS without spending extra money is to buy GIANT EAGLE cards from us. We can mail them at the first of the month to you (we have the numbers recorded so don’t worry about them getting lost in the mail!). We send them out in the first couple of days of the month. All we ask is that you pay for them upon receipt. If you are interested, email Elliot at and we will place you on a monthly schedule. Kathy Kline is coordinating this.  You have to eat and if you shop at Giant Eagle or buy gas at GetGo, it is a simple way to support your temple! You can use your Advantage Cards too.

GIFT SHOP
The Gift Shop is open during Sunday School and by appointment. Contact Elaine Cohen - 412-364-8484 or Andi Turkheimer 412-367-7864. We have many beautiful items for all aspects of Jewish life. There is no need to go to Squirrel Hill - visit us first!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, December 26th 7:30 PM Shabbat Services
Saturday, December 27th 10:00AM Services

2009
Saturday, January 3rd 10:00AM Services
Friday, January 9th First Friday Dinner 4th grade
Saturday, January 10th 10:00-11:00 AM—Yoga & Meditation
11-11:40AM is Torah Service & Study
Thursday, January 15th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Friday, January 16th 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, Tifani Katof, Student Cantor
Saturday, January 24th Special Needs Shabbat Celebration 9:00AM-9:45AM
Saturday, January 24th TOS Community Night
Sunday, January 25th 1:00-4:00PM Mah Jongg
Friday, February 20th 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, led by Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof
Open Discussion about new siddur in Social Hall following Service
Thursday, March 5th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Sunday, March 22nd Interfaith Community Meeting Temple Ohav Shalom-Details Coming!
Saturday, April 18th NIGHT AT THE RACES!  TOS Social Hall
Saturday, April 25th 9:00AM Special Needs Shabbat

Schedule of Worship Services for December

Parashat Miketz
Friday, December 26 --- 29 Kislev, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Marshal Auron
Saturday, December 27 --- 30 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Bill Lowenberger

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

eWeekly: Dec 17, 2008

TOS eWeekly Volume 3 Issue 12, December 17, 2008

Don’t forget—each family has a box of Chanukah candles outside the gift shop.

Joseph (Genesis 37–50).
Assuming one understands just what the clan of Jacob is, the Joseph story constitutes a freestanding novella. One could read this story from beginning to end and understand all of its scenes without having read anything that comes before it in the Book of Genesis. What also emerges is that parts of the Joseph story were borrowed and adapted from literatures that were in circulation in antiquity. Consider, for instance, the scene responsible for landing Joseph in jail:
He [Potiphar] left all that was his in Joseph’s hands and gave no thought to what he had, other than the food that he ate. Now Joseph happened to be fair of form and fair of appearance, and after all this, his master’s wife set her sights on Joseph and said,"Lie with me!"But he refused, saying to his master’s wife,"Look, my master gives no thought to what is in this house; all that he owns he has put into my hands. There is none greater than I in this house; he has withheld nothing from me, other than you, inasmuch as you are his wife; how then could I do this great evil, and thus sin against God?"And so she would sweet-talk Joseph day after day, but he did not heed her plea to lie by her and be with her. On one such day, when he came into the house to do his work—and not one of the people of the household was there in the house—she took hold of him by his garment, saying,"Lie with me!"He left his garment in her hand, fled, and ran outside. When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, she summoned her household servants and spoke to them, saying,"See! He brought us a Hebrew man to toy with us. He came to me to lie with me, and I cried out in a loud voice; when he heard me raise my voice and cry out, he left his garment with me and fled and ran outside!"And she kept his garment with her until his master came home. She spoke to him in this manner, saying,"The Hebrew slave whom you brought to us to toy with me came to me; but when I raised my voice and cried out, he left his garment near me and fled and ran outside!” When his master heard his wife’s words, namely,"Your slave did these things to me!"he was enraged. So Joseph’s master took him and gave him over to the prison, the place where the Pharaoh’s prisoners are kept. . . ."(Exodus 39:6–20)
This soap opera–like scene derives from a literary motif that seems to have enjoyed considerable popularity in antiquity. While we cannot show direct dependence, Joseph’s predicament with Potiphar’s wife is not unlike that of Bata in the Egyptian legend known as the"Tale of Two Brothers."Here we have two brothers, the elder Anubis and his kid brother Bata, who lives with him and his wife. The two men are out working in the fields when they run out of supplies. Anubis sends his dutiful brother back to the village to retrieve additional sacks of seed. When Bata arrives, he finds his brother’s wife braiding her hair. The young man takes hold of five heavy sacks of seed, a feat that proved quite impressive to his sister-in-law:

(for the complete text on this weeks portion, go to http://urj.org/torah/ )

LIFE LONG LEARNING
This past Friday night, my husband and I “had Shabbat” with our 3- year-old son.  After he was in bed, we put in a VCR tape of an old favorite movie of ours.  From the first notes of the first act, right up until the very end several hours later, Fiddler on the Roof, is still one of our favorite holiday traditions.  It was hearing the opening number again, “Tradition”, that made me realize that watching this movie to get a break from all of the crass commercialization of the December holidays has actually become a tradition in my family. 

One of the most amazing things that I have discovered since coming to work at Temple Ohav Shalom is how dedicated this congregation is to Judaism and its traditions.  A majority of members here come from families with multiple religious backgrounds where parents have intermarried or converted or both.  And whether or not you also celebrate other religions at home, week after week and year after year, you come to Temple Ohav Shalom to pray, to learn and to celebrate Judaism.

This Sunday, I invite all of you to join the teachers and students in our school as we celebrate Chanukah beginning at 11am in the Social Hall. (See information below for details.) We will say the blessings for the 1st night, sing songs, play games, share presents, and, of course, eat.  Continue a family tradition or start a new one this Chanukah!

Reminder:  There will be no school on Tuesday, December 23rd, Sunday, December 28th or Tuesday, December 30th.  School resumes on Sunday, January 4, 2009.  Our next Family Shabbat Dinner, featuring Kitah Daled, the 4th Grade, is on Friday night, January 9th.  This is a different date than was advertised previously this year.

Marci

TOS CHANUKAH PARTY
The Family of TOS Chanukah party is this Sunday, December 21, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Suggested Donation of $5 per family
We will provide latkes, donuts,apple sauce, sour cream, cinnamon, and pasta.
We would like people to bring either drinks (A-M) or vegetables (L-Z). 
If you have a non-fire menorah (felt, battery, etc.), bring it along and we’ll say the blessings.
We’ll do songs as well and we’ll have lunch available. Craft projects too! And of course dreidels!

MEMBERSHIP
Please come to TOS Community Night January 24th.  It is an opportunity to socialize and network with fellow TOS members and to learn what your fellow congregants do for a living.  You do not need to pitch your business to come.  Come for socializing.  Come for the opportunity to win some Penguin tickets.  Come to advertise your business. Come have fun and support your fellow congregants. Call Laura Flieder at 724-449-2779 to RSVP

SUPERBOWL FUNDRAISER
The Annual TOS Super Bowl Fundraiser is on!  Tickets are $10 and $20 each.  Half the proceeds of the fundraiser goes to the Temple and the other half is paid out.  Members will receive a phone call about purchasing tickets.  If you are not contacted or have any questions about the Super Bowl Fundraiser, please contact Brian Kline (412) 487-4927.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN HEBREW?
Would you like to learn Modern Hebrew, Prayer Book Hebrew or both?

Come learn to read Hebrew in a convenient, easy, fun way – while your children are learning! Or even if you don’t have children in Sunday school!

Sundays – 8:45 to 9:30
Beginning January 4th, 2009
Cost: $36 for 6 weeks:
Jan. 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th
Feb. 1st & 8th

RSVP to Marci Barnes at 412-369-0900 x14
or

ONEGS
Are you looking for something special to do on Friday January 23rd or 30th?  How about host a TOS Oneg that evening?  Please contact Joni Ferrara at or by phone at (724) 933-3923.

DUES & PLEDGES
Your dues, pledges, and donations to the temple are considered a charitable contribution. Make a payment on them now, and not only will it be tzedakah and a mitzvah, but they may also be fully tax deductible. You will receive a statement for calendar year 2007 payments in the second week of January for your temple account and capital campaign account. Please remember on your capital campaign accounts that QuickBooks ages every 30 days, so everyone shows up at 90 days past due—even though you are not! 

NORTH HILLS COMMUNITY OUTREACH TZEDAKAH
You have all been very generous with clothing and food for thanksgiving for North Hills Community Outreach. I’d like to ask you once more to open your hearts and wallets for their Sharing Holiday Warmth program provides light, warmth and nourishment for local families in need. Donations are needed so that NHCO can provide utility credits and grocery store gift cards to approximately 500 families in poverty, hardship and crisis this holiday season. Knowing that they are receiving this help, the families are able to budget some funds for the holidays and to purchase presents for their children. There are menorah posters in both entrances and you can select a slip to direct your contribution.  Or for more information, visit http://www.nhco.org or call 412-487-6316.

Clemmy Brodsky

WOMEN OF OHAV NEWS
Last month’s Scholastic book fair fundraiser was a success. We sold almost $3,500 worth of books and made close to $ 800 which will be put to good use in the Preschool and Religious School. Thanks goes out to everyone in our Temple family who supported this event.  We want to acknowledge all the help we received from our Women of Ohav members and their families:

Cheryl Bradshaw Kristin Dolski Marcie Fassler Leslie Hodes Debbie Joslin Kristi Karsh
Alysia Knapp Juliet Krassenstein Elana Kriess Rebecca Mason Kim Popkin Olga Pizov
Jill Roskin Karen Savitz Liz Sender Meredith Silberman Ginger Solomon

HE-BREW COFFEE
TOS’s own coffee (well, our label anyway) is available for families to purchase. Full roasts, medium roasts, light roasts, half-caf and de-caf are available.  Please fill out the order form and send int o Amy Covel for monthly delivery!

Men’s Club Mailing List PROBLEM FIXED!
Please consider signing up!

Several weeks ago in the eWeekly we advertised our new mailing list for the Temple Men’s Club, asking interested members to sign up. Due to an unforeseen technical glitch most of the registrations did not get processed. We’ve fixed the problem, so it’s time to try again. If you are interested in receiving email from the organizers of the Temple Men’s Club, please consider becoming a part of the mailing list.

To sign up, go to the Temple Website at http://www.templeohavshalom.org, and login (you must be logged in for this to work). Click on “Get Involved”, then on “Adult Organizations. Under the Men’s Club you will see a link to join the list.

Be aware that once you register you will receive a confirming email with a link in it. This email may end up in your spam filter, so check there if you don’t see it a minute or two after signing up.

Thanks very much!
Mike Daninhirsch

GIANT EAGLE GIFT CARDS
One way to help TOS without spending extra money is to buy GIANT EAGLE cards from us. We can mail them at the first of the month to you (we have the numbers recorded so don’t worry about them getting lost in the mail!). We send them out in the first couple of days of the month. All we ask is that you pay for them upon receipt. If you are interested, email Elliot at and we will place you on a monthly schedule. Kathy Kline is coordinating this.  You have to eat and if you shop at Giant Eagle or buy gas at GetGo, it is a simple way to support your temple!

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GREAT HANUKKAH PRESENT?
HOW ‘BOUT A PITTSBURGH PENGUINS GIFT BAG?

HELP THE WOMEN OF OHAV SHALOM SUPPORT TEMPLE OHAV SHALOM

Buy a raffle ticket ($10 each) for a Pittsburgh Penguins Gift bag! The gift bag includes:

2 TICKETS FOR THE 12/23 GAME AGAINST TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
2 PENGUINS SWEATSHIRTS
PENGUINS REUSABLE TOTE BAG
PENGUINS PENNANT
OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PENGUINS SOUVENIRS

Tickets will be sold in the Education Wing during Sunday School and Hebrew School until the drawing at the end of the Hanukkah party on 12/21 in the Social Hall.  Tickets will also be sold at the party.  Tickets can also be purchased by mailing a check ($10/ticket) to Kim Popkin at 8697 West Barkhust Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 by 12/17.  Call Kim at 412-318-4848 with any questions.
NOTE:  Due to the raffle being drawn on Sunday 12/21, if the winner is unable to attend the game on Tuesday 12/23 another game will be substituted.

GIFT SHOP
The Gift Shop is open during Sunday School and by appointment. Contact Elaine Cohen - 412-364-8484 or Andi Turkheimer 412-367-7864. We have many beautiful items for all aspects of Jewish life. There is no need to go to Squirrel Hill - visit us first!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, December 19th 6:15PM Tot Shabbat
Sunday, December 21st 11:00 TOS Chanukah Party
Friday, December 26th 7:30 PM Shabbat Services
Saturday, December 27th 10:00AM Services

2009
Saturday, January 3rd 10:00AM Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, Tifani Katof, Student Cantor
Fridaqy, January 9th First Friday Dinner 4th grade
Saturday, January 10th 10:00Am Services with Tifani Katof—Yoga and Meditation
Thursday, January 15th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Friday, January 16th 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, Tifani Katof, Student Cantor
Saturday, January 24th Special Needs Shabbat Celebration 9:00AM-9:45AM
Saturday, January 24th TOS Community Night
Sunday, January 25th 1:00-4:00PM Mah Jongg
Friday, February 20th 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, led by Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof
Open Discussion about new siddur in Social Hall following Service
Thursday, March 5th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Saturday, April 18th NIGHT AT THE RACES!  TOS Social Hall
Saturday, April 25th 9:00AM Special Needs Shabbat

Schedule of Worship Services for December
Parashat Vayeshev
Friday, December 19 --- 22 Kislev, 5769
6:15pm Tot Shabbat
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Bill Lowenberger
Saturday, December 20 --- 23 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service

Parashat Miketz
Friday, December 26 --- 29 Kislev, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Marshal Auron
Saturday, December 27 --- 30 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Bill Lowenberger

Thursday, December 11, 2008

eWeekly: Dec 10, 2008

TOS eWeekly Volume 3 Issue 11, December 10, 2008

With winter upon us, please make sure to check the temple website at templeohavshalom.org for news of school closings or delays due to weather. Urgent announcements will always appear at the top right corner of the website, reporting either Sunday school or weekday religious school closings due to inclement weather.

From Rabbi Art
Toward the end of my comments on Parashat Vayeizei, I noted that the collator of the Genesis stories had before him a real challenge. How could he take this cluster of ancestral legends about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and end up with a people called Yisrael? In Parashat Vayishlach this thematic problem is solved with remarkable literary ingenuity. The core story involves Jacob confronting Esau more than twenty years after absconding with the blessing Esau was to receive from Isaac. We, the readers—and Jacob, the character—expect Esau to kill his twin brother upon meeting him. In preparing for the meeting, Jacob divides his camp into two parts, a strategy he hopes will allow at least one cluster of his progeny to survive a confrontation with Esau’s retinue. On the night before their encounter, Jacob remains alone by the edge of the river where they crossed into Canaan. There he encounters a"man." I’m going to render here a brief passage from Genesis 32, which is drawn from a core motif that we’ll later consider as it appears in a story in the Book of Judges: (1)

Jacob remained alone. A man [ish] struggled with him until dawn. He realized that he could not overpower him, so he struck at his hip-joint, dislocating it during the struggle. [The man] said,"Let me go, for dawn has arrived!” [Jacob replied],"I will not let you go until you bless me.” He asked him,"What then is your name?""Jacob." He said,"You shall no longer be called Jacob, but rather Yisrael, because you have struggled [sariyta] with gods and with men and prevailed.” Jacob said,"Tell me your name.” [The man] replied,"What do you mean by asking for my name?” He then blessed him. (Genesis 32:25–30)

This is the core element of the story, adopted by the redactor from either another piece of literature or a widely known motif within the culture, as I shall demonstrate in a moment. At the very moment in our narrative that Jacob is supposed to confront Esau in battle, he is instead portrayed as fighting with an unnamed man. This is what makes Jacob’s inquiry as to his identity so very compelling. Twenty years have passed since the brothers have seen one another. Would they recognize each other in the dark of night? Should Jacob not assume that his attacker is, indeed, Esau? Whom else would he expect to attack him at this place and at this time?

There are a number of difficult idioms in this passage, and various translations have a variety of takes on the best rendering. For instance, after Jacob says,"Tell me your name,” the Hebrew reads lamah zeh tishal lishmi, which is rendered by the Jewish Publication Society (JPS) translation,"You must not ask my name!” The Revised Standard Version (2) reads,"Why is it that you ask my name?” JPS simply has him make a statement, and RSV makes it a simple question. I have written,"What do you mean by asking for my name?” by which I’m hoping to convey that the character is challenging Jacob, as he finds his question either insolent or indicative of ignorance (that is, he should recognize him—why doesn’t he?). But I cannot be certain my rendering is any better than the other two published translations. In a moment we’ll see how the very same phrase is engaged in Judges, but even with the two instances together, the exact intent remains ambiguous.

In seeking the name of this night adversary, Jacob is mimicking his own father’s question as to who it was who brought him food for a blessing. And just as was the case then, Jacob once again seeks a blessing, for if this is, indeed, Esau, he will finally be the recipient of the blessing with which he absconded by virtue of prevailing in hand-to-hand combat. The writer has taken advantage of every possible ambiguity and tension within the core narrative. The contextual adaptation of this motif is masterful.

(for the complete text on this weeks portion, go to http://urj.org/torah/ )

FAMILY CHANUKAH MENORAH CONTEST
All you need to do:
As a family (all ages and all members of the family may be involved*), design, build and decorate a menorah from any materials you like.  (examples: pasta, clay, wood, cardboard) All menorahs must be delivered to Temple Ohav Shalom by Sunday, December 14th for judging. Prizes will be announced on Sunday, December 21st at 11:00am at the Temple Ohav Shalom Family Chanukah Party!

ONEGS
Are you looking for something special to do on Friday January 23rd or 30th?  How about host a TOS Oneg that evening?  Please contact Joni Ferrara at or by phone at (724) 933-3923.

DUES & PLEDGES
Your dues, pledges, and donations to the temple are considered a charitable contribution. Make a payment on them now, and not only will it be tzedakah and a mitzvah, but they may also be fully tax deductible. You will receive a statement for calendar year 2007 payments in the second week of January for your temple account and capital campaign account. Please remember on your capital campaign accounts that QuickBooks ages every 30 days, so everyone shows up at 90 days past due—even though you are not! 

NORTH HILLS COMMUNITY OUTREACH TZEDAKAH
You have all been very generous with clothing and food for thanksgiving for North Hills Community Outreach. I’d like to ask you once more to open your hearts and wallets for their Sharing Holiday Warmth program provides light, warmth and nourishment for local families in need. Donations are needed so that NHCO can provide utility credits and grocery store gift cards to approximately 500 families in poverty, hardship and crisis this holiday season. Knowing that they are receiving this help, the families are able to budget some funds for the holidays and to purchase presents for their children. There are menorah posters in both entrances and you can select a slip to direct your contribution.  Or for more information, visit http://www.nhco.org or call 412-487-6316.

Clemmy Brodsky

GIANT EAGLE GIFT CARDS
One way to help TOS without spending extra money is to buy GIANT EAGLE cards from us. We can mail them at the first of the month to you (we have the numbers recorded so don’t worry about them getting lost in the mail!). We send them out in the first couple of days of the month. All we ask is you pay for them upon receipt. If you are interested, and we will place you on a monthly schedule. Kathy Kline is coordinating this.  You have to eat and if you shop at Giant Eagle or buy gas at GetGo, it is a simple way to support your temple!

LATKES
Cooks Needed!!!!!!
We are looking for some volunteers to make Latkes for our Family Chanukah Party on December 21, 2008. 
If you are interested please contact Ken Eisner at or Rebecca Mason at

Thank You in Advance!!!!!

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GREAT HANUKKAH PRESENT?

HOW ‘BOUT A PITTSBURGH PENGUINS GIFT BAG? HELP THE WOMEN OF OHAV SHALOM SUPPORT TEMPLE OHAV SHALOM!

Buy a raffle ticket ($10 each) for a Pittsburgh Penguins Gift bag! The gift bag includes:

2 TICKETS FOR THE 12/23 GAME AGAINST TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
2 PENGUINS SWEATSHIRTS
PENGUINS REUSABLE TOTE BAG
PENGUINS PENNANT
OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PENGUINS SOUVENIRS

Tickets will be sold in the Education Wing during Sunday School and Hebrew School until the drawing at the end of the Hanukkah party on 12/21 in the Social Hall.  Tickets will also be sold at the party.  Tickets can also be purchased by mailing a check ($10/ticket) to Kim Popkin at 8697 West Barkhust Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 by 12/17.  Call Kim at 412-318-4848 with any questions.
NOTE:  Due to the raffle being drawn on Sunday 12/21, if the winner is unable to attend the game on Tuesday 12/23 another game will be substituted.

GIFT SHOP
The Gift Shop is open during Sunday School and by appointment. Contact Elaine Cohen - 412-364-8484 or Andi Turkheimer 412-367-7864. We have many beautiful items for all aspects of Jewish life. There is no need to go to Squirrel Hill - visit us first!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, December 11th 6-8:30PM WOS Swarovski Crystal Bracelets
Friday, December 12th 7:30PM Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday December 13th 10:00AM Shabbat Morning Service
Sunday, December 21st 11:00 Family Chanukah Party

2009
Saturday, January 3rd 10:00AM Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, Tifani Katof, Student Cantor
Saturday, January 10th 10:00Am Services with Tifani Katof—Yoga and Meditation
Thursday, January 15th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Friday, January 16th 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, Tifani Katof, Student Cantor
Saturday, January 24th Special Needs Shabbat Celebration 9:00AM-9:45AM
Saturday, January 24th TOS Community Night
Friday, February 20th 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, led by Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof
Open Discussion about new siddur in Social Hall following Service
Thursday, March 5th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Saturday, April 18th NIGHT AT THE RACES!  TOS Social Hall
Saturday, April 25th 9:00AM Special Needs Shabbat

Schedule of Worship Services for November/December

Parashat Vayishlach
Friday, December 12 --- 15 Kislev, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Marshall Auron
Saturday, December 13 --- 16 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Bobbie Harley

Parashat Vayeshev
Friday, December 19 --- 22 Kislev, 5769
6:15pm Tot Shabbat
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Bill Lowenberger
Saturday, December 20 --- 23 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service

Parashat Miketz
Friday, December 26 --- 29 Kislev, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Marshal Auron
Saturday, December 27 --- 30 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Bill Lowenberger

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

eWeekly: Dec 3, 2008

TOS eWeekly Volume 3 Issue 10, December 3, 2008

Vayeitzei, Genesis 28:10 32:3
At the core of this week’s parashah is the creation of a people, Israel, as a confederacy of tribes. One might expect a people’s legend of origins to derive from events valorous or noble. None of this is true of the biblical depiction of Israel’s derivation from a single patriarch, who manifests neither nobility nor valor. We do not really know much about an actual ancient confederacy of tribes called “Israel” that would have coalesced prior to the Book of Exodus’s Egyptian sojourn. While I think it reasonable to assume there was just such a cluster of clans, the name “Israel” itself was probably a late arrival on the historical scene. The Jews who descended from those people occupying the regions later labeled Israel (or Samaria) and Judah would eventually call themselves either Yisrael or Ivrim (Hebrews). But unfortunately, there are no sources outside of the Hebrew Bible that attest to the character of this confederacy either before, during, or after the period of the monarchs (which lasted from the tenth century until 722 b.c.e. in the north, and 586 b.c.e. in the south). No matter how you date the sources of our Hebrew Bible—that is, whether you say they come from the tenth century or the fifth century b.c.e.—nothing on record would date from within five hundred years of the “patriarchal/matriarchal” era. Consequently, we have every reason to read our Genesis story of the tribal origins of ancient Israel as a form of memory construction. By that I mean the writers wanted to create a collective memory for the sake of fostering a sense of ethnic unity. The collecting of the stories that make up Parashat Vayeitzei (as well as their adaptations) likely took place after Israel had experienced the Babylonian exile. Whether they actually stem from more ancient local traditions can be neither proved nor disproved.

(for the complete text on this weeks portion, go to http://urj.org/torah/ )

MENS CLUB TONIGHT-DECEMBER 3rd!
This is a last minute notice for any members of the Men’s Club (or anyone else for that matter). We are going to see a movie tonight, Wednesday December 3rd. The movie is Quantum Of Solace and is playing at 7pm at Cranberry Carmike. We will meet at Primanti’s in Cranberry at 6pm. Sorry for the late notice- it really was a last minute thing. I am hoping that at some point we can get our website mailing lists working again so I can send out invitations in a more timely manner.

MIND-BODY-SPIRIT SERVICES
Are you searching for a different and innovative way to pray? 
Come to services Saturday Dec 6th and Saturday January 10th.  Cantorial Intern, Tifani Katof has designed a special service to link our breathe and body to the Shabbat Liturgy.  We will explore various yoga postures, and experiment with chant and guided meditation.  This service will revitalize your body, mind, and spirit connection. 
Please wear comfortable clothing.
Please RSVP to Tifani Katof .

FIRST FRIDAY DINNER
The next First Friday Dinner is December 5th @ 6:00PM.  This is the 5th Grade dinner. No turkey will be served!  or call to let us know you are coming!  A-M bring desserts this time—N-Z bring the side dish!

FINANCE COMMITTEE
There are still openings on the temple’s finance committee. Meetings will be held during Sunday school with a frequency yet to be determined.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the temple treasurer, Martin Greenberg, l or via telephone at (724) 816-5921.

ONEGS
If you are thinking about hosting an Oneg, please contact Joni Ferrara at (724) 933-3923 or .  We still have almost every Friday in December and January open.  Thanks!

MEMBERSHIP

TOS Community Night Saturday, January 24, 2009 7:00PM

TOS Community Night is a night of social and business networking.  Learn about your fellow congregants’ businesses as they learn about yours. And have some fun, too.  It is important to support your fellow TOS congregants and important for them to support you, especially in these tough economic times.

Each person who chooses to present will give an “Elevator Pitch” 30- 45 seconds.  After the pitches, we will enjoy a cocktail party.  Good food and drink and good company. Door Prizes.  This event is open to TOS members only.  Come socialize.  Come network for your business opportunities.  Learn about your fellow congregants’ business as they learn about yours.

Costs: $36 – gets your business card in the program and one “Elevator Pitch”
$18 – social attendees, couple
$9 - social attendees, single

Silver, Gold and Platinum Business and Family Sponsorships of TOS Community Night are available.
Register early to get your business card in a program given to all attendees.
Questions and Registration: Matt Lifson 724-940-1080 or or Laura Flieder 724-449-2779 , Support your fellow TOS members.  Find out what they do for a living.  Have them find out what you do for a living

The TOS PURIM MUSICAL
Auditions are on Sunday December 7th from 9am-1030am in Rabbi Art’s office
If you are interested in auditioning please Please contact Tifani Katof .
Include all of the following information in your email;
Name, age , phone number, talent/s (singer, dancer, actor, artist, costume), weekend (Fri, Sat, and Sunday) availability beginning in January, and your most frequently checked email address. 
Tifani will email you back with your time slot for Sunday Dec 7th.

To audition please prepare the following:
• 1 minute clip of a song from a musical
• 30 seconds of choreography (bring your own CD)
It is possible to just audition with one of the above...but this year’s musical includes lots of dancing!

Parents and kids please sign up to help with the stage crew, set designs, and costumes.

LATKES
Cooks Needed!!!!!!
We are looking for some volunteers to make Latkes for our Family Chanukah Party on December 21, 2008. 
If you are interested please contact Ken Eisner at or Rebecca Mason at

Thank You in Advance!!!!!

FUNDRAISING
Back By Popular Demand, The Nite at the Races and A Silent Auction on Saturday April 18, 2009

This can’t be done without everyone’s help therefore please attend a fundraising planning meeting this Sunday, December 7 at 11:30am in the Multi-Purpose room!

There are lots of volunteer opportunities available both big and small so please consider joining this very important meeting!!!  If you’d like to participate and can’t attend the meeting contact Amy Covell at 724-772-8117 or . 

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GREAT HANUKKAH PRESENT?
Help the Women of Ohav Shalom support Temple Ohav Shalom by buying a a raffle ticket for a a Pittsburgh Penguins Gift Bag! Each ticket costs $10.00. The gift bag includes:

2 tickets for the 12/23 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning
2 Penguins Sweatshirts
Penguins Reusable Tote Bag
Penguins Pennant
Other Miscellaneous Penguins Stuff!

Tickets will be sold in the Education Wing during Sunday School and Hebrew School until the drawing at 11:30 on Sunday, December 14th.  Bag will be on display during the Book Fair.

GIFT SHOP
The Gift Shop is open during Sunday School and by appointment. Contact Elaine Cohen - 412-364-8484 or Andi Turkheimer 412-367-7864. We have many beautiful items for all aspects of Jewish life. There is no need to go to Squirrel Hill - visit us first!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, December 5th 6:00PM First Friday Dinner, Tifani Katof
Saturday, December 6th 10:00AM Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, (and Yoga!) Tifani Katof, Student Cantor
Sunday, December 7th 9:00AM-10:30 Rabbi Art’s Office Purim Auditions!
Sunday, December 7th 11:30AM Multi-Purpsoe Room Night at the Races Planning Meeting
Thursday, December 11th 6-8:30PM WOS Swarovski Crystal Bracelets
Sunday, December 21st Family Chanukah Party Details to Follow

2009
Saturday, January 3rd 10:00AM Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, Tifani Katof, Student Cantor
Saturday, January 10th 10:00Am Services with Tifani Katof—Yoga and Meditation
Thursday, January 15th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Friday, January 16th 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, Tifani Katof, Student Cantor
Saturday, January 24th Special Needs Shabbat Celebration 9:00AM-9:45AM
Saturday, January 24th TOS Community Night
Friday, February 20th 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, led by Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof
Open Discussion about new siddur in Social Hall following Service
Thursday, March 5th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Saturday, April 18th NIGHT AT THE RACES!  TOS Social Hall
Saturday, April 25th 9:00AM Special Needs Shabbat

Schedule of Worship Services for November/December
Parashat Vayetzei
Friday, December 5 ---8 Kislev, 5769
6:00pm Dinner for All
7:00pm 1st Friday Family Service
Tifani Katof, Cantorial Intern
Saturday, December 6 --- 9 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Tifani Katof, Cantorial Intern

Parashat Vayishlach
Friday, December 12 --- 15 Kislev, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Eve Wolf & Linda Greenberg
Saturday, December 13 --- 16 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Bobbie Harley

Parashat Vayeshev
Friday, December 19 --- 22 Kislev, 5769
6:15pm Tot Shabbat
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Marshal Auron
Saturday, December 20 --- 23 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Bill Lowenberger

Parashat Miketz
Friday, December 26 --- 29 Kislev, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Marshal Auron
Saturday, December 27 --- 30 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Bill Lowenberger

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

eWeekly: Nov 19, 2008

TOS eWeekly Volume 3 Issue 8, November 19th, 2008 (Due to circumstances beyond this webguy's control, last week's eWeekly never made it to the site. Humblest apologies...)

Parashat Vayera – Genesis 23:1-25:18
Burying one’s dead—what could be a more rudimentary cultural ritual? The scene in which Abraham buys a gravesite from a Hittite for Sarah is often commented upon for the highly stylized negotiation that results in the acquisition. Scholars relate to this material as a rare glimpse of social-business history. I wish to focus on something far more basic: the very notion that burial assumes land ownership.

We know very little about biblical-era traditions of burial or attitudes toward the dead. This led one scholar to call customs relevant to the ancient Israelite cult of the dead “a hidden heritage.” In an article published in the 1970s, H. C. Brichto suggested that during the pre-Persian eras—that is, before 538 b.c.e.—Jews were particularly concerned that family members be properly buried on ancestral lands. Since death was understood as a continuation of life, including retained memory, consciousness, and awareness of all that was happening with descendants, one’s afterlife was to take place where one belonged—on clan-owned lands. (1) As Jews increasingly became citizens of the world—either through forced exiles or migrations—historical circumstances forced traditional attitudes toward the dead to be abandoned. Identity along clan and geographic lines diminished. A Jew living outside of the Land of Israel might entertain as an ideal burial in the Holy Land, but practically speaking, it proved to be implausible for most living abroad. And with urbanization in the Land of Israel itself, identity had less to do with specific regions than it did with the place a family lived, whether or not it involved a historic association.

Abraham’s acquisition of Machpelah, then, is packed with irony. Technically speaking, he is on the very land he has been promised, but he rightly identifies himself as “a resident alien,” making clear that nothing truly belongs to him. Nothing of this land will belong to any Jew prior to the return of the Egyptian exiles many centuries after Abraham’s lifetime. Thus, the authors, by engaging this particular story, can initiate the ideal of burial in the Holy Land—something they will reiterate through Jacob, who dies in Egypt (Genesis 47:30, 49:29–33)—but also send the signal that even Abraham had to acquire a grave for his wife in a land that was not (yet) his own. In a very profound sense, then, Abraham was like any Jew who did not have access to ancestral property. The pattern he symbolizes would become the dominant pattern of Jewish life after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 b.c.e.
The fact that Abraham refuses to take land offered him for free (Genesis 23:6–9) stems from Abraham’s desire to achieve a legally legitimate and irreversible hold over his parcel. The principle underlying this acquisition is very simple, but the social dynamic will prove harsh. No social or legal convention would guarantee Jews peace in their graves in subsequent eras.

The image of a gravesite, with its stone witnesses to the deceased and its tranquility, is among the most stable cultural symbols. And yet, “life in the grave” for the Jew has all too frequently been robbed of its most precious dignities. Once the Diaspora commenced, the experience of being denied the grave began. Much of our Bible conveys an awareness of the shift in fates for the living and the dead with the destruction of Jerusalem itself—the moment that defines the beginning of Diaspora. The Book of Psalms records the devastation of Jerusalem by speaking of the corpses of God’s servants strewn “as food for the fowl of heaven, and the flesh of Your faithful for the wild beasts. Their blood was shed like water around about Jerusalem, with none to bury them” (Psalm 79:2–3). The heartrending character of such narratives—whether they derive from antiquity or the Holocaust matters little—lies in the many layers at which the violation of one’s humanity is implied by such a scene. It is one thing to be killed; it is yet more horrible to imagine that one’s death is not commemorated through ritual and burial.

A deep element of our humanity is expressed through how we relate to the deceased. Such rituals say less about the dead than they do about the living. The issue here is not whether burial is somehow more appropriate than, say, cremation, as a Hindu would practice it. The issue is about how a culture exercises control over this very important structure for expressing the sanctity of life. Despite the fact that Jews believed in an afterlife, and hoped death was but a temporary state, the grave needed to be permanently at peace, undisturbed, and with the remains of a corpse intact, waiting for the final resurrection. An afterlife was dependent upon the meritorious character of a person’s life, and upon a peaceful existence in the grave.

For more on this weeks portion, go to http://urj.org/torah/

MEMBERSHIP
From Laura Flieder: When I started sending in these e-weekly columns, I told you that I wanted to enhance the culture of welcoming in this Temple.  I still believe that we do a better job at TOS than most Temples in making people feel welcome here. However, with the exception of my mother’s turkey recipe, there is always room for improvement.

One facet of welcoming people is getting to know them.  So we started with the name tags.  Another facet of the welcoming process is support.  We can support each other as members in many different ways. Meals and carpools come to mind, but there is another way. We can support each others’ businesses.

But how can you support your fellow congregant’s businesses if you don’t know what they do?  And if your fellow congregants don’t know what you do for a living, how can they reciprocate? On Saturday, January 24, 2009 there will be TOS Community Night.  It is a night of business and social networking.

Each person who chooses to present will give an “Elevator Pitch” 30- 45 seconds.  After the pitches, we will enjoy a cocktail party.  Good food and drink and good company. Oh did I mention Door Prizes?

Only TOS members may give a pitch.  Come socialize.  Come network for your business opportunities.  Learn about your fellow congregants’ business as they learn about yours.  More details and a flyer to follow.  Any questions, call me at 724-449-2779 or .

Todah,
Laura Flieder

Calling all singers, dancers, actors, and artists ITS HERE AGAIN! The TOS PURIM MUSICAL
Auditions are on Sunday December 7th from 9am-1030am in Rabbi Art’s office
If you are interested in auditioning please email .
Include all of the following information in your email: Name, age , phone number, talent/s (singer, dancer, actor, artist, costume), weekend (Fri, Sat, and Sunday) availability beginning in January, and your most frequently checked email address. 
Tifani will email you back with your time slot for Sunday Dec 7th.

To audition please prepare the following:
• 1 minute clip of a song from a musical
• 30 seconds of choreography (bring your own CD)
It is possible to just audition with one of the above...but this year’s musical includes lots of dancing!

Parents and kids please sign up to help with the stage crew, set designs, and costumes.

LIFELONG LEARNING

Shalom,

Tomorrow, I am driving to Harrisburg for the Union for Reform Judaism Pennsylvania Council Regional Biennial.  I will be participating in the Pre-Conference Kallah for Educators and will attend other sessions on Friday and Saturday morning based on the weekend’s theme: Wise Hearts: The Legacy and Challenge of Jewish Leadership. 

I look forward to meeting with other reform Jews from our state and know that I will bring back to our congregation lots of ideas and information to pass on to all of you.  I will, of course, be back in time for Sunday School and hope you will join me at the dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting for The Alvin Weinberg Children’s Computer Center beginning at 10:45 in the Upper Multi Purpose Room.

Shavua Tov,
Marci

LATKE COOKS NEEDED!!!!!!
We are looking for some volunteers to make Latkes for our Family Chanukah Party on December 21, 2008. 
If you are interested please contact Ken Eisner at or

Thank You in Advance!!!!!

FUNDRAISING
We’ve started planning our spring fundraiser!  “Back By Popular Demand” the Temple will be hosting a ‘Nite at the Races and A Silent Auction’ on Saturday April 18, 2009.  We have a lot to do to ensure this evening is a huge success!  Our goal is to meet and even exceed the high expectations of those who attended in the past.  It’s a hard act to follow!  As a result, we’ll be looking for many volunteers to help pull this off.  Therefore, a planning meeting will be held on Sunday, December 7 at 11:30am in the Multi-Purpose room. 

We have lots of volunteer opportunities available so please consider joining this very important effort. Special thanks to those who have already signed up.  Remember this is our big fundraiser for the year and we need your participation!

The subcommittees needing committee members are listed below:

Start-Up Committee:  Responsibilities include advertising, invitations, RSVPs and selling horses.
Fundraising Committee:  Responsibilities include obtaining and tracking race sponsorships, prizes and donations.
Set Up/Clean Up Committee:  Responsibilities include room set-up, decorations, and clean-up.
Kitchen Committee: Responsibilities include organizing appetizers and the caterers. 

If you have any questions, concerns or want to sign up, please contact me at 724-772-8117 or via email at

Thanks in advance for your participation.  TOGETHER LET’S MAKE THIS THE BEST FUNDRAISER EVER!!!

Amy Covell
VP Fundraising

Genocide Awareness Shabbat
As members of the human race and the Jewish community we must stand up and speak when innocent people are being murdered. Within the past century, genocide has occurred for different reasons in different areas, but we have yet to learn from this history, for it continues to repeat itself. Join us on January 30, 2009 at 7:30 PM as we discuss past genocides and pray that the current genocide in Darfur region of the Sudan will be the last.  For more information please contact {encode=” ” title="Rachel Dougherty"}.  I am launching a postcard drive. All you must do is complete a postcard that will be sent to Washington D.C. to urge the new administration to take humanitarian action in Darfur. Please fill out a postcard when you find a spare second. Postage will be taken care of. Thanks.

Thank You Oneg Hosts!

The Women of Ohav Shalom (WOS) would like to thank the families who have graciously volunteered their time and effort to host a Friday night Oneg this year:  Rebecca Mason and family, Michelle and Linda Leavitt and families, Bobby Harley, and the Karsh, Feldman, Ogiwara and Silberstein families.  Thank you for participating in this mitzvah for our temple.  WOS would also like to thank the families who made monetary donations to off-set the costs of providing treats at onegs when we do not have a volunteer family.

Do You Like to Bake Cookies? Eat Cookies?  Why Not Host an Oneg?
We need you!  We still have lots of open dates that we need Oneg hosts.  Please consider volunteering to host an Oneg for November 21st or 28th, December 12th, 19th, or 26th, or January 16th, 23rd, or 30th.  Please help keep this wonderful tradition thriving and volunteer to host a Friday Night Oneg.  or call Joni Ferrara at 724) 933-3923 to schedule a date.  Volunteers (and cookies) are greatly appreciated!

Swarovski Crystal Bracelets
Join THE WOMAN OF OHAV for a fun night together creating your very own Swarovski Crystal Bracelets
December 11th at TOS from 6 – 8:30PM. Pot Luck Dinner (Enough for 12). Please let Elaine Bergstrom know if you are attending . Adult or Girls Crystal Bracelet cost $18 each. Girls Beaded Bracelets 13 and Under are $12
Checks Payable to WOS: Deadline is Monday Dec.1st Send checks to: Elaine Bergstrom1513 King David Dr. Pgh., PA, 15237

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GREAT HANUKKAH PRESENT?
Help the Women of Ohav Shalom support Temple Ohav Shalom by buying a a raffle ticket for a a Pittsburgh Penguins Gift Bag! Each ticket costs $10.00. The gift bag includes:

2 tickets for the 12/23 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning
2 Penguins Sweatshirts
Penguins Reusable Tote Bag
Penguins Pennant
Other Miscellaneous Penguins Stuff!

Tickets will be sold in the Education Wing during Sunday School and Hebrew School until the drawing at 11:30 on Sunday, December 14th.  Bag will be on display during the Book Fair.

BOOKFAIR at TOS
The WOMEN OF OHAV SHALOM are happy to once again sponsor the Scholastic Book Fair at Temple Ohav Shalom.  It is going on now through November 23rd. Hours are Tuesday 5-7:30PM and Sunday 9-11:30 and Monday & Wednesday from 9-10:30AM.

RECYCLING AT TOS
Please remember to recycle your newspapers at TOS. If you drop them off when you come to the temple, we can earn money. Also, we recycle print cartridges and cell phones!

GIFT SHOP
The Gift Shop is open during Sunday School and by appointment. Contact Elaine Cohen - 412-364-8484 or Andi Turkheimer 412-367-7864. We have many beautiful items for all aspects of Jewish life. There is no need to go to Squirrel Hill - visit us first!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, November 21st 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah with Shara Taylor
Sunday, November 23rd Dedication of Children’s Computer Lab
Saturday, December 6th 10:00AM Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, Tifani Katof, Student Cantor
Sunday, December 7th 9:00AM-10:30 Rabbi Art’s Office Purim Auditions!
Thursday, December 11th 6-8:30PM WOS Swarovski Crystal Bracelets
Sunday, December 21st Family Chanukah Party Details to Follow

2009
Saturday, January 3rd 10:00AM Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, Tifani Katof, Student Cantor
Thursday, January 15th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Friday, January 16th 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, Tifani Katof, Student Cantor
Saturday, January 24th Special Needs Shabbat Celebration 9:00AM-9:45AM
Friday, February 20th 7:30PM Shabbat Services with Mishkan T’Fillah, led by Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof
Open Discussion about new siddur in Social Hall following Service
Thursday, March 5th 7:30PM Temple Youth Committee
Saturday, April 18th NIGHT AT THE RACES!  TOS Social Hall
Saturday, April 25th 9:00AM Special Needs Shabbat

Schedule of Worship Services for November

Parashat Chayei Sarah
Friday, November 21---23 Heshvan, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Shara Taylor
Saturday, November 22 --- 24 Heshvan, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Marshall Auron

Parashat Toldot
Friday, November 28 ---1 Kislev, 5769
7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Sandy Berkowitz

Saturday, November 29 --- 2 Kislev, 5769
10:00am Shabbat Morning Service
Bill Lowenberger

Friday, October 31, 2008

TOS eWeekly oct 29, 2008

TOS eWeekly Volume 3 Issue 5 October 29th, 2008 URJ Weekly Torah Portion: http://urj.org/torah/ Parashat Noah Genesis 6:9 - 11:32

In one of the oldest myths of the Hebrew Bible, we learn about Noah being called by God. The Torah says that Noah was righteous and perfect, that he walked with God in a generation that was wicked and violent. God spoke to Noah and told him to build an ark. God told Noah that the world would be flooded and only those on the ark would be saved.

Noah worked on the ark for years. When the time of the Flood came, he brought animals of every kind into the ark as God had told him to do. He brought along his three sons, their wives and his own wife. Noah took along enough food for the trip.

It rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Everything on the earth was drowned. The dove helped Noah find dry land again. God promised never to flood the earth again. The rainbow is the symbol of that promise.

Ten generations after Noah, Avram, the son of Terach, was born.

Did Noah do enough to save those around him? According to the rabbis of the Talmud the answer was a resounding no! Noah only saved his immediate family and the animals that God told him to save. Noah did only what was required of him, nothing more.  What about us?  In our daily lives do we go above and beyond, or do we only do the minimum to get by? 

We, at Ohav Shalom, are blessed that so many of our members go above and beyond to help others on a regular basis.  This is what being part of a covenant community is all about.  May we continue to go from strength to strength; reaching out and caring for each other, and therefore be strengthened. 

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Art Donsky
“A Sweet Shabbat”

Join Rabbi Donsky and our Cantorial Intern, Tifani Katof, for lots of “treats” this Friday evening, October 31st at 7:30 PM.  Of course, you are welcome in all your October 31st finery along with your tastiest treats!

FIRST FRIDAY DINNER November 7th

Please be sure to let Alaine Smith know you are coming for dinner. Dinner at 6:00. Service at 7:00.  Or call her at 412.369-0900 ext. 19

MAZEL TOV!

I am a little late at reporting this, but did you know Alan and Clemmy Brodsky, Temple Ohav Shalom’s 13th member family, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary??!!!!  Clemmy must have been a child bride! Mazel Tov and best wishes from your temple family!

PRESCHOOL HAPPENINGS

The preschool children took their first field trip to Soergel’s Orchard last week.  The children learned all about apples.  They watched apples being sorted, washed and turned into apple cider.  They had great fun as they would their way through a cornstalk maze and played together on a huge haystack.

Morah Stephanie visited and taught the children songs for Sukkot.  They really enjoy singing and dancing with her as she plays the guitar.  Stephanie comes twice a month for music enrichment with the children.

On October, 29th we will have preschool photos taken during school hours.  In the evening, we are holding our annual “Back to School” night.  The children come with their parents as they show them around the classrooms, view the wonderful artwork and visit with friends and teachers.

Much more to come in November!

Shalom
Liz Sender

RECYCLING AT TOS

Kristi Karsh, of Sukkah Bimah decoration and take down fame, also reminds us that the 6th grade (Kitav Vav) is recycling all your ink cartiridges and cell phones. There is a drop off bin in the education wing. They raise money for Tzedakah by doing this.

In addition, bring your newspapers to the temple for recycling. The bin is on the left side of the Temple. And we will get an easier bin to use when this one is full!

LIFELONG LEARNING

Last week, I had the unique opportunity, along with my colleagues in the Pittsburgh Area Jewish Educators (PAJE) group, to tour the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center.  The archives preserve the history of the Jews who settled here, established communities like ours in the North Hills, and helped to build Western Pennsylvania.  Check out the Heinz History Center’s website at http://www.pghhistory.org for more information. 
While there, we were introduced to “The Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project”, a website that has compiled articles and images from The Jewish Criterion (1895-1962), The American Jewish Outlook (1934-1962), and The Jewish Chronicle (1962-Present). It can be found at http://pjn.library.cmu.edu. This project serves as both an online reference source and as a digitized historical documentation of the Jewish community of Pittsburgh and its outlying areas. It is possible to enter a family name or date and check out scans of the actual newspaper pages that were published in the past.  I entered my maiden name, in fact, and found articles about my grandparents and the things that they and their friends were doing even before my father was born!  I was also able to look up my birth announcement and find out how much a bowl of Matza Ball Soup was selling for in 1910.  Even for those of you who are not from the Pittsburgh area, I strongly encourage you to check it out.
This great reference tool will be one of the many websites on our recommended list at the new “Alvin Weinberg Children’s Computer Center”.  Don’t forget, on Sunday, November 23rd, we will have an official dedication ceremony for the center which I hope that all of you plan to attend, along with your children, as we open up our new computer center to the school.
Shavua Tov,
Marci

T-shirt Design Contest!!!
Design the new Temple T-shirt!

Entries due:
Sunday, November 9, 2008

Questions? Contact Molly Karsh at

Please submit all entries to Alaine Smith in the office of life long learning

PITTSBURGH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Please Join
Shalom Pittsburgh’s Mitzvah Division/ Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity
to build a home and bring warmth to a needy family during the holiday season.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
1805 Chessland Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15205.
Rain or Shine (We will be working inside the home).
Please arrive at 8:30 am. so we can promptly start at 9 a.m.
Kosher boxed lunch will be provided.
Volunteer project is for individuals ages 16+*
Individuals between 16 and 18 are not permitted to use power tools, go on ladders, or be on the roof, and must be accompanied by an adult (5:1 ratio).
register by November 5, 2008.
Questions? Please contact Stephanie Brenner at 412.992.5212 or .

Community Day School Information Opportunity (with Bagels!)

Parents who are considering enrolling their child in Community Day School are invited to Bagels at the Bettinger’s on Tuesday, November 18th from 10:00-11:30AM. Avi Baran Munro, Headmaster, will be there.  This will take place in the home of Dee & Robert Bettinger, 5108 Karrington Drive, Gibsonia, PA 15044. Please RSVP to Judy Goldman, Admissions Director, @ 412.521.100, x 2113 or

JOIN THE MEN’S CLUB MAILING LIST

Our website at Temple OhavShalom.org has a new mailing list feature that allows us to create opt-in mailing lists to which certain people can send messages. We will use this to make announcements or coordinate events.

To get things started, we are announcing the creation of a mailing list for the Temple Men’s Club. If you are an active member of the temple and would like to receive news about upcoming Men’s Club happenings, please sign up. It is free to be on the mailing list, but you must be registered as a user on the website.

To sign up for the list, go to the Temple website at http://templeohavshalom.org/ and log in. Then, browse to Get Involved, then Adult Organizations. Under Men’s Club there’s a link to join the mailing list. Sign yourself up. You should get a confirming email, which you must respond to immediately in order to be activated.

Messages sent to the Men’s Cub list will include an opt-out link if at any time you want yourself removed from the list.

If at any time you experience difficulty with the signup process, please contact our Webmaster, at