Tuesday, March 11, 2008
TOS eWeekly March 5, 2008
Volume 2 Issue 25, March 6, 2008
Some “Purim Torah” (Parashat Pekuday Exodus 38:21 - 40:38)
Okay, yes Purim is a few weeks away, however, our Purim Ball is this week – Saturday night!!! Have you made your reservation? You haven’t, well, what are you waiting for? Purim!!! This weekend’s Purim Ball couldn’t come at a better time, so come in costume or not, either way join us for what I sure will be great and much needed evening for our temple community.
So here we are at the last portion of the Book of Exodus, Parashat Pekudey when the final obsessive details and description of the Mishkan, Wilderness Sanctuary, are offered as well as the lengthy list of the fancy, shmancy clothes worn by the priests. And great ceremonies were held to dedicate this Mishkan and instructions about how the priest were to conduct services. And, finally a Cloud of God’s Glory covered the Mishkan.
Of course, on a serious note, it is a unique moment in Jewish history that after the Golden Calf the people of Israel is forgiven by God and now has a holy place for them to experience God’s Divine Presence.
Now to some more “Purim Torah!” Yes, there is such a thing! Let me explain. As you know, Purim is a day in which everything is turned inside out and upside-down. Right is left and left is right and so on. A day that the Talmud reminds us we shouldn’t be able to tell the difference between, “blessed be Mordecai” and “cursed be Haman.”
Purim is ultimately a day about chance or luck. Haman (boo) picks a random date to destroy the Jews in 127 provinces. Of course, his plans are foiled and he is hung on the gallows he made for Mordecai. This is really more bad luck considering he had to parade Mordecai through the streets of Shushan honoring him since, he, Mordecai, not Haman (boo) saved the King’s life.
This may seem all well and good, however, the essence of Judaism is antithetical to chance or luck! No consulting the local astrologist. Judaism rests upon taking (or not taking) action, ethical monotheism, not luck or chance. So in truth, Purim, was our ancestors way of making sport with the great Persian society in which they lived; a society based upon silly superstitions, blind chance and drunken ignorance. Now that you’ve imbued this Purim Torah don’t miss out on some more this coming Saturday night!
Be happy its Adar,
Rabbi Art Donsky
1st Friday Family Shabbat Celebration – Friday, March 7th, 2008
Be sure to register for a great meal and join Rabbi Art, student Cantor, Tifani Katof and our 6th grade students as they lead our Shabbat services! We will honor our 12th High School graduates!!!
Come share Shabbat with our temple family – see old friends and make new friends! RSVP to
CANTORIAL INTERN TIFANI KATOF
will give a musically illustrated talk about Jewish Music on Saturday, March 22nd at 7:30PM with Havdalah. Dessert and wine included. Please RSVP to Bobbie Harley by March 17th @ or 412.364.2761. Presented by North Hills Hadassah & Women of Ohav Shalom. Download the flier here.
PRESCHOOL HAPPENINGS
The preschool will hold its rescheduled Shabbat dinner in conjunction with the Tot Shabbat on April 18th. No snow storm then (we hope!)
ONEG DATES
If you have been thinking about hosting an Oneg but haven’t signed up, please consider volunteering for one of the following dates: March 28, April 25th, May 16, or May 30th. Please contact Joni Ferrara at (724) 933-3923 or by email at to sign-up. Thanks for your help
We want you at the Purim Ball. March 8 at 7pm at your Temple!
The Purim ball is fast approaching. We have many wonderful auction items. The D.J. sounds like wolf man Jack. Dancing, food and libations. Support your Temple and come. Did you know that the Women of Ohav Shalom pay for things such has oven repair, Torah repair, $4000.00 to lifelong learning, run the onegs and more. Help us help you. Come to the ball.
Now that you’re convinced to come… We will be accepting cash for Chinese auction items, Check for anything you want, and charge. Only Visa and MasterCard accepted.
Please rsvp to Kathy Dougherty and then pay at the door.
See you there,
Your Queen.
PIZZA, FILMS and the ISRAELI/PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
The images of violence from Gaza in mainstream media often hide the fact that this is not a conflict between two equal forces. The most powerful army in the Middle East is daily using tanks, fighter planes, helicopters and gun-ships against armed militias. The overcrowded Gazans who have lived under the occupation and in poverty for many years are becoming casualties of the force used by Israel. Hamas militants are targeted and civilians are killed. The cycle of revenge and retaliation viscously affects people on both sides
Films will be at Adamson Wing, 136A Baker Hall
Carnegie Mellon University Campus.
March 6th – “Until When…”
By Dahna Abourahme 2003 follows four Palestinian families as they cope with being refugees.
Pizza will be served at 7:00 pm and the film will start at 7:30
Admission is free, donations are welcome.
PURIM REHEARSAL!
This coming Sunday from 11:45Am until 2:45PM we will rehearse everything together- singing, music, saying our lines (without scripts!) and all the choreography!
Lunch will be served at 11:30AM—Pizza, of course!
See you then,
Rabbi Art
LIFELONG LEARNING AND YOUTH NEWS
MAZEL TOV! Our 6th Grade Chidon Team took 3rd place in the Israel Quiz Fest Competition at the JCC last Sunday. Competing for our team were Lauren Berlin, Hannah Fassler, Rena Ferrara, Lena Ogiwara and Jasz Joseph. The rest of the 6th grade class participated from the audience and added to their score. Eleven teams participated from religious schools in the Pittsburgh area. The questions tested knowledge about Israel: people, places, events, history, geography, government, etc. It was quite a contest and our team came through shining! Way to Go, Gadolim! (Giants)
This Weekend
Friday, Shabbat 6th Grade Dinner and Service. 6th Grade students have been preparing to help lead services. We hope to see the whole class there! We’re also honoring our High School Graduating Class of 2008! Please rsvp for both to
Saturday, 9:30 am is the next b’nai mitzvah workshop for families.
Sunday, 9:30 is the 4th grade class b’nai mitzvah program. Parents, Please attend!
The class is focusing on the Jewish life cycle and is putting on a program for parents. Their class wedding will be the last day of Religious School.
OY! is RAISING FUNDS FOR KIDS IN FOSTER CARE: 2 GREAT EVENTS!
DANCE FOR A CAUSE, Saturday, March 29th. All high school teens (and TOS 8th graders too) are encouraged to come and bring their friends! DJ’s from KISSFM will be here to add to the fun! Cost: $7 or $5 with stuffed animal. We need kids and CHAPERONES!
KFC: KIDS FOR CARMIEL, Sunday, April 6th, 10:15 – 11:30 during Religious School. This Talent Show features our own TOS talent! All donations from the talent show and bake sale go to support every day costs of families raising kids at Carmiel Children’s Village in our sister city in Israel (a multi-family kibbutz-style residence for children age 5 – 18 who have no parents or cannot live with their families).
For more information on both of these events, contact Deb Taylor or Rebecca Mason.
SUNDAY MARCH 16th!—PARENTS- DROP THE KIDS OFF AND LEAVE A PINT! TOS BLOOD DRIVE will run concurrently with our Purim Festival on Sunday, March 16th starting at 8:30AM. Sign-up at the Temple or by contacting Peggy Jopling ()
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, March 8th WOS Purim Ball
Sunday March 16th 8:30-Noon TOS Blood Drive
Sunday March 16th Purim Carnival
Thursday, March 20th 7:00PM Disney on Broadway Purim!
Saturday, March 22nd 7:30 An Evening of Music with Tifani Katof
Saturday, March 29th 7:00PM OY! Community Teen Dance For A Cause
Sunday, March 30th 11:00AM-2:00PM Social Action Com. Serve lunch at Miriam’s Women’s Shelter
Sunday, April 6th QY! Carmiel Talent Show Sanctuary 10:15-11:30AM
Sunday, April 6th 1:00PM Social Action-Riverview Towers
Sunday, April 27th 9:30AM Annual Congregational Meeting
Thursday, May 1st Yom HaShoah v’haGevurah-Day of Destruction & Heroism
Holocaust Remembrance Day-Guest Speaker Sister Camille from Vicentian Academy
SCHEDULE OF WORSHIP SERVICES FOR MARCH
Saturday, March 1 – 24 Adar 1, 5768
10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service
Rabbi Donsky & Elaine Rose
Friday, March 7 – Parashat Pekudei
6:15 pm Dinner-for-All
7:00 pm First Friday Kabbalat Shabbat
Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof
Saturday, March 8 – 1 Adar ll, 5768
10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service
Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof
Friday, March 14 - Parashat Vayikra
7:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Rabbi Donsky & Elaine Rose
Saturday, March 15 – 8 Adar ll, 5768
10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service
Bar Mitzvah of Brandon Bergstrom
Rabbi Donsky & Elaine Rose
Friday, March 21 – Parashat Tzav
6:15 pm Tot Shabbat
7:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof
Saturday, March 22 – 15 Adar ll, 5768
10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service
Rabbi Donsky & Tifani Katof
Friday, March 28 – Parashat Shmini
7:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Rabbi Donsky & Bill Lowenberger
Saturday, March 29 – 22 Adar ll, 5768
10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service
Rabbi Donsky & Bobbie Harley
Happy March Birthdays!
1 Ella Adelman
2 Ian Cohen
5 Andre Ennis
6 Joshua Siegal
7 Lauren Michael
8 David Fassler
9 Brandon Bergstrom
Lauren Smith
Max Leavitt
13 Brooke Singer
15 Rebecca Vassilenko
19 Aaron Borrebach
Daniel Borrebach
Naomi Borrebach
Alex Tyma
26 Joseph Feldman
28 Ross Marinstein
HAPPY MARCH ANNIVERSARIES!
9 Lisa and Michael Schneider
20 Nicole and Tom Kramer
24 Wendy and T.J. Lubinsky
28 Naomi and Paul Herman
29 Martin Greenberg & Susan Gottfried
May Their Memories Be For A Blessing
March 2 / Adar-1 25
Allen Exter
Husband of Toby Exter
Father of Rachel Berlin
March 3 / Adar-1 26
Gertrude Savitz
Mother of Sanford Savitz
March 4 / Adar-1 27
Samuel Ruffman
Father of Barbara Ann LeWinter
March 11 / Adar-11 4
Leonard Rose
Father of Elaine Rose
March 12 / Adar-11 5
Arnold Siegal
Father of Mark Siegal
March 16 / Adar-11 9
Ben Samuels
Father of Martin Samuels
March 17 / Adar-11 10
Dennis Bradshaw, Sr.
Father-in-law of Cheryl Bradshaw
March 20 / Adar-11 13
Claudia Mahler
Sister of Diane Hutchins
Elaine Shriber
Mother of Ken Shriber
March 23 / Adar-11 16
Ruth Schwartz
Mother of Pearl Schwartz
March 26 / Adar -11 19
Franklin Sheek
Father of Kimberly Popkin
Joseph Stone
Father of David Stone
March 28 / Adar-11 21
Nancy Lockwich
Sister of Mary Kaufman
March 31 / Adar-11 24
Samuel Eli Tisherman
Father of Samuel Tisherman
