Adas Israel - Mason City, IA

Torah Thoughts - 31 September 2018

We are getting very close to the end of the Jewish Year and at the same time getting to the end of the Torah. This week we read Parsha (Portion) Ki Tavo or "When you enter" as in "When you enter the Land that Hashem (the name) your G-d gives you.." We are in Deut. 26:1 - 29:8 so you can read along. 

Here we read the details of the "first fruits" that was first commanded in Exodus 23:19. Now we understand that this offering of "first fruits" in in gratitude to G-d for His eternal role as our guide and the interesting thing that these are items special to the Land of Israel.

Here we also learn about the Declaration of tithes, the Almighty designating the Jewish people as His treasured people (Deut. 26:16 -19), the command to set up in the Jordan River and then on Mount Ebal large stones which had the Torah written upon them in 70 languages, the command to have a public ratification of the acceptance of the Law from Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal.

Think about that for a moment... The words of the Torah in 70 languages which would tell us the laws of life are not only for the Jew but for all the people of the world.

The Torah then sets forth the blessings for following the Law and the curses for not following it, and concludes with Moshe's final discourse. Verse 28:46 tells us the importance of serving the Almighty with "joy and a good heart." The last verse of the portion instructs us "You shall fulfill the words of this covenant and do them so that you will succeed in all that you do!"

The Torah is telling us to be...happy with the gifts we are given. In the Ethics of the Fathers - Chapter 4 we are asked, "Who is the rich person? He who is happy with his portion." Regardless of what you have, you are only wealthy if you have mastered the ability to appreciate what you have. A wise lesson. Always wanting MORE rather than being pleased with what you have been given causes so much stress.

Rosh Hashanah Services

It is that time of year again!  We will celebrate the start of the Jewish Year 5779 with our Eve Rosh Hashana Service that takes place at 7:15 on Sunday the 9th of September. Then our Rosh Hashana Morning Service at 10:00AM on Monday the 10th of September. Services on Monday will last about two hours. All are encouraged to attend. Tradition is that we should have a festive meal following services with sweets that hold the promise of a sweet year ahead.

Yom Kippur Services

The Eve of Yom Kippur is Wednesday evening the 18th of September. Kol Nidre Service will be held starting at 7:30pm. It is a short service and ushers in the 26 hour fast. Yom Kippur Services are on the Thursday the 19th at 10:00am. You can expect services to last roughly three hours in the morning and then we come back late in the afternoon at 5:30pm for evening services. Break the Fast will be about 8:00pm or as soon as it becomes dark.

Thank you for reading and see you in Shul!

 

 

Torah Thoughts - Shoftim - Deut. 16:18 - 21:9

Torah Thoughts from the Jewish Congregation of Adas Israel in Mason City, Iowa looks at the weekly reading from the Torah and lifts out some "thoughts" about what we will learn this Shabbat (Sabbath)

This week we read from the Parsha (portion) of Shoftim which means "judges" as it is the first word in the reading, "Judges and officers shall you appoint in all your cities..."

This is the beginning of "just courts" and what has transcended into the system we have today. The stunning part of this very first section is this: "...you shall not pervert judgement...you shall not accept a bribe, for the bribe will blind the eyes of the wise and make just words crooked."

Other topics covered this week include Forbidden Trees and Pillars worshiped as idols, Blemished Sacrifice, Penalties for Idolatry, The Supreme Court, The King, Levitical Priests, Priestly Portions, Special Service, Divination and Prophecy, Cities of Refuge, Murder, Preserving Boundaries, Conspiring Witnesses, Preparing for War, Taking Captives, Conducting a Siege and the Case of the Unsolved Murder.

Yikes!

This week we also have the famous admonition: "Righteousness, Righteousness shall you pursue, so that you will live and possess the Land that the Almighty your G-d, gives you" (Deut. 16:20).

We also have this interesting story: In (Deuteronomy 20:2-8) it states that before the Jewish army went to war an announcement was made that certain categories of people should return home: he who has built a new house, but has not dedicated it; he who has planted a vineyard, but has not partaken from the fruits; he who has betrothed a wife, but has not married her. Verse 8 reads: 

"And the officers shall speak further to the people and they shall say: 'Is there a man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house and let him not make the heart of his brethren faint as well as his heart' ".

What does this mean when taken into context with the other three categories? (House, Vineyard, Wife)

Rabbi Yosi Haglili explains (Babylonian Talmud, tractate Sotah 44a, cited by Rashi) that the fourth category refers to someone who fears that he is unworthy of being saved because of his transgressions. Rabbi Yosi adds that this is the reason why the other three categories were told to go home. If someone would leave the ranks because of his sins, he would feel embarrassed. However, since other groups were also sent home, people would not know which individuals were leaving for which reasons.

Stunning that a large number of solders were sent home in order to save a sinner from humiliation. What do we learn here? We learn that we must do everything possible to protect people from shame.

Shabbat Services are on Friday the 17th at 7:15 and our Torah Study (Midrash) will take place at 10:00AM and focus on this week's Torah Portion. 

Have a wonderful Shabbat and we'll see you in Shul!

 

 

Torah Thoughts - Re'eh - Deut. 11:26 - 16:17

Welcome to Torah Thoughts from the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, Adas Israel. This week our parsha (portion) is the longest of the book of Deuteronomy (but not the longest in the Torah). It is called Parsha Re'eh which comes from the first word in this reading which means, in Hebrew, "See". 

"See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse." Moses then goes on to tell the people they will be blessed if they follow the commandments (remember there are 613 of them) but, if they turn away from the commandments and follow other gods they will be cursed.

Pretty heavy stuff that we sometimes forget about. However, following the commandments does, indeed, give us a road map for life. If we do what we are supposed to do and stay away from that that will harm us or others...life becomes much easier to live.

The parsha continues with rules and laws for the land of Israel primarily oriented towards staying away from idol worship and the other religions in the land. In verses 13:1-12 you will find the section that caused a missionary's face to blanch and silenced him from continuing to proselytize a renowned rabbi. Go ahead, look it up.

We also have the source of the Chosen People concept this week: "You are a nation consecrated to G-d your Lord. G-d has chosen you from all nations on the face of the earth to be His own special nation ..." (Deut. 14:1-2). We are chosen for responsibility, not privilege --to act morally and to be a "light unto the nations."

That is one of the most misunderstood portions of the Torah. Non-Jews have used that as a wedge issue and say that the Jews "think they are better than everybody else". Not at all true. If you read the passage you will see there is a responsibility to live up to what is expected. It is not simply a designation that raises the Jew to a higher place it is a calling to act in line with His commandments.

Finally, and we have talked about this in our Midrash before, we come to that line in the Torah that points to the Oral Law. You see we already have the Written Law which is the Torah. But we also have the Oral Law or what some might call the Talmud. The Oral Law is said to have passed from Moses to Joshua and then, when in exile written down. Here is the line that points to the validity of the Oral Law:

It is from verse 12:21 "You will slaughter animals ... according to the manner I (G-d) have prescribed." Nowhere in the Torah are we instructed in the manner of shechita, ritual slaughter. One might conclude that there was a very sloppy editor. Or -- one might conclude that there are additional teachings (the Oral Law/Talmud) clarifying and amplifying the written Word.

This is also a special Shabbat because on both Saturday and Sunday is the start of the Hebrew Month of Elul.  This is a very special month in the Jewish year as it is the month preceding Rosh Hashanah (which begins Sunday evening, September 9th). Our faith teaches us that each season of the year has a special spiritual opportunity for success. For instance, Passover is the time to work on freedom and Sukkot is the time to work on joy. Elul is the time to work on personal growth.

Services in August

Our services at Adas Israel is scheduled for Friday the 17th at 7:15pm and our Midrash (Bible Study) will take place on Shabbat (Saturday) the 18th at 10:00am.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

Have a wonderful Shabbat...see you in Shul!

 

Torah Thoughts - Ekev (Deut. 7:12 - 11:25)

Torah Thoughts is from the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa - Adas Israel. Thanks for coming by for a look at this week's Torah Parsha (portion) Exev (Hebrew for "if you follow"). Let's go!

The fifth and final book of the Torah is really about Moses telling the people about what they should and should not be doing. Moses knows he is going to soon die and so he gathers the people to tell them where they have been and sometimes where they are going. In this portion Moses tells the Jews that they will live in prosperity and have good health IF they follow the commandments. 

He is telling the people that to trust in G-d is what will bring them through troubles. That the people should realize that everything they have comes from G-d and warns them not to get so caught up in their success that they forget who is responsible for their success.

Moses goes on to warn against having idols and those idols can take many forms. From images to money. He also reminds the people about how they rebelled against G-d while they were wandering those 40 years in the wilderness.

The Torah then answers a question so many of us ask, "What is it that G-d wants from us?". How many times have you asked or, perhaps, thought about that? While it may seem to be a complex question the answer is very simple, "Only that you remain in awe of G-d your Lord, so that you will follow all His paths and love Him, serving G-d your Lord with all your heart and with all your soul. You must keep G-d's commandments and decrees ... so that all good will be yours".

Pretty simple...no?

Our next Shabbat Service will be on Friday 17 August at 7:15 at the shul. Our Midrash (Torah Study) will be on Shabbat the 18th of August starting at 10am again at the shul.

May you have a peaceful and wonderful Shabbat this week and in all the weeks to come!