Adas Israel - Mason City, IA

Torah Thoughts 22 March 2019 - Taking Out the Garbage

We're the Jewish congregation of Northern Iowa located in Mason City. While we may not be a large congregation we believe the richness of Jewish life brings a perspective to our area. Thanks for reading. Let's take a look at this week's Torah Portion ahead of services this evening.

This week we read from Parsha Tzav (Leviticus 6 - 8) the word Tzav means "command" as we read in the opening line of this week's Torah Portion: "Command Aaron and his sons..." The Torah then launches into the laws of many offerings: The Burnt Offering, the Meal Offering, the Sin Offering and so on.

But, before we go there we've got to "take out the garbage". In the opening of this Parsha we read that the priests are to put on work clothes and remove the ashes from the alter. In other words it's time to take out the garbage.

But wait! Why is this considered a holy act? Clearly if we don't remove the ashes we're going to have a "holy mess" on our hands. Wouldn't you think that, rather than being a holy act, it should be just the what we do to tidy up the place?

And, there is the lesson.

The Torah is telling us that even the most mundane of tasks in honor of G-d is not mundane at all. That even by taking out the ashes we are recognizing that we are called to do everything we can to elevate G-d in our lives. 

In the Torah there are 613 Commandments. Is one commandment superior to another? No, they all matter. If we observe the Sabbath but we eat a cheeseburger the next day are we really honoring G-d and His commandments?  Come on...you know the answer to that.

The commandments exist to offer us a road map to life. When we follow that map we become mindful of all the blessings we've been given and continue to receive. And so, removal of the ashes isn't just a job; it is done to keep us ever on track and to remember that even the smallest of the commandments can lift us up and give us purpose.

Service Schedule

On Friday the 22nd we'll have a special service to talk about Purim the holiday we've just celebrated. If you read the Book of Esther you'll understand. We'll then hold our monthly Erv Shabbat Service. Doors open at 7:00pm. Come prepared to party a bit in honor of Purim as well as Shabbat.

Then on Shabbat (Saturday) we'll hold our Midrash (Torah Study) as we look at this week's Torah Portion even closer and find ways in which, what we read, impacts our lives today. The Midrash starts at 10:00am.

All are welcome...see you in Shul!

 

Torah Thoughts 15 March 2019

Greetings from the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. Thank you for coming by for this weeks edition of Torah Thoughts.  The parsha (portion) for this week is the first chapter from the Book - Vayikra, which in Hebrew comes from the first word of this the third book of the Torah and means, "He called..." The Greek word for this book is Leviticus and it has more of commandments than any of the other "books".  Here is how it starts...

"He called to Moses, and Hashem spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying: Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them..."

We then have G-d lay out the general rules of sacrifices/offerings.

So, what is it about "sacrifices" or "offerings" that is different from "gifts".

According to Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch: a "sacrifice" implies giving up something that is of value to oneself for the benefit of another. An "offering" implies a gift which satisfies the receiver. The Almighty does not need our gifts. He has no needs or desires.

So what is this all about?  If we look at the Hebrew word for sacrifice it is korban. That is is best translated as a means of bringing oneself into a closer relationship with the Almighty. The offering of korbanot was only for our benefit to come close to the Almighty.

This weeks portion includes the details of various types of korbanot: burnt offering, flour offering (proof that one does not need to offer "blood" to gain atonement), the first grain offering, peace offering, unintentional sin offering (private and communal), guilt (for an intentional sin) offerings -- varied upon one's ability to pay, and an offering for personal use of something designated or belonging to the Tabernacle or the Temple.

Many people look at all of this and think reading it can be boring but the message here is about how we come closer to G-d. 

Of course there is no more Temple so there are no more sacrifices. So, what takes their place?  The commandments. The 613 Commandments that G-d says we should and should not do. By following His commandments we come....closer to Him.

This week we also get ready for PURIM. The holiday starts on Wednesday night the 20th until Thursday evening. If you want to read what Purim is...pick up the Bible and read the Book of Esther. It's all about how G-d really rules the world...behind the scenes. 

March Service Schedule

We will gather at the shul on Friday the 22nd. Door open about 7:00PM and before we light the Sabbath Candles we will celebrate (a bit late) Purim with a reading of the Book of Esther. We'll dress up, make some noise and recall that wonderful story and the holiday.

Then, following the reading we'll hold our March Shabbat Service. Our Bible Study (Midrash) is on the 23rd and that starts at 10am.

Everyone is welcome...

See you in Shul! 

 

Torah Thoughts 8 March 2019

Each week Adas Israel, the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City, offers up a brief look at the Torah Portion of the week. This week we're still in the Book of Exodus 38:21 - 40:38 this portion is called Pekudei which means "amounts of" and is the second word in the reading, "These are the amounts of the Tabernacle..."  It should also be noted that this is the final parsha (portion) from the book of Exodus. 

Here we have a full accounting of the "gifts" brought by the people. Even though Moses was above reproach it's insightful that he offers this accounting so the people have full transparency of the actions. It would seem like a good idea for our day as well...

In this parsha we also learn about the details of the construction of the clothing of the Cohanim (priests). The Tabernacle is completed, Moses examines all of the components and gives his approval to the quality and exactness of construction, the Almighty commands to erect the Tabernacle, it's erected and the various vessels are placed in their proper place.

As we read, Moses instructed the craftsman Betzalel how the tabernacle is to be constructed. What happens first, second, third and so on. "And Betzalel, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Yehudah did all that the Almighty commanded Mose" (Exodus 38:22).

What do we learn from this simple passage?

How about the importance of doing things in order?

This is an important tool for accomplishing anything in life. One needs to know what he must do and then he must have an order of priorities. We will never have enough time to do everything we would like to do. By being aware of the order of importance of what you have to do, you will ensure that you will effectively accomplish the most possible within the limitations of the time allotted to you.

It's a common practice in business. Each day the successful business person makes a list of the tasks that need to be done. Then they get placed in the proper order. It's all time management but it really is something else.

Creating that order allows us to get things done so we can then spend time on the most important aspect of our life...time with family...and time to learn and time to give back to our community. 

Thank you for reading!

Service Schedule

So you know well in advance. Services at Adas Israel will be on Friday evening the 22nd starting with a reading of the Book of Esther in honor of Purim. It's a great festival of joy and hope. Dress up and let's have some fun prior to our Shabbat Service. Join us at the Shul starting at 7:15pm.

Our Midrash - Study Session - is on Saturday the 23rd starting at 10:00am. In the social hall of the synagogue.

See you in Shul! 

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts 1 March 2019

It's just a few hours before Shabbat so let's dive into this week's Torah Portion and see what we can learn. BTW, we're so sorry we had to cancel services last week but the snow got the best of us. In many places in Iowa people are still digging out.  

This week our Parsha (portion) is Exodus 35:1 - 38:20 the name of the reading is Parsha Vayakhel which means "And he assembled" which is the first word in the Parsha: "Moses assembled the entire assembly of the Children of Israel and said to them, "These are the things that Hashem commanded to do them:"

And wouldn't you know it the Sabbath is the very first thing said by Moses: "On six days, work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you, a day of complete rest for Hashem, however does work in it shall be put to death..."

Yikes! That sounds pretty stearn no?

The rabbis tell us that the "death" is meant to be a spiritual death. That if we desecrate the Sabbath, the easiest of all commandments, then it is highly likely that we will turn our backs on many others. 

Think of it...if we take one day a week and pour our efforts into being closer to G-d and having a better understanding of what He wants from us our lives are enhanced. If the Torah is a roadmap to life then the Sabbath is the springboard to learning.

Then we get the next sentence, "You shall not kindle fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day."  Faith groups, who are not Jewish used this sentence to tell people that the Jews sat in the dark all day long just as they are in spiritual "darkness" for not following whatever religious group was attacking us.

Again we need to understand the context of this. "Kindling a fire" is creation and who was it that stopped creating on the seventh day? Yep...God. So the commandment is not to "create" on the Sabbath. In addition observant Jews, even today, do not prepare food on the Sabbath simply because by doing so they must "kindle" a fire....be it a stove top or a grill 

The Sabbath is more than just another day. Just like all big occasions we must prepare for it and that means cooking ahead and and planning ahead so that on Shabbat we can truly enjoy our friends and family and our appreciation to all we have.

In addition to the law of Shabbat we also read a great deal about relays the Almighty's commands to refrain from building the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) on the Shabbat, to contribute items needed to build the Mishkan, to construct the components of the Mishkan and the appurtenances of the Cohanim. The craftsmen are selected, the work begins. The craftsmen report that there are too many donations, and for the first and probably the only time in fundraising history, the Jewish people are told to refrain from bringing additional contributions.

So much to learn...and we hope you enjoy the story and have a wonderful Shabbat.

Service Schedule for March

Services for March will take place on Friday the 22nd at 7:15pm and our Midrash (Study Session) will take place on Shabbat (Saturday the 23rd) starting at 10:00am. All are welcome to attend either or both of our sessions.

May you have a blessed Shabbat! 

See you in Shul!