Adas Israel - Mason City, IA

Torah Thoughts 27 March 2020

Torah Thoughts is a weekly look at the parsha from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. This week in light of all that is going on in the world and here in Iowa our hope is that you and your family stay well. Social distancing has worked and while we would love to be able to sit down with you and your family this Shabbat we know that is not possible.  Still, Shabbat is that special time for family and friends and our thoughts are with you.

This week we open up a new "book" as we enter Vayikra (Leviticus). The name of this week's parsha and the entire book means "he called" in Hebrew and we find that in the opening sentence, "He called to Moses, and Hashem (the name) spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying: Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them..." Then G-d launches into a series of rules regarding offerings.

Often we get caught up in the details of the rules of sacrifice, it's easy to do, but there is an interesting reality about this first sentence.  You see the "Tent of Meeting" or Tabernacle was such a holy place that even Moses feared entering. So what does G-d do but "call" to Moses and reassure him that the Tabernacle had been built for the people. Reverence is one thing...but fear another.

Today there is great global fear. Sometimes that brings out the worst in people but often the very best. Over the past several weeks we've seen individuals doing heroic things in service to others. They are guided by the desire to do good even in times of great fear. Often making great sacrifices.  

The Book of Vayikra does deal with what has to do with sacrifices, some call them offerings. Yet 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. And there is the rub...

The Almighty does not need our gifts. He has no needs or desires for that. So we need to look at the Hebrew word for these offerings.

The Hebrew word is korban, which 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. So why all the different korbanot? The answer is that the more serious the transgression the more a person gives in the hope that that person will realize the seriousness of and then truly make teshuva or the correcting of their ways.

Finally this week's 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.

The lesson is that rather than getting caught up in the details...know that what G-d really wants is for you and for me to create a close relationship that guides our thoughts and actions.

May you and yours have a wonderful Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom! 

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts 20 March 2020

We are in unique time, unlike our world has seen in over 100 years. The enemy, now as was then, is a disease that has caused panic and death across the globe. The result has been an upending of our lives from the financial markets to our own homes and communities. What can we glean from this week's Torah Portion. We're reading from Exodus 38:21 - 40:38 and welcome to Torah Thoughts from the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City.

We have already read about how divided the people were when we witnessed the story of the Golden Calf. People were fearful and when they thought leadership had abandoned them (remember they miscalculated when Moses would return from the mountain) they cried out for a new leader to be made of gold. While some took part others stayed away and the unity of the nation was being torn.

But then G-d offers to the people a job...a job they could do together...the building of the tabernacle. Everybody mattered and everybody counted. In this Torah Portion we read about the funding and about how the funds were entrusted to Moses and under the supervision of Bezalel two leaders of trust. 

There is a midrash (story) about the tabernacle that may resonate with us today. It is said that the Tabernacle and all of its parts were of such holiness that they survived intact through time and wars. Unlike the two Temples that were later sacked and destroyed. Why was that? Sfrono comments that it was because people of great holiness participated in the construction of the Tabernacle. All the people played a part. However Solomon's Temple was, for the most part, created by non-Jewish workers. People who had little "skin" in the game.

What can we learn from this simple lesson? How about the fact that when we band together...together...we can do great things. Today, more than at any time in our lives we are being asked to come together as a people with one mission...the salvation of others. Being aware of our surroundings, being aware that we are responsible for each other and being called to look out for not only our immediate family but also the human family no matter their culture or faith.

By the way, this image popped up on our Facebook Page today.  It is from three years ago when the Mason City Community came together to stand against hate. We shared it again this morning and today it, again, means so much. Just like our Torah Lesson...we are better when we are together.

Service Schedule

You may be aware that out of concern we have cancelled this week's services. In addition our President, Alan Steckman has made the decision to cancel our Community Seder that was to have been held in April. Our community needs to watch out for each other and this seems to be the right thing to do.

Wishing you a safe and peaceful Shabbat...wash your hands...and stay connected by phone, email or our Blog.

Shabbat Shalom! 

 

Torah Thoughts 13 Friday 2020

Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. Before we start this week's lesson we're as concerned as you are about friends, family and our community. Our prayer is that we all get through this crisis and come out stronger on the other end. It's up to us to follow the advice that is creditable. Stay safe and healthy.

This week our Torah Portion is Ki Tisa ("when you take") and is found in this week's parsha Ex. 30:11 - 34:35: "Hashem (the name) spoke to Moses, saying: "When you take a census of the Children of Israel according to their numbers, every man shall give Hashem an atonement for his soul when counting them, so that there will not be a plague among them when counting them."

What in the world does THAT mean?  Oh, and interesting isn't it that we're reading this about a census as the U.S. starts counting...us?

Here is the back story:  The Torah teaches it is forbidden to count Jews in the ordinary manner. How do we know that? We read it first here in this parsha. Also the same method was used when King Saul wanted to know how many soldiers there were and asked each to bring a kid goat. Saul then counted the goats to come up with the number of fighters.

On the other hand, we see that King David counted the Jews in the conventional way, “from [the city of] Beersheba to [the city of] Dan . . . so that I may know their number.” Unfortunately, when the counting was finished, a great plague struck and many Jews died. (1 Chronicles 21:2)

Accordingly the verse reads in Hosea 2:1, “And the number of children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which shall neither be measured nor counted.”

To this day when we count for a minyan we often say, "Not one, not two not three..." and so on.

This week we also learn about the  instructions to make the Washstand, Anointing Oil, and The Incense for the Mishkan (the Portable Sanctuary also known as the Tabernacle); appointing Bezalel and Oholiab to head up the architects and craftsmen for the Mishkan; a special commandment forbidding the building of the Mishkan on Shabbat (people might have thought that they would be allowed to violate the Shabbat to do a mitzvah...).  But...nope.

The portion continues with the infamous story of the Golden Calf. The people wrongly calculated that Moses was late in coming down from Mt. Sinai and the people were already seeking a replacement for him by making the Golden Calf (there is a big lesson in patience for us here). Moses sees them dancing around the calf and in anger breaks the Two Tablets; he then punishes the 3,000 wrongdoers (less than .1% of the 3 million people), pleads to G-d not to wipe out the people, requests to see the Divine Glory, and receives the second set of Tablets of the Ten Commandments.

WOW!  So much here and a big reminder that G-d does not work on our time...but we on His.

Service Schedule

Our March services will take place on Friday the 20th at 7:15PM and our Midrash (Study Session) will take place on Shabbat (Saturday) the 21st starting at 10:00AM. All are welcome to attend.

Passover

A reminder that we are still planning for our Community Sedar to be held on the 11th of April. The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children. It helps us to defray the cost of food for a room of people.  It is one of the highlights of our Shul and hope you can come.  If, for any reason, things change we'll reach out.

Happy Birthday!

And, finally, the Happiest of Birthdays to our friend Peter Children.  Here is to 120 and BEYOND!

See you in Shul! 

 

 

Torah Thoughts 6 March 2020

Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa based in Mason City. This week we'll not only have a thought about this week's Torah Reading but also a word or several about our next holiday, Purim which starts at sundown on Monday the 9th.

This week we read from Exodus 27:20 - 30:10 and the reading is called, Tetzaveh meaning "You command" the second word in the portion, "Now you shall command the Children of Israel that they shall take for you pure olive oil, pressed for illumination, to kindle a lamp continually." We are talking about the Menorah.  This requirement that it be "pure" is fitting because this reading has much to do with the High Priest who must also be pure.

This portion also dwells on the clothes for the Cohanim, the Priests. It then gives instruction for the consecration of the Cohanim and the Outer Altar. The portion concludes with instructions for constructing the Incense Altar.

Here is an interesting fact about the clothing for the Cohanim: One of the garments worn by the high priest was called "me'il" - it was a four cornered robe of sorts made of wool dyed sky blue and ringed along its bottom hem with thirty six golden bells. The purpose of these bells was to announce the comings and goings of the high priest as he entered the different rooms of the Tabernacle. The Talmud says that this particular clothing atoned for the sin of loshon hora. As the Talmud puts it "a clothing that makes sound will atone for the sin of sound (i.e. gossip)."

Purim

On Monday evening after sundown Jews will celebrate Purim...the Story of Esther. 

Purim is a joyous holiday commemorating the salvation of the Jews in ancient Persia. Haman the Amalekite (Remember them?) receives King Ahasuerus's permission to kill all the Jews, but the king's Jewish queen Esther, prompted by her cousin Mordechai, intercedes with the king. The decree is turned on its head which allowed the Jews to avenge themselves of their enemies on the very day their destruction was decreed. The Jews celebrate their victory on the subsequent day, the 14th of Adar.

Although no open miracles occurred in the Purim story, the people were able to see the guiding hand of G-d in the seemingly natural events of the story.

We celebrate Purim by reading the Book of Esther, feasting with holiday foods and wine.  Also it is proper to exchange gifts and give money to the poor.  In many communities there is a Purim Carnival where the children come dressed up for the holiday.  The "Jewish Halloween" if you will. HAPPY PURIM!!!

Service Schedule

We'll gather for services on Friday the 20th of March at 7:15PM for Erv Shabbat and then our Torah Study "Midrash" will take place on Shabbat (Saturday) starting at 10:00AM.  Everyone is welcome.

Passover

Save the Date!  Our Community Passover Seder will take place on the 11th of April starting about 5:30PM. Keep watching for more information and invite your friends and family. This is always a wonderful and educational gathering.

See you in Shul!