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WORDS OF INSPIRATION FROM OUR SENIOR RABBI

Shalom BA Chaverim/Chaverot!

This Shabbat, we will read Parashat Emor from the Book of Leviticus. Like many of the other Parshiot in this Sefer, Emor highlights the special responsibilities and obligations placed upon the Kohanim, the Priests of Ancient Israel.

One of the major questions, which has occupied the attention of Rabbis for centuries, is why the Torah in this particular Parashah utilizes the word “Emor” rather than more common Hebrew word “Vayedaber” when describing the communication between the Almighty and Moses and then the subsequent transmittal of God’s message from Moses to his brother, Aaron the High Priest’s progeny, the Kohanic class of Israelites? 

As the Torah shares: “The LORD said to Moses: Speak (Emor) to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them (Veamarta): "None of you shall defile yourself for any [dead] person among your kin.” (Leviticus 21:1)

The Midrash Tanchuma to Parashat Tzav posits that the difference between these two terms is predominantly a difference in tonality. It considers the word “Vayedaber” as a strident way of communicating and “Amar” as a gentler, softer approach to sharing information.

Rabbi Elijah, the Vilna Gaon, suggests that “Daber” is used exclusively for Mitzvot that are spelled out explicitly in the written Torah, whereas “Amar” is used for those Divine directives found only in the oral tradition.

For me, the term “Daber” connotes an intentional distancing between the speaker and those being addressed, while “Amar” endeavors to underscore a closeness, a kind of intimacy, between the parties.

Clearly, the relationship between the words “Daber” and “Amar” is complex and nuanced. And this, of course, should come as no surprise to us as the whole arena of communication, which is the cornerstone of all human relationships, is convoluted. Thus, our Torah in its infinite wisdom and its profoundly deep understanding of the human condition, provides us with a series of varied terms to describe our interactions with one another and with our Divine Parent. Each term in our Holy Writ helps us better appreciate the challenges and opportunities presented to us in our quest for healthy, constructive and fruitful interactions.

As we know, we the Jewish People are referred to as a “Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation”. Thus, especially in this day and age as we desperately quest for the numinous and the transcendent, each of us is a Kohen. And as such, each of us must consider the best modality in which to share thoughts, ideas, feelings and insights. Moreover, we must communicate to those around us how we need to be communicated with. Whether we employ a “Daber” or an “Amar” modality, let us do so with love, respect and most especially with a sense that we are participants in a sacred and holy interaction.

With love blessings for a Shabbat Shalom - a Shabbes filled with healthy and productive communication.
​​​​​​​
Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose,
RavRoseBA@bnaiamoona.com

314-578-4115

For safety and security reasons, please remember to use this "Members Only" page of our website to access Zoom links for our Services, classes and programs. You will be required you to use your ShulCloud account login for access. Click HERE for a refresher on how to reset your password. If you need help accessing your ShulCloud account, please contact Tanya Spivey at 314-576-9990 x142 or by emailing tanya@bnaiamoona.com.

Parshat Emor
Candlelighting: Friday, May 8 at 7:43 pm
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, May 9 at 8:32 pm

Join Cantor Sharon this Friday night with your Shabbat candles, grape juice, and Challah.  We will chant the blessings and joyously bring in Shabbat together.​​​​​​​

Please click the links below for this week's Torah and Haftarah commentary

B'nai Amoona Torah For Today Video Commentary with Rabbi Neal Rose

USCJ Torah and Haftarah Commentary, TORAH SPARKS

JTS Torah Commentary Podcast

AJU Ziegler School Rabbinic Studies Weekly Torah Portion Commentary

Friday, May 8

Morning Minyan with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose: 7:00 am

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201
Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201
also via Livestream and FB Live 

Junior Congregation with Dr. Kantor: 5:00 pm
Meeting link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85642949225
also via FB Live 

​​​​​​​Join Cantor Sharon with your Shabbat candles,
Kiddush Cup and grape juice, Washing Cup and Towel, your Challah and an open heart.  
Starting this week, we will chant the Shabbat blessings and joyously bring in the Shabbat together: 6:00 pm

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/113973471
Meeting ID: 113 973 471
also via Livestream and FB Live 

Candle Lighting: 7:43 pm

Saturday, May 9
Shabbat Services with Cantor Sharon Nathanson: 9:00 am

via Livestream and FB Live 

Saturday Evening Services with Cantor Sharon Nathanson: 7:45 pm
via Livestream and FB Live 

Sunday, May 10

Morning Minyan with Cantor Sharon Nathanson: 9:00 am

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201
Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201
also via Livestream and FB Live 

Evening Minyan with Cantor Sharon Nathanson: 6:15 pm

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97924715014
Meeting ID:  979 2471 5014

also via Livestream and FB Live 

Monday, May 11

Morning Minyan with Rabbi Josef Davidson

with Benjamin Kruger reading Torah: 7:00 am

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201
Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201
also via Livestream and FB Live

Evening Minyan with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose: 6:15 pm

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97924715014
Meeting ID:  979 2471 5014

also via Livestream and FB Live 

Tuesday, May 12

Morning Minyan with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose: 7:00 am

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201
Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201
also via Livestream and FB Live

Evening Minyan with Rabbi Josef Davidson: 6:15 pm

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97924715014
Meeting ID:  979 2471 5014

also via Livestream and FB Live 

Wednesday, May 13

Morning Minyan with Rabbi Josef Davidson: 7:00 am

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201
Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201
also via Livestream and FB Live 

Evening Minyan with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose: 6:15 pm

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97924715014
Meeting ID:  979 2471 5014

also via Livestream and FB Live 

Thursday, May 14

Morning Minyan with Rabbi Josef Davidson
with Benjamin Kruger reading Torah: 7:00 am

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201
Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201
also via Livestream and FB Live 

Evening Minyan with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose: 6:15 pm

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97924715014
Meeting ID:  979 2471 5014

also via Livestream and FB Live 

Friday, May 15

Morning Minyan with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose: 7:00 am

Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201
Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201
also via Livestream and FB Live 

To join us on Zoom, click one of the meeting links above, or dial  +1 312 626 6799 and enter the meeting ID when prompted

HAPPENING TONIGHT! Chef Jon Hoffman is cooking up an evening of fun and flavor! Do you have cooking questions you'd like Chef Jon to weigh in on? You can ask via Zoom live or email them before hand at jon@bnaiamoona.com.

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86839100348 
Meeting ID: 868 3910 0348
or join by phone: 312-626-6799 and enter the meeting ID above

• Kosher brisket dinner with sides (for two people)
• Challah
• Grape juice
• Candles

BA LEHRHAUS ADULT EDUCATION

Sunday, May 10
A Thinking Person's Judaism - 10:15 - 11:30 am
Facilitated by Rabbi Neal Rose via Zoom, Livestream and our BA Facebook Page 

Meeting Link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83132373373

Introduction to Judaism - 2:00 – 3:30 pm;
Facilitated by Rabbi Neal Rose via Zoom, Livestream and our BA Facebook Page
Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/96231858144
Meeting ID: 962 3185 8144
or join by phone: 312-626-6799 and enter the meeting ID above

Tuesday, May 12
Encountering Mystery - 10:30 - 11:45 am
Facilitated by Carol Rose via Zoom (Pre-registration required)

Parenting During Quarantine - Is my kid okay? Am I okay? What is okay? - 7:00 pm

Facilitated by Jenny Hoffman, LCSW via Zoom and Facebook Live  
Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84390875480​​​​​​​

Wednesday, May 13

Comparative Religions: An Exploration of Faiths 10:00 - 11:30 am
Facilitated by Rabbi Neal Rose via Zoom, Livestream and our BA Facebook Page
Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/96450058878
Meeting ID: 964 5005 8878

or join by phone: 312-626-6799 and enter the meeting ID above

Thursday, May 14
Yiddish Class: A Class for Beginners and All Who Enjoy a Bissel of Yiddish!

10:00 - 11:00 am
Facilitated by Rabbi Neal Rose via Zoom, Livestream and our BA Facebook Page
Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/93550205147​​​​​​​
Meeting ID: 935 5020 5147

or join by phone: 312-626-6799 and enter the meeting ID above

Midtown Midrash: 12:00 - 1:30 pm
Facilitated by Rabbi Neal Rose via Zoom, Livestream and our BA Facebook Page
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84731905422
Meeting ID: 847 3190 5422

or join by phone: 312-626-6799 and enter the meeting ID above

Friday, May 15
Torah for Today: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Facilitated by Rabbi Neal Rose via Zoom, Livestream and our BA Facebook Page
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87876230450
Meeting ID: 878 7623 0450

or join by phone: 312-626-6799 and enter the meeting ID above

Questions? Please contact Liessa Alperin at 314-324-0936 or liessa@bnaiamoona.com

SCHOOL-AGE FAMILIES

LRECC

Our LRECC teachers are creating videos from our classroom and specialist teachers to be uploaded via Facebook, using Zoom to do virtual class activities with their students, and Face Timing students and/or parents as needed.  Anyone is welcome to join our  LRECC Facebook page. This page is where you can connect to other parents and view uploads, etc. If you are not a current LRECC family, but would like your child included in our virtual classes, please email Anita Kraus, anita@bnaiamoona.com, with your contact information. 

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES

We are proud to be partnering with the Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Services and all area congregations in a coordinated effort to help those hit hardest by this pandemic. 
 
If you would like to volunteer with Jewish Family Services to help members of the community get needed groceries or medicine, please contact Jeremy Goldberg, JFS Volunteer Coordinator directly at 314-513-1679 or jgoldberg@jfcs-stl.org.

ELDERLINK

If you are 65 years of age or older and would like to reach out directly to Jewish Family Services for support, you can contact Lori Zimmerman with ElderLinks St. Louis at  lzimmerman@jfsstl.org  or 314-812-9300.

Keep an eye on your inbox - the Zoom link for Sisterhood Shabbat will be sent out at a later date.

Be a Jewel & Pay it Forward! As an act of Chesed, BA Sisterhood invites you to participate in their annual Mitvah fundraiser. Your contribution will help Sisterhood in the  many ways they support our congregation and community. Please click the image for more information.

SISTERHOOD BOOK CLUB

B'nai Amoona's Sisterhood has a Book Group that we share with Kol Rinah's Sisterhood. Meetings are on the 4th Thursday of each month from 10:00 - 11:30 am. We are currently using a Zoom format. Reminders and Zoom information will be sent out prior to each meeting.  New members are always welcome!  You do not need to attend every month nor is it required that you have read (or finished reading) the book selection for the month. Just come when you can!

For more information on the Book Group and author events,

please call Enid Weisberg-Frank at 314-576-2864.

WE MOURN THE LOSS OF...
Harris Myron Dulitz; ​​​​​​​beloved husband of Rosalie; dear father and father-in-law of Harold (Katie) Dulitz, Felicia (Steve) Cohen, Lewis (Cheryl) Dulitz, and Karen (Steve) Kedem; dear grandfather of  Alexander and Eva Dulitz, Sara Marks, and Dean and Maya Kedem. 

To view and print our Misheberach List, please click HERE.

Please click HERE for our Yahrzeit list for the week of

May 9 - May 15

Happy Birthday to:

May 9 - May 15

Happy Anniversary to:
May 9 - May 15

Myron & Prisella Grodsky
Neil & Rachael Peters
Brian & Judith Weisenberg
Bud & Lynn Wittels