Friendly reminder: Our B'nai Amoona offices are closed today. Tonight's Friday Evening Services will begin at 4:00 pm with Minchah. Please see the schedule below for further details.
D'var Torah From Rabbi Neal Rose -Vayigash-
Listening to Our Inner Melody
These last few weeks, we have been reading and listening to the stories of Joseph and his family. We learn about the young Joseph who possesses the ability to interpret his own dreams and that of others. How was he able to do this? According to the Chasidic master, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Joseph had the unique ability to hear the inner melody (Niggun) of all things.
Rabbi Nachman explains that all things in the world are composed of unique melodies (Niggun). Animate and inanimate entities all have their unique melody (Niggun). The Rabbi tells us that as a young shepherd, Joseph, like his father Jacob, heard the Niggun not only of the sheep but also of the grasses, the flowers, the water and other living things. This allowed him to bring together the appropriate grasses to feed his flock. In short, Joseph mastered the ability to listen to the inner Niggun of all the things in his immediate world.
So it was that when he came to Egypt, he heard the melodies that resided there. This allowed him to consider the needs of each living thing and then to match them up in an appropriate manner. Hence he brought productivity and healing to the people in his new homeland. In this way, he became the Shepherd Par Excellence of all of Egypt, ensuring that the population would not only be fed in a time of famine, but that it would continue to prosper even while other nations were in crisis. Much to Pharaoh’s credit, he acknowledged the fact that the young Hebrew slave was the master of the inner melodies of the land.
What are the lessons we can learn from the teachings of this mystical master? Firstly, we learn that we are to be the shepherds of our own souls; of our own inner beings. All too often we allow our gifts to be blunted by the needs and wishes of others. Some might rightly comment that the process of maturation is the ability to join our own unique voice to the voices of those around us.
Those of us who are parents, teachers, Rabbis or healers face the daunting task of helping to cultivate the inner essence of those who come to us. As parents we are called upon to hear and amplify the inner music of our own children. Any parent who has more than one child quickly realizes that siblings each have their own original inner music and that each needs to be honored and supported. We would do well to follow the Pharaoh who dressed Joseph in the mantle of authority and allowed this young master of the inner melody to heal the people and revitalize the land.
When we have Congregants participating in Services from their homes via Zoom on Friday and Saturday Evenings, we recognize that the audio may be difficult to hear on our Livestream or Facebook Live. To insure you hear all of our wonderful participants, we highly encourage you to join our services via Zoom. The links to join in on Zoom are provided in the schedule below.
If you need help connecting to our services or classes via Zoom, please contact Liessa Alperin atliessa@bnaiamoona.com. Todah Rabbah!
Friday, December 25 - Fast of the 10th of Tevet Friday Afternoon & Evening Services with Jay Englander in the Guller Chapel: 4:00 pm
via Zoom,Livestreamand FB Live Please note, Friday Evening Services will begin at 4:00 pm tonight.
Saturday, December 26 Tefillah with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose and Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Main Sanctuary: 9:00 am
Torah For Today with Rabbi Neal Rose: Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion Topic:Reunion of Joseph and His Brothers: 11:00 am
Torah read by Harvey Greenstein
via Zoom (only) Shabbat Afternoon/Evening Services with Rabbi Neal Rose and Zakai Rosein the Guller Chapel: 4:00 pm via Zoom, Livestreamand FB Live
*Please note that you may need to input a Zoom password to access our Friday Night, Shabbat Morning & Saturday Afternoon/Evening Services Zoom link. The Password is Shabbat
Weekday Minyan Information
Join Us For Minyan!
Our B’nai Amoona’s Minyan Program consists of our amazing, dedicated Minyannaires who assure warm and welcoming ongoing daily Minyanim, morning and evening. These services support those in our community who have lost loved ones and may be feeling lonely and isolated. Our BA virtual Minyanim are a constant source of strength and comfort for those who wish to recite the Kaddish. Moreover, our Minyanim are a wonderful opportunity for spiritual uplift, social connection, community building, and the ability to fulfill one's daily Chiyuv, duty, to thank God for all that we have. This combination of Kehillah and Kibbitzing allows up to remain spiritually connected despite being socially distant. All are warmly welcomed! Please join us!
Virtual Morning Minyan
Sunday Morning Minyan will take place virtually at 9:00 am
Monday - Friday Morning Minyan will take place virtually at 7:00 am via Zoom, Livestream and FB Live
Virtual Evening Minyan
Sunday - Thursday Evening Minyan will take place virtually at 6:15 pm via Zoom,Livestream and FB Live
Looking Ahead: Virtual Holiday Minyan & Friday Night Service Times for December 25 & December 31 - January 1, 2021:
Friday, December 25 (Tonight): Friday Night Services will begin at 4:00 pm tonight.
Thursday, December 31: Morning Minyan will begin at 7:00 am and Evening Minyan will begin at 4:00 pm.
Friday, January 1: Morning Minyan will begin at 9:00 am and Friday Night Services will begin at 6:00 pm.
We are now offering the opportunity to attend Shabbat Services "in-person." Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Please click the image below to reserve your spot - see you in Shul!
In Our Community
MAZEL TOV TO...
Halle Wasserman on being elected as USY's 2021 International Membership/Kadima Vice President. Halle is the daughter of Renee & Robert Wasserman and sister of Dani and Jenna.
Zakai Rose, son of Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose & Paulie Rose, for being selected as a fellow in the Nachshon Project Undergraduate Fellowship Cohort Seven, which offers a tuition-free semester abroad at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Throughout the program, fellows explore Israeli society and politics, engage with Jewish ideas about leadership, and learn about career opportunities. Due to the pandemic, the fellowship with take place virtually, though fellows will travel to Israel for a week, all expenses paid, sometime in 2021 or 2022.
Michael Davis and Jackie Elkin on their recent engagement. Michael is the son of Bonnie & Steve Davis and the grandson of Warren & Beryl Davis and David (Z'"l) & Shirley (Z"l) Geeser. Jackie is the daughter of Phil and Marilyn Elkin and the granddaughter of Joan & Stanley (Z"l) Elkin and Gennieve & Irvin (Z"l) Rondberg.
WE MOURN THE LOSS OF...
Anita Reis; beloved wife of Terry Florian Reis; dear mother and mother-in-law of Juli L. Seals (Craig) and Shelley G. March (Mark); dear grandmother of Cory A. Seals (Sarah) and Austin A. March; dear great-grandmother of Michael C., Alexis L., and John C. Seals; dear sister and sister-in-law of Jerome (Z"L) Hershkowitz (Dorothy Z"L), Sidney (Z"L) Hershkowitz (Bobbie Z"L), and Maxine Bamberger (Z"L) (Jerry). Our dear wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and sister-in-law and friend to many.
Roberta Hayman; daughter of Elizabeth (Z"L) and Max (Z"L) Cohen; loving wife of husbands Jack Floom (Z"L) and David Hayman (Z"L); mother of Cheryl Perl, Harlan Floom (Z"L); sister of Sookie Weinberger (Z"L); mother-in-law of Stephen Perl (Z"L) and Barbara Floom; grandmother of 2; great-grandmother of 3; loving aunt to a host of nieces, nephews, counsins and friends.
Jeffrey Liberman; beloved son of Samuel (Z"L) and Myrna (Z"L) Liberman; dear brother and brother in law of David (Linda) Liberman and Mollie Liberman; dear uncle of Hannah and Ari Liberman (Z"L); dear cousin of Linda Cohen and beloved relative to many others. Our dear son, brother, brother in law, uncle, cousin and friend.
