Friendly reminder: Our B'nai Amoona offices are closed today. Tonight's Friday Evening Services will begin at 6:00 pm. Please see the schedule below for further details.
D'var Torah From Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose -Vayechi-
This coming Shabbes, we will draw our public reading of Sefer Bereshit to a close with the chanting of the final section of the Book of Genesis known as Parashat Vayechi. As with so many of the Parshiot in the first of our five books of the Torah, there are so many “delicious nuggets” that capture our attention and stimulate our imaginations. Each calls out to us, Darshaynee - dive deep and spend hyper-focused time unpacking me as a way to find inspiration and existential spiritual meaning!
As a father (of sons and daughters!), and one who is fortunate to both receive and bestow a weekly parental blessing (may my parents be blessed with continued vigor of body and spirit!), maybe not surprisingly, I am always drawn to Jacob’s deathbed benedictions. And by far, the most intriguing of these Brachot for me is the one the patriarch bestows upon his grandchildren, Joseph’s children, Ephraim and Menasheh.
Vayechi recounts that Jacob elevated these two grandsons, Ephraim and Menasheh, to the status of full-fledged Shvatim (Tribes of Israel). And from this tale, we derive, to this very day, the notion of blessing our male offspring to be like these two men. The obvious question is why did Jacob instruct the Jewish people to bless our sons to emulate Ephraim and Menashe in particular and not like our Primary Avot (Patriarchs) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? After all, when we bless our female children, we pray for them to imitate our Primary Imahot (Matriarchs) – Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.
One possible answer is that, unlike the other men for whom the Tribes of Israel are named, Ephraim and Menasheh did not receive their special status by virtue of biology alone, their actions earned them their elevated status. They did not ride the proverbial “coat-tails” of their forebears, rather they acquired Zechut (special merit) by the manner in which they conducted and comported themselves. In fact, one might say that they did not just achieve and realize their God-given potential, they actually surpassed it!
Recently, immediately following a moving Zoom Brit Milah ceremony, the grandfather of the newborn who already has several other grandsons, shared with me that he finally understood the words recited at a ritual circumcision: “Zeh HaKatan, Gadol Iheyeh – This little one, will be big someday”. These words do not simply mean that we pray that the child will grow in height, girth and stature. We do not want him to simply aspire for normalcy or mediocrity. What we desire is that he will aspire and quest for spiritual Gadlut - elevated, transcendent, and superior lofty heights; true greatness.
What a poignant and beautiful insight! As we lovingly lay our hands on our precious children’s heads this coming Friday night, and all Friday Nights to follow, I invite us all to hold the notion of blessing our descendants to be like Ephraim and Menasheh in the forefront of our minds. And thus, help them aspire to successes and triumphs which are far beyond their, and even our, hopes and dreams. Amen!
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, January 1 Friday Afternoon & Evening Services with Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Guller Chapel: 6:00 pm
*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 in your inbox.
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
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...
Max and Melissa Klupchak on the birth of their daughter, Ellery Paige Klupchak. Proud grandparents are Steven and Joan Brown. Proud great-grandfather is Harvey Brown. Ellery is the sister of Carly Rose and Cameron Michael Klupchak.
Gloria & Sandy Spitzer on the birth of their great-grandson, Jonah Ze’ev. Proud parents are Rabbi Rafi Spitzer (Temple Agudat Achim) and Rachael Besser of Schenectady, NY. Proud Grandparents are Jeffrey & Rabbi Miriam Spitzer (Temple Israel) of Scranton, PA and Amy & Marc Besser of Philadelphia, PA. Jonah's older sister Ellie is elated. Jonah is the great-nephew of Linda & Richard Gavatin.
Chani & Rami Pinsberg and Brianne & Sandy Goldstein on the birth of their granddaughter, Zoe Georgia (Zehava) Pinsberg. Proud parents are Toby Goldstein & Gil Pinsberg . Great-grandmother is Tova Pinsberg.
WE MOURN THE LOSS OF...
Leatrice Oster Perry: beloved wife of Paul Perry (Z”L); dear mother and mother-in-law of Gail Perry Persky of Creve Coeur and Lisa Perry (Bruce) Uhrmacher of Denver, Colorado; dear grandmother of Jason Persky, Nicole (Jackson) McLemore, Jessica Persky, Ari Uhrmacher and Paul Uhrmacher; dear great-grandmother of Lorelai, Raegan and Annabelle McLemore; dear daughter of Gertrude (Z”L) and Meyer (Z”L) Oster; sister and sister-in-law of June (Z”L) (Allan, Z”L), Irwin (Z”L) (Barbara, Z”L) Oster, and Pearl (Z”L) (Leon) Siegel; aunt, great-aunt and loving friend.
Karen C.B. Spivack, wife of Samuel D. Spivack, sister-in-law of Alan and Cecelia Spivack.
Rabbi Leonard Zoll, husband of Molly, father of David Zoll (Z”L) and Dan (Amy Weiss) Zoll, grandfather of Elizabeth Roberts, Jaimie Zoll, Sarah Forrester, Adam and Aaron Zoll.
Gerald Howard Towbin; husband of Ilien (Waxman Cohen)Towbin (Z"L); son of Harry and Minnie (Kranzberg) Towbin (Z"L); brother of Alvin Towbin (Z"L); brother-in-law of Harlene “Cookie” Towbin; father of Curtis Joel Towbin (Z"L); stepfather of Debra Rothman, Barbara (Michael) Towerman, and Stephen (Felicia) Cohen; step grandfather of Lee, Mark and Alex Rothman, Matthew (Amanda), Alison and Katelyn Towerman, Danielle (Roger) Barker, Samantha Cohen, and Sara Marks; great step grandfather of Ella and Easton Towerman, and Adelina Barker; uncle to Craig (Laura) Towbin, Wendi (Gary) Dolgin, and Jill Towbin Burkette; special friend to Gene and Geri Sandler.
