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D'var Torah From Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose
-Bo-

This Shabbat we will once again read the Torah portion called Bo from the Book of Exodus. This fascinating Parashah lays out, in dramatic fashion, the last three plagues that the Almighty brought down upon the Pharaoh of Egypt and his people before finally agreeing to release our ancestors from their years of affliction, oppression, and bondage. 
 
Each year, as we return to this powerful tale, I am struck by the same question. Why did God need to punish the Egyptians with 10 horrific plagues? Why did not the Holy One of Blessing simply create a miracle and secure, by fiat, the release of the Israelites without the need for so much such chaos and carnage? Moreover, why does Adonai harden the Pharaoh’s heart and thus make the Egyptian monarch even more reticent to manumit our ancestors from their slavery and servitude?
 
The great Biblical exegete RASHI, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, notes that though God ordained that Pharaoh should act in the way in which he ultimately did, God was simply following Pharaoh’s own inclinations and predispositions. In other words, God knew that the Egyptian monarch would never acquiesce even when he and his courtiers were suffering. Thus, God did not manipulate the situation, rather God simply followed what would have transpired if Pharaoh would have made the determination on his own.
 
Clearly, this idea raises many theological issues. And regardless of how we address these challenges to human free-will, it is clear to me that there are crucial contemporary lessons to be gleaned from this Parashah. For example, how many times have we heard of leaders who have caused long-term or even irreparable damage to their own countries and citizens because of their hard-hearted stubbornness? And similarly, how many of us have become so entrenched in what we believe to be the “truth” or “the right way to do things” that we do not allow ourselves to reconsider and reimagine our ways and experiment with models that might better fit the needs of the hour? If we allow ourselves to be open-hearted and open-minded, rather than unyielding and hard-hearted, how much better might our outcomes – and our lives - be? 
 
This year, as we once again read the Torah Portion of Bo, let us be wise enough to not only hear its messages, but also brave and bold enough to integrate its teachings into our lives and the life of the communities in which we participate. In this way, we will be better prepared to face the future with creativity, innovation, and optimism. 

Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose
ravroseba@bnaiamoona.com
314-576-9990 x105

Shabbat Spotlight

Shabbat Candlelighting:

Friday, January 22 at 4:54 pm

Havdallah: Saturday, January 23 at 5:43 pm

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

USCJ Torah and Haftarah Commentary, TORAH SPARKS

JTS Torah Commentary Podcast

AJU Ziegler School Rabbinic Studies Weekly Torah Portion Commentary

Shabbat Schedule

A Note About Shabbat Audio:

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 at liessa@bnaiamoona.com. Todah Rabbah!

Friday, January 22
Friday Afternoon & Evening Services with Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Guller Chapel: 6:00 pm
via Zoom, Livestream and FB Live 
 

Saturday, January 23
Tefillah with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose, Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham and Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Main Sanctuary: 9:00 am

• Torah read by Mollie Nathanson

Torah For Today with Rabbi Neal Rose: Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion
Topic: Jeremiah: Prophet or Political Operative? : 11:00 am

• Torah read by Joel Dennis

via Zoom (only)

Shabbat Afternoon/Evening Services with Rabbi Neal Rose and Ellior Rose in the Guller Chapel: 4:00 pm

• Pirkei Avot study with Rabbi Neal Rose: What is a Tu B'Shevat Seder?

• Click HERE to download and print the Tu B'Shevat Seder Haggadah

*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 

Please click HERE for more details about Services this week.

In-Person Shabbat Service Registration

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