Below you will find a statement from the Rabbinical Assembly regarding the violent attacks against the Asian-American community that took place in Atlanta, GA on March 16. Our Congregation wholeheartedly supports this statement and condemns the racism and scapegoatism being experienced by the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities.
From the Rabbinical Assembly:
On March 16, an armed gunman killed eight people at multiple massage parlors and spas around Atlanta. While the motive is not fully clear, it is likely the suspect targeted women of Asian descent in a mass shooting spree.
According to police department crime data, hate crimes directed at the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community have increased 150% in major U.S. cities. And since last March, there have been 3,800 reported incidents of hate crimes targeting Asian-Americans nationwide, many directed at Asian-American elders.
These horrific attacks are not isolated incidents. They flow from the same toxic pool of xenophobia, racism, and white supremacy that led to the hate-fueled murders in Charlottesville, Charleston, Pittsburgh, El Paso, and too many other communities.
The wrongful scapegoating of Asian-Americans during the pandemic has caused deep pain and anxiety among Asian-American communities, which includes Jewish Asian-Americans. We call on our leaders and members to speak out against all these forms of prejudice and provide shelter and resources for anyone threatened by hate and violence.
As we are taught in Leviticus 19:16, lo ta'amod al dam re'eikha, do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all members of the AAPI community, their families, friends, and loved ones. May the memories of those who were killed be a blessing, as we work together to end racism, hate, and violence.
A Message from our BA Klei Kodesh:
In light of the recent events targeting the Asian-American Community, we join together with all peace-loving people in prayer:
Good and gracious God,
Who loves and delights in all people,
We stand in awe before You,
Knowing that the spark of life within each person on earth is the spark of your divine life.
Differences among cultures and races are multicolored manifestations of Your Light.
May our hearts and minds be open to celebrate similarities and differences among our sisters and brothers.
We place our hopes for racial harmony in our committed action and in Your Presence in our Neighbor.
May all peoples live in Peace.
Amen.
D'var Torah From Rabbi Neal Rose
-Vayikra-
Why Elijah and not Moses
Much has been written about why Moses is not mentioned in the Passover Haggadah. My question is, if Moses is absent from the Seder how did Elijah (who never lived in Egypt) become synonymous with the Passover celebration? The short answer is that Moses died but Elijah, as the Torah tells us, never died.
Rather, he returns regularly to visit those in need and, of course, he comes in a disguise! It is only after he has accomplished his mission that people realize that they were visited by none other than Elijah the Prophet.
The mythic history of Elijah begins in the book of Kings where he is depicted as a "a second Moses." His life is lived as a spokesman for the one true God, the God of Israel. Elijah battles with those in power, especially with those who have encouraged the people of Israel to abandon their God.
We last hear about the prophet Elijah when he is about to leave this world and enter into other realms of existence. The text describes him as ascending in a fiery chariot. Thus the notion arose that he never died.
Jewish folklore has built a treasure house of stories around Elijah’s return to this world. In fact, he ultimately becomes "the voice crying in the wilderness" – the voice that calls out to us to announce the arrival of the Messiah.
Modern-day scholars and writers, such as Howard Schwartz and Peninnah Schram, have made many of these mythic tales available to the English reader. Many of those tales begin with an ethereal guest, an unknown stranger, or a wanderer knocking at the door of people who will ultimately be blessed by Elijah’s presence.
In my personal mythology Elijah has become the force within that alerts me to the new and potentially wonderful things that can unfold in my life.
In short, for me he has taken on the role of my Rebbe, or my spiritual master; the one who summons me to open doors to the future.
Sometimes the knock comes when I am confused, sometimes when I am totally oblivious, and at other times when I am spiritually asleep. In all honesty, responding to Elijah’s invitation has brought some pain and it has required substantial changes in some of my thinking and even in some of my actions. To extend my metaphor, Elijah sometimes "knocks me on my head” and calls me to attend.
Our family continues the tradition of carrying a candle to the front door of our home in order to welcome the itinerant prophet, and to greet him with the following words: Welcome Rebbe, Shalom my Teacher. In this way Passover has become a model for being attentive to the present, and to moments in the future when Elijah will inevitably return and awaken us to the new doors that we need to enter as we travel through life.
As Carol envisions him (in the poem below) Elijah has become "the call of the prophet who lives among us...” sometimes it's our neighbor, sometimes a friend, and sometimes it’s a stranger we encounter along the way.
Regardless of the image you hold, may you and yours meet Elijah the Prophet as you journey through the coming year.
i can't wait to get back to canada to tell joan
elinor di to tell neal that i met elijah
driving his chariot on the bethlehem road
i can't wait to tell them how he took me
in the heat of july his cab weaving
through date palms & cypress
light spinning wheels turning
as we sped through the streets of jerusalem
how we talked about war & his children & mine
how he turned off the road my heart pounding
as he pointed to an inscription on the doorway
of an old arab house how he read me the message
"allah lives here, in these gates you will find god"
how he prayed for an end to the killing
in arabic/hebrew how we prayed together
in that dark narrow lane
how we turned the air golden
Shabbat Spotlight
Shabbat Candlelighting:
Friday, March 19 at 6:54 pm
Havdallah: Saturday, March 20 at 7:42 pm
Please click the links below for this week's Torah and Haftarah commentary
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, March 19
Friday Afternoon & Evening Services with Joel Pearlmutter in the Guller Chapel: 6:00 pm via Zoom,Livestreamand FB Live
Saturday, March 20 - Men's Club Shabbat Tefillah with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose, Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham and Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Main Sanctuary: 9:00 am
Torah read by Kevin Litt
Haftarah chanted by David Hoffman
Men's Club is proud to honor this year's Man of the Year - Mark Givarz, Youth of the Year - Leetal Cohn, Madeleine Ryan - Medallion Award Recipient, and Charlie Rosenzweig - Medallion Award Recipient during Shabbat Services.
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
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201
Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201 This Zoom link is for all morning Minyan Services
Virtual Evening Minyan
Sunday - Thursday Evening Minyan will take place virtually at 6:15 pm
via Zoom,Livestream and FB Live
Zoom Link:https://zoom.us/j/97924715014
Meeting ID:979 2471 5014 This Zoom link is for all evening Minyan Services
Congregation B'nai Amoona's
"Lehrhaus" - Adult Education Institute
Please click the button below for a list of our Adult Education Opportunities including class schedule, descriptions, registration information, and Zoom links.
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!
Pesach 5781
Please click the image below to visit our main Pesach webpage. There you will find our Passover Schedule as well as information regarding our virtual Seders, virtual and in-person Passover events, and many other resources and details.
In Our Community
MAZEL TOV TO...
Jill Kranzberg and Joel & Diane Warren on the birth of their grandson, Malcom Warren. Proud parents are Blair & Simon Warren.
Diane & Paul Gallant on the birth of their great-grandson, Bennett Robert Gallant. Proud parents are Richie & Jamie Gallant.
As more people receive the Covid-19 vaccine, we encourage you to download and print the prayers below. We recommend you say them when you receive your vaccination.
