D'var Torah From Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham
-Acharei Mot-Kedoshim-
When the Sages addressed in our double Torah portion of Acharei Mot-Kedoshim this week the classic Jewish commandment to “Love your fellow as yourself,” (Leviticus 19:18) they wondered: How is it possible to require that we can love others as much as we love ourselves? Rabbi Baruch Halevi Epstein (1860-1941), best known for his commentary on the Torah, “Torah Temimah: The Perfect Torah, and based on a teaching of Maimonides, says we are enjoined to treat our fellow human being with honor and respect. Maimonides writes, "Each man is commanded to love each and every one of Israel as himself as the verse states.”
In the Metsudah Chumash Rashi, by well-known Rabbi Avrohom Davis, the translation follows virtually every other Chumash I am familiar with, but it adds, like Maimonides, “You shall love your fellow [Jew] as yourself.” This begs the question: Does the Torah confine this “love” to just Jews or all of humankind? Out of “respect” for Rabbi Davis, this does merit thought and consideration.
The Sages in Pirkei Avot (2:13) write that, “The honor of your friend should be more dear to you than your own honor.” From here, Rabbi Epstein writes that while it might be difficult to love others more than ourselves, “It is possible [to fulfill this commandment], with regard to respect and honor, which are dependent upon emotions actualized through actions.” He adds that great Sages, even when they disagreed strongly about important issues, disregarded their differences with the respect they accorded one another. While the Houses of Hillel and Shammai engaged in vigorous debate, “Nonetheless, they interacted with each other with appreciation, friendship and honor.”
There has been much debate about what our Jewish communities will look like after the pandemic. What has impressed me the most is that even as intense debates have ensued about “hot topics,” most have done so in a respectful way and out of a deep sense of love for one another. When I ponder the rancor and animus emanating from Washington, I begin to shudder.
As Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan wrote a few years ago, “What we need most right now, at this moment, is a kind of patriotic grace-a-grace that takes the long view...That admits affection and respect. That encourages them. That acknowledges that the small things that divide us are not worthy of the moment; that agrees that the things that can be done to ease the stresses we feel as a nation should be encouraged, while those that encourage our cohesion as a nation should be supported.” I can only wish that the conditions that divide our nation were “small.”
What we need now, more than ever, is to “Love our neighbor” and afford him or her the honor, dignity and respect so sorely needed in our country today. Regardless of our disagreements, we are one large family, and we should ensure that we continue our interactions with constant respect.
This Shabbat we welcome Jordan Oiknine to the Bimah for his Bar Mitzvah. Jordan is the son of Rachel and Ralph Oiknine and the younger brother of Aidan and Liam. Jordan’s grandparents are Naomi and Norman Fishman & Armand (Z”L) and Yvette Oiknine. Jordan follows his older brothers, Aidan and Liam, in becoming a Bar Mitzvah at B’nai Amoona.
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, April 23
Friday Evening Services with Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Guller Chapel: 6:00 pm
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 Services and Minyanim
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 Services and Minyanim
Sunday - Thursday Evening Minyan will take place virtually at 6:15 pm
via Zoom,Livestream and FB Live
Next Friday, April 30, 2021, our Evening Services will take place virtually on BA Livestream and Facebook Live only (no Zoom). We will be honoring our Confirmation students and invite you to celebrate virtually along with them during 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 schedules, descriptions, registration information, and Zoom links. Please note our newest classes.
Registration for in-person Shabbat Morning Services is open to the congregation when there is NOT a Bar or Bat Mitzvah taking place. We are currently allowing up to 100 people in our Sanctuary and those spots are reserved initially for the families of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah. If we should have space available on a particular Shabbat morning, after confirming with the family, we will post that information via our website and registration will be available. Currently, we have B'nai Mitzvah scheduled each Shabbat morning through mid June. As always, we encourage everyone to join Services virtually on Facebook Live and Livestream.
In Our Community
WE MOURN THE LOSS OF...
Simeon Jacobs; dear father of Dr. Robert (Alana) Jacobs and Marc Jacobs; loving grandfather of Samara Jacobs. Dear father, grandfather and friend to many.
Nancy Goodman, beloved wife of Aaron Goodman. Funeral and Shivah information to be announced.
Jewish tradition teaches “Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh,” meaning that we are all
responsible for each other (B.Talmud Shevuot 39a).
Our B'nai Amoona Klei Kodesh is proud to join other local Jewish spiritual leaders in issuingTHIS STATEMENTin favor of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, continuing to wear a mask and practice social distancing as recommended by the CDC and other medical and other public health authorities.
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.
