D'var Torah From Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose
- Parashat Chukkat-
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a seraph figure and mount it on a standard. And if anyone who is bitten looks at it, he shall recover. So Moses made a copper serpent and mounted it on a standard. And when anyone was bitten by a serpent, he would look at the copper serpent and recover. (Numbers 21:8 & 9).
This week’s Parashah includes the above perplexing and enigmatic tale. I don’t know about you, but when I read it, I find it most difficult to understand how and why it makes its way into our holiest of texts. After all, it smacks of idol worship and fetishism – two concepts that are utterly foreign to the Judaism we know, practice, and admire.
And yet, our Biblical Commentators go to great lengths to make existential sense of every Torah tale and even this peculiar episode. The Sages seem to feel the need to make this obscure practice relevant not only to the period in which it supposedly transpired, but also to us and our contemporary realities.
As I read and reread the verses in question, I was struck by the peculiar language used by the Torah to describe “looking at the snake” – VeHebeet El HaNachash. RASHI, in his exegetical comments to the Book of Genesis, posits that the word Hebeet connotes a lowering of the eyes and a looking downward. However, in this case, the copper serpent was elevated on a pole. So why use a word that means to look down when the act was one of raising one’s eyes heavenward?
The answer, I think, lies in what the act of “lifting one’s eyes” actually means in this particular context. I believe it comes to tell us to elevate our thinking and consciousness. To look deeply and carefully at our innermost selves - the lowest aspects of ourselves - in order to examine the parts that we too often elevate, but actually lower and debase us. They are frequently the hidden elements and acts that we would rather see as altruistic and pure, but are actually performed exclusively for personal gain, benefit, and to feed our all-too fragile egos.
The enigmatic tale of this Parashah comes to remind us that sometimes we can be like sneaky snakes who speak with forked tongues and thus be directed away from the better angels of our God-given natures. In this way, the tale from Parashat Chukkat not only makes good sense in its own time, but becomes an aspirational teaching for all eras and generations. May we be wise enough to heed and integrate its precious and ennobling teaching, Amen!
With love and blessings for a Shabbat Shalom, Reb Carnie
*NEW PROGRAM THIS SHABBAT!*
Shabbat Morning Song Circle with Cantor Sharon Nathanson: 11:00 am
Join Cantor Sharon in front of Moses for a Shabbat Song Circle that is sure to bring peace, rhythm and beautiful melodies to your Shabbat. This program will meet in person, please register by clicking HERE.
Please note: This is in addition to registering for in-person Shabbat Morning Services.
Torah For Today with Rabbi Neal Rose: Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion,
The Defrocking of Aaron the High Priest: *11:30 am via Zoom (only)
Torah read by Jon Hoffman
*Please note the special time for Torah for Today
Shabbat Afternoon/Evening Services: Torah study with Rabbi Neal Rose, Minchah and Ma'ariv led by David Kantor in the Guller Chapel: 7:30 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
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.
Please join us this Friday for Afternoon/Evening Services at 6:00 pm for Masorti Shabbat. We will be joined virtually by American Jewish University's Distinguished Professor in Philosophy, Dr. Elliot Dorff who will speak about the importance of supporting Masorti Judaism in Israel.
About Dr. Rabbi Elliot Dorff:
Rabbi Dorff is Chair of the Conservative Movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards and served on the editorial committee of Etz Hayim, the new Torah commentary for the Conservative Movement. He has chaired four scholarly organizations: the Academy of Jewish Philosophy, the Jewish Law Association, the Society of Jewish Ethics, and the Academy of Judaic, Christian, and Islamic Studies. He was elected Honorary President of the Jewish Law Association for the term of 2012-2016. In Spring 1993, he served on the Ethics Committee of Hillary Rodham Clinton's Health Care Task Force. In March 1997 and May 1999, he testified on behalf of the Jewish tradition on the subjects of human cloning and stem cell research before the President's National Bioethics Advisory Commission. In 1999 and 2000 he was part of the Surgeon General’s commission to draft a Call to Action for Responsible Sexual Behavior; and from 2000 to 2002 he served on the National Human Resources Protections Advisory Commission, charged with reviewing and revising the federal guidelines for protecting human subjects in research projects. Rabbi Dorff is also a member of an advisory committee for the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History on the social, ethical, and religious implications of their exhibits. He is also a member of the Ethics Advisory Committee for the state of California on stem cell research.
He has been an officer of the FaithTrust Institute, a national organization that produces seminars and educational materials to help people avoid or extricate themselves from domestic violence. For eight years he was also been a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation Council of Los Angeles, chairing its committee on serving the vulnerable.
Shabbat Morning, June 19 at 9:00 am
We are proud to welcome to Amissa Blumenthal and James Wallace to the Bimah for a special Juneteenth reflection and presentation. Amissa and James are both B'nai Amoona members.
Amissa Blumenthal is active in our youth department and has served as one of our Madrachim during Religious School.
James Wallace is an active B'nai Amoona Minyanaire and has served as one of our beloved Shabbat Morning greeters.
We join with other Synagogues, places of worship, businesses and individuals to honor the ending of slavery in America while also realizing there is still work to be done to truly be a nation free of racism and discrimination. Below you will find resources to learn more about Juneteenth and the experiences of black Jews and Jews of color.
Todah Rabbah and Yasher Koach to our outgoing and incoming Executive Committee members. Their dedication and commitment to our Kehillah is invaluable and we are thrilled to honor them during Services this Shabbat morning.
Retiring Board of Trustees Member:
Stephen Cohen
Jay Meyer
Susan Mlynarczyk
Gary Myers
Jim Rothberg
Sarah Stolker
Marcia Weis
Retiring Officer:
Joel Perlmutter
New Board of Trustees Members:
Brett Kalmes
Steven Rosenzweig
Michael Rubin
Michael Samis
Jillian Thomadsen
Renee Wasserman
Jeff Weis
Executive Committee:
Jeff Singer President
Judith Isaacs VP Membership
Missy Korenblat Hanin VP Development
Laura Goldmeier VP Programming
Jennifer Smith VP Admin/Communications
David Kantor VP Religious Affairs
Alan Fine Treasurer/President Elect
Avi Rosenzweig Secretary
Members at Large:
Gary Wolff
Beth Saltzman
Andy Mayer
Paul Gallant – Special Executive Committee Advisor
In Our Community
Our Hearts Go Out to the Family & Friends of...
Beverly Salasky; beloved mother and mother-in-law of Rebbetzin Lauren (Rabbi Jeffrey) Abraham. Beverly was the daughter of Shirley and Milton Zimmerman (Z"L); beloved wife of Jackson Salasky, sister of Cheryl (Paul) Rodbell and most proud of her title as mother of Lauren and grandmother of Benny, Henry and Joey Abraham.
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.
