This Shabbat, we welcome Abigail Brown to the Bimah for her Bat Mitzvah. Abby is the daughter of Jeremy and Kelli Brown and sister to Asher, Josh, Miriam, Sam and Aaron.
Shabbat Play @ BA: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Children of all ages are invited to join us for an afternoon of water play! Come and stay as long as you'd like - popsicles will be served at 4:00 pm.
Shabbat Afternoon/Evening Services with Rabbi Neal Rose and BelleAnne & Andy Curry in the Guller Chapel: 6:30 pm
Special D'var Torah From Rabbanit Carol Rose
- Shoftim-
Shabbat Shalom!
This week we would like to share a story that we believe ties in with our Torah reading and with the choices many of us face today. It's a tale that we first shared with R’Zalman (and other dear friends) around a Shabbat table, many years ago.
In fact, we acted it out!
Perhaps you’d like to try it at your own Shabbat dinner table?
The story opens: Once the was a Lithuanian itinerant preacher named R’Chaim. He was a man who told wonderful stories! In this particular tale, R'Chaim imagined himself journeying between Heaven and Hell. After his experience he returned to earth and felt compelled to travel from town to town to share this unique and insightful adventure.
He began his story by telling his audience that an angel took him on a journey to the gates of Hell, where he was surprised to find a lovely home with a delicious meal that seemed to be waiting for him to arrive. The dinning room was large, with rows of tables covered with delicious food, but the people around the tables all seemed sickly and very hungry. When R’Chaim looked closer he saw that each person had a silver spoon, but that each had their arms splinted with wooden slats so they couldn’t bend their arms at the elbow to bring the food to their hungry mouths.
Then R’Chaim's angel quickly took him to Heaven where, to his surprise, he saw the exact same scene, except in contrast, the people at these heavenly tables (who also had their arms in splints) were singing and chatting and enjoying a delicious meal. How was this possible R’Chaim wondered - and then he looked carefully and he saw that each soul in Heaven was feeding another, one who sat directly across from them at the table. And the one across the table was feeding his or her table partner in return!
R'Chaim wanted the angel to bring him back to Hell, immediately, so that he could share this marvelous solution! He ran into Hell’s lovely dinning room shouting “the secret is to take your spoon & feed your neighbor... then your neighbor will feed you in return… there is no reason for anyone to suffer.”
Sadly, he heard the people respond “why should I feed those sitting across the table - we don’t agree on anything!" It was then that R'Chaim understood. Heaven and Hell offered the same possibilities. The only difference is in the choices that we make.
As this week's Torah portion says, "See today, (truly see) I place before you a blessing and curse.”
How much do we want to stick to our own positions rather than reaching across the table to feed each other? Will we continue to live in our own private Hells, or will we extend a hand, wear a mask, support an ecological cause? Will we, as our visionary storyteller hoped, choose to transform Hell into Heaven?
I hope that this little tale, and its lesson, will aid us in our ability to make good and nuturing choices for ourselves and for others. May we share a Shabbat full of blessings and peace.
-Rabbanit Carol Rose
Additional Torah Commentary Resources
Please click the links below for this week's Torah and Haftarah commentary
Our staff and Klei Kodesh continually work with our Doctors of B’nai Amoona (DOBA) Committee to make sure our High Holy Day offerings are not only moving and meaningful, but also safe for all.
It is with this in mind, that our Board of Trustees has voted to only allow vaccinated members and guests to gather in person this year. In addition to showing a vaccination card, we are also requiring adults and children ages 2 and older to wear a face mask.
Vaccinated individuals ages 12 and older will be permitted inside the building for Adult High Holy Day Services with a vaccination card. Children under 12 years old and their vaccinated family members are invited to join us for our Outdoor Services (anyone 12 and older will be required to show their vaccination cards). Unvaccinated individuals are invited to join us via live streaming for our Main Services.
At this time, these protocols only apply to our High Holy Day Services.
Please keep in mind, medical findings change daily and guide the recommendations offered by our DOBA Committee, the CDC and our local and state Health Departments. We take these recommendations very seriously and our High Holy Day schedule may change at any time. Please feel free to contact Anita Kraus with any questions at 314-576-3688 or anita@bnaiamoona.com.
As always, thank you for you understanding and cooperation.
This year's High Holy Day "Big Read" book is The Beauty of What Remains by Rabbi Steve Leder and will serve as the creative fodder for many of our sermons and classes. Please contact amy@bnaiamoona.com to order your copy. Cash or check can be made out to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund for $18.00 please. We look forward to hearing your reactions to this meaningful chronicle. Hurry - only a few are left!
Todah Rabbah To The Jewish Federation of St. Louis
Our Shul Doors Have Opened: Shabbat, Minyan & Weekday Program
Health & Wellness Update
Our Shul doors have opened! We are thrilled to invite you to pray, learn and grow with us B'yachad, together, during in-person Services. Registration for Services will no longer be required - simply come as you are.
Our face mask and social distancing protocols will remain in effect for the health and safety of our Kehillah. Click HERE for more information.
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.
