Special Note Regarding Services:
Beginning this Sunday evening, October 24th, there will be no Minchah Service, only Ma'ariv. Minchah Yahrzeit names will be called at Ma'ariv.
This Week's Torah Portion is
Vayera
D'var Torah From Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham
This week’s portion, Vayera, ends with the Akedah (“the binding”), one of the most difficult and challenging narratives in the entire Bible. Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. God decides to put Abraham to the test and tells Abraham to take his son, his only son, whom he dearly loves, and give him as an offering on a mountain, that is known as Mount Moriah. That mountain eventually became the holy place where the Temple was built.
The drama emphasizes the closeness of father and son, as well as the zeal of Abraham to carry out God’s command. Twice it says, “The two of them walked together.” You know the story. Arriving on the mountain, Abraham binds his son, but an angel puts a stop to the sacrifice. Abraham sees a ram to sacrifice instead of his son. Seemingly, Abraham has passed the test. This is already problematic. The father and son should have walked down the mountain together as they walked up together. But the Torah says that Abraham walked down alone. Where was Isaac? This is a great mystery. Perhaps the story is telling us that there is
estrangement between father and son, as the Kotzker Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel, 1767- 1859) notes: “Abraham realized that Isaac would forever remember that his father had almost killed him.”
Jewish tradition teaches that this was the great act of faith. Abraham had passed the test. He was willing to go so far as to sacrifice his beloved son to obey God’s command. Obedience to God is the ultimate value. This is the reason we Jews read the story not only this week but on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. This is a story about faith, a faith in God so deep that Abraham could set aside his ethical scruples.
I always struggle with the question: Did Abraham truly do the correct thing? Perhaps the fact that Abraham walks down the mountain alone, never to encounter his son again until he dies, is a hint that there was something amiss.
Perhaps Abraham failed the test. Perhaps Judaism is about wanting us to fight for what we believe is right, even if it goes against what God states God wants. The true lessons of the Akedah are that faith in God is important and doing the right thing is important. Our job is to find the “perfect balance.” This has continued to be a robust topic since the day it happened.
This Shabbat, we welcome Gabriella "Gabie" Klaven to the Bimah for her Bat Mitzvah. Gabie is the daughter of Jeremy and Sarah Klaven, sister of Hailie and Zachari. Grandparents are Joel & Debra Spigel, Scott & Soozi (Z”L) Waxman, and Donald & Sandra Klaven. Gabie follows her mother, Sarah Klaven, in becoming a Bat Mitzvah at B’nai Amoona.
Special Torah for Today - BA Israel Mission with Danny Ehrlich: Saturday, October 30 from 10:00 - 11:30 am in the Guller Chapel In-Person, Livestream, FB Live,Kosher Zoom (Password: Shabbat). Our Israel mission coordinator and tour guide, Danny Ehrlich will be here to present information and answer your questions about our upcoming trip to Israel. All who are joining us in Israel are highly encouraged to attend.
Trip Dates: October 24 - November 2, 2022
14th Annual Eleonore, Dr. Herman & Daniel Blumenthal Memorial Concert performed by BA member, Fred Blumenthal: Sunday, November 7 at 2:00 pm
This concert is free to attend with a suggested donation of $18. Donations made during the concert benefit BA Mitzvah Circle (formally the Social Action Committee)
Pink Out at the J: Sunday, October 24, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Join Sharsheret Supports STL as we culminate Breast Cancer Awareness Month with an outdoor morning of exercise, education and wellness, including a two-hour Zumbathon, a free Boot Camp Lite session, Cycle and T'ai Chi!
Mazel Tov to Ellior Rose on winning the Class 1 singles championship — the first state tennis championship in school history. Ellior was named as one of this week's Athletes of the Week by the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the Shnucks's Athlete of the week as well. To read more about Ellior's recent tennis accomplishments, place click HERE. Ellior is the daughter of Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose &Rebbetzin Paulie Rose, and the sister to Noa, ZakaiandLevi. Proud grandparents are Rabbi Neal Rose & Rabbanit Carol Rose and Richard & Dianne Zimnavoda.
WE MOURN THE PASSING OF...
Sharon F. Bitterfield, beloved wife of the Ivan ‘Irv’ Bitterfield (Z"L). Wonderful mother of Debra (Glen) Gelber, Stacey (Don) Wyatt and Andrew (Bridget) Bitterfield. Loving grandmother of Casey Wyatt and Samantha and Jacob Bitterfield. Beloved sister and sister-in-law of the late Herbert (Rhea) Silk. Dear daughter of the late Sam and Adele Silk. Dear aunt, cousin and friend to so many.
Sheldon Samuel Weinhaus; cherished husband of Evonne Weinhaus, father of his beloved children David Weinhaus (Deborah), Edward Weinhaus, and Rachel Yarkoni (Yaacov). His absolute joys were his ten grandchildren: Ethan, Max, Noa, Manny, Louie, Solomon, Sadie, Ernie, Gabriel and Benjamin.
Robert W. "Bob" Lueg; loving husband of Nancy Lueg who preceded him in death and Jacqueline Lueg (nee Kauffman); father of Kit Lueg, Jennifer (Jeff) Wales, and Betsy Lueg; bonus children Lisa (Jason) Massey and Courtney Davis; grandfather of Sarah and Jackson Lueg; and bonus grandchildren Cameron Davis, and Ian and Sam Massey.
Cynthia Marilyn Tober; widow of Irwin Tober (Z"L); daughter of Albert and Frances Seigel; devoted mother of James (Patricia) Tober, Laurie (Isaac) Kielmovitch and Angela (Kevin) Rattigan; sister of Joel Seigel (Z"L); grandmother of Connor Rattigan, Valerie Mandel, Alicia Kielmovitch and Elizabeth Degree; loving great-grandmother of Joshua Mandel and Josephine Degree. Our dear mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend to many.
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.
Grants from the St. Louis Jewish Federation have helped Congregation B'nai Amoona in a wide variety of ways. In 2020-21, we received grant funding for the Chesed Fund, support from the Staenberg Family Foundation for both our Seder and necessary technology, support for older adults, closed captioning from the Joslin Fund, and COVID assistance including technology, two food investments, and additional Chesed Funds. We are deeply appreciative of the support and necessary assistance these Grants provided. Todah Rabbah!
Congregation B’nai Amoona
324 South Mason Rd
St. Louis, MO 63141
