Important Information About Upcoming Services:
Please take note of the following location and time changes.
Saturday Afternoon/Evening Services will take place in the Main Sanctuary and will be available in-person, BA Livestream, or Facebook Live only (no Zoom.)
Sunday Morning and Evening Minyan will take place in the Main Sanctuary.
Minyan times for Monday, May 30 will be 9:00 am and 4:00 pm in observance of Memorial Day. Both Services will take place in the Main Sanctuary.
D'var Torah From Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose
This Week's Torah Portion is
Bechukotai
Parashat Bechukotai 5782
This week, the world over, we will be reading and studying the Torah portion of Bechukotai, which is drawn from the Book of Leviticus. Our weekly Parashah opens with the words:
“If you follow My CHUKIM (statutes) and faithfully observe My MITZVOT (commandments), I will grant rain so that the earth shall yield its produce and the trees their fruit. I will grant peace and you shall sleep with no fear. I will cause vicious beasts to withdraw from the land and your enemies will fall before you”. (Leviticus 26: 3-6)
For those familiar with the Torah, the opening words of this particular section are a bit jarring. After all, we have become accustomed to the words “The Lord spoke to Moses saying…” as the introduction or preamble to the majority of our scriptural readings. And whenever we encounter unique scriptural language, syntax that is a little bit out of the ordinary it serves as an opportunity to take note, pause and reflect upon why this particular passage deviates from the standard.
This year, as I was reviewing the Parashah and its many commentaries, I came upon an insight attributed to the tradition of the school of the Rabbi of Ishbitz. He, along with many others, notes this somewhat unique opening, including the use of the word CHUKIM, comes to underscore the notion that this Torah portion deals with matters which are beyond the comprehension of humans. These are laws and statutes do not fall into the category of “logical”, but rather are transcendent and incomprehensible if we utilize standard categories. We adhere to these statutes as a matter of faith rather than reason. We suspend the use of the rational, logical mind in order to experience something profound and spiritually elevating and uplifting. We apprehend and put into practice these laws not because they appeal to the faculties of the mind, the brain, but rather because they stimulate the heart space, the locus of our EMUNAH, faith.
As post-moderns, this kind of “blind faith” does not come easily. In so many ways, it runs contrary to the manner in which we live our lives. We want our religious-spiritual life to not only be meaningful, but also fit neatly into the categories of the rational and logical. The teaching of the Ishbitzer Rebbe, seems totally incongruous with the kind of religion with which many resonate.
So, is the Rebbe’s teaching simply anachronistic? Is it impossible to allow for it to inform our contemporary lives? I think not!
A number of years ago, I was introduced to the writings of the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur. In his reflections, he posits three stages of faith: the pre-critical stage, the critical stage and finally, the post critical moment. Ricoeur suggests that as we mature in our faith, we begin by accepting religion as we are taught in childhood. At a certain point, we are exposed to the scientific and historical-critical methodology which destroys our overly simplified understandings of religion and faith. And finally, at a final stage, one that is far more sophisticated than either stage I or stage II, we return to belief but not from a place of pediatric naïveté, but rather as a matter of choosing to suspend our disbelief in order to allow for the flowering of faith. This we call Second (or Conscious) Naiveté and it can serve a profound role in our lives if we are honest and brave enough to appreciate its utility, profundity and power.
And in this light, I believe we can all appreciate the comments of the Ishbitzer. There are moments in our lives when it is beneficial to act in ways not consistent with logic or rationality. These are moments of religious inspiration and ecstasy. Moments when we are moved by the Spirit of the Numinous that though we wish we could explain in standard categories, is not possible to do and yet are profoundly meaningful and moving.
It is my hope that as we read this section of our Sacred Writ that each of us can allow, from time to time, Second Naïveté to take over and transport us to ever higher heights and even deeper depths.
With blessings for a Shabbat filled with meaning, consequence and spiritual transcendence!
Danielle and Eli Zigron are twins. They are the children of Faye and Yaniv Zigron and grandchildren of Gabriella “Gabi” Zigron, Av Shalom Zigron, Joe Reinstein, Barbara Reinstein,
and Lisa Reinstein. Danielle and Eli are following in their uncle Dave Roth's footsteps as he also had had his Bar Mitzvah at B’nai Amoona.
To read more about Danielle, please click HERE.
To read more about Eli, please click HERE.
Candlelighting: Friday, May 27 at 7:58 pm
Havdalah, Saturday, May 28 at 8:47 pm
Friday, May 27
6:00 pm: Friday Evening Services with Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Guller Chapel
Shabbat, May 28
9:00 am: Tefillah with Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose and Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Main Sanctuary
Bar Mitzvah of Ari Bernstein
We will honor our Men's Club Man of the Year, Fred Blumenthal, and the Youth of the year, Ellior Rose. We will also announce and honor our Medallion Award recipients.
Saturday, June 4, 2022 - Erev Shavuot
7:00 – 7:45 pm: Shabbat Minchah
7:45 – 8:45 pm: Seudah Shlishit & Special Study Session
8:45 pm: Ma’ariv & Transition to Shavuot
8:53 pm: Candle Lighting
9:00–10:30 pm: Tikkun Leyl Shavuot
Candle lighting & Kiddush along with music & singing by Cantor Sharon Nathanson, BelleAnne Curry, & Andy Curry followed by an evening of learning together. Rabbi Neal Rose will facilitate a reenactment of the receiving of the Ten Commandments.
Sunday, June 5, 2022 - Shavuot Day 1
9:00 am: Shavuot 1 Services
On this day, we will honor our dedicated Teen Yad Squad Members
Kiddush following Services
10:00 am: “Sweet Shavuot Spectacular” Family Service
Families with Preschool and Elementary school aged children are invited to our Sweet Shavuot Spectacular taking place on Sunday, June 5 from 10:00 - 11:00 am. The morning will include interactive Shavuot activities and a delicious kid-friendly Kiddush with an ice cream sundae bar.
Please remember to bring a cereal box to help us construct "Mount Sinai." Cereal boxes will be donated to the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry following Shavuot.
Monday, June 6, 2022 - Shavuot Day 2
9:00 am: Shavuot 2 Services
10:45 am: (approximately): Yizkor
8:00 pm: Minchah for Shavuot, Ma'ariv & Havdalah as we end the Festival of Shavuot
8:54 pm: Shavuot Ends
Amanda and Zac Pollack on the birth of their son, Ezzy Jay Pollack Ezzy is the grandson of Faith and Corey Berger and sister to Ava Georgie Pollack.
Yoram Hanin and Missy Korenblat-Hanin and Aaron and Mona Crohn on the birth of their granddaughter, Juliet Rose Hanin. Proud parents are Jacob and Paulette Hanin. Great-grandparents are Paula (Z”L) and Siegbert (Z”L) Crohn, Nancy and Jack (Z”L) Held, Arleen and Phillip Korenblat, and Esther Hanin (Z”L) and Yaakov Hanin (Z”L).
Fred Blumenthal for being honored this Shabbat as the Men's Club Man of the Year.
Ellior Rose for being honored this Shabbat as the Men's Club Youth of the Year. Ellior also received Whitfield's Outstanding Senior of the Year Award which is given in memory of Peter Maack Ellis, Whitfield Class of 1971. It is awarded to a senior who has been an outstanding school citizen, distinguishing himself/herself by leadership in extracurricular activities and involvement as a significant contributor to the St. Louis community.
WE MOURN THE LOSS OF...
B'nai Amoona mourns the loss of the nineteen schoolchildren and two adults murdered this week at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX. May the memories of the victims be a source of comfort and blessing to their families, friends, and community.
Jordan Cohen; beloved husband of Bernice Cohen, cousin of Beverly Stuhlman, father of James Cohen (Z”L), Linda Cohen (Z”L) (David) Kliethermes.
Important Information About Upcoming Minyan Services:
Please take note of the following location and time changes.
Sunday Morning and Evening Minyan will take place in the Main Sanctuary.
Minyan times for Monday, May 30 will be 9:00 am and 4:00 pm in observance of Memorial Day. Both Services will take place in the Main Sanctuary.
Regular Morning Minyanim
Sunday Morning Minyan: 9:00 am
Monday Morning Minyan: 9:00 am
Tuesday - Friday Morning Minyan: 7:00 am
In-Person, Zoom, and Livestream
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201
Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201 This Zoom link is for all morning Minyan Services
Regular Evening Minyanim
Sunday Evening Minyan: 6:15 pm
Monday Evening Minyan: 4:00 pm
Tuesday - Thursday Evening Minyan: 6:15 pm
In Person, Zoom, and Livestream,
Zoom Link:https://zoom.us/j/97924715014
Meeting ID: 979 2471 5014 This Zoom link is for all evening Minyan Services
