In his beautiful farewell poem of Haazinu, Moshe pleads for his words to be like dew and rain, tal umatar, like what we will be praying for in about a week. His analogy expressed his hope that beyond the immediate impact of his address, there would be the germination of future influence, just as rain and dew enhance the fertility of the soil for future produce.

Many words of inspiration were spoken over this momentous holiday: by our President Eli Weiss, Perry Parker and Executive Vice President Neil Wallin. May their words continue beyond Yom Kippur to galvanize our community to ever higher commitment and growth throughout this new year!

Congratulations to Jason and Haley Binn for the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Penny to be celebrated at the synagogue this weekend.

SUKKOT STARTS SUNDAY NIGHT!

Please: 

Reserve for dinners Sunday and Monday night

Order the Lulav and Etrog

Sunday office hours    9am-2pm

Tremendous thanks to Robert Blakeley and Vito Licari for directing the assembling of our sukkot. They were helped by Charles Jaskel, Jacopo Penzo, Scott Symon, Jonathan Parker and Gordon Wine

We are also working hard to build our profile on social media. Please take the opportunity to get a richer view of the fabric of our synagogue life!

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The last mitzvah in the Torah is “Hakhel” which means “Congregate”. It refers to every 7 years the people would gather in Jerusalem to hear the king read the book of Deuteronomy. But as opposed to the pilgrimage festivals where the obligation was primarily on the males to travel, here the verse specifies men, women and even small children. This is very appropriate for the Shabbat before Yom Kippur, the second most well attended occasion in the Jewish Calendar. It is a wonderful time when we see Jews of all stripes coming together in common cause of repentance and praying for a good new year.

This Shabbat is also known as Shabbat Shuva, the Sabbath of penitence or return, and is dedicated to emphasizing the preciousness of the days in between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. Everything we do, or don’t do, takes on such greater significance during this time period. May we merit to take advantage of this opportunity to accomplish what we need for us as individuals as well as the community.

Sunday we are assembling the Sukkah under the direction of Robert Blakeley and Vito Licari. Able bodied people are requested to join groups of 4 between the hours of 10am and 5pm.

Please renew your membership and/or reserve your seats ASAP!

We are also working hard to build our profile on social media. Please take the opportunity to get a richer view of the fabric of our synagogue life!

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In this 3^rd to last portion we introduce the concept of improper thoughts. One might have thought that one is only responsible for actions, but the verses say otherwise: and if a person blesses oneself in their heart and says all will be right with me (no matter how I behave) the Lord will not forgive.

Indeed, Maimonides in his codes states that “just like a person has to repent from evil deeds, one has to repent from evil thoughts”.

This does seem like a tall order, however, how does one control one’s thoughts?!

My approach would be that we’re not talking about random thoughts but those that grow out of holding on to a jaded perspective on life or people. If one is at peace with the world and life, one’s thoughts in general will emanate in a much gentler fashion than one who is angry or spiteful. So at this special time of year, before we get into the process of reforming our actions, let’s take a little time to develop a healthier take on where we find ourselves in this world. Everything else will follow naturally!

Please renew your membership and/or reserve your seats ASAP!

There will be office hours on Sunday from 9am to 2pm (but don’t wait until then!)

We are also working hard to build our profile on social media. Please take the opportunity to get a richer view of the fabric of our synagogue life!

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There is a short phrase in the portion from which is built a major concept in Jewish perspective: V’halachta B’Drachav-And you shall walk in His ways. Based on this, we have commandment # 611 which states in Hebrew: Ma Hu Af Ata-As He is so you must be. We must mimic the way God deals with His creations in mercy and compassion. Another parameter given by the Sefer HaChinuch is that a person should look for the golden mean in personality traits and not drift to the extremes. He goes on to explain that transgressing this commandment would be entailed by not endeavoring to refine one’s actions, conquer one’s negative inclinations or improving one’s thoughts.

It seems like a tall order but when you think you about it, aren’t we in fact created in the image of God?

With immense pride and happiness The TriBeCa Synagogue is thrilled to announce the engagement of our Past President Avi Turkel to Miranda Kern!

Saturday night begins the recitation of Selichot. We are delaying the evening service to 8:30pm so one can travel from home to attend the service that will be followed by Havdalah and then Selichot.

Once again our own Dr. Freema Gottlieb featured in the current edition of the Jewish Week!

https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/when-moses-was-left-behind/

We are OPEN for High Holiday and membership registration!

If you don't hear from us immediately please contact the office.

We are also working hard to build our profile on social media. Please take the opportunity to get a richer view of the fabric of our synagogue life!

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"And if you should happen upon a bird's nest..." Ben Azzai says that one should run for an easy mitzvah as much as for a hard mitzvah because one mitzvah drags along another mitzvah. One could says that Ben Azzai is talking about spiritual fitness almost like we talk about physical fitness. He suggests that even a mtizvah as easy as shooing away a bird from its nest in a symbolic act of mercy is enough to get the ball rolling in spiritual matters, much as when one tells someone out of shape to just start walking a little to start building up some type of stamina.

At the end of a long year many of us might find ourselves out of spiritual shape and yet we are expected to be ready for the awesome Day of Judgment a few weeks away. To that Ben Azzai says start small, you'd be amazed at the spiritual momentum you can create starting small, but committing to keep at it!

New in Adult Education!

Prepare for the Holidays-the next two Tuesdays at 6:30pm

We are OPEN for High Holiday and membership registration!

If you don't hear from us immediately please contact the office.

We are also working hard to build our profile on social media. Please take the opportunity to get a richer view of the fabric of our synagogue life!

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Our parsha seems to present us with a fairly straightforward choice between good and evil, blessing and curse, etc. The commentators insist, however, that this choice, and its consequences, are not as simple as it sounds. 

Specifically, no matter what choice a person makes there will always be a combination of blessing and curse in every life. The choice effects the degree of each and their relative significance. Additionally, even the choice itself is not always clear cut. John F. Kennedy is reputed to have stated that when becoming President he found the choice was rarely between good and bad but rather between not great and worse.

We pray for the guidance necessary to navigate these challenges we are guaranteed to face.

We are OPEN for High Holiday and membership registration!

If you don't hear from us immediately please contact the office.

We are also working hard to build our profile on social media. Please take the opportunity to get a richer view of the fabric of our synagogue life!

   & 

This week we have the famous challenge: And now Israel, what does God ask from you other than to fear Him. There is a lot of discussion regarding how large or small is the goal of fearing God but the Ohr HaChaim has a twist which resonates for the modern era.

He interprets "And now" as at this point in your life, meaning right now you are to work on Yirah (fear), but understand that you are capable of the next level, namely Ahavah (love). Thus we have a direct call for growth throughout one's life and never accepting stasis in spirituality.

Rabbi Glass conducting the wedding ceremony of new members Ariel Ratner and David Mishkin at Tribeca Rooftop this past Saturday night.

GOOD NEWS!

We are pleased to announce that the Trader Joe's Soho location @ 233 Spring Street began carrying Teva Glatt Kosher meats under the OU. In addition they also carry a full line of Empire Kosher poultry.

There are profound topics in this week's portion like the Shma and the 10 commandments but they are almost overshadowed by the events of the Jewish calendar and the cosmos.

Emerging from the depths of the last 3 weeks of tragedy, culminating with Tisha B'Av, we have the slow and lengthy process of consolation that begins with the Haftarah that says it all: Nachamu, nachamu Ami-Be consoled, be consoled my people. Indeed this Shabbat gets its name from this.

Today is also the profound, albeit not well known, occasion of Tu B'Av, the 15th of Av, when the decree of the sin of the spies was finally rescinded. But beyond that it became associated with the shiduch industry, as it was the calendar date that the prohibition against marrying out of one's tribe was rescinded. As such, this weekend has become a huge singles experience throughout the Jewish community.

Finally, and astronomically, we have the amazing phenomenon of the blood moon this evening which will be the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century. For a total of 1 hour 42 minutes and 57 seconds the moon will be completely blocked from the sun by the earth. Unfortunately this amazing scene will not be visible in this hemisphere.

The Talmud generally takes a dim view of lunar eclipses regarding their implication for the nation of Israel. But considering it's taking place on what it calls the second happiest day of the year, we are probably insulated. 

Congratulations to David Mishkin and Ariel Ratner for their wedding this Saturday night. They celebrated their aufruf at the synagogue this Thursday.

The launch of Societa Italiana della TriBeCa Synagogue

Thank you Victor Dabah and Ludovica Lumer!

Aufruf of David Mishkin

he first portion of Dvarim (Deuteronomy) is always read right before Tisha B'Av. Indeed, part of the Torah reading and almost the entire Haftarah is chanted like we chant Eicha (Lamentations). This Shabbat is named after the Haftarah which begins with the words Chazon Yishiyahu (the vision of Isaiah). This theme is even stronger considering that this Shabbat is actually the calendar date of the 9th of Av, albeit the fast, etc. is pushed off until the conclusion of Shabbat. Thus, the reality of Tisha B'Av intrudes on the holiness of the Sabbath as it does throughout the year in many other ways.

We complete the Book of Numbers this weekend with a double portion but tonight and tomorrow is Rosh Chodesh Av beginning the 9 days of intense mourning culminating with Tisha B'Av. Throughout this period we forgo wine and meat and bathing for pleasure.

The sign for Av is Aryeh/Lion and one could suggest that this refers to the fact that the Messiah is born on Tisha B'Av heralding our ultimate redemption. The Messiah is a descendant from the House of David from the tribe of Judah whose symbol is indeed a lion.

Tisha B'Av is observed Saturday night July 21st through Sunday evening July 22nd because we don't observe rabbinic fasts on Shabbat. At TriBeCa Synagogue we will provide a basic Seudah Shlishit 7/21 at 8pm with evening services to be held 9pmfollowed by Eicha (Lamentations).

Besides the drama of Pinchas and Zimri, etc. this week's portion is known for all the calendar events throughout the year. Parts of this portion are read constantly as the maftir during holidays and on Rosh Chodesh. 

The Talmud poses a question as to the most important verse in the Torah and while one suggestion is the Shma and another is Love your neighbor as yourself, the conclusion is a passage from our reading. Namely: and a lamb you will bring in the morning and a second in the afternoon. 

On the surface we scratch our heads trying to find the significance but the sages explain that what this verse emphasizes is RELIABILITY and constancy. These sacrifices were brought 7 days a week, 354 days a year without fail. As a matter of fact, one of the harbingers of the impending disasters of this time of year was "bitul haTamid", the cessation of this sacrifice.

In our own lives we should take this a call for our own consistency in practice. While we may not always be in a position to be effusive in our practice of Judaism, we must be reliable!

Even in summer time the minyan is dynamic

Robert Berger receives the gift of Techelet from his brother

Magnificent spread by Ken Rosenblum

This week's portion presents us a fascinating examination of the extent of free will. Balaam is told by God not to go with the representatives of Balak nor to participate in their nefarious proposal, but he doesn't take no for an answer! Instead he waits a day and asks again and it seems that God relents, at least in part. Still and all, upon beginning the journey Balaam is met by an Angel expressing God's wrath and warning, but doesn't stop him from continuing. As a result Balaam does what he really wants to do with disastrous results for himself and Balak. Based on this, the Talmud states "in the path a person wants to go, we 'escort' him". 

People often ask in the aftermath of horrible human behavior "how did God 'let' this happen". Such a question is appropriate in the aftermath of a natural disaster but the story of Balaam teaches us how far our responsibility goes for our own behavior. Free will is a precious gift for which we must be prepared to accept its consequences, both good and bad.

Sunday is the fast day of the 17th of Tamuz which is the calendar date of the sin of the golden calf but commemorates the breach in the wall around Jerusalem heralding the eventual destruction of the Temple and exile. It begins the 3 weeks of mourning culminating with the 9th of Av falling this year on July 22nd

Mazel Tov to Isaac Feldman and Janna Kaminsky for the birth of their daughter who will be named at the synagogue this Shabbat.

A year's journey is completed

Last day of TriBeCa Torah Hebrew School

A new journey begins!

Hebrew Reading for Beginners

This week we are confronted with the challenge of understanding why Moses was denied entry into the promised land. On the surface we read that since he hit the rock instead of speaking to it he was “punished” quite severely.

One way to diminish the harshness of the story is to focus on the symbolism of the staff versus the spoken word. The staff represents how Moses had to lead the generation leaving the slavery of Egypt while the spoken word represented how he was to deal with the new generation ready to enter the new land. These were 2 very different generations requiring very different leadership styles all symbolized by Moses being told to hit the rock to bring forth water 40 years earlier while now he is told to speak to the rock.

The fact that he was not able to manage the crisis with this new leadership style revealed that he could no longer maintain his effective authority and would have to yield to Joshua. Hence what we have is more of a revelation of a new reality as opposed to a punishment.

TriBeCa Synagogue acknowledges the following individuals whose enormous efforts created our spectacularly fun and exciting evening this past Tuesday:

Benefit Chairs - Isaac Fuhrmann & Rabbi Jonathan Glass

Dolores Wine, Alexander Glass, Toby Turkel, Allan Englander, Beth Lieberman and Debra Moezinia

Also helping were Gabe Lieberman, friend Shelley and Sam Kulok for the fabulous music

The great George Braithwite with his patented Double Sax!

Amazing children’s program with The Bubble Show and Mezuzah Project

Hebrew Reading For Beginners!

You can still join this Friday morning at 11:30am

Read Dr. Freema Gottlieb featured in the current edition of the Jewish Week!

One of the midrashim describing the debate between Korach and Moshe has them contending about the mitzvah of mezuza. Korach points to a house full of Torah and asks whether it needs a mezuza. When Moshe responds in the affirmative Korach and his minions laugh at the lack of logic: if all a house needs is a small parchment on the door post then certainly a house full of Torah fulfills the requirement!