WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

In the Midrash Tanchuma it describes Moses' reluctance for leadership. 3 times the Torah uses the term Vayikra, and He called, which is the first word of this week's portion. At the burning bush, when confronting Pharaoh and now, upon the completion of the Tabernacle (Mishkan). In each case Moses argued against his assuming the great mantle of leadership especially after he had already brought the Israelites out of Egypt, saw the Manna, the quail, the well and now the completion of the Tabernacle. What else could he be needed for, he argued?

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Parshat Ki Tisa includes one of the more deflating episodes of the entire Torah. A scant 40 days from the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai at least a portion of the Israelites became involved in an activity that bordered of Avodah Zara (idol worship) with the golden calf. There were mitigating factors but the idea that speaks to our present time is the factor of panic and confusion. The people miscalculated the time of Moses' return and were terrified at the prospect of his never returning. They felt completely bereft and adrift in the middle of an inhospitable desert and were desperate. 

Our sages say that the Yetzer Harah (evil inclination) is most effective at times of panic and confusion and was thus able to get the best of an otherwise holy nation. In this time of fear and concern about our health and the future we pray for the wisdom to make good decisions even in a time of crisis.

Fittingly, this is the 3rd of the special readings called Parshat Para regarding the red heifer that was processed into a potion that purified a person who came into contact with the dead. The midrash connects the 2 by explaining that on some level this process served as atonement for the sin of the golden calf.

This weekend the Rabbi is away and in light of other multiple absences our in-person services will be on hiatus for this Shabbat. Additionally, our virtual "Greet Shabbat" will now be presented Fridays at 5pm. Havdalah/Kumzitiz is also on a one week hiatus.

Passover on the Horizon:

A bulletin will be forthcoming detailing the ins and outs of Passover observance at the synagogue both virtually and in person. We expect to hold a community in-person seder the second night of Passover, March 28, on the plaza, weather permitting. The first seder will be a special challenge as it takes place on Saturday night March 27.

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With Parshat Terumah we have the first of a 5 week series of parshiyot devoted almost exclusively to the Tabernacle (משכן) and all its details. With all this focus it would seem to indicate that its creation was indeed the culmination of Jewish history, and maybe even human history. But like most everything in Torah there is a dichotomy of opinion regarding its significance. 

One opinion has it as it is situated, coming right on the heels of Mount Sinai, and a fitting coda to the Torah being given "right before". But another opinion has it that the Tabernacle was really instructed in the aftermath of the sin of the golden calf. That actually, the Israelites were supposed to be on such a holy plane that their very encampment would function as God's dwelling place, making a specially designated area for such unnecessary. What a statement for the potential of human holiness!

Ultimately we enjoy neither, with the possible exception of our synagogues, which are termed mini sanctuaries (מקדש מעט). May we be fortunate to re enter as a community speedily in our days (במהרה בימנו).

This Shabbat is the second of the 4 special readings leading up to Passover and which is called Zachor. It references the nation of Amalek and its disgraceful conduct and is a harbinger of Purim as Haman was a descendant of Agag, the king of Amalek.

Please reserve for an indoor Megillah reading Thursday, February 25 at 6pm. 

Purim Prep begins TONIGHT at 7pm with the Portion of the Week class focusing mainly on the holiday.

In person and virtual activity this past week at TriBeCa Synagogue:

Naming of the daughter of Josh and Laurel Dugan in our sanctuary

Greet Shabbat welcomed Deborah Gutierrez 

Performing her latest piece

Pay no attention to the man behind the screen!

Havdalah Kumzitz welcome Yehoshua Winter

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In Parshat Yitro we have the momentous events of Mount Sinai, but they are preceded by a scenario in which Jethro, Moses' father in law, is presented in greater depth. And if we remember what directly precedes this, in the previous portion, we have the attack of Amalek. And all of this is against the backdrop of the midrash describing the nations quaking in their boots in the aftermath of the splitting of the Red Sea. 

Rabbi Munk, in The Call of the Torah, notes this as a paradigm of the often contradictory way that the nations of the world react to the children of Israel, and Judaism in general. On the one hand we have Amalek who attempted to eradicate the Israelites alongside other nations who were terrified of them. Finally, you had Jethro, who so admired them that he rejected all his previous belief systems and adopted the Torah. 

It is often confounding to hear great figures in the world and in history praise the Jews to no end while knowing how much vile anti-Semitism there is and has been. Why all the hullabaloo about a tiny nation which for the lion's share of history has had no sovereignty or power? These passages of last week's and this week's portions reveal this template that has been in existence since ancient times. Crazy as it sounds, it's possible to explain this phenomenon as a combination of all three emotions: fear and admiration creating hate in some instances.

We pray for the era of understanding of the Almighty wherein the admiration will increase to the point of triumph over fear and hate. As the prophet declares: כי מלאה הארץ דעה את השם

"the land will be filled with the knowledge of the Almighty''.

TriBeCa Synagogue has now fully reopened the office and service schedule.

This Shabbat we bless the new month of Adar; Rosh Chodesh will be next Friday and Saturday. The Molad,  or Mean Conjunction, will be next Friday at 6:19am with 4 Chalakim.

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The first scenario of Parshat Bo is the plague of locusts, which seems to really break Pharaoh, and he starts negotiating with Moses the terms of an excursion of the Israelites into the desert to offer sacrifices. "Who will be going" asks Pharaoh and Moses responds "our children, etc." which ends up being the deal breaker. Pharaoh only allows the גברים (adults) and so the saga continued without resolution.

What was really behind this exchange?

Pharaoh knew, like many after him, that the secret to Jewish continuity was, and always will be, the preparation of the younger generation. If he had any hope of maintaining control over the Israelites, he had to neutralize their efforts at creating identity in their children. Moses understood this as well, as we see he lists the children before any other sector of the population. So this strategy for national survival is indeed quite ancient, and has withstood the test of time!

The OU and RCA have designated today, the 8th of Shvat-21st of January as a Day of Prayer in light of the continuing struggle against this difficult virus. Of course they emphasize the importance of action to accompany prayer by maintaining established protocols and seeking vaccination. 

For this day they recommend the recitation of the following chapters of Psalms תהילים 

13, 20, 121, 130 and 142.

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The momentous second Book of Moses, and the similarly named portion of the week, Shemot, actually begins with the letter Vav, which means "and". So it's not "These are the names" but rather "AND these are the names" of the children of Israel. In my Hebrew Reading Classes I explain the richness of the Hebrew language deriving meaning even from the individual letters such as the Vav, which is called Vav HaChibur, which literally means "the hook that connects". And that is because when you add "and" to a word, you are by definition connecting it to what immediately precedes it. 

What are we connecting to the Book of Exodus; what directly precedes it? 

The Book of Genesis concludes with a genealogy of the various families that comprised the tribes at the time of Jacob's passing while the Book of Exodus details the process by which the tribes became a unified nation. By connecting the two, the Torah is telling us that the family structure doesn't get absorbed into the nation to the point where it loses its independent significance. And for that matter neither does the significance of the individual, which was also so important in our formation as a nation. As Jews, we can achieve greatness on all these levels.

The TriBeCa Synagogue expresses our deep appreciation to all those who responded to our end of year appeal. We look forward to a great 2021 with renewed commitment and resources to serving our community to our utmost capacity.

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In Vayigash we have the epic confrontation between Joseph and Judah challenging each other regarding the fate of their younger brother Benjamin. Our sages say that this confrontation and eventual rapprochement had cosmic and historic significance way beyond the immediate drama. Joseph represented what would eventually be known as the Northern Kingdom and Judah's descendants became the Southern Kingdom. There were centuries of strife between them.

However, we read in the Haftarah this week from Ezekiel, prophesying the future reuniting of these two entities as a precursor to the advent of the Messiah. Just as Joseph reconciled with his brothers, let us resolve our internecine differences and do our part to herald that great new era!

Tomorrow is the Fast Day of the 10th of Tevet which commemorates the completion of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. It is the only fast day observed on a Friday because of the phrase "on that very day" which isn't stated regarding any of the other tragedies. Additionally, it is considered the most severe as everything that followed was just a fait accompli.

The TriBeCa Synagogue congratulates Nanette Nesbitt for joining the Jewish Faith this past Monday.

More from Chanukah

Brookdale opened its doors for the first time!

Sunday Night Shmooze by Harvey Herbert

Almost finished in Dumbo!

With our treasurer Robert Moezinia

For years we presented a Bnei Mitzvah present of a book by Rabbi Norbert Weinberg at the occasion of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. I often wondered who this person was and in this week's communique from the RCA he was the featured speaker regarding the parsha, from Efrat, Israel.

He observed in our portion of Vayishlach two things regarding the struggle that Jacob had with the mysterious being that confronted him at night. Jacob was injured, but in the aftermath of the dustup he was given the more elegant name of Israel. He notes that both later in the Torah and throughout our history this seems to be a pattern. Our nation is profoundly challenged, often resulting in serious damage, but we emerge on a higher plane in numerous ways.

Our community, along with the rest of society, has been challenged and suffered serious loss throughout this difficult period, which seems to stretch deeper and deeper into the future. But we are rebuilding and laying the foundation for a post virus era that will see us even more effective as a Jewish institution.

Accomplishments of our broader community:

Congratulations to our longtime weekday member Morrie Kleinbart for receiving the Dewey Award for Excellence as a Prosecutor. This award is given by the New York Bar Association and Morrie was recognized as Richmond County DA of the Year.

Congratulations to Larisa Svechin, Hebrew School parent, for her election as Vice Mayor of Sunny Isles Florida. She will be sworn in virtually tonight at 5pm.

Special for this Saturday morning:

Due to inclement weather Downtown Minyan will not be meeting as outdoor services will not be feasible. If you are interested in attending an indoor service at 9:30am please contact the rabbi at rabbi@tribecasynagogue.org at your nearest convenience. There will only be a service if we have a guaranteed Minyan. The service will be streamlined and only a ceremonial kiddush to follow.

There will be comprehensive programming for Chanukah which begins next Thursday night. A full bulletin detailing our virtual and in person events will be forthcoming.

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