WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Due to the challenging circumstances we will expand this section of the newsletter:

Ki Tissa presents us with one of the most challenging stories of the chumash with the golden calf being perpetrated in such proximity to the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai. Ibn Ezra attempts to mitigate the severity of the sin by explaining they were not seeking another God but rather another Moshe. Indeed, their argument was “Because this man, Moshe, we do not know what happened to him” we are now vulnerable and rudderless. The immediate problem became that once these forces were released they rapidly disintegrated into base revelry. The farther reaching problem was that they weren’t ready to connect to God without an intermediary. One of the cornerstones of Judaism is its emphasis on developing a personal and individual relationship with God. There are aids and resources, but after all is said and done it’s us that have to create the connection.

Many of us may feel fear and uncertainty from everything that is going around us which is magnified with the 24/7 media. We live in a blessed country which is ramping up its efforts to address the situation but that shouldn’t take the place of firstly our own personal obligations to do our part while at the same time never replace our faith in the Almighty, Who is the true Shomer Yisrael (guardian of Israel).

At TriBeCa Synagogue we have taken the unprecedented action of closing the synagogue for the weekend, something that wasn’t done in the direct aftermath of 9/11 or Sandy. We are in intense deliberations regarding the near and far term and look forward to providing an update in a timely fashion. We will do everything we can to reopen as expeditiously as possible to be that beacon of hope and center of social nurture.

Additionally we have the 3^rd of the special readings called Parah, about the red cow that was used to create the solution designed to purify one from coming into contact with the dead, which would prevent one from being able to participate in the Passover sacrifice. Quite appropriate as mystically this mitzvah was considered an atonement for the sin of the golden calf.

In the meantime, a retrospective of a happier time:

Live streaming of the megillah reading courtesy of Carlos Gutierrez. Notice the reach of over 760! Comments of appreciation for doing this abounded.

“The Johnny Gershon Show-A Cabaret” choreographed by our incredible Wendy Friedland. Accompanied by the amazing Golem-a Hebrew School family!

Purim Day Seudah Open House at the home of the Rabbi

   & 

With Parshat Terumah we begin 4 weeks where the focus is primarily on the Tabernacle (Mishkan) and which will eventually close the book of Exodus. This is because Exodus is the book of Redemption (Sefer HaGeulah) which begins first with their exile into Egypt and continues with their physical liberation. But the redemption wasn’t complete until the children of Israel also achieved the spiritual level they were on before the Egyptian exile. This happens with their standing at Mount Sinai to receive the Torah and is preserved within the confines of the structure that they created to travel with them into the land of Israel.

This week the kiddush is co-sponsored by Eileen Hecht and Hugh Lippman in memory of her parents along with Carlos and Deborah Gutierrez in advance of their son’s bris.

We congratulate the Weiss family once again for their momentous celebration of their son Nathaniel’s Bar Mitzvah this past Shabbat. It was a historic occasion for our synagogue on many levels!

Attending the Interfaith Breakfast this past Tuesday at the Roosevelt Hotel promoting the 2020 Census

MLK III and Governor Cuomo speaking. With Rabbi Arthur Schneier and Ezra Friedlander

Next Young Professionals March 6^th 7pm. Register here:

Full Purim schedule coming tomorrow!

   & 

Parshat Yitro by definition could be considered the most important parsha in that it contains the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. A key phrase in the lead up is “and he camped opposite the mountain” which is curiously written in the singular.

Firstly, they say that the unity achieved by the entire Jewish nation at that time was unprecedented for all of our history. Secondly, going forward, there is nothing that can unify our people like the study of Torah. No matter what the divisions we may have in denominations, politics or whatever, we seem to be able to connect with one another when Torah is the activity. So join us for all the learning opportunities we provide here at TriBeCa Synagogue!

TriBeCa Torah Hebrew School celebrating Tu B’Shvat

Watch Rabbi Glass’ latest 2 minute video on the Parsha-The 2 Tablets:

   & 

in the latter stages of the negotiations between Pharaoh and Moses regarding allowing the Israelites to sacrifice in the desert, Pharaoh demands to know “who and who would be going”? Moses responds everyone, young and old, but Pharaoh pulls back and says everyone can go except the children. Moses says no deal and so the next plague arrives.

One can derive a deeper issue here than just simply raw numbers. Pharaoh recognized that he had to hold the children back to avoid them becoming inculcated in the heritage that would define them for the future as other than Egyptian while Moses insisted that’s the whole point! Rituals and practice for the adults without attention given to developing the next generation is an unfortunate exercise in futility.

TriBeCa Synagogue welcomed Rabbi and Mrs. Shmuel Shteinhendler of Havana to our Club Latino

Congratulations to Nicholas and Volha Singer for the naming of their daughter Lea

Hear the latest from Rabbi Glass on this week’s portion.

   & 

We begin the book of Exodus and parshat Shemot observing the development of Moses who was to become the most important figure in our nation’s history. Throughout that development the theme was consistent-concern for others. It begins with his not being content to live out his life comfortably in the royal palace but being drawn outside to “see his brothers”. He then can’t sit by and watch one of his brethren being beaten so he gets involved and saves him. He also can’t watch two of his brethren argue against the backdrop of the suffering of their people and attempts to mediate the dispute. Finally, according to the midrash, once he is a shepherd for his father in law, a sheep escapes the flock and he takes it upon himself to run headlong after it to bring it back. With this ultimate show of concern, even for an animal, he is visited by the Divine presence in the form of the Burning Bush which begins his mission as the leader of the nation from slavery to the promised land.

While we understand that this trait was the key to his appointment as a leader, we must recognize that it is upon us to emulate the best quality of our leaders. May we merit to achieve an elevated level of concern for our fellow human being, inspired by the greatest of our people!

   &