Your Weekly News and Updates
April 15, 2017 - 19 Nisan 5777
Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach
Remember the Resurrection
 
Dear Friends,
 
Looking at the title of this week's article you may be asking yourselves, "Has the rabbi lost his mind?  During Passover is he going to write about Good Friday (the day that Jesus was crucified) or Easter (the day that he was supposedly resurrected)?"
 
Not at all.  We all know that Jews do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah, nor do we believe in his resurrection.  But many Jews do not know that the notion of the resurrection of the dead is a deeply held Jewish belief which was adopted by our Christian neighbors.  Indeed, the prayer "Yigdal" declares "Maytim Yechaye El" - "God will resurrect the dead."  This prayer was inspired by none other than Maimonides, considered to be the greatest of all Jewish philosophers.  Furthermore, during the second blessing of the Amidah, we offer the following words: "Barukah Ata Hashem Mechaye Hameytim - Blessed are you, O Lord, who brings the dead to life."  What is that if not resurrection?
 
The fact is that because Christians have focused on resurrection for many years, we Jews have put this concept on the back burner.  The same can be said for our belief in an afterlife.  Traditional Judaism most definitely believes in the "world to come," but it is uncommon for Jews to speak about it (including rabbis).
 
This week's Haftorah for the Intermediate Sabbath of Passover comes from the Book of Ezekiel and contains the prophet's famous vision of the dry bones.  In his vision, Ezekiel beholds a valley containing human remains; specifically dry bones.  These bones connected into human figures, then become covered with tendons, flesh and skin.  God then reveals that the bones represent the People of Israel in exile and commands Ezekiel to convey another prophecy in order to revitalize these bodies - to resurrect them and bring them to the Land of Israel.
 
I imagine that for many generations this prophecy was enigmatic, to say the least.  Who could imagine the resurrection of a moribund Jewish People given the tragic history of the Jews? 
 
I dare say that this famous 37th Chapter of Ezekiel has come to life for all Jews who were alive during the Holocaust and who witnessed the birth of a modern democratic Jewish State of Israel.  Who could have imagined that just a few years following the murder of one third of our people that we would witness a national resurrection of the Remnant of Israel?  And while Israel is imperfect, like every nation on the face of the earth, to this day Israel stands out as a light unto the nations and leads the world in science, literature, commerce, technology and so much more!  How fortunate we are to live to see Israel reborn.  This is no less miraculous than Ezekiel's remarkable vision of the Valley of the Dry Bones.
 
David Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel put it best:   "In Israel, in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles."

How right he was!
 
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Pesach.

Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky

Daily Egalitarian 
Community Minyan Schedule

Friday, April 14
Passover 2nd Intermediate Day
7:00am  Minyan
5:45pm  Kabbalat Shabbat
6:39pm  Candle Lighting

Shabbat, April 15
Passover 3rd Intermediate Day
9:00am  Shabbat Morning Service
6:15pm  Mincha, Ma'ariv, and Havdalah
7:29pm  Shabbat ends

Sunday, April 16
Passover 4th Intermediate Day
8:15am  Minyan
5:45pm  Mincha and Ma'ariv
6:40pm  Candle Lighting

Monday, April 17
Passover Day 7
9:00am  Morning Service
5:45pm  Mincha and Ma'ariv
7:11pm  First Day Yom Tov ends

Tuesday, April 18
Passover Day 8
9:00am  Service and Yizkor
6:30pm  Second Chance Yizkor
6:45pm  Mincha and Ma'ariv
7:12pm  Yom Tov ends

Wednesday -  Thursday, April 19 - 20
7:15am  Minyan
5:45pm  Mincha and Ma'ariv

Friday, April 21
7:15am  Minyan
5:45pm  Kabbalat Shabbat
6:44pm  Candle Lighting

Shabbat, April 22
9:00am  Shabbat Morning Service
6:15pm  Mincha, Ma'ariv, and Havdalah
7:34pm  Shabbat ends
Save the Date

4/11 - 4/18:  Preschool Closed
4/17 - 4/18:  Office Closed
4/19:  Mahj Meetup at 1:00pm
4/22:  Women of the Wall Shabbat 
          Speaker  at 9:00am
4/23:  Blanket Boosters at 9:00am
4/23:  Adult Hebrew 101 at 12:30am
4/23:  Yom Hashoah Community 
          Observance (offsite) at 3:00pm
4/26:  Movie Matinee at 1:00pm
4/26:  Book Club at 6:30pm
4/27:  Lunch and Learn at 11:30am
4/29:  Anniversary Shabbat at 9:00am
4/30:  Cafe Tel Aviv and Talmud Torah
          Open House at 10:45am
5/3:    Community Mahj Day at 11:30am
5/7:    Annual Congregational Meeting 
          at 9:30am
5/7:    Beth El Women's League 
          Annual Meeting  at 10:30am
5/7:    Adult Hebrew 101 at 12:30pm
5/10:  Movie Matinee at 1:00pm
5/12:  Talmud Torah Led Family 
          Kabbalat Shabbat and Dinner 
          at 5:45pm
5/13:  Birthday Shabbat at 9:00am

   
Special Events
Mahj Meetup
Wednesday, April 19
1:00pm - 3:30pm

Play mah jongg with all levels of players. Everyone is welcome. Bring your 2017 Mah Jongg League card and a set if you have one. Snacks are provided. 

For more information, please contact Alicia at 602.944.3359 ext. 113 or amoskowitz@bethelphoenix.com.

Special Shabbat Speaker:
Lesley Sachs of Women of the Wall
Saturday, April 22
9:00am Service

Join us for a special Shabbat speaker, Lesley Sachs, the Executive Director of Women of the Wall. She will give an update on her group's efforts to attain the social and legal rights for women to conduct egalitarian prayer services at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Questions and answer session will be included as well.

For more information, please contact Alicia at 602.944.3359 ext. 113 or amoskowitz@bethelphoenix.com.

Blanket Boosters
Sunday, April 23
9:00am - 12:00pm

Join our volunteer knitting and crocheting group. Beginners are welcome, yarn and crochet hooks are provided. The blankets we produce are donated to local organizations that help children in crisis. 

For more information, please contact Sandy at 602.249.3778 or ssandy6807@gmail.com.

Adult Hebrew 101
Sunday, April 23
12:30pm - 2:00pm

Registration for this course is closed. A new session is planned for the Fall.

Final Date:  5/7

For more information, please contact Alicia at 602.944.3359 ext. 113 or amoskowitz@bethelphoenix.com.

Movie Matinee: Fences
Wednesday, April 26
1:00pm - 3:30pm

This month we will watch Fences (2016) starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. Fences is the story of Troy Maxson, a mid-century Pittsburgh sanitation worker who once dreamed of a baseball career, but was too old when the major leagues began admitting African American players. Run time 2 hours and 19 minutes. Snacks will be available. 

For more information, please contact Alicia at 602.944.3359 ext. 113 or amoskowitz@bethelphoenix.com.

Book Club
Wednesday, April 26
6:30pm - 8:00pm

Join the Book Club and its discussion leader, Ileen Bruns, as we analyze A Tale of Love and Darkness. This is the memoir of Amos Oz, a prominent Israeli writer, who tells the story of his youth and of Israel's birth and early years. These parallel stories are suffused by the light of love and shadowed by the pain of personal and national darkness. (Jewish Book Council) Pizza and Wine are available for $5.00 each. 

Contact Nanci at 602.944.3359 ext. 123 or nsiegelmanson@bethelphoenix.com for more information.
Lunch and Learn
Thursday, April 27
11:30am - 1:00pm

Study Pirkei Avot (ethics of the fathers) with Wendy Rozov and other adult learners while enjoying a delicious lunch and lively discussion for only $5 per person.

RSVP to Nanci at 602.944.3359 ext. 123 or nsiegelmanson@bethelphoenix.com for more information.
Caf é Tel Aviv
Sunday, April 30
10:45am - 12:15pm

Join us for a Talmud Torah Open House and Café Tel Aviv! Enjoy Israeli food, drink, dancing, music and more. A special Krav Maga self-defense demonstration will also be included. $10 donation per family. No charge for prospective families. 

RSVP's due to Nanci at 602.944.3359 ext. 123 or nsiegelmanson@bethelphoenix.com by Monday, April 24.
Community Events
Creative Aging Classes

Next session starts April 19 and 20 - all sessions completed prior to Memorial Day
 
Line Dancing at the Valley of the Sun JCC in north Scottsdale

Vocal Music at Temple Chai in north Phoenix

Storytelling at Congregation Beth Israel in Scottsdale

Readers Theatre at Temple Beth Shalom in Sun City


For more information, please contact  Janet Arnold  at  480.599.7198 or janet.arnold@jfcsaz.org .

Yom HaShoah Community Commemoration
Sunday, April 23
Temple Chai
4645 E Marilyn Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85032
3:00pm

Join the entire community at Temple Chai to commemorate Yom HaShoah. Our own Cantor Jonathan Angress will be joining Cantor Ross Wolman and the Community Choir as we remember the Holocaust. Our Beth El Survivors will be taking part as well. Yom HaShoah candles will be handed out at the end of the event.  Everyone is welcome. There is no charge to attend.

For more information, please contact Joan Sitver at joansitver@aol.com.

Yahrzeit / Nakhala
April 15 - 22
Shabbat - 19 Nisan
Jack Castle
Phyllis Clinton
Sarah Dight
Louis Hirsch
Irving I. Krantz
Edward Levin
Lena Schlissel
Dorothy Schneider

Sunday - 20 Nisan
Harry Aaron Barr
William Eugene Derby
Saul Kaufman
Paul A. Leibowitz
Bessie Witten

Monday - 21 Nisan
Lillian Bender
Deirdre Covel
Sam Friedman
Esther Fuchs
Harry S. Gimbel
Molly C. Halperin
Frank Rosenberg
Eugene Weiss
Judith Wortman
Gila Zilversmit

Tuesday - 22 Nisan
Sandra Mary Albala
Isadore Blumenthal
Hinda Borden
Ida Borovay
Dorothy Fasman
Theodore Leonard Finkelstein
Frieda Firetag
Nathan Hersh
Gloria Hirsch

Wednesday - 23 Nisan
Sam Barry
Sam Brustein
Harry Cohen
Sarah Cohen
Lawrence Crantz
Hime Gerstein
Aziz Ghanooni
Morris Haberman
Edith Holmes
Sadie Katzman
Anna Kaufman
Laura Konick
Louis Miller
Norman Riech
Julia Roth
Isadore Shafran
Sam S. Smith
Thursday - 24 Nisan
Beatrice Cahn
Lily Hyams
Helen Lipman
Arthur Neuer

Friday - 25 Nisan
Paul Bayless
Joseph Braverman
Ida Estes
Michael Greenfield
David Gross
Sarah Lena Harris
Irving Katzke
Rose Kleiman
Rose I. Parker
Joel Rosenthal
Arthur Silverman
Harry Weiss
Theodore White
Rose Wise
Joani Zoltan

Shabbat - 26 Nisan
Ben Bader
Golda Brand
Pete Davidson
Ruth Sylvia Desman
William Fihn
Rose Gordon
Sarah Grodsky
Morris Liebling
Dorothy Miller
Myron Minkoff
David Smith
Benjamin Sonenschein


Tzedakah: Ways to support your Beth El
Beth El Gift Shop

Judaica and Gift Items
See our stock of gift items, tallit, candle holders, and more.

As always, there are Shabbat candles, Neriot candles, memorial candles, and other Judaica items available.

Donate Judaica and Gift Items
We accept donations of Judaica and other gift items that are in good condition. Please drop off any donations in the office during business hours. Tax letters are available upon request for donations. Thank you very much!

Reasons to shop here...
Supports your Beth El
No sales tax!
Conveniently located in our lobby
Custom orders are offered for all Judaica items

Hours
Monday - Thursday:  9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday:  9:00am - 3:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Etz Haim - Tree of Life


Purchase a leaf or stone to commemorate a special simcha such as the birth of a child or grandchild, b'nai mitzvah, wedding, milestone birthday, or milestone anniversary.

Leaves: $180
Stones: $1,800

Please contact Korina Springer at 602.944.3359 ext. 106 for more information.
Tax Deductible Donations

Beth El Congregation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Your donations are essential to keeping us in operation each year. Thank you very much for all of your generous contributions.

Make a donation on our secure website here:

Or download and print our donation form here: 

Please contact Korina Springer at 602.944.3359 ext. 106 for more information.
Amazon Smile

Do you shop at Amazon? If so, if you simply go to smile.amazon.com, and sign in, you can designate Beth El Congregation to receive a small percentage of what you spend on your purchases. This is an easy way to help us earn some extra dollars!

If you need help setting this up, please contact Alicia Moskowitz at 602.944.3359 ext. 113 or amoskowitz@bethelphoenix.com.
Grocery Card Programs

Do you have a Fry's VIP card?
Please link your card to Beth El Congregation. Every time you shop with your VIP card at Fry's, Beth El gets credit and it does not even cost you a cent more!

Annual Enrollment for the Fry's Community Rewards Program began again on August 1, 2016. Please re-enroll to continue supporting us here at Beth El.

Click Enroll, and then enter our organization number, 80402.

If you need assistance registering your existing VIP card, please contact Alicia Moskowitz at 602.944.3359 ext. 113.

Do you shop at Bashas', AJ's, or Food City?
Order your grocery gift cards from Beth El! We have $10 cards in stock. When you purchase from us, we get credit! Please contact Anne Schafer at 602.944.3359 ext. 109 to purchase.
Community Information



List en live: Sunday at 12:00pm on 960 AM with William Wolf.

This week's guest: Farley Weiss
 

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