WOOD RIVER wrjc
 JEWISH COMMUNITY
 "The Wood River Jewish Community is a gathering place that strives to perpetuate  
 Jewish tradition through worship, fellowship and learning.  Founded in 1976, we seek to provide a welcoming and caring community in the Wood River Valley.
 
September 10, 2019
 
Ki Tetzei ("When you go")
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

* Seventy-four of the Torah's 613 commandments (mitzvot) are in the Parshah of Ki Teitzei, more than any other Torah portion.

* Recounted are judicial procedures and penalties for adultery, for the rape or seduction of an unmarried girl, and for a husband who falsely accuses his wife of infidelity.

* Ki Tetzei also includes laws governing the purity and the treatment of those who work for you; of debtors; charging interest on a loan, and on divorce.

* Ki Teitzei concludes with the obligation to remember "what Amalek did to you on the road, on your way out of Egypt,' which informs us for millennia about our enemies.

One of the many lessons that I try to teach our B'nai Mitzvah candidates is one of kindness to animals, which is outlined in this parashah. Biblical law was very concerned about the treatment of animals. Deut. 22:10 forbids the yoking of a donkey with an ox. These two animals differ greatly in size and strength and it would be cruel to yoke the weaker donkey with the stronger ox. In addition, Deut. 22:6-7 states that if one chances upon a bird with its eggs, one shall not take the mother bird along with the young. It is about sympathy and the sacredness of the parental relationship. The mother is sacred because she is a mother. But, if she is sent away, and does not see her young ones taken, she does not feel as much pain. Concern for the feelings of animals is a concept that really resonates with many, and we hope that ethical treatment of animals is part of our covenant with God to make the world a better place.


Additional Limud (Learning)
High Holy Day Liturgy: U'netaneh Tokef/B'rosh Hashana
 
A long time ago, before I was even considering taking the path of Jewish songwriter, cantor or rabbi, I remember asking at my Hillel Rabbi at the University of Texas what the high holy days were all about. As I recall, he quoted the refrain from the well-known ominous prayers Unetaneh Tokef/B'rosh Hashana:
 
On Rosh Hashanah this is written;
and on Yom Kippur, this is sealed:
"Who will live and who will die?"
 
"But," he went on, "between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, teshuvah, (returning to a better path); t'fillah (earnest prayer); and tzedakah (justice or righteousness) can still make a difference."
 
A Jewish skeptic at the time, I was appalled. The idea that our fate for the coming year is being determined right now, and that we have only a few hours to make it better should be appalling to us all, but this prayer is revered with dead seriousness. The prayer goes on to describe, in detail, how we might die in the year to come.
 
Many have, of course "reconstructed" these words. My colleague, Mark Nazimova, sent around an email quoting a friend's "modern" version of this:
 
"On Rosh Hashanah God reviews the contents of the great Hard Drive of life, deciding which records to update, and which to delete...and on Yom Kippur, those files are closed and backed up until next year."
 
Cute, but no improvement.
 
Over the years I have come to love singing Unetaneh Tokeif and B'rosh Hashana. "Let us declare the power of this day..." And I finally figured out a way that I could interpret it for myself. Are these words a scare tactic? Maybe. But, at this time of year, I think we are meant to scare ourselves. One might think that it is predetermined "how many pass on, how many shall thrive; who shall live and who shall die;" and so on. But in reality it is our own actions, day in and day out, every day of the year, that decide what kind of a life we will have. We get to choose - it's up to us.
 
Here is Leonard Cohen's "Who By Fire?" a famous English interpretation of Unetaneh Tokef/B'rosh Hashana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgMaBreDuF4


Rabbi Robbi Sherwin
In this issue
Torah portion
Patron of the Month
Shabbat services
Welcome
Donations of the week
Sunday School
In appreciation
Get well
Caring Committee
Condolences
Mitzvah project
Membership
Yarzheits
Celebration
Legacy
Our Board of Directors

Susan Green
President
Jami Delgado 
Vice-President
Judy Teller-Kaye  
Treasurer
Eileen Prager
Secretary
Dana Berntson
Linda Cooper 
Josh Kleinman
Joanne Mercer
Marshall Meyer
Noa Ries
Bob Safron
Neil Siegel
Scott Rogel 
 
Rabbi Robbi Sherwin
   
  Claudie Goldstein
Executive Director
Director of Development

 Cindy Smith
Bookkeeper
Advisory Council
Harriet Parker-Bass
Buzz Coe
Lenny Cohen
Marty Lyon
Marshall Meyer
Enid Rawlings 
Juli Roos

Addresses
Mailing:
PO Box 837
Ketchum, ID 83340

Physical:
471 Leadville Avenue
Ketchum, ID 83340

Office Hours
Tuesday:
10:00am-4:00pm

Thursday:
10:00am-4:00pm

Friday:
 10:00am-1:00pm
Contact us
tel: 208-726-1183
fax: 208-727-9646
Join our list
Join Our Mailing List
SEPTEMBER PATRON OF THE MONTH SPONSORS
Scott Rogel
Glen and Vicki Shapiro
David and Nancy Sheffner
SHABBAT SERVICES
shabbat banner
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 
at 6:00PM  at the office

Buzz Coe will lead Shabbat services  
Oneg to follow.



 
Kirk Benson
Ari and Kristin Geffen
DONATIONS OF THE WEEK 
Honor a special occasion, express sympathy, remember a loved one, or simply say "Thank You" with a donation to a WRJC fund of your choice.


WHERE NEEDED MOST FUNDS
David Kaye and Judy teller Kaye in memory of Howard Goldman
Sue Green in Honor of Bob and Claudie Goldstein for all they do in the communuty
Al and Brenda Hackel in memory of Judy Garman
Paul Wolff and Rhea Schwartz in honor of David Kaye and Judy teller Kaye's anniversary
Paul Wolff and Rhea Schwartz in honor of Ron and Susan Greenspan for the birth of their granddaughter Marley
Ron and Susan Green in honor of Ron and Susan Greenspan for the birth of their granddaughter Marley

BE A BLESSING
Barry and Sylvia Bunshoft


                            SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday, September 15  at the WRJC office
 
3:30-4:30pm: Sunday School
4:45-6pm BBMP 
IN APPRECIATION
Thank you to Mark and Dora Levin for hosting Rabbi Robert Orkand.

Thank you to Juli Roos and her team for leading  Souper Supper last night.
GET WELL SOON
Paul Firstenberg
Al Hackel
CARING COMMITTEE

Karen Saks is chairing the month of September.
208-726-2828

CONDOLENCES
 
The Wood River Jewish Community   expresses its sincere condolences to Dottie, Linda and Robert Goldman for the passing of Howard Goldman.
MITZVAH PROJECT
Hello my name is Ethan Desler and I am working on my Mitzvah project.  

My Bar Mitzvah is on Saturday  September 28. I am hoping you can help me gather some items for the refugee center in Twin Falls. They are in need of toiletries (new/unused) tooth brushes, hair brushes, toothpaste, diapers, and they are always especially appreciative of new pillows, sheets and towels. 

I left a donation box at the WRJC and would be greatly appreciative of any help you may be to me on my journey. 

Shalom,
Ethan 
FRIENDLY REMINDER

 Call 208-726-1183
YARZHEITS OF THE WEEK
A Yahrzeit donation allows you to honor the memory of the special people in your life. Your gift will memorialize your loved one during the anniversary of his or her passing.
 
Nathaniel Crosst Friedlander, Father of Bernard Friedlander
Joseph Mailman, Father of Jerry Mailman
Sylvia (Sue) Mendelsohn, Mother of Darrel Mendelsohn
Freda Parker, Mother of Harriet Parker-Bass
Berek Rosenberg, Father of Dora Levin
Felice Ruth Sherwin, Mother of Rabbi Robbi Sherwin-Jordan
CELEBRATION OF THE WEEK
BIRTHDAYS
Marty Lyon
Lila Rich

ANNIVERSARIES
Richard and sara jean cardozo
Phil Goldstein and Cathy Dobbs Goldstein
LEAVING A LEGACY
To discuss leaving a legacy and providing support to our Wood River Jewish Community in perpetuity, please feel free to call 208-726-1183 or email [email protected] to arrange a private and confidential meeting. 
If you want to know more about our organization, please contact  Claudie Goldstein, Executive Director  at [email protected] or 208-726-1183
  WRJC STANDS WITH ISRAEL