Am Kolel All Inclusive Weekly News: Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Am Kolel

Weekly News

Wed, February 21, 2024 / 12 Adar 5784

Issue 584

Dear Am Kolel,

On the surface, the Parsha this week, Tetsaveh, seems to lack the social teachings that we have gleaned in the last several Parshiot. Tetsaveh goes into depth about the kindling of the menorah, the special garments that the priestly class would wear, the daily sacrifices and the acacia wood needed for the altar.

On the deeper level we find important teachings intended to guide us as individuals and as a community. Immediately, the opening verse “commands” the individual “to take pure olive oil beaten for the light to raise up the lamp to burn continuously.” First, we need to understand that the word Tetzaveh does not simply mean “command.” The root means to “join or connect.” The root of Mitzvah is the same. So, the act of a mitzvah is to make connections, to join us to God, other humans and all of life around us. In doing a mitzvah we are also channeling “God’s” will, of being in partnership with the Life Force.

We are called to extract oil from the olive by pounding it. We learn that by pounding the olives, not just crushing them, we can get pure drops of oil. The lighting of the Ner, or lamp, is for raising up, L’haalot, the light to dispel darkness and to be a “perpetual” reminder through the generations of our mission as a covenantal people, “to be a light unto the actions.” (Isaiah 42:6). This symbol is represented in most synagogues by the Ner Tamid, the Eternal Light in front of or above the Ark.

Several of our Hassidic masters liken the light of the Ner to our own souls. Burning within us is that light. How do we “raise it up”? By doing Mitzvot, right actions. The pressing or pounding of the olive is a message to us that we need to be conscious of our actions. It is through this awareness that we create a more just and compassionate world. And when we do mitzvot we fuel or strengthen our inner light.

Please share with us a recent mitzvah that you did that raised up your own light and the light of others. Anonymously, of course.

Tomorrow is Purim Katan, the minor Purim. It’s the full moon of Adar I. Next month is our Purim, Adar II, at our Center of Rockville. One custom on Purim Katan is to have a special lunch. Another custom is to do something to bring more joy to oneself and others. It’s also a good time to plant some seeds indoors to be replanted outside when spring arrives.

We can also plant more seeds for peace.

Orah v’Simcha, for light and joy,

Reb David

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JUFJ YES Meeting at Am Kolel's Rockville Center this past Sunday.

Shabbat Services

Saturday, February 24

Shabbat led by Reb David in person & on Zoom

10:00AM - 12:15PM

Shabbat Service led

by Reb David

Parsha Tetsaveh

Exodus 27:20 - 30:10

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89284068417?pwd=VUMwVWp1Q2FrNnM0c1pIQUdJUmIrZz09

Meeting ID: 892 8406 8417

Passcode: 925533

This is a recurring link going forward.

For in person Shabbat services please bring a vegetarian/dairy dish to share after the service.

Our Healing Prayers For...

Susan Taylor, Jack Kessler, Joel Lerner, Rachel Clark, Jane Schwebel, Audrey Shane, Yaakov Koppel ben Devorah, Bobbie Goldman; Emily Schuster, Marty Cline, Sally Gilbert, Anne Schwartz Delibert, Joel Resnick, Gina Amato, Myra Sklarew, Minna Aviva, Burton Taylor, Brooke Goldberg, Allen Mushinsky, Dr. Barry Alpert, Cherie Brown, Julie Keefer, Ira Levine, Natan Yosef ben Yitta Ruchama, Zwe Yosef Ben Sheindel, Tom Bauckham, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Joan Schwartz, Alan Oresky, HaRav Miriam Yael bat Sara, Judy Beltz, Betsy Combs, Joy Esterlitz, Lou Gould, Lauren Gurevitz, Austin Heyman, Daniel Lev ben Shoshana Klara, Julie Litten, Sandra Vagins, Margalit Hannah Bat Gilah Leora, Lazar Moshe bas Zvia

If you want your name or a loved ones name on the healing list, please let us know by clicking here.

Am Kolel Community News

Our "Girls Night Out", is Monday, February 26, at 7pm at Uncle Julio's Rio Grand located at 231 Rio Blvd, Gaithersburg. If you plan on coming, please RSVP to Bobbie (301-674-7808) or bobbiegoldman97@gmail.com, so she can make reservations. It is always at 7pm and usually on the 3rd or 4th Monday of each month except if a holiday gets in the way and separate checks if possible!

Join a new class with Danny Siegel, Midrash and the Meaning of Life, Wednesdays, February 28 and March 6, 7-8:15 PM. 2,000 years ago, our sages created a unique body of literature call Midrash. Midrash complimented the legalistic texts of the time. We will focus on several Midrashic texts addressing existential questions on living a meaningful life.

The two sessions will take place on Zoom with Danny Siegel, poet, author, founder of the Ziv Tzedakah Fund and well known teacher. He received his Bachelor's and Master's of Hebrew Literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

Beginning this spring Am Kolel will be offering our members and the immediate community around the Am Kolel Center a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) of vegetables from Mike Tabor and Esther Siegel's Licking Creek Bend Farm. If you are interested in participating in the CSA please let info@lickingcreekbendfarm.com know by March 4th and we will send you more information. A portion of the proceeds will be used to support needy families in Montgomery County.

Am Kolel is co-sponsoring this event...

Click Here to Get Your Tickets

NOTICE:

As of May 1st, 2024 the studio in our basement in Rockville will be available for rent for living or for an office space. If you are interested or know of someone please contact us at admin@amkolel.org or call 301-770-4648.

Israel in This Time of War

Join UnXeptableDC and other congregations in demanding the immediate release of all hostages and a ceasefire. 1:30PM every Sunday at the Red Cross Headquarters, 17th and D Street, Washington DC. To learn more about UnXeptable you can visit www.unxeptable.org

Consider supporting the following:

AMEN: Land Where Women Heal: trauma-informed mental health support for evacuees of kibbutzim close to the Gaza border (shared from our friend, Rabbi Ruth Gan Kagan) Click here

Israeli Trauma Coalition: providing support for mental health services Click here

Magen David Adom: medical first responders on the ground in Israel Click here

Rebuild Kibbutz Reim: support for displaced residents of Kibbutz Reim in southern Israel Click here

United Hatzalah: largest fully-volunteer emergency medical service in Israel Click here

Women Wage Peace: the largest grassroots movement for peace in Israel Click here

Volunteer in Israel: 4 Day Mission, Learn more & book here

Learn about the Alliance for Middle East Peace at https://www.allmep.org/

Recommended websites for a better future:

Shalom Hartman Institute**

Take a look at this list from J Street. Please consider a contribution to one of more of these organizations in order to support those affected by the war in Israel and Gaza:

International Committee of the Red Cross

Dror Israel Emergency Response

New Israel Fund: Emergency Response Plan

Gisha

UnXeptable

Democracy HQ Response Fund

Emergency Response: Unrecognized Arab Villages in the Negev

Physicians for Human Rights Israel

Americans for Palestinian Orphans

Community Actions & Links

Climate Action Alert: Jewish Earth Alliance needs you to take action. Click here to learn more.

Manna Food Center: Monetary donations preferred. www.mannafood.org

J Street Click here.

Bend the Arc Click here.

Americans for Peace Now Click here.

Learning Opportunities & Spiritual Resources

Learn about ALEPH. ALEPH is an alliance of organizations, individuals, shuls, and more at the vibrant cutting edge of Judaism. Click Here

Yahrtzeit Reminders

If you'd like a reminder, please fill and send us a Yahrtzeit reminder form. Download the form here.

Have you made arrangements yet?

Am Kolel Pardes is our dedicated section at the Garden of Remembrance in Clarksburg, Maryland.

Please note, fees will be increasing

after the first of the year.

The Garden of Remembrance is the region's only non-profit cemetery owned and operated by a board of Jewish community leaders. For more information about Am Kolel Pardes, please visit the Life Cycle page on our website, visit the Garden of Remembrance website or email the office at admin@amkolel.org.

Am Kolel Board of Directors 2023 - 2024

President - Frank Silberstein

Vice President - Ralph Ibson

Secretary - Hanna Weissberger

Treasurer - Hal Rogoff

Trustees at Large

Audrey Shane - Chesed Chair

Bobbie Goldman - Membership Chair

Claire Schuster

Immediate Past President - Sandra Hoffman

Director - R. David Shneyer

Am Kolel Sanctuary & Renewal Center