March 13, 2026

Candle-Lighting for Shabbat: 6:42 pm

Dear Friends,

This week we will read Parshat Vayakel-Pekuday, which concludes the book of Shemot (Exodus) and describes the actual construction of the Mishkan and the implements used within it. We also mark Shabbat HaHodesh by reading the special Maftir from Shemot that describes the first Pesach sacrifice and the laws regarding the eating of the Pascal lamb with Matzah and bitter herbs. This reminds us that Rosh Hodesh Nisan will be Thursday, with Pesach a mere 14 days later.

We will recognize Refugee Shabbat tomorrow with 3 coordinated events. The Shabbat morning study session, a regular event on Shabbat mornings, will focus on Refugee issues. Rabbi Chaim Singer-Frankes will teach at 10:45 am in Pilch Hall. Our Darshan this week, Tyson Roberts, will speak about Refugees during our Drash. Tyson chaired the committee of TBA members that helped settle an Afghan family. Because Tyson wants to hear Rabbi Singer-Frankes, our drash will take place after Musaf rather than before. After our service we have a Kiddush and Learn with David Weisberg, President of World Jewish Relief USA. World Jewish Relief is a British organization that is active world wide in disaster relief and in Refugee protection. They have recently expanded to the USA. WJR is the successor organization to the British fund for German Jewish Children, which ran the Kindertransports. David will speak in the Dorff-Nelson chapel following Kiddush, at 12:40 or so.

Our Kiddush this week in honor of Refugee Shabbat is sponsored by the TBA Social Action Committee, The Library Minyan, Norm and Rachel Green in memory of Kindertransport survivor Anne Rubin, and by AJ Happel in honor of Pi Day.

Also in this week's Update:

• Shabbat Services
• Mishna Study
• More Comments from the Rosh
• Upcoming Events
• Donations This Week
• Haftara Plethora
• Jewish Trivia



If you have questions or suggestions, or would like to include something in a future edition of the Weekly Update, please email Rachel Rubin Green at rachelrubingreen@gmail.com.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rachel Rubin Green

Rosh Minyan

Shabbat Services

Services begin at 9:45 a.m. in the Dorff-Nelson chapel. An enhanced Kiddush will follow in Hersch Hall. David Weisberg's presentation about the work of World Jewish Relief will be in the Dorff-Nelson Chapel after Kiddush.

The Gabbai this week will be Michael Shimansky. If you would like an Aliyah tomorrow for any occasion (such as a birthday, anniversary, the yartzeit of a loved one, or other), please email him at m_shimansky@yahoo.com.. He will be happy to hold an Aliyah for you. The Gabbai the following week, March 21, will be David Novoseller . David can be reached at davnovosel@gmail.com.

Mishnah Study

Suzanne Payne will lead the discussion of Tractate Eruvin Chapter 1 Mishnah 9 at 9:15 am in Whiteman Conference room and on Zoom.

From the Rosh:

As I mentioned last week the LM Annual Meeting inspired a number of thoughts and comments. One of the topics raised at that meeting was to expand the outreach of our Hesed committee. Barry Rosenblatt wrote the piece below in favor of such a move. I invite anyone who was inspired by something in the meeting to write about it for this column.

From Barry Rosenblatt:

I want to address the current issue of expanding Library Minyan Hesed service to the entire Temple Beth Am community.

Over 50 years ago when the Library Minyan formed, the members assumed an organizational culture separate from the TBA congregation, initially not paying TBA membership dues or participating in shul governance. As time went on, Library Minyan members integrated into Temple Beth Am, including governance, services and programs and became full dues-paying TBA members. At this time, for some members to insist on a separate identity from the shul that nurtures our existence, is no less than an outrageous immaturity.

Just this past week, I thought it was wonderful when our entire shul mishpucha celebrated Purim night in Dorff-Nelson chapel. We are part of large congregational family.

We understand the meaning of Hesed: it’s not something private for our closed LM circle. It is a responsibility incumbent on all and to all. 

It is natural that we now embrace the entire TBA community with our practiced skills in providing Hesed services to those in need, not just in Library Minyan, but to our entire shul community.

I would also suggest that Hesed become a chair position on the TBA Board of Trustees, and hope it is accomplished within this year.

Upcoming Events

3/14 Refugee Shabbat

3/15 Library Minyan Oscars Party at TBA

4/2 Pesach Day 1 Combined Service LM Coordinates

4/3 Pesach Day 2 Combined Service Clergy Coordinates

4/8 Pesach Day 7 Combined Service LM Coordinates

4/9 Pesach Day 8 Separate Services Yizkor

4/11 Shabbat Celebrating Barry Rosenblatt's 2nd Bar Mitzvah

Donations this Week:

In memory of Ira Goodman, brother of Debbie Cohen and Roberta Rosenberg

-David Cohen and Alisa Shudofsky

In memory of Alan Denman, father of Orley Garber

-Rachel Sisk

-Jules Kamin

In memory of Clara Feldman, grandmother of Ellen Novoseller

-Jules Kamin

The third annual Library Minyan Oscars watch party will take place at TBA on Sunday, March 15. Doors open around 3:30pm, the show starts at 4pm. The event will include snacks, pizza and dessert, as well as a fun competitions. RSVP is requested but not required, as is a $10 donation to cover food. There will be a box at the event for voluntary and anonymous donations.

Haftarah Plethora

Millie introduces a reprise episode of the Haftarah Plethora, this week for Shabbat HaHodesh. Rick and Larry talk about the prince of Israel and whether Ezekiel was envisioning a modern model of leadership. Larry quizzes Rick on biblical units of measurement and concludes that Ezekiel’s message is that both individual and communal obligations are essential, even if sometimes there is tension between them. Shabbat Shalom.

Jewish Trivia

Last week's question: Which of these bands have at least one Jewish member? Answer: The Who and Nirvana have had no Jewish members. All the others have:

Beastie Boys: All three members (Ad-Rock, MCA, Mike D) were Jewish.

Bon Jovi: David Bryan is Jewish.

Dire Straits: Mark Knopfler and David Knopfler have Jewish heritage.

Kiss: Gene Simmons (Chaim Witz) and Paul Stanley (Stanley Eisen) are Jewish.

Maroon 5: Adam Levine is Jewish

Nine Inch Nails: Ilan Rubin has played with the band.

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons were founding members.

The Cars: Elliot Easton is Jewish.

The E Street Band: Max Weinberg and Roy Bittan are Jewish.

The Velvet Underground: Lou Reed was Jewish.

This Week's Questions:  (a) What event does the Torah say specifically occurred on the first of Nisan? (b) What three events, unrelated to the first but very related to each other, also happened of the first of Nisan, according to Talmud?  (Answer next week.)