March 7, 2025

Candle-lighting: 5:37 p.m.

Dear Friends,

This Shabbat we celebrate Shabbat Zachor, which means that Purim is coming. Shabbat Zachor reminds us to Remember Amalek, in order that his name be blotted out. I once saw a scribe start writing a new Sefer Torah, and before writing a single letter on the parchment the scribe wrote the name Amalek on another small piece of parchment and then flooded the name with ink. In that brief ritual, the Kahal watching was able to both remember Amalek and blot out his name. It made the contradiction inherent in those two seemingly opposed mindsets concrete.

TBA has many activities planned for Purim. The Library Minyan takes responsibility for the Purim Seudah. Because Purim this year falls on a Friday, our communal Seudah will take place the Sunday after Purim on March 16. We will play some games, eat some food, drink some shnapps, listen and dance to the KAILA Klezmer ensemble, and hear an hysterically funny shpiel. Please see me (Rachel) to help plan the party or see Larry Herman to help with the shpiel.

Also in this week's Update:

• Shabbat Services - 9:45
• Mishnah Study - 9:15
• Purim Seudah - Volunteers Needed
• Darshanim Needed
• Weekly Wisdom
• Upcoming Calendar
• 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

Shabbat services begin at 9:45 in Dorff-Nelson Chapel, led by members of the Torah Club and followed by a simple kiddush in Hirsch Hall.

Mishna Study

Dan Klerman will lead the study of the fifth Mishna in Chapter 17 of Tractate Shabbat. Mishna study begins at 9:15 a.m. in the Whiteman Conference Room and on Zoom .

Purim Seudah - Volunteers Needed

The Library Minyan is once again hosting a Purim Seudah for the entire synagogue on March 16 (Sushan Purim). If you would like to help in any capacity (planning, organizing, performing, setting or cleaning up), please contact Joel Elkins or Rachel Rubin-Green.

Darshanim Needed

The Library Minyan wants YOU to be a darshan! Currently looking for darshanim to fill slots beginning with Parashat Vayakhel (Shabbat Parah). You can see which parshiot are still available by looking at the Library Minyan calendar: https://libraryminyan.org/calendar/

Please contact Diane Herman at dnherman@gmail.com to reserve your slot today.

Weekly Wisdom

by Stevie Green

According to midrash, the rabbis debated which verse from the Torah is the most foundational general principle on which all others stand.  Rabbi Akiva says: "And you shall love your neighbor as yourself."  Ben Azzai says: “This is the book of the generations of Adam.”  Ben Zoma says: “Hear O Israel…” Shimon ben Pazzi says: “You shall offer the one lamb in the morning, [and you shall offer the other lamb at twilight]” (from parshas Tetzaveh).  R. Ploni stood up and said, the law follows Ben Pazzi…

My teacher, R. Shai Held, explains: “In serving God, consistency and constancy may just be the most important things in the world. The point [of the midrash] is not really that the twice-daily sacrifice is more important than affirming God or learning to love; the point, rather, is that in order to affirm God with the totality of who we are and in order to love others in all of what we do, regularity and steadfastness are essential...”

I fully agree with this, but I think there is a second reason this verse can be seen as foundational.  In this week’s reading, most of the way through the instructions (for the tabernacle and priestly garments and consecration) - we are told to offer the daily sacrifices “at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting before G-d. For there I will meet with you, and there I will speak with you…  I will dwell among the Israelites, and I will be their God.  And they shall know that I am Hashem their God, who brought them out from the land of Egypt so that I might dwell among them—I am Hashem, their God.” 



It is not enough to have G-d dwell among us.  We must know it.  Moreover, the way we come to know it begins with our offerings/prayers – ideally daily.  In our scientific society we often wonder what the purpose of prayer is if we don’t really believe.  This question is predicated on Ben Zoma thinking: that faith is the foundational principle.  I think this portion is teaching us to think like Ben Pazzi.  Prayer can be the foundational principle and through prayer we can “meet with” G-d and then come to “know” matters of faith. 

Upcoming Calendar

Below is a list of upcoming special kiddushes and events. If you would like to contribute to any of these (or to add another kiddush-worthy occasion), please click here and indicate the event in the notes.

3/8 - Torah Club Shabbat

3/15 -Bill Seligman's 60th birthday

3/16 - Purim Seudah

5/17 - Stern Aufruf; Jacki Honig celebrates her ordination

Donations This Week

In memory of Susan Mishler

-from Susan Laemmle & John Antignas

-from Howard Fredman & Essia Cartoon Fredman

-from Alan & Laraine Kokin

-from Jules Kamin

-from Joel & Fran Grossman

-from Suzanne Payne

-from Debbie Rich

In memory of Sophia Braverman

-from Fradya Rembaum

In honor of Bill Seligman's birthday

-from Chaim Klein

-from Susan Laemmle & John Antignas

Haftarah Plethora

This week we again present two episodes of the Haftarah Plethora, and neither one is for the parsha that we read this week, Tetzaveh. But it’s also Shabbat Zakhor. Rick and Larry discuss the perplexing and troubling special Haftarah from the First Book of Samuel. Larry wonders if the trope might suggest Saul’s hesitation in carrying out the morally questionable instructions, and Rick empathizes with Saul’s unfortunate predicament.

The boys also prepared a bonus episode this week for the Haftarah for Fast Day Afternoons to coincide with Ta’anit Esther next Thursday. Larry notes that scholars think that the reading from Isaiah combines different authorships. Rick likes the message in the second half of the Haftarah that foreigners and eunuchs who keep the Sabbath should not be cut off from the people and that their sacrifices be accepted. Shabbat Shalom, Tzom kal, and Hag Purim Sameach.

You can see all of Larry and Rick's recordings here.

Jewish Trivia

Last week's question: Two holidays that are not mentioned in the Torah are Purim and Hanukkah. Of the "historical" events that they celebrate, which occurred first, and by how long? Answer: The events in Shushan are estimated to have taken place in the late 5th or early 4th century BCE. The Macabean revolt happened in the 2nd century BCE. If you want an exact number, traditional Judaism believes that Purim preceded Hanukkah by 216 years.

This week's question: Which is more: the number of countries in Achashverosh's kingdom or the number of days that his party lasted?  (Answer next week.)