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Congregation Agudas Achim
 
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Shabbat Shalom!
May 24, 2012 - 3 Sivan 5772
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Greetings!
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Shavuot
God tells Moses not to allow the sheep or cattle to graze on Mt. Sinai. Why would they want to? According to our rabbis, God miraculously adorned the mountain with plants and greenery in order to beautify the event of the giving of the Torah. Back in the day, there was a sacred tradition to decorate the sanctuary of the shul with plants and flowers to in an effort to dramatize and recreate this aspect of the original Shavuot experience. In some places, the entire floor would be covered in clipped grasses. Unfortunately, this practice was discontinued by well-meaning leaders who felt that filling a shul with plants seemed out of sync with shul decorum (and maybe cleaning up after was a daunting prospect too). Still, the idea that we should seek to recreate dramatically the Sinai experience retains its appeal.
At the moment of the revelation of the Torah, God addressed the people with the words, "I am the Lord your God..." The Hebrew word for "your God" is in the singular. This is puzzling, because there were many thousands of people present. Why would God use the singular "you" when the plural form would have been grammatically proper? The midrash answers, although God addressed thousands of people all at once, each individual experienced the moment as if God was speaking personally to him or her. Jewish practice emphasizes the communal nature of prayer. Examples of this include the insistence on making a minyan and the routine of reciting the same words together at key points of the service. However, we need to also try to recreate the Sinai experience. We need to find a way to encounter God and prayer, not only as members of a community, but also as individuals seeking a personal relationship with the holy.
B'Yedidut (w/friendship),
Rabbi Mitch Levine
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More on this Shabbat
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Candle lighting is at 8:31 p.m. Mincha begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Irving and Frances Schottenstein Chapel, followed by Kabbalat Shabbat.
Shabbat morning services begin at 9:00 a.m. in the chapel. 
We are grateful to all our talented and committed congregants who honor us by reading Torah each week. This week's Torah reader is Ed Frankel. Joel Cohen will be reading the Haftorah. Ed will also be reading the Torah at Shabbat mincha. If you would like to help read Torah, or learn to read Torah, please contact Leah Weintraub at lbw001@columbus.rr.com.
This Shabbat (Memorial Day Weekend) we will be recognizing the heroism of Lt. Steven Zilberman, who died when his plane went down returning from a mission in Afghanistan. Steven managed to save the lives of his crew members before perishing. He was the only child of Boris Zilberman & Anna Sokolov, who will join me on the bima to lead the Prayer for the U.S. in their son's honor and memory.
Babysitting on Saturday morning begins at 10:00 a.m. in Room 210. Junior Congregation begins at 10:00 a.m. in the conference room. Tot Shabbat begins at 11:00 a.m. in the library. Kiddush is sponsored by Allan & Susan Zelman in honor of their California children and grandchildren Alisa, Jim, Sammy and Joey Finsten. Babysitting, Tot Shabbat, and Junior Congregation will be on hiatus over the summer (from June 2 - August 18). They will resume on August 25. Upcoming guest D'var Torah speakers are*: June 2 - Larry Garvin *Speakers subject to change. Woodchoppers are not meeting this week.
Shavuot Schedule
Erev Shavuot - Saturday, May 26 Maariv 9:15 PM 1st Night Shavuot Candle Lighting 9:32 PM Tikkun Leil Shavuot 9:40 PM First Day Shavuot - Sunday, May 27 Morning Services 9:00 AM Mincha 6:30 PM 2nd Night Shavuot Candle Lighting 9:33 PM Second Day Shavuot - Monday, May 28 Morning Services 9:00 AM Yizkor approximately 10:00 AM Mincha 6:30 PM Yom Tov Ends 9:34 PM
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Minyan Schedule
| Regular  services on Sunday are at 9:00 a.m. & 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday morning services are at 7:00 a.m. Monday-Thursday evening services are at 5:45 p.m.
If you are saying Kaddish for a loved one, please invite family and friends to help make a minyan.
Please do a mitzvah, and help make a minyan!
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Upcoming Events
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Saturday, May 26 - Tikkun Leil Shavuot, 9:15pm
Wednesday, May 30 - Evening in Paradise, 7-9pm
Sunday, June 10 - Annual Meeting, 10am (light breakfast will be served)
Sunday, July 22 - AA's 2nd Garage Sale!
If you find yourself with more time on your hands than you need,
the office can always use an extra pair of helping hands! Call Bobbie
if you're interested - 237-2747 ext. 11 or email Bobbie.
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Simchas for the Week
|  Happy Birthday to: Sarah Alexander, Marcia Friedman, Keshet Levine, Lexie Neuhoff, Mitchell Cohen, Jason Mellman, Rebecca Landon, Terri Schottenstein, Shira Cohen, Eugenia Erlij, Yefim Fishman, Mara Dashkovskaya, Ronald Weisman, Miranda Gutter, Marcia Hershfield and Gideon Weinberg.
Happy Anniversary to: Jeff & Aliza Levy, Stuart Keller & Michelle Dubrow, Elan & Jamie Daniel, Chuck & Ellen Weiden, and Gary & Stacy Beckman.
Mazel Tov to: Marjorie Rosen on the birth of a great-grandson, Alfred Joseph Schwartz, to Stacy & Joshua Schwartz. |
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Yahrzeits this week
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This week we mark the following yahrzeits and remember: Eugene Farago, Sol Dworkin, David Feerer, Ben Gross, Bessie Kritzer, Israel Levinstein, Ben Tolpen, Carol Ward, Adele Weiden, Harry Freed, Sofia Khidekel, Jerome Stan, Marshall Lashen, Estene Silbert, Ida Bornstein, Miron Zilberman, Sarah Weisskerz, Mordechai Komessar, Abe W. Robins, Albert Ostrovietsky, Dora Eichenbaum, and Gussie Silber.
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Tikkun Leil Shavuot: On the Road to Sinai Together
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 Tifereth Israel is joining us for an exciting night of Torah study!
Saturday night, May 26 - Maariv is at 9:15pm and the Tikkun will take place from 9:40pm-1:00am. Delicious snacks will be served throughout the Tikkun.
Presenters:
Rabbi Harold Berman - "That Tenth Commandment: What's so bad about a little coveting?"
Cantor Jack Chomsky - "Sing Along with Ruth"
Rabbi Melissa Crespy - "It's Not Right to Leave Out Our Mothers; Including the Matriarchs in our Prayers"
Daniel Frank - "The Chosen People and the Giving of the Torah"
Ed Frankel - "Kaddish: Content & Usage; It's not just for mourners"
Dale Levy - "What do you mean when you say 'God'?"
Rabbi Mitch Levine - "Jewish Atheism"
Eran Rosenberg - "Jewish Education in the 21st Century: Implementing Curriculum Integration Today to Prepare Students for Tomorrow"
Kenny Steinman - "How can the Torah be holy if it appears to be a human document?"
Rabbi Michael Ungar - "The Book of Ruth and Why We Should Proselytize"
Rabbi Yossi Zylberberg - "How to Make Prayer Spiritual and Personal"
We look forward to seeing you there! |
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Evening in Paradise - May 30
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Agudas Achim presents
"Evening in Paradise"
May 30, 2012 7 - 9 p.m.
Featuring Paradise Island Band playing decades of popular songs that everyone loves!
Music, Dinner, Dancing & Fun!
To purchase your tickets, call Bobbie, 237-2747, ext. 11; email: bshkolnik@agudasachim.org.
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Book Club - June 5
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 The next Book Club meeting is on June 5 at 1:00 p.m.; they will be discussing Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman. For more information about Agudas Achim's Book Club, please contact Helena Schlam at 614-267-9515 or helenaschlam@aol.com.
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Agudas Achim CSA - Sign up today!
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Join Agudas Achim's CSA today!
Be a part of a community that has a responsible relationship between people and the food they eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it.
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. A CSA is formed when a community joins together and forms a relationship with a local farmer. CSA members buy a share in the local farm and get weekly distributions of fresh locally grown produce. Members pick up 7-10 lbs. of produce each week at the designated pick up location (for us Agudas Achim). Summer CSA's begin in early June and go until the end of October. The average length of a CSA is 20 weeks.
The fruits and veggies are not genetically modified or highly sprayed. Therefore, the produce depends on the harvest of the season.
What you might find in your basket: Mixed Greens, Tomatoes, Summer Squash, Watermelons, Cantaloupe, Peppers, Cucumbers, Sweet Corn, Potatoes, Garlic, Dill/Cilantro, Kale, Snow Peas, Strawberries and more!
For more information, or a registration form, please call Bobbie at 237-2747 ext. 11
or email bshkolnik@agudasachim.org or agudascsa@gmail.com.
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Garden Vegetable Markers
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 PLAN AHEAD for your garden needs. The Agudas Achim Green Team is selling Vegetable Markers (nicer than the garden store supply)!! Markers are sturdy and long lasting. We have a wide selection of styles. Order by the vegetable (not the animal). Contact Shaaron Fisher at 614-203-6570 to place your orders. Markers are $3.00 each. Proceeds support our garden & our continued efforts to be a green synagogue.
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GrapeVine
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 Have you heard? There is a new way to connect to the Jewish community in Columbus - GrapeVine.
Visit www.grape-vine.com to learn about the variety of different opportunities and programs in the community that can enhance your Jewish experience.
Columbus' Jewish community has a new way to learn about what is going on. Visit www.grape-vine.com and sign up to connect to all things Jewish in Columbus. GrapeVine amalgamates everything going on in the community and has a variety of different opportunities and programs in the community to enhance your Jewish experience.
For more information, visit www.grape-vine.com or watch this short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Upqi8PUis&feature=relmfu.
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Around the Community
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"Taste of Melton" - class in Bexley on May 29 at 7:00pm and in New Albany on May 30th at 9:45am. Please contact Director, Dina Cieplinski at dcieplinski@columbusjcc.org or 559-6238 to learn more and find out the address for these FREE Melton classes.
Blood Drive at the JCC College Ave. - Wednesday, May 30, from 12-6:30 p.m. Arrange an appointment by calling the Red Cross at 1-800-Give Life or go to the Red Cross website at www.redcrossblood.org, sponsor code: tolifecolumbus.
Volunteer Drivers Needed for new JFS Mitzvah Project - Volunteers may request an application or receive more information by contacting Susie Blair at 559-0184 or sblair@jfscolumbus.org.
Hazon Cross USA Ride will pass through Columbus on August 5. For more info, please visit hazon.org/crossusa.
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