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Congregation Agudas Achim
 
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Shabbat Shalom!
September 6, 2012 - 19 Elul 5772
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Greetings!
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"This day you have become a nation to the Lord your God" (Deut/Devarim 27:9)
Our parasha declares that on "this day" we became a nation. Really? The experience of enslavement and exodus from Egypt did not make us a people? The moment of Divine revelation of the Torah on Mt. Sinai did not form us into a nation? What about the 40 year period of wandering in the desert? How is it that only now, on "this day," the Torah declares us to have finally achieved the status of peoplehood?
Rashi explains that, originally, Moses intended to vouchsafe the Torah exclusively in the hands of his tribe, the Levites. When the people got wind of this plan (in this week's parasha), they protested vigorously and demanded to have the Torah in the possession of all, lest the Levites someday claim to be the sole heirs to this legacy. Moses was delighted by the enthusiasm of the people and proclaimed that their assertiveness in insisting on direct possession of the Torah had demonstrated that they had thereby earned the status of a nation of God.
One of the religious/ethnic groups that make up Israeli society are the Druze. Years ago, I learned that they divide their community into two parts: the uqqal ("knowers") and the juhal ("ignorant ones"). The former are the educated elite, whereas the latter follow their traditions in ignorance of their religious meaning. The spiritual truths of the Druze are a secret from everyone but the uqqal, including fellow Druze. Judaism, from its inception, was not meant to be this way. Our religion is more democratic. All of us are not only welcome to learn and understand our traditions and practices; we are religiously obligated to do so. It is noteworthy that there are religious traditions in the world that may be satisfied with only a few initiates understanding the underlying meanings of life. Ours is not one of them. So much importance so we attach to the Torah being a public document, we refuse to even read it (ritually) without a public presence (a minyan).
B'Yedidut (w/friendship),
Rabbi Mitch Levine
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More on this Shabbat
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Candle lighting is at 7:36 p.m. Join us at 6:00 p.m. for Cocktails for Kabbalat Shabbat featuring "Levini's Martinis!" Mincha begins at 6:30 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 readers are Eric Fingerhut and Ed Frankel. Karen Elson will be reading the Haftorah. Eric Fingerhut will be reading the Torah at Shabbat mincha. If you would like to help read Torah, or learn to read Torah, please contact Joel Cohen at joelbarrycohen@yahoo.com.
David Greenberg will be giving the D'var Torah,
"Power, Family, and Sex: Why Are Those Rules Carved in Stone?"
Kehilla Kids meets at 10am in the library. Junior Congregation meets in the conference room at 11am. Tot Shabbat/Babysitting meet upstairs in room 210 at 11am.
The Woodchoppers study group is on hiatus until October 13.
Mincha will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Schottenstein Chapel. Havdalah is at 8:36 p.m.
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Minyan
| 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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Friday, September 7 - Cocktails for Kabbalat Shabbat, 6pm
Saturday, September 8 - Selichot Program with June
Gutterman, 9:45pm, followed by a service led by Malachi Kanfer
Sunday, September 9 - Apple Picking at Lynd's Fruit Farm, 10am
Tuesday, September 11 - Book Club meeting w/ Terri Paul, 1pm
Sunday, September 23 - Kever Avot Service, led by Rabbi Mitch Levine & Cantor Baruch Shifman, 10:30am at the New Agudas Achim Cemetery
Sunday, September 23 - Picnic at Three Creeks Park, 5pm
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Simchas for the Week
|  Happy Birthday to: Sara Frankel, Jason Soll, Albert Lavin, Zoe Philips, David Weinberg, and Nicole Beckman.
Happy Anniversary to: Jason & Shari George, Mitchell & Anne Schwartz, Al & Beanie Weiss, and Jim & Yana Schottenstein.
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Yahrzeits this week
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This week we mark the following yahrzeits and remember: Anne Berlin, Leonard Dworkin, Rachel Goldis, Yakov Katon, Sylvia Mellman, Evelyn Solomon, David Mellman, Gitta Stein, Stanley Hohenstein, Sol Shenk, Leo Frankel, Karl Eichenberg, Arthur Goodman, Basya Glimcher, Norman Cohen, and Leonard Zimmerman.
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It's time to order your Lulav & Etrog sets!
| Prices for Lulav & Etrog sets:
Basic - $45 
Standard - $50
Muvchar - $60
Mehudar - $70
To place an order, please call Beverly at 237-2747 ext. 14 or email bward@agudasachim.org. Checks and MC/VISA are accepted.
ALL ORDERS MUST BE IN BY SEPTEMBER 20.
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Selichot Program - This Saturday night, Sep. 8
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Please join us for our Selichot program this Saturday night at 9:45pm.
 June Gutterman, CEO of Jewish Family Services, will be speaking about creating a holy community, and our returning cantor, Malachi Kanfer, will rock the davening!
Refreshments will be served.
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Apple Picking for Rosh Hashanah - This Sunday, Sep. 9
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Agudas Achim is going on a field trip to Lynd's Fruit Farm (9090 Morse Rd. SW, Pataskala) to help pick apples for the shul that will be available on both days of Rosh Hashanah, or buy some for you & your family!
Please note our meeting place has changed: Meet at the Golden Supreme Apple section at 10am. Liat Shaked, the new Schlicha (emissary) from the Columbus Jewish Federation, will lead a family-friendly activity before we start picking apples!
Feel free to park in the shul parking lot and carpool! The event is open to the community, so invite a friend!
For more information, please contact Naomi at 237-2747 ext. 17, or nkurland@agudasachim.org.
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Book Club - September 11
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The next Book Club meeting is on September 11 at 1:00 p.m.; we will be discussing Glass Hearts by Terri Paul. Terri will also be joining the meeting that afternoon. Glass Hearts is the saga of a Jewish family abandoned during World War I in Hungary, as told by a young girl. The book is based on the memories of Terri Paul's 87 year old aunt and other surviving relatives.
In 2000, Terri was the first place prize winner of the Friends of American Writers and the 2000 Ohioana Book Award in Fiction. She was also the recipient of the Columbus Literary Award in Fiction.
For more information about Agudas Achim's Book Club, please contact Helena Schlam at 614-267-9516 or helenaschlam@aol.com.
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Kever Avot Service - September 23
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Sunday, September 23, 10:30am at the New Agudas Achim Cemetery, led by Rabbi Mitch Levine and Cantor Baruch Shifman.
Kever Avot is a brief, dignified service recited at Jewish cemeteries between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in order to fulfill the custom of paying homage to the graves of one's ancestors at this holy time of the year. Following the service, the rabbi and cantor will be available to recite prayers at individual graves at the request of those attending.
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Boys' Night Out - October 17
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Agudas Achim Brotherhood is honoring Dr. Bruce Meyer at this year's Boys' Night Out event that will be held Wednesday, October 17. If you would like to add a special "nachas" for Bruce in the program book ($25), please call Event Chair Ronald Feerer, 614-314-5477.
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Community Outreach & Marketing Fellowship
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The synagogue is searching for a Community Outreach & Marketing Fellow. Salary and benefits. Click here for the job description: Community Outreach & Marketing Fellowship . This is a terrific opportunity for a creative, tech-savvy, and outgoing person.
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Grow & Behold Foods - Gourmet Sustainable Kosher Meat
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Gourmet Sustainable Kosher Meat -
Shipped for less through Columbus Buying Club for Rosh Hashanah!
Order by Monday, September 10th. Pick up your order on September 12th between 6:30-8pm on Ardmore Rd, between Fair Ave & Dale Ave.
The Brooklyn-based Grow and Behold Foods offers a full-line of OU-Glatt Kosher Pastured Beef, Chicken and Turkey available for purchase at www.growandbehold.com and shipped nationwide.
Products include: Beef Roasts, Steaks, Artisanal Sausages, Nitrate-Free Hot Dogs, Kosher Beef Bacon and Pastrami; a full line of lamb, and a full line of chicken and turkey cuts - see the full line-up on their website (listed above).
Special Offer for New Customers! Save $15 off your first order of $100 or more.
Use code "RHBC5773" Expires September 3, 2012.
Visit their website for more information about the Columbus Buying Club. There are no order minimums. Since the shipping cost for the Buying Clubs is calculated based on the total weight of all the orders, the more everyone orders, the less everyone pays for shipping. Please tell your friends about us!
Grow and Behold is committed to offering outstanding customer service every step of the way, and to ensuring that you are thrilled with your order. You can place your order at www.growandbehold.com, or contact them at info@grownadbehold.com or 888-790-5781 if you have any questions.
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Around the Community
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Columbus Young Adult Birthright - This winter, 40 young adults (ages 21-26) from Central Ohio will have the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to go on a FREE Birthright Israel trip. This specially designed trip, sponsored by the Columbus Jewish Federation, will have all the fun and excitement of a normal Birthright trip with the added bonus of exploring our partnership city, strengthening the Columbus community, and making memories that will last a lifetime! Registration for this trip begins September 10th. For more information, please contact Noam Even at neven@tcjf.org or Marla Davis at mdavis@tcjf.org.
Columbus Chapter of HaZamir: the International Jewish High School Choir - Orientation/Informational meeting on Sunday, September 23 at Wexner Heritage House. For more information, click here: Hazamir Columbus.
Zusman Hospice at Wexner Heritage Village invites the community to join them for several free grief programs. "Meals & More" offers a unique and refreshing opportunity to remember your loved one in a safe environment - and an unconventional way. "Meals & More" is offered Wednesday, September 12 from 6:00-7:30 pm, and Thursday, November 15 from 10:00-11:30 am. Reservations are required by calling 614-559-0350. Zusman Hospice will also present the next installment in their Grief Lecture Series on Wednesday, September 19 from 7:00-9:00 pm. The topic will be "Permission to Grieve: Permission to Heal" and there is no need to RSVP. All of these programs will be facilitated by Annie Dalby, Director of Bereavement Services at Zusman Hospice, and will take place at Wexner Heritage House, 1151 College Ave.
Florence Melton Adult Mini School - Can a 4,000 year old text speak to a 21st Century world? Find your answers at the Melton Mini School. "The Florence Melton Adult Mini School provides more than an opportunity for higher learning. It is an opportunity to be part of a community that embraces differences, celebrates similarities and gives insight to the true essence of the Jewish Identity." Please contact Director, Dina Cieplinski at dcieplinski@columbusjcc.org or 559-6238 or http://columbusjcc.org/programs/adult-programs/ to learn more. Classes begin the day after Rosh Hashana. Click for animated video about the Melton Mini School: http://youtu.be/SSv2SLlx02Q.
Camp Ramah - Ramah Wisconsin offers two 2-week sessions for campers entering 4th grade, a 4-week session for campers entering 5th grade, a 4-week session for campers entering 6th grade, and an 8-week session for campers entering 7th-11th grades. Camp Ramah in Wisconsin is a magical place where fun and friendship build Jewish lives. A full range of fun activities integrates Jewish values and observances into the daily camp experience. Meals are kosher, and Shabbat is observed. Look for a recruitment event coming to Columbus this fall. For more information: www.ramahwisconsin.com, 312-606-9316 x221, registrar@ramahwisconsin.com.
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