From the President:

Some weeks I struggle as to what I should write in this space. My main goal is to covey the message that we all should appreciate the Kehillah that we have all worked so hard to accomplish. So many of our congregants work behind the scenes to make sure that our shul runs smoothly. They do this not for any recognition but they do such acts just to make sure that we are a successful shul. These acts include everything from cleaning to shopping, to changing the garbage, to preparing foods and coordinating events. Most help provide the funds needed to continue having a building that we can be proud of. No matter what role you play, I can honestly say it is most appreciated. 

  We offer so many opportunities for congregants to take advantage of what we have to offer. First and foremost of course is we have a place to daven together but there are also opportunities to learn, to interact socially as well as to help the community at large through social action events. My message to all is to continue to be involved in which any way you feel you can contribute to our amazing Kehillah, but please be involved---it takes a village!

  This Shabbat we read parsha Zachor which we are all obligated to hear. Please make an extra effort to attend shul so that you may fulfill this commandment.

  Another goal of mine is to have you enter Shabbat with a smile. So here goes: We all know that during the football season, when the Bills have short yardage to attain, there was the famous Josh Allen "tush push". Now that we are getting close to purim, maybe Haman played football as well and at times needed that extra push to get into the end zone. Maybe that's why we eat "Haman tush in"! (I tried).



  Shabbat Shalom.

  Jeff



From the Rabbi:

Yartzheit minyan this Thursday night (3/6) at 7 pm. Please make every effort to support Joel Marks in saying Kaddish for his mother.

This week we're reading Parsha Tetzaveh, which deals primarily with the priestly garments, their purpose, their construction and their exact parameters. Then we'll have a special Maftir reading called Parshat Zachor.

We read Parshat Zachor every year on the Shabbat immediately preceding Purim. Hearing this reading fulfills the Mitzvah D'Oraita - the scriptural commandment - of remembering what Amalek did to us. Amalek was a desert raider people that ambushed us on the way out of Egypt. Amid the vulnerability of being recently freed slaves wandering in the desert and thirsting for water, this ruthless attack which included widespread sexual violence, and not just against women, was a major traumatic event in our people's history. We're told by God that we need to remember what they did to us and to obliterate the memory of Amalek. We bind this reading to Purim because Haman was and Amalekite, a descendant of Agag, the Amalekite king in the days of Saul, of whom we will read in the Haftarah.

Nearly every year, (except on leap years) we read these two Parshiot together. So the question is why? What is the common thread that binds together Tetzaveh and Zachor? On the outside, it doesn't really make sense. Why the priestly garments and the remembering the attack of Amalek?  

One level is a historical connection. Our sages tell us in the Gemara (Megillah 11b) that Ahasuerus intentionally wore the priestly garments at his great feast at the beginning of the Megillah. He intentionally wore the priestly garments because he had calculated that the 70 years of exile had ended, and since the Jews weren't redeemed, they weren't going to be redeemed. So, his big party was intended as a victory-over-Hshem party where he wanted to flaunt that he had defeated God by wearing the Priestly garments and drinking from the Holy Vessels of The Temple. What audacious nerve! To wear the clothes which are supposed to represent God in order to show your defiance of Him.

We can also see that the very same words which are used to describe the purpose of the priestly garments as are used to describe Ahasuerus' party.  It says (Ex. 28:2) "You shall make holy garments for Aaron, your brother, for honor and for beauty". And we see also that when Ahasuerus is showing off, these same words are being used to describe his lavish party. (Esther 1:5) "He showed the rich honor of his kingdom and the precious beauty of of his grandiosity". Notice also the difference between the Kohanic vestments which are 'for Honor and Beauty' as values into and of themselves and Ahasuerus' use of those clothes to show honor for his wealth and kingdom and the beauty of his grandiosity.

There's another set of buzz-words used both in connection to Amalek and in Parshat Tetzaveh, which further underscores the theme of presence or absence of God. If we look at the attack of Amalek as it appears at the end of Parsha Beshalach, the context of the attack is really striking. We were there in Refidim, we were thirsty and we started arguing with God. (17:7-8) "He called that place, Masa U'meriva, 'test and quarrel' because of the quarrel that Israel had when they tested Hashem saying, 'Is Hashem among us or not?' And along came Amalek..." Only in the context of our doubt regarding Hashem's presence among us did Amalek attack us unprovoked. They did unspeakably terrible things, especially to those who were struggling outside the camp, and we carry that trauma to this day, and to our great pain we continue to re-live it again and again. 

Now, if the doubt of "is G-d among us or not" is the context of Amalek's attack, it makes perfect sense that we're reading Parsha Tetzaveh along with Zachor. At the end of the sixth aliyah of Tetzaveh, Hashem gives us a sort of a summary of the whole purpose of the Mishkan and of the Priestly Garments. It says, (29:46) (29:46) "And they shall know that I Hashem am their God, who brought them out from the land of Egypt so that I dwell among them — I Am Hashem their God." That knowledge, that God dwells among/within us, this is the whole purpose and function of the Bigday Kahuna and of the Mishkan. And so it makes perfect sense that Parshat Tetzaveh is THE perfect antidote to the doubt which leaves us vulnerable to Amalek's attack.

As we move towards Purim and deal with all the hatred thrown our way in Israel and around the world, let us really KNOW that Hashem IS within our midst.

Shabbat Shalom,

Shlomo

Purim is coming!! March 13 & 14.

Ta'anit Esther, Thursday 3/13

• 6:06 am Fast Begins 
• 6:45 am Shacharit   
• 6:45 pm Mincha 
• 7:00 pm Shiur 
• 7:45 pm Maariv & Matanot L'evyonim 
• 8:00 pm Megillah Reading 

Purim Day Friday 3/14 

• 6:45 am Shacharit and Megillah Reading
• 5:15 pm Mincha
• 5:30 pm Megillah Reading 
• 6:15 pm Purim Seudah
• 7:00 pm Candle Lighting, and K.S. / Maariv.
• 7:45 pm Kiddush and continuing Seudah

Classes This Week



• Shabbat 5:15 PM before Mincha
• Sunday at 7:00 PM - KOT Beit Midrash 
• Tuesday at 12:30 PM - Parsha Conversations at Cheryl's office