Temple Ohav Shalom

Rabbi’s Column

jelevin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:26:40 +0000

Hevre,

Its that time of year! Time when I donate my weekly column to a great list of temple community events. So, get out your calendars – virtual or paper – and promptly record a variety of wonderful temple offerings for you and your family!

But first things first: Please order your “Sh’lakh Manot” (Gifts of Friendship) your Purim goody bags brought you by our Women of Ohav Shalom. Contact Cheryl Bradshaw 412-369-0312 or

dcmjcbrad@verizon.net. Order now at www.happypurim.com Mishloach Manot Fundraiser for Women of Ohav Shalom. This is such an important fundraiser for them and our Religious School!!! Thanks.

Now some dates:

Feb. 24th – Jewish Disability Awareness Shabbat 7:30 PM

Feb. 26th – Preschool Open House – 1 PM to 3 PM;

March 4th – Purim Carnival – 11 AM to 1 PM (Special Religious school starting time and program from 10 AM to 11 AM);

March 7th – Preschool Purim Celebration – 10:30 AM;

March 7th – TOS Infamous Purim Megillah Reading and Service 7 PM;

March 27th – “How To Seder” 7 PM;

March 29th – April 1st – Citywide Scholar-in-Residence – Rabbi Shefa Gold

3/29 – “4 Pathways of Intention” – 7:30 PM at TOS (see links below for more info)

rabbishefagold.com , http://rabbishefagold.com/JTA_Article.pdf

April 14th – Saturday “Night at the Races” – TOS awesome community fundraiser and evening of great fun;

April 17th – Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Program (during religious school);

April 20th – Zamru Shabbat 7:30 PM – our innovative musical celebration of shabbat;

April 22nd – 9 AM to 1 PM – J-Serve – greater Pittsburgh Teen Day of Service;

April 26th – 4 PM to 8 PM- JFest – greater Pittsburgh Israel Independence Day celebration in Schenley Park in Oakland, transportation from TOS will be provided;

May 9th – 7 PM Kabbalat Torah (Confirmation) – on Lag B’Omer – 10th grade celebration of learning;

And, of course, you can fill in your calendars with a host of Shabbat services, class dinners, and almost weekly B’nai Mitzvah starting at the end of March through the first weekend of July!!!

Jewish life is thriving in Pittsburgh and especially in our North Hills community!

Thanks to all of us,

Rabbi Art Donsky

Liberation & Love A Weekend with Rabbi Shefa Gold

jelevin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:24:53 +0000

Come prepare your mind and spirit to receive the gift of freedom at Passover during this weekend of enlightenment with renowned spiritual leader, author, and recording artist.

Rabbi Gold, who is in the forefront of the Jewish Renewal movement, will begin her wonderful weekend in Pittsburgh with a workshop at our synagogue entitled:

“4 Pathways of Intention”.

Thursday, March 29 – 7:30 p.m.

This weekend is a wonderful collaboration of Jewish groups and synagogues from the city and those of us in the North Hills including Congregation Dor Hadash, Rodef Shalom Congregation, Temple Ohav Shalom, Temple Sinai, Tikkun Chant, Tree of Life/Or L’Simcha Congregation.

Here is the rest of the weekend’s programs and services:

Friday, March 30 – 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Kabbalat Shabbat Service Congregations Dor Hadash and Tree of Life/Or L’Simcha (5898 Wilkins Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217)

Saturday, March 31 – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Shabbat Morning Service – Temple Sinai

(5505 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217)

8:00 p.m. – Havdallah & Sacred Chant

Rodef Shalom Congregation

(4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213)

Sunday, April 1 – 9:00 a.m.

Workshop: Song of Songs, Preparing for Passover

Rodef Shalom Congregation

Rabbi’s Column

jelevin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:14:00 +0000

Hevre,

Do you have just 10 or 15 minutes a week to spend on some challenging Torah learning without leaving home, your office, or your smartphone? In addition to the Union for Reform Judaism’s (URJ) Ten Minutes of Torah that you can subscribe to ( http://urj.org/learning/torah/ ). Please check out the following link from American Jewish World Service ( http://ajws.org/who_we_are/history.html ).

Using the latest technology, AJWS is committed to bringing Torah on-line with a simultaneous audio and textual study. (Click the first link above to discover this dynamic process.)

http://ajws.org/what_we_do/education/publications/dvar_tzedek/5772/mishpatim.html?utm_source=education&utm_medium=emailutm_campaign=dt

Now, of course, more important than the technology is the Torah itself. From Exodus, Parashat Mishpatim :

22: (20) You shall not wrong or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

23: (9) You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the soul of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.

We know that this command, mitzvah, about how to treat the “stranger” is given 36 times in the Torah (double Chai and symbolic of the mystical concept of 36 righteous unknown individuals in the world who keep it a float). Historical, we Jews have often been the “stranger,” the “outcast,” and the “scapegoat.” Of course, we should not oppress or wrong not just the stranger but also not our neighbor! Don’t we already know this intuitively? Why study this text again and again? I don’t want to give away any more of what this D’var Tzedek (Teaching of Justice) has to teach so please go and check it out using the link above. Suffice it to say, there are many, many ways of “knowing” – how we may act to “know” the heart and soul of the stranger in our community – that is our question!

B’shalom,

Rabbi Art Donsky

PS Check out a wonderful story in the Jewish Chronicle about two of our students, Max and Paige Duhl and their upcoming B’nai Mitzvah at our congregation. Click on the link: http://thejewishchronicle.net/view/full_story/17362669/article-Twins-on-autism-spectrum-to-mark-b%E2%80%99nai-mitzva–?instance=home_news_metro_right

Jewish Disability Awareness Shabbat Reminder

jelevin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:11:05 +0000

Hi my name is Max Duhl and I’m helping to organize the Disability Awareness Service which will be at 7:30 pm on February 24th. This is my mitzvah project for my B’Nai Mitzvah. I picked this project because I had ideas about ways to improve the service for persons with a disability or special needs. At this service, all people with all types of disabilities are welcome because the goal of the service is to include everyone. So if you know of people in our community invite them to this service. There will be methods to support disabilities such as printed lyrics for songs, schedule of prayers and opportunities for movement. If you’ve read this you should come to experience the interesting, fun and creative service we have planned. (Just so you know there will be food after as well. My mother and I are doing great tasting allergen free, no peanuts, gluten, casein or soy). Please also support my sister Paige. For her B’Nai Mitzvah project she will be collecting allergen free food for Paige’s Pantry and distributing to North Hills Community Outreach.

No related posts.

Annual Purim Carnival new time this year for even more fun!!!!

jelevin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:09:57 +0000

Sunday School will be 10-11 on March 4^th with Megillah reading and fun for the kids. Then stay for Purim Carnival, lunch and bingo 11-1pm. Don’t forget your costume!!!

Attention bakers: please donate to the Purim Carnival Bake Sale! While hamentaschen are particularly appreciated, most anything sweet that you’d like to bake will add to our profit and enjoyment. Just bring in your donation the morning of the Carnival, or if you prefer to drop it off in advance, contact Ginger Solomon at Mensches@zoominternet.net or 412-548-2164.

Shalack Manot Baskets for Purim

March Lunch-n-Learn with Rabbi Donsky

jelevin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:08:23 +0000

“What’s up with all the rules for Passover?” Join Rabbi Donsky for an open conversation about the celebration of Passover and the food rules that have been passed down to us. Monday, March 12, 2012 at 12 noon. In “The Sacred Table”, (CCAR Press), Rabbi Mary L. Zamore, asks what approach should reform Jews take when it comes to Passover? Do we sell chameitz or not? How clean is clean for Passover? Or is it enough to eat Matzah on the first day? Bring your bag lunch and your questions!

Agency for Jewish Learning Honors Rabbi Art Donsky

Welcome Rabbi Shefa Gold!

Amanda — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:59:18 +0000

Liberation & Love:

A Weekend with Rabbi Shefa Gold

Click HERE for More Information!

Rabbi’s Column

Rabbi’s Column

jelevin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:17:40 +0000

Hevre (Friends),

Over the years I have developed, what I believe to be, a healthy appreciation for the writings of Post-Gazette columnist, Tony Norman. I did go through withdrawal when he received a sabbatical a few years ago. Whether one agrees with his opinions, or not, you know he writes what’s on his heart always in a very profound and eloquent way. So what a surprise to find out this week that an interfaith panel in which I will participate in honor, Rev. Absalom Jones (more about him in a minute), will also include Mr. Norman!

I guess for me this is like the Super Bowl (sorry Giants and Patriot fans). The man is brilliant, articulate, clever, and able to chop down tall hypocrites with a single turn of a phrase. I know that many NFL players beside Tim Tebow ask for God to be on their side in the huddle, all I will be humbly asking of the Holy One this Saturday morning at Trinity Episcopal (Bill Lowenberger, Deb Bass, Linda Greenberg and Julie Krassenstein will lead our services here) when I meet this flesh and blood hero of mine, is simply to be able to string together a least one comprehensible sentence in addition to a calm hello. God help me!

Yes, I have always been in awe of terrific writers and columnists since I was kid reading the New York Times each morning as my mother, Rose, z’l, of blessed memory, prepared breakfast. Interestingly, my older brother, Marty, is the one who became a newspaper journalist and columnist for many years – me, a rabbi, go figure. Of course, I would read the sports page, but then quickly turn to the Op-Ed pages. Nineteen years ago when I first arrived in Pittsburgh, I was quite thrilled to discover the Post-Gazette’s variety of opinions.

Last year and again this year, with a different cast of panelists (I guess I passed their test), I will be part of group including La’Tasha Mayes, Candy Castleberry Singleton and Tony Norman with moderator, Rev. David Hooker (who will later preach following lunch), who will join together in honor Absalom Jones Day. Rev. Jones was the first African-American to be ordained a minister in the Episcopal Church ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absalom_Jones ). The theme of the celebration, that begins at 10 AM is, “ We are All Sisters and All Brothers with One Father “. The program will begin with the presentation of the video, “The Myth of Race.” It will once again be an honor for me participate in this program, this time with my hero, Mr. Norman, and on behalf of our North Hills community. Too often, with regard to citywide interfaith programs we, in the North Hills Jewish community, are not part of picture. I am so grateful to be able to serve our community in this positive and joyful way.

B’shalom,

Rabbi Art Donsky

Teacher Appreciation Shabbat Services and Oneg on Friday March 2, 2012

jelevin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:16:40 +0000

On behalf of the entire congregation, the members of the Women of Ohav Shalom would like to invite everyone to attend the Teacher Appreciation Shabbat Services and Oneg on Friday, March 2^nd at 7:00pm. Please join us for an evening of worship and celebration with our Teachers and Ozrim!!

Israel Dog Center for the Blind – B’nai Mitzvah Project of David Fassler

jelevin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:15:04 +0000

My name is David Fassler and my Bar Mitzvah is March 31^st, 2012. For my B’nai Mitzvah project I chose to support the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind. This organization is based in Israel and its charter is to raise and train puppies to become guide dogs for blind people in Israel.

I chose this charity because it blends my love of dogs with my desire to help out people in need. It makes me feel good inside to help people and make the world a better place for them.

The puppies are well cared for by foster families and experts from the Guide Dog Center begin the puppies training at the foster family’s home. Puppies that are deemed to be suitable guide dogs go to the center for more intensive training. They must pass a real life on the street test to officially become a guide dog.

At this time the dog is matched up with an owner and they begin training together so they can get to know each other and learn about each other. The owner becomes comfortable with the guide dog and the dog acclimates itself to the owners habits and routines.

These dogs are truly extraordinary. They really enhance the lives of blind people as they enable them to get out of their homes and enjoy and explore life. They can go shopping, go out to dinner, go to work, go to a park, meet friends and do so many other things they were unable or would not do without the assistance of their new best friend.

It costs $500 to support a puppy for its first year of life. I have already reached that goal, so I have extended my goal to support two or possibly three puppies. I plan to continue fundraising beyond my bar mitzvah and I will donate a percentage of the gifts I receive to the charity.

If you feel it in your heart to donate to this great cause, please go to the following website: igdcb.donorpages.com/Mitzvah/DavidFassler/, click on the blue DONATE button, and follow the instructions to make your donation. Thank you in advance for you support.

David Fassler

Bat Mitzvah Project