Torah Study, 1st and 3rd Saturdays 8:30 am via Zoom
Summer Schedule
August 15
September 5
Contact Suzanne (suz_darby@hotmail.com) for information and study guide
Topic: Torah Study Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 845 9030 4211
Shabbat Morning Service – Saturday, August 8th, 10:00 AM
Our Torah portion is Re’eh, which focuses largely on kashrut and the Jewish calendar. But instead of a sermon related to that text, Rabbi Gail will lead an interactive discussion about the meaning of peace, based on having just returned from a month in Jerusalem and on recent events between the United States and Iran. Folksongs about peace will be interspersed throughout the service. We hope that you will be able to join us, but the service will also be offered on Zoom in the event that you cannot.
Religious School Begins Sept 6
We’re excited to welcome everyone back for a new year of learning and community! Sunday School at Sha’are Shalom begins on Sunday, September 6 (time TBD) and we can’t wait to see our students and families for another fun and meaningful year of Jewish learning, friendship, and celebration. Our first day will focus on getting to know each other, determining each student’s goals for the year, and learning about the High Holy Days.
Interested in joining the religious school or volunteering, email lizgilpin@gmail.com.
Liz Mildenstein
301-752-0761 (c)
Email: lizgilpin@gmail.com
Individual vs. Communal Atonement
The Talmud says in Shevuot 39a:
כׇּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֵבִים זֶה
בָּזֶה “All Israel is responsible one for another.”
The Sages interpret this as arising directly from Leviticus 26:37: “And they shall stumble one upon another.” They read this as meaning that we metaphorically trip over somebody else because of his/her sins. The entire community bears responsibility for the iniquity of any one of us.
I see a change from the collective in Biblical times to the individual in our times. Leviticus 16 instructs Aaron (and the High Priests who follow him) about the protocol of Yom Kippur: He must start by atoning for the sins of himself and his household. Once he has been purified, he atones for the sins of the entire Children of Israel.
The prophet Micah (7:18-19) gives us a similar picture: the Children of Israel as a whole being forgiven their transgressions and taken back into God’s favor out of love.
In II Samuel 12, Nathan tells a story to King David about a rich man who confiscated the only lamb of a poor man. King David flies into a rage, exclaiming that this man should be killed, to which Nathan responds, “That man is you!” This appears to be a pivotal moment in our story, when an individual is assigned full responsibility for his own actions.
As we move through the month of Elul, preparing for the High Holydays, traditionally we review our words and deeds of the previous year and begin the process of teshuva – apologizing, making things right – that will take us into the Days of Awe. This is a fully individual process, and yet we still come together as a community and chant the words of public communal confession together, as in days of old. This reminds us that, even in our own time, our reckoning is never just ours to carry.
SAVE THE DATE
Congregational Annual End of Summer Picnic
Sunday August 30th at Noon
Save the Date
Picnic will be held at Congregation Sha’are Shalom
Food & Games- Watch for more information
CONGREGATION SHA’ARE SHALOM IN THE COMMUNITY
Capital Camps in Waynesboro PA invited Synagogues, Youth Groups and Day School representatives from the Jewish community to visit the camp during the second session of the season. 51 representatives from 23 partners attended. Congregation Sha’are Shalom was proudly represented this year by our Religious School director Liz Mildenstein and Activity Coordinator Melissa Gilpin. Our delighted campers Mia Mildenstein, Linus Ball and Robert Ball along with a special family friend Madeline Wachutka were delighted to share the special surprise visit. Capital Camps is a wonderful opportunity to make friend and celebrate Jewish life with young people from around the world . Shabbat is a favorite time for all of our campers to share with their family.
Fund Raiser For Personnel
Dear Members,
Congregation Sha’are Shalom has started a never ending Fundraiser to pay for Security at our synagogue.
We want all our members to feel safe coming to services and events at the Synagogue, so we will be having
Security Personnel there at all events.
There will be a tab under Donation on our website where you can make a donation for Security.
Thank you in advance.
Jackie – Treasurer
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR MEMBERS
The Brag Space for Members to share special moments and events
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Lead a Friday evening Shabbat service — we’ll help you!
We at Sha’are Shalom are proud of our long tradition of member participation in everything our synagogue does — including leading Friday night services. While we’re fortunate to have Rabbi Gail Fisher on the second Saturday morning of most months, it’s our own congregants who lead the evening service on the fourth Friday.
Our prayer book makes it easy — just choose your favorite reading from each two-page spread, either in English or Hebrew, spoken or sung. We even have some pre-chosen plans to use. The pressure is very low — the audience is usually small and supportive. If you’d rather not write a brief d’var Torah (a mini-sermon on how something from the week’s Torah portion might apply to our lives today), Suzanne Darby has volunteered to write it; and if you’re hesitant about leading songs, I can help out with that.
We’d just like more of our members to come up and play a part in services, and so we’re eager to help any way we can.
You don’t have to know Hebrew, and you just have to be past bar/bat mitzvah age. You can even enlist your spouse and/or kids to be your co-leaders. We’re looking for volunteers for Friday evenings. Please contact me at myerspat@gmail.com to sign up or for more information.
See you at our next service
HELP WANTED
Dates Available for Oneg Sponsors
Shar’are Shalom each Saturday morning (every 2nd Saturday) and Friday night (every 4th Friday) service at the temple ends with the pleasure of fellowship. A little nosh usually makes this fellowship last longer and adds to its delightfulness. Each post service nosh or oneg requires an Oneg Sponsor. Whether it is wine, juice, a challah, and some cookies, or even more – it is always appreciated by those in attendance.
Contact Marshall Jones (Mjones.shaare@gmail.com) if you would like to sponsor an oneg or lead a Friday Night Service or have any questions about doing either.