Shabbat Blast

Shabbat Blast!!!

Erev Shabbat – September 23, 2016

Candle Lighting: 6:30 pm

Maariv: 8:00

Shabbat, September 24, 2016

Parshat Ki Tavo

Nosh and Drosh 9:00am

Services 9:45am

Motsei Shabbat, September 25, 2016

Selichot

8:00 Refreshements

9:00 Discussion

10:00 Selichot Services

Click here for the flyer for this event!

Dear [first_name]

We are approaching the end of our yearly cycle, the death of Moses, and the end of the 40 years in the desert. In essence, the joining of these moments tells us that each and every year is a lengthy and tumultuous journey. Every year we are unclear about how things will turn out. Every year, we get lost. Every year, the challenges make us suffer and also cause us to grow. We see miraculous things. We avert disaster and sometimes we come face to face with it. We witness incredible human feats and marvel at how our world has changed. And you would think that this would wake us up to greater wisdom. But our Torah tells us that sometimes being witness does is not enough to bring us clarity.

Our Torah portion gives us a little insight into this reality:

“Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: You have seen all that the LORD did before your very eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his courtiers and to his whole country: the wondrous feats that you saw with your own eyes, those prodigious signs and marvels. Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear (Deut. 29:3).”

Although the Israelites saw all the miracles with their very own eyes, there was something that did not quite register. They did not see the importance of God and Torah. According to Rashi, you do not know something is important to you until it is gone.

            Rashi says: I have heard that on the day when Moses gave the Book of the Law to the sons of Levi, as it is written, (Deuteronomy 31:9) “And he gave it to the priests the sons of Levi”, all Israel came before Moses and said to him: Teacher Moses, we, too, stood at Sinai and accepted the Torah, and it was given to us; why, then, do you give the people of your tribe control over it, that they may tomorrow say to us, “Not to you was it given, but to us was it given”? Moses rejoiced at this matter and in reference to this he said to them, (Deuteronomy 27:9) “This day have you become the people [of the Lord thy God]”, meaning, Only this day have I come to understand that you are attached to and have a desire for the Omnipresent.

            It took the Israelites feeling like they would not have any say in Torah, that only Levi would control it to really take ownership of it, to feel like it is theirs. To want to have a say and to be involved. Sometimes outside events wake us up.  You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.

            The trick is to wake up to gratitude before it is too late. May we each have the wake-up calls that we need to appreciate that which is in our lives.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Bernstein

Check us out on Facebook, (Congregation Beth Ohr) Twitter (@Cong_Beth_Ohr) and Instagram (congbethohr)!!!

Selichot: This year’s topic is "Putting God Second: How to Save Religion from Itself"  This will be a first session in a series of talks on Rabbi Doniel Hartman's thought provoking ideas.

Why have the monotheistic religions failed to produce societies that live up to their ethical ideals? Rabbi Doniel Hartman answers this question by looking at his own faith and offering a way for religion to heal itself.

It will be at Congregation Beth Ohr on September 24th, 9:00 PM

Refreshments served beforehand at 8:30

Followed By Selichot Services (10:00 PM), a chance to begin asking for forgiveness in community.

Lori and Ken Blitzer have offered to host Tashlich again. They live right on the water. We will be meeting at their home at 2625 Belmill Rd., Bellmore. BYO Bread!  After, we will reconvene at CBO for Mincha and Maariv.

2016-­5777 High Holiday Schedule 

The New And Improved Junior Congregation! Join Us on Saturday Morning at 10AM in the Muraskin Room for some learning and some noshing.  Our talented Educators will be explaining the Saturday Morning Service, discuss the prayers in depth and how they pertain to each of us, and of course, bagels.  Parents are welcome (Encouraged) to come to the Sanctuary during this time.  Stay for a lovely kiddush with the entire congregation.  Click here for a printable flyer with the dates.  

Upcoming Hazak programming:  

     Oct 23 - Capitol Steps (Comedy Show).

     Nov 9 - Kristalnacht Program.

Sisterhood Programming:

     October 18, Sisters In The Hut!

     November 7, Annual Membership Dinner!

Rabbi's Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class! Starting November 7 at 6pm, join the Rabbi for an informative class to learn all about the Torah/Haftorah Service, the prayers and tunes associated with it, and the history of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah service.  This is geared toward those who do not have any background in the Torah Service.  Flyer is available here.

Ian Randman has an Eagle Scout Project in memory of Shawn Asman, whose mom is a current member of CBO. Here is his note:  “Hi, I have created the crowdfunding campaign. The project is being done in memory of Shawn Asman, a student that attended Calhoun High School but passed away in December of 2014. All other information regarding the project is included in the campaign: Ian's Eagle Scout Project at Calhoun High School. Thank You, Ian”