Shabbat Blast

Shabbat Blast!!!

Erev Shabbat – October 14, 2016

Candle Lighting: 5:56 pm

Maariv: 8:00

Shabbat, October 15, 2016

Parshat Ha’azinu

THERE IS NO NOSH AND D’RASH THIS WEEK!!!

Services 9:30 am

Mark Bortnick has Yahrzeit for his mother, Elaine, and requests a Minyan for Saturday evening, Oct 15^th  @ 6:45PM @ CBO and Sunday morning, Oct 16 @ 9AM @ CBO

Dear [first_name]
 
What makes Hallel on Sukkot different from Hallel on any other occasion?
Lulav and etrog of course!
 
On Sukkot, after the Shaharit morning service, we pause before reciting Hallel. We take our beautiful lulav out of its protective case and carefully remove the fragrant etrog from its box. Holding the lulav in our dominant hand, and the etrog with the pitam facing down (the stem facing up) in our weaker hand, we recite the blessing:
 
Baruh ata Adonai, eloheinu melekh ha’olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetsivanu al netilat lulav.
 
The first time we take lulav and etrog, we also recite the Sheheheyanu blessing. Then, we flip the (so that the pitam faces up, the stem faces down), and shake and lulav and etrog 18 times.
Three times in the direction of Jerusalem (which is east, the direction we face when we pray),
Three times south,
Three times west,
Three times north,
Three times upwards,
Three times downwards.
 
I've seen about his many ways of shaking the lulav and etrog as I've seen Jews performing this ritual. The preferred practice is to shake the lulav and etrog such that we are pulling them towards our hearts, much the same as when we bless the Shabbat candles, we move our arms in circles towards our hearts.
 
And then?
 
We hold the lulav and etrog throughout Hallel.

CLICK HERE to listen to Hodu L'Adonai Ki Tov

Recorded by Cantor Sarah Myerson, using the Na'anu'im melody for Sukkot.

At the beginning of Psalm 118, the last psalm of Hallel, we again shake the lulav and etrog.
So the Shaliah Tsibur chants all four lines, and shakes only during the first two lines, whereas the congregation chants only the first line (four times) and shakes each time.
Why is this important?

The idea of having a Shaliah Tsibur is to appoint a prayer leader, who at certain times, serves as the congregation’s proxy. By hearing the Shaliah Tsibur chant all four lines, it is as if you yourself have chanted them, much the same as hearing the Torah chanted by the Ba’al Koreh, and the Shofar blown by the Ba’al Teki’a. If the Shaliah Tsibur is not someone though whom congregants can fulfill their obligations, for example, a child under the age of B’nei Mitzvah, then they must chant all four lines themselves.

Traditionally, a female Shaliah Tsibur falls into the same category as a child, in that another Jew cannot fulfill his obligations if she is acting as his proxy. The Conservative movement, however, has determined that female prayer leaders may, indeed, take on this responsibility, which was a crucial step in the path towards ordaining and investing women clergy.

As a female Shaliah Tsibur, when I hear congregants chanting all four lines themselves, i.e., responding to my “yomar” with “yomar” instead of with “hodu,” I feel sad, because even if it is not their intention, it feels to me that I am being dismissed, halakhically, as their prayer leader. It is my hope that through increased awareness, we can become more sensitive to the consequences of our words and our actions, especially so soon after Yom Kippur! I promise not to take it personally if anyone accidentally answers my "yomar" with "yomar" instead of "hodu."

Let’s try this model over the coming days, of everyone responding to each of those first four lines of Psalm 118 by shaking the lulav and etrog  while robustly chanting “hodu." I'm looking forward to celebrating Sukkot together. Until then, wishing you a Shabbat Shalom and Hag Sukkot Sameah,

The New And Improved Junior Congregation! Join us for our next great Junior Congregation on October 29, 10AM in the Muraskin Room. There will be learning, there will be 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.  

Shabbat Project! Save the entire weekend! We will be starting with the Great Challah Bake on Thursday November 10 at Temple Israel of South Merrick.   Saturday November 11, we will have an afternoon in the park, and Havdallah and Seudat Shlishit at Congregation Ohav Shalom

Upcoming Hazak programming:  

     Oct 23 - Capitol Steps (Comedy Show).

     Nov 9 - Kristalnacht Program.

Sisterhood Programming:

     October 18, Midrash and Merlot!

     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 don  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”