Iyunai Shabbat – Reflections on Parashat Hashavua (weekly Torah portion)
lyunei Shabbat is published weekly in English, Hebrew and Spanish by the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary and The Rabbinical Assembly of Israel in conjunction with the Masorti Movement in Israel and Masorti Olami-World Council of Conservative Synagogues and funding from the WZO Pluralistic Religious Services Funding . You can access Iyunei Shabbat online http://www.schechter.org.il/iyounei_chabate.asp or receive it in a weekly e-mail by subscribing to: rabschool@Schechter.org.il
Although you may not have even finished eating all those beautiful mishloach manot goodies you received for Purim, it's time to think ahead to Pesach. In Israel, with the full bloom of wildflowers and the hamsin winds beginning to blow, we can feel that the holiday is on its way. A variety of cleaning supplies are prominently displayed at bargain prices in supermarkets, just in case we need to be reminded of what we must do in the weeks ahead!
Pesach--also called Chag Hamatzot, "Festival of the Matzot", Zeman Cheiruteinu - "Season of our Freedom" and Chag Ha'aviv –"the Spring Festival", begins on the 15th day of Nissan which corresponds this year to Monday evening, April 2nd and lasts for eight days (seven days in Israel). The first two and last two days are holidays (only first and last days in Israel). The days in between are called Chol Ha'moed.
For more than 3,000 years, Jews have sat down in family and community groups to remember, celebrate and re-experience the redemption and exodus of our people from persecution and slavery. Pesach is a time for reflection and contemplation as well as rejoicing. It's a time to ask ourselves where we see slavery, oppression and exploitation today and what can we do to change the situation for the better.
When typing in “Passover” in a Google search 5,210,000 results came up, so you should have no difficulty finding basic information and background on the holiday, laws, customs, recipes, themes, activities for children, greeting cards, etc.
Jacob Richman’s Hot Sites gives a comprehensive list of web sites in English, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German and Italian. You can also find online Haggadot, children’s sites and more: http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-hdaypa.htm
The Jewish Theological Seminary’s site provides interesting information for people of all ages and backgrounds: http://learn.jtsa.edu/passover/
The website of the Department of Jewish Education at the Jewish Agency for Israel has excellent sources and activities for Pesach, including sample Haggadot. The website is in English French, German, Hebrew, Spanish and Russian. http://www.jafi.org.il/education/festivls/pesach/
It is also worthwhile checking out both www.morim.org and www.madrichim.org, sites sponsored by the Joint Distribution Committee where you will find programs to enhance your activities as well as improve your professional skillsandknowledge.
Wishing you a Chag Sameach v’Kasher! Shana Ha'ba B'Yerushalyim! Next Year in Jerusalem!
Megillat Hashoah - The Shoah Scroll, a unique liturgical text written in six chapters to commemorate the Holocaust will be read this year on Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Day (evening of April 15th through sundown April 16th) at synagogues and public gatherings throughout the world.
Published by the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies and the Rabbinical Assembly, Megillat Hashoah was co-edited by Prof. David Golinkin, President of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies. It has been read in more than 100 synagogues worldwide as part of Yom Hashoah events, just as the scroll of Eichah (Lamentations) is read on Tisha B’av and the Scroll of Esther on Purim. The text has been published in book form in Hebrew, Hebrew-English, Hebrew-French. Hebrew-Spanish and Hebrew-Russian Megillat Hashoah in Hebrew-English can be purchased through the United SynagogueBook Service at: http://booksvc.uscj.org/booksvc/ All five editions can be ordered through the Schechter Institute: www.schechter.edu or www.schechter.ac.il
A Responsum Concerning the Addition of the Imahot (Matriarchs) to the Amidah (Silent Devotion)
A fascinating responsum concerning the addition of the names of the matriarchs to the Amidah prayer was recently published by Rabbi David Golinkin, President of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. This responsum (and others) can be found on the website of the Schechter Institute: http://www.schechter.edu/ (click on “Responsa in a Moment”).
