KAY's Torah Study Opportunities

Talmud class
Talmud class resumes - studying in room D106-7 at the SDJA, Tuesday evening, 7:30pm. All are invited.

KAY Chavurot: Join an informal, social Chavurah study group this year. Meet once a month for social Torah meetings about whatever area of Jewish life you are interested in. Please contact Rav Menashe.

Women's Megillat Esther Reading
If you would like to read for the women only reading, please speak to Donna at 858 605 1111

Community events

SCY High's SCY 2unes Concert
Featuring Eitan Katz
March 23, 2008
7:00 p.m. at the
Lyceum Theatre Downtown
Give generously and enjoy!
For tickets contact scyevent@gmail.com
858-658-0857

AIPAC brunch fundraiser - Mar 30
Tickets $50 to March 3, thereafter $65. Please contact Daniella Lewis 858/603-7553.

JCC Maccabi Games
The JCC Maccabi Games are coming to San Diego next summer, August 3-8, 2008. This Olympic-style event provides a unique combination of sports, cultural and social activities and will be the largest Jewish event in San Diego's history. The JCC Maccabi Games offer a transforming and powerful experience to Jewish teens by integrating sports with Jewish identity and values. The Games will welcome over 1,500 Jewish teen athletes, their families and friends, more than 1,000 volunteers and 650 host families.
The JCC MAccabi games website is now open for registration for all volunteers and/host families. Go to www.jccmacreg.org to register.

Kef Li San Diego
Connect to Israel from San Diego. Check out this website for Israel-inspired programs for the whole family, year round. www.keflisandiego.org Contact Jennie Starr for more
info 858-245-9375 or jennie@keflisandiego.org.

Refuah Sheleima
Please contact Rav Menashe to let him know of any family or friends who are ill.


Member news

New members - we are delighted to welcome our new members Darren & Beryl Youngleson & Family!

Happy birthday to Danya Rosen (Mar 1), Ron Lazarus (Mar 2) and Grant Katzenellenbogen (Mar 5)!

Kiddush
Kiddush this Shabbat is sponsored by the kehilla to wish all congregants a Shabbat of happiness and good health!
Please contact Barbara Lurie at 858/792-7942 if you would like to sponsor kiddush on Shabbat morning.

Membership registration
Your support is vital! Please complete and send in your membership form as soon as possible. To discuss your monthly contribution in strict confidence, please contact Geoff Patz at 858/733-3777. All donations are tax deductible and should be made payable to Kehillat Ahavat Yisrael and mailed to 13030 Brixton Place, San Diego CA 92130-1325. Thank you for your support!

Shabbat services
Friday night services: 6.15 pm. Shabbat morning: 9.30 am. Children's service 10.30 am. Services are held every week in the Bet Midrash of the San Diego Jewish Academy's Carmel Valley campus. Please see our web site for more information and directions.

Shabbat times
- Fri Feb 29: Candle lighting 5.27 PM
- Sat Mar 1: Shabbat ends 6.28 PM

Thought for the week

The Makings of a Community


The opening words of this week's Torah reading, "Vayakhel Moshe," "And Moses gathered the congregation of Israel," serve as an important commentary about growth and success of community. (Exodus 35:1)


Last Shabbat, with the people anxious for a leader, fearing Moshe would never return, the verse states: "Vayikaheil Ha'am," "And the people gathered themselves together against Aaron and said to him ‘make for us a god…"' (Exodus 32:1) This gathering, which would lead to the construction of the golden calf and the young nation's terrible trauma, came as an initiative from the people. Though we often laud grassroots efforts, and cheer the contributions of the collective, this people's project led the community awfully astray.


Turning back to our Torah reading, ‘Moses gathered the congregation,' now takes on added meaning. The last time the community gathered, the people sought an object to worship. Here, Moses gathered the community to offer instruction about Shabbat. (See Exodus, 35:2-3) The community centers itself on an idea, unity emerges around a concept.


Even though this communal gathering moment occurs as a hierarchical, top down push, ‘Moses gathered,' the event marks a significant leap in the people's maturation process. The Midrash Aggadah notes that for the construction of the golden calf the people gave from their personal finances. This week, we see the people return to giving, but now supporting the construction of the Tabernacle. With Moses' guidance, the community repairs its relationship with G-d, and perhaps its shattered self image, by overcoming the very source of its error. The community identifies its problem area and focuses its efforts there with the hopes of healing. (Midrash Aggadah, Shemot, chapter 35)


The community that can actuate its passion through ideas and vision, while responding to the natural byproduct of the imperfect human enterprise that is communal life, will, in Ramban's description, confirm G-d's presence, filling and surrounding that community. (See Ramban, Exodus 35:1)

Shabbat Shalom Umevorach,
Rav Menashe


Kehillat Ahavat Yisrael (Love of Israel - the nation and the land) is a warm, caring Orthodox community welcoming Jews of all backgrounds to personal exploration and growth within Judaism. Our name symbolizes our passionate love for both fellow Jews and the State of Israel. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who you think might be interested. Let us know at any time if you'd like to be removed from this email list.

Contact information:

Rabbi: Rav Menashe and Donna East 858/605-1111

Board:
- President: Michael Lurie 858/794-8278
- Marketing: Ian Aires 858/481-2706
- At large: Barbara Berkovich 858/353-1420
- Programs: Gary Lewis 858/538-2330
- Programs: Jeff Max 858/481-7627
- Finance: Selwyn Lurie 858/792-7942
- Ladies: Barbara Lurie 858/792-7942
- Membership: Geoff Patz 858/733-3777