Shabbat Tazria Apr 4-5, 2008 / 29 Adar 2, 5768
This shabbat we read the final of the four special portions, Parshat Hachodesh, for the coming month of Nisan. This Shabbat is Shabbat Mevarchim when we recite the blessing for a successful month.
Shabbat Hagadol discussion
The special Shabbat Hagadol discussion will take place in Shul, next shabbat, April 12th.
Pesach 5768
Sale of chametz
Mechirat Chametz forms should be filled out and returned to Rav Menashe, preferably in person. 3905 Carmel Brooks way, 92130. Please visit our website next week to download the form www.kaysandiego.org.
Thursday, April 17th
The Fast of the first born; complete the sale of Chametz with Rav Menashe; Bedikat Chametz Search with the Blessing in the evening.
Friday, April 18th
Burn all Chametz, except for Challah for Hamotzi on Shabbat eve and day. Completely Kosher for Pesach Shabbat meals, but no Matzah yet. Services at 615pm.
Shabbat, April 19th
Early Services - 7:45am; Shabbat Hagadol; Hamotzi and meal in Shul; Last Chametz eaten at 10:36am; Bitul Nullification of Chametz at 11:41am;
Services at 6.30 pm with full Hallel in shul;
Candle Lighting for Pesach night 8:01pm from existing flame; 1st Seder.
Sunday, April 20th
Services at 9.30am - Tefillat Tal and Birkat Kohaniim; Services 6.30pm; 1st Night of the Omer; full Hallel in shul; 8:02pm Candle Lighting from existing flame; 2nd Seder.
Monday, April 21st
Services 9:30am ; Havdalah at 8:03pm, leaving out Spices and Candle.
Tuesday thru Friday
Intermediate days; Chol Hamoed
Friday, April 25th
Services 6:15pm; Abbreviated Kabbalat Shabbat; 7th day of Pesach
Shabbat, April 26th
Services 9:30am; Candle light from existing flame 8:06pm
Services at 6.30 pm
Sunday, April 27th
Services 9:30am; Yizkor; Yom Tov ends at 8:07pm
KAY's Torah Study Opportunities
Talmud class
Our Tuesday night Talmud class is now focusing on making the Pesach night more meaningful; 730pm, D105
Workperson's Shiur
The next Workperson's Shiur will take place at Aubrey Meyerowitz's office, Wednesday, April 9th, 1245pm.
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.
Community events
Yom Ha'atzmaut Festival
Join the Yom Ha'atzmaut Festival on Sunday May 18, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. …celebrating Israel's 60th birthday. Over 6,000 members from the community will attend this FREE event and enjoy entertainment, a special Israel@60 performance, an Israel photo exhibition, Walk the Land Program, a visit from Mayor Jerry Sanders, delicious kosher food, children's activities and more! To learn more visit http://israelat60sandiego.com/event/31 or call 858-571-3444.
Walk the Land - Sunday, May 18, 2008 at the Lawrence Family JCC (4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla 92037)
Kick off the Yom Ha'atzmaut Independence Day Festival with a one-mile walk in support of Israel! Join local San Diegans as you pass by beautiful murals of Israeli cities in this first-time-ever global event! Each participant will receive a unique Israeli "passport" to be stamped along the path. The General Walk begins at 11:00 a.m. and an alternative Youth Walk begins at 2:00 p.m. departing from the JCC's baseball diamond. Register in advance: $5/person includes an official hat, water and original passport. Proceeds benefit the building of a new safe Regional High School in Sha'ar Ha'Negev, San Diego's partnership region in Israel. To register for "Walk the Land" go to www.israelat60sandiego.org.
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
Wedding - heartiest mazal tov to the Meyerowitz and DeLiema families on the forthcoming marriage of Kim and Jonathan!
Happy birthday to Monica Handler Penner (Apr 4), Ron Fellman (Apr 6), Ilana Kempinski (Apr 6), Laurence Meyerowitz (Apr 8), Jonty Patz (Apr 8), Jack Shevel (Apr 8) and Daniella Shevel (Apr 10)!
Wedding anniversary - mazal tov to Dan & Susan Burland (Apr 10)!
Yahrzeits - we wish a long life to Marilyn Fishman (for her father) and to Brad Zlotnick (for his grandmother).
Kiddush
Kiddush this Shabbat is sponsored by the Meyerowitz family in honor of the marriage of Kim and Jonathan - mazal tov!
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 Apr 4: Candle lighting 6.53 PM
- Sat Apr 5: Shabbat ends 7.53 PM
Thought for the week
Seeing Ourselves
Much of the Torah reading for this and next week's portions, Tazria Mezorah. deal with the questions of purity and impurity relating to the skin ailment, Tzaraat. To remedy the illness, one must approach the priest who then assesses if the afflicted person is pure or impure. (See Leviticus 13:2-3)
Nowadays, the laws of purity, in general, are subject matters which we struggle to understand. We live without the Temple; sacrificial rituals are no longer relevant. But the subject of the spiritual illness of Tzaraat seems as though from a different world altogether: A mysterious ailment without warning or antidote. The only resolution to the Tzaraat is for the spiritual leader, the priest, not the doctor or healer, to declare the person pure.
How are we to understand these particular texts about the skin disease in a way that makes them meaningful and relevant today?
The Talmud offers one suggestion on the practice of identifying the skin disease, which offers a glimpse into the world beneath the surface of the skin. "A person can identify all types of lesions, except for his own." (Mishna Negaaim, 2:5) On the simple level, the skin disease on our own body is hard to clearly notice and study. Our own illnesses we do not heed.
But on a human level this statement carries great truth about our way in the world. It is often very difficult to notice our own ‘lesions' or faults. But, of course, it is very easy for us to see everyone else's faults. We are quick to point out the weakness in others, while we overlook our own.
This could be the reason that the rabbis attribute the onset of Tzaraat t to Lashon Harah. (TB Erichin 16a) The slanderous gossip is so destructive because it turns our attention outward. Rather than focusing on that which is within ourselves, we become transfixed by the other. At once, Tzaraat reminds us of and then breaks the cycle of dysfunction.
Unfortunately, the spiritual ailment of Tzaraat and a wish to identify impurity in others is an illness of the soul. As we approach Pesach, let's consult our priests to serve as the spiritual guides and to help us look at the blemishes which need healing most of all.
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