THE TORAH READING FOR 10 NISAN 5783 MARCH 31-APRIL 1, 2023

March 31, 2023 by templekol

THE LINK FOR THIS EVENING IS DIFFERENT:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87378569309?pwd=d1BiTS83bjYwYm1aVmRPeGxXbWNFZz09

Meeting ID: 873 7856 9309

Passcode: 272310

APRIL BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Mazal Tov – Mazal Bueno to all those celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or significant event during the Month of April. If we were together at Temple Kol Hamidbar, we would extend a Tallit over you, say a special prayer for you, and recite the following blessing (cf Num. 6:24-26):

May the Eternal One bless you and protect you!
May the Eternal One deal kindly and graciously with you!
May the Eternal One bestow favor upon you and grant you peace!

KËIN YEHI RATZON (Let it be so!)

PARSHA

From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/tzav

Tzav (צַו — Command [Aaron and His Sons]) – Leviticus 6:1-8:36

The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: “Command Aaron and his sons thus: This is the ritual of the burnt offering: The burnt offering itself shall remain where it is burned upon the altar all night until morning, while the fire on the altar is kept going on it.” – Leviticus 6:1-2

SUMMARY:

The five sacrifices that the priests are to perform are described. (6:1-7:38)
Limitations on the consumption of meat are delineated. (7:17-27)
Details about the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests and the preparation of the Tabernacle as a holy place are given. (8:1-36)

HAFTARAH – Shabbat HaGadol

Malachi 3:4-24

From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzav

On Shabbat HaGadol

When the parashah coincides with Shabbat HaGadol (the special Sabbath immediately before Passover — as it does in … 2023…, the haftarah is Malachi 3:4–24. Shabbat HaGadol means “the Great Sabbath,” and the haftarah for the special Sabbath refers to a great day that God is preparing.

RECOMMENDED READING

From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/tzav

The Kohanim as Sacred Chefs

By: Cantor David Fair

STRUGGLING WITH TORAH and REFLECTION

For Torah Study, instead of the portion from the Book of Leviticus that is read on this Shabbat, we will read the Haftarah (a selection from the prophets) from Malachi 3:4-24. You can read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Leviticus.6.1-8.36, and the Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/Malachi.3.4-24

From “The Torah / A Women’s Commentary” edited by Dr. Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and Rabbi Andrea L. Weiss, Ph.D.

צו Tzav – Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Post-biblical Interpretations – by Rachel Anisfeld, pp. 608-9

This is the ritual of the burnt offering (6:2). The Rabbis understood the burnt offering as a sacrifice brought for sins of the heart or mind, hirhur halev. According to Vayikra Rabbah 7.3, this notion was derived from Job’s explanation of his burnt offerings on behalf of his children, when he said, “Perhaps my children have sinned and blasphemed God in their thoughts” (Job 1:5). In an ongoing midrashic discussion as to which sacrifice is divinely preferred, Vayikra Rabbah 7.4 maintains that God favors the burnt offering because it is the only sacrifice that remains on the altar at night as well as during the day. A parable compares the situation to that of a king traveling in the desert. He stops first at one inn and eats and drinks, and then at another inn where he not only eats and drinks but also stays overnight, showing that he favors the latter. Conversely, Vayikra Rabbah 3 argues that God most esteems the meal offering because of its association with poverty.

He shall then take off his vestments (6:4). The medieval commentator Rashi explains that this verse is a lesson in etiquette (derech eretz), teaching that a servant should change clothes between preparing food and serving it.

One who offers it for thanksgiving (7:12). Vayikra Rabbah 9.4 asserts that God favors the thanksgiving offering because it is a freewill offering, rather than an obligatory one brought for the expiation of a sin. According to the Rabbis, the thanksgiving offering is the only sacrifice that will remain in the world-to-come (Vayikra Rabbah 9.7). Rashi comments on this verse (based on BT B’rachot 54b) that the thanksgiving offering is an appropriate response to the following “miraculous” deliverances: a safe journey across an ocean or desert, release from imprisonment, and recovery from a serious illness.

Such are the rituals of the burnt offering…and the sacrifice of well-being (7:37). Vayikra Rabbah 9.9 suggests that the sacrifice of well-being, the sh’lamim, is last in this list of sacrifices because of the importance of shalom, peace, a theme which also appears at the end of many prayers. The Midrash lists a number of examples where the value of peace is deemed higher than the value of truth. Many of these situations involve women and endorse the value of peace in marriage. The most famous biblical example is that of Sarah and Abraham: When Sarah laughs at the possibility of conceiving a child, she says that it is impossible because of her husband’s age. However, when God repeats Sarah’s words to Abraham, God reports only that she complained of her own age (Genesis 18). This “lie” is understood by the Rabbis as a sign of the greater importance of marital harmony over truth. A story is also told about Rabbi Meir and a woman who came to hear him preach one Friday night and ended up staying so late that she angered her husband. When her husband swore that she must spit in Rabbi Meir’s face, Rabbi Meir miraculously understood this and pretended that he needed her to spit in his face for medical reasons, thereby restoring marital harmony (also Sifrei B’midbar 42; B’reishit Rabbah 48).

Take Aaron (8:2). The Rabbis connect this “taking” of Aaron for his priestly duties with another biblical use of the word “taking” with respect to Aaron–his taking of the people’s gold and silver to make the Golden Calf in Exodus 32:4, As Vayikra Rabbah 10.4 puts it, “Let this ‘taking’ come and atone for that ‘taking.’”

anointing oil. Vayikra Rabbah 10.8 relates that the original 12 logs of oil (72 rabbinic “eggs” worth) prepared by Moses miraculously sufficed not only to anoint the sanctuary and its vessels, and Aaron and his sons on each of the seven days of the sanctuary’s consecration, but also to anoint future generations of high priests and kings.

You shall remain at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days, keeping יהוה’s charge (8:35). Midrash Tanchuma connects this seven-day seclusion of the priests to the customary seven days of mourning after a family member’s death: Aaron was unknowingly in mourning for the future death of his two oldest sons on the eight day–the day of the final consecration of the Tabernacle (see the next parashah [Sh’mini]). Aaron’s period of pre-mourning is compared to the pre-mourning that God is said to have done for seven days prior to the Flood (Tanchuma, ed. Buber II, 21–22).

YOM HaALIYAH (Modern Holiday) – March 31-April 1, 2023

From Hebcal https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/yom-haaliyah

Recognizes Aliyah, immigration to the Jewish State of Israel

Yom HaAliyah for Hebrew Year 5783 begins at sundown on Friday, 31 March 2023 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 1 April 2023.

Yom HaAliyah (Aliyah Day) (Hebrew: יום העליה) is an Israeli national holiday celebrated annually on the tenth of the Hebrew month of Nisan to commemorate the Jewish people entering the Land of Israel as written in the Hebrew Bible. The holiday was established to acknowledge Aliyah, immigration to the Jewish state, as a core value of the State of Israel, and honor the ongoing contributions of Olim to Israeli society.

PESACH – April 5-13, 2023 – 14-22 Nisan 5783

From https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/pesach

Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Pesach for Hebrew Year 5783 begins in the Diaspora at sundown on Wednesday, 5 April 2023 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, 13 April 2023. [In Israel and for Reform Jews Pesach is seven days. See Reform Judaism/Passover https://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/passover]

Passover (Hebrew: פֶּסַח Pesach) commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan in the Jewish calendar, which is in spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and is celebrated for seven or eight days. It is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays.

Temple Kol Hamidbar will have an in-person community Seder in Sierra Vista, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. For details, please see the email from Dr. Sam Caron, Congregational President, sent March 26, 2023.

From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur”:

FOR OUR COUNTRY p.516

THUS SAYS ADONAI, This is what I desire: to unlock the fetters of wickedness, and untie the cords of lawlessness; to let the oppressed go free, to break off every yoke. Share your bread with the hungry, and take the wretched poor into your home. When you see the naked, give clothing, and do not ignore your own kin.

O GUARDIAN of life and liberty, may our nation always merit Your protection. Teach us to give thanks for what we have by sharing it with those who are in need. Keep our eyes open to the wonders of creation, and alert to the care of the earth. May we never be lazy in the work of peace; may we honor those who have [served, suffered or] died in defense of our ideals. Grant our leaders wisdom and forbearance. May they govern with justice and compassion. Help us all to appreciate one another, and to respect the many ways that we may serve You. May our homes be safe from affliction and strife, and our country be sound in body and spirit. Amen.

FOR HEALING

We recite MI SHEBËRACH for the victims of brutality, abuse, fear, natural disasters, pandemics, violence, and war; for all those at home alone; for all those in need of physical, emotional, and mental healing. “R’fuah sh’lëmah” – a complete recovery!

YAHRZEITS/ANYOS

We say KADDISH YATOM for those of our friends and families who have died and been buried this last week; those in the period of Sh’loshim (30 days since burial); those who have died in the last year; and those whose Yahrzeits/Anyos occur at this time; as well as the victims of brutality, disease, natural disasters, war and violence.

This coming week, 10 Nisan through 16 Nisan, we lovingly remember:

Renate Korrell

Friend of Iris Adler

Sally Behrstock

Mother of Bob Behrstock

Those victims of the Shoah (Holocaust) who died at this time of year.

“Zichronam liv’rachah” – May their memories be for blessing.

TORAH STUDY AND SHAZOOM

For the next two weeks, Dr. Sam and Mary Caron will be leading Torah Study and Shazoom, which will meet as usual at the regular times this evening, Friday, March 31, 2023, and next Friday, April 7, 2023.

Zoom regularly updates its security and performance features. Making sure you have the latest version of Zoom, please join us online this evening with wine/grape juice for Kiddush and Challah for Motzi.

Topic: Torah Study – Haftarah Tzav: Malachi 3:4-24

Time: Mar 31, 2023 06:00 PM Arizona

and/or

Shazoom – Erev Shabbat Service

Time: Mar 31, 2023 07:30 PM Arizona

To join Torah Study and/or Shazoom click on the following link [you may need to copy it into your browser] THE FOLLOWING IS DIFFERENT FROM THE REGULAR LINK, ETC.:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87378569309?pwd=d1BiTS83bjYwYm1aVmRPeGxXbWNFZz09

Meeting ID: 873 7856 9309

Passcode: 272310

Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat/Gut Shabbos!

-Ruben

PS – An early Chag Pesach Sameach – Paskue Dulce – Zissen Pesach!

PSS – About Malachi and the Book of Malachi (the last of the twelve minor prophets):

From Jewish Encyclopedia

https://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10321-malachi-book-of

From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Malachi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachi

From Torah.org