TORAH READING FOR 30 SIVAN 5784 July 5-6, 2024

SHAZOOM ONLY 6:30 PM July 5, 2024

 

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND ALL THE VICTIMS OF CONFLICT

From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur” p.178

SHALOM RAV al Yisraël amcha tasim l’olam, v’al kol yoshvëi tëvël, v’imru. Amen.

GRANT ABUNDANT PEACE to Israel Your people forever, [and all who inhabit the earth. Amen.]

PARSHA

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

Korach (קֹרַח – Hebrew name meaning “baldness, ice, hail or frost”) – Numbers 16:1−18:32

Now Korach, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, betook himself, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth – descendants of Reuben – to rise up against Moses, … – Numbers 16:1-2

SUMMARY

• Korach and his followers, Dathan and Abiram, lead a rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. God punishes the rebels by burying them and their families alive. Once again, God brings a plague on the people. (16:1-17:15)
• The chief of each tribe deposits his staff inside the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s staff brings forth sprouts, produces blossoms, and bears almonds. (17:16-26)
• The Kohanim and Levites are established and assigned the responsibility of managing the donations to the Sanctuary. All of the firstborn offerings shall go to the priests and all the tithes are designated for the Levites in return for the services they perform. (18:1-32)

HAFTARAH

I Samuel 11:14-12:22 [historic: Isaiah 66:1-24]
Rosh Chodesh

RECOMMENDED READING

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

Echoes of the Wilderness, Part V: Feeling Scattered

By: Cantor Josh Breitzer

STRUGGLING WITH TORAH and REFLECTION

We will continue to meet every other Friday for Torah Study to read and discuss selections from Ketuvim, the third section of Tanach (Hebrew Bible), which follows Torah and Nevi’im. Please see the NEW Torah Study-Shazoom schedule below. NEXT week we will continue studying Lamentations (אֵיכָה – Ëichah), which is found in Ketuvim (Writings), and traditionally read on Tisha B’Av (this year August 12-13, 2024). Read this week’s Torah Portion at https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.16.1-18.32, and Haftarah at https://www.sefaria.org/I_Samuel.11.14-12.22.

From “The Torah / A Women’s Commentary” edited by Dr. Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and Rabbi Andrea L. Weiss, Ph.D., Women of Reform Judaism/The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods and URJ Press New York 2008

קרח Korach – Numbers 16:1–18:32

Contemporary Reflection – Rachel Cowan, pp. 911-2

WHAT A DRAMATIC power struggle we have just witnessed in this parashah! A cabal of influential rebels tries to take power from Moses, daring to risk their lives to promote their own self-interest over the sacred destiny of their people. Their downfall is stark and dreadful.

Yet, the Torah teaches, even though Korah dies, his descendants live on (Numbers 26:11). We certainly see them today: cynical political, religious, and communal leaders cloaking self-interest in the language of democracy, nationalism, or God. In wielding power in such shortsighted ways, these modern-day rebels present an even greater threat to God’s creation than Korah did to Moses’ leadership. This Torah portion urges us to be vigilant, lest such persons undermine the communities that we are called to create and sustain.

But it is not only public leaders who play Korah’s role today. We, too, live with an ongoing conflict between an “inner Moses” and an “inner Korah”–between humility and arrogance, between selflessness and selfishness. And until we can hear the difference between those two voices, our actions will not be effective in countering the power of the Korahs at large in the world. We need to be clear when it is the voice of our needy, small-minded self that advises us to act, or when it is the wise voice that speaks from our deepest and best values and truth. We need a practice of reflection to discern which voice is guiding us. Happily, we can also find some guidance in this parashah.

In our tradition Moses is seen as humility embodied–the true servant of God. The S’fas Emes, a 19th-century Hasidic master, understood Moses as being so far from pride in his bearing that people could not fathom his modesty. In parashat Korach, we see Moses in that place of humility, able to lead because he loves God and the Israelites with every fiber of his being, despite his constant frustration with both of them. Twice he falls on his face–before Korah and before God–trying to stop the rebellion and to prevent God from destroying the persistently disobedient Israelites. Moses acts from the deep understanding that Korah’s challenge has nothing to with him; it is a challenge to God. He knows himself to be the vessel through which God’s vision for the Israelites could become manifest, not the man who has to prove himself superior to an insolent competitor. Throughout the journeys of the Israelites, we see Moses grow as a spiritual leader: from a reluctant young man who struggles with anger and lack of self-confidence to become the quintessential leader–one who is able to overcome his own ego in order to serve a much greater cause. Finally, he becomes one who accepts God’s decision that he will die–and that he will die outside the land of Israel.

Korah is different. His challenge to Moses is rooted in personal ambition, not love of God or of the Israelites. Unlike Moses, who hesitated to take the leadership that God offered, Korah seeks to grab it for himself. Tradition interprets the opening of the parashah–literally “And Korah took”–to mean that he took himself apart from the people (Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer; Torah Gems, 1998, p. 77). Korah would have done nothing to stop God from destroying the Israelites, for he would have loved to be the sire of a whole new people. Unlike Moses, Korah sees the whole story as being about himself and the role he wants to play as a powerful chief priest.

Reading this parashah, I ask: how do I recognize Korah in my own thoughts and actions, and how do I liberate the consciousness that Moses had? In my job as the director of a wonderful non-profit institute, I find that Korah seems to pop up most frequently when I am afraid. What if I don’t succeed at raising enough money? What if I don’t succeed at making our work known? What if I am not good enough? In such moments of doubt, I make myself the central actor on stage, starring in the “The Tragedy of Rachel.” In that place of fear, I separate myself from the community doing the work, and I clutch for some way to feel in control. I can’t see the whole. There is no way to make wise decisions.

But if I make time, like Moses, to fall on my face–to breathe and reflect–I can hear the “I” shouting out in all its grandiosity. I reply, “Rav l’kha (Enough of this), Korah!”–acknowledging that once again I have made the story about me and my fears. In that space, Moses can emerge and call me back to humility–to the recognition that I, like everybody else, am but a bit player on this stage. I can rekindle the trust that I have in the wisdom of the unfolding of the work and in the wisdom of my colleagues to figure out what will flow from this moment.

The Korah in all of us gets triggered by different emotions: fear, anger, anxiety, greed or doubt. When this happens, we lose sight of the whole and become caught up in our own inner dramas. Our needs eclipse the needs of others.

Moses’ path–and ours–is to move from the narrow place of doubt, fear, anger, and jealousy to an expansive covenanted life in a community of mutual care and responsibility. In such a community, all people are holy. They–we–can remind each other that what matters is not the ambition of the self, but the work of helping to make the soul, the home, the office, and the world a safer, wiser, more compassionate place for all. Such a perspective helps each of us to come closer to being a humble servant of God.

ROSH CHODESH TAMUZ 2024 / רֹאשׁ חוֹדֶשׁ תָּמוּז 5784

Rosh Chodesh Tamuz for Hebrew Year 5784 begins at sundown on Friday, 5 July 2024 and ends at nightfall on Sunday, 7 July 2024.

Start of month of Tamuz on the Hebrew calendar. תַּמּוּז (transliterated Tamuz or Tammuz) is the 4th month of the Hebrew year, has 29 days, and corresponds to June or July on the Gregorian calendar. רֹאשׁ חוֹדֶשׁ, transliterated Rosh Chodesh or Rosh Hodesh, is a minor holiday that occurs at the beginning of every month in the Hebrew calendar. It is marked by the birth of a new moon.

PRAYERS

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

ROSH CHODESH – R’TZËH insert FOR THE NEW MONTH p.174

OUR GOD and God of our fathers and mothers, on this first day of the new month be mindful of us and all Your people Israel, for good, for love, for compassion, life and peace.

Remember us for wellbeing. Amen.

Visit us with blessing. Amen.

Help us to a fuller life. Amen.

FOR OUR COUNTRY p.376

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.

PRAYER FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL p.552

O HEAVENLY ONE, Protector and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel which marks the dawning of hope for all who seek peace. Shield it beneath the wings of your love; spread over it the canopy of Your peace; send Your light and truth to all who lead and advise, guiding them with Your good counsel. Establish peace in the land and fullness of joy for all who dwell there. Amen.

FOR HEALING – El Na R’fa Na Lah!

We recite MI SHEBËRACH for the victims of abuse, brutality, conflicts, fear, natural disasters, pandemics, tragedies, violence of all kinds especially directed at individuals and specific communities including us, and war; for all those at home alone or lonely; 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, conflict, disease, natural disasters, pandemics, tragedies, violence of all kinds, and war.

This coming week, 30 Sivan through 6 Tamuz, we lovingly remember:

Those victims of the Sho’ah (Holocaust) who died at this time of year.

“ZICHRONAM LIV’RACHAH” – MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE FOR BLESSING.

SHAZOOM ONLY

We will meet for Shazoom ONLY this evening, Friday, July 5, 2024. Please see the NEW Torah Study-Shazoom schedule below. NEXT week we will continue studying Lamentations (אֵיכָה – Ëichah), which is found in the Ketuvim (Writings), and traditionally read on Tisha B’Av (this year August 12-13, 2024).

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

Shazoom – Friday Night Service

Time: July 5, 2024 06:30 PM Arizona

NOTE: THIS IS A DIFFERENT LINK, ID AND PASSCODE THAN USUAL

To join Shazoom click on the following link [you may need to copy it into your browser]: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88422129324?pwd=tjpygG2BzmxPvabQSJk2pOiUV53Zei.1

Meeting ID: 884 2212 9324

Passcode: 684855

Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat – Gut Shabbos!

-Ruben

PS – About Lamentations (אֵיכָה – Eichah) and the NEW schedule through June 2024:

From Reform Judaism

https://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/tishah-bav

https://reformjudaism.org/blog/how-should-reform-jews-observe-tishah-bav

https://reformjudaism.org/blog/tishah-bav-words-and-visions

https://reformjudaism.org/blog/tishah-bav-teaching-we-can-change-status-quo-our-divided-people

From The Torah.com

https://www.thetorah.com/article/an-introduction-to-lamentations

From My Jewish Learning

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/lamentations/

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-book-of-lamentations/

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-key-word-of-the-book-of-lamentations/

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-three-weeks/

From Jewish Encyclopedia

https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9596-lamentations

From Jewish Virtual Library [full text]

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/eichah-lamentations-full-text

From Encyclopedia Britannica

https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Lamentations-of-Jeremiah

From New World Encyclopedia

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Book_of_Lamentations#

From Sefaria

https://www.sefaria.org/Lamentations?tab=contents

https://www.sefaria.org/Kinnot_for_Tisha_B’Av_(Ashkenaz)?tab=contents

From JSTOR.org

https://www.jstor.org/stable/44088662

https://www.jstor.org/understand/work/bible-kjv/lamentations

From SephardicU

https://sephardicu.com/holidays/tisha-bav/#

From Wikipedia

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

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

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

 

NEW Schedule through October 2024 for Torah Study and Shazoom (Arizona Time Zone):

July 5, 2024 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

Shabbat Rosh Chodesh

[Rosh Chodesh Tamuz 7/5-7]

July 12, 2024 – Torah Study at 6 pm and Shazoom at 7:30 pm

July 19, 2024 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

July 26, 2024 – Torah Study at 6 pm and Shazoom at 7:30 pm

August 2, 2024 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

[Rosh Chodesh Av 8/4-5]

August 9, 2024 – Torah Study at 6 pm and Shazoom at 7:30 pm

Shabbat Chazon – Sabbath of Prophecy/Vision

[Tisha B’Av August 12-13]

August 16, 2024 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

Shabbat Nachamu – Sabbath of Consolation

[Tu B’Av August 18-19]

August 23, 2024 – Torah Study at 6 pm and Shazoom at 7:30 pm

August 30, 2024 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

[Labor Day Weekend]

[Rosh Chodesh Elul 9/2-4]

[Rosh HaShanah LaBehemot (of the animals) September 3-4]

September 6, 2024 – Torah Study at 6 pm and Shazoom at 7:30 pm

September 13, 2024 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

September 20, 2024 – Torah Study at 6 pm and Shazoom at 7:30 pm

September 27, 2024 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

[Leil S’lichot 9/28 nightfall – preparation for High Holy Days]

October 4, 2024 – Torah Study at 6 pm and Shazoom at 7:30 pm

Shabbat Shuvah – Sabbath of Returning

October 11, 2024 – Erev Yom Kippur

Kol Nidrë

October 12, 2024 – Yom Kippur

October 16, 2024 – Sukkot

October 18, 2024 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm

Shabbat in Sukkot

October 23, 2024 – Shemini Atzéret

October 24, 2024 – Simchat Torah

October 25, 2024 – Shazoom ONLY at 6:30 pm