This Week at Etz Chaim Synagogue      

Shabbos, July 4-11, 2008

1-8 Tammuz, 5768

 

Friday, July 4:

Candle lighting time: 8:14 pm

Not earlier than 7:04 pm)

Mincha:  6:30 pm

Shabbos, July 5:  9:00 am Shacharis Services

Parashas Chukas

 

Latest Shema:  10:01 am

Junior Congregation:  10:30 am

Toddler program in Beis Midrash:  10:30 am

 

Kiddush in the social hall following services.

 

Rabbi's Class Orchos Tzadikim (Pathways of the Righteous):  6:55 pm

Mincha:  7:40 pm followed by Seudah Shlishis and Maariv.

 

Shabbos Ends:  9:15 pm    

Services this week:

 

Shacharis: Sunday 8:15 am

         Monday-Friday 6:45 am

Mincha: Sunday-Thursday 8:15 pm

               Friday: 6:30 pm

 

Next Friday, July 11: 

Candle lighting time:  8:13 pm

(Not earlier than 7:03 pm)

 

                            Torah Reading:  Parashas Chukas (Artscroll Chumash page 838; Hertz page 652)

                                    Haftorah: Judges 11: 1-33(Artscroll Chumash page 1187; Hertz page 664)

 

 

Adult Education Schedule

Daf Yomi Shiur 45 minutes prior to Shacharis daily

Mitzvah Briefs between Mincha & Maariv daily

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Shabbos

 

7:00 pm Peregrinating through the Parasha

 

8:30 am Why Do We Do That? Class for women only

 

 

12:00 Noon Magic Moments in Jewish History Lunch & Learn

7:10 pm Shmiras HaLashon w/ Dr. Michael Estner

 

45  minutes before Mincha:  Rabbi's Class

Youth Program

 

camp sheves achim

camp sheves achim

camp sheves achim

camp sheves achim

camp sheves achim

 

 

Upcoming Events


 

 

Today, Kiddush:  Kiddush following services in the social hall.

 

July 7-August 8, 9:00 am-3:00 pm:  Camp Sheves Achim for children ages 3-12.  Fee: $95 per week per child!  Optional hot lunch is available.   To register, contact Rabbi Yaakov Fisch or Amy Lipper. 

 

Friday, August 15-22:  Summer Kollel - Will be taking place in Etz Chaim Synagogue. Hosts will be needed for housing and sponsoring meals.  If interested in housing or providing meals, or sponsoring meals for someone else to prepare, please inform Bonnie Hardy or the schule office.

 

Sunday, September 7, 11:00 am-4:00 pm:  Book Sale will be held in the social hall.  Donate your unwanted books or videos.  If they are too heavy to shlep them to the schule, Harry Shapiro will pick up the items from you.  Contact Harry or the schule office.

 

Check out our website:                  EtzChaim.Org

 

 

Sponsors are needed for Kiddush and Seudah Shlishis throughout the summer.

To reserve your date, please call Sandi Roth or Amy in the schule office.

 

 

 

by Rabbi Yehuda Appel

 

To Give or Not to Give?

 

One of the most difficult dilemmas human beings face is weighing our own needs against the needs of others. This issue takes many forms, for example: How much should we contribute to charity? Should we regularly go out to restaurants if that will lessen our ability to help the less fortunate? When a homeless person asks us for money, should we give it to him? Should America, most of whose citizens have themselves been the beneficiaries of a relatively liberal immigration policy, now more tightly restrict immigration?
 
How do we draw the line between our own legitimate self-interests and our concern for others?
 
This week's Torah portion, Chukat, describes just such a dilemma. The Jewish People, after long wanderings in the desert, are finally on the brink of entering the Land of Israel. Since the travel route will take the Jews through Edomite territory, Moses sends emissaries to the Edomites asking if the Israelites may pass through. Edom is well aware of the difficulties and hardships the Israelites have suffered in the recent past - the attack by Amalek, the fiasco of the Spies, and the uprising of Korach. Nevertheless, the Edomites refuse Moses' entreaty - and even threaten military attack if the Jews try to enter their territory!
 
Moses is persistent and sends another message. He assures the Edomites that when the Jewish People travel through, they will remain (as Nachmanides explains) "on an isolated road far from any population centers." Moreover, the Israelites promise to pay for any food or water they consume. Despite this plea, however, the Edomites again refuse entry.
 

On one hand, the Edomites' obstinence was not totally unreasonable. It's risky to allow a mass of three million people pass through one's territory, even if they are staying out of the populated areas. Moreover, as the Abarbanel explains, had the Edomites in any way assisted the Israelites -who were on their way to attack the Canaanite nations - it would have certainly brought Canaanite disfavor upon Edom.

So why does Jewish tradition view the Edomite response as cruelty - to such an extent that the Torah forbids accepting an Edomite who wants to convert to Judaism?!
 
One possible explanation is based on a verse in Deuteronomy which refers to the Edomites as "brothers." The Edomites are not strangers to the Israelites; the two nations share a common ancestry going back to Isaac. As family, they should have known better.
 
Another explanation focuses more on the Edomites' lack of compassion. Instead of expressing regret and explaining to the Israelites that they weren't able to take geopolitical risks, the Edomites merely threatened the Israelites with death if they crossed the border! Couldn't they have come forward with some expression of kindness - offering food or drink instead?
 

What is the lesson for us today? When legitimate concerns do not allow us to aid others the way we'd like, we should at least look for some alternative way to express our concern. To not offer any kindness at all, is to echo the harsh and selfish actions of Edom.