Ha Rav

Parshat Vayera

Torah – Annual: Genesis 18:1-22:24
Torah Reading – Genesis 18:1–18:33
(1) 18:1-5 (2) 18:6-8 (3) 18:9-14 (4) 18:15-19 (5) 18:20-22 (6) 18:23-26 (7)
18:27-33
Maftir: Genesis 22:20-24
Haftarah: II Kings 4:1-37

When is it OK to lie?

In the opening section of the portion of Vayera, God lies to Abraham. Is this justified? Would it be justified if we were to do it?

Sarah, at the age of 90, is now pregnant. She laughs at the prospect of
being a mother at this advanced age. How would other post-menopausal women
react to such news?

God announces to Abraham that He is going to destroy the cities of Sodom
and Gemmora (‘Amora in Hebrew). Abraham then gets into a bargaining match
with God. It sounds like he is trying to get the best price on a used car.
Do you think that this whole episode is a bit unseemly?

The most famous line in this section is found in verse 18:25 – “...Shall
not the Judge of all the earth do justly?” What does this verse tell us
about God? What does it tell us about Abraham.

Take a look at one of the verses in today’s Haftarah – II Kings IV:34 - Does this look like an example of ancient CPR?

Parshat Noach

Torah – Annual: Genesis 6:9 – 11:32 (pages 26–40)
Torah Reading: Genesis 6:9 – 7:24 (pages 26-29)
(1) 6:9-16 (2) 6:17-19 (3) 6:20-22 (4) 7:1-5
(5) 7:6-12 (6) 7:13-16 (7)7:17-24
Maftir: Numbers 28:9-15 (page 695)
Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1-24 (pages 944-947)
Rabbi Sandberg (his Bar Mitzvah Haftarah)

This week we read the story of Noah. It is well known that the Flood story
was told in many cultures of the ancient world. Perhaps there were periods
of great floods (something we know all too well!) whose stories were retold
from generation to generation. [Take a look at the Hertz Humash, pages
197-198 for a reference to the Babylonian version of the flood story.]
The most important elements in understanding the Torah’s account of the
Flood are the reason that Noah was selected (his righteousness) and the lack
of any steering mechanism for the Ark (it was a big box). What moral lessons
are to be drawn from these details?

The Rabbis expand on the Noah story. Noah tries to convince others to join
him on the Ark and to be saved. Only his family listened. Why?
Take a look at the structure of the Genesis stories. How many generations
were there from Adam to Noah? How many generations are there from Noah to
Abraham? What are we being told by this?

Look at the ages of the people from these generations. One scholar explains
that these numbers are to be taken seriously, but not literally. What does
that mean?

Torah – Annual: Deuteronomy 29:9 – 31:30 (pages 878 – 891)
Torah Reading – Deuteronomy
(1) 29:9-11 (2) 29:12-14
(3) 29:15-17 (pages 878-879)
(4) 31:10-13 (5) 31:14-19 (6) 31:20-24
(7) 31:25-27 (pages 888-890)
Maftir: 31:28-30 (pages 890-891)
Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10- 63:9 (pages 883-886)

This Shabbat we get “two readings for the price of one”! Why
does this happen some years and not others?

Take a look at 29:10. If Moses wishes to say that everyone
was part of the covenant ceremony, from the most important to the least
important, why are the two phrases used both from the bottom of the social
ladder?

What does the word Torah mean? (Many answers are possible).

Moses seems to be a bit nasty as he approaches the end of his
life. He is convinced that the people will behave badly in the future. He
prepares witnesses against them to testify when the people violate the
Covenant with God. How are we to understand this – both from a traditional
point of view and a text-critical approach?

Why do we chant the Haftorah from Nitavim (883) and not from
Vayyelech (891)?

Torah Reading – Deuteronomy
(1) 21:10-14 (2) 21:15-17 (3) 21:18-21 (pages 840 -842)
(4) 24:10-13 (5) 24:14-18 (6) 24:19-22
(7) 25:1-4 (pages 851 - 855) Maftir: 25:17 - 19 (pages 856 -857)
Haftarah: Isaiah 54: 1-10 (pages 857 - 858)

Ki Tetze

This week’s portion contains a diverse collection of laws. Look at the first three paragraphs (21:10-21): The laws concern the female captive of war, inheritance, and the rebellious child. Can you think of anything that would connect these three laws and the sequence in which they appear?

Next, look at the law concerning taking a collateral for a loan (24:11-13). How does this exemplify the Torah’s concern for the dignity of all people, rich and poor alike? Then look at the rules for flogging a convicted person (25:1-3). How is this concept applied here?

Now for one question for which I do not have a good answer at all! Look at verse 25:4. What does this have to do with anything that preceded it? Your guess is as good as mine.

Torah – Annual: Deuteronomy 16:18 –21:9 (pages 820 – 835)
Torah Reading – Deuteronomy
(1) 16:18-20 (2) 16:21 – 17:7 (3) 17:8 -10 (pages 820 -823)
(4) 19:14 - 21 (5) 20:1 – 9 (6) 20:10 - 15 (7) 20:16 - 20 (pages 829 - 834)
Maftir: 21:7 - 9 (page 835)
Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12 – 52:12 (pages 835 -839)

This week’s portion contains both lofty ethical ideals as well as detailed
ritual commandments. The Torah makes no difference between ethics and law.
We are commanded to do what is right in both religious and secular life. In
fact, Jewish tradition does not make the dichotomy between these two
spheres. God is Lord of all life, and our behavior should reflect the
Divine will all of the time, not just in synagogue!

Please note how the concept of true justice is outlined. Favoritism of any
kind is prohibited. (This is, by the way, just the opposite the informal
Israeli way of doing things, where “protectsia” – who you know – gets you
through difficult situations.)

Justice also applies to the market place, Judaism does not follow Capitalism
or Socialism. Judaism looks for what is fair to all concerned. Look at the
commentary on verse 19:14.

Even war comes under Jewish jurisdiction. While ethical rules of war may
seem to be a contradiction in terms, the Torah expects certain behavior from
combatants. These ancient laws are still a source of discussion as the
State of Israel struggles with its war against her enemies.

You are cordially invited to join us for a congregational Shabbat dinner in honor of Rabbi Martin Sandberg, and his lovely wife, Jeanne. The cost for the dinner is $12 for adults and $6 for children (12 and under). Call the synagogue office at 268-0404 to reserve your place. Our deadline for reservations is August 2nd. Kabbalat Shabbat Services will follow dinner at 7:30 PM.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13TH

6:00 PM

Well, I made it here! All my household goods, and the cases of books are piled up. All I have to do is find room to put all of these books! Now we get to work. You may note that I said “we” and not “I”. Beth Shalom is on the road to new heights of success. With all of our efforts, working together, we will increase our membership, our programming and our knowledge of Judaism.

For the few of you that missed Friday Night services on July 16th, I will repeat some of my remarks from my first official sermon here at Beth Shalom Congregation. I see my role, in the next several months, as a three-stage process.

1) Investigate: The first thing that I must do is to learn all about the congregation, its members, its traditions and its approach to Jewish life. There are many areas of congregational activity that are doing very well. Some areas may need a bit of enhancement. Before I offer any major suggestions, I must be careful to not disrupt that which is good. As in the physician’s credo – First, do no harm!

2) Innovate: Once I have determined what needs to be done, I – together with the appropriate committees – will offer new ideas, suggestions, goals, programs, standards, and directions. I will work, with you, to find those areas of activity that will enhance congregational life. We will experiment with creative ideas that will be the product of our careful considerations.

3) Evaluate: Not everything will go as well as we may hope. Some ideas will “fly” while others may be less enthusiastically received. A constant flow of feedback will be needed to see which new programs meet the needs of the congregants and which need to be rethought. This partnership of progress will lead to a bright future for our congregation.

We will soon be approaching the High Holy Days. In mid-August, we will begin the month of Elul. This Hebrew month has often been seen as a prelude to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This is a time of spiritual self-evaluation, and personal stocktaking. Let us use these weeks ahead of us also as a time of community introspection. Together we can chart a bright course into the future of Beth Shalom Congregation.

One more important thought: How can we get new members? The best way to get people interested in our congregation is by word-of-mouth. A satisfied (and enthusiastic) consumer is the best form of advertising. Beth Shalom has much to offer. Tell friends and neighbors about it! Better yet, bring them with you to services and programs. Show them that Beth Shalom offers them a congregation that will care about individual members and offer them, and their families, a place to grow spiritually. This is your job! Let’s do it!

Rabbi Martin I. Sandberg

From July's Shofar:

Beth Shalom is honored to welcome Rabbi Martin I. Sandberg and his lovely wife, Jeanne to our congregation and city.

Rabbi Sandberg comes to Jacksonville with over 25 years of experience in the rabbinate. A native of Newton, Massachusetts, Rabbi Sandberg is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Boston University and holds a Bachelor of Jewish Education Degree from the Hebrew College of Boston. He attended the Jewish Theological Seminary receiving a Master of Hebrew Literature Degree in June of 1971 and his Rabbinic Ordination in 1973. In 1998, Rabbi Sandburg was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, from the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Prior to coming to Jacksonville, Rabbi Sandburg spent 23 years as the spiritual leader of the Suburban Jewish Com-munity Center – B’nai Aaron in Havertown, Pennsylvania. He has authored numerous publications for United Synagogue of America and held community leadership positions in the Philadelphia area. He has established himself as a noted Jewish educator with special interests in teaching Jewish thought and tradition to teenager congregants. Rabbi Sandberg brings a wealth of professional experience and enthusiasm to our congregation.