Shabbat morning at 8.30 a.m. Please join us for a light breakfast and listen to our guest speakers.
This week Rabbi Ash will continue his series of explorations of the prayers of Mishkan Tefilah.
>> If you are celebrating a special occasion, share your special day by sponsoring a Torah breakfast. R150 will help cover the cost.
Feb
16
Torah Breakfast 18 February: Rabbi Ash
Feb
16
Our services, Friday and Saturday 17-18 February
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY
Evening service at 6.00 p.m.
The Evening service will be followed by a Kiddush sponsored by Leonard and Kathy Singer in honour of the forthcoming marriage of Toni Singer and Sergio Caon. Mazel Tov!
SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY
Morning service at 10.00 a.m.The service will be followed by a Kiddush. Please join us.
Special Occasion?If you have a birthday, anniversary or similar occasion, why not sponsor a Kiddush? Or to mark a friend or relative’s special occasion, donate to the Shul and they will receive a lovely Gift Certificate in their name. Call the office on 011 646 6170.
Feb
16
Sisterhood Sabbath on Women’s World Day of Prayer
The United Sisterhood cordially invites you to join them in observing Women?s World Day of Prayer, together with women of all creeds throughout the world. This year?s theme is Let Justice Prevail.
At Beit Emanuel Shul, 38 Oxford Road, Parktown, Friday, 2 March 2012 at 18h00.
The service will be followed by a Shabbat Dinner in the Courtyard. Cost of dinner – Adults R120, Children 12 and under R60.00, under 5?s free.
To facilitate catering arrangements please reply to mariang@unitedsisterhood.org.za or phone 011 646 2409 or fax 011 646 4654 on or before Wednesday , 29 February 2012.
Feb
16
Proposal to honour Leonard Singer and Simon Hochschild
Kindly take note of the proposed resolution to be tabled at the AGM on 23 February 2012 – “That Honorary Life Membership of Beit Emanuel be awarded to Simon Hochschild & Leonard Singer for all the years of dedication, hard work & endless meetings, day & night, 12 months of the year, purely for the betterment of our wonderful congregation to enable the members to continue living their own brand of Progressive Judaism in Johannesburg, South Africa.”
Feb
16
Board of Deputies and Zionist Federation meet with Paul Mashatile
The Jewish leadership of South Africa commends the South African government’s continued commitment to supporting a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian question. It further welcomes its confirmation that it does not have a policy of supporting boycott campaigns against the State of Israel.
In a meeting held in Cape Town yesterday with senior representatives of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies and SA Zionist Federation, Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile clarified that, notwithstanding certain remarks attributed to him by the media, neither he nor his government supported anti-Israel boycotts. Mashatile further reiterated the Government’s long-standing position of support for a two state solution, with Israel and Palestine as independent States existing side by side.
It was agreed at the meeting that current efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestine conflict should be supported, and that South Africa should continue to use its experience of how it brought about a peaceful negotiated settlement to assist with finding a lasting solution in the region.
Feb
16
Tribute to the late Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut
By Rabbi David Ellenson, Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, USA
I t is with profound sadness that I inform you of the death of our esteemed alumnus, Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut, z”l.
Rabbi Plaut was an unparalleled scholar, leader, and rabbi of our Reform Movement and our People. HUC-JIR will be forever blessed that it had the zechut to bring him from Germany to our Cincinnati campus during the 1930s and save him from destruction during the Shoah.
Born in Germany, he studied at the Universities of Heidelberg and Berlin, and received the LLB (1933) Doctor of Laws (1934) from the University of Berlin. He fled from Hitler in 1935 for the United States, and found a safe haven at our Cincinnati campus, where he was ordained in 1939. He served as a chaplain with the Infantry during World War II, was present at the capture of the first concentration camp in Germany, and was decorated with the Bronze Star.
Rabbi Plaut served as a rabbi in Chicago, St. Paul, and, from 1961 on, at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. He retired from his post as Senior Rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple in 1978 and was appointed its Senior Scholar.
He published over two dozen books on theology, philosophy, and history, as well as works of fiction. His best known work is The Torah — A Modern Commentary, of which he was editor and chief author.
Known as an uncompromising enemy of all manifestations of racism, he was the founder of Toronto’s Urban Alliance on Race Relations; a founding member of the North York (Toronto) Committee on Community, Race and Ethnic Relations, and he served as a one-person federal commission to redraft Canada’s refugee legislation (1984-85). From 1978 to 1985, he served as Vice-Chair of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and upon leaving the Commission served for a number of years as a Board of Inquiry (Adjudicator). All of his decisions have been published.
A leader in the Jewish and larger community, he served as the President of the Canadian Jewish Congress, President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and Chairman of the Toronto Jewish Appeal.
Rabbi Plaut served on the HUC-JIR Board of Governors and was honored by HUC-JIR with the Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, in 1964, and the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, in 2003.
He also received honorary doctorates from the University of Toronto, York University (Canada), and McMaster University. He was a Companion of the Order of Canada and received the Order of Canada Award, the highest award given by the Canadian government.
In his scholarship, congregational calling, and his life, we will not see his like again.
Feb
10
Our Services: Shabbat Vitro, 10-11 February. Plus Chavura
FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY
Evening service at 6.00 p.m. Chavura service at 6.30 p.m.
The Evening service will be followed by a Kiddush sponsored by the Shapiro Family in honour of Micah.
SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY
Morning service at 10.00 a.m. The service will be followed by a Kiddush. Please join us.
Special Occasion?
If you have a birthday, anniversary or similar occasion, why not sponsor a Kiddush? Or to mark a friend or relative’s special occasion, donate to the Shul and they will receive a lovely Gift Certificate in their name. Call the office on 011 646 6170
Feb
10
Torah Breakfast, 11 Feb: David Bilchitz on Crime and Punishment
Shabbat morning at 8.30 a.m. Please join us for a light breakfast and listen to our guest speakers.
This week Prof. David Bilchitz will discuss :
Crime and Punishment in the Torah: the laws of theft
>> If you are celebrating a special occasion, share your special day by sponsoring a Torah breakfast. R150 will help cover the cost of rolls and fillings.
Feb
10
Beit Emanuel Annual General Meeting on Thursday 23rd
We wish to remind you that Beit Emanuel’s AGM will be held on Thursday, 23 February 2012 at 19h30 in the Slome Auditorium. This will be preceded by the Beit Emanuel Sisterhood AGM at 19h00.Notification was emailed or posted to all congregants on 26 January 2012. Please ensure that your completed nomination forms reach our offices by no later than Tuesday, 21 February 2012. We look forward to your attendance at the meeting.
Feb
10
Sisterhood Sabbath to observe Women’s World Day of Prayer
The United Sisterhood cordially invites you to join them in observing Women’s World Day of Prayer, together with women of all creeds throughout the world. This year’s theme is Let Justice Prevail. At Beit Emanuel Shul, 38 Oxford Road, Parktown, Friday, 2 March 2012 at 18h00.
The service will be followed by a Shabbat Dinner in the Courtyard. Cost of dinner – Adults R120, Children 12 and under R60.00, under 5’s free.
To facilitate catering arrangements please reply to mariang@unitedsisterhood.org.za or phone 011 646 2409 or fax 011 646 4654 on or before Wednesday , 29 February 2012.
Feb
10
Quiz Evening Fundraiser for Sisterhoods
The SA United Temple Sisterhoods (SAUTS) is having a Quiz Evening Fundraiser.Date : Saturday 18th February 2012, Time : 19.00 for 19.30, Venue: The Middleton, Bet David, 3 Middle Road, Morningside. Price: R100 per ticket which includes Tuna Lasagne, Vegetarian Lasagne & Salad, Tea & Coffee & Cake. Bring your ticket for the lucky draw prizes
Please bring your own drinks as no bar will be available.
Please contact Marilyn Trujillo on 082 960 7713 to buy your tickets.
Feb
10
Tu Bishvat –family fun day with JNF
The JNF and Israel Centre are having a fun packed day for the family on Sunday, 12 February 2012 from 11h00 till 14h00 at the Sandton Field and Study Centre, Louise Ave., Parkmore. Bunnies to pat, miniature horses, spiders and scorpions that walk on your hand , orchards and bonsais for mom to enjoy and a CHEETAH. Kosher food on sale. Free tree with entry. Bring your picnic rugs. Israel/Afro drumming. R50.00 per Adult, children free. See you there!! (It is under cover in the event of rain). JNF 011 645 2541
DIRECTIONS: Turn off Rivonia Road into Outspan Road at the Morningside Centre. Travel along Outspan until the name changes to Virginia, almost immediately turn right into 14th Str. Drive to the bottom of 14th and see the sign to the Field & Study centre.
Feb
10
Turquoise Harmony Institute Interfaith Series
Rabbi Ash will be giving a Seminar on Judaism on Tuesday, 14 February 2012, 18:30 for 19h00. Refreshments will be served.
Venue: 46 Wingfield Avenue, Birdhaven.. RSVP: jhb@turquoise.org.za 011-447 8706
Feb
10
Rabbi’s Omer Project for our members this year
Pesach and Shavuot are harvest festivals celebrating and giving thanks for our food. The period between the two festivals is known as the days of the Omer. The Omer (literally: sheaf) was an offering brought to the Temple on the second day of Pesach.
There is a traditional saying: ‘eyn kemach, eyn Torah’ which might be translated, ‘where there is no food, there is no culture’. One can’t learn or develop without adequate basic nourishment.
I would therefore like to propose that during the seven week period of the Omer this year, each time any one of us comes to Beit Emanuel, for any purpose, we bring with us an Omer offering. This would be a single item of non-perishable food: tinned foods such as fish and meat, peanut butter, soup, tea, coffee, or sugar, mealie meal and maize rice. As an alternative, a donation of at least one rand would count.
A t the end of seven weeks the accumulated food would be divided between Beit Emanuel Sisterhood and the United Sisterhood to aid the charities they support. The cash donations would also be given to a charitable cause.
I hope that the members of Beit Emanuel will support this project. Let’s build a veritable Mount Sinai of food for everyone in need.
- Rabbi Ash
Feb
09
Richard helps the kids plant a Tu Bishvat lemon tree
The Religion School children celebrated Tu Bishvat, or the Festival of Trees, at a ceremony during their weekly class on Monday afternoon, 6th February. Click to see our photograph of Beit Emanuel staffer Richard Mkhabella helping the children plant a lemon tree in the synagogue garden.