Apr 20
21 April 2012/29 Nissan 5772
FRIDAY 20 APRIL
Evening service at 6.00 p.m.followed by a Kiddush.
SATURDAY 21 APRIL
Morning service at 10.00 a.m.followed by a Kiddush.
Special Occasion? If you have a birthday, anniversary or similar occasion, why not sponsor a Kiddush? To avoid missing your special date, please book well in advance.
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 011 646 6170.
Apr 20
Shabbat morning at 8.30 a.m. Please join us for a light breakfast and listen to our guest speaker.
This week Jeremy Gordin will discuss: ‘Disruptive Eruptions’
>>Share your special occasion by sponsoring a Torah breakfast. R150 will help cover the cost.
Apr 20
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.
At 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. The project ends on Shavuot, Saturday 26 May 2012.
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
Apr 20
We welcome children of all ages to our synagogue events and services. The only quiet synagogues are empty ones. Sometimes small children are noisy. The only thing a parent can do then is to hope that the noise will quickly be over, or take the child out of the service until quiet resumes.
Following Rabbi Ash’s proposal and the wonderful response we are pleased to announce that the Kiddies’ Corner is officially open as of this Friday night in the main hall behind the sanctuary. Parents will now be able to enjoy the service and still be close at hand in case of need while their small children play under the supervision of responsible adults. This will keep our synagogue a place which welcomes children.
To make our Kiddies’ Corner more attractive and suitable, we still need a few things. These include soft toys, other toys, kiddies books and games (which do not make noise!) and perhaps some large cushions or spongy mats. In other words, the kind of items found in a nursery or a crèche.
If you are able to donate such items or if you would like to contribute towards our purchasing them, please get in touch with any member of the ManCom or the office.
Thank you to those who have already so generously donated towards this project and who have volunteered their help!
Apr 20
A Magen David studded conference for all South Africa’s Progressive Jews is now open for registration. Celebrating 80 years of the national SAUPJ, the conference will take place in Johannesburg between 07 and 10 June. Register on line!
Make this conference memorable: Sponsor part of the programme that features superb kosher meals, and international and local luminaries in Progressive Jewish Life. Take an advert in the official SAUPJ 80th Anniversary Commemorative Publication. The publication will be a heritage document of our national movement and its congregational affiliates, featuring articles on the history of the Progressive Movement in South Africa, its shuls and its people. Share your personal reminiscences with brief statements, charming photographs and documentary materials through the years.
Purchase your one-line greetings, a Magen David, for R30 each or four for R100.00. Call Carma Design on 011 025 4578 or email saupjpublication@gonet.co.za for more information. The publication deadline is 16 April, without extension. Visit www.saupj.org.za for on-line registration and other details.
Apr 20
Rabbi Ash is attending the Liberal Judaism Biennial Conference in the U.K. and will be away from 17 April 2012 until 9 May 2012. The Shabbat services will be conducted by Student Rabbi Julia Rubinstein during his absence.
Apr 20
Beit Emanuel has traditionally been a Friday evening rather than a Saturday morning congregation, with the largest attendance being at the Erev Shabbat service. Having said that, however, we do hold a full Torah service at 10.00 a.m. every Saturday morning. So, if you can’t make the Erev Shabbat service on a Friday evening (or want more), join us for all or just part of our full Saturday morning program, which includes:
- Torah Breakfast in the Gillis Boardroom at 8.30 a.m.
- Torah Service in the intimate atmosphere of the Slome Auditorium at 10.00 a.m.
- A delicious Kiddush under the trees (weather permitting) or in the BE foyer at 12.00 noon (The Kiddush is prepared by our Catering Committee under the guidance of Judy Hodes)
We hope to have the services of the choir on Saturday morning starting soon. Join us, and let’s put Shabbat back into Shabbat every Saturday!
RUSSELL COHEN, CHAIRMAN
Apr 20
Feel FREE to join Netzer at Beit Emanuel in the Youth Lounge for an amazing weekend. Friday, April 27 – Sunday, April 29. For further information contact Sivan on 082 855 5199
Apr 20
The Johannesburg Egalitarian Chavura meets once a month at Beit Emanuel for an alternative service. Enjoy a warm relaxed atmosphere, participating in the singing and even in the interactive sermon led by Dr David Bilchitz. The next chavura service will be on Friday, 4 May 2012 at 6.30 p.m.
Apr 20
The Saltz Center of the World Union for Progressive Judaism Programmes for 2012
We are looking for participants for our two programmes:
• The Bergman Seminar for Progressive Jewish Educators 5 to 15 July
• The Roswell Social Justice Seminar 22 July to 1 August
Full details and application forms are on our website www.saltz-center.org
** Needs-based financial assistance is available for these programmes **
Mar 29
Chavura Services
The Johannesburg Egalitarian Chavura holds its next meeting this Friday night at 6.30pm. The Chavura meets once a month for an alternative service.
If you think you’d enjoy a warm relaxed atmosphere, participating in the singing, and even in the interactive sermon led by Dr David Bilchitz, then chavura is for you.
Mar 29
TORAH BREAKFASTS
Shabbat morning at 8.30 a.m. Please join us for a light breakfast and listen to our guest speaker.
This week Prof. David Bilchitz will discuss ‘Explorations in the Haggadah: a Pesach special’
There will be no Torah Breakfast next week (ie. at Pesach).
>>Share your special occasion by sponsoring a Torah breakfast. R150 will help cover the cost.
Mar 29
SHABBAT TZAV / SHABBAT HAGADOL 8 Nissan 5772
FRIDAY 30 MARCH
Evening service at 6.00 p.m.
The Evening service will be followed by a Kiddush. Chocolates sponsored by Maureen and Maurice Katzeff
SATURDAY 31 MARCH
Morning service at 10.00 a.m.
The service will be followed by a Kiddush
Special Occasion? If you have a birthday, anniversary or similar occasion, why not sponsor a Kiddush? To avoid missing your special date, please book well in advance.
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 011 646 6170
Mar 29
The SAUPJ is in need of sponsors for their 80th Anniversary Conference.
There are opportunities to sponsor part of the programme that features international and local luminaries in Progressive Jewish Life as well as superb kosher meals.
Or you could take an advert in the official SAUPJ 80th Anniversary Commemorative Publication. The publication will be a heritage document of our national movement and its congregational affiliates, featuring articles on the history of the Progressive Movement in South Africa, its shuls and its people. Share your personal reminiscences with brief statements, charming photographs and documentary materials through the years.
Any form of sponsorship will be greatly appreciated.
Mar 29
In the introduction to the Midrash Lamentations Rabbah we find the following exchange:
R. Abba b. Kahuna said: ‘No philosophers have arisen among the nations to equal Balaam and Abnimos, the weaver [probably the Cynic philosopher Oenomaus]. They said to them, ‘Can we attack this people’? [Israel]. They replied, ‘Go to their houses of assembly. If the children are chirping there with their voices, you will not be able to destroy this people, but, if not, then you will…’
We welcome children of all ages to our synagogue events and services. The only quiet synagogues are empty ones. Sometimes small children are noisy. The only thing a parent can do then is to hope that the noise will quickly be over, or take the child out of the service until quiet resumes.
In order to help everyone enjoy our services and to keep our synagogue a place which welcomes children, I would like to propose that we create a Kiddies’ Corner in the main hall behind the sanctuary. This will be a place where parents of small children can take them to play under the supervision of a responsible adult, allowing the parent to enjoy the service, while still being close at hand in case of need.
To make our Kiddies’ Corner attractive and suitable, we will need a few things. These include small child-sized plastic tables and chairs, soft toys, other toys and games (which do not make noise!) and perhaps some large cushions or spongy mats. In other words, the kind of items found in a nursery or a crèche.
If you are able to donate such items or if you would like to contribute towards our purchasing them, please get in touch with me or any member of the ManCom.
Many thanks,
Rabbi Ash