Schmooze and News at AA

Posted on by Lauren Dube
Schmooze and News at AA

Special Message

Shabbat Corner

Shabbat Evening Service (Hybrid): 6:00 p.m.—Zoom
Candle Lighting: 8:34 p.m.
Shabbat Morning Service (Hybrid): 9:30 a.m.—Zoom
Torah Study (Hybrid): 10:30 a.m.—Zoom
Mincha/Ma'ariv/Havdallah Service (Virtual):
8:30 p.m.—Zoom
Conclusion of Shabbat: 9:17 p.m.
Shabbat Torah Parsha: Sh'lach – Number 13:1-15:41
Shabbat Haftara: Joshua 2:1-24
A Moment of Torah with Rabbi Neil Sandler:
Parshat Shelach Lecha
Parsha Videos of the Week:

Feel-Good News

Mazal Tov to Stacy Blumberg Garon >>
Mazal Tov to Andy Siegel >>

Events

Arlington Cemetery Info Sessions

Sun, Jun 26 and Tue, Jun 28 @ 5:00–6:00 p.m.
More >>

mAAc Meets: Current Events with Rabbi Neil Sandler

Mon, Jun 27 @ 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
More >>

Sisterhood Minyan

Tue, Jul 5 @ 7:15 a.m.
More >>

Rebbe's Tish

Sat, Jul 9 @ 12:15 p.m.
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mAAc Meets: Movie Discussion

Mon, Jul 18 @ 7:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
More >>

Shir Shabbat

Fri, Jul 29 @ 6:00 p.m.–7:15 p.m.
More >>

Blood Drive

Sun, Jul 31 @ 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
More >>

Naomi's Book Club

Mon, Jul 11 @ 10:15 a.m.
More >>

For more events, please visit our events calendar.

View Calendar

Other Things Happening at AA

Registration for Kesher (religious school) and Nesiah (teen program) is now open! Click here to learn more about Kesher and here to learn more about Nesiah. Register by Thursday, June 30 to take advantage of early-bird discounts.

Register

As the High Holidays approach, we invite you to honor the memory of your loved ones by including their names in the Ida Pearle and Jospeh Cuba 2022-23 Yizkor Memorial "Pages of Remembrance" book. By inscribing their names in this book, you fulfill the mitzvah of giving in honor and in memory of those who have passed.

In order to meet our mandatory publication deadline, requests for inclusion must be received on time. Due to mailing constraints, the deadline to receive submissions is Friday, August 5.

Submit Names

Extra regular-size cards available! To order your card(s), please email Barbara Nathan ([email protected]) with a list of names and addresses of all recipients so they can receive their cards in the mail. To pay, please write a check, payable to AA Sisterhood, and mail to Barbara Nathan (200 Brandon Place, Sandy Springs, GA 30328). Regular card = $9

We are grateful for your continued support, patience, and fortitude as our community, country and world move through one of the most challenging times in modern history. With the guidance of the Center of Disease Control's (CDC) latest guidelines, we are sharing with you our updated protocols which will allow our synagogue building and community to live up to its traditional name, a Beit Knesset (A House of Gathering). Effective today, Friday, March 11, the following changes to our safety protocols will be in effect for our worship, cultural events, adult learning, and business meetings:
  • Fully vaccinated adults (16 years old and above) and individuals who have fully recovered from a documented COVID-19 infection in the last six months may attend indoor activities with or without a mask.
  • If you are not vaccinated or have not recovered from a COVID-19 infection in the last six months (natural immunity), we invite you to use our virtual platform to participate with our community.
  • If you are immunocompromised, a high-risk individual, or spend time around others who are, we encourage you to continue the use of masks when attending synagogue functions.
  • For programs that share spaces with kids under five years old, including Family Shabbat, Kesher, and holiday celebrations, we will continue to require masks while inside the building for all attendees. We will always strive for outdoor gatherings for these communities whenever the weather cooperates.

We are hopeful that we are in the final stages of this pandemic, and we can continue to go from strength to strength (Hazak, Hazak, vNet'hazek). As we slowly reemerge from these difficult two years, there will be anxiety, concern, and caution. We anticipate some people will continue to wear masks. It is understandable to still be nervous about removing our masks indoors. Whatever choice you make regarding masks, we ask that, in the spirit of the cohesive and empathetic community that we are, you respect the choices that others make, even if you disagree with them. We will be monitoring the CDC recommendations carefully and will continue to adjust as we know more; this might mean that we revert to more stringent protocols if guidance changes. We appreciate your understanding, support, and patience as we continue to navigate these unprecedented times.

We're excited to announce that the Sisterhood Directory is now available digitally on our website! The following password is required to access the directory contents: Sisterhood21. We ask that you please refrain from sharing the password with those outside our congregation. The directory can be accessed through the Sisterhood webpage or by clicking here.
 
Do you know an AA congregant who is in the hospital or infirm? We are concerned about loved ones and friends who are in the hospital or infirm. Although our synagogue office remains closed, we are still working and would like to connect with you, especially in regards to pastoral care. If you have information about friends or family in the hospital or other care facilities, please contact Rabbi Rosenthal ([email protected]) directly. We always appreciate the opportunity to speak with anyone in need and offer support in any way we can.
 

It's time again to send the sweetest Rosh Hashanah greetings and support Ahavath Achim Sisterhood with your honey purchase. Shipping is FREE for orders submitted online through Monday, August 1. After August 1, $6.50 per jar is automatically added for shipping. Your order will be shipped to arrive in time for Rosh Hashanah.

If you are unable to order online, you can mail your order to Janet Kupshik at Honey Chairperson, 769 West Paces Ferry Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327. Mail orders must be received by Monday, July 25 or shipping charges will be added and charged to you.

Order Honey

The AAACTS (Awareness and Action to Abolish Child Trafficking for Sex) Committee is working to provide backpacks filled with school supplies to children who have been trafficked and rescued. Please help these children feel confident and cared-for as they start school in the fall. You can help make this possible by making a donation to AAACTS via this form (select Fund>AAACTS).

We are excited to move forward in aligning Ahavath Achim with United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism's (USCJ) membership section of Standards for Congregational Practice: "We celebrate diversity among and within our synagogues and encourage the engagement of all those who seek a spiritual and communal home in an authentic and dynamic Jewish setting." Most of us have or know Jewish families with loved ones of other faiths. Embracing these families will allow us not only to support their Jewish growth and identity with AA, it will also help them create a Jewish home of their own. To this end, we will soon be introducing proposed changes to our by-laws

We are in need of an online gabbai to help us deepen our Shabbat morning hybrid service experience. This opportunity will be facilitated from the comfort of your in-home "sanctuary." We seek somebody who can welcome our Zoom participants and invite selected individuals to participate in the service with honors like online aliyah to the Torah, English readings, etc. This position requires the use of the Zoom chat feature, computer camera, and a smiling, outgoing personality. Detailed instructions and training will be provided. We are looking for several individuals to create a monthly rotation. If you are interested, please contact Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal ([email protected]).
We have so many wonderful activities at Ahavath Achim Synagogue, from communal to spiritual to social action. The Membership Committee is requesting your help in asking others to come WITH you to any/all synagogue events! Share how many wonderful things are going on at AA with your friends and family! If you know of anyone who should be on our prospective member list or should be contacted by leadership in any way, please reach out to Miriam Habif Gelfond, Director of Outreach and Engagement ([email protected]). Thank you for your good word and promoting what Ahavath Achim – the synagogue of brotherly love – has to offer!
Ahavath Achim's Sisterhood is a dynamic organization of women of all ages with diverse experiences, talents, and interests within our synagogue, community, and the Jewish world. Every woman counts for Sisterhood to grow and thrive. Basic membership dues are $45, but we encourage you to join at a Chai-er level. Your generous dues and donations are vital for Sisterhood to continue to offer programs and projects that strengthen and sustain our Jewish values.
 
We need your involvement in AA's social action programs! Motivate your family and friends "into action" towards the betterment of our community, and envision our current programs continued for the future. Reach out to your nieces, nephews, friends, and new neighbors for new contacts and ideas to help us increase our pool of volunteers for our wonderful existing and future programs. We need you! Find out how you want to be involved by reviewing the list of social action programs in which our synagogue has been involved for many years. If you'd like to become involved, please email our Social Action Chair: Alan Wexler ([email protected]; 404.872.8880).
Are you a warm, friendly, dedicated volunteer who wants to make a difference in a fellow congregant's life through acts of loving kindness? Are you willing to make a personal call or visit to comfort and support a congregant who has lost a loved one or been ill? These caring touches – acts of loving kindness – make all the difference in the world to those receiving them. If you want to be a part of strengthening our community, then AA's new Chesed Initiative is for you! This committee will work with our clergy, staff, and lay leaders to connect members who need help with members who want to do good deeds! Additionally, if you know of a congregant who is facing personal difficulties related to health, loss, or grief, please contact Fern Schorr ([email protected]; 404.355.5222) to let us know. Help us reach out to members in need. We welcome your help and time with this important project.

Donate to the Ukraine Emergency Fund of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

Donate

Tribute donations offer the ability to memorialize or honor friends and family through donations to a variety of designated funds. Tribute donations can be made in honor of B'nai Mitzvah, the birth of a baby, a graduation, a wedding, or other special occasion. Donations in memory of loved ones are a thoughtful and meaningful way to remember those who have passed away. Your donation will be acknowledged with a card to the recipient of this tribute. Please note that Tribute Donations require a minimum contribution of $18.
 
The Rabbi Neil Sandler Education Scholarship is funded by the Sisterhood to further promote Jewish education in the older adult population. To be considered for a scholarship, the program must benefit the Ahavath Achim community and be targeted toward older adult Jewish education. Please fill out the application form for your program to be considered for funding.
 
We are proud and grateful to formally launch the Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Cultural Arts Program Fund. Formerly the Cultural Arts Program, established in 1977, this fund was established by congregant Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein to perpetuate AA's broad cultural arts program offerings. AA's cultural arts programming currently consists of: the Fran Eizenstat and Eizenstat Family Memorial Lecture Series, the Chamber Concert Series, the Liturgical Music Artist-in-Residency Program, weekly Shabbat and annual High Holiday musical offerings, and jazz, pop, vocal and instrumental concert offerings. The Cultural Arts Program has long been recognized for its breadth of offerings and its excellence. We hope that you will consider making contributions to this fund as the Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Cultural Arts Program offerings continue to present world-renowned speakers, dignitaries, artists, and virtuoso musicians.
 
We are grateful and privileged to announce the launch of the Sonia Fishkin Memorial Fund. This fund was established by Dr. Andy Zangwill in Sonia's memory. The Sonia Fishkin Memorial Fund will honor Sonia's passion for the connection between song and Jewish spirituality. Contributions to the fund will sponsor individuals to create and bring new and singable Jewish music to Ahavath Achim and to the wider Jewish community for use during sacred events and services. Activities may include artists-in-residence, teaching workshops, concerts, and recordings.
 
We are proud and grateful to formally launch the Shirley Reisman Media Outreach Fund. This fund was established by the Reisman family in honor of Shirley z"l. Shirley was always passionate about the AA and together with her family had always been involved in various efforts and regularly attended services at the Shul I have had the personal privilege of knowing Shirley and always treasured my interactions with her, Don, and especially Bruce. This fund has been established to help us to upgrade and maintain the necessary audio/visual equipment to ensure that we give our clergy, staff, and leadership the necessary tools as we embrace the new digital platforms which will only become more important, even after the pandemic has ended. We hope that you will consider making contributions to this fund as we move forward so that we can remain current with the latest technology and trends.
 
AA and Ahava Early Learning Center are proud to participate in the ALEF Fund Scholarship, a program that allows families to make the dream of a Jewish school experience for their child a reality! Parents with children enrolled at Ahava are eligible and encouraged to apply for an ALEF Fund scholarship, which can provide up to approximately $9,000 of support per child per year! The ALEF Fund, Inc. is a registered Georgia 501(c)3 Student Scholarship Nonprofit organization that supports Jewish education in Georgia by helping taxpayers receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit for providing scholarships to students at the Jewish preschools or schools of their choice. This past year, thanks to the many who contributed a portion of their Georgia State Income Taxes to the ALEF Fund, Ahava received more than $100,000 in scholarship funds designated for students in our Pre-K class. Todah Rabah! Please visit the ALEF Fund website for more information about how you can allocate a portion of your taxes to help support Ahava or how your child can receive a financial scholarship for Pre-K. It's simple to qualify! Questions? Contact the Ahava ELC Director: Beth Arnold Helmey ([email protected]; 404.900.9411).

A Moment of Torah with Rabbi Neil Sandler – Parshat Shelach Lecha 5782

Posted on by Lauren Dube

A Moment of Torah with Rabbi Neil Sandler

Parshat Shelach Lecha 5782

By Rabbi Neil Sandler

Leading a community can be quite challenging and requires strong commitment. As the Israelites in the Sinai wilderness move ever closer to the Land of Israel and desire to learn more about it and its nature, they need leadership that will meet the challenge and guide them. In the main, they don't find such leadership in those who set out to scout the Land.

You may be familiar with this narrative in Parshat Shelach Lecha. Moses appoints representatives from each of the Israelite tribes to scout it. They enter the Land of Israel, see that it is a "Land of milk and honey," but are overcome by the "giant" residents of the Land who will surely defeat them if they seek to enter. Apart from Joshua and Caleb, the scouts were emphatic – "We cannot attack that people, for it is stronger that we." (Nu. 13:31) The scouts caused the Israelites to become paralyzed in fear and to rebel against the sacred mission of moving forward. For this behavior, the Israelites were punished with an additional 38 years in the desert wilderness before they could enter the Promised Land. In actuality, this divine "punishment" was simply a recognition of the reality; the Israelite generation that had experienced slavery in Egypt was not ready to enter the Land of Israel. They were not ready to develop a relationship with the Holy One that would grow in this unique place. That task would await the next generation of Israelites… all because of the leadership failings of the "nesi'im," the chieftains of each tribe.

Rashbam, the medieval commentator, brings a somewhat different understanding to the word, "nasi," chieftan. He considers the root of the word and loosely translates it in Nu. 13:2 as "one who is 'lifted up.'" Rashbam goes on to describe that to be "lifted up" entails bravery and bold action. The problem with this understanding is that, again with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, the individuals who went to scout the Land were neither particularly brave nor prepared to act in bold fashion.

Ironically, Rashbam's interpretation of "nasi" as related to "lifted up" might reflect a negative quality in each of these individuals. Perhaps they "lifted themselves up" above others and paid others little regard. How could such individuals ever be exemplary leaders? If they were so focused on themselves, how could they meet the challenge of leadership and maintain a strong commitment to the task of entering the Land when, admittedly, it would be difficult. Their failings' leading to the failure of the Israelites to continue the journey to the Land of Israel was inevitable.

This story can be instructive. People rise to the top as leaders for any number of reasons. Most wish to give of themselves and serve their community. They are sincere, dedicated people who have the interests of their community at heart. Sometimes, though, again for different reasons, our leaders can misguidedly "lift up" themselves. In the process of doing so, they show their unworthiness to lead others. Unfortunately, their self-interest usually brings difficulty and perhaps pain to those they were supposed to serve well.

May we always be blessed with leaders who are committed to the community and its best interests. May they inspire us through their example as we show our admiration and appreciation for them.

Shabbat Shalom.