A Moment of Torah with Rabbi Neil Sandler – Parshat Devarim 5782

Posted on by Damon Fonooni

A Moment of Torah with Rabbi Neil Sandler

Parshat Devarim 5782

By Rabbi Neil Sandler

Yes, our granddaughter, Remi, is entering that delightful time of a toddler's life known as "the terrible twos." Mom and Dad are hearing a growing number of "Nos." Even Susu (Susan) and Saba (me) are hearing "Nos" now when we Facetime with Remi. As many of you know from experience, these "nos," while a little bothersome, are quite welcome. They represent a normal stage in Remi's development as she begins to assert her independence. As long as Remi does not endanger herself when she says, "No!" her "Nos" are pretty harmless.

What about when "No" is not so harmless? What about when people who should say, "Yes," and move forward on that basis, effectively say "No" and do damage to their own well-being? That latter scenario describes the Israelites in the desert wilderness as Moses begins to recount their journey in the opening of Parshat Devarim. Moses rebukes his people here and elsewhere throughout his long oration that fills most of this last book of the Torah. One instance which occurs only two verses into the Book of Deuteronomy and Rashi's interpretation of it caught my attention.

In what appears to be a parenthetical statement, Moses mentions that it is an eleven-day journey on foot from Horeb (Mt. Sinai) to Kadesh Barnea, just across from the Promised Land. Ordinarily, according to Rashi, one could not shorten that trip by even one day. But the Holy One was so anxious to have the Israelites enter the Land of Israel that God brought them to its threshold in only three days! If so, why didn't the Israelites say "Yes" and triumphantly enter the Land of Israel? Because Kadesh Barnea became the site of the Israelites' very emphatic "No," and it changed the entire trajectory of their entrance into Eretz Yisrael. It was from Kadesh Barnea that Moses had sent out the spies to survey the Land. When they returned to Kadesh Barnea with a frightening report regarding the residents of Canaan, the community recoiled and offered a resounding "No!" The people would not budge. As a result, the Holy One "punished" the Israelites by making them wander in the wilderness for another thirty-eight years to allow a new generation to arise.

Those who had been slaves in Egypt lacked the confidence and ability to move forward. Apart from Joshua and Calev, who urged the community on, the Israelites lacked any sense of optimism and commitment to enter the Land God was giving them. For this generation, the result of acting only on their fears would be disastrous. They would perish in the wilderness never having entered the Promised Land. Only a new generation of Israelites would have the necessary tools of optimism and commitment to be able to enter the Land and possess it.

Yes, friends, life can be difficult. I have discovered that transitions can be challenging. The Holy One endows us with abilities to confront these uncomfortable times and move forward—among them resilience and a hopeful spirit. I have learned that "No, I can't" can be comfortable sometimes, but only "Yes, I can" and a commitment to move forward can take us to where we ought to be.

Shabbat Shalom.

Schmooze and News at AA

Posted on by Damon Fonooni
Schmooze and News at AA

Special Message

Shabbat Corner

Shabbat Evening Service (Hybrid): 6:00 p.m.—Zoom
Candle Lighting: 8:16 p.m.

Saturday, August 6

  • Shabbat Morning Service (Hybrid): 9:30 a.m.—Zoom
  • Mincha Service (Hybrid): 7:15 p.m.—Zoom
  • Seudah Shlishit/Seudah Mafseket and Torah Study (Hybrid): 7:45 p.m.—Zoom
  • Ma'ariv and Havdallah Service – Reading of Eicha (Hybrid): 8:45 p.m.—Zoom

Sunday, August 7

Shabbat Torah Parsha:
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 – Parshat Devarim
Shabbat Haftara:
Isaiah 1:1-27
A Moment of Torah with Rabbi Neil Sandler:
Parshat Devarim 5782
Parsha Video of the Week:
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks – Parshat Devarim – "Why do we have a book of Deuteronomy at all?"
Bible Video of the Week:
Rabbi Yaakov Sinclair – True Love of the Jewish People – A Tisha B'Av Story

Feel-Good News

Yasher Koach to AAACTS >>
Mazal Tov to Chana and Blake Engelhard >>

Events

Tisha B'Av Commemoration

Sat, Aug 6 @ 7:15 p.m.–Sun, Aug 7 @ 11:30 a.m.
More >>

mAAc Meets: Current Events with Rabbi Neil Sandler

Mon, Aug 8 @ 4–5:30 p.m.
More >>

Rebbe's Tish Honoring Torah Study Leaders

Sat, Aug 13 @ 1–2 p.m.
More >>

Arlington Cemetery Info Sessions

Sun, Aug 14 and Wed, Aug 17 @ 5–6:00 p.m.
More >>
NEW

mAAc Meets: Movie Discussion – 1945

Mon, Aug 15 @ 7:30–9:30 p.m.
More >>

Sing Out Shabbat Weekend

Fri, Aug 26 @ 9:30 a.m.–Sun, Aug 28 @ 11:45 a.m.
More >>
NEW DETAILS

Reconnecting with Your Sisters

Sun, Aug 28 @ 5–7:00 p.m.
More >>
SAVE THE DATE

Sisterhood Minyan

Tue, Sep 6 @ 7:15 am
More >>

Naomi's Book Club

Mon, Sep 12 @ 10:15 a.m.
More >>
NEW

For more events, please visit our events calendar.

View Calendar

Other Things Happening at AA

Registration for our youth and family Jewish Educations Programs (Kesher and Nesiah) is now open! Click here to learn more.

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 (bgnathan@mindspring.com) 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 (lrosenthal@aasynagogue.org) 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.

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 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 (mhabif@aasynagogue.org). 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 (alanwexler@databankinfo.com; 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 (fschorr@aasynagogue.org; 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 (beth@ahavalearning.org; 404.900.9411).