Our service is on ZOOM and begins at 6:00 p.m. Join us for candle lighting, blessing one another, kiddush, motzei and invoking an angel to bless us during the week ahead. In honor of Shabbat Hanukkah we will talk about the history of the dreidl game and its meaning for the central issue of the season: how should we balance our desire to preserve Judaism for a new generation with the need to adapt to a changing world. .
Zoom Link Meeting Id: 978 470 037 Passcode: 183618
Shabbat Morning
Services for December will be hybrid, in the Sanctuary and on line. Services begin at 10:00 a.m. Following our successful speaker program on Social Action shabbat we hope to have monthly interactive shabbat morning services on Zoom, often with outside speakers to enhance our learning. Stay tuned for details.
WHAT IS HANUKKAH? This unusual question opens the Babylonian Talmud’s discussion of the holiday. I can think of four answers: (1) It is a festival of light during the dark days of winter. (2) It is a festival of religious freedom when a small group of zealots fought to preserve tradition in the face of the pressures of assimilation. What is the right balance? (3) it celebrates a military victory and reminds us of the need to preserve Judaism – body and soul. (4) We recall a miracle of a small jar of oil that lasted for eight days. Are there times when you have experienced unexpected joy? In my teaching we will think about how these four levels of the holiday fit together.
A pdf of the siddur is available hereLink to PDF so you can follow from home if you do not have a siddur. If you need a bible, please be in touch with our office or consider purchasing a copy of Siddur Lev Shalem and Humash Etz Hayyim for your home library.
Alternative Shabbat Programs We have two regular alternative shabbat programs, Starbucks Shabbat and Soul Stroll.
Starbucks Shabbat meets on-line at noon on a regular Shabbat, and at 1 p.m. when there is a bar or bat mitzvah. Contact Sari Epstein for more information. Starbucks Shabbat
Soul Stroll is on the third shabbat of the month. For information contact Janice Halpern.
Our B’nai Tikvah trip to Israel has been postponed due to the ongoing COVID situation. Our new dates are May 10-22, 2022. You can see the new itinerary and pricing here www.bnaitikvahma.org/israel-trip . Interested? Have questions? -- please contact me ( rabbi@bnaitikvahma.org ).
The rabbi’s classes resume on December 1 and continue throughout the month. Rabbi’s Lunch and Learn: Jewish Storytelling from Rebbe Nachman to the Coen Brothers www.bnaitikvahma.org/event/lunch-and-learn-5782
