Yiskor Service Book

THERE IS STILL TIME!!

To get your loved ones names in the Yiskor book for the service. Send the names and a check, PRINTED please, to:
Temple B'Nai Israel
PO Box 16556
Panama City Fl 32406-6656

1-3 names is $18.00
4-8 names is $36.00
Additional names are $2.00 each

We hope to see you at services.

Kaddish with Oprah by Simcha Jacobovici

Kaddish with Oprah
by Simcha Jacobovici

Need a minyan? Nothing is too complicated for the Oprah show.

The phone rang in my New York hotel room. It was 1995, and I was saying Kaddish for my late father, of blessed memory, Joseph Jacobovici. I live in Toronto, but I'm a filmmaker, so I move around.

During my eleven months of saying Kaddish, I ended up in various minyans from San Francisco to Halifax. Once I extended a stopover in Detroit and rushed to the basement of an old shul, where I was greeted by nine octogenarians as if I were the Messiah himself. But the phone call in New York was the start of what turned out to be perhaps the most interesting Kaddish experience of them all.

I had just finished a documentary film called "The Selling of Innocents." The film won an Emmy, attracting the attention of Oprah Winfrey, the American icon and celebrated TV host. The producer at the other end of the telephone line asked if I could fly to Chicago and appear with my fellow producers on the Oprah show the day after next.

I was taken aback. This was the Oprah show. The big time. Great publicity for the film, and great promotion for me and my company.

"I'd love to do it," I said, "but I don't think I can."

"Why not?" the producer asked, her voice betraying her surprise. Nobody says "too busy" to the Oprah show.

"I have a problem," I answered.

The producer's voice, Lisa was her name, became steely. All business. "What's the problem?" she asked.

"It's complicated."

"Try me," she said.

I began the process of explaining to a non-Jewish television producer from Chicago about the Jewish ritual of Kaddish.

Whenever I had to explain this, people never quite got it. I would tell them that I need a minyan, and they would drive me to an empty shul.... It never quite worked out. But this was Oprah. So I gave it a try.

"I'm Jewish.. My father passed away. In our religion it's incumbent on me, three times a day, to say a certain prayer, a glorification of God's Name, really. It's called Mourner's Kaddish. To do this, I need to be in a 'Jewish quorum.' It's called a minyan... So I can't miss this ritual. If I come to Chicago, I would have to attend morning services prior to being on Oprah."

"No problem," she said. "You need a minyan to say Kaddish. Ten Jewis h men. For morning services. I'll arrange it."

"It's not so simple," I said. "You may find a synagogue, but it might not have a minyan in the morning. Or the Jewish community may send you to a synagogue that's open... which wouldn't do the trick for me."

Lisa tried to be patient. "I'll fax your flight information to your hotel. You will be met in Chicago by a limo. The driver will have the minyan information. You will say Kaddish for your father."

The rest unfolded like a military operation. The next day the ticket came. Then the limo came. The driver took me to a hotel and said, "I'll be here at 6:30 a.m. Your minyan begins at 7 a.m. I'll pick you up at 8 a.m. You'll be at the Oprah show by 8:30 a.m."

The hotel room was beautiful. I slept like a baby. At 6:30 in the morning, I came down and stepped into my limo. There was a newspaper on the seat.

I could get used to this, I thought.

The driver pulled up in front of a downtown office building and told me that there was a Chabad Lubavitch minyan on one of the upper floors.

When I got there, the rabbi looked at me and said, "So you're the guy saying Kaddish. I was warned by the Oprah show that I'd better have a minyan."

We smiled at each other. I was really impressed with Lisa a nd Oprah. And I felt that my father was surely amused. After davening, my driver took me to the Oprah show. I was met by Lisa, a black woman in her thirties. She got straight to the point.

"You had a minyan?"

"Yes, thank you," I said.

"Was it proper? Did you say Kaddish?"

"Absolutely. Couldn't be better," I answered.

She looked at me with that look that star surgeons have when they come out of the operating room. Or maybe it's the look that battle commanders have when coming back from a military operation. It's a look that says, "Nothing is too complicated."

I was on Oprah. She was very professional. I had my five minutes of fame. But all I can remember of that day is the Kaddish.

This story appears in " Living Kadish - Incredible and Inspiring Stories" Compiled and edited by Rabbi Gedalia Zweig, published by Targum Press.

The Three Weeks A Twenty-One Day Period of National Mourning

From Chabad.org a very interesting article on the Three Weeks.

The Three Weeks

For eight hundred and thirty years there stood an edifice upon a Jerusalem hilltop which served as the point of contact between heaven and earth. So central was this edifice to the relationship between man and G-d that nearly two-thirds of the mitzvot are contingent upon its existence. Its destruction is regarded as the greatest tragedy of our history, and its rebuilding will mark the ultimate redemption-the restoration of harmony within G-d's creation and between G-d and His creation.

A full three weeks of our year--the three weeks "between the strictures"1 of Tammuz 17 and Av 9--are designated as a time of mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temple and the resultant galut--physical exile and spiritual displacement--in which we still find ourselves.

In this period, many calamities befell the Jewish people throughout the generations. It was during this period of between the straits that both the first and second Temples were destroyed.

During this period, we lessen the extent of our rejoicing. We don't:

• Conduct weddings. (Engagement parties – without music – are allowed until Rosh Chodesh Av.)
• Play musical instruments or listen to music.
• Recite the Shehecheyanu blessing. Thus, we do not wear new clothing or eat fruit which we have not yet eaten this season so that we will not be required to recite Shehecheyanu.
• Take a haircut or shave. Many Sephardic communities permit haircuts and shaving until the week of Tisha b'Av (in other words, until the Saturday night before the fast).

(Speak to your rabbi if there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from observing any of the above customs.)

Shabbat

All the laws of mourning are suspended on ShabbatAll the laws of mourning are suspended on Shabbat.2 This includes the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av3 themselves—when they fall on Shabbat, the fast days are postponed until Sunday, and the Shabbat is joyously celebrated. The Rebbe stated on numerous occasions that on these Shabbats we must increase our joy, and add an extra tasty dish to our meals, to emphasize that we are not in a state of mourning.

On the first Shabbat of the Three Weeks (or on the 17th of Tammuz itself, if it falls on Shabbat) we always read the Torah portion of Pinchas. The end of the reading discusses the three Jewish festivals. It has been said amongst chassidim that this alludes to the idea that the three Shabbats of the Three Weeks are to be celebrated on par with the three festivals...

Why is all mourning suspended on Shabbat?

Though these days and weeks heralded an exile rife with persecution and spiritual estrangement, it is our belief that ultimately this is for the good. Very soon, with the coming of Moshiach, we will understand that all the suffering was necessary in order to reach the ultimate good. At that time, the prophets foretell, these sorrowful days will be transformed into days of joy (see Breaking Walls for more on this topic).

Every Shabbat constitutes a foretaste of the Messianic Era. As such, on Shabbat we only focus on the positive element of this period.

Determination to Rebuild

Aside for the aforementioned "technical" rules and restrictions, during this period we spend extra time contemplating the less-than-perfect state the world is in now and what we can do to improve it by increasing in deeds of goodness and kindness.

The Rebbe urged that the Three Weeks should be a time of increased Torah study and giving of charity– in keeping with the verse,4 "Zion shall be redeemed by law, and her returnees by charity." Particularly, the Rebbe requested time and again the study of those portions of Torah that deal with the building of the Holy Temple.

The Three Weeks should be a time of increased Torah study and giving of charityWhy these laws? The Rebbe based his request on a dialogue, cited in the Midrash,5 that transpired after G‑d told the Prophet Ezekiel to instruct the then exiled Jewish People about the measurements and design of the third Holy Temple:

"Master of the world," Ezekiel replied, "why are You telling me to go and tell Israel the form of the House; they are now in exile in the land of our enemies—is there anything they can do about it? Let them be until they return from the exile. Then, I will go and inform them."

G‑d answered: "Should the construction of My House be ignored because My children are in exile? The study of the design of the Holy Temple as detailed in the Torah can be equated to its actual construction. Go tell them to study the form of the Holy Temple. As a reward for their study and their occupation with it, I will consider it as if they actually built the Holy Temple."

It is our generation in particular, that stands on the threshold of Redemption, that must study these laws with the awareness that these laws will be quite practical in the imminent future!

Visit our Holy Temple section to start your virtual tour of the Temple.

From Destruction to Renewal

But there is more to the Three Weeks than fasting and lamentation. The prophet describes the fasts as "days of goodwill before G-d"-days of opportunity to exploit the failings of the past as the impetus for a renewed and even deeper bond with G-d. A sense of purification accompanies the fasting, a promise of redemption pervades the mourning, and a current of joy underlies the sadness. The Ninth of Av, say our sages, is not only the day of the Temple's destruction--it is also the birthday of Moshiach.

May we soon merit the fulfillment of the prophecy: "I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and make them rejoice from their sorrow" (Jeremiah 31:12).

FOOTNOTES
1.	This is based on the verse (Lamentations 1:3) which states: "All of [Israel's] pursuers overtook her between the straits." The Sages (Eichah Rabbah 1) explained that "between the straits" refers to the days of affliction between the seventeenth of Tammuz and the ninth of Av.
2.	The only exception being that in many communities – including Chabad – we don't recite the Shehecheyanu even on Shabbat.
3.	If the 9th of Av falls on Shabbat (or if Shabbat is on the eve of the 9th of Av) there are certain mourning observances practiced in private—though this doesn't interfere with the public festive atmosphere. Click here for the details.
4.	Isaiah 1:27.
5.	Tanchuma, Leviticus 14.

July President's Address

Well, here I am, finally getting around to updating the blog. If you look around you'll see many new things here. I've updated the holiday dates, the Board members, and added a few articles. There is more to come. The calendar is not finished yet, so as of now all that is there is the next service which is this Friday! Rabbi Baroff will be here to celebrate Shabbat with us as well as lead the "Lunch with the Rabbi" on Saturday. Details of that can be found at the top of this blog on the right.

We have a lot in store for the congregation this year. My focus is on building community, and to that end I hope to have a lot of different social events to help us come together as a community. Not every event will appeal to everyone, and I know that. So if you don't see something that you think you'd like, please contact me or Andrew Levy and let us know what you'd like to do.

I would like to see us begin a havurah, or a few, depending on the wants and needs of those participating.

A chavurah or havurah (חבורה: "fellowship", plural chavuroth) is a small group of like-minded Jews who assemble for the purposes of facilitating Shabbat and holiday prayer services, sharing communal experiences such as lifecycle events, and Jewish learning. Chavuroth usually provide autonomous alternatives to established Jewish institutions and Jewish denominations.

Most chavurot place an emphasis on egalitarianism in the broad sense (of which gender egalitarianism is one piece), depending on participation by the entire community rather than top-down direction by clergy. However, it can help us fill our calendar for when Rabbi Baroff can't be with us, or to allow us to engage in some self-directed Torah study. There really aren't any rules for havurah and so we can create what we want and need.

We are looking at more tikkun olam as a congregation. Many of us think it's important that we take a more active role on this. There is already one project listed on the blog, (the pencil collection....scroll down to read about it.) But there will be more coming.

As with everything else, there won't be one single thing that satisfies everyone. But I hope we can come up with enough things that each member who wishes to be included can find a place that feels right to them. Of course, if you have ideas, please share them! You have a better chance of getting what you want if your wishes are known. And if you have a complaint, please let me know. I'm usually around and easy to catch up with so call me if you want to talk about something. I want to help, and I am an able listener.

We are tackling the by-laws and working on policies and procedures as well as job descriptions for the various positions on the Board so that when elections roll around again, people will know what each job is and what they do and perhaps we can get more of you involved which will, of course, help to add to that sense of community I'd like to see nurtured. We are also going to do something about our website and stay tuned for a Facebook page and an event to get some of you who don't know how to use Facebook up and running on it, it really is a great way to get "real time" updates on what we are doing as a congregation...even more so than this blog.

Because I'm President now, and also the blog editor...I hope to have more to offer and on a more consistent basis. I am deepening my study of Judaism to include the practices of the Orthodox and Conservatives. I may publish some articles that I find interesting which will likely be more strict than Reform but I offer them as something interesting not as a policy change. I do believe that lifelong study is important and one of the things that helps us connect to each other and G-d.

I look forward to getting to know you all better...and yes, I'm back in Panama City and I'll see you Friday evening at Shabbat Services!

Volunteer of the Year Winner! By Lee Lapensohn

In the past several years, your Trustees have selected a Volunteer of the Year. The rules that the trustees worked with included the fact that we would not select a member of the Board of Trustees or an elected officer of the congregation. This being said, it also should be noted that in the past several years we have selected adult members of our congregation.

Surprise for this year's Volunteer of the Year. This year we have chosen a young man who has been outstanding as a volunteer for our small congregation. The trustees have selected Jacob Sickerman, the son of Carolyn and Stephen Sickerman.

Jacob is a wonderful young man of whom not only may his parents be proud but also all the members of our congregation. He is a high school senior and for the past three years has has been a teacher in our Sunday school. Just think about that, if you will For those of us who have raised teenage children, we know all too well that it's often not easy to raise them from bed on Sunday mornings. But to expect them to get up and go to a school to teach our youngsters about being Jewish is something extra special. And Jacob has done more than that. Simply by being there he has set a splendid example for the younger children in our congregation. They see him there and in so doing they learn that some day they, too, may stand at the head of that class. They learn from him by example -- a wonderful way to learn about the importance of being Jewish.

Jacob also has given all the children in our congregation -- even those who are not involved with the Sunday school -- anither important example to follow. He has blown the shofar on the High Holy Days and in so dong, he has told all the children in the congregation by example that they, too, may partake in our important services, may partake in Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. They also may help observe these important holidays.

He has gone a step further, however. I'm sure all of you realize our ancient Rabbis have told us that they most important Jewish holiday is the Sabbath, the time when G-d rested after creating earth and all that dwells therein. Jacob and his father Stephen have led Sabbath services from time to time and in so doing, Jacob once again has volunteered and thereby has again set an example for all of the young people who have watched while he and his dad, a former president of our congregation, have conducted the most important Sabbath service.

So your Trustees award Jacob Sickerman the honor of being identified as Volunteer of the Year, And since Jacob is a counselor at Camp Coleman at this time, we'll as his wonderful parents to notify him of this honor. We'll give him a copy of these remarks along with a certificate of appreciation. And now that he is known as the recipient throughout the land, we also can have his name engraved on the plaque that hangs in our foyer.

It's that Time of Year!

Parents, please be watching for announcements about Sunday Shul Sign Up which will be coming soon.

Also, for those who have a child who is entering their pre-B'Nai Mitzvah period, there will be an information packet for you to pick up during Sunday Shul sign up that will explain the process and procedures.

Tikkun Olam - Temple Give Away

During the coming year, Temple B'Nai Israel would like to lend its support to our community by collecting and donating much need items for the less fortunate. We have always been a giving group and we know that you will not disappoint us in this endeavor. Our first collection will be pencils, a much needed school supply for many of our school students. Rosenwald High School with be the recipient of this gift.

"Jews provided major financial support for civil rights causes. Julius Rosenwald, the Chicago businessman who transformed Sears, Roebuck and Co. into a national mail order colossus, was one of them. Inspired by his Rabbi,Rosenwald used his wealth to advance black education in the South, battling reluctant officials defiant education departs, and the KKK to build more than 5,3000 public schools for black children."

Moment Jan/Feb 2009

Our local Rosenwald High School is one of those 5,300 schools. It has been a high school, college, middle school and now a high school once again.

Let's continue Julius' work by making this donation. Bring your pencils to the next Sabbath Service and we will deliver them! If you don't have time to do that then you can offer a donation marked for this worthy cause and and we will buy them for you!

We will be rotating what we are collecting and for whom over the course of time, so if you know of a project that could use this type of support please let us know. As always you can leave a comment on the blog, catch up with us at services, or give a call.

Together we can repair the world...one step at a time.