Jewish Life - Des Moines, Iowa

Oh What We Take For Granted...

Just a week ago, on Shabbos and Rosh Hashana, I stood at the bima in the little unaffiliated shul in Mason City, Iowa.  Like Beth El Jacob, Adas Israel, at one

time was able to lay claim to dozens of families.  The Memorial Lights in the sanctuary attest to it's once former strength in numbers.  On this day there were about 25 people enjoying morning services.  However, the majority were not Jewish.  They had come, as they often do each month, to learn more about their search for meaning and identity.  It was a nice gathering but we were one short of a minyan.  It was time for the Torah reading and all I could do was stall.  A long holiday service was about to become longer...or very short...very quickly.

Suddenly the door opened and a man, whom I had never seen, walked into the sanctuary.  The congregation president, Sam Sofer, went to him to inquire who he might be.  Sure enough, Mr. Wolf was Jewish.  He came from California to attend a 60th high school class reunion later that week and said to us, "This morning I felt that if I did not come I would miss so very much."

It was a foreshadowing of what was to come.

It was time for the Fourth Aliyyah and we called up a man who had always declined the honor.  For years when we would call up Moshe ben Nick (he did not know his fathers Hebrew name) he would politely decline and pass the honor.  But, on this day he accepted.  Maybe it was the holiday.  Maybe it was the feeling of starting a new year.  Maybe it was G-d's hand pushing him to the bima.

His history is too personal to share with you here.  But know that for much of his 58 years Moshe has spent his time in various institutions.  Tormented by demons too horrible to describe he withdrew from society.  But, today he came forward.

Standing next to me he said, "Michael, I don't know the Torah blessing."  I said to him, "Don't worry, we'll help.  Just think back to your Bar Mitzvah."  He looked at me and said, "I never had one."

The service stopped...mostly because I was so overcome with emotion.  Crying I grasped his head in my hand and said, "Today you will have that moment Moshe ben Avraham.  Welcome home."

And the Torah portion?  G-d tells Abraham that, "even in old age you will be blessed".

We take so much for granted and we miss the miracles, both great and small, that happen all around us. Might this year be a year of community, faith, learning and strength for Beth El Jacob and the people standing here before G-d.

See you in Shul!

Shabbat News - Rosh Hashana - 1 Tishri 5770

Investing In The Shofar

Rosh Hashana 5770

Welcome to the day we have been looking forward to...for an entire month.  If you've been in shul during the month of Elul (August 1 - September 29) you had the opportunity to listen to the blowing of the Shofar during the morning services.  The common idea is that we listen to the blasts so that they will, like an alarm clock, wake us from our slumber.  Our "slumber" is defined as our inattention to the responsibilities.  Being responsible for our actions as they relate to ourselves, our community and to G-d.

Yitzi Schwarzbaum is learning in Israel. Before he went I asked him to provide me with a Divar Torah each week.  I, in turn, promised that I would include his thoughts on our Blog and, from time to time in the Shabbat News piece we do each week.  This week I'm doing both.  This is from my conversation with him Friday morning following minyan.

Why do we blow the shofar during the month and on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur?  We do this to remind G-d of the actions of Abraham, our Father.  You see, when G-d commanded Abraham to take Issac and slaughter his beloved son as a sacrifice Abraham never asked, "Why?"  'Why, G-d would you ask me to do such a thing?"  He never asked, even though he had every right, he didn't question G-d.

So, we are told that we blow the shofar to remind G-d of this loyalty and, in a way, we are reminding Him to not ask questions of us.  Why?  Why would we not want G-d to ask us questions about our life, our decisions our relationships?  Why would we not want G-d to ask us of our responsibility to come to shul, to be part of the minyan to worship and lift up His name on a daily basis?  Why?

The question is answered by a question, "What would we say?"  What excuses would we give?  What rational would we offer that make's our inattention to the commandments sound?  What?

And so we blow the Shofar, reminding G-d that at one time, in the face of being asked to do the unthinkable...Abraham, our Father said nothing...he just did.

Later today Rabbi Schwarzbaum will ask you about your investments...might I add that we should also be concerned with the sound of the Shofar...did you hear the call?

May each of you be inscribed into the Book of Life with a healthy, happy, prosperous and dedicated year.  For you, your parents, grand-parents, children, spouse, friends and extended family and for all of Kol Israel. L'Shana Tova!

See you in shul!

Service Times - All times are Central for Des Moines, Iowa

• Friday Evening Services - 6:45PM
• Candle Lighting - 7:00PM
• Sundown - 7:18PM
• Shabbat Morning Services - 8:30AM
• Sunday Morning Services - 8:30AM
• Yom Tov Ends - Sunday - 8:00PM

 

 

 

The BIG Game!

It's the BIG GAME!  There is one every week...   This past Saturday we saw it happen again.  Oh, the game?  Nope...it wasn't the one played at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.  It wasn't Iowa vs. Iowa State.  It was Man vs. Man and it took place right here in Des Moines. 

I'm not sure what happened at the reform congregation or over at the conservative house of worship.  I can only tell you what happened at Beth El Jacob.  We...and I suspect they...struggled to get a minyan for the Sabbath.  But, I'll bet that had we journeyed the twenty-four miles north we would have had no problem finding ten Jewish men...in fact we might have found a hundred.

Does that mean we're "better Jews" than the folks who decided to celebrate Shabbat at the football game?  No.  You see, we've all got our priorities and we've got to recognize that, for some...they just don't get it.  Or they have never been taught the vital importance of praying with a minyan.  Had they...I'll bet the "game of life" would come out much differently.

See you in shul!

 

Klassic Kars & Kosher Food

What a great time the people had!  On Sunday the Beth El Jacob Men's Guild sponsored Klassic Kars and Kosher Food for the first, but judging from the turn out...not the last time!  A big, big THANK YOU to all the folks who brought their classic cars.  We had expected 15 and we ended up with 30 beautiful vehicles for our event.  (For photos follow this link to our website.  You'll be viewing Klassic Kars & Kosher Food!) 

So many of the people who came made the comment that they liked the Sunday event because so many of the vehicle owners work on Saturday.  So...it's a match!

In addition to serving hot dogs, chips and drinks we also sold honey cake and round challah...in honor of Rosh Hashannah.  It gave us the opportunity to share with people who had never met an Orthodox Jew a little about our faith.  And, because the shul was open, people had the chance for a peek inside.

In all it was a wonderful community event that could not have happened without the help of so many great people.  Hey Des Moines...let's cook this up again next year?

See you in shul!

 

 

 

 

 

Shabbat News - 23 Elul, 5769 / September 12, 2009

Welcome to the "New Look" of The Shabbat News - A weekly commentary on the Torah, a list of Shabbat times and a list of important dates!  You can subscribe to The Shabbat News by putting your e-mail in the "Subscribe" section and each time we post a story about Beth El Jacob and The Shabbat News you'll get the notification in your e-mail.  How cool is that?  We'll also post on Facebook.

Shabbat Nitzavim/Vayelech - Times

• Mincha - Friday Evening - 7:00PM
• Candle Lighting - 7:12PM
• Shabbat Morning - 9:00AM
• Mincha - Shabbat Evening - 7:00PM
• Shabbat Ends - 8:11PM

This is also Selichot and members will be gathering at Midnight at the shul Saturday night.

It's Up to Me?

Shabbat Nitzavim/Vayelech

Deuteronomy 29:9 - 31:30

Sometimes we forget.  "What, those commandments?  They don't seriously effect me."   In this week's parsha we learn that the intent from G-d was to include not only the people standing and listening from the mouth of Moses...but also the generations and generations of people yet unborn.  "You are standing today, all of you, before Hashem your G-d...Not with you alone do I seal this covenant and this imprecation, but with whoever is here, standing with us today before Hashem, our G-d, and with whoever is not here with us today." 

This clearly tells us, "we're in the loop".  There is no way for us to beg ignorance.  The words of G-d are eternal and not just for "way back there".

So, how might this impact us...those of us in this "Outpost of Orthodoxy"?  

I suspect it means that we can't pass the buck.  It means that there are benefits and responsibility with membership into this very select group known as Jews.  And, if you look closely at the words G-d isn't excluding folks from the various branches of our faith.  This Covenant is sealed with the frum and the non-frum.  We're all in this together.  Our ancestors understood their role.  Did they complain?  Did  they fight against the commandments?  Did they, in time, go so far as to reject G-d's Word?  Yes, yes and yes.  And what was the result?

"G-d's anger flared against that Land, to bring upon it the entire curse that is written in this Book..." (Deut. 29:26) 

But, on the other side is the promise of greatness, of goodness, of health and peace and life...   If only we would listen...and do.

This is the final Shabbat of the year.  Next week we will ring in, with great hope, a brand new year.  So...there is time.  We've got a week to think about what G-d expects and what our answer might be.  One week.  Make it count because it really is up to each of us to do what is right.  "It's up to me!"

See you in Shul!

Dates to Remember:

Sunday - September 13 - 10AM - Noon - Sunday Fun Day It's a pre-Rosh Hashana event.  Fun, games, and crafts for sale to delight your family and your guests.  Come on by?

Sunday - September 13 - Noon to 4PM - "Klassic Kars & Kosher Food"  Come to Beth El Jacob and join in on the fun, food and check out the Classic Cars coming to our first community event.  We'll even have Challah and Honey Cake for the holiday for sale.  Watch for the signs...and we'll see you on Sunday.

Sunday - September 13 - Kever Avot- 1:00PM - Individuals may attend the special service at Jewish Glendale starting at 1:00PM.  Rabbi Aaron will be there...and we hope you'll come by.

Monday - September 14 - Challah and Honey Cake - If you have not yet gotten your order in...make sure you call and get your order in.  Round Challah and Honey Cake for the New Year!

Friday - September 18 - Erev Rosh Hashanah - We'll cover service times in our next issue.

 

 

 

 

 

Klassic Kars & Kosher Food

Coming up this Sunday - September 13 - The Beth El Jacob Men's Guild presents, Klassic Kars and Kosher Food!  From Noon til 4:00PM you are invited to come out to our parking lot just north of the shul and covet (opps) maybe not that...but stare and ask questions about the Klassic Kars we've got lined up.  In addition to the vehicles we'll have Kosher Food for sale.  (You can not believe what a kosher burger tastes like!)  And...did I hear music?  A great day for everybody, young and old.  Come on out and enjoy a little fun already.

Klassic Kars and Kosher Food - This Sunday at Beth El Jacob 954 Cummins Parkway, just a block east of 63rd Street on Fannie Pruce Drive.  Come on by for a good time and great food!  Gotta love it!

Our thanks toMayeer Schwarzbaumfor the photo and for going out and making contact with so many Klassic Kar folks...Kosher...you know 

Very cool.... and see you at shul!

Reviewing is Looking Forward

This has been quite a year for Beth El Jacob, the Orthodox Congregation of DesMoines and Iowa.  We've passed several important mile-stones as we seek to build our congregation.  While none of us are pleased that we've lost several member families.  (Four adults have deemed that being Orthodox...actually worshiping as an Orthodox Jew...was not for them.)  In addition this past year has seen the passing of far to many of our long time members.  We miss them at minyan.  We miss them greatly.

Yitzi and Pinchas Schwarzbaum have left for Israel to study...while we envy you guys...hurry back?

At the same time we have seen amazing growth during the past six months.  We have welcomed a new family the Levit's and their adult children.  We have welcomed our second family, the Bernstein's, to Des Moines.  Jess, Windy and six children have exploded our youth group.  Dr. and Susan Scher have joined the congregation. Our school, Beth El Jacob Torah Academy will begin in just a few days.  Mr. and Mrs. David Pearl have come back to Beth El Jacob and we are grateful...

The month of Elul is not only a time of reflection but also of hope.  We hope for more people to get involved with Torah Study, more people to come to any number of the social events slated for this fall.  We hope we'll see an amazing turnout for our second Shabbos Challenge this November. 

We hope...but those hopes can only be realized when we all pull together and grow in our faith.  Because, in the end...that is the true mission.  We're put on this earth for one reason...to glorify G-d with our prayer and our work.  Come join us...

See you in Shul....