Jewish Life - Des Moines, Iowa

A Passover Thought...

Rabbi Aaron Schwarzbaum takes a look at this week's Torah Portion as well as Passover.  If you've got about four minutes...spend some time with us?  Happy Passover from Beth El Jacob!

Drama, Oh...The Drama

Monday morning during services I was praying when the word "drama" came to me.   Drama.  "What the heck, why would I suddenly think of the word drama?"

And then I thought about it...about the drama that consumes so much energy and happiness and life.

G-d has created this beautiful world and all the joys and wonders for us to see and experience yet...so many focus on the dark drama of their lives.   The little people with big drama and the big people with big drama.  Drama knows no social or economic demographic...or so it seems.

And...I get weary.  Weary of people putting drama before life.  Weary of people making excuses, picking a fight or building resentments over some real or perceived small slight.  I tire of the lies, the false hand-wringing...the self absorption.

You want real drama?  My bride often reflects on the big picture.  Her husband died of a brain tumor years ago.  Now...that my friends is drama.   Or how about the family grieving over their son who was killed in action?  Two weeks ago a family buried their 21 year old son who was involved in a car accident.  A family facing an uncertain future that hangs on the next words of the physician.

That...is the human drama that should get our attention.  Not the silliness I've been witness to.

So, I was thinking.  Maybe the best way to deal with silly drama is to simply refuse to take part.  The next time the curtain rises on somebody's self-imposed drama soaked in silly...I just don't buy the ticket.  But rather reflect on the wonders that G-d has given us. 

Will it work?

See you in Shul...

A Torah Minute - Shabbos Vayikra

So many meaings in just the opening words.  Rabbi Aaron Schwarzbaum of Beth El Jacob shares a brief thought about our responsibility to each other, ourselves and G-d.  Have a wonderful Shabbos from all of us here at Beth El Jacob the Orthodox Congregation of Des Moines and Iowa.

 

See you in Shul!

A Torah Moment with Rabbi Schwarzbaum - Des Moines, Iowa

It's Shabbos Vayakhel (EX. 35:1 - 38:20) as well as Shabbos Hachodesh Nisan.  This week, Rabbi Aaron Schwarzbaum looks at the relationship between the work necessary to build the Tabernacle and Shabbos.  In addition...how does the Lunar Cycle match the historical cycle of the Jew?  Spend a couple of minutes with us before Shabbos....

From all of us at Beth El Jacob the Orthodox Congregation of Des Moines and Iowa...have a wonderful Shabbos...

See you in Shul!

A Torah Thought - Shabbos Ki Sisa

Rabbi Schwarzbaum is out this Shabbos so I get to share with you a brief Torah Thought.  The Parsha this week is Ki Sisa (Exodus 30:11 - 34:35).  It's the story of a census and how it is to be conducted.  Rather than "count" the Jews in a traditional manner G-d has Moses contribute items and these items would be used to "count" the people.   The items?  Money for the construction and upkeep of the Tabernacle.  As it says in the Chumash, "This status of Israel is elevated by its contributions to charitable causes and this is why they were counted by having the entire nation join in contributing to a sacred cause."

For those of you struggling to maintain a congregation and wondering why members would withhold their contributions or seek to reduce their contribution to the work of the shul...I too wonder if they've read this portion...and when will they make the decision to stand and be counted as we work towards the values of Torah?

From your friends at Beth El Jacob - The Orthodox Congregation of Des Moines and Iowa...

See you in Shul!

 

Only In Iowa....For Purim

This would NOT happen anywhere else...me thinks.   I received a Shalach Manot basket from one of our newest families.  It was so unique I need to share our "corn on the cob" with you.  Go ahead, click on the photo to enlarge.

The poem that went along with the basket goes like this:

THE GREAT STATE OF IOWA, EVERYONE KNOWS,

IS NOTEWORTHY FOR ALL THE CORN THAT IT GROWS.

WE PACKED OUR BELONGINGS AND MADE IT OUR HOME

AND NOW, SINCE WE KNOW WHAT THEY SAY..."WHEN IN ROME..."

TO WISH YOU A PURIM SAMETACH THIS YEAR,

WE POPPED UP SOME POPCORN

AND BAKED YOU AN EAR.

A FRELICHEN PURIM!

THE BERNSTEINS - WENDY & JESS; ESTI, MOSHE YOSEF, AKIVA, RACHNMY, CHEVI AND SHANI

Creative?  Ya think?

See you in Shul!