Jewish Life - Des Moines, Iowa

The Three Leg Answer...

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about "Sleeping Jews" and a reader took issue saying that he knew all sorts of Jews who are not religious but do great things for their community and for their world.  While that may be true, as Jews...they are still missing out.

How so?  Let's look in the Torah...

This past week, in Vayishlach (Gen. 32: 25-32) we are told this very strange story about Jacob "wrestling" with "a man".  It turns out this "man" is actually an angel of evil that can not overtake Jacob because of his knowledge of Torah. 

The commentary goes on to quote the Chofetz Chaim, "The Evil Inclination doesn't mind if a Jew fasts, prays, and gives charity all day long - providing he does not study Torah!"  So, what does this have to do with my friend who thinks "repairing the world" is all that needs to be done?

Abraham represented kindness and Isaac represented service.  Both are wonderful qualities each of us should have.  But, it's like having a two-legged stool.  It won't stand without the third leg:  Torah.  It is Jacob that represents Torah and without Torah....  As the commentary goes on:

"Jewish history bears this out too tragically.  In countries where Jews invested heroically in synagogues and charities, but not in institutions of Torah study, they assimilated and nearly disappeared.  Only when they remained loyal to the legacy of Jacob did they remain strong."

See you in Shul!

 

 

The Dinner Guest

Two weeks ago Beth El Jacob held a second "Shabbos Challenge".  It's an opportunity for people to gather at a hotel and spend a traditional Shabbos where we can learn, pray, eat and build community.  It's a great time.

Something very odd happened that weekend on Erv Shabbos.

The rabbis wife, Janice Schwarzbaum, left the dinner table to take food to the staff at the front desk. (It is her passion to make sure that when there is food or fun...everybody gets.)  As she stood there explaining to the surprised hotel staff what kugel is a man standing nearby said to the workers, "Oh, you'll like kugel.  My favorite is carrot."

Surprised at this addition to the conversation, Janice turned and asked, "You know kugel?"  The man said, "Oh yes!  But it has been many years since I've had it."  Of course the next question from Janice to The Man was, "Are you Jewish?" 

The Man shifted his gaze to look away and said, "I was.  Many years ago I converted and became a Christian.  My mother, until the day she died, never spoke to me again."

Stunned, Janice responded as only a frum Jew would, "Come and eat with us!  We're having Shabbos Dinner right upstairs with people from our synagogue and, yes, we've got more kugel."

The Man followed her to the dining room and took the only chair left, which was right across from the rabbi.  He told us he is a physician from Illinois and in Des Moines for a conference.  He was about to ask the hotel staff for directions to a restaurant where he was going to meet people for dinner when he overheard the kugel conversation.

For over two hours The Man sat, ate, listened and sang Shabbos songs with us. After we finished Grace after Meals he said goodbye but said he might return.  And, an hour later he was back listening to a divar Torah and sharing his personal story.  And we listened...

I don't know if we'll ever see The Man again but I have no doubt that this event made an impact on his life.  And, for his blessed Mother to see him at a Shabbos Table in Des Moines, Iowa....oh my.

My friends...you never know who G-d puts in your path or why.  This experience is just another in a long list of opportunities for outreach.  It is clear this experience touched our dinner guest.  The question is, will The Man respond in a deeper sense?  And the answer is, yes...he already did, each time he said, "Amen".

See you in Shul....

 

 

 

From A Hotel Room In Des Moines...

It's early Sunday morning, the final day of The Shabbos Challenge II for Des Moines, This past weekend saw 33 people gather at the Day's Inn of Walnut Creek for a true Shabbos.   From check-in on Friday afternoon we have prayed, learned, worshiped, ate, sang and played together.  It's not only the right thing to do, but it goes toward building a community. (Last night we even had a whipped cream treat...)

For Orthodox Jews living in other parts of the country leaving your home and checking into a hotel for Shabbos may sound strange.  But here it's different.  We have members of our shul that are observant and those working toward the goal.  We have members who care little for religion and others that truly "get it".  And so we meet in a location to give those who are grasping for reason the opportunity to start with observing Shabbos.  It's a wonderful adventure...  Thank you Rabbi Schwarzbaum for doing this again.  Let's start planning Shabbos Challenge III.

In other news, the Des Moines Sunday Register carried an article about the three new families who have moved to Des Moines.  Last week writer Marc Hansen visited Beth El Jacob and heard, first hand, why Orthodox families have made the choice to create community in Des Moines.  Nice job Marc and thank you...here is the story.

See you in shul...

 

 

Doing Business With Friends!

On Sunday Beth El Jacob will honor four individuals at the Fifth Annual Tribute Dinner and Gala.  It will be our privilege to present Senator Jack Hatch, Officer Mark Miller, Jack Blair(OBM) and James Blair with honors from our shul.  (If you have not yet made reservations...shoot us back an e-mail and we'll make sure you get a seat.)

As with all "volunteer groups" we found ourselves doing things at the last minute.  The Tribute Booklet had to be written and printed.  The writing took longer than the printing.  Tammy Bainbridge and the folks at Lotus Moments received our raw files at 9am on Friday and the booklets were delivered, by Tammy, to the shul before Shabbos!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The plaques were another matter.  Kathy Trail at Crown Trophy in Urbandale whipped those out in no time and even made special "hours" for us to come and pick them up.  Kathy, thank you thank you, thank you!.

But, you see, that's the way it is when you are dealing with great people who are also your friends.  We'll have a nice event on Sunday night...and we're pleased to honor some wonderful folks.  We also wanted to shout out the folks at two local businesses that made all the difference.

Thank you, again!

See you in Shul

 

 

Learning - A Lifelong Event

Several week's ago Beth El Jacob did a Member Survey that indicated a number of issues some members had with our delivery of service.  One of those issues had to do with Hebrew and classes.  So, we have now augmented Rabbi Schwarzbaum's weekly individual learning classes with a group class led by board member, Eric Michaels.  The name of the class is:  Understanding Prayerbook Hebrew and it meets each Sunday morning following services.

At our first session this past Sunday we had seven people take part in the class.  Eric explained the rational of teaching the subject and introduced the students to the text, "Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way" (Third Edition) published by EKS Publishing Company (510-251-9102).  Each student is required to purchase their own copy.  We understand there are copies available at Amazon.com as well.

Thanks Eric for picking up the ball on this class.  As one of the students, I was impressed at your knowledge and your teaching ability.  Good stuff....

For those of you who missed the FIRST CLASS...here is your invitation to join us again this Sunday Morning! 

See you in Shul!

"This Is Between You and Me" Shmini Azeret - 5770

The Beth El Jacob Sabbath Bulletin

Shemini Atzeret - 5770 / October 10, 2009

 

The term "atzeret" as in Shmini Atzeret is often translated as "assembly" but it also has the meaning of holding back or stopping and waiting.  So why bring that up?  The sages describe the final or eighth day of Sukkot in the following parable:

G-d is like a king who invites all his children to a feast to last for just so many days; when the time comes for them to depart, He says to them, "My children, I have a request to make of you.  Stay yet another day; your departure is difficult for me."

On Friday morning our extended service spoke to this issue of G-d being both our Father and our King.  In the story above we begin to understand the relationship between us.  Just as a father loves his children he must also make demands.  Just as a father makes demands he also wishes us to linger longer.  To stay a bit, rest and enjoy the company of a people who loves Him as much as He loves us.

See you in Shul!

Sabbath & Candle Lighting Times:  (All Des Moines, Iowa)

• 6:25PM Candle Lighting - Friday Evening
• 6:30PM Mincha
• 6:43PM Sunset
• 9:00AM - Shabbat Services
• 10:30AM Yiskor
• 6:15PM Shabbat Mincha
• 7:35PM Simhat Torah Begins - Come Dance with the Torah!
• 9:00AM Sunday Morning Services - Simhat Torah

Shakin' in Des Moines

What a wonderful holiday we have in Sukkot.  This year the first two days of the holiday fell on Shabbat and on Sunday so we were not able to shake the lulav and etrog on Saturday...but Sunday?  Look out...it was wonderful as new families joined families who have been in Des Moines for years.  It was an interesting mixture of two different groups attempting to find the sweet spot in our combined Jewish lives.   Some shake one way...others differently.  But oh...what a blessing! We were grateful for not only the new families but also the many guests who came to daven at Beth El Jacob.

And, something else...

Celebrating Sukkot in Iowa is something special.  We get an added kick to the holiday in realizing what it must have been like when our people were part of an agrarian society.  Just a few miles outside of Des Moines combines and tractors and grain carts are rolling through the fields bringing in this year's harvest, reported to be the second best on record.  Imagine that, as a farmer, the bounty that was planted just five months ago is coming to maturity.  And, all during that time the growing was dependent on the gift of a fantastic season.  Now, some will say..."Hey, don't forget about the new genetics in seed and new developments in soil conditioning!"  We are not...but think about it.  Those too are gifts of G-d.  While the science is from Man it is G-d who gave these men and women of discovery the insight and intelligence to expand the science so we might help feed the world.

Over the coming week we'll have the privilege to "dwell" in the Sukkah.  We'll be closer to nature and to G-d.  While we're there we might also say a "thank you" to agriculture and the bounty coming from the Midwest.  It's all right here.  Thanks for reading...

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!

 

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.