July 5, 2024

Candle-lighting: 7:50 p.m.

Dear Friends,

As announced by Norm Green last week, tomorrow and Sunday are Rosh Hodesh Tammuz. Accordingly, as is our practice, we will start 15 minutes early (9:30 a.m.) to leave time for Hallel. Also, there will be no Mishna Study due to the earlier start time.

As wonderful as it was last week being outside for the first time in seemingly forever, this week we will be back in Dorff-Nelson for two reasons: (1) the heat will likely make it very uncomfortable, and (2) because much of the staff was given off for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, there is not enough manpower to prepare the field for us.

Also in this week's Update:

• Shabbat Services - 9:30 a.m.
• No Mishnah Study
• Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
• Torah Morsel
• Upcoming Calendar
• Donations This Week
• Dear Libby
• Haftara Plethora
• Jewish Trivia

If you have questions or suggestions, or want to include something in a future Weekly Update, please email Joel Elkins at joel.elkins@gmail.com.

Shabbat Shalom

Shabbat Services

Services begin fifteen minutes earlier because of Rosh Hodesh. at 9:30 a.m. in Dorff-Nelson Chapel. Kiddush afterward is sponsored by Rina Carmel in honor of the anniversary of her bat mitzvah.

No Mishna Study

Due to the early start time of services, there will be no Mishna Study this week. Mishna Study will resume next week live and on Zoom.

Steering Committee Meeting

The Library Minyan Steering Committee met this Tuesday. The minutes of the meeting are available here, along with an archive of minutes from previous minutes, on the Library Minyan website.

Torah Morsel

This week's Torah Morsel on Parshat Korach is brought to us by Rina Carmel, with thanks to Rabbi Jim Rogozen for sources and suggestions. It is entitled "Don’t Walk Like an Egyptian (with apologies to The Bangles)." If you would like to present one in the future, sign up here.

Just two weeks ago, in B’ha’alot’cha, we read of B’nai Yisrael pining for cucumbers, melons, leeks, onion, and garlics, just like they had as slaves in Egypt. Maybe an additional way to understand Korach is as wanting to seize power with something else from Egypt – Egyptian religious practices. The name Korach comes from kerach, meaning “bald” in Hebrew. Egyptian priests shaved their heads, and thus were bald. Perhaps Korach shaved his head to emulate Egyptian priests.

The names Moshe, Aharon, and Miriam are most likely of Egyptian origin. The Jews wandered for 40 years so that a new generation, free from the baggage of slavery in Egypt, would enter Israel. Moshe, Aharon, Miriam, and Korach were among those who died in the desert, and did not enter Israel. Instead, those who led the Jews into Israel, Yehoshua and Calev, had Hebrew names, symbolizing that the Jews who entered Israel were free from the baggage of slavery in Egypt.

Upcoming Calendar

Below is a list of upcoming special kiddushes and events. If you would like to contribute to any of these (or to add another kiddush-worthy occasion), please click here and indicate the event in the notes.

8/10 - Lunch & Learn with Aaron Asher

8/17 - Low aufrauf

Donations This Week

None.

Dear Libby

Dear Libby:

I recently became president of a large synagogue on the West Coast. Can I still drive to shul on Shabbat?

JACQUI J.

Dear Jacqui:

According to a recent decision by the Beit Din, shul presidents are exempt from halacha for their core official acts, enjoy a presumption of exemption for other official acts and are bound by halacha for private acts. So if you are going to shul just to daven, you must walk. If you are going there to be a greeter, you are allowed to drive if there is no other feasible alternative, and if you are going to give the president's address to the congregation, you can show up in a stolen vehicle with a Jesus Saves bumper sticker and eating a cheeseburger. Good luck in your new position!

LIBBY

If you would like Libby to answer your questions or solve your problems, submit your questions and/or kvetches to dearlibby@libraryminyan.org

Haftarah Plethora

In the special Haftarah Plethora for Shabbat Rosh Hodesh, Rick and Larry discuss the alternating moods and messages of the last chapter of Isaiah. Larry gives a brief biblical history lesson while Rick “horses” around with the trope. The boys conclude by agreeing that the final message is one of universal recognition of God’s dominion, perhaps inspiring the second paragraph of the Aleinu.

You can see all of Larry and Rick's recordings here.

Jewish Trivia

Last week's question: In 1892 Waldemar Mordechai Wolff Haffkine developed a revolutionary cholera vaccine. On whom did he perform the first individual human test, and where did he perform the first large-scale test? Answer: He first tested it on himself and then on infected areas in India.

This week's questions: What was the most common name given to boys in Israel last year? What was the most common name given to Israeli girls? (Answer next week.)