Weekly Newsletter

Week of June 25th, 2021
15 Tammuz 5781
​​​​​​​Shabbat Balak

Erev Shabbat June 25th: Rosh Chodesh Tammuz (15 Tammuz)
7:00p Kabbalat Shabbat IN SHUL
8:13p Candle Lighting

Shabbat Balak, June 26th (16 Tammuz)
9:30a Shabbat Services IN SHUL
9:22p Shabbat Ends. Gut Vuch and Shavua Tov!
9:30p Havdalah FROM YOUR HOME TO OURS via ZOOM

Sunday, June 27th: Fast of Tammuz (17 Tammuz)*
3:38a Fast begins
9:22p Fast ends

Tuesday, June 29th (19 Tammuz)
7p - 8:15p Rabbi Leead Staller's Parshat HaShavuah Shiur via ZOOM

Wednesday, June 30th (20 Tammuz)
7p - 8:15p Rabbi Leead Staller's Tefillah Shiur via ZOOM

*This Sunday is the fast of the 17th of Tammuz, which kicks off our three weeks of mourning for the destruction of the Temple and the surrounding societal degradation and destruction that has plagued the Jewish people and the world from temple times until today. Sunday is a typical fast day, with the times indicated above. The period of the three weeks serves as an entry ramp for the national historical mourning over the societal corruption that caused us to lose the Temple, and as such, the laws of mourning get progressively more intense as the period goes on. For the first 12 days, it is forbidden to partake in communal celebrations (live concerts, wedding parties, etc.) as well as haircuts, and according to most, shaving (for men. Shaving for women is still allowed). Starting Rosh Chodesh Av, the 9 days ramp up the mourning and we will refrain from eating meat, drinking wine, and doing laundry, in addition to other acts of celebration. Finally, Tisha B'Av is the most intense period of mourning and has its own laws that we will discuss together in the coming weeks. This is meant merely as an outline of Halakhic consideration, but please feel free to call me with any specific questions you may have. 

Thank you to this week's DONORS
We are grateful to have such a committed community

Judith Hinkle Kiddush Sponsorship this Shabbat for her 75th Birthday (bagels & lox!)
Margie Segal in honor of Rabbi Staller's Ateret Zvi Prize and Rachel and Allen's new grandchild; refuah shelaima for Alvin Goldstein; and safe journey to Jeff Katz

Watch a Recording of the ZOOM Gala​​

Drasha 

To those of you who have been following these sermons all year, you should already know that I’m a huge fan of Marvel Comics and its cinematic universe. Shoshana and I were watching the newest TV Series, Loki, when Marvel, as they always do, dropped a heavy theme in its first episode. Loki, the Norse god of mischief and Marvel villain, is made to confront the possibility that he is merely a “background character” whose only purpose is to further the plot and development of the Avengers, with no attention paid to his own development. It seems that the rest of the series will be struggling with that question of destiny and identity, as Loki struggles to find his meaning outside of defining himself as a foe of the Avengers. 

This week’s Parshah seems, in many ways, to be the “Loki” of the Torah, as the background baddies are given their time in the spotlight. One can’t help but feel how unusual this week’s Parshah is, as Bilaam– the Canaanite prophet– is placed in the driver’s seat, and the otherwise background characters such as the Moabites become the drivers of the plot. Perhaps noting the peculiarity of this section, the Talmud in Bava Basra (14b) reveals a shocking bit of biblical background when it says that Moshe wrote his book– the Torah– and Parshat Bilaam, as if Bilaam’s story in this week’s Parshah had an independent existence outside of the Torah. It is perhaps fitting then that, even older than the earliest example of biblical text– the 7th century Ketef Hinnom scrolls housed in the Israel Museum– archaeologists have found ancient traces of Bilaam’s prophecy, independent from Jewish culture. The Deir Alla inscription is an eighth century BCE Canaanite artifact found in Jordan that relays a story of the great prophet Bilaam son of Beor who saved the world from the wrath of the gods. 

On the one hand, this might be shocking insofar as it demonstrates the rare outside corroboration of evidence for a biblical story. We have notably little evidence corroborating the Egyptian slavery or the 40 years wandering in the desert, and it is affirming to see independent accounts of biblical events. But on the other hand, this archaeological find seems shocking in a sense that challenges faith, or at the very least demands a response from the faithful. Is the Torah really incorporating religious and prophetic texts of pagan cultures? Notably, the Deir Alla inscription references multiple gods, none of whom are the Jewish YKVK. More challenging than a mere implicit comparison between the prophecies of Moshe and Bilaam, this historical text seems to demand a more literal read of the aforementioned Gemara. Moshe wrote down his book, God’s Torah, as well as the independently extant pagan prophecies of Bilaam, which comprised the basis for the Torah’s account in Parshat Balak.... continued

Click HERE for an archive of Rabbi Staller's Drashot

Misheberach: We pray that all who are sick may have a full recovery. To add a name to our communal misheberach prayer list, email us. 

Happy Birthday to Elizabeth Miller!
Refuah shelama to Alvin Goldstein.
Mazel Tov to Rachel and Allen Mincer on the birth of their grandson!

Security Protocols for Entering Shul:
At all times as a security precaution, please use the code to enter the door on the right side of the building. If you do not know the code, knock and someone will let you in.

​​​​​​​News from our Tel Aviv Correspondent, Jeff Katz!
The City of Tel Aviv, long known for its openness and welcoming spirit, will host a Pride parade on Friday, June 25. The municipality has decorated many major thoroughfares with thousands of rainbow flags. Embassies display large Pride banners on their facades and City Hall is lit up! Tens of thousands of Israelis will fill the streets on Friday in celebration. The parade usually brings thousands of tourists, but this year with Covid restrictions in place, the crowd will be reduced, but no less celebratory. 

Congratulations to Rabbi Leead Staller for winning Hadar Institute's Ateret Zvi Prize in Hiddushei Torah
for a drasha Rabbi Leead delivered on shabbat Vayeshev
​​​​​​​(December 12th, 2020) during Hanukkah at our shul!

For our health and that of our city, country and world -- 
get vaccinated!
Walk-in vaccines are now available throughout the city. Or speak to your doctor. Or call the main vaccine hotline for NYC: 877-VAX-4NYC or 877-829-4692. Or visit https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/ or  https://www.turbovax.info/

SPONSOR A CLASS
Please sponsor a virtual class for as little as $36. Thank you!!! 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, July 11th: The Chesed/Social Action Committee is sponsoring an Asian/Jewish event. Stay tuned for details. 
Sunday, July 25th: Moishe House is opening downtown and we will host an event with them to celebrate. Stay tuned for details. 
Sunday, August 8th: Women's Tefillah Group Rosh Chodesh Elul Services in-person(!) with live shofar blowing, collation, and live-ZOOM-streaming. Stay tuned for more details. 

ONLINE ARCHIVES
Click HERE for an archive of shiurim by Rabbi Staller
Click HERE for an archive of drashot by Rabbi Staller
Click HERE to go to our YouTube Channel for an archive of our ZOOM classes