The Stanton Street Weekly Newsletter: Shabbat Beshalach
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Week of January 14, 2022 12 Shevat 5782 Shabbat Beshalach
Erev Shabbat January 14 (12 Shevat) 4:34p Candle Lighting
Shabbat Beshalach January 15th (13 Shevat) 9:30a Shabbat Services in SHUL 10:30a StantonKids Services in SHUL 5:35p Maariv and Havdallah Services for the Yhartzeit of David's father for the Yhartzeit of David Deutsch's father in SHUL 5:37p Havdalah
Sunday, January 16th (14 Shevat) 9a Shachrit Services for the Yhartzeit of David Deutsch's father in SHUL
Monday, January 17th Tu B'Shvat (15 Shevat)
Tuesday, January 18th (16 Shevat) 7p Rabbi Leead Staller's Parshat HaShavuah Shiur via ZOOM
Thank you to this week's valued DONORS! We are grateful to have such a committed community. Judith Hinklefor Kiddush Donation in honor of Yarzeit of Ze'ev Hinkle
FROM RABBI LEEAD STALLER
DRASHA While Shabbat, in its own right, is quite literally an occasion and a call for celebration, there are a few times a year that we elevate a standard Shabbat into something special– giving it a name and its own special customs. While some of these Shabbatot mark special Torah readings or additions– such as Shabbat Zakhor or Shekalim– others are attached to holidays, such as Shabbat HaGadol– the Shabbat before Pesach– and Shabbat Shuvah– the Shabbat before Yom Kippur. This Shabbat, though– Shabbat Shirah- stands out as one of the only named Shabbatot in which we don’t do or mark anything special or unusual about the calendar. Rather, this Shabbat is named Shabbat Shirah, the Shabbat of Song, merely in recognition of the regularly scheduled Torah reading in which we’ll read Shirat HaYam, the song the Jewish people sang at the splitting of the sea.
Given that, we shouldn’t be surprised that there are a number of special customs associated with the day. Those of us who got here early enough were privileged to hear me struggle through the tune, as on Shabbat Shirah, the custom is to sing Az Yashir in Pesukei DeZimra out loud. But more than that obvious Minhag, many authorities record surprising customs to mark the day. Perhaps one of the most famous customs associated with this weekend, and one that goes back hundreds if not thousands of years, is the Minhag to feed birds on Erev Shabbat. While the various reasons and opinions as to why we have this custom vary, at least one predominant strain in the tradition explains that this custom is tied to the fact that birds are nature’s archetypal singers and songwriters. Thus, out of recognition that this is our special Shabbat of singing, we give special attention to nature’s singers.
Yet, while I can understand how the Shabbat before Yom Kippur or Pesach are special by proximity, and I can appreciate those Shabbatot where we read a special portion of Torah or do something different, what is it about this totally standard and typical Shabbat that makes it so noteworthy? Put differently– what exactly is it about the song and singing in this week’s Parashah that is so special and significant as to merit this extra attention? ...continued
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.
Refuah Shleimah to Rochelle Abelson (Rochel Sara bat Zelda Mindel) Jessica Spector's mother-in-law. The Stanton Street Shul COVID PROTOCOLS (as of November 1, 2021) We care deeply about the safety of our community. All attendees must wear a mask except while eating and drinking. Attendees must provide proof of vaccination. Please be considerate of the health of our community.
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.
StantonKids January 15th and 29th 10:30am in Shul All kids welcome! Morah Aliza and Morah Leslie will guide the group in games, singing, davening and holiday celebrations.
Nu?... What's New? VOS IZ NAYES?
This month's update comes from Dana Friedman
Well, by the time you read this the year will be new (2020-nu). “What’s ‘Nu’?” is a great question. “Nu” can mean anything from “Let’s just resign ourselves to the situation, and make the best of it” to “Come on! MOVE already!” The former is kinda midwestern, the latter is very New York. (Could be traffic, could be a spousal argument.) Nu. (In that last use, “Nu” might mean “Hey, the two points of view are equally acceptable, so stop making such a fuss.”) It’s also the thirteenth letter of the Greek alphabet. Since this is not supposed to be an etymology lesson, here’s a quick story.
I had gum surgery. It was very cool. They used cadaver tissue, and it made me a better comedian; because now I’m dead inside. Nu. (See that?). I’m not sure what Jewish Law says about using cadaver tissue. I was in the periodontist’s chair, and couldn’t exactly call Rabbi Staller and ask if this was allowed. My mouth was numb, and I’d have sounded even sillier than usual. But, I was following doctor’s orders. I hope that counts for something. There are no fabulous comedy shows to plug today, December 23, but I will likely produce and perform on a good Jewish one before Purim called Orthomocks Jews. Date and venue announcement will be available soon. This is a link to last year’s show (which was virtual). We’ll update it and announce on social media when we have a date.
If you’d like to keep posted about future comedy shows, many of them with Jewish themes, go todanafriedman.comand sign up for the mailing list right from the home page.
Good Shabbos!
Please send all 'Voz Iz Nayes?' submissions to Mona Klaber. We look forward to including your news in an upcoming Stanton newsletter!
Shabbat Shmooze Another way to stay connected to congregants and let people know we care! Each Thursday, we will call a few congregants to chat, touch base, and wish them Shabbat Shalom! Send all call requests, recommendations, or interest to Rabbi Staller
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS. Stay Tuned... January 15th/16th 2022: Mincha/Maariv (5:35pm) / Shacharit (9am) services for the Yahrzeit of David Deutsch's father, in SHUL January 2022: Shul Art Gallery Launch Upstairs in the Balcony February 2022: Monologues from the Makom: Intertwined Narratives of Sexuality
For those of you who missed our Volunteer Recruitment Meeting last week, it was a great start to enriching our community engagement and participation. Check out Rabbi Staller's slide show to review what we discussed and survey the committees and tasks available as volunteer opportunities.
Some examples of ways to get involved:
Try your hand at being a Gabbai for a week Plan fun events. Help maintain and improve our building. Extend chesed to our members in need. Brainstorm ways to grow membership in our shul. Strengthen connections to our external community and within our internal community.
(Note: You will always have support and assistance. If you want to try something you've never done before, we will guide you. You won't have to figure it out on your own. We encourage you and welcome you to give as little or as much of your time as you are able.)
If anything strikes your fancy, please fill out this google form. And consider grabbing a buddy with whom to volunteer.
For our health and that of our city, country and world -- get vaccinated and boosted! Walk-in vaccines and booster shots 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 visithttps://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/or https://www.turbovax.info/
ONLINE ARCHIVES Click HERE for an archive of shiurim by Rabbi Staller ClickHERE for an archive of drashot by Rabbi Staller Click HERE to go to our YouTube Channel for an archive of our ZOOM classes
