The Stanton Street Weekly Newsletter: Shabbat Terumah
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Week of February 4, 2022 3 Adar 5782 Shabbat Terumah
Erev Shabbat February 4 (3 Adar) 4:59p Candle Lighting
Shabbat Terumah February 5 (4 Adar) 9:30a Shabbat Services in SHUL 6:01p Havdalah Sunday, February 6 (5 Adar) 9:30a Women's Tefillah Group Services...Shacharit, dvar Torah and Brunch via ZOOM Monday, February 7 (6 Adar) 7p Creative Writing Corner with Kressel Housman via ZOOM(see below for details)
Tuesday, February 8 (7 Adar) 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.
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FROM RABBI LEEAD STALLER
DRASHA Among the many treasures uncovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls in Qumran is one particularly controversial text, the Copper Scroll. The scroll lists the location of various treasures hidden sometime around the first century, but the content of those treasures is the subject of much debate and fantasy. While not academically substantiated, one self-proclaimed archeologist, Vendyl Jones, understood the Copper Scroll as evidence that the Aron HaBrit, the Ark of the Covenant described in our Parshah, was hidden somewhere and waiting to be found. Coincidentally, a short while later, George Lucas would make Indiana Jones, depicting an archeologist named Jones on a quest to find the lost Ark of the Covenant. While later scrutiny has made it clear that this was mere coincidence, what this coincidence belies is a general belief and interest in the archeological project of finding the “lost” ark.
While personally, such an idea sounds more like National Treasure Fan Fiction than biblical history, it is hard to deny that such an ethos is rooted in the Jewish tradition. No less than the Gemara itself, on Yuma 52a, says that the Second Temple featured a new and much more humble wooden Ark because King Yoshiyahu had buried the original Ark, with it’s cherubs and gold, lest it be disgraced in the forthcoming exile, and it was never found. A real life Jewish National Treasure. At the same time, though, it is worth noting that there is another position later on in the Gemara, much less fanciful, that sees the Ark being exiled with the Jews into Babylon and eventually just being lost like countless other historical relics. A decidedly less fun possibility.
It shouldn't be surprising, then, that this tale of the Aron, with it’s excitement and drama, has taken on a life of its own. In some circles, it’s a given that part of the Messiah must entail the uncovering of the Ark and its return to its rightful place in Jerusalem. Undoubtedly, this is because of the clear importance and holiness bestowed upon the Ark in our Parshah, as it alone resides in the Holy of Holies, decorated with elaborate golden Cherubim. But while it is clear that the Ark is important, I think a closer look at the Ark in our Parshah may complicate the messianic meaning in Raiders of the Lost Ark....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.
Yahrzeit of father of Alvin Goldstein: Jacob Goldstein Refuah Shleimah to Leslie Levinson as she continues to heal. The Stanton Street Shul COVID PROTOCOLS (as of January 19, 2022)
While things in New York are starting to head in the right direction, as of right now, Omicron is still a threat and we remain cautious. Our vaccine and mask policy remain in place, and we will continue to suspend Kiddush, but we are hopeful that we will be able to, safely, resume in-person events in the near future.
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.
Women's Tefillah Group Starting in February, the WTG will meetvia ZOOMonce a month on Sunday morning at 9:30am for tefillah, dvar Torah, and brunch. This will replace the WTG Zoom Rosh Chodesh services, which were held for over a year.
UPCOMING EVENTS. Stay Tuned... There will be two opportunities to get together with the Rabbi and Shoshana over Zoom, share personal interests, and hang out:
Monday February 7th at 7pm, Kressel Housman will lead a Creative Writing Corner. Join Kressel on ZOOM to play some creative writing games. There will be an opportunity to share a short piece of outside writing with other Stantoners. If you don't have something prepared, just come to hear your friends' writing and to play some writing games!
Wedneday, February 16th at 8:15pm, following Talmud Shiur, Rabbi Leead will host an online Netflix Watch Party for the new Kanye WestDocumentary. Open to Kanye fans and haters alike! Kanye and his music have been a huge part of Rabbi Leead's life, and he is excited to learn about Kanye together with his Stanton family and share his interest and connections to Kanye's music. February 2022: Monologues from the Makom: Intertwined Narratives of Sexuality Wednesday, March 16th: Women's Megillah Reading on Purim: Please contact Rivky Friedman to coordinate if you would like to read a portion of Megillat Esther (no experience necessary) and please spread the word!!
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
Voz Iz Nayes? Slater Schwartzberg
This week we feature Slater Schwartzberg, daughter of Jill Slater and Marc Schwartzberg. Slater is 8 years old and her big news is that she just had her Torah Reading Ceremony (TRC) along with her second grade classmates at Beit Rabban, a jewish day school on the Upper West Side. It was the first time since the 'before times' that the school held the TRC ceremony with a live and in-person albeit limited audience. Slater leyned two pasukim from Bereishit with confidence, stage presence, beautiful tropes and no mistakes on pronunciation. She insisted that Marc and I not cry during the ceremony (she hoped to invent a tear-drying mechanism to place just inside our eyeglasses but time did not permit). We obeyed the no-crying rule for the most part. Slater's grandma was also there. She was allowed to cry and enjoyed that right, most assiduously. It was a very special day for all of us.
In other news, Slater has built a bakery, out of cardboard, in our living room. Inventory includes waffles, strawberries, blueberries, and donuts. All ingredients are made out of home-made salt dough, dried and colored with chalk pastels. Slater's store takes cash and credit cards and will deliver upon request. The store is offering a 20% discount at the moment and boasts a daily waffle special.
Slater is easy to single out amidst Stanton's weekly shabbat minyan so if you have any follow up questions, be sure to flag her down.
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
