Beth Shalom Students Become Proficient Ba'alei Tekiah!

The Temple Beth Shalom Religious School is spearheading the movement for "hands-on" education and teaching students to become proficient Ba'alei Tekiah, sounders of the Shofar, the ram's horn used during High Holy Day worship. Students have been trained on shofarot from both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions.

The shofar is an instrument made from the horn of a ram or other kosher animal. It was used in ancient Israel to announce the New Moon, called Rosh Chodesh and call people together. It was also blown on Rosh Hashannah, marking the beginning of the New Year, signifying both need to wake up to the call to repentance, and in connection with the portion read on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the Binding of Isaac (Genesis, Chapter 22) in which Abraham sacrifices a ram in place of his son, Isaac.

Today, the shofar is featured most prominently in the Rosh Hashanah morning services. It is considered a commandment to hear the shofar blown.

There is a great deal of symbolism tied in with the legal requirements for what constitutes a proper shofar. The shofar of Rosh Hashanah, whose purpose it is to rouse the Divine in the listener, may not be constructed of an artificial instrument. It must be an instrument in its natural form and naturally hollow, through whom sound is produced by human breath, which God breathes into human beings. This pure, and natural sound, symbolizes the lives it calls Jews to lead. What is more, the most desirable shofar is the bent horn of a ram. The ram reminds one of Abraham's willing sacrifice of that which was most precious to him. The curve in the horn mirrors the contrition of the one who repents.

In the Talmud, we read: Rabbi Abbahu said:
Why do we sound the shofar? Because the Holy One, blessed be God, said: Blow me a ram's horn that I may remember to your credit the binding of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and I shall account it to you as a binding of yourselves before Me. The Torah tells us: Abraham look up and behold, he saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns (Genesis22:13). This teaches us that the Holy One, blessed be God, showed our ancestor Abraham the ram tearing himself free from one thicket and becoming entangled in another. Said the Holy One, blessed be God, to Abraham: Thus are your children destined to be caught in iniquities and entangled in misfortunes, but in the end they will be redeemed by the horns of a ram. Therefore the prophet Zechariah said of the time of redemption: And the Lord shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth like the lightning; and the Lord God shall blow the shofar, and shall move in stormy winds of the south (Zechariah 9:14). (Babylonian Talmud Tractate Rosh Hashanah 16a)

According to Leo Rosten, “The bend in the shofar is supposed to represent how a human heart, in true repentance, bends before the Lord. The ram's horn serves to remind the pious how Abraham, offering his son Isaac in sacrifice, was reprieved when God decided that Abraham could sacrifice a ram instead. The man who blows the shofar is required to be of blameless character and conspicuous devotion; he must blow blasts of different timbre, some deep, some high, some quavering.”

Thus has the Religious School at Temple Beth Shalom in Palm Coast connected the youth of the congregation to the most ancient of traditions. Bringing new into contact with the ancient traditions of the People Israel is also a fundamental objective of the school.

Sept. 8 Selichot Concert features Marina Lupina and TBS Choir

The public is invited to a unique Choral Concert at Temple Beth Shalom, Saturday evening, September 8th in the synagogue's sanctuary at 40 Wellington Drive, Palm Coast, Florida 32164. The concert will introduce the traditional Selichot Service at Flagler County's central synagogue and thus help to usher in the High Holy Day season that begins with the eve of Rosh HaShannah, Wednesday evening, September 12th and ends 22 days later with the celebration of Simchat Torah, when the yearly cycle of the reading of the Five Books of Moses is completed and begun anew!

The concert features Chorus Director Marina Lupina a graduate of the reknown Moscow Conservatory of Music. Founded in 1866 by Nikolai Rubinstein, brother of the famous Russian pianist and composer Anton Rubinstein, who founded the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1862.
At its opening, Tchaikovsky was appointed professor of theory and harmony, a post he held until approximately 1878. Since 1940, the conservatory has borne Tchaikovsky's name. Notable alumni of the Conservatory include Palm Coasts, Lapina and pianist Boris Berezovsky, composer Dmitry Borisovich Kabalevsky, composer, pianist and conductor Sergei Rachmaninoff and cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.

Lupina has led choirs throughout Europe and North America and taught Choral Conducting. She is currently on the faculty of several colleges and universities in Central Florida.

Selichot are special prayers for forgiveness, properly pronounced "s'lee-KHOHT," but often pronounced "SLI-khus" in Ashkenazi communities. They are usually said on fast days, and also said during the period preceding Yom Kippur. In the Sephardic tradition, Selichot are said beginning with the month of Elul, through Yom Kippur to help worshipers direct their hearts and minds to the process of teshuvah, repentance. At the Selichot service, worshipers begin to examine their deeds of the past year, seeking forgiveness from God, and promising to improve their behavior in the New Year. In the Ashkenazic tradition, Selichot are begun at a time such that there will be ten daily opportunities for their recitation before and including Yom Kippur. This is based on the custom, once prevalent, that Jews would fast for ten days (eating at night) before and including Yom Kippur.

In general, the proper time to say Selichot are at the end of the night, just before the morning, since this time is considered, according to Jewish Mysticism, a specially favorable time, in terms of the presence and closeness of God. Hence, selichot are typically recited in the early morning, before the daily Shacharit service. They add about 45 minutes to the regular daily service.
Selichot are recited from the Sunday before Rosh Hashannah until Yom Kippur. If Rosh Hashannah begins on a Monday or Tuesday, selichot begins on the Sunday of the week before Rosh Hashannah, to make sure that there are at least three days of Selichot. The first selichot service of the holiday season is usually a large community service, held around midnight on Motzaei Shabbat (the night after the sabbath ends; that is, after nightfall on Saturday). The entire community, including men, women and older children, attend the service, and the rabbi gives a sermon.

The first night of Selichot is different from the other days. First, it is customary to say Selichot the first night before going to sleep, and, since the first part of the night is considered a time of din, judgment, the Selichot are not recited on the first night until after chatzot, relative midnight. A person should consult a Jewish Calendar or their Rabbi to determine the specific time of chatzot for their area.

A fundamental part of the selichot service is the repeated recitation of the "Thirteen Attributes," a list of God's thirteen attributes of mercy that were revealed to Moses by G-d after the sin of the golden calf (Exodus 34:6-7): "Hashem, [1], Ha-shem [2], G-d [3], merciful [4], and gracious [5], long-suffering [6], abundant in goodness [7] and truth [8], keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation [9], forgiving iniquity [10] and transgression [11] and sin [12], who cleanses [13]." Why is "Ha-shem" listed twice as an attribute? And why are three of these "attributes" Names of G-d? Different names of G-d connote different characteristics of Him. The four-letter Name of G-d (rendered here as "Ha-shem," literally "the name") is the Name used when G-d is exhibiting characteristics of mercy, and the Talmud explains that this dual usage indicates that G-d is merciful before a person sins, but is also merciful after a person sins. The third attribute is a different Name of G-d that is used when G-d acts in His capacity as the almighty ruler of nature and the universe. G-d appeared to Moses and taught him these Thirteen Attributes saying, "Whenever Israel sins, let them recite this in its proper order and I will forgive them." Thus, this appeal to G-d’s mercy reassures that repentance is always possible, and that G-d always awaits a return to Him. The implication is also that if people emulate G-d’s merciful ways, He will treat them mercifully in return.

Beth Shalom Gathers for Spaghetti Dinner

Temple Beth Shalom is the perfect setting for Flagler County's Jewish community to gather and break bread! This time, the bread was rich in garlic, tasty and filling thanks to the synagogue's Men's Club who prepared an outstanding Spaghetti Dinner for more than 100 people. The dinner was the finest expression of family, the family that is the Flagler County Jewish Community!

In a challenging world, family belonging provides a safe haven for people in every circumstance. . Family dinners not only satisfy our physical and emotional needs, but also offer a time and place to consciously demonstrate the value of caring for others.

Sharing family dinners sets the stage for us to value our family relationships, rather than take them for granted. Having dinner together as a family also keeps us in touch, allowing us to trouble-shoot problems in daily living, as well as keeping us abreast of our family members' activities and life experience. It is in the family group that we develop an ability to discuss, to express our opinions, to be ourselves and allow others to be themselves. We feel less alone in the world when we know there are people who love and care about us, no matter what we are going through.

The function of a family is to nurture the growth and development of each of its members. The overall "spirit" in a family is like the soil in a garden. Soil rich in needed elements supports growth, while earth anemic in necessary nutrients curtails blossom.

Thanks to Temple Beth Shalom and its Men's Club, our family has been mightily enriched!

Resounding Success at BSY Overnight & Yard Sale

BSY, Temple Beth Shalom Youth, spent the entire night before their last yard sale "camping out" in the synagogue's sanctuary, snacking, watching movies and preparing the goods to be sold to benefit their many activities. Not only did everyone involved have a fun time, but the bonds between these exciting new people and their friends were strengthened along with their connection with the Jewish community and its synagogue.

Temple Beth Shalom and BSY recognize the fact that youth must perpetuate Judaism, and are increasingly cognizant of the historical and cultural heritage of the Jewish People. Together they aim to bring about a meaningful and fully reciprocal encounter of Judaism, the Jewish people, and the Synagogue on one side, and the Jewish teenager on the other. As a result of this encounter, the Jewish teenager will, firstly, demonstrate and experience how the Jewish way of living, through study, action and fellowship, leads to personal fulfillment and growth while meeting his spiritual and social needs, and secondly, make a significant contribution to synagogue, community, society and the Jewish people.

Inaugural "Ask the Rabbi" Shabbat, Friday, August 10 at Beth Shalom

Friday, August 10th is the date set for the inaugural "Ask the Rabbi" night at Temple Beth Shalom. The program calls for those present in the synagogue's sanctuary to ask questions of the Rabbi during the time traditionally allotted for a sermon. While TBS' Rabbi Merrill Shapiro does not promise to answer all questions, every query is welcome, no question is "out-of-bounds!"

"Ask the Rabbi" Friday nights are open to all and everyone is welcome. As always, Oneg Shabbat refreshments follow the 75 minute service. The program is an expression of the democracy of Temple Beth Shalom where, in this case, the congregation determines what will be said rather than the Rabbi. "A great deal can be learned simply by listening carefully to the questions, "according to Rabbi Shapiro, "In those questions are expressed the care and the concern of the individual. It is sometimes possible to discern great and noble aspirations through the curiosity of members of the congregation!"