Observe Tisha b'Av Monday, August 4th and Tuesday August 5th

George Washington says it would be good for you to engage in a day of "fasting, humiliation, and prayer."

While I think the meaning of "humiliation" may have changed slightly since 1779, it has nevertheless been a part of American history and civic practice down to our own times to observe national days of reflection and introspection, particularly when the country is faced with difficult challenges, such as in Washington's time when the country faced the difficult challenge of becoming a country!

This American tradition comes out of our shared Judeo-Christian heritage.  It was commonplace in biblical times and later for Jews to observe days of fasting and prayer.  Of course we know about commanded days such as Yom Kippur, but throughout Jewish history, given communities have declared their own days of fasting in the face of trouble.  We see evidence of this in medieval Spain and in Eastern Europe and during the 20th century also.  Some of these fast days never caught on beyond their local, historical context (for example, most communities today no longer observe the 13th or 20th of Sivan as a fast day in memory of the massacres carried out by the cossack, Chelminitski in 17th century Poland), but others are universally accepted and treated as required.

Tisha b'Av, the 9th of Av, is such a Fast Day.  It is observed in memory of the destruction of both the First and Second Temples and additionally commemorates the day the twelve spies came back with their bad report on the land of Israel during the Exodus, the defeat of the Bar Kokhba rebellion against the Romans in 132-35CE, as well as the expulsions of Jews from England and Spain during the Middle Ages and other events.  Some communities use the day as of memorial for the Holocaust also.

It is a full day fast, lasting from evening to evening.  One is also forbidden to wear leather, clean or adorn oneself beyond what is required for hygiene, or engage in marital relations.  It is also customary to come to synagogue and hear the book of Lamentations read, usually done while sitting on the floor or low benches and with the room dimly lit.  Some congregations will dress the Ark or bimah in black crepe for the occasion and otherwise denote the solemnity of the day.  Nevertheless, as a rabbinically required holiday, one can use electricity, work, drive, etc., though care should be given to avoid any kind of festivities or any other enjoyable activities that day.

This year, it is critical, going back to our First President's decree, to observe this year's Tisha b'Av as a day for reflection and re-dedication to the modern state of Israel and our fellow Jews whose lives are at risk there today.  I encourage all members of our community to add to their observance of the fast day this year by also designating funds for charity in support of Israel and otherwise working to advocate for our homeland.

The rabbis tell us that the Temple was destroyed because of senseless hatred amongst the Jews.  Tisha b'Av should be a yearly reminder to us to keep strong our bonds with Israel and all Jews and remain a strong and secure community.

Wishing you an easy fast,

Rabbi Benson

Read This: Left-Wing Rabbi Defends Israel

Rabbi Menachem Creditor is a rabbi whose work and convictions I admire though I tend to disagree with him on many things.  This piece he wrote is not one of those things.  Impressive when any of us can look at a situation and not just be bound by our past convictions or others' expectations of us:

"I'm Done Apologizing for Israel"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-menachem-creditor/im-done-apologizing-for-i_b_5606650.html

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Aaron Benson

Lag b'Omer Celebration this Sunday!

Join Jews from all around Suffolk County in celebrating Lag b'Omer at the Jewish Springfest 2014.  The first event sponsored by the Eastern Long Island Jewish Alliance (ELIJA).  It has been great working with so many motivated leaders from our larger Jewish community on this event.  Please read more about it in this article from the Jewish Week:
http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new-york/suffolk-jewry-joining-forces-lag-bomer

Or this article in Newsday:
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/jewish-groups-work-to-unite-fight-membership-decline-1.7911755

Hope to see you there,

Rabbi Aaron Benson
Event Co-Chair

Helping the Jewish Community of Ukraine

Following up on my sermon from last Shabbat morning, I wanted to provide links for learning more about and supporting the Jewish community of Ukraine, in particular the Masorti (Conservative) community there.

Here are the links:

For information about the Masorti Community:
http://www.masortiworld.org/molami/kehilla/ukr1

To support Masorti Olami (International Conservative Judaism):
https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/masortiolami

Information from the Joint Distribution Committee on Ukraine:
http://www.jdc.org/where-we-work/former-soviet-union/ukraine-updates.html

The Jewish Agency:
http://www.jewishagency.org/

Yours,

Rabbi Benson

No Place on Earth - a Yom ha-Shoah Event at NSJC

In partnership with Cablevision and the History Channel, the North Shore Jewish Center is honored to invite you to a free screening of the documentary film, No Place on Earth.  The film chronicles the story of a group of Jews who survived the Holocaust in an underground sanctuary in the Ukraine.  

Sunday, 

April 27th at 3:30 pm.  The program and a light dinner are free.  

We will be joined by the film's producer as well as by Congressman Tim Bishop.  

To RSVP call the synagogue at 631-928-3737 or go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yom-hashoah-event-no-place-on-earth-screening-presented-by-optimum-and-history-registration-11120442543

Thank you in advance for your participation,

Rabbi Aaron Benson

Shemini: The Meaning of Silence

Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai lost his son, and Rabbi Yose came to comfort him by saying, "Aaron had two grown sons who died in one day yet he was comforted for the loss of them as it is written, 'and Aaron was silent' [Lev. 10:3].  His silence implies a willingness to be comforted - you, too, must be comforted."
Rabban Yohanan responded, "Is it not enough that I have my own grief that you must remind me of Aaron's grief?"

Most people, I suspect, can relate to both sides of this story - the grieving or suffering friend who must tolerate the lame attempts of others to provide comfort and the friend trying to offer help who realizes the banality of the words he is saying even as he says them.

Our parshah, Shemini, is about a lot this week, but Aaron's silence, and what it means, or doesn't, is perhaps the most powerful lesson (isn't silence always like that?).  In the end, we must try to avoid making assumptions about the internal struggles other have been or are going through.  We cannot know how much what might not hurt me or some third person has crippled the friend at hand.  Nor should we be deaf to the intentions of our friends even when their words or actions don't quite help us.  None of us should just settle for being left alone in silence when we really are in need, and none of us should fall silent when we aren't sure if we can help - but being mature enough and sensitive enough to understand the meanings of silence is something we must all hear.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Benson

Two Purim Practices To Do

Fulfill Two Special Purim Mitzvot (Services at NSJC on Saturday, 8pm)!

1.  Matanot L'evyonim / Gifts to the Poor & 50/50:

It is a mitzvah of Purim to give money to help the poor.  Donate a dollar to help the Rebbe's Tisch.  And since Purim is the Festival of Casting Lots, put your name or initials on it and we'll draw a "winner" during the Megillah reading on Saturday night following Chapter Nine.  

2.   Machatzit Ha-Shekel / Half-Shekel Donation:  The Torah called on Jews to make a donation of half a shekel to support the Temple one month prior to Passover. This commandment is mentioned three times in the Torah and so today we fulfill it by donating $1.50 (half a dollar x 3 mentions) per family member to the synagogue.  You can "rent" 3 half dollars on Purim night and trade them for your contribution and then "return" the half dollars for the next person to use.