Adult Education Seminar
Sunday, January 8th
10 a.m.
Guest speaker: Dr. Howie Scher
Topic: “The Hitchhikers Guide to Climate Change.”
Dr. Scher is a member of Beth Shalom’s Board of Directors, and an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of South Carolina.
Join us for a fascinating discussion.
Bagel & lox breakfast $4 per person.
December 8, 2011
We live in an imperfect universe. There is disease, disaster, and the evil generated by humanity. None of them are comprehensible. When we have been victimized we are alternately dazed, angry, or depressed. In this, we are all the same.
Our general response is to engage in magical thinking when bad things happen to us. Here are some examples of magical thinking:
- Eat certain foods or take specific vitamins you will live a happy, healthful life.
- A deal cut with God at the right time will avert the Slayer.
- A doctor can cure any ailment with the right tools.
- When the body becomes diseased, it is because of toxic thoughts.
In each of these instances – and countless more — the person who places all hope in a remedy consciously or unconsciously believes that bad things are happening to them from some personal flaw or oversight. All they have to do is find the flaw and all will be well.
“That’s marvelous, having a lion and a monkey in the same cage,” said the visitor to a small zoo. “How do they get along?”
“Okay, usually,” answered the zookeeper. “Occasionally they have a disagreement, and we have to get a new monkey.”
This is not magical thinking. It is life.
Often times the most honest response to the hurts of life are the ones that involve human compassion, not magical thinking. What our faith tries to teach is that we are one another’s healers. God gave us each other to do the work of a universe in need of completion. One reason why we have so many mitzvot is because we require continual reminders of our obligation toward one another. Sometimes we just forget.
I found this in A Contemporary High Holy Day Service:
Compassion is the pain a father feels when his son hurts his hand playing ball, the pang a mother knows when her daughter is not invited to the party she had her heart set on….the tears a child sheds for the limp foot of his dog or the broken arm of her doll….the sigh a judge heaves when he must pronounce a strong sentence…the forgiveness a man grants toward one who has hurt him, the pleading of Moses when the people were to be destroyed because of their golden idol. It is the eternal mercy of the Lord…
So what is faith about? It is about learning and relearning humane behavior. We are taught that we must attend a shiva, whether we knew the deceased or not. We are directed to visit the sick. We feed the hungry. We practice tzedaka. We turn to God for compassion in order to learn compassion. We read Torah to get a sense of Awe, so that we can learn to be quiet. We observe halacha (Law) to be ever mindful that we are not “it”; we understand little and need to learn much.
Rabbi Jonathan Case
November 18, 2011
I. Thou shalt dress appropriately. No revealing attire (keep shoulders and frontal area covered; nothing risqué). Wear clothes that reflect standing before the Lord.
II. Respect and keep the Shabbat. This means no smoking, cell phones, pagers, cameras, etc.
III. Do not disturb thy neighbor. People are trying to daven (pray).
IV. Children are always welcome at Shul. Use our children’s room if they need a change of scenery.
V. Do not swear. This is the House of God.
VI. Males wear a kippa. All those who are called to the bima (elevated stage) cover their heads.
VII. A tallit (prayer shawl) is worn by adult Jews.
VIII. Thou shalt not clap. Instead, say “yasher koach!”
IX. When the Ark is open, stand and do not enter or leave the Sanctuary.
X. Covet thy Siddur and Humash. Treat them with respect. If they fall, kiss them. Place them right-side up when finished.
May 11, 2010
Keeping Kosher in Columbia
Yes, it is possible to keep kosher in Columbia! Many of our congregants do so, and it gets easier every year. This page offers some resources. We welcome your suggestions for making this page more complete. If you have comments or additions, please feel free to contact the office at (803) 782-2500.
Beth Shalom Synagogue does not endorse or oversee any of the businesses listed on this page. Each person is responsible to ensure that a particular establishment or product meets his or her standards of kashrut.
Grocery Stores
All our local supermarkets carry a large variety of products produced under kosher supervision. This often includes store brands; check the labels and you may be surprised! Here’s a small selection of kosher products available in the Columbia area:
Caterers
The synagogue office maintains a list of local kosher caterers. Please call if you are interested, or to inquire about periodic kosher meat deliveries.
April 2, 2010
