RELIGION
CONGREGATIONS Beth Abraham Synagogue Conservative Interim Rabbi Melissa Crespy Cantor/Dir. of Ed. & Programming Andrea Raizen Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. 305 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood. 937-293-9520. BethAbrahamDayton.org Beth Jacob Congregation Traditional Rabbi Leibel Agar Sundays & Wednesdays, 7:09 p.m. Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. 7020 N. Main St., Dayton. 937-274-2149. BethJacobCong. org Temple Anshe Emeth Reform 320 Caldwell St., Piqua. Contact Steve Shuchat, 937-7262116, AnsheEmeth@gmail.com. ansheemeth.org Temple Beth Or Reform Rabbi Judy Chessin Asst. Rabbi/Educator Ben Azriel 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 937-435-3400. templebethor.com Temple Beth Sholom Reform Rabbi Haviva Horvitz 610 Gladys Dr., Middletown. 513-422-8313. templebethsholom.net Temple Israel Reform Senior Rabbi Karen BodneyHalasz. Rabbi/Educator Tina Sobo Fridays, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. In-person worship Sats. Aug. 7 & 21, 11 a.m. Registration required. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-496-0050. tidayton.org Temple Sholom Reform Rabbi Cary Kozberg 2424 N. Limestone St., Springfield. 937-399-1231. templesholomoh.com
ADDITIONAL SERVICES Chabad of Greater Dayton Rabbi Nochum Mangel Associate Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Youth & Prog. Dir. Rabbi Levi Simon, Teen & Young Adult Prog. Dir. Rabbi Elchonon Chaikin. Beginner educational service Saturdays 9:30 a.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave. 937-643-0770. chabaddayton.com Yellow Springs Havurah Independent Antioch College Rockford Chapel. Contact Len Kramer, 937-5724840 or len2654@gmail.com.
Beyond the letter of the law By Rabbi Tina Sobo, Temple Israel Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach was a very poor but well-respected Torah scholar who worked diligently in the flax trade — notable for its difficult labor. His students, concerned at how strenuous the work was for ben Shetach, and wishing to learn the most from their teacher, encouraged him to retire. They decided to jointly purchase a donkey for their teacher, so that
whatever they want now. As the world begins to reopen, the importance of going beyond the letter of the law is ringing more important to me now. We have vulnerable people in our communities who cannot, due to health or age, be vaccinated (or the vaccine will not take full effect). I am feeling particularly protective of the youngest in our community who are not eligible for the vaccine. As we shift our thinking of this pandemic from a public health problem to an individual’s responsibility for their own health in decision making, I urge you to weigh the risk he would not need to work so hard of your behavior to others beyond the to make a living. They happened to letter of the law. purchase this donkey from a gentile Shimon ben Shetach’s students, merchant, with the understanding who wanted to keep the gem, were that all that was with the donkey well within Jewish law for their time (saddle, reins, etc.) was purchased regarding purchasing items and lost with the donkey. articles. The students returned to their One might be well teacher and proudly within the law now to presented him with the enter a grocery store donkey. As Shimon ben without a mask, to have Shetach removed the a birthday party with saddle from the donkey, multiple households, or he noticed a gem caught do any number of other in its ear. things. The students rejoiced, Yet we also see exambut ben Shetach inples of people and places structed them to return going beyond the letter the gem. of the law: continuing They responded with to wear a mask despite the halachic (Jewish legal) being fully vaccinated to ruling that they had pur- Rabbi Tina Sobo protect the more vulnerchased the donkey “asable around them. is” and just because the seller didn’t I have been particularly surprised realize that meant with the gem, they at how many stores are still waiving were in their right to keep it. delivery or curbside pickup fees to Still, Shimon instructed them to encourage contactless purchases. return it, thus exemplifying that one We are antsy to get back to normal should act beyond the letter of the or our new normal (I’m not sure the law (embellished from Yerushalmi former exists anymore), but the virus 8a). is still among us. The mutations leave Throughout the Covid pandemic, our religious institutions have largely a lot unknown. And we, as a Jewish people, know gone beyond the letter of the law of what it is like to be a vulnerable popthe CDC and governmental requirements, especially where legal restric- ulation, and use that shared history as the justification for the obligation to tions could not apply to a religious protect the vulnerable in our midst. institution. What does it look like to act like I’ve heard people say that they are vaccinated, so they can do essentially Shimon ben Shetach today?
‘We owe it to our families to take care of them.’ — Gayle & Irvin Moscowitz with their parents, Milton & Harriet Moscowitz & Edward & Frieda Weisbrod
Perspectives
August • Av/Elul Shabbat Candle Lightings August 6: 8:26 p.m. August 13: 8:17 p.m. August 20: 8:07 p.m. August 27: 7:57 p.m.
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efore a vacation to New Orleans, Irvin Moscowitz researched Ancestry.com to find the cemetery where his great-grandparents were buried. “I have pictures and heard stories about my family, but standing by their graves from 1840 made me feel like I was right there with them. That’s when I knew we needed to maintain our cemeteries for future generations.” Closer to home, Irvin and his wife, Gayle, visit their parents and his grandparents at Beth Jacob’s cemetery in Dayton. They contributed to the Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton campaign to “guarantee that we can take care of the people who took care of us.” As a Kohen, Irvin kept clear of cemeteries for a long time. “I’ve made peace with the ways in which I could get close to the people that mean the most to me,” he said. “I figured out a way not to trample on my heritage but to fulfill my need to be respectful and honor my family. When I walk through a well-kept cemetery, I get a feeling that I’m actually close to someone who’s no longer here. I’ll put a stone on the headstone to let them know I’m there. It always brings back a lot of warm memories.” Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton is an endowment organization created to maintain our three Jewish cemeteries in perpetuity. Please join us as we strive to maintain the sanctity, care and integrity of these sacred burial grounds.
Preserving our Past Ensuring Our Future
Torah Portions August 7: Re’eh (Deut. 11:26-16:17) August 14: Shoftim (Deut. 16:18-21:9) August 21: Ki Tetze (Deut. 21:10-25:19) August 28: Ki Tavo (Deut. 26:1-29:8)
THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • AUGUST 2021
daytonjewishcemeteries.org Rgolden105@aol.com 525 Versailles Drive • Centerville, OH 45459
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