Sisterhood Scoop – June 22, 2024
Volume 7 Number 22 • 16 Sivan 5784 • June 22, 2024
Book Club News!
The next meeting of the book club is Monday, July 22, 7:15-8:45pm, at the home of Linda Shore. The book is Night Angels: A Novel, by Weina Dai Randel.
From the author of The Last Rose of Shanghai this profoundly moving novel about a diplomatic couple who risked their lives to help Viennese Jews escape the Nazis, is inspired by the true story of Dr. Ho Fengshan, Righteous Among the Nations
Future Sisterhood Book Club meeting dates are:
- September 23: Gates of November, by Chaim Potok, at the home of Vivian Zarkowsky
- November 18: book selection TBA
For more information call Fran Alper at 314-993-4024 or email fran.alper@outlook.com or sisterhood@nhbz.org
All women are welcome to join us!
Sisterhood Bids Farewell
Rabbi Chaim & Batya Bogopulsky and to Chava, Devoara Leah, Nechama, and Yakov! We will miss you.
שָׁלוֹם חברים
We are grateful for your leadership, guidance, and friendship, and wish you all the best in your next adventure. May you go from strength to strength!
Doing the Motions With the Emotions
“Aharon did so; toward the face of the Menorah he kindled its lamps, as G-d had commanded Moses.” (8:3)
This week’s Torah portion begins with the commandment to Aharon Hakohen to light the Menorah. The Torah then confirms, “Aharon did so.” Rashi explains that this is in praise of Aharon since he did not deviate from the commandment. It is difficult to understand why Aharon is praised for something so insignificant. It goes without saying that the high priest listens to G-d, so what praise is there to state that he follows the commandments?!
There was once a flag boy in Russia whose job was to wave a lantern and direct the trains. One night a mistake happened which resulted in a major train accident. In Russia there is no room for mistakes. If you make a mistake, it’s off with your head. The flag boy was sitting in the courtroom and the judge inquired, “Sir, were you by the tracks Monday night at 10:00 pm?”
“Yes your honor,” he replied.
“Did you see the oncoming train?”
“Yes your honor.”
“Did you wave the lantern?”
“Yes your honor.”
The judge then said that the case was dismissed and found the defendant innocent. The prosecuting lawyer jumped up and exclaimed, “Judge, you forgot the main question! You didn’t ask if the lantern was lit. Waving a lantern without the fire inside is nothing!”
The S’fas Emes explains that Rashi is coming to teach us about Aharon’s never-changing attitude towards mitzvot, commandments. When Rashi told us that Aharon did not deviate from G-d’s commandment, he was referring to Aharon’s level of enthusiasm and motivation towards mitzvot. Serving G-d never became a matter of routine, stale or boring. On the contrary, his initial fervor and enthusiasm for the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah lasted his entire life. His passion for the mitzvah never faded; he always had a fire burning within.
Often, the frequency with which we must perform a mitzvah diminishes its importance in our eyes and it is done with less zest. Prayer turns into lip service and commandments involve merely going through the motions. One has to always make sure that he has a fire burning inside of him. Doing the motions without the emotions is not praiseworthy.
– Rabbi Eli Scheller, on Beha’aloscha, www.aish.com
