Congregation Ahavas Israel, Grand Rapids, MI

Reminder - Shavuot Dinner, Tuesday, June 11th, 6:15 p.m. -

Reminder - Shavuot Dinner, Tuesday, June 11th, 6:15 p.m. Tuesday night, June 11, 6:15 p.m. at Congregation Ahavas Israel Celebrate with a Dairy Dinner and a variety of learning opportunities

eVoice Update for Monday, June 3, 2024 -

eVoice Update for Monday, June 3, 2024 Welcome to the eVoice Update for Monday, June 3, 2024 This coming Shabbat: Parashat Bamidbar: Numbers 2:1-3:13, page 774 Triennial portion to be read in the synagogue: Numbers 2:1-3:13, page 774 Maftir: Numbers 3:11 - 13, page 778 Haftarah: Hosea 2:1 - 22, page 786

Beginning mid-June, I will be taking six weeks of Sabbatical time. It has been about four years since my last Sabbatical. My pattern has been to take three months of Sabbatical every five years, but I am hoping to split this next Sabbatical into two - six week segments, over the course of two years. With Stuart’s retirement, it is more difficult to be away for three months at a time....

Divre Harav – Summer, 2024 Beginning mid-June, I will be taking six weeks of Sabbatical time. It has been about four years since my last Sabbatical. My pattern has been to take three months of Sabbatical every five years, bu…

eVoice Update for Monday, May 27, 2024 -

eVoice Update for Monday, May 27, 2024 Welcome to the eVoice Update for Monday, May 27, 2024 This coming Shabbat: Parashat Bechukotai: Leviticus 26:3-27:15, page 747 Triennial portion to be read in the synagogue: Leviticus 26:3-27:15, page 747 Maftir: Leviticus 27:12 - 27:15, page 754 Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14, page 762

eVoice Update for Monday, May 20, 2024 -

eVoice Update for Monday, May 20, 2024 Welcome to the eVoice Update for Monday, May 20, 2024 This coming Shabbat: Parashat Behar: Leviticus 25:1-26:2, page 738 Triennial portion to be read in the synagogue: Leviticus 25:29-26:2, page 742 Maftir: Leviticus 25:55 - 26:2, page 745 Haftarah: Jeremiah 32:6 - 27, page 759

eVoice Update for Monday, May 13, 2024 -

eVoice Update for Monday, May 13, 2024 Welcome to the eVoice Update for Monday, May 13, 2024 This coming Shabbat: Parashat Emor: Leviticus 22:17-23:22, page 722 Triennial portion to be read in the synagogue: Leviticus 22:17 - 23:22, page 722 Maftir: Leviticus 23:19 - 23:22, page 727 Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15 - 31, page 734

Yom Ha'atzma'ut Celebration - Happy 76th Birthday, Israel! -

Yom Ha'atzma'ut Celebration - Happy 76th Birthday, Israel!

eVoice Update for Monday, May 6, 2024 -

eVoice Update for Monday, May 6, 2024 Welcome to the eVoice Update for Monday, May 6, 2024 This coming Shabbat: Parashat Kedoshim: Leviticus 19:1-19:37, page 693 Triennial portion to be read in the synagogue: Leviticus 19:1-19:37, page 693 Maftir: Leviticus 19:35-19:37, page 700 Haftarah: Ezekiel 22:1-19, page 709

May 14 will be 220 days since the unprovoked attack and horrific massacre of Israeli civilians, men, women, and children, in the area around Gaza. As I am preparing this article in early April, there are still 134 hostages being held by Hamas, approximately 100 of whom may still be alive. On May 14, we will celebrate Israel Independence Day, the 76th birthday of the modern State of Israel....

Divre Harav – May May 14 will be 220 days since the unprovoked attack and horrific massacre of Israeli civilians, men, women, and children, in the area around Gaza. As I am preparing this article in early April, the…

eVoice Update for Sunday, April 28, 2024 -

eVoice Update for Sunday, April 28, 2024 Welcome to the eVoice Update for Sunday, April 28, 2024 This coming Shabbat: Parashat Achrei Mot: Leviticus 17:1-18:30, page 685 Triennial portion to be read in the synagogue: Leviticus 17:1-18:30, page 685 Maftir: Leviticus 18:26-18:30, page 691 Haftarah: Ezekiel 20:2-20, page 713

On Monday April 8, the path of a total solar eclipse will cross North America from Mexico, through Texas, up and across the central and eastern United States through Maine, and into Canada through Newfoundland and Labrador. The path of totality will touch a tiny corner of Michigan just north of Toledo. The next opportunity to see a solar eclipse in North America will be in 2044....

Divre Harav – April, 2024 On Monday April 8, the path of a total solar eclipse will cross North America from Mexico, through Texas, up and across the central and eastern United States through Maine, and into Canada through …

Funeral announcement - Leon Blum -

Funeral announcement - Leon Blum

In memory of Dale Krishef, Devorah bat Yoel u’Feigel. Most of us will sit shiva for two major losses during out lifetime, that of our parents; and some will also have occasion to mourn the significant losses of spouses, siblings, or children. Shiva is an intense period of mourning, during which the mourner does not leave his or her home for seven days, except on Shabbat, when the public rituals of mourning are set aside....

Divre Harav – March, 2024 In memory of Dale Krishef, Devorah bat Yoel u’Feigel. Most of us will sit shiva for two major losses during out lifetime, that of our parents; and some will also have occasion to mourn the signific…

There is something majestic about the architecture of a large sanctuary that draws one’s attention upwards towards God’s presence. A room full of people absorbs and mutes some of the sound, but the acoustics of a well designed sanctuary amplify the power of the leader’s voice. On Rosh Hashanah, in between sets of shofar sounds, I like to let the sound echo and die down before continuing on with the next set....

Divre Harav – February, 2024 There is something majestic about the architecture of a large sanctuary that draws one’s attention upwards towards God’s presence. A room full of people absorbs and mutes some of the sound, but the…

Shabbat Dinner (and Ice Cream for Breakfast Shabbat!) -

Shabbat Dinner (and Ice Cream for Breakfast Shabbat!)

An interview with Fred Stella, host of WGVU's "Common Threads," about my book, Reflections on the Psalms. The book is available on Amazon,

Reflections on the Psalms An interview with Fred Stella, host of WGVU’s “Common Threads,” about my book, Reflections on the Psalms. The book is available on Amazon,

https://mailchi.mp/6aee4bd6ce4e/a-message-from-ahavas-israel

A Message from Ahavas Israel

It’s cold and snowy outside, and nothing is growing. Trees are bare and plants and grasses around the yard are dry and dead. Yet our tradition tells us that we should celebrate Tu Bishvat, the new year for trees. A pessimist would look around and conclude that the world is dying and there is no point any more. An optimist looks around and believes that the cold will end and the world will become green and grow again....

Divre Harav – January, 2024 It’s cold and snowy outside, and nothing is growing. Trees are bare and plants and grasses around the yard are dry and dead. Yet our tradition tells us that we should celebrate Tu Bishvat, the new …

eVoice Update for Monday, December 25, 2023 -

eVoice Update for Monday, December 25, 2023 Calendar summary for the week: December 25 On-line morning service, 8:00 a.m. No “Kos Kafeh," Coffee and Torah December 26 On-line morning service, 8:00 a.m. December 27 On-line morning service, 8:00 a.m. “Kos Kafeh," Coffee and Torah, 2:00 p.m. December 28 In-person Minyan, 7:15 a.m. “Kos Kaf...

eVoice Update for Monday, December 18, 2023 -

eVoice Update for Monday, December 18, 2023 Calendar summary for the week: December 18 On-line morning service, 8:00 a.m. “Kos Kafeh," Coffee and Torah, 2:00 p.m. Introduction to Judaism, 7:00 p.m. December 19  On-line morning service, 8:00 a.m. Birthday: Joanne Harrison December 20 On-line morning service, 8:00 a.m. “Kos Kafeh," Coffee ...

eVoice Update for Monday, December 11, 2023 -

eVoice Update for Monday, December 11, 2023 Calendar summary for the week: December 11 “Kos Kafeh," Coffee and Torah, 2:00 p.m. Introduction to Judaism, 7:00 p.m. Birthdays: Rabbi David Krishef, Dr. Lennox Forrest Anniversary: Amir and Kimberly Lagstein December 12   On-line morning service, 8:00 a.m. Cemetery Committee, 7:00 p.m. Birt...

We, who love Judaism, probably do so because we love the holidays, the life cycle events, maybe the structure and content of prayer. We may also love the system of ethics as it applies to personal spiritual growth or medicine or even business. And of course we love Torah and we ought to love Israel as well, the land that it clearly given to us as a place to exercise sovereignty and self-determination....

Divre Harav – December, 2023 We, who love Judaism, probably do so because we love the holidays, the life cycle events, maybe the structure and content of prayer. We may also love the system of ethics as it applies to personal …

An interview with Samuel Zinner about my book. The book is available on Amazon, If you are in Grand Rapids, I have a few copies that I can sell for about 20% off. It makes a great Hanukkah (or Christmas) present! Samuel Zinner, Ph.D. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2002. At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Zinner concentrated in modern and ancient languages and literatures, history, and Museum Studies....

Reflections on the Psalms An interview with Samuel Zinner about my book. The book is available on Amazon, If you are in Grand Rapids, I have a few copies that I can sell for about 20% off. It makes a great Hanukkah (or Chri…

https://mailchi.mp/b29a332088bd/gathering-for-israel-sunday-500-pm

Gathering for Israel, Sunday, 5:00 p.m.

Ahavas Israel has been involved in an interfaith Thanksgiving service for at least 40-50 years, originally with a group of churches in our neighborhood, and for the past 20-some years, a city-wide coalition convened by the Kaufman Interfaith Institute of GVSU. The service takes place on the Monday night before Thanksgiving. It is designed to be a glimpse through the window at an authentic expression of gratitude from a variety of traditions, including Sikh, Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, Native American, Catholic, several Protestant Christian denominations, Unitarian, non-theist, and Jewish....

Divre Harav – November, 2023 Ahavas Israel has been involved in an interfaith Thanksgiving service for at least 40-50 years, originally with a group of churches in our neighborhood, and for the past 20-some years, a city-wide …

Solidarity with Israel and other weekend events -

Solidarity with Israel and other weekend events Our hearts are broken but our faith is unwavering; in these difficult days we are mourning the deaths of over 1,400 of our Israeli family and many international citizens in the horrific terrorist attacks on Israelis and global citizens on October 7th; we are advocating and praying for the over 200 k...

A Hasidic teaching I studied recently suggested that God is represented by words. God is found in the words of the revelation at Sinai, the words of Torah. But it also suggested that when we live our faith fully, that we not only hear God’s words, we also actually hear God’s voice, a more powerful connection. The difference between words and a voice is this: Words might be seen as an artifact of an ancient world, the dusty remnants of a previous generation....

Divre Harav – October, 2023 A Hasidic teaching I studied recently suggested that God is represented by words. God is found in the words of the revelation at Sinai, the words of Torah. But it also suggested that when we live o…

Look what I found in the Grand Rapids Public Library! Come check it out or get your own copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFCYR1NP

And don’t forget to leave a review. It helps other people find the book.

Reflections on the Psalms Reflections on the Psalms