AM YISRAEL AND ERETZ YISRAEL IN MUSIC: SHABBAT EVENING, DECEMBER 6, 2024 at 7pm

This coming Shabbat, we read Vayeira, the fourth Sidrah in Bereshit/Genesis. The beginning Torah portions are packed with formative and dramatic events in the early history of the Jewish people, and this week’s Sidrah describes events of great significance. The Rabbis who selected the Torah portions for the Holidays picked the story of Akedat Yitzhak, the Sacrifice of Isaac, from Vayeira for the Rosh Hashanah reading, indicative of its relevance, drama, and its importance.

Vayeira is comprised of a series of crises involving Abraham, his wife, Sarah, his nephew Lot, Lot’s daughters, and ultimately Abraham’s son, Isaac. Three days after his circumcision at age 99, Abraham prepares a feast for three strangers, who are disguised angels. One angel tells him that his barren wife, Sarah, will have a son within one year of their visit. Sarah, who is past 90, laughs at him.

Two of the angels go to the wicked city of Sodom. They tell Abraham’s nephew, Lot, that Sodom will be destroyed. Lot’s wife violates the angels’ directives, and she turns to watch as a stream of fire descends on the town. As punishment she is transformed into a pillar of salt. Afraid that they are the only surviving people in the world after the destruction of Sodom, his daughters take him to a cave, and fill him with wine. Thinking that they are the only people left on earth, Lot’s daughters have sex with their father in a cave and both become pregnant.

G-d remembers His promise to Abraham and Sarah, and she gives birth to Isaac at age 90. Abraham is 100 years old.

G-d tests Abraham’s faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Just as he is about to bring the knife down on Isaac, a ram appears trapped in the bushes. Abraham is told by G-d to substitute the ram for Isaac, and Isaac survives to become the second major Jewish patriarch. To this day, we blow the ram’s horn, or shofar, on Rosh Hashanah in remembrance of the Akedat Yitzhak, the Sacrifice of Isaac. The Sidrah ends with a list of succeeding generations. We read for the first time the name of Rebecca, who will ultimately marry Isaac, thus bringing this eventful Sidrah to a hopeful and optimistic conclusion.

Zemirot Yisrael: Renewing Our Spirit with Israel’s Song! Shabbat Evening, December 6, 2024

Please join us for a beautiful evening of Israeli songs on Shabbat evening, December 6, at 7 pm. Cantor Levy, Shir KI, our volunteer adult choir, our professional vocal ensemble, the Commonwealth Youth Choir, including KI teenagers, and Irina Bakis, our sensational new accompanist, will present a program of both old and new Israeli songs. Our sponsors, Dr. Nathanial and Charlene Mayer, have asked that we utilize Israeli songs to demonstrate the eternal link between Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael, the people of Israel and the Land of Israel. During these especially difficult times, we need to understand and feel this link more than ever before!

We shall present a program of Israeli music, including classics and new songs! We shall hear Shir Ha-emek, The Song of the Valley of Jezreel, reflective of a time before the declaration of Israel’s statehood. The choir will sing “Song of the Galilee: Keil Yivneh HaGalil.” This song teaches that the Galilee will be built by a partnership between G-d Almighty and the Halutzim-the Pioneers. We shall listen to Steve VanName, our virtuoso tenor sing “Virushalayim Ircha” from the traditional daily prayerbook, asking G-d’s assistance as we return to Jerusalem. The Gaza War will be called to mind by our singing “Acheinu,” the prayer for the release of the captives. And we shall sing “V’hi Sheamdah,” the text from the Haggadah of Passover foretelling the arrival of new enemies of the Jewish people. Of course, we shall invite everyone to join as we sing Yerushalayim Shel Zahav/Jerusalem of Gold and Hallelujah.

The service and concert will be preceded by an Israeli dinner. Please reserve your places now for this unforgettable evening of Shabbat prayer, Israeli music, and superb Israeli food!

Ellen and all the Tilman’s join me in wishing you Shabbat Shalom U’m’vorach.