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Odds & Ends

Haredim drift further from Israeli mainstream

This is the second in an in-depth series of articles examining key aspects of haredi society and its role in and influence on the country today.

BY  VIVIAN BERCOVICI – MARCH 4, 2021

SIMMERING ANGER: The torched bus burns in Bnei Brak in late January. (photo credit: ISRAEL POLICE SPOKESMAN)

SIMMERING ANGER: The torched bus burns in Bnei Brak in late January.
(photo credit: ISRAEL POLICE SPOKESMAN)

 The burning bus. Torched and aflame on a main street in Bnei Brak a haredi enclave abutting Tel Aviv, the bus was seen around the world in late January. It has become an iconic image, seen by some to reflect the lawlessness and autonomy among haredim in Israel that has become somewhat regular in the COVID era. Not even the firefighters would rush to douse the blaze without a police escort. (more…)

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Odds & Ends

Haredi impunity and autonomy: Tantamount to insurrection?

By VIVIAN BERCOVICI    FEBRUARY 26, 2021

A typical street scene in the bustling modern-day shtetl of Jerusalem's Mea She'arim neighborhood. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

A typical street scene in the bustling modern-day shtetl of Jerusalem’s Mea She’arim neighborhood.  (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH

This is the first of an in-depth series of articles in the run-up to the March 23 election looking at key aspects of haredi society and its role in and influence on the country today.

“If we face the choice of transgressing the laws of Moses or the laws of the state, we will violate the laws of the state, not those of Moses.”

– Yitzhak Meir-Levin, haredi welfare minister, addressing his cabinet colleagues at a meeting, July 12, 1950 (more…)

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Israel Matters!

Israel Matters! – March 2021 – More Than News

The Abraham Accords

The last quarter of 2020 witnessed a remarkable Middle East peace offensive with the launch of the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements between Israel and several Arab countries. Signing the first declaration on September 15 were the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. This was followed by Sudan on October 23, and one month later with Morocco on December 22. So, what are the Abraham Accords about, and why are they so significant? (more…)

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Rabbi's Corner

Pride Goes Before The Fall

There is a Midrash about Pharaoh meeting Moses at the edge of the Nile River, before G-d
turned the water to blood. Why would Pharaoh, King of Egypt, be at the water’s edge at the crack of dawn? Kings like to sleep late. The Midrash explains that Pharaoh went early in the morning to meet his bodily needs, before other people awoke. He saw himself as a g-d, and he did not want people to see that he was merely human, with the same needs as every other human. (more…)

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President's Message

February 2021: President’s Message

During these unusual times, our synagogue continues to function on a positive level. Our daily minyans continue as well as our Shabbat services. And our Adult Ed Committee, Sisterhood and Men’s Club are continuing to have interesting programming. Hinda Piscitelli and her committee are hard at work making sure we have a wonderful Temple Beth Sholom 75th Anniversary Celebration. Make sure you get your memories in. It will add so much more to your decade Shabbat service. You can email them to: TBSHamden75@gmail.com. Passover is just a few short weeks away. Passover is the most observed holiday of all Jewish holidays. It is also my favorite holiday, with all its story, its foods and its songs. When I was growing up, we would go to my Grandmother’s house with all my aunts, uncles and cousins. My father and his three brothers would sit at one end of the table with…

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Book of Memories

Albert Harary – Avram ben David ve-Mazel – 2019

I am so sorry that we’re here today. Hanukkah should be a time of happiness and family. Instead, Al’s family, both his biological family and his synagogue family and his community family, have to deal with this terrible sadness. Meri has been there for every second and she has been explaining things to me along the way, and I have to tell you that I still don’t understand part of what happened and why. You could say it doesn’t matter, but Al mattered very much in our lives. (more…)

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Book of Memories

Carol Scharf – Shira bat Nachman ve-Rachel – 2019

We’re here today to mourn the passing but also to cherish the life of Carol Scharf. Carol faced death the way she faced life, with courage. Those of us who care about her and have watched her struggle understood her choice, respected it, and supported her. But now…. now that she’s gone, we feel overwhelming sadness. So let’s not concentrate on her passing but on her life. (more…)

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Book of Memories

Dori Jean Dvorchik Stern – Shulamit bat Yechiel ve-Silva – 2019

We’re here today to mourn the passing but also to honor the life of Dori Stern, beloved wife, sister, mother and cherished friend. We are sad beyond words that we are here. But we want to say goodbye to Dori and appreciate and cherish her life.

Dori was born on May 15,1955 in Bridgeport to her parents Harold & Sylvia Dvorchik. She grew up with her brothers Robert and Bruce. If I can say to them: To lose your mother and your sister within a couple of months is beyond painful. Your mother passed away at a very advance age, but Dori should have had as long a life. Our sincere condolences go to you at this sad time. (more…)

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