Maven: Jewish and American Law - Begins April 29
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAW & ETHICS This online course, offered through AJU's Maven Adult Education Program delves into the relationship between law and ethics, through a Jewish lens, and is approved for MCLE General Education credit. This course with renowned Jewish law professor, acclaimed author, and AJU Rector Elliott Dorff takes place over four Fridays […]
Sermon? Drash? Devar Torah? Originally Published March 25-26, 2022.
Last week your correspondent was privileged to take in and contemplate a homily by the Reverend Dr. Vincent Campbell, Senior Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Pittsburgh. Was his homily a devar Torah? While reflecting on the inspiring sermon itself, we also considered how to refer to it. We got to thinking about a bunch […]
From Chironomy to Trope. Originally Published March 18-19, 2022.
Last week we discussed chironomy. That brought us to the question of which came first, the hand signs or the written symbols. We know that we were singing the Song of the Sea, the Decalogue, and some Psalms at the daily service back when services were live at the Temple in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 8:1-8 tells […]
What Is Chironomy? Originally Published March 11-12, 2022.
Have you ever watched a Torah reading for which one of the gabbayim was making hand signals for the reader? You have seen chironomy! The word is derived from the Latin chironomia, which came from the Ancient Greek χειρονομία (kheironomía); from χείρ (kheír, “hand”) + νέμω (némō, “manage”). Chironomy is known to have existed in ancient Egypt (through hieroglyphics), […]
Mens Club Annual Sweepstakes
The Beth Shalom Men’s Club will hold our forty-eighth annual sweepstakes starting Friday April 1, 2023. There will still be two $18.00 weekly prize winners based on the PA Daily Lottery Drawing every Friday from April thru November. Final prize winners will be determined based on the 4 3-digit numbers on each sweepstakes ticket and […]
Men's Club Yom HaShoah Yellow Candle
Yom HoShoah is Tuesday, April 18Holocaust Remembrance Day Light your candle after sunset on Monday, April 17, 2023. Yom HaShoah Yellow Candles We pack and distribute Yom HaShoah candles for our congregants to remember and honor those who perished in the Holocaust. We also order and distribute Yom HaShoah candles for other local Men's Clubs. […]
High Holiday Brief Survey
Congregation Beth Shalom is in a period of transition. During the past year, we have hired a new Executive Director, Development Director and interim Director of Derekh and Youth Tefilah. Our long-time Cemetery Director and High Holiday seating coordinator has retired and we are currently in the process of searching for an Assistant Rabbi, who […]
Purim Festivities
Join us on Erev Purim Wednesday, March 16 starting at 6:30 p.m. for fun Purim festivities.