6 — THE BULLETIN — Thursday. October 21, 1993
SYNAGOGUE CALENDAR
Candlelighting:
Friday, October 22, 5:50 pm.
Sedra Lech Lecha —^-41»vdala Shabbat ends . October 23, 6:49 p.m.
nememberihe3Bbbath,tGkeep!tholy
Fourth Commandment, Exodus, 20:8
Friday, October 29, 5:38 p.m.
• Sedra Vayera Haydaia Shabbat ends
October30. 6:37 p.m.
OF THE Lubavitch^r^Rebbe ^hiit<
• • • • • • • • I
Beth Hamidrash (Sephar^ die Orthodox), 3231 Heather St. Rabbi Y. Ben-arroch. Daily 7 a.m.; Shabbat, Sun, and public holidays 9a.m.; Fri . 7 p.m.; Sat. sunset. 872-4222 or 873-2371.
Beth Israel (Conservative), 4350 Oak St. Rabbi W. Solomoh, Cantor M. Nixon. Torah reader D. Rubin. Choir S. Pelman. Daily 8 a.m. (public holidays, 9' a.m.) and 6 p.m. Fri. 8:15 p.m. Sat. 9:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. 731-4161. —
Beth Shalom Sanctuary
(Tradltiorral). OJCC, 108 North Glenmore Rd., Kel-owna. 852-2312.
Burquest Jewish Community (Traditional). Oneg Shabbat services second Friday of each month, 8 p.m. 526-7235.
Chabad House Kabbalah Centre (Chassidic), 3673 W. Broadway, Rabbi L. Dubrawsky. Sun. morning miriyan 10 a.m. 737-1574■
Chabad-tubavitch (Chassidic)- 5750 Oak SL Rabbi Y. Wineberg: Daily 7 a.m. and sunset; Fri. sunset;Sat. 10 a.m.; Sun. 9 a.m. and sunset. 266-1313.
Beth TIkvah (Conservative), 971 1 Geal Rd., Richmond. Rabbi M. Cohen, Torah reader T, Wolinsky. Fri. 8 p.m. (first Fri. of month 6 p.m.)^ Sat. 9:30 a.m. 271-6262.
Chabad of Surrey Community Centre (Chassidic), 210-6950 Nicholson Rd.. Delta. Rabbi M. Altein, Sat. 9:30 a.m ,596-9030.
Eltz Chaim (Orthodox), 8080 Frances Fid.. Richmond. Rabbi A. Feigeh s100k. Daily minyan 7; a.rn.; Fri. sunset; Sat. 9 a.m. and sunset; Sun. 9 a.m. 275-0007.
Har El (Conservative), North Shore JCC, 1735 Inglewood Ave., West Van. Rabbi I. Balla, caritoriall leader REdeL Fri. 7 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. 922-8245 or 922-9133.
■ *' ■ ,.■*;.■,■;■.'■■ Or Shalom (Traditional Egalitarian), 710 E. lOth Ave. Rabbi I. Marmorstein. Wed. 7:15a.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. 872-1614.
Schara Tzedeck (Orthodox), 3476 Oak St. Rafc)biM. Feuerstein, Cantor Yaacov Orzech, Torah reader Rev/ J.Marciano. Daily7:15 a.m. and sunset; Fri. 1/2 hr. before sunset; Sat. 9 a.m. and sunset; Sun. 8:30 a.m. and sunset. 736-7607.
: Shaarey Teflleh/Lduls Brier Home. 1055 W. 41 st Ave. C. Kornfeld. D\ Korn-feld, R. Rosenberg. Daily 8 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.; Sat, /Sun. 9 a.m. 261-9376.'.
Em a n u - El (Con se r-vative), 1461 Blanshard. Victpria, Rabbi V: Rein-stein. Thurs: 7 a.m.; Sat. 9:15 a.m. 382-0615.
Temple Sholom (Reform), 71 i90 Oak St. Rabbi P. Bregman. cahtorial soloist A. Guttman. Morning minyans; Mon. and Wed; 7:15 a.m.; Fri. 8:15 p.m.; Sat 10:30 a.m. 266-7190.
In the Torah portion of Lech Lecha G-d promises A V raha m *7 shall give your children this land*' -
The Afidriash comments'. "While Avrahan) was traveling in Aram NahanijSm ■ . . he observed the inhabitants eating, drinking arid acting frivolously and wantonly.
He said: 'I wish to have no part in this land.'
When he arrived at the entrance of Tzur-he observed" them weeding . . . cultivating .He said: 'I wish to have my share in this land.' G-d said to him: *I shall give your children this land.' " ■
It is understandable that Ayraham desired to have his portion of land among people who toiled and behaved properly, rather than among individuals who spent their lives in a frivolous manner.
However, G-d's promise thsLt "I shall give your child-reri this land,"meant that the Jewish people wouldget -to inherit and conquer the entire land.
What reason is there then for G-d'spromise of "I shall give your children this land" to be connected with the conduct of the land's inhabitants during the times of Avraham? The importance of labor
I Relatives and Friendsl are advised that the
UNVEIIINGOF HEADSTONE
in loving memory of the late
will take place Sunday, Oct. 24 at 11:45a.m. at the
ISchara Tzedeckl
Y. Beriarroch will officiate.
(Relatives arid Friends} are advised that the UNVEItlNGOF HEADSTONE
in loving memory of the late
From Page 3
fat shaking hands after the accord signing,'said that this was something he never would have imagined possible in his lifetime.
One of the Palestinian youths told the gathering that he had spoken to his family in Ammari after the signing and they had expressed great joy/
The rabbi then led a symbolic procession to the syn-agogiie's siiGca where the group formed a circle and offered songs and silent . prayers.
In an interview v/ith The Bulletin after the, event. Rabbi Reinsteiri explained that "euphoria was not the purpose" of the gathering.
"We wanted to nurture hope rather than fear. We wanted to attack the stereotypes that exist with both groups," he emphasized. -
The rabbi said he felt the gathering, which included a meal in the succa, will help build communal harmony.
"The event was important for our local Jewish community, but it was even more important for the students. Those who attend Pearson College are really la creme de la crente and when they return home, some of them will likely be future leaders in their hoHielands.. I believe that they cannot help, but remember the significance of this event."
For some of the Paleisti-nian students, who hailed front the Gaza Strip, Egypt and Jordan, it was not only their first time inside a synagogue, but also the first time they had spoken with Jews, the rabbi told JWB.
Asked to describe the event, he said the term "successful" doesn't do justice.
"This was not just a program, buta reaching out to a group of people who have been our enemies for so many ■ years. It truly was a gathering of hope," the rabbi stressed.
He related an incident that, he said, gave him hope that the gathering was "more than just a way to pass" a Sunday afternoon.
"One of the Palestinian students had seemed uncomfortable with the whole process and had satat the end of the table away from everyone else. Toward the end, he stood up and announced that he thought we all should be sittingon the same side pf the table and turned his chair around arid faced the others.
"It was a very moving statemeiit and gesture and I think expressed the way many of us felt."
LECH LECHA MAN IS BORN TO TOIL"
and toil is to be seen the verse "Man is born to toil. "What is there that is so important about toil and" labor?
Moreover, since G-d is the Essence of Good and it is the nature of he that is good toact in a kindly and benevolent manner, it is puzzling why He established the world in such ai manner that it is necessary for man to labor and toil.
Itistrue that man's nature is such that he derives the most pleasure from something that he accomplishes through labor and toil, in accordance with the express sion, "A person dlesires one measure of that which is his, more than nine measures of that which belongs to his fellow."
However,.we carinot say that this is why G-d made Irian to toil. For this very characteristic that man enjoys most that which he toiled and labored for is not something that must be so. This is man's nature because G-d imbued him with this tendency.
The original question then remains. Why did G-d create man in such a fashion that his greatest derivation of joy can only coine about through effort and toil; why not create him in a manner where he can achieve his ultimate degree of joy and delight without haying to exert himself?
The ultimate achievement and attainment of a human being lies not Only in his ability to perform to the greatest i possible degree of a created being, but also that he
achieve a level where he is, as it were, similar to his Creator, in line with the saying: "He becomes a partner with G'd in Creation."
It was for this reason that G-d esta bli shed the wo rid in a manner that man does not obtain those things he needs for his existence already prepared for him, but must toil and labor for them.
This, in fact, is the reason why man's nature is such that he does not derive pleasure frorri those things that he acquires without any effort, being ashamed of them. For herein is imbued the quality that man attains perfection not merely by being a recipient, butjoy also being a provider and creator similar to his Creator. Understandably, this manner of toil and effort finds expression when man interacts with his world and seeks to improve it — he, similar to his Creator, enhances Creation and thereby becomes a "partner with G-d in Creation."
This form of labor, a labor that ultimately involves the recognition and faith of G-d as Creator of and Provider for the world, in the end leads to "Labor in Torah," whereby the individual lifts up the entire world to a level that is entirely higher than the world. By doing so he "creates" a new entity/
Ina isimilar vein,the labor of the Jewish people in Eretz Twrfle/ consisted of transforming and - "creating" a new entity, sl holy land and Torah land, out of that which was previously an ordinjary land.
The first steps taken in this direction through the inhabitarit's service of labor and toil, were a fitting prelude to G-d's promisethat"/ shall give your children this land."
: will take Sunday, Oct. 24 at 12:00 noon
at
Schara
— DEATHS
FREDSILBER
Sept. 28 JACKKROFF
Oct; 3
BRENDA MORRIS Oct. 6
JENNIE GALiNSKY Oct. 9 JOSEPH WEINBERGER
DANIEL CRISTALL
' 9^ ■ .
As another Bulletin community service. Deaths wilL be published as they are received. /
Rabbi W. Solomon and Cantor iW. will officiate
J.B. Newall Monuments
Hebrew Inscriptions bur Specialty
■ E'Sfablished 1909 . Personal attention paid to ALL ORDERS er and 35th 327-1312
aldy imisb^ will be held ^o^
Sunday, October
Congregation SehdraTzed^
Friends Are Invited To Attend
Fred Siiber;lbng-time community member, passed away on September 28th at the Vancouver General Hospital. He was 83. Mr. Siiber was born in Barysh, P>olanddii January 5,1910, and emigrated to Canada in 1927. He was involved in salvage, and then the furnitiire business, opening his first furniture store in Chilliwack in 1948, and was respected for his forthright business practices. He married Ann Wiesbin in 1934, who predeceased him in 1983. In 1988, he married Odette Cohen, who survives him.
Mr. Siiber was a dedicated community worker, former President of Congregation Schara Tzedeck, founding supporter of the Lubavitch movement of B.C., dedicated board member and tireless worker for the Schara Tzedeck Cemetery Board and a member of B'nai B'rith Lions Gate Lodge. In 1985 on the occasion of Mr. Sijber^s 75th birthday, a perpet-lial lectureship was established by him at the Dfepartmeht of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University. In 1991 he was honoured with the establishment of the Siiber Family Cha-nukahMehorah, lit each year in the family's honour^ in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery^ He was a great supporter of many other causes including the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, Louis Brier Home, Jewish Community Centre, Shaiva, Jewish Natonal Fund, Hebrew University, Vancouver Talmiid Torah and the Eye Care Centre.
Mr. Siiber is survived by his wife Odette, daughter Jeanefte Creenhut, and her husband Harry,son Arnold Siiber and his wife Anita, son Herb Siiber and his wife Barbara, grahdchild'-ren Norman Greehhut and his wifie Rachel, Marcie Jablino-witz and her husband Michael of Jerusalem Israel, LoriBalr shin and her husband Wayne, Steven Siiber and his wife Lesley, Stuart, Stacey, Michael, Arin and Tara Siiber all of Vancouver, ligreat grandchildren and sister Sarah Sametof Haifa, Israel.
Funeral Services were held September 29,1993 at the Schara Tzedeck Chapel. Rabbi M. Feuerstein and Rabbi Y. Wineberg officiated, with Memorial prayers by Cantor M. Nixon and Cantor Y. Orzech. He received a special honour as the funeral procession passed the Schara Tzedeck Synagogue, where' the doors were opened, in a gesture of tribute and appreciation. A special Memorial Service will take place on Sunday, October 24,1993> 7:30 p.m. at the Schara Tzedeck Synagogue. All friends are welcome.