Rabbi’s Article By Rabbi Jack Bemporad
Some Aspects of the Doctrine of Salvation in Jewish Thought
The concept of salvation as it is reflected in Jewish thought is a concept that is associated with a variety of related terms, including redemption, hope and messianic eschatology. In its broadest sense, salvation entails the reaffirmation of trust in the meaning and significance of life, and the hopes for the re-establishment and fulfillment of life in spite of all its hazards.
While there is no clear unanimity in Jewish sources on the role of the individual Messiah as a descendant of the Davidic line, his personal characteristics and status are secondary to the Messianic age. In the long discussion in the Talmud on the Messianic idea, there is little on the personal characteristics of the Messiah. "Messiah," in the Hebrew Bible, means "anointed," and it is questionable whether or not it is used as a noun. In modern times, Leo Baeck's explanation of the importance of a single Messiah is similar. He states:
The hope is no longer for one man who will renew the world but for the new world that is to arise upon earth. For it is inconsistent with the way of Judaism that one man should be lifted above humanity to be its destiny. The conception of the one man retired into the background in favor of the conception of one time; the Messiah gives way to the "days of the Messiah," and side by side with it the even more definite expression of the "Kingdom of God."
If one were to look at the meaning of the Hebrew root of the word for salvation, (yasha), and its associative Hebrew terms, one would see that it meant the deliverance from narrow straits; from all that restricts, inhibits, distorts, and denies life and its fullest possibilities. Therefore, salvation presupposes a condition or situation which is perilous and from which one must be delivered.
The paradigm for salvation and redemption can be seen in the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Since the root meaning of salvation is to be delivered from narrow or restrictive straits, so Egypt (Mitzrayim) constitutes a double constriction, physical and spiritual slavery. The narrative in the Pentateuch states, and the rest of the Bible and Jewish tradition illustrates, that freedom from physical slavery was achieved in a relatively short time, but that spiritual slavery took forty years to overcome. The Midrash aptly comments that the worst part of the slavery was that the Israelites had gotten used to it and the struggle for freedom had to be initiated by God Himself.
Salvation also can mean victory over one's enemies, deliverance from the consequences of sin and vindication from God. It is God who is the Savior par excellence. The role of God as Savior is mentioned a number of times in the Bible. Several psalms speak of salvation from enemies and death, and the prophetic books also emphasize God's saving actions.
In the final and ultimate sense, salvation is the realization of worldwide knowledge of God and adherence to His will. It will not be achieved until the knowledge of God is universal, and a state of justice and peace reigns throughout the world among all its people. It is not only knowledge or wisdom that saves, but knowledge of God together with adherence to the ethical imperatives of such knowledge. Jeremiah states:
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom or the strong man glory in his strength, let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me; that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says the Lord.
Proper knowledge of God, the knowledge that leads to salvation, has been referred to as imitatio Dei. As a means of salvation, the doctrine imitatio Dei is central to Jewish ethical and religious thought. Such a doctrine proposes that we should live our lives responsibly, love our neighbors as ourselves, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. We should strive to love God with all our hearts, soul, and might, and strive to help bring about a society of justice and peace. Whether or not we do these things determines whether we are worthy of salvation. It is up to us how we live our lives.
President’s Message by Bjorg Ollendorff
My New Year’s Message
Good evening and L’Shanah Tovah to all. A year has passed since we were last together here in what we used to so lovingly call John Harms. Even if the name has changed to the Bergen Performing Arts Center, this is still our Holiday home.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the internationally renowned oboist, Ellen Katz Willner, our kind congregant, for her exquisite rendition of the Kol Nidre. To Nadine Posnansky and our outstanding choir, thank you! In music you move us to joyful prayer.
You may have noticed our little playroom adjacent to the lobby. Elizabeth Greenberg, our terrific volunteer from our ReligiousSchool has taken upon herself to care for our smallest congregants, if our services prove too long for them. She is ably assisted by Max Hirsch and Rachel and Michael Baumstein.
On behalf of the congregation, I would like to thank our spiritual leaders for the beautiful Holiday services. As you know, Rabbi Jack Bemporad is regarded internationally as an outstanding scholar of Theology and Philosophy. In his capacity as Director of the Center for Inter-religious Understanding, which was founded by the late Russ Berrie, he continues his important work in Christian/Jewish relations. Rabbi Bemporad also lectures at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. His gift of teaching is in full evidence at his Saturday morning Bible class at the Alpine Community House which is filled to the rafters with eager congregants who are challenged to debate and question.
Rabbi Nat Benjamin has been the backbone of the congregation since its creation. He is a wonderful cantor with a lyrical and youthful voice. He has vast knowledge and great love of Jewish music.
Rabbi Benjamin is also an educator who is responsible for training our bar/bat mitzvah students, which he does with infinite patience and humor, assisted by our cantor in training, Janine Schwartz.
Doctor and Rabbi and author Dennis Schulman has created and conducts a Shabbat morning minyan service, which he, in his characteristic good humor, calls very “user friendly.” The beautiful, but short service will de-stress you and refresh you.
Our membership has grown to 230 members. We have several new family members this Holiday season, and we welcome you warmly into our congregation! If you know anyone wanting to join our Chavurah, please let us know so we can contact them.
We are proud of our state-of-the-art website, where each congregant can keep in touch with the Chavurah in a very personal way and where prospective members can learn about who we are and what we stand for.
This fall we will dedicate our new ark at the Community House, which is designed by the European artist, Tony Fanovic.
There is no subtle or even poetic way of asking for money. It is my obligation as president to tell you about the needs of our Chavurah. I have tried to remind you all that our Chavurah and the staff have to offer. We may not have a building with our name on it, but we are a full-service, dynamic congregation. We have so much, but we can do more and do it better with your financial help. The membership dues do not cover the operational expenses of running the Chavurah. We have an outstanding professional staff that must be adequately compensated. The rent, both here at the BergenPerformingArtsCenter and the Alpine Community House has increased immensely. The cost of health insurance, as we all know, is skyrocketing. We urgently need to find suitable office space for the Rabbis, where they can meet potential new members and have conferences, a place to keep all of our files.
We derive great satisfaction from giving. Tzedakah – is an ancient tradition in the Jewish religion. To be in the position to give obligates us to share. So please return you pledge cards to Chavurah Beth Shalom. Thank you very much
President Bjorg Ollendorff stated in her New Year’s Message,
“Tzedakah – is an ancient tradition in the Jewish religion.
To be in the position to give obligates us to share.”
Please consider cutting out this pledge form and returning it to us if you have not already done so.
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High Holiday Pledge
Name______
Address______
______
Phone Number______E-mail______
$25$50$100 $250 $500 $1000 $2500 $5000 Other $______
Please apply my pledge to______
Thank you for your support!
Please make your check payable and remit to
Chavurah Beth Shalom, P.O. Box 417, Tenafly, NJ 07670
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Want to come to services?
Friday evening services along with Shabbat morning minyan services and the Ephraim Woolman Judaic study class are normally held at the Alpine Community House, Old Dock Road (off Closter Dock Road) in Alpine, New Jersey.
Can’t drive?
We will only be too happy to accommodate you!
If driving doesn’t agree with you, we will arrange to get you to the shul for services. Just call on Thursday and we will arrange for a ride for you on Friday or Saturday so that you can attend services.
If you are in a position to give someone else a ride to the Alpine Community House or you need a ride, please call Janine Schwartz at (201) 567-9783 or Rabbi Benjamin at (201) 567-7806.
Karen and Paul Fierstein:
on the birth of their granddaughter
Alexandra Leigh Putzer,
daughter of Jane and Jason Putzer
Berton and Eveline Greenberg:
on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Elizabeth
Deena and Robert Heller:
on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Jessica
Michael & Jennifer Kurtz:
on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Jake
Jeff and Eve Levine:
on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Jane
In appreciation for the beautiful and inspiring
High Holy Day Services by
Joe and Elaine Bieger
In loving memory of Frank Reisman by
George and Evie Reisman
In memory of her father Leon Ornstrat by Arlene Friedman
In memory of his mother Lucille Fergenson by Everett and Laraine Fergenson
In loving memory of her father Jacob Schultz by Molly Tauder
In memory of my loving sister Syd Peterman by Molly Tauder
Alan and Carol Adelstein
Dr. David and Karen Abramson
Dr. David and Iris Barad
Stephen and Ann Bistritz
David and Lisa Byron
Dr. Steven and Laurie Braunstein
Dr. David and Nina Chazen
Jonathan and Sandy Deck
Barry and Ann Fetner
Dr. Andrew and Suzanne Garber
Paul G. Garjian
Laurance and Janna Geller
Dr. Steven and Jennifer Gillon
Paul and Eleanor Gilman
Brian and Ellen Glassman
Alfred and Laurel Glazier
Mrs. Adrienne N. Halpern
Dennis Doros and Amy Heller
Hal and Helen Hirsch
Alexander and Adele Holman
Mrs. Penni Horwich and Family
Charles and Deborah Kincaid
Oscar and Elizabeth Kolodzinski
Mrs. Selma Kumin
Michael and Jennifer Kurtz
Ira and Ava Landsman
Dr. Stan and Louise Levinshus
Steven and Ronit Lawler
Scott and Carol Lippert
Bruce and Laurie Ludwin
Jack and Gladys Mittleman
Peter and Leslie Newman
Paul and Susan Permut
Alex and Irene Primak
Dr. David and Joanna Sachar
Alan and Ellen Silberman
Mitchell and Debbie Silverstein
Peter and Michele Soumas
Andrew and Maria Wist
Dr. and Mrs. Fred Zebrak
Judy Zola
ReligiousSchool News by Debra Kronberg
We started the year with a blast as Rabbi Benjamin sounded the shofar to usher in the Jewish New Year and begin our school year.
The 4th - 7th graders studied the story of Jonah which is the haftarah reading for Yom Kippur. The children expressed insight and understanding as we learned from Jonah that we cannot run away from our responsibilities.
One of our responsibilities is to help those less fortunate than ourselves by giving tzedakah (literally the righteous or right thing). Our first tzedakah collection will go to the Jewish Federation special fund to help hurricane victims in Florida. Please see that your children come to ReligiousSchool each Wednesday with some money for the tzedakah box.
During the holiday of Sukkot we dwell in temporary booths, commanded in the Torah. Weremember our dependence on nature's cycles and give thanks for our bounty. The eight day harvest festival of Sukkot is followed by the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah when we end and begin anew the cycle of Torah readings for the year.
We will celebrate Simchat Torah at our first FamilyShabbat service on Friday, October 8th, at 7:30 p.m.with singing, dancing, flags and sweets to remind us of the sweetness that the words of Torah bring to our lives. Attendanceis requiredby all religious school students at our Family Shabbat Services.We look forward celebrating Shabbat and Simchat Torah with you and your families.
We encourage all religious school students and parents to check out our current website . On the website you will find a religious school calendar for next term as well as important up to the minute religious school news and registration forms.
Please note the following rules for safety during religious school drop-off and pick-up. We ask all parents to observe the following guide lines:
1. Do not enter Old Dock Road from Closter Dock Road. Turn onto Main Street and drive around the block leading to the Community House and take your place in line.
2. Do not park your vehicles and enter the building to pick up your children. This is extremely hazardous to you as well as to them and it only slows down the whole dismissal procedure.
3. If you drive a car pool, explain to your group that they should wait together inside the building so that we do not have to search for them when your car pulls up and is ready to be boarded.
4. Except in very extreme emergencies, children will not be dismissed early. Pleasedo not enter the school room to seek an early release for your child. It is disruptive to theother students and teachers.
If you have any questions about these procedures, please call us at (201) 567-7806. Many thanks for your co-operation in the past and in the Wednesdays to come.
OCTOBER YAHRZEITS
Week of October 3
Arthur Bloom father of Myrna Sherman
Frances Allen mother-in-law of Beverly Allen
Terry Rodgers wife of Jesse Rodgers
Week of October 10
Esther Davis mother of Maddy Litoff
Lucille Keusch mother of Lynne Shaw
Harold Hartstein father of David Hartstein
Syd Peterman sister of Molly Tauder
Sharon Elberg daughter of Leo and Joelle Mazer
Roman Siegal son of Mira and Vladmir Siegal
Week of October 17
Robert Loebman brother of Harriet Schwarz
Doris Trien Heller mother of Dr. Stanley Heller
Israel Shulman father of Dr. Dennis Shulman
Schura Levine mother of Dr. Paul Levine
Selma Sachs mother of Leslie Apollo
Sarah Cohen mother of Helen Goody
Bertha Woolman mother of Ephraim Woolman
Anne Gelman mother of Dr. Sheldon Gelman
Betty Scherzer mother of Joan Freedman
Week of October 24
Edith Cohen great aunt of Susan Trovati
Sheldon Falk husband of Sheila Falk
Frank Urish father of Martha Glaser
Nathan Stern father of Evie Reisman
Samuel Kamens father of Patricia Young
Anna Cohen mother of Lewis Cohen
Louis May father of Ruth Manus
Victor Glazer father of Richard Glazer
Enrico Bemporad father of Rabbi Jack Bemporad
Jack Kurtz father of Ronald Kurtz
Week of October 31
Harry Kaplan father of Melvin Allen
Jerry Kaplan father of Jill Jonas
David Peterman brother-in-law of Molly Tauder
Hartley Baron brother of Stanley Baron
Rose Schultz mother of Molly Tauder
Clara Bergman mother of Dr Donald Bergman
Michael Allen husband of Beverly Allen
Sedelle H. Korasek mother of Shirley Rosenberg
Mania Gendel mother of Barbara Steinfeld
Mona Glick wife of Robert Glick Jack Strongin father of Carol Kurtz