Friday, 25 March

Dialogue Perspectives (DP) conference

https://www.dialogueperspectives.org/

17:00-19:00
Welcome Note and Introduction by Rabbi Alexander Grodensky.
Meeting & Discussion with Eleanor Sharpston (Former Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union)

19:00-20:30 
Kabbalat Shabbat led by Rabbi Alexander Grodensky

Torah Weekly Portion
Sh’mini
שְׁמִינִי
The Eighth [Day]
Leviticus 9:1-11:47
Summary
Aaron and his sons follow Moses’ instructions and offer sacrifices so that God will forgive the people. (9:1-24)
Two of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offer “alien fire” to God. God punishes these two priests by killing them immediately. (10:1-3)
God forbids Moses, Aaron, and his surviving sons from mourning but commands the rest of the people to do so. Priests are told not to drink alcohol before entering the sacred Tabernacle and are further instructed about making sacrifices. (10:4-20)
Laws are given to distinguish between pure and impure animals, birds, fish, and insects. (11:1-47)  

Commentary: https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/shmini

Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:22-36 [historic: Ezekiel 36:16-38]

Français ci-dessous

Dear members,
You are warmly invited to our various Purim activities this year:

Wednesday, 16 March, 20:30
Beginning of Purim – online multilingual reading of the Megillah – please volunteer to read a part of the Megillah in your mother tongue (please contact us by email to volunteer).

Friday, 18 March, 19:00-22:30
Kabbalat Shabbat led by Rabbi Alexander Grodensky followed by Purim community potluck dinner: bring a vegetarian dish to share!

Saturday, 19 March, 10.30-12-30
Talmud Torah – Purim Special. Registration required.

---

Chers ami/e/s,
Vous êtes tous/toutes invité/e/s à nos activités de Pourim cette année :

Mercredi, 16 mars, 20h30
Lecture plurilingue en ligne de la Megillah (Zoom) – faites-nous signe pour lire un passage de la Mégillah dans votre langue maternelle (merci de nous contacter par e-mail pour vous porter volontaire).

Vendredi, 18 mars, 19h00-22h30
Office de Kabbalat Shabbat avec notre rabbin suivi d’un dîner de partage communautaire : amenez un plat végétarien à partager !

Samedi, 19 mars, 10h30-12h30
Talmud Torah spécial Pourim. Inscription nécessaire.

MPORTANT: RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE
Dear Members,
In light of the recent events, we are urging you to donate to the WUPJ Ukraine Crisis Fund and support the Ukrainian Jews. Any help would be much appreciated.

Friday, 11 March, 19:00-20:30
Kabbalat Shabbat

Sunday, 13 March, 10:30-11:15
Talmud Torah (Anastasia, zoom)

Torah Weekly Portion
Vayikra
וַיִּקְרָא
[God] Called Out
Levicitus 1:1−5:26
Summary
God instructs Moses on the five different kinds of sacrifices that were to be offered in the sanctuary:
1. The olah or “burnt offering” was a voluntary sacrifice that had a high degree of sanctity and was regarded as the “standard” offering. The entire animal, except for its hide, was burned on the altar. (1:1-17)
2. The minchah or “meal offering” was a sacrifice made of flour, oil, salt, and frankincense that was partly burned on the altar and partly given to the priests to eat. (2:1-16)
3. The zevach sh’lamim or “sacrifice of well-being” was a voluntary animal offering from one’s herd, sometimes brought to fulfill a vow. (3:1-17)
4. The chatat or “sin offering” was an obligatory sacrifice that was offered to expiate unintentional sins. This offering differs from the others in the special treatment of the blood of the animal. (4:1-5:13)
5. The asham or “penalty offering” was an obligatory sacrifice of a ram that was required chiefly of one who had misappropriated property. (5:1-26)  

Commentary: https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/vayikra

Haftarah: Esther 7:1-10; 8:15-17 [historic: I Samuel 15:2-34]

UKRAINE SOLIDARITY SHABBAT – SHABBAT SOLIDAIRE AVEC L’UKRAINE

---

IMPORTANT: RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

Dear Members,

In light of the recent events, we are urging you to donate to the WUPJ Ukraine Crisis Fund and support the Ukrainian Jews. Any help would be much appreciated.

---

Update from Rabbi Alexander Dukhovny regarding the situation in Ukraine: 

---

Friday, 4 March, 19:00-20:30
Solidarity Shabbat with Ukraine
Shabbat solidaire avec l’Ukraine

Sunday, 6 March, 10:30-11:15
Talmud Torah (Anastasia, zoom)

Torah Weekly Portion
P’kudei
פְקוּדֵי
[The] Records [of the Tabernacle]
Exodus 38:21-40:38
Summary
A statistical summary of the materials used for the Tabernacle and an account of producing the priestly vestments are recorded. Moses blesses the Israelites for the work they did. (38:21-39:42)
Upon God’s instruction, Moses sets up the Mishkan and the priests are anointed and consecrated. (40:1-33)
A description is given of a cloud that covers the Mishkan by day and a fire that burns by night, indicating God’s Presence therein. (40:33-38)  

Commentary: https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/pkudei

Haftarah: I Kings 7:40-50 [historic: I Kings: 7:51-8:21]

Friday, 25 February, 19:00-20:30
Kabbalat Shabbat

Sunday, 27 February, 10:30-12:30
Talmud Torah (Anastasia)

Torah Weekly Portion
Vayak’heil
וַיַּקְהֵל
[Moses] Assembled
Exodus 35:1–38:20
Summary
Moses teaches the rules of Shabbat. (35:1-3)
Moses asks the Israelites for a donation of gifts and those who are skilled help build the Mishkan [Tabernacle] under the direction of Bezalel and Oholiab. (35:4-38:20)  

Commentary: https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/vayakheil
Haftarah: II Kings 12:5-16 [historic: II Kings 12:1-17]

Friday, 18 February, 19:00-20:30
(zoom only)
Kabbalat Shabbat

Sunday, 20 February, 10:30-11:15
Talmud Torah (Anastasia, Zoom)

Torah Weekly Portion
Ki Tisa
כִּי תִשָּׂא
When You Take a Census
Exodus 30:11−34:35
Summary
Moses takes a census of the Israelites and collects a half-shekel from each person (30:11-16)
God tells Moses to construct a water basin and to prepare anointing oil and incense for the ordination of the priests. Bezalel and Oholiab, skilled artisans, are assigned to make objects for the priests and the Tabernacle. (30:17-31:11)
The Israelites are instructed to keep Shabbat as a sign of their covenant with God. God gives Moses the two tablets of the Pact. (31:12-18)
The Israelites ask Aaron to build them a Golden Calf. Moses implores God not to destroy the people and then breaks the two tablets of the Pact on which the Ten Commandments are written when he sees the idol. God punishes the Israelites by means of a plague. (32:1-35)
Moses goes up the mountain with a blank set of tablets for another 40 days so that God will again inscribe the Ten Commandments. Other laws, including the edict to observe the Pilgrimage Festivals, are also revealed. (34:1-28)
Moses comes down from the mountain with a radiant face. (34:29-35)  

Commentary: https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/ki-tisa
Haftarah: I Kings 18:1-39

ORDERS FOR PASSOVER: Please submit your order via mail to us and make the payment until Feb 28.

Friday, 11 February, 19:00-20:30 (zoom only)
Kabbalat Shabbat
led by Rabbi Alexander Grodensky
COMMUNITY DINNER CANCELLED / DÎNER COMMUNAUTAIRE ANNULÉ

Saturday, 12 February, 13:00-15:00 (zoom only)
Shiur with Rabbi

Torah Weekly Portion
T’tzaveh
תְּצַוֶּה
[You] Shall Further Instruct
Exodus 27:20−30:10
Summary
The children of Israel are commanded to bring pure olive oil for the ner tamid “a constantly burning light,” above the sanctuary. (27:20-21)
Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, are chosen to serve as priests. (28:1)
God instructs Moses to make special clothes for the priests. (28:2-43)
Aaron and his sons are ordained in a seven-day ceremony (29:1-29:46)
Aaron is commanded to burn incense on an acacia altar every morning and evening. (30:1-10)  

Commentary: https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/ttzaveh
Haftarah: Ezekiel 43:10-27

Friday, 4 February, 19:00-20:30 (zoom only)
Kabbalat Shabbat

Sunday, 6 February, 10:30-11:15
Talmud Torah (Anastasia, zoom)

Torah Weekly Portion
T’rumah
תְּרוּמָה
Gifts
Exodus 25:1−27:19
Summary
God asks the Children of Israel to donate gifts (t’rumah) for the building of the Tabernacle so that God may “dwell among them.” (25:1-9)
Instructions for the construction of the Ark, table, and menorah are provided. (25:10-40)
Detailed directions are given on how to build the Tabernacle. (26:1-27:19)  

Commentary: https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/trumah

Haftarah: I Kings 5:26-6:13

Friday, 28 January, 19:00-20:30
(zoom only)
Kabbalat Shabbat

Sunday, 30 January, 10:30-12:30
Talmud Torah (Anastasia)

Torah Weekly Portion
Mishpatim
מִשְׁפָּטִים
[These Are the] Rules
Exodus 21:1−24:18
Summary
Interpersonal laws ranging from the treatment of slaves to the exhibition of kindness to strangers are listed. (21:1-23:9)
Cultic laws follow, including the commandment to observe the Sabbatical Year, a repetition of the Sabbath injunction, the first mention of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals, rules of sacrificial offerings, and the prohibition against boiling a kid in its mother’s milk. (23:10-19)
The people assent to the covenant. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel ascend the mountain and see God. Moses goes on alone and spends forty days on the mountain. (24:1-18)  

Commentary: https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/mishpatim

Haftarah: Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26

Monday, 17 January
Tu BiShvat – New Year of the Trees

Friday, 21 January, 19:00-20:30
(zoom only)
Kabbalat Shabbat

Sunday, 23 January, 10:30-11:15
Talmud Torah (Anastasia, zoom)

Torah Weekly Portion
Yitro
יִתְרוֹ
Jethro
Exodus 18:1–20:23
Summary
Yitro brings his daughter Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, to his son-in-law Moses. (18:1-12)
Moses follows Yitro’s advice and appoints judges to help him lead the people. (18:13-27)
The Children of Israel camp in front of Mount Sinai. Upon hearing the covenant, the Israelites respond, “All that God has spoken we will do.” (19:1-8)
After three days of preparation, the Israelites encounter God at Mount Sinai. (19:9-25)
God gives the Ten Commandments aloud directly to the people. (20:1-14)
Frightened, the Children of Israel ask Moses to serve as an intermediary between God and them. Moses tells the people not to be afraid. (20:15-18)  

Commentary: https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/yitro
Haftarah: Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6