A 100% VirJEWal Synagogue serving the needs of all backgrounds of the Jewish Community of
Central, NJ since 1983
Eli B. Perlman, Rabbi
Congregation Beit Shalom / Monroe Township is a unique Conservative Egalitarian Congregation. The difference between this and other congregations is that we are truly a family. We get together to pray, to learn, to laugh, to sing, to schmooze - and it is 100% VirJEWal. When someone is in need, we help each other in ways that continue to inspire everyone.
This portion has been regarded as the essence of Torah, "rov gufay Torah" by many of our commentators. In its rambling account of ritual and moral laws, we see the essence of the Decalogue repeated. We see fundamental laws of justice and righteousness between human beings situated right in the middle of the Torah. Kedoshim forms a timeless dictum to all generations. G-d commands us to be holy, as driven by the G-dliness in us all. Aside from revering the Almighty, we must act kindly to the less fortunate, abandon vengeance, forsake criminal and idolatrous practices, and deal honestly in business. We look away from any practice that is ruinous to us since, as creations of G-d, we have a bit of the Divine within us all (Nefesh - “soul or spirit”). As a message to a slave nation getting its first taste of freedom and autonomy, and as a moral teaching to us, the descendants of those ex-slaves, these words bring nobility and higher purpose to our existence.
YOM HASHOAH (27 Nisan / 5 May) - Initiated in 1950 to commemorate the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust.
ROSH CHODESH IYAR: Yom Rishon V’Yom Sheni (Tuesday evening through Thursday evening - 8-9 May).
YOM HAZIKARON (4 Iyar / 13 May) - Day of Remembrance commemorating those who died during Israel's Wars of Liberation and defense. Always the day before Yom Ha'Atzmaut.
YOM HA'ATZMAUT (5 Iyar / 14 May) - Initiated in 1948 as Israel's Independence Day.
PESACH SHEINI (14 Iyar / 22 May) - Observed to indicate a one month grace period for those who could not deliver the Paschal lamb at the required time for Passover.
LAG B'OMER (18 Iyar / 26 May) - The 'Omer' was the offering of new barley brought to the Temple on the second day of Passover. Fifty days were counted from the day after the omer offering to determine the date of the Shavuot festival. Lag B'Omer is the 33rd day in the Omer counting period. 'Lag' represents the combined numeric value of two Hebrew letters,'lamed'=30 and 'gimel'=3. On this day the plague that had decimated Rabbi Akiva's disciples during the Second Century C.E. came to an end. Because of the tragic events of this period, semi-mourning is observed. On Lag B'Omer, however, marriages are performed and other mourning observances relaxed.
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