Rabbi's Week in Review
This has been a week of transition on the Jewish calendar. We have left Tisha B’Av (the ninth day of the month of Av) behind for another year and have headed into seven weeks of consolation. Notwithstanding the tragic part of our Jewish history commemorated on Tisha B’Av, we have not been abandoned by G-d, and we ultimately will be redeemed from all the persecution and tragedies we have experienced as the Jewish people.
Not only are we now being consoled but we also have Tu B’Av (the 15th day of the month of Av). This day, in which we celebrate the idea of love, has found new life in recent times..... Click here to read the rest of Rabbi Doug's blog post.
This Week's Torah Portion
This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Eikev (Devarim/Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25). Moses warns B’nai Yisrael, the Children of Israel, that when they have entered HaAretz, the Land of Israel, they should do so with gratitude toward G-d, that there is nothing we gain solely on our own. This specific context for gratitude is represented in Birkat HaMazon, our Grace After Meals. We learn here that we should take nothing for granted, including our connection to HaAretz, the Land, or our ongoing democratic experiment here in America.
Worship Events of the Week
Let’s begin our Shabbat together via Zoom with Shabbat Blessings — Friday, July 30, 6:45-7 p.m. Together we light candles and make Kiddush, sanctifying our Shabbat as sacred time, and recite Motzi to begin our Shabbat meals. Rabbi Doug will throw in a short teaching, a word or two on this week’s Torah portion, as a bonus. Click here.
Also, don’t forget our 15 minutes together on Zoom each weekday morning, 8-8:15 a.m., for our Shacharit — Morning Service and study. It is a great way to stay connected and care for each other. Click here.
Weekly Feature
Tuna Salad, Anyone?
By Wynne Begun
Whenever we visited relatives when I was a kid, the most frequently served lunch was tuna salad. To this day, if you come over around noon, that is probably what I will serve you. How did that simple dish come to be such a staple in Jewish kitchens?
In the late 18th century, sardines were the most popular tinned fish for a quick meal (that era’s fast food). Tuna was considered animal food and wasn’t much appreciated. Then came a sardine shortage, and a sardine entrepreneur decided to start canning Albacore tuna to save his business.
The East Coast, especially New York City, showed the highest consumption of tuna during the early 20th century. Because so much of the population in NYC was Jewish, and Jewish delis became a central gathering place for Jews in the 1920s, tuna became a featured item on the menu. Delis were already serving whitefish salad, so it was easy to modify the recipe to include tuna.
To really be an authentic deli tuna sandwich, the tuna salad should be served on a bagel or rye bread. Click here to learn more about the Jewish tuna obsession and to find a recipe for authentic Jewish-deli tuna salad.
For those who prefer a vegetarian option, click here.
(A standard-size can of garbanzo beans can be substituted for the size noted in the recipe.)
Kol Ami Event
Meditation With Lara Steinel
Meditation helps focus more of one’s mind on the present moment. In this midweek half-hour session, Wednesday, July 28, from 7 to 7:30 p.m., participants learn and practice the basics of Jewish meditation with an introduction by Rabbi Alpert. Click here.
Social Justice News
It’s About Time for School Supplies
By Pat Clinton
Before you know it, school will be starting, and our teachers and children at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary will be needing our help. This year, instead of the typical crayons, pencils, paste, etc., I am asking for supplies that are often supplied by teachers. School budgets remain strained, and the items listed below would be most helpful.
There will be labeled boxes at All Souls on Erev Rosh Hashanah (Monday, Sept. 6) and Rosh Hashanah morning (Tuesday, Sept. 7) to leave donated supplies. Please help, through your generosity, to support our partner, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary.
Bottles of antibacterial soap
Bottles of hand sanitizer
Boxes of facial tissue
Container of disinfecting wipes
Package of construction paper
Package of printer paper
Rolls of paper towels
Variety pack of colored cardstock
