Congregation Agudath Sholom Shabbat Bulletin

Congregation Agudath Sholom Shabbat Bulletin Behaalotcha June 6, 2026 21 Sivan send your submission to bulletin@cas-stamford.org ‌ ‌ Friday Mincha 6:30/7:00/8:10 PM Candle Lighting 8:05 PM Shabbat Shacharit 7:00/8:00/9:00 AM Latest Shema 8:14 AM Coffee & Commentary 8:45 AM Sephardic Minyan 8:45 AM Melachim Class 9:00 AM Latest Shacharit 9:47 AM Bob's Basics 10:00 AM Family Minyan 10:00 AM Shiur 10:30 AM Code Of Jewish Law 7:10 PM Mincha 8:00 PM Havdalah 9:06 PM Shabbat Shalom From Complaint to Calling Parshat Beha'alotecha begins with extraordinary promise. The Menorah is lit. The Levites are dedicated to sacred service. The laws of Pesach Sheni offer a second chance. The Jewish people learn how they will travel through the wilderness, guided by the Clouds of Glory and summoned by the blasts of silver trumpets. After centuries of slavery and more than a year of preparation, they stand poised to enter the Land of Israel. And then, almost suddenly, everything begins to unravel. "The people were as complainers; it was evil in the ears of God" (Bamidbar 11:1). What is remarkable is that the Torah never tells us what they were complaining about. Rashi explains that they were not reacting to a specific hardship. Rather, they were seeking a pretext to distance themselves from God. The complaint was merely the symptom of something deeper. This moment marks the beginning of a downward spiral that ultimately leads to the sin of the spies and the decree that an entire generation would remain in the wilderness. How could a people who witnessed the Exodus, crossed the Sea, stood at Sinai, and lived surrounded by miracles lose their sense of direction so quickly? Perhaps the answer lies in one of the great challenges of the human condition. We become accustomed to blessings. What once inspires wonder becomes routine. The manna became expected, the clouds became ordinary, and miracles faded into the background of daily life. The problem was not that they lacked blessings. The problem was that they stopped seeing them. The Torah's response to this crisis is both profound and practical. Before the complaints begin, it quietly introduces two antidotes. The first is found in the figure of Yitro, who teaches us how to see. The second is found in the silver trumpets, which teach us where we are going. To remain spiritually alive, we need both eyes and vision. We need the eyes of Yitro—the ability to notice blessings, remain open to growth, and never lose our sense of wonder. And we need the vision of an edah—a shared sense of purpose and destiny that lifts us beyond comfort, convenience, and survival. The first antidote appears in Moshe's conversation with Yitro. As the people prepare to journey toward the Land of Israel, Moshe pleads, "Do not leave us ... and you shall be as eyes for us." On a practical level, Moshe may be asking Yitro to help navigate the desert. Yet the phrase points to something deeper. Yitro knew how to see. When Yitro first heard about the miracles God performed for the Jewish people, the Torah says, "Vayichad Yitro." Rashi explains that he was so moved that he experienced a physical surge of emotion. He rejoiced. He allowed what he heard to penetrate not only his mind but his heart. Many people heard about the miracles of the Exodus. Yet only Yitro was willing to transform his life because of what he heard. He left behind status, prestige, and comfort because he recognized a higher truth. One of the greatest dangers in life is not blindness but familiarity. We stop noticing our blessings and appreciating the people we love because we assume we have seen it all before. Yitro teaches us otherwise. A vibrant soul remains curious. A grateful soul remains open. A growing soul never loses the ability to be amazed. Yet gratitude alone is not enough. The Torah introduces a second antidote through the silver trumpets. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik noted that in this section the Torah uses two different descriptions of the Jewish people: machaneh, a camp, and edah, a congregation. A camp is formed in response to a common threat. A congregation is formed around a shared purpose. A camp asks, "What are we running from?" A congregation asks, "What are we running toward?" The Jewish people experienced both realities. In Egypt they became a camp, united by suffering and oppression. But God did not redeem them merely to escape slavery. He redeemed them to become a holy nation. He redeemed them to become an edah—a people united by mission, destiny, and calling. Perhaps this message is especially important in our generation. We live at a time when many Jews feel both immense gratitude and deep concern. We have witnessed extraordinary blessings—the rebirth of Jewish sovereignty, the flourishing of Torah, and vibrant Jewish communities around the world—yet we also face real challenges and uncertainties. The Torah reminds us that our future depends not only on our ability to confront dangers, but on our ability to remember blessings and remain faithful to our destiny. We need both the eyes of Yitro and the vision of an edah. The generation of the wilderness lost both of these gifts. They stopped seeing the blessings they had, and they lost sight of the destiny toward which they were traveling. The Torah therefore offers two enduring antidotes: the eyes of Yitro and the vision of an edah. One teaches us to notice God's blessings; the other reminds us why those blessings matter. We need both. Gratitude without purpose becomes complacency. Purpose without gratitude becomes exhausting. But when we learn to see clearly and live purposefully, complaint gives way to calling. Every morning we thank God for "opening the eyes of the blind." Perhaps that blessing is not only about physical sight. Perhaps it is a prayer that we never lose the eyes of Yitro or the vision of an edah—that we continue to see the blessings before us and the destiny that lies ahead. For when we possess both, we do more than survive the wilderness. We find the courage to journey toward the Promised Land. Wishing you and your families a Shabbat Shalom and God willing the full redemption speedily and in our days, Rabbi Daniel Cohen Shabbat of prayer  This Shabbat has been designated A Shabbat of prayer and reflection for the wounded soldiers of Israel by the Barkai Center for Practical Rabbinics and Community Development. We will offer a special tefillah for them on Shabbat morning. Shabbat Topics & Participants Coffee & Commentary Rabbi Daniel Cohen Melachim Class Mark Wagshul Bob's Basics Rabbi Bob Abrams Shiur David Held: The Anxiety of the Journey - Why We Craved the Cucumbers Shacharit Josh Goldberg Musaf Bradley Baskir Code of Jewish Law Rabbi Yossi Kamman Seudah Shlishit Rabbi Aryeh Roberts: Lechem Mishneh at Seudah Shlishit—and Beyond Teen Learning Aryeh Klein Mazal Tov to Rebecca and Eliza Ostroff on their B'not Mitzvah! Mazal Tov to parents Allison & Jonathan Ostroff and grandparents Barbara & Norman Ostroff! to Sharon & Simeon Wohlberg on the arrival of a granddaughter, born to Shelby & Jason Wohlberg! to Jeannie & Brian Kriftcher on the engagement of their daughter Charlotte to Sam Herbst, son of Beth & Steve Herbst! to Mariya Feldman & Alex Abramov on the forthcoming marriage of Gregory to Jackie Lasker! Celebrate with the family! Make a donation in their honor and we will send an acknowledgement to the family. Just click here Thanks To Our Sponsors Senior Challah Deliveries: The Maron family in honor of the yahrzeit of Hon. Edward Maron z"l, Yedidya Aaharon ben Mordecai Chapel Kiddush: Co-sponsored by The Jelen Family in memory of their wife and mother, Judith Jelen (Yehudis Chena Bas Dovid) z"l on the occasion of her fourth Yahrtzeit; and Miriam & Gideon Pell for the yahrzeit and in memory of Gideon’s father, David Jacob Pell z"l Sephardic Kiddush: Co-sponsored by The Janette Family in memory of HaRav Moshe Meiri, A”H; and Meredith & David Cohen in loving memory of David’s paternal grandfather, David Ben Nissim haKohen, A”H Sanctuary Kiddush: Allison & Jonathan Ostroff in celebration of Rebecca and Eliza Ostroff's B'not Mitzvah Seudah Shlishit: Abbe Pick & Daniel Katz "In honor of the birth of our dear daughter Shiri Grace/שירי חן and to thank all those who contributed to the meal train and gave us your emotional support and friendship. We feel very blessed to be part of such a warm and special community." Sign Up for these Events learn more CAS Book Club Thursday, June 11 - 9:15 AM learn more Shabbat with Community Yoetzet Halacha Zissy Turner Shabbat, June 13 Learn more CAS Annual Meeting & Awards Tuesday, June 16 - 7:30 PM sign up Special Program on Genetics with Dr. Einat Zalckvar Wednesday, June 17 - 7:00 PM sign up Stamford Jewish Experience Friday Night Dinner Friday, June 19 - 8:15 PM sign up An Evening with Rabbanit Noa Lewis Tuesday, June 23 - 7:00 PM sign up Blooms & Bubbles - An Evening for Women Thursday, June 25 - 8:00 PM sign up CAS Men's Club BBQ & 250th Celebration of USA and Jewish Life Sunday, June 28 - 12:00 PM Learn more Senior Challah Delivery Sponsorships CAS Announcements Shabbat Icebreakers (courtesy of Yaakov Moshe and Elisheva Shmidman)  What is something that you used to love but got tired of after experiencing too much of it (the Jews complaining about the mann)? What is something you were grateful to get a second chance at (Pesach Sheini)? Who is a very humble person you know (Moshe is described as the humblest person on earth)? Would you rather have to eat your favorite meal every day for a year or never be allowed to eat it again for a year (the mann)? Michael Feldstein news  click here Weekday Schedule Shacharit  Sunday: 7:15/8:30 AM; Monday-Friday: 6:30/7:30/8:30 AM Mincha  Sunday-Thursday: 8:10 PM; Friday: 7:00 PM/8:14 PM Candle Lighting  Friday: 8:09 PM CAS Classes Join one of our classes. Click here for up to date schedule We Wish A Speedy Recovery To Aharon ben Bracha Shalom ben Hannah Shaina Faiga bat Rivka Mikhail ben Goda Esther Miriam bat ‏Chana Ilana Idit bat Leeba Leeba bat Chana Surah Sarah Shlomit bat ‏Leeba Yoseph ben Esther Miriam Ahuva Malka bat Sarah Bayla Frimet bat Rivka Henshe Yehuda ben Sarah Click here to add a name to this list We Honor Our Military Shani Y Harry B Frederick B Nathan H Noam H Yehudit Sally K Oren L Nathan L Elimelech E CZM JEM AMM Rachel M Jeremy S Yehudit S Click here to add a name to this list Community Announcements Aaron’s Place - A Kosher Comfort Room  Aaron's Place, on the ground floor of Stamford Hospital, provides kosher snacks, drinks and meals, in a comfortable environment. If you are caring for a hospitalized loved one or waiting for tests, this comfort room is a place to relax and refresh. Information is available at the hospital front desk, The code, in Hebrew letters, is on the door of the room. Volunteers Needed! To volunteer, please email ronsichel@aol.com

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