---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Rabbi Cohen <rabbicohen@agudathsholom.org> Date: Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 2:15 PM
Subject: Rabbi Cohen's Weekly Message-Moving to Israel
To:
robert.raymond@cas-stamford.org RABBI DANIEL COHEN'S WEEKLY MESSAGE MOVING TO ISRAEL |
| | | | | | Thanks for the overwhelming positive response the new kosher restaurant in Stamford. Please see the email below for full details. May we as a community grow from strength to strength.
Moving to Israel
Whenever I go to Israel, I am always asked by security "Do you have family in Israel?" I respond with a smile, "Yes, the Jewish people." The security agent appreciates the remark (most of the time), smiles back and allows me entry. G-d willing the next time I go to Israel, I can answer "My father and step mom". They are moving to Israel this Tuesday and will be joined by hundreds of others who are making aliyah from North America on a flight charted by Nefesh B'Nefesh (http://www.nbn.org.il/index.php ). My entire family is very excited for them but especially my daughter Sara Malka who will now have her grandparents in Israel when she is living there for a year of study. The timing of their move is very ironic given the subject of this week's Torah portion. Moshe pleads with G-d to allow him to enter into the land of Israel. In fact, he asks G-d "Why does Joseph merit to be buried in Israel and I am not allowed to enter?" According to the Midrash, G-d answers "One who acknowledged his land is buried in the land but one who does know acknowledge his connection to Israel will not be buried in Israel." Joseph was identified as a Hebrew while in Egypt but Moshe was identified as an Egyptian and neither one denied the point of identification. Yet, the explanation is very puzzling since Yosef in fact was born in Israel and rightfully should be identified as a Hebrew and Moshe was born in Egypt. The answer to this question highlights the depth of our relationship to the land and people of Israel. The Midrash signifies that wherever a Jew is born, he or she must always consider themselves as residents of Israel. We should see our dwelling outside of Israel as temporary, always with the hopes and aspirations of living in our Homeland. How do we identify ourselves? Yes, we are deeply grateful for America but Israel is our spiritual home. If we do live here, how are we expressing our in born identity with Israel? Are we expressing solidarity and support for the land and people of Israel? No matter where a Jew is born, as Rabbi Yehudah Halevi states, we should feel "I am in the East but my heart is in the West." My father has been dreaming of living in Israel for a long time. My mother, of blessed memory, is buried in Israel. My daughter will be learning in Jerusalem this year. Yet, the next time I visit Israel, I hope to still respond: Yes, I have family in Israel but not only my parents but the Jewish people. All of us are bound together as one by a transcendent and eternal bond to the land and people of Israel.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Cohen
NEW KOSHER INDIAN RESTAURANT OPENING IN STAMFORD
We are very excited to announce that after many months of effort, Navaratna Vegetarian Indian Restaurant is certified kosher under the supervision of the Vaad Hakashrus of Fairfield County. The kosher certification certificate should always be present, visible and valid at the establishment.
The restaurant is located at 133 Atlantic Street (at Main St) 203.348.1070, http://www.navaratnact.com/.
CLICK HERE Prior to their new kosher status, the New York Times featured a review of the restaurant in the July 11th edition. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/nyregion/11dinect.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Navaratna&st=cse
We are deeply grateful for the SKAC's (Stamford Kosher Activists Committee) legwork and to Navaratna owners Ramesh & Prakesh's enthusiastic desire to become kosher. We owe tremendous gratitude to Rabbi Zushe Blech, an international kashrut expert, for serving as a consultant to this project and to Meir Attar, Gabe Banschick and Matt Greif for their assistance to Rabbi Blech in the kashering process.
We are committed to working towards and look forward to a proliferation of kosher establishments in our community. Please contact us with any questions or comments.
Sincerely Yours,
Rabbi Daniel Cohen - rabbicohen@agudathsholom.org 203.358.2200
Rabbi Elly Krimsky - rebelkrim@aol.com 646.660.5850
Vaad Hakashrus of Fairfield County
Rabbi Elly Krimsky
Young Israel of Stamford
69 Oaklawn Avenue
Stamford, CT 06906 |
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| Congregation Agudath Sholom | 301 Strawberry Hill Avenue | Stamford | CT | 06902 |
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