worth the schlep
M A R CH 2 5 — MARC H 3 1
FRI DAY, M A R C H 25
JEWISH SIGNS EXHIBIT
The Signs of Our Jewish Times exhibit at the
Temple Judea Museum at Reform Congregation
Keneseth Israel will be on display until March 31.

What constitutes a “sign”? Admittedly, our defini-
tion is quite broadly interpreted. See for yourself.

8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park. For more infor-
mation: TJMuseum@kenesethisrael.org;
215-901-2656; 215-887-8700, ext. 416.

PARSHA FOR LIFE
Join Rabbi Alexander Coleman, Jewish educator
and psychotherapist at the Institute for Jewish
Ethics, at 9 a.m. for a weekly journey through the
Torah portion of the week with eternal lessons
on personal growth and spirituality. Go to
ijethics.org/weekly-torah-portion.html to
receive the Zoom link and password.

VIRTUAL CLASSES
Golden Slipper Gems is a place to connect
with friends and meet new people. Our diverse
speakers will stimulate your passion for learn-
ing, and you’ll keep returning to sample all that
we have to offer. Click on our website and learn
more about our most recent classes:
goldenslippergems.org. SAT U R DAY, MA R C H 26
JFS COCKTAIL PARTY
An evening of buckets, brackets and baskets
await guests at the “It’s Game Time!” fundraiser
hosted by Jewish Family Service of Atlantic &
Cape May Counties at Golden Nugget Casino
& Hotel. Tickets are $150 per person. The event
is limited to 200 people. Contact ssimon@
jfsatlantic.org or 609-822-1108 for more informa-
tion. 600 Huron Ave., Atlantic City, New Jersey.

S UN DAY, M A RC H 27
SUSTAINABILITY CONVERSATION
What if Yardley could transition to a much more
sustainable, resilient, connected and flourishing
community? Join Congregation Kol Emet for a
conversation in-person or on Zoom with local
faith and lay leaders from across the community.

For more information, contact Nancy Fisher at
nfish2@verizon.net. M O N DAY, M AR C H 28
MAHJONG GAME
Melrose B’nai Israel Emanu-El Sisterhood invites
the community to join our weekly mahjong game
at 7 p.m. Cost is $36 per year or free with MBIEE
Sisterhood membership. For more information,
call 215-635-1505 or email office@mbiee.org.

8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park.

32 MARCH 24, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
CALENDAR SP E E D DAT I NG • W E D NESDAY, MAR CH 30
Join Be Single No More
for a night of speed dating
for Jewish singles in their
20s and 30s, starting at
6:45 p.m. After the speed
dating event, join us for a
singles mixer to socialize
more without being timed.

Within 24 hours we’ll email
you your matches. Email or
message us at facebook.

com/besinglenomore or at
besinglenomore@ gmail.com if you have
any questions.

Courtesy of Be SIngle No More
TIKVAH SUPPORT GROUP
Tikvah will provide a facilitated space from
6-7 p.m. to provide support and resources to
parents, family members, friends and
caregivers of those with the lived experience of
mental illness, facilitated by Alexis Bracy
and Neen Davis. Call 215-832-0671 for
details. T U E S DAY, MARCH 2 9
BINGO WITH BARRY
Join Barry at Tabas Kleinlife for bingo from
12:30-3:30 p.m. on March 29, 30 and 31.

Free parking and free to play with snacks
available on March 30. For more information,
call 215-745-3127. 2101 Strahle St.,
Philadelphia. ZIONISM CONVERSATION
Join Jewish National Fund-USA at 7:30 p.m.

for a series meant to facilitate a dialogue and
expose the beautiful and diverse facets of mod-
ern Zionism. Tune in as Russell F. Robinson and
Rabbi David Wolpe discuss the rabbinate’s views
on Israel and the challenges and opportunities
pulpit rabbis face as they lead their
congregations. jnf.org/events-landing-pages/
conversations-on-zionism. T HU RSDAY, M A RC H 3 1
BEREAVEMENT GROUP
Jewish Family and Children’s Service is
offering this eight-session online support group
for individuals who have suffered the loss of a
loved one. Sessions will be held from 10:30 a.m.-
noon until April 21 on Zoom, and the cost is $144
total. Contact Rivka Goldman at 267-256-2250
or rgoldman@jfcsphilly.org for more information.

JEVS WORKSHOP
At this virtual JEVS workshop at 11 a.m., our
career coaches will share education to employ-
ment programs focused on gaining skills needed
for a satisfying job that balances work, family
and social distancing. jevshumanservices.org/
event/upskilling-making-yourself-more- marketable-through-short-term-trainings-2.

MEN’S CLUB PROGRAM
The Congregations of Shaare Shamayim
Sisterhood, Men’s Club and Chaverim
announce a joint Zoom program scheduled for
7:30 p.m. The program is “Top Songs of the
40’s, 50’s, 60’s and Beyond.” The cost is $25
and is open to all. There also is a 50/50: $5 for
one chance or $10 for 3 chances. For details,
call the CSS office at 215-677-1600. JE



d’var torah
Oh My God
BY RABBI DAVID LEVIN
Courtesy of Rabbi Davd Levin
T Parshat Shemini
here is nothing more horrifi c
than losing a child. Th e pain
is overwhelming; it makes
no sense. Indeed, the entire world is
turned upside down. It is unnatural at
the most basic of levels to bury your
child. Aaron experiences this pain in
Parsha Shemini. “God’s Fire” consumes
Nadav and Abihu, two of Aaron’s four
sons and high priests. Aaron is speech-
less (ironic given his position in service
with Moses) and even more instructed
to continue his work with no time for
him to grieve.

Th e unvarnished brutality of the
world infl icts itself, and there is no
protection from it, no matter how well
we tried to live or how well we tried
to teach our children. We do our best,
but this unimaginable thing can touch
us even in a world where we think we
are doing everything as we should.

Th ankfully, most of us do not confront
this horrible loss. And no one other
than those who have walked this path
can know the depths of its pain.

Our sages have struggled with God’s
killing of Nadav and Abihu, particularly
for off enses that appear minor. Some have
argued that they were overzealous and
tried to do more than the ritual required
of them; others such as Rashi posit it was
because the two were inebriated.

Frankly, we do not know why God
killed them. Our portion prompts
every God-fearing person to question
why God would take a child under
any circumstances. And then, we must
confront the reality of continuing to
live aft er such a tragic, inexplicable
loss. How impossible a task this is. But
it is not about some intangible other
in some far-off place. Th is horrifying
situation is about us and our need to
personalize these tragedies. We cannot
ignore them, for we place our humanity
in peril. It is not about “them” or “over
there”; it is about us right now.

I think about Vladek Spiegelman,
the father of Art Spiegelman, author of
“Maus,” and Otto Frank, the father of
Anne. I think of the people I have tried
to comfort as a chaplain. I think of the
mothers and fathers of Ukraine and the
20 other major confl icts that are killing
children worldwide; I think of the vio-
lence of our inner cities and the slaugh-
ter of children in school shootings.

My heart goes out to the millions of
people whose world is shattered beyond
recognition. What can I do besides sit
in grief?
Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor
and creator of logotherapy, taught that
although we cannot control what has
happened to us, even at the hands of
others, we can control how we respond
to even the most horrible things. But I
oft en fi nd myself lost.

Even as one who serves as a disas-
ter spiritual care team responder for
mass casualty events, I grapple with
the enormity of the sadness. But there
are three things that each of us can do.

We can off er prayers of gratitude;
indeed, there but for the grace of God,
go I.

We can console those who grieve.

We can work to stop the preventable
losses. What are you willing to do to prevent
the things that are killing our children?
As the saying goes, there are none so
blind as those who will not see. Will
you open your eyes and your hearts to
the children?
For those of us blessed not to know
such tragedy and grief, we must share
our blessings with those less fortunate.

Here are four groups dedicated to help-
ing those in need:
Support refugee aid through HIAS
at hias.org/.

Provide medical assistance through
Doctors without Borders at doctor-
swithoutborders.org/ Provide food to the hungry through
World Central Kitchen at wck.org/.

Support an end to gun violence
through Moms Demand Action at
momsdemandaction.org/. Many other groups provide human-
itarian support to those in need, and
many groups are promoting political
activism to stop the violence. Support the
ones that resonate with you. However,
the blessings that are uniquely ours
also come with a special responsibility.

Protecting the vulnerable promotes the
welfare of everyone, including ourselves.

As Jews, we know all too well the suf-
fering of the oppressed. And it is part of
the American experience as well. Right
now, you can help lessen the suff ering
of those victims of violence through
your gift s of time, money and a gen-
erous heart. Be part of that change. JE
Rabbi David Levin is the founder
and director of Jewish Relationships
Initiative, a not-for-profi t dedicated
to helping seekers of meaning
through the Jewish wisdom tradi-
tion. The Board of Rabbis of Greater
Philadelphia is proud to provide
diverse perspectives on Torah com-
mentary for the Jewish Exponent.

The opinions expressed in this col-
umn are the author’s own and do
not refl ect the view of the Board of
Rabbis. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
33