Baron Hirsch Men’s Club Sponsors Family Zoo Day

The Baron Hirsch Men’s Club is proud to once again sponsor Family Day at the Memphis Zoo on Sunday, April 4.  This exciting day will be spent visiting all the wonderful attractions and the multitude of species the zoo has to offer, including the China Exhibit and the new Teton Trek exhibit.
In addition to the fantastic animal exhibits, there will be several activities just for those taking part in the Family Day.  At 11:00AM, guests will meet in the picnic area outside the Teton Trek exhibit for a special animal demonstration conducted by zoo docents exclusively for the Baron Hirsch Group.  Participants are urged to bring their Passover lunch, drinks and snacks.
Children of all ages can take part in a scavenger hunt which will lead them throughout the zoo.  Every child that participates will receive a prize, regardless of whether they complete the entire hunt. 
The Family Day is open to anyone in the community who wishes to attend.  Attendees are asked to enter the zoo on their own.  You can use your zoo membership, or pay the regular admission at the gate.  All of the special activities that the Men’s Club has arranged are offered at no additional cost.
Contact the Baron Hirsch office at (901) 683-7485 for more information.  Don’t miss this opportunity to visit with the pandas, the polar bears, the penguins and more. 

Pesach Service Times 5770

Sunday, March 28
Search for Chametz - after 8:00pm

Monday, March 29
Erev Pesach
Shacharit - 6:45am
Siyum for the First Born - 7:30am
Thank you to Dr. Jack & Esther Forman for sponsoring the annual breakfast in honor of the yarhzeit of David Ross, father of Esther Forman.

Latest time to eat Chametz - 10:29am
Lastest time to burn Chametz - 11:45am

Candle Lighting - 7:01pm
Mincha/Maariv - 7:05pm
Start Seder - after 8:01pm

Tuesday, March 30
1st Day of Passover
Shacharit (note later time) - 9:00am
Mincha/Maariv - 7:10pm
Light Candles/Start Seder - after 8:02pm

Wednesday, March 31
2nd Day of Passover
Shacharit (note later time) - 9:00am
Mincha/Maariv - 7:10pm

Shabbat April 3
Shabbat Chol HaMoed
Shacharit - 8:30am
Shir HaShirim
Mincha/Maariv - 7:00pm
Shabbat Ends - 8:05pm

Sunday, April 4th
Eve of 7th Day
Candle Lighting - 7:06pm
Mincha/Maariv - 7:10pm

Monday, April 5th
7th Day of Passover
Shacharit (note later time) - 9:00am
Mincha/Maariv - 7:15pm
Light Candles - after 8:07pm

Tuesday, April 6th
8th Day of Passover
Shacharit (note later time)- 9:00am
Yizkor appr. - 10:30am
Mincha/Maariv - 7:15pm
Yom Tov Ends - 8:07pm

Note: One should wait for one hour following the conclusion of the holiday to eat any Chametz which was sold in order to allow time for it to be purchased back.

Visit Rabbi Finkelstein’s new blog

Baron Hirsch Senior Rabbi, Shai Finkelstein, has created a blog to keep you informed about events and happenings at Baron Hirsch. Visit the blog at http://www.baronhirsch.blogspot.com

March/April 2010 Edition

Pesach_2010.pdf

Baron Hirsch Book Club Continues to Flourish

If you’re looking for a good book, Sources: The Jewish History Book Club at Baron Hirsch has a few suggestions.  Currently, the club is reading My Father’s Paradise by Ariel Sabar, the story of Iraqi Kurdish Jews and one man’s efforts to preserve what was thought to be their dead language-Aramaic. The discussion will take place on Monday, April 12th at 7:00PM at Baron Hirsch and will be led by Talya Tsuna.

Dr. Ellis Tavin, Baron Hirsch member and founder of the group, explained his purpose behind starting ‘Sources’. “My motivation for starting the book club was as a supplement to the usual adult education classes or sermons which tend to focus on the Tanach (bible). We are often challenged by news reports that distort Jewish history or Israeli history. Without knowledge we cannot intelligently respond. The format of the book club is not didactic and encourages participation. We take turns as discussion leaders. Anybody is welcome to suggest a book, but most of the selections have been my recommendations. I probably read four books to find one book that I think the group will like. Previous books have covered topics as diverse as blood libels, the Six Day War, the life of a Jewish woman in 17th century Germany, an early American Jewish family, and Jewish partisans during WWII. Our current selection, My Father’s Paradise is a history of Iraqi Kurdish Jews and their struggles to preserve their heritage and overcome discrimination once they moved to Israel.”

The club formed in November of 2007 picking Six Days of War by Michael Oren as their first selection.  Since the formation of the group they have read sixteen different non-fiction books focusing various realms of Jewish history.  From the stories of a Warsaw zookeeper and his wife who helped shelter Jews during the occupation of Poland in The Zookeeper’s Wife to the memoirs of a Jewish businesswoman widow in in the late-seventeenth-early eighteenth century Germany in The Memoirs of Gluckel of Hameln. The numbers of the group have grown steadily since its inception, typically the group meets every other month at the I.E. Hanover Library at Baron Hirsch to discuss the chosen book.

For more information contact Baron Hirsch at 683-7485.

Education Minyan Open to all Backgrounds

Baron Hirsch Congregation resumes its popular Education Minyan this Shabbat morning, March 20th.  This special minyan is held once a month and is a combination service and class.  Over the last several years, scores of individuals have participated in this interesting and enlightening group.  The service runs from 9:30AM until 10:20AM. Following the service, participants return to the main Shabbat minyan. 

Rabbi Shai Finkelstein, Senior Rabbi of Baron Hirsch says “The Educational Minyan explores the deep meanings of the blessings of the silent prayer. Participants will acquire vast knowledge on the daily prayer and an understanding of the Hebrew words.”

Rabbi Finkelstein leads the Education Minyan, which gives participants a chance to learn the origin of the prayers we say, including the meaning behind them and the philosophy behind their arrangement. 

The service is open to anyone in the community, and no background is necessary.  The next Education Minyan will be held on April 24th.  For more information, please contact the synagogue office at 683-7485.

Baron Hirsch to Host Annual Cholent Cook Off

Get out your chef hat, Baron Hirsch Congregation has announced it will host its Annual Cholent Cook-Off on Shabbat, March 13th.  Twenty expert chefs will have the opportunity to make their own cholent, serve it at Kiddush, and have the congregation vote for the best one. This year there will also be special ‘celebrity’ judges who will help decide who makes the best cholent. 

This is the third year Baron Hirsch has held the Cholent contest which brings a variety of cooks together to compete for most delicious cholent. Past first-place winners have included Baron Hirsch members Sally Wender and Lee Silberberg. “It’s always fun to try the different cholents, everyone makes their cholent differently and I love tasting what others have cooked up” says one enthusiastic judge.

Public tasting and judging will take place at the morning Kiddush, there is no cost to participate in the Kiddush/Judging.  For more information contact the Baron Hirsch office at 683-7485.

Cholent Contest Entry Form

Cholent_Contest_2010.pdf

March 2010 Events

March_Shabbat_Mailing_2010.pdf

Artists_Ascending_March_2010.pdf

Baron Hirsch to Honor Cantor Ricky Kampf

Baron Hirsch Congregation will be honoring Cantor Ricky Kampf this Shabbat, March 6th, with a special Kiddush following morning services.  Cantor Kampf is being recognized for his 20 years of dedicated service to Baron Hirsch. He joined the Baron Hirsch family in 1989.  During his first years he served the congregation as the assistant Shaliach Tzibur and Executive Director.  He received his cantorial degree from the Belz School of Jewish Music at Yeshiva University in 2005.

Cantor Ricky’s melodious voice is a highlight of all of Baron Hirsch’s Shabbat and holiday services.  His Kabbalat Shabbat service every Friday night fills the synagogue with excitement and energy, and has been one of the congregation’s most popular services for some ten years.  People of all ages attend and welcome in the Shabbat with song and dance. 

In addition to the weekly Shabbat services, Cantor Kampf also leads all of the holiday services at Baron Hirsch, and works particularly hard at growing member participation through the Men’s and Boys’ Choirs that make the High Holy Days so meaningful.  “Over the last number of years, dozens of boys have learned the holiday tunes through their participation in the boys choir,” said David Cooper, president of Baron Hirsch.  “Hearing Cantor Ricky sing with the boys is truly one of the most special moments of the holiday services.”

Cantor Kampf is also a master Bar Mitzvah teacher, who has taught torah reading and davening to countless boys throughout the city.  He has also helped many people prepare their haftorah for special occasions such as an ufruff, bar mitzvah anniversary or special birthday.

Rabbi Shai Finkelstein, Senior Rabbi of Baron Hirsch stated, “Everyone who comes to our shul is inspired by the beautiful melodies and the harmonious voice of our Cantor Ricky Kampf.  His love for our shul and for every member, from a Bar Mitzvah boy and to those he helps with leining and davening is admired by all.  I am so happy to have him as a Cantor and as a friend.  Ricky and his family are enriching our shul’s life and I would like wish to Ricky and his family another hundred years of beautiful service to Baron Hirsch.”

Cantor Kampf is married to Anat, who is the Menahelet (administrator) of the Goldie Margolin High School for Girls.  They have five children, Kaylee, Raquel, Benjamin, Ariel and Jack.  He is the son of Lottie Kampf, who moved to Memphis in 2008, and the late Jack Kampf.

The entire community is invited to join the congregation to honor Cantor Kampf on this special occasion.  Shabbat morning services begin at 8:30AM.