Ames Jewish Congregation

11/17/2025

When the stars align ever so nicely (and the Iowa fall weather cooperates) you get Havdalah and Star Gazing at AJC!

Last weekend, an AJC Member (and expert in Astronomy) lent the congregation his equipment, and knowledge.

Thank you to everyone who participated!

08/03/2025

A POEM FOR TISHA B'AV
Four Hundred and Eighty Years

Four hundred and eighty years had passed
before the Temple could be built,
like buildings, years must be amassed
to be for time, not space, a quilt.
Four hundred eighty years once more
would pass before it was destroyed.

Despite attempts made to restore
it fell once more into a void,
its site now used by Ishmael
for mosque and golden-covered dome.
Quilted, time is like a tale
repeated like a palindrome.

On Av’s ninth day, that’s known as Tisha,
we hold as fast as to deep wells
to time, each faster a well-wisher
who’s hoping that the tale he tells
on it will have a happy ending,
and that a message old and deep
will be the one this day is sending
to all the Jews who on it weep.

Then time’s great “happy ever after”
is seen by all as its profound
inclusion, turning it to laughter
which comes because it rolls around,
just like inclusions of the tales
the Bible tells us, nearly all
wrapped by conclusions, happy tails
we wag when we bad times recall.

Their symmetry is far less fearful
than tigers’ eyes, for though beginnings
of tales it tells are often tearful,
there’s laughter in most final innings.

א וַיְהִי בִשְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה לְצֵאת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ-מִצְרַיִם בַּשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִית בְּחֹדֶשׁ זִו, הוּא הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי, לִמְלֹךְ שְׁלֹמֹה, עַל-יִשְׂרָאֵל; וַיִּבֶן הַבַּיִת, לַיהוָה. 1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD (1 Kings 6:1)

https://jewishjournal.com/spiritual/poetry/350590/four-hundred-and-eighty-years-a-poem-for-tisha-bav/

05/05/2025

Acharei Mot - K’doshim
אַחֲרֵי מוֹת - קְדֹשִׁים
Adonai spoke to Moses saying: Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them, “You shall be holy, for I, Adonai your God, am holy” (Lev. 19:1-2).

This pronouncement is directed not to the priests, but to the entire community of Israel. Each of us has the capacity for holiness.

But what does it mean to be holy? The next few verses offer rules for Israelite life, but are they intended to promote holiness, or was the opening statement of the Torah portion a charge unrelated to the statements that follow? Can honoring our parents, observing the Sabbath, renouncing idolatry, or leaving the produce on the edges of our fields for the poor make us holy? Is abstaining from theft, deceitful practices, or withholding our workers’ wages until the end of the week enough to make us holy?

Commentators have struggled with this verse for centuries. Let us know your thoughts below! And get connected with us on the Blast to find out when we will be discussing this parsha more in depth this coming week.

05/05/2025

A Great Big Shout out to the AJC Board and TMJ Construction for the installation of the new ramp at AJC, unveiled this weekend at our Annual Meeting. Our members love it, thank you!

04/27/2025

Sh'mini
שְׁמִינִי
The Eighth [Day]

Aaron and his sons follow Moses' instructions and offer sacrifices so that God will forgive the people. (9:1-24)
Two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, offer "alien fire" to God. God punishes these two priests by killing them immediately. (10:1-3)
God forbids Moses, Aaron, and his surviving sons from mourning but commands the rest of the people to do so. Priests are told not to drink alcohol before entering the sacred Tabernacle and are further instructed about making sacrifices. (10:4-20)
Laws are given to distinguish between pure and impure animals, birds, fish, and insects. (11:1-47)

04/12/2025

04/10/2025

This Passover, Jewish Family Services is proudly launching Kupah, our new community care initiative—and what a meaningful beginning it is already off to. Thanks to an incredible group of volunteers with the backing of your donations, we will deliver 28 kosher Seder meals to individuals across the Des Moines and Ames area who might not have otherwise had the chance to celebrate with friends or family.

These meals aren't just about food—they are about connection, dignity, and making sure no one in our community feels alone during the holidays.

We’re just getting started! If you’re interested in being part of future Kupah projects and helping us meet real needs in our community, we’d love to hear from you.

Reach out to JFS Director Karen Michaeli at 📧 [email protected] to learn more.

Let’s keep building a stronger, more caring community—together.

03/30/2025

Vayikra
וַיִּקְרָא
[God] Called Out
Leviticus 1:1−5:26

God instructs Moses on the five different kinds of sacrifices that were to be offered in the sanctuary:

The olah or "burnt offering" was a voluntary sacrifice that had a high degree of sanctity and was regarded as the "standard" offering. The entire animal, except for its hide, was burned on the altar. (1:1-17)
The minchah or "meal offering" was a sacrifice made of flour, oil, salt, and frankincense that was partly burned on the altar and partly given to the priests to eat. (2:1-16)
The zevach sh'lamim or "sacrifice of well-being" was a voluntary animal offering from one's herd, sometimes brought to fulfill a vow. (3:1-17)
The chatat or "sin offering" was an obligatory sacrifice that was offered to expiate unintentional sins. This offering differs from the others in the special treatment of the blood of the animal. (4:1-5:13)
The asham or "penalty offering" was an obligatory sacrifice of a ram that was required chiefly of one who had misappropriated property. (5:1-26)

03/09/2025

Ki Tisa
כִּי תִשָּׂא
When You Take a Census
Exodus 30:11−34:35

Moses takes a census of the Israelites and collects a half-shekel from each person (30:11-16)
God tells Moses to construct a water basin and to prepare anointing oil and incense for the ordination of the priests. Bezalel and Oholiab, skilled artisans, are assigned to make objects for the priests and the Tabernacle. (30:17-31:11)
The Israelites are instructed to keep Shabbat as a sign of their covenant with God. God gives Moses the two tablets of the Pact. (31:12-18)
The Israelites ask Aaron to build them a Golden Calf. Moses implores God not to destroy the people and then breaks the two tablets of the Pact on which the Ten Commandments are written when he sees the idol. God punishes the Israelites by means of a plague. (32:1-35)
Moses goes up the mountain with a blank set of tablets for another 40 days so that God will again inscribe the Ten Commandments. Other laws, including the edict to observe the Pilgrimage Festivals, are also revealed. (34:1-28)
Moses comes down from the mountain with a radiant face. (34:29-35)

03/02/2025

T'tzaveh
תְּצַוֶּה
[You] Shall Further Instruct

The children of Israel are commanded to bring pure olive oil for the ner tamid "a constantly burning light," above the sanctuary. (27:20-21)
Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, are chosen to serve as priests. (28:1)
God instructs Moses to make special clothes for the priests. (28:2-43)
Aaron and his sons are ordained in a seven-day ceremony (29:1-29:46)
Aaron is commanded to burn incense on an acacia altar every morning and evening. (30:1-10)

02/23/2025

T'rumah
תְּרוּמָה
Gifts
Exodus 25:1−27:19

God asks the Children of Israel to donate gifts (t'rumah) for the building of the Tabernacle so that God may "dwell among them." (25:1-9)
Instructions for the construction of the Ark, table, and menorah are provided. (25:10-40)
Detailed directions are given on how to build the Tabernacle. (26:1-27:19)

02/16/2025

Mishpatim
מִשְׁפָּטִים
[These Are the] Rules
Exodus 21:1−24:18

Interpersonal laws ranging from the treatment of slaves to the exhibition of kindness to strangers are listed. (21:1-23:9)
Cultic laws follow, including the commandment to observe the Sabbatical Year, a repetition of the Sabbath injunction, the first mention of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals, rules of sacrificial offerings, and the prohibition against boiling a kid in its mother's milk. (23:10-19)
The people assent to the covenant. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel ascend the mountain and see God. Moses goes on alone and spends forty days on the mountain. (24:1-18)