Temple Beth Shalom Newsletter

Parasha Shemini
Leviticus (Vayikra) Chapters 9-11
26 Nissan 5764
April 16-17, 2003

The question of how to react to tragedy is a challenging one for both those who receive bad news and those who wish to comfort someone who is the victim of tragic events. It is often challenging for the recipient of bad news because of a number of factors. Sometimes, one feels compelled to "put on a good face" or perhaps the magnitude of the events is so great as to be unreal. Most of us have little preparaton for dealing with the emotions associated with having someone dear to us die or fall seriously ill, even when such events are not a total surprise. There is only so much we can do to prepare, the moment is still shattering.

It is equally difficult for those who wish to offer some kind words to a friend who might be in need of comfort. How difficult it is to say the right thing. How often we find ourselves offering pat responses or banalities because, after all, what can one say? Again, the magnitude of the moment is often beyond response, and it is often what we do or how we speak to those in pain that is more important than the words themselves.

In this week's parasha, Aaron experiences the sudden death of two of his sons. They are smote because they offered "alien fire" to God. What exactly this means or why God chose to make examples of these two men is not clear from the text and has been the subject of rabbinic speculation over the centuries. Try as the commentators might to make sense of their death, the incident on its face makes no sense, just like so many tragic situations we face in our own lives.

Moses attempts to comfort Aaron with words that amount to saying that it was God's will and that God's will is inscrutable. I recognize the attempts of many people over the years, including myself, to bring comfort to others with some variation of this reasoning. I must confess that rarely do I find such a response to be really adequate to the moment and I sense Moses' discomfort with this response as well. My guess is that Moses, like the rest of us, was stumped for something truly comforting and meaningful to say to his brother in the face of such a horrible tragedy.

Perhaps Aaron's reaction is the most informative of all. In a unique statement for Torah, the text states that "and Aaron was silent." The reason for Aaron's silence is not stated and it also has been the source of much speculation. Perhaps he is merely accepting of God's will. Perhaps he is simply too distraught to speak or feared the consequences of speaking the anger that he truly felt? Maybe Aaron just we too overwhelmed to feel anything just then. Whatever the reason may be, Aaron met the moment with silence.

As we travel through life together as individuals and as a congregation, we will be confronted with moments of grief and sadness; challenge and fear. Let us understand the power and the wisdom of silence in the face of that which is beyond reason and comprehension. May we also come to realize the power of presence, that what we say is less meaningful than the fact that we are truly present and concerned for another in pain. For in it our presence for one another that can bring the Divine Presence to those who are in need of comfort and peace.

Rabbi Alan Freedman

Do you have questions that you would like to have Rabbi Freedman answer? Day or night, just e-mail asktherabbi@bethshalomaustion.org and he will answer your questions. The answers will first be printed in this message and on the website on the Rabbi's page, and then will be archived on our website for later reference`. You may remain anonymous (provide an alias for yourself) or you may use your real name (but we probably will just print first names). Questions from all ages are welcome. Our first question came from David who asked,

Friday Night Shabbat Services

Rabbi Alan Freedman leads Shabbat Services each Friday night in the Community Hall of the DJCC. Cantorial Soloist Abby Gostein leads the congregation in prayer through music. Each service is followed by an Oneg.

Babysitting is now available for Shabbat evening services every Friday night (does not include Tot Shabbat service times). No need to make a reservation.

Saturday Morning Torah Service

Rabbi Freedman leads a Shabbat morning Torah Study and a Torah Service twice each month. The next Torah Service/Torah Study session will be held on Saturday April 17th in the library located on the 2nd floor of the Education Building of the DJCC. Torah Study begins at 10:00 a.m. with a Torah Service following at 11:00 a.m.

On Saturday May 1st, TBS will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Rachel Rubin with Torah Study and a Torah Service in the Community Hall.

Upcoming Services

Friday, April 16

6:30 p.m. Early Shabbat Service using Young Adult Liturgy and the naming ceremony for Kaitlyn Rose Cohan, daughter of Sharon & Eric Cohan

Saturday, April 17

10:00 a.m. Torah Study
11:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Torah Service

Friday April 23

7:15 – 7:45 p.m. Shabbat Sing-Along

7:45 p.m. Shabbat Service led by congregant Dick Amos

Friday, April 30

7:45 p.m. Our guest speaker will be Rabbi Laura Sheinkopf from Temple Emanu El in Houston. If you would like to participate in the service please contact Stephanie Puente at 418-9594 or spuente@aol.com. Please see additional information below in the SISTERHOOD section.

Shabbat Sing-Along!!

LOVE TO SING old favorite Jewish songs and learn new ones? Join Abby Gostein and the TBS community for a fun-filled SHABBAT SING-ALONG (only love of music is required)

April 9, 7:15-7:45
April 23, 7:15-7:45

Hope to see you there!

Looking for TBS musicians because....

THE NEXT “SHABBAT SHIR SHALOM” DATE IS SET:
Fri, May 21, service to begin at 6:30 p.m., warm-up at 6 p.m.

Rehearsal dates are as follows:
Sun 4/4 3:30 p.m.
Sun 4/11 3:30 p.m.
Wed 4/21 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. (purposeful 1/2 hour overlap with Sisterhood Shabbat rehearsal)
Sun 5/2 3:30 p.m.
Wed 5/5 7:30 p.m.
Sun 5/16 3:30 p.m.
Wed 5/19 7:30 p.m.

All rehearsals should last approx. 1 hour.

Please RSVP to Abby at music@bethshalomaustin.org to let her know if and how you (or another member of you family) would like to be involved in the service.

HOLD THE DATE!
TBS Annual Congregational Meeting
Sunday, June 6
10 am - noon
JCAA Community Hall

ADULT EDUCATION

Rabbi's Lunch Time Seminars

Please mark your calendar for the monthly lunch time seminars with the Rabbi: Second Wednesday of each month 12 Noon to 1:30PM at JCAA in the RabbiÆs office. The seminars are open to the community

Contact Ira Goodman by email or call 418-1905 for more information.

April 14 - Martin Buber

In this session, we will briefly explore the principals behind the work of this highly influential 20th century Jewish philosopher and activist. Buber concept of religion as relationships forms the basis for many of our theories about the role of religion in daily life today.

May- 12 -Shavuoth: The Unknown Festival

Of all of the Pilgrimage Festivals, Shavuoth is the least known and practiced. Come explore the history and traditions of this most interesting festival along with its opportunities for a fun a meaningful observance.

Contact Ira Goodman by email or call 418-1905 for more information.

SOCIAL ACTION

Mitzvah Day - April 25

Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 25th-The Austin Jewish Community Mitzvah Day. This is an opportunity for us to give back to the great community in which we live and perform the commandment of Tzedakah-which is Hebrew for Justice. There will be many different projects available for which you can sign up.

Speaking of Tzedakah, please continue to pick up our Beth Shalom Tzedakah boxes at Friday night Shabbat services and at Sunday School. Please fill them with coins and bring them back full to Shabbat services or Sunday School, for a receipt and a new empty can. The funds collected by our congregants are used by the congregation for social action projects.

Storybook Program Receives Recognition and Thanks

“Storybook Program” sponsored by Temple Beth Shalom and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, an interfaith Social Action project, was selected as one of fifty programs featured in a national publication highlighting promising practices in crime prevention. The National Crime Prevention Council, through its Faith and Service Technical Education Network (FASTEN), scoured the country for examples of effective faith and criminal justice partnerships. The Storybook Project was selected because it promotes the value and utility of partnerships with faith-based organizations among the criminal justice community. 50 Strategies for Faith and Justice Collaboration will take readers behind the scenes of some of the best programs in the country, with a discussion of the partnerships and components necessary to successfully apply their strategies in any setting.

Volunteers from Temple Beth Shalom and St. Mark’s Church travel to a women’s unit at Gatesville Prison one day each month with tape recorders, audio tapes and brand new children’s books. The volunteers record the mothers (offenders) reading books to their sons and daughters as well as personal messages. The book and tapes are then mailed to their children. While half of the group of mothers are recording their stories and messages, the other half are attending a parenting class which we are funding from contributions.

We have had wonderful feedback about our monthly mitzvah. One such letter was received by 6 year-old Cameron:

Dear who ever gets this note,
Please let my mome keep reading the books on tape. One more thing, I love hearing her voice.
By Cameron

Those interested in learning more about this project, please contact Judith Fox at judithfox@ev1.net

SHALOMITES

Don't miss Tot Shabbat this Friday, May 7! Welcome Shabbat with song and friends at our special program for families with children ages five and younger.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATION COMMITTEE

TBS "Volunteer Central" Matches Willing Volunteers with Projects in Need of Help

Are you a willing volunteer in waiting? Are you a committee or event chairperson looking for a few good volunteers? If so, TBS has a new committee formally known as the "Volunteer Coordination Committee" that is the perfect resource for you! The Volunteer Coordination Committee matches willing volunteers with committee chairs and event chairs who need willing helpful volunteers to help them accomplish their goals. If you are either a volunteer or someone in need of a volunteer, please contact Joan Edelstein at 340-0330, or at RED42750@aol.com.

SISTERHOOD

Upcoming Sisterhood Events

Sisterhood Shabbat - Friday April 30 at 7:45pm

Temple Beth Shalom will hold a very special Sisterhood Shabbat on Friday, April 30 at 7:45 pm in the Community Hall at the Dell Jewish Community Campus. The theme for the service will be "Choosing to Lead a Jewish Life".

The evening promises to be unique and meaningful and will focus on the personal importance of prayer and how it affects our life as jews. The guest speaker will be Rabbi Laura Sheinkopf, who serves as an Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Emanu El in Houston, TX.

Rabbi Sheinkopf will focus her talk on how the story of the Jewish people is built upon the struggles and the triumphs of individual lives. In the Torah we experience the trauma and the triumph of our Biblical ancestors as we see how their experiences illuminated the faith around which Jewish life revolves. In this age we too can integrate our personal experiences into our Jewish lives. Personal history is an important piece of the ongoing Jewish story. Rabbi Sheinkopf will demonstrate this by sharing her own path toward a Jewish life and to the rabbinate. Like each of our personal stories, it is one that is dignified and better understood in the context of Jewish history and Jewish life.

We hope you will join us for this special evening.

First Annual Mother's Day Israeli Rose Sale

Attention husbands, fathers and sons!! Order your roses now for Mother's Day and support Israeli families and Temple Beth Shalom Sisterhood. Roses will be available for pick up on Sunday May 9 at the JCC. We'll even send you a reminder to pick them up! Email susanmiller@austin.rr.com to place an order or obtain an order form. Last day to place your order is April 12.

The Story of the Israeli Roses

Moshav Sde Nitzan, in Negev, Israel, was established 30 years ago in the southwest corner of Israel, near the Gaza Strip and the Egyptian border. The population of the Moshav has grown from 27 to 74 families. However, the position of agriculture in Israel, and in the Moshav, has steadily declined over the years, leading to economic hardships. Many of the original members have left the Moshav. Others have abandoned agriculture as a significant source of their livelihood. Severe competition from African and South American flower growers has resulted in a long period of shrinking profits for Israeli flower growers. One Moshav family has begun exporting roses, grown in Moshav Sde Nitzan in the Negev, to the United States and are the only Israeli rose growers to offer this service. They have been growing roses and exporting them to Holland for nearly 30 years, which are then sold at the famous Dutch flower auctions. Identification with Israel has been a significant ! motive for people ordering flowers from Israel. In these days of strife there are great numbers of people, who are seeking a way to support Israeli businesses and identify with Israel. Purchasing "Roses from Israel" is a beautiful way to do this.

TRIBUTES

No Tributes this week.

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SIMCHAS

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Mazel Tov to the following Temple Beth Shalom adult members who are celebrating their birthdays and anniversaries for the weeks of April 12 - April 18.

Birthdays

April 12 Janis Levine

April 13 Andrew Waxenberg

April 14 Paul Rubin

April 14 Beverly Whitley

April 15 Karin Hall

April 17 Dr. Morton Krumholz

April 17 Harold Servetnick

April 18 Rachel McNamara

Anniversaries

April 12-18 No Anniversaries this week

Please contact admin@bethshalomaustin.org if you have any corrections or if you have been inadvertently left off the list.

Other Simchas

Two weeks ago, our TBS member, Carol Dochen, was named one of the Top 25 Realtors in Austin by the Austin Business Journal, and the following week was selected by Stewart Title as a member of The Elite 25 Realtors of Austin!! Mazel Tov to her for these accomplishments!

Please contact newsletter@bethshalomaustin.org if you have any corrections or if you have major Simchas to be listed here.

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