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Parasha Emor
17 Iyar 5764
May 7-8, 2004
A portion of this week's parasha is devoted to the festival calendar. A delineation of the festival calendar occurs not only here in Leviticus but also in Exodus and Numbers as well. The list of festivals begins with Shabbat, which of course occurs every week. The list of festivals then begins with Pesach, Shavuoth, Rosh Hashannah (although it is not called that in Torah), Yom Kippur and Sukkoth. In addition, the period between Pesach and Shavuoth, the time period we are in now, is discussed. Torah tells us that during the second day of Passover, an omer, a grain offerings from the first of the Spring harvest, was to be brought to the priest. From that day, 7 weeks were to be counted and then, on the 50th day, there was to be a celebration and a holy day. That festival day is now known as Shavuoth.
Like most things in Leviticus, the festivals are described in terms of the sacrifices that are to be done on that day. Yet following the description of Shavuot, the holiday celebrating the Spring harvest, there appears this most odd passage: "And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger; I am the Lord." Although virtually the same commandment was set forth in last week's portion, it is repeated again here in the middle of the festival calendar. Why?
Perhaps there are two messages here for us. One is that repetition of a commandment indicates its relative importance. The fact that this commandment is repeated here should tell us that our practice of it is an important element in achieving holiness, that being the overall theme of Leviticus. The other message is that Jewish observance is done through more than ritual. The ritual aspect of the festivals is clearly laid out in the description of the sacrifices that are to be done on each festival. Here, however, we are also told that observance includes attention to our moral obligations to our less fortunate fellow human beings. Particularly at a time of abundance, at the time of the harvest, we are reminded of our obligations to the poor and the stranger. It seems that Torah is trying to tell us that when we have the most, we have the most to give.
Rabbi Alan Freedman
Back To Top Wanted: Questions--Responses provided by Rabbi 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. For more, click the following link: http://www.bethshalomaustin.org/TBS/leadership/ask_rabbi.asp.
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 available for Shabbat evening services every Friday night (does not include Tot Shabbat service times). No need to make a reservation.
Saturday Morning Torah Study
Rabbi Freedman leads a Shabbat morning
Torah Study twice each month. The next Torah Study sessions will be held
on Saturday May 8th and Saturday May
22nd in the library located on the second floor in the Education
Building of the DJCC. Torah Study begins at 10:00 a.m.
Upcoming Services
Friday May 7
6:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat
7:45 p.m. Erev Shabbat Services. TBS will be holding our first Confirmation service. We will be confirming Lauren Becker, Amanda Halter, Joshua Landsberger, Jenelle Levenstein, and Laura Prais. Our confirmands will be sharing their thoughts on the role of Judaism in their lives as well as helping to conduct the service. Please join us for this moving life cycle event in the lives of these young people and their families as well as the life of our congregation.Friday May 14
7:45 p.m. Erev Shabbat Services. A very special Shabbat service led with the help of the students of our Religious School. They have studied hard all year and we are honored to have them participate in what should be a beautiful service.
Friday May 21
6:30 p.m. Erev Shabbat Services: "Shabbat Shir Shalom" Get ready to sing and pray with the incredible leadership, accompaniment, and harmonies of many of your fellow congregants. Enjoy a special "sermon in song" with the theme of "Shiru Shir Chadash," let us sing a new song.
Tuesday May 25
7:45 p.m. Erev Shavuot Services. Details coming soon!
Friday May 28
7:15p.m. Shabbat Sing-Along
7:45 p.m. Erev Shabbat Services
Saturday May 29
10:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Services. TBS will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Alana Deitch in the JCAA Community Hall. All members of the congregation are invited to share in this simcha as we celebrate with the Deitch family on this special occasion.
Matan Shemot Service (the gift of name service)
Do you not have a hebrew name? Would you like one? We are beginning to prepare for our Matan Shemot Service (the gift of name service) in which the Rabbi will be leading an adult naming service on June 11th. We would love to celebrate with you as you receive this special honor. If you are interested in receiving a hebrew name, please contact Lisa Goodman at 918-1423 or lisagoodman37@aol.com to discuss the easy process.
HOLD THE DATE!
TBS Annual Congregational
Meeting
Sunday, June 6
10 am - noon
JCAA Community Hall
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.
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.
Ongoing projects…
Tzedakah Boxes
Our congregation
distributes the silver boxes at Shabbat Services and Sunday School. Funds
collected are used for Social Action projects of Temple Beth Shalom. Pick
up a can and bring it back full of coins. Then grab a receipt for
taxes--and get a new, empty box to fill! Contact Susan
Laves at stuartlaves@austin.rr.com.
Meals on Wheels
Each week we deliver
meals and a smile. Happy congregants involved include :Lois and
Ira Goodman, Merry Ballis, Tiffany Bilbe, Lisa Goodman, Beverly Whitley,
Marcia Kohm, Carol Dochen, Kara Snelson, Lydia and Harold Servetnick, Jeri
Saper, and Karen Wolchansky. To get involved, contact
Lois Goodman- loisgoodman@austin.rr.com
Story
Book Project
Member Judy Fox, reports
our congregation's involvement has been featured in an article by the
National Crime Prevention Council. Several congregants travel to the
women's prison in Gatesville to assist female "mom" inmates read and
record on tape children's books. Those recordings are sent to their
children to listen to over and over as a substitute for their mother's
presence. The congregation gets letters of heartfelt praise from the
kids-it makes you cry. If you have one or two Saturdays a year to spare,
join this active group of volunteers. Judy Fox
coordinates- jackfox@ev1.net.
SHALOMITES (fun for families with children ages five and under)
Get Shalomites in May!
Get together! We'll be singing
and praying at Tot Shabbat, Friday May 7 @ 6:30
p.m.
Get involved! Join us for a
Shalomites planning meeting on Monday, May 10 @ 10 a.m. at Shanna
Dover's house 5708 Marilyn / 453-3311 (haredu@msn.com) - children
welcome.
Get shmoozin'! Our playgroup
will meet on Tuesday, May 11 @ 9:30 a.m. This month's destination is
Traci Grossfeld's 13105 Halsell Drive (in Steiner Ranch).
Contact Traci for directions at tgrossfeld@austin.rr.com or
266-4890.
Get milk! Don't miss our
Graduation Havdallah on Saturday, May 22 @ 6 p.m. Grab your Amy's ice
cream and meet at the Arboretum Cows. All Shalomites families are
welcome.
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.
Upcoming Sisterhood Events
Heart Health for Women
A presentation by Heart
Surgeon Dr. Perul Desai
Wednesday May 5
12 noon - 1 pm
Heart Hospital of
Austin
at 38th Street and Lamar Blvd
Lunch next door at Central
Market following.
For more info on this event please email susanmiller@austin.rr.com.
If you would like more information about joining Sisterhood, please
contact our membership chair, Lisa Goodman, at 918-1423
or lisagoodman37@aol.com.
GENERAL FUND
In memory of David Katz
Susie and Morton Krumholz
Judith and Jack Fox
Howard and Dale Rubinfeld
Sharon and Eric Cohan
Ann and Chris Fisher
Dick and Irene ParkerIn memory of Samuel Deitch
In honor of our granddaughter, Mandy Klearman, becoming a National Merit Scholar
In honor of the marriage of Julie Rubin and Jay Liberman
Susie and Morton KrumholzIn memory of Lil Klayman
Susie & Morton Krumholz
Barbara & Sherwin Robin
Judith and Jack Fox
Dick and Irene ParkerIn honor of the naming of Kaitlyn Rose Cohan
Dell and Barbara ColemanComplete Recovery wishes to Lydia Servetnick
Ellen and Ralph Loeb
Judith and Jack FoxIn memory of Judith Fox's stepmother, Henrietta Zionts
Ellen and Ralph Loeb
Sharon and Eric CohanIn memory of Julian Drescher
Ann and Chris Fisher
Susie and Morton Krumholz
RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUNDWith sincerest gratitude from Lovdy Hamm and Mark Grossman
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Mazel Tov to the following Temple Beth Shalom adult members who are celebrating their birthdays and anniversaries for the week of May 2 – May 9.
Birthdays
May 3 Charles Wolchansky May 3 Matthew Steinberg May 6 Kim Rubin May 6 Ginny Salmanson May 9 Carol Dochen May 9 Sarah Goldstein
Anniversaries
May 5 Shanna & Walter Sherwood May 6 Adina & Jason Chirogianis
Please contact admin@bethshalomaustin.org if you have any corrections or if you have been inadvertently left off the list.
Other Simchas
Members Morton & Susie Krumholz's granddaughter, Amanda Klearman ("Mandy"), has just found out that she has been named as a National Merit Scholar! She made it all the way—she's not just a semi-finalist or finalist. She also is the daughter of Julie Klearman, sister of Amy and Abby. Mazel Tov to Mandy and all her family!
Please contact newsletter@bethshalomaustin.org if you have any corrections or if you have major Simchas to be listed here.
The following Yarzheits are being observed by members of our congregation for the week of April 12-18. If you have Yarzheits that should be observed this week, but they are not listed here, they may not be listed in the congregation's computer database. Please contact Lisa at admin@bethshalomaustin.org for any additions or corrections.
|
Yarzheits | |
| May 2 | Sylvan Rosen - Grandfather of Michelle Rosen |
| May 5 | Marion Kaufman - Grandmother of Andrew Waxenberg |
| May 6 | Raymond Edelman - Father of David Edelman |
| May 6 | Edith Ann Winston - Grandmother of Susan Lobsenz |
| May 7 | Harry Kopman - Grandfather of Traci Grossfeld |
| May 7 | Anne Lilly - Mother of Ed Lilly |
| May 8 | Arthur Sonstein - Father of Dr. Allen Sonstein |
NEWS FROM AROUND THE "J" and THE COMMUNITY
Interreligious Assembly on Critical Conditions: CHIP & Hospital District
Austin Area Interreligious Ministries would like to invite you to join us to make a difference and speak up for our children and our community. At Congregation Beth Israel, 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
5:30pm -
6:00pm Dinner
6:00 - 6:30 Dessert, Welcome
and Announcements
6:30 - 8:00 Program
This Event is Free and Open to the Public. Dinner - Suggested Donation
$10
For more information call Jennifer LeBaron at 386-9145 ext. 20
or
jenniferl@aaimaustin.org
Austin Jewish Academy Book Fair
Austin Jewish Academy invites the community to take advantage of our Spring Scholastic Book Fair May 10 – 14. A comprehensive selection of paperback books, hardback books, assorted gift items and even educational software appropriate for children from Pre-school through Middle School will all be available for purchase at prices starting as low as $1.00. Bluebonnet books and books from the AJA summer reading list will be included in our offerings. The Book Fair, located in the AJA library on the second floor of the CAA Education Building, will be open from 8:00 – 9:30 AM and 3:00 – 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, May 10 – 14. Additional evening hours will be added on Tuesday, May 11 from 3:00 – 7:00 PM.
HADASSAH
Hadassah & JCAA sponsors blood drive & voter registration
The Austin Chapter of Hadassah, together with the JCAA will be sponsoring their 7th community blood drive on Sunday, May 16th from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. at the JCAA. For more information about blood, tissue and organ call the Tissue Services staff at 206-1266.
At the same time volunteers will be staffing a voter registration table
open to (1) unregistered individuals who are at least 17 years and 10
months old, (you must be a U.S. citizen) and (2) registered voters who
have moved and need to re-register in their new precinct or county or
state.
For further information and/or questions or if you would be
interested in helping out or serving on the Blood Drive Committee, please
contact Lisa @ 388-4909 or lisa@zeevi.org.
Hadassah Board Installation on May 12th
The community is invited to attend the installation ceremony of the Austin Chapter of Hadassah Board of Directors and the Aviv Group Board on May 12th at 6:30 P.M. at the JCAA in Room 150.
For further information and/or questions, contact Michele at 231-8467.
Hadassah Plans Community Directory
The Austin Chapter of Hadassah has announced their plans to
publish a Jewish community-wide directory, scheduled for distribution in
September 2004. The directory will include all Hadassah members, Associate
members, child-life members, as well as non-members in the Austin Jewish
community. The directory will also feature advertisements. Ads sales are
currently underway and will continue till June 30th. For more information
or to obtain an ad rate sheet, please contact Michele
Krugel, at 231-8467. Proceeds from the sale of ads will go
towards the support of the Hadassah Medical Organization in
Israel.
AgudasARTS Presents: Chazan Naftali Herstik
AgudasARTS is honored to present Chazan Naftali Herstik, the Chief
Cantor of the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem in concert on May 18th in the
Agudas Achim sanctuary. Tickets for the concert are $20 general admission,
$15 students/seniors, and $30 reserved seating. For reservations, and
further information, call the synagogue office at 735-8400.
For more information about our congregation, please visit http://www.bethshalomaustin.org.
Contact info
Mailing Address:
Temple Beth Shalom
7300
Hart Lane
Austin, TX 78731
Physical Location of the Rabbi’s Office and
Administrative Office
DJCC
7300 Hart Lane
Second Floor of the
Educational Building
Phone
(512) 735-8900
Fax
735-8901
General E-mail
admin@bethshalomaustin.org
Rabbi's
contact info:
rabbifreedman@bethshalomaustin.org
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