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Parasha Behar-B'Hukkotai (Lev. 26:3-27:34)
24 Iyyar 5764
May 14-15, 2004
From time to time, I utilize this space to address issues that affect our congregation and our congregants from a Jewish perspective, even though a given Torah portion might not address that issue. This column is one such instance. In Parasha Kiddushin that was read so beautifully by Rachel Rubin at her Bat Mitzvah on May 1, we heard the following passage: "You shall not insult the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind." (Leviticus 19:14). This one sentence contains many levels of meaning. Taken literally, it certainly means that one should not take advantage or make sport of those with physical handicaps. The Rabbis, however, add more meaning. Our Sages read this passage as meaning that one should not place obstacles in front of those who are less advantaged than we; that whatever the nature of the handicap a given individual might have, one should not add to their burden by placing obstacles in their path.
This upcoming Saturday, and on the days leading up to it through early voting, we will be given an opportunity to remove an obstacle from the path of those who need medical care in our region. Approval of the creation of a Travis County Medical District will put in place a structure that will allocate medical services and resources more fairly throughout our county. Presently, medical care for the uninsured and the indigent primarily is centered on Brackenridge Hospital, which is supported mainly by the residents of Austin. I will not address the relative fairness of this burden not being shared equally throughout Travis County because that is a political issue. My concern is a moral and religious one. Have we as a society put in place structures to provide efficient and effective delivery of health care to all of our citizens or are we placing stumbling blocks before those who need care?
Those who oppose the Hospital District do so mainly on the basis of creating another body with taxing authority, which they believe will lead to an inevitable rise in taxes to support medical care. Besides the fact that the residents of Travis County, including Austinites, pay about one-quarter of what the residents of Houston and Dallas do to support their medical facilities, it is our obligation to fund that which is necessary to care for those in need of care. Boards such as the one that would manage the Hospital District are never perfect but at least they would be singularly focused on this one vital area and would be answerable to political forces should they be unable to justify tax increases.
In short, unlike most exclusively political issues, I believe that there is an ethical dimension to the creation of a Travis County Hospital District. I urge all or our congregants to vote in this vital off-season election and to vote in favor of removing stumbling blocks to the efficient delivery of health care to all those who need it.
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.
| Beginning Friday July 9th and running through August 27th, Erev Shabbat services will be held at 6:30 p.m. The Erev Shabbat service on the first Friday of each month will still be held at 7:45 p.m. (Tot Shabbat at 6:30 p.m.). |
Upcoming Services
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. Erev Shavuot observance at the home of Marion and Gerhard Werner beginning at 9:00 p.m. (more information to come)
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.
A BIG "Thank You" To Sisterhood Shabbat Musicians
To all the Sisterhood Shabbat singers/instrumentalists (and dancer!):
Michelle Feibus Felecia Kutchey Rachel McNamara
Stephanie Puente Sandy Goldstein Tiffany Goodman-Bilbe
Lisa Goodman Ellen Kusin Rachel Blakely Robin Blakely
Abbey Rovell Ele Amos Dick Amos
Thank you so much for your wonderful talents, time, energy, and spirit that added so much to the service on Friday night, April 30. It was a joy working, singing and playing with you all.
A special thanks goes to Stephanie Puente and Patti Bridwell for their coordination of the entire service which enabled the musical involvement of our members to fit in in such a meaningful way.
B'Shalom,
Abby Gostein
2004 Sisterhood Shabbat Participants
SHABBAT SHIR SHALOM IS COMING!!!!!!!!!!
On Friday night, May 21 at 6:30 pm, please join in worship for Shabbat Shir Shalom. A special super-musical Shabbat. Get ready to sing and pray with the incredible leadership, accompaniment, and harmonies of many of your fellow congregants. Enjoy a "sermon in song" with the theme of "Shiru Shir Chadash," let us sing a new song. It will be an uplifting, participatory musical experience for all.
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 (a Chavarah for families with children ages five and under)
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. Contact Lisa Goodman for rain plan (lisagoodman37@aol.com or 918-1423).
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
Second Annual Sisterhood Shabbat Hailed as a Success!
The Sisterhood of Temple Beth Shalom held their second annual Sisterhood Shabbat on Friday, April 30. The theme for the service was "Choosing to Lead A Jewish Life". There were 40 participants, including guest speaker Rabbi Laura Sheinkopf from Congregation Emanu El, in Houston TX, and close to 100 people who attended. The participants assisted in all aspects of the event from creating and facilitating the service, to singing in the musical component and hosting the oneg. Rabbi Sheinkopf gave a fantastic sermon about her own path toward leading a Jewish life and going into the rabbinate. Abby Gostein, cantorial soloist for Temple Beth Shalom, directed the musical component and helped to enrich the evening with wonderful songs and prayers. The service concluded with a beautiful Oneg Shabbat.
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 Mort Batlan's special birthday
Mark and Pixie CohnIn memory of David Katz
Dee & Don Coplin
Audrey and Charles Wolchansky
Pixie and Mark Cohn
In memory of Lil Klayman
Gail and Neil Miller
Audrey and Charles Wolchansky
Dee & Don Coplin
In honor of Carol Dochen's 50th birthday
Dee & Don Coplin
In memory of Henrietta Zionts
Barbara & Ron KlaymanSpeedy recovery wishes to Lydia Servetnick
Barbara & Sherwin RobinIn honor of Karyn Epstein, who went above and beyond the call of duty
and helped me with things that had nothing to do with religious school!
In honor of Don and Dee Coplin for their extraordinary sacrifice and
effort to create a Temple that has become home to us.
In honor of Abby Gostein, our tutor and Cantorial soloist ! We are
thrilled with Rachel's performance and couldn't have done it without
you!
In honor of the best Rabbi that a Temple could have! The extra time and
support you've given us has helped the family so very much. We are
truly blessed!
Kim, Paul, Rachel and Jennifer Rubin
RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUNDIn memory of Lil Klayman
Merry & John Balis
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Mazel Tov to the following Temple Beth Shalom adult members who are celebrating their birthdays and anniversaries for the week of May 10 - May 16.
Birthdays
May 10 Gay Thompson May 13 Ruth Levenstein May 14 Ira Goodman May 15 Jim Anne May 15 Ellen Kusin May 16 Pearl Kentor
Anniversaries
May 10 Gail & Neil Miller May 11 Pam & Brad Prais May 16 Ed Astrich & Joan Edelstein
Please contact admin@bethshalomaustin.org if you have any corrections or if you have been inadvertently left off the list.
Other Simchas
There were no Simchas submitted for publication this week.
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 9 Max Miller - Grandfather of Susan Miller May 9 Miriam Bronik Blum - Grandmother of Michelle Natinsky May 10 Minnie Berman - Aunt of Barbara Robin May 11 Anne Fogel - Mother of Barbara Klayman May 12 Aron Levenstein - Grandfather of Dustan & Jenelle Levenstein May 13 Herbert Apfelberg - Grandfather of Lisa Apfelberg May 14 Arthur Winston - Grandfather of Susan Lobsenz May 15 Edward Slater - Grandfather of Andrew Lobsenz
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 ProgramThis 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.orgAustin 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.
HADASSAHHadassah & 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 12thThe 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 DirectoryThe 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.
Muslim - Jewish Workday
Sunday, May 16th from 9 to 5
5516 Duval St., AustinFollow up Social Gathering;
Wednesday eve, May 19th, 6:30 to 8:30
We'll have food, fun and brainstorm about future plans and projects.For questions or to volunteer to help organize these events or to sign up for the workday; cindyzieve@austin.rr.com
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.
UT Hillel Offers Events Calendars for Upcoming School Year
The Hillel chapter at the University of Texas here in Austin offers to incoming students for the upcoming school year. If you would like your student to receive Texas Hillel's 2004 Fall event calendar, please click on this LINK to download a PDF file to fill out and send in. Alternatively, you may also email your student's information to Margo Sack at MSack@TexasHillel.org
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
735-8901General E-mail
admin@bethshalomaustin.org
Rabbi's contact info:
rabbifreedman@bethshalomaustin.org
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