Temple Beth Shalom Newsletter

Parasha B'ha-alot'kha
Numbers (B'midbar) 8-12
16 Sivan 5764
June 4-5, 2004

There is an old saying in business that you don't know how much you can accomplish until you don't care who gets the credit. Great leaders understand that jealousy within their organization will inevitably be corrosive and undermine their efforts towards achieving organizational goals. They also understand the great irony that those who do not seek credit are the most likely to receive it anyway.

In Numbers 12, we see an example of the effect of jealousy within the Jewish people. Miriam and Aaron speak against their brother, Moses, saying, "Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well? (JPS translation) In other words, why does everyone revere only Moses? Shouldn't we get recognition as leaders and confidants of God as well? Then, in order to emphasize the contrast between Moses and his siblings, the very next verse in the text begins, "Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any other man on earth." In the subsequent verses God tells Miriam and Aaron directly that they are not in Moses' league; that God's relationship with Moses is unique. God also inflicts a disease on Miriam to be certain that she understands the consequences of jealous behavior.

Jealousy and credit-seeking is damaging to any organization, whether professional or religious. Once people begin to focus on issues of control and acknowledgement instead of the mission itself, the mission is doomed to fail. This is particularly true for Jewish organizations. There is no room for pettiness and jealousy in a Jewish organization not only because it is detrimental to the organization reaching its goals but also because it is contrary to the teachings of Torah.

It is also interesting to note that Miriam and Aaron's words about Moses are connected to another statement that they make about Moses, that is, that he is married to a Cushite woman. Professional or organizational jealousy fosters lashon ha'rah (gossip) as well since the accusations can move quickly from professional to personal.

As we go forward as a temple, we must be vigilent and pro-active in creating a culture that discourages jealousy and pettiness of all kinds. Our eyes must focus instead on how all of us can work together to achieve our greater goals without regard for credit or acknowledgement. If we do so, there will be credit enough for everyone and we will have created a temple of which God will be proud and that will be a blessing to us all.

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. 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 June 12th and June 19th 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 June 4

6:30 P.M. Tot Shabbat Service

7:45 P.M. Erev Shabbat Service. TBS will celebrate the dedication of our Ark.

Saturday June 5

10:00 A.M. Shabbat Morning Service. TBS will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Leah Fischer in the JCAA Community Hall. All members of the congregation are invited to share in this simcha as we celebrate with the Fisher family on this special occasion.

Friday June 11

7:15 - 7:45 P.M. Shabbat Sing-Along

7:45 P.M. Matan Shemot (the gift of name) and Erev Shabbat Service. Rabbi Freedman will lead a naming service in which members of our TBS community will receive their Hebrew names.

Friday June 18

6:30 P.M. Shabbat evening service using young people liturgy.

Friday June 25

7:15 - 7:45 P.M. Shabbat Sing-Along

7:45 P.M. Erev Shabbat Service.

Upcoming Friday Night Sing-Alongs

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)

Friday, May 28 7:15-7:45Friday, June 11, 7:15 p.m.-7:45 p.m.
Friday, June 25, 7:15 p.m.-7:45 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

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.

Shabbat Open House at Abby's!

FOR ALL BETH SHALOM MEMBERS: Abby, Michael, Daniel and Aaron Gostein invite you to another SHABBAT OPEN HOUSE at their home. All adults and children welcome!

Please celebrate Shabbat with us -- drop in for a few minutes or a few hours.
Saturday, June 19th
2:30pm-5:30pm
8111 Greenslope Drive
512-343-8434
gosteins@sbcglobal.net
R.S.V.P.'s appreciated but definitely not required

THANK YOU TO ALL SHABBAT SHIR SHALOM PARTICIPANTS

Todah Rabbah (Thank you very much) to all the service leaders:

Dick Amos (keyboard, trumpet, voice), Ele Amos (tambourine, voice), Eddie Astrich (guitar, voice), Marcia Bernstein (voice), Hannah Blakely (dance), Rachel Blakely (voice, dance), Jennifer Danvers (voice), Joan Edelstein (voice), David Feibus (piano), Michelle Feibus (voice), Lori Freedman (voice), Rabbi Alan Freedman (voice), Michael Gostein (violin), Clara Govindasamy (dance), Ravi Govindasamy (voice), Simone Govindasamy (voice), Felicia Kutchey (voice), Ruth Levenstein (voice), Rachel McNamara (flute, voice), Steve Perry (guitar)

It would not have been the same without each and every one of you. You touched many souls with your music filled with ruach (spirit) n'shama (soul) and kavana (intention). It was a joy to work with you all and I sincerely hope I'll have the opportunity to do it again soon.

Special thanks to Rabbi Freedman, for his great support of musical endeavors in the congregation and his role in crafting and leading the spoken parts of the service; Lisa McCready for her behind-the-scenes work with many organizational aspects of the service, especially the printing of the program and songsheets; Keri Wooton and Tony Cruz for their roles in the setup and sound; and the Dochen, Feibus and Levenstein families for hosting our rehearsals!

Another Shabbat Shir Shalom will be coming your way in the Fall. Stay tuned (and please join us!)...

B’Shalom,

Abby Gostein

IMPORTANT FUTURE CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS

TBS Annual Congregational Meeting

SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2004
10:00 am
ECP Multipurpose Room

HOLD THE DATE!
Temple Beth Shalom Gala

Gala Event Honoring Dee & Don Coplin
October 3, 2004
Driskill Hotel

ADULT EDUCATION

The Rabbi will not hold a noon-time seminar in June and July. The Rabbi’s next seminar will be held on August 31 at 7:30 – 9:00PM. The subject will be "Preparing your heart for the High Holy Days."

SHALOMITES (a Chavarah for families with children ages five and under)

Make music, make friends, make peace for the week - Tot Shabbat is this Friday, June 4 @ 6:30 p.m. See you there!

Up and coming fun and learning...A Summer Pool Party and Fall Torah Tots Registration are in the works. Watch your Temple emails and visit the web site for more details.

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

If you would like more information about joining Sisterhood, please contact our membership chair, Lisa Goodman, at 918-1423 or lisagoodman37@aol.com.

TRIBUTES

There were 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 week of May 31- June 5.

Birthdays

May 31 Jerry Katz

June 1 Ralph Loeb, Jr.

June 1 Matthew Miller

June 1 Leonard Rodell

June 2 Dee Coplin

June 2 Sandra Goldstein

Anniversaries

June 5 Martha and Mark Sharp

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

Other Simchas

Tiffany Goodman Bilbe and Mitchell Bilbe gave birth to a baby girl!!

“CECELIA ROSE” was born Saturday evening, May 22, at 7:06 p.m., and she weighed 6lbs. 15oz. and was 20.25 inches long

MAZEL TOV!!!

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

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