Temple Beth Shalom Newsletter

Parasha Korach (Numbers, Chapters 16-18)
30 Sivan 5764
June 18-19, 2004

What a perfect Torah portion for an election year. Korach is the most political of portions. It is the story of a rather large rebellion, actually two rebellions, against Moses and Aaron. Korach is a Levite who challenges Aaron's control of the priesthood, while his allies, Dathan and Abiram, challenge Moses' control of civil society. Now, to cut to the ending, the rebellions are both quashed in very convincing fashion by God. By challenging Moses and Aaron, the rebels are indirectly challenging God since Moses and Aaron are God's chosen leader and priest, respectively. Thus, God vanquishes the rebels. (To find out the dramatic details, come to Torah study this Shabbat at 10:30 in the CAA multi-purpose room.)

The midrashim surrounding Korach are interesting. Primarily, Korach is pictured as a demagogue, seeking power for himself and his band of followers but for no reason other than to hold power. There is a purpose to Moses and Aaron holding power. Both are pledged to fulfilling the vision for the nation that has been set forth by God. Moses and Aaron represent a positive choice, they stand for something other than themselves. Korach and his followers, on the other hand, offer nothing to the people; they offer no alternative vision beyond their own empowerment.

We might recognize this disparity between visions of what it means to be a leader and the purpose behind holding power. True leaders offer a vision of a better society for all people, not just themselves and their closest allies. A good leader stands for something besides the simple desire to hold power. Power is a resource to achieve just ends; it is not an end in itself. We do not have the benefit of having God demostrate for us who holds power legitimately in our society. But Torah teaches us that in selecting those who will hold power, we are obligated to examine whether a candidate stands for something beyond themselves. Do they have a vision for a just and fair society in which we can all share or is their loyalty to a select few and power their primary aim? Politics does not now, nor ever has, presented people who are clearly one way or the other. Yet, as this election season proceeds, Torah at least provides what polititians sometimes call a "litmus test", a way of achieving some degree of clarity out of all the inevitable rhetoric of an election campaign. May God grant us the wisdom and persistance to select leaders of vision and to place power into deserving hands.

Rabbi Alan Freedman

Rabbi to host series of training sessions on "Caring for the Caregiver"

Are you facing the daily challenge of providing ongoing care for a parent, sibling or child either locally or long distance? You are not alone. Beginning on Tuesday evening, June 22 at 7 pm, a quarterly session will be held consisting of information, mutual support and spiritual sustenance for all those providing long term care for a loved one or friend. Please come to receive the support of your community and to support others in our community, for you are not alone. We will meet in the second floor multipurpose room of the education building. For more information, please call the temple office.

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 Shabbat Morning Torah Study twice each month. The next Torah Study session will be held on Saturday 19th in the library located on the 2nd floor of the Education Building of the DJCC.

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 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. Shabbat evening service led by Lori Friedman and Joshua Levy.

Upcoming Friday Night Sing-Alongs

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

Hope to see you there!

TBS Dedicates its New Ark

On June 4, our temple family celebrated the dedication of our first ark. Through the generous support of nearly 100% of our member families, our temple has been able to have crafted a beautiful ark, specially designed and built for Temple Beth Shalom. It is with great pride that we dedicated this ark and honored those who were instrumental in making it come about at Erev Shabbat services on Friday, June 4 at the JCAA. Pictured here are Rabbi Freedman and Cantorial Soloist Abby Gostein in front of the new ark.

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

IMPORTANT FUTURE CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS

HOLD THE DATE!
Temple Beth Shalom Gala

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

2004 JCAA STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMUNITY-WIDE OPEN FORUM
Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm - JCAA Community Hall - Stage Side

The Greater Jewish Community of Austin is invited to come together to define the future it wants to create for itself. Be a part of this strategic planning process by participating in an open forum community conversation. Lend your voice to Austin's future, participate in the open forum.

For more information about the Strategic Planning Process and to get involved:
1. Visit www.jcaaonline.org and click the Strategic Planning link
2. Discuss the process with the committee members listed on the website
3. Email Lori Teller at lateller@sbcglobal.net

TBS Board Encourages Congregants to Attend URJ Southwest Council Convention
November 5 - 7, 2004, San Antonio

The URJ Southwest Council Regional Biennial Convention is fast approaching. We want Temple Beth Shalom to have a strong presence with the convention being "right in our backyard" a short drive down I-35 in San Antonio. It will be held at the Doubletree Hotel on Loop 410 in San Antonio on November 5-7. For more information please click this link, call one of your TBS board members, or call the URJ toll-free at (888) 234-8242.

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)

TOT SHABBAT @ 5:30??? ...yes, that's what we said...5:30!

Please mark your calendars for the rest of the summer months (July, August & September) as we gather for prayer and fun the first Friday of the month. So, we'll see you a little earlier on July 2, August 6, September 3 for Tot Shabbat. We hope we'll get to see some new faces and the return of many familiar ones!!!

Watch your email for registration news regarding Torah Tots. The first class of the Fall 2004 session will be Sunday, August 15. And, we're excited about the year ahead!

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

RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND

In honor of BJ Sonstein's conversion
Allen and BJ Sonstein & Lila Sonstein

GENERAL FUND

In honor of the recent marriage of Barbara Miller and Mitchell Kraus
In honor of Rabbi Freedman who is such a wonderful addition to our community
Sharon and Richard Kammerman

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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 June 14- June 20.

Birthdays

June 19 Lois Goodman

June 20 Herbert Smith, Jr.

Anniversaries

June 19 Leonard and Debbie Rodell

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

Other Simchas

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

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