Friday, May 14, 2021/3 Sivan, 5781 Parashat B’midbar Numbers 1:1−4:20 Dear Friends, For seven weeks, many of us have gathered every morning for prayer, community, and reflection. We began during Passover when we celebrated our liberation from Egyptian bondage. Sunday morning will be our last day counting the omer – the days between our Exodus […]
Leading a Nation of Individuals The book of Bamidbar begins with a census of the Israelites. That is why this book is known in English as Numbers. This raises a number of questions. What is the significance of this act of counting? And why here at the beginning of the book? Besides which, there have already […]
Friday, May 7, 2021/25 Iyar, 5781 Parashat B’har-B’chukotai Leviticus 25:1-27:34 There is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope. – Spinoza This week we conclude the book of Leviticus with a double Torah portion called B’har-B’chukotai. It begins with a discussion of shmita, a practice of letting the land lay fallow […]
“We the People” In the final parsha of the book of Leviticus, in the midst of one of the most searing curses ever to have been uttered to a nation by way of warning, the Sages found a fleck of pure gold. Moses is describing a nation in flight from its enemies: Just the sound […]
Neighborhood Connections Doris Jacobson opentent@bethelsp.org A very special thank you to our Open Tent committee, inspired and led by committee chair, George Mayer, for all that they have accomplished during this year of COVID. It had always been the goal of Open Tent to be visible in the community, engaging our temple community while reaching […]
Commitment to Camp Continues Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org Temple Beth El has had a historic commitment to Jewish Camping for our young people that spans nearly 5 decades, and the future is bright and encouraging, for our young people, as a result. Statistics overwhelmingly show that in our world of challenged religious institutions, seeking to […]
Mentoring and “Career Pathing” Jaime Lowenstein, MENsch Club Chairperson The MENsch Club has identified service to TBE and its members as one of its pillars. We have created a mentorship program to assist the women and men within our congregation, including high school and college students, who are curious about pursuing a certain career path, […]
Susan Brooks Each month we are recognizing a phenomenal volunteer whose contributions greatly enhance the Temple Beth El community. May’s volunteer of the month is someone who not only enhances our community but also inspires us individually to be more compassionate, thoughtful and open-minded people. I am most certainly a better person for knowing her. […]
