PURIM Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 5:00 Pm
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Monthly Publication for Temple Beth-El, Las Cruces, New Mexico MARCH 2016 (ADAR I-ADAR II 5776) Shabbat Services “Meet-the-Artist” (Full Schedule on Page 2) with violinist Friday, March 4- Yevgeny Kutik FAMILY SHABBAT at Temple Beth-El SERVICE for Shabbat Across on Wednesday, America at 6:00 pm, followed by a March 2, 2016 at 7:00 pm. dairy/vegetarian potluck dinner at Yevgeny Kutik, a Russian-American concert vio- 6:50 pm. linist, will present a “Meet the Artist” event at Tem- Friday, March 11—Lay-led Shabbat Service ple Beth-El on Wednesday, March 2, at 7:00 pm. He at 7:00 pm will appear with the Las Cruces Symphony Orches- Friday March 18—Shabbat Service at 7:00 pm. tra on the weekend of March 5-6, 2016 as well. Mr. Friday, March 25-Shabbat Service for Kutik will play a few unaccompanied short pieces Renewal of Spirit at 7:00 pm. and speak about his family’s emigration from Bela- **************** rus. Mr. Kutik’s career debuted in 2003 with an ap- pearance with the Boston Pops after being the 1st Saturdays-Talmud Study at 9:00 am; prize recipient of the Boston Symphony Orchestra Shabbat Service at 10:15 am, Young Artists’ Competition. Since then, Kutik has followed by a potluck Kiddush appeared worldwide playing solo recitals and con- ************** certos with orchestras. He has won numerous Ceremony of Burial of worn sacred books on awards, and his second album was featured on Sunday, March 6 at 11:30 am—See Page 5 NPR’s “All Things Considered” and in the New York Times. In addition to being a concert violinist, Kutik is also a keynote speaker/representative for the Jewish Federations of North America Speakers Bu- PURIM reau. Hailed for his dazzling command of the violin, Kutik has become a highly sought-after artist on the Wednesday, concert stage and has captivated audiences world- wide. Refreshments will be served, and donations March 23, 2016 are graciously accepted. The event is sponsored by at 5:00 pm Temple Beth-El’s Adult Education Committee. Men, women, and children of all ages, The Israel Committee of Temple Beth-El presents The Fourth Israel Roundtable costumed or uncostumed, are invited to a “SHARING THE EXTRAORDINARY pizza dinner and Purim carnival ACHIEVEMENTS OF MODERN ISRAEL” (sponsored by BETY) followed by Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Purim songs, a Purimshpiel In the Temple Beth-El Social Hall Format: Mediated Public Discussion (at 6:30 pm) and chanting of an Welcome: Phil Alkon excerpt from the megillah. Moderator: Judith Sherman-Russell We invite the entire Las Cruces Community to this event Light refreshments will be served MARCH 2016 (ADAR I-ADAR II 5776) Page 2 Worship Schedule Wednesday, March 23 PURIM CELEBRATION—5:00 pm Please note: All 7:00 pm services will include either a Torah reading and a sermon/d’var torah, a brief discussion based on Join us for a Pizza Dinner and the Torah portion, a compilation of prayers and/or songs on Purim Carnival the theme of the Torah portion, or a brief D’var Torah that followed by Purim songs and, offers an insight based on the parashah for the week. at 6:30 pm, our annual Purimshpiel! Friday, March 4 6:00 pm SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA-We will join Friday, March 25 with congregations around the coun- 7:00 pm Shabbat Service for Renewal of Spirit, featur- try in hosting members of the greater ing special music and prayers for healing within our Jewish community and congregants in Shabbat liturgy. Oneg Shabbat sponsored by Ellen celebrating Shabbat (feel free to invite Torres and Susi Kolikant. Renee Frank will repre- someone to attend!). This service for sent the Board of Trustees. all ages will take us through the Shab- Saturday, March 26 bat evening prayers with added insights and inspira- 9:00 am Talmud Study tion. The service will include birthday blessings for 10:15 am Shabbat Morning Service and January, February and March. Allen Blum will rep- Potluck Kiddush resent the Board of Trustees. Parashat Tzav Leviticus 6:1-8:36 6:50 pm Dairy/Vegetarian Potluck Dinner with brief Haftarah Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:22, 23 prayer and song before and after dinner. Friday, April 1 Saturday, March 5 6:00 pm Family Shabbat Service FOR ALL AGES! 9:00 am Talmud Study Erich Zameret will represent the Board of Trustees. 10:15 am Shabbat Morning Service 6:45 pm Dairy/Vegetarian Potluck Shabbat Dinner Parashat Vayakheil Exodus 35:1-38:20 Saturday, April 2 (Shabbat Shekalim 30:11-16) 9:00 am Talmud Study Haftarah II Kings 12:1-17 10:15 am Shabbat Morning Service Parashat Shemini Leviticus 9:1-11:47 Friday, March 11 (Shabbat Parah Numbers 9:1-22) 7:00 pm Shabbat Evening Service—Erich Zameret will lead Haftarah Ezekiel 36:16-38 the service. Linda Kruger, Louise Baskey and Willie Pass will sponsor the Oneg Shabbat. Monika Kimball will represent the Board of Trustees. Saturday, March 12 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2015-2016 9:00 am Talmud Study President-Monika Kimball 10:15 am Shabbat Morning Service led by Leora Zeitlin Vice-President-Allen Blum and Stuart Kelter, and Potluck Kiddush Secretary-Ellen Torres Parashat Pekudei 38:21-40:38 Treasurer-Paul Feil Haftarah I Kings 7:51-8:21 David Fishman Mark Saltman Friday, March 18 Diane Fleishman 7:00 pm Shabbat Evening Service—Rabbi Karol will Renee Frank speak on “Offering our best.” Oneg Shabbat sponsored Ned Rubin by Marianne Panzini-Rosenthal and Alison Mann. Erich Zameret Diane Fleishman will represent the Board of Trustees. Ann Berkson Saturday, March 19 David Zeemont (Mensch Club) 9:00 am Talmud Study Leslie Glater (Sisterhood) 10:15 am Shabbat Morning Service and Potluck Kiddush Rabbi Lawrence P. Karol Parashat Vayikra Leviticus 1:1-5:26 *********************************** (Shabbat Zachor—Deuternomy 25:17-19) The next Board of Trustees Meeting will be held on Haftarah I Samuel 15:2-34 Thursday, March 24 at 7pm. MARCH 2016 (ADAR I-ADAR II 5776) Page 3 Message from Rabbi Karol MIDRASH, in Yavneh on the Mediterranean sea coast. "What if the lights go out?" - D'var Torah for His persuasive powers enabled Jews to continue to discuss, Parashat Tetzaveh - February 19, 2016 debate, and develop their heritage, a practice "You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring that has come down to us today. Classes for you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for members of all ages in modern congrega- kindling lamps continually...L'HA-ALOT NEIR tions are a tribute to the rabbis who sustained TAMID." our tradition against great odds so long ago. Aaron and his sons, the Israelite priests-to-be, would set up There is a light of hope that could have been extinguished the lampstand of gold - M'NOROT ZAHAV - on which the many times throughout history, but it wasn't. lights would be kindled. So many places where Jews have lived were inhospitable to And, as the Torah tells us, so they did. some degree. The communities survived because their tradi- And there was later a menorah in the Temple tions of prayer, celebration, study and performing acts of lov- in Jerusalem, also with seven branches, that ingkindness strengthened them throughout the centuries. If was kept lit with the same dedication and one country sent members of its Jewish community packing, commitment. they almost always found a new home and thrived once That Temple did not endure, nor did the sec- again. That would include, among other places, the United ond Temple. States and the State of Israel. The Arch of Titus in Rome shows some- There is a light of freedom that has inspired members of one - likely a Jew from vanquished Judea Jewish communities to work for liberty wherever they have after the failed Revolt - carrying the Temple lived. There are scholars and leaders who claim that freedom menorah in Rome as one of the spoils of a difficult war. may serve for some as a chance to leave Judaism behind. Oth- So what happened when the lights went out? ers disagree. Dr. Jonathan Sarna of And they did go out - at least, the lights on the Temple Brandeis University noted that, in 1818, lampstand (and lamps designated as perpetual lights in the the United States Attorney General, Wil- Temple) did. liam Wirt, declared that no Jews would There were other lights that took be left in our country in 150 years, or by 1968. In 1964, Look their place. Magazine featured a cover bearing the title "The Vanishing There was the menorah image American Jew. " That article of the same title by Rabbi Max that began to grace the walls and Schenk suggested that the American Jewish community would floors of ancient synagogues, such disappear in a generation or two. The last time I checked, we as the one in the photo from the Beit are still here. Alpha synagogue in northern Isra- Some predictions today claim that all liberal forms of Juda- el. The menorah, as well as the Eternal Light, the Neir Tamid, ism will die out in the next 50 years due to a declining interest became standards symbol in Jewish houses of worship. and participation in synagogue life and a decreasing birth There were also physical candleholders or lamps and real rate. lights that became part of each Jewish home, in the form of Will our light, in fact, go out? Shabbat and holiday lights. There were no Temple priests to Not if we continue to gather as a community.