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6930 Alpha Road / Dallas, Texas 75240-3602 / 972-661-1810 / FAX 972-661-2636 E-mail: [email protected] / Facebook: Temple Shalom Dallas / Website: www.templeshalomdallas.org MARCH 2019 ADAR I & II 5779 VOLUME 53 NO. 8 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT EVENT CHAIR Gail Davidson at [email protected] (469) 667-7467 SHABBAT SERVICES FRIDAY ~ March 1 SATURDAY ~ March 23 Vayakhel-Shekalim ~ Exodus 36:20 - 38:20 10:30am - Bat Mitzvah Service 6:30pm - Service Rachel Rosenfeld Epstein Chapel Daughter of Lisa & Phil Rosenfeld Sanctuary SATURDAY ~ March 2 10:30am - Morning Minyan 10:00am - Munchkin Minyan Epstein Chapel North Satellite * 4:30pm - Bar Mitzvah Service 10:30am - Morning Minyan Lane Biesman Epstein Chapel Son of Amy & Marc Biesman FRIDAY ~ March 8 Sanctuary Pekudei ~ Exodus 39:22 - 40:38 FRIDAY ~ March 29 6:30pm - Service Shemini ~ Leviticus 10:12 - 11:32 Epstein Chapel 6:30pm - Service 6:30pm - Service Epstein Chapel North Satellite * Tel Aviv Tribe Shabbat 6:30pm SATURDAY ~ March 9 North Satellite * 10:30am - Morning Minyan Epstein Chapel SATURDAY ~ March 30 10:30am - Morning Minyan FRIDAY ~ March 15 Epstein Chapel Vayikra-Zachor ~ Leviticus 3:1 - 4:26 6:30pm - Shabbat HaNefesh Service 5:00pm - Bat Mitzvah Service Epstein Chapel Alexandra Bogoslavsky Daughter of SATURDAY ~ March 16 Roman Bogoslavsky & Melinda Bogoslavsky 10:30am - Morning Minyan Epstein Chapel Epstein Chapel FRIDAY ~ March 22 Tzav ~ Leviticus 7:11 - 7:38 All 6:30pm Friday Services are preceded by a 6:30pm - Service 6:00pm Wine & Cheese Reception. Epstein Chapel Munchkin Minyan Service Saturday, March 2 ~ 10:00am ~ North Satellite Families with children ages 5 and under please join Rabbi Ariel Boxman and Ray Farris each month as we celebrate Shabbat Together. Programs include singing, dancing, story time and, of course challah. Saturday mornings begin with a delicious, child- friendly oneg and conclude with playground fun (weather permitting)! For further information, contact Rabbi Ariel Boxman at 972-661-1810 or [email protected]. Shabbat HaNefesh ~ Shabbat of the Soul Come join us for these joyous & uplifting musical services! March 15 and May 31 * North Satellite: 5301 Democracy Drive in Plano - in the Lone Star Language Academy building. All Temple Shalom services, programs & events are always at 6930 Alpha Road unless noted otherwise. March 2019 www.templeshalomdallas.org Page 2 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/tsdpurim5779 March 2019 www.templeshalomdallas.org Page 3 A Note from Cantor Avery Vashti: A Hero of Purim “It happened in the days of Ahasuerus (Esther 1:1)…when the king was merry with wine, he ordered…the seven eunuchs in attendance on King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing a royal diadem, to display her beauty to the peoples and the officials; for she was a beautiful woman, (Esther 1:10 & 11).” “…Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command conveyed by the eunuchs. The king was greatly incensed and his fury burned within him, (Esther 1:12).” “The king consulted his sages…What shall be done, according to law, to Queen Vashti for failing to obey the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed by the eunuchs, (Esther 1:13 & 15).” “For the queen’s behavior will make all wives despise their husbands, (Esther 1:17).” “If it please Your Majesty, let a royal edict be issued by you…that Vashti shall never enter the presence of King Ahasuerus. Let Your Majesty bestow her royal state upon another who is more worthy than she, (Esther 1:19 & 20).” “The proposal was approved by the king…dispatches were sent to all the provinces of the king…every man should wield authority in his home, (Esther 1:21 & 22).” I grew up believing that there were two villains of the Purim story: Haman & Vashti. It wasn’t until I closely reread the story as an adult that I realized Vashti was not a villain – Vashti was a victim. Years after that, I realized Vashti was a hero. Why did I grow up believing Vashti was a villain? That’s what I was taught. Year after year I learned the story of Esther, the benevolent counterpart to the evil Queen Vashti. Vashti, who wouldn’t obey her husband. Vashti, who wouldn’t parade her beauty in front of the king’s guests. Why were Vashti’s actions considered villainous? I can think of several reasons. Maybe there was discomfort in having two female heroes in one story. Maybe it was fear, echoing the fears in the text about women disobeying their husbands. Maybe it comes from an underlying patriarchal assumption that a woman’s value and purpose lie solely in her beauty. Maybe it comes from stories in the Babylonian Talmud of Vashti being a persecutor of the Jews. Though, conversely, the Talmud Yerushalmi casts Vashti in a more positive light, as having deported herself with honor. We have to be diligent in our examination of our beloved texts and in what we have been taught. The power of this story is not only in Vashti’s “no” but in Ahasuerus’ fury – the imbalance of anger in imposing his will onto hers and the unabashed objectification of his Queen. When I read Esther now, I value the example Vashti sets for us. Vashti stands up for herself. She teaches us that we have autonomy and power over our bodies. We get to choose what we wear, whom we hug, and when we smile. We do not have to wither under objectification. Vashti teaches that we do not have to acquiesce – we can say no when something doesn’t feel right. She teaches us that even when it doesn’t seem like it, we have the power of choice. Cantor Devorah Avery [email protected] March 2019 www.templeshalomdallas.org Page 4 President’s Column by Rodney Schlosser As we approach Spring, the pace of activities at Temple Shalom really picks up with an array of programs, Sisterhood’s Woman of Valor (April 7th), Brotherhood’s Community Second Night Seder (April 20th) and our 7th Annual Food Truck Palooza (April 28th). Much of the activity happens in our building and in our religious school. This month we salute the co-chairs of the Building & Grounds (B&C) Committee, and a longtime volunteer and Sunday employee in the Religious School. Ken Portnoy has been a Temple member since Reesa and he were married in the Epstein Chapel by Rabbi Roseman and Cantor Croll 20 years ago. Ken has been a board member or officer for 12 years and chaired the building committee during our remodel and expansion in 2011. In his current role as B&G co-chair, he’s focused on keeping the building in good condition. Ken is a native of New York City and had a long career in real estate development. Ken and Reesa have a melded family of four adult children, their spouses, and eleven grandchildren – including active Temple members Julie Gothard and son-in-law Dr. Sander Gothard, and their three children. Why the cowboy hat? Ken was diagnosed a year ago with pancreatic cancer, lost his hair along the way, but considers himself blessed. Everyone who knows him has been amazed by his optimism, sense of humor, and indomitable spirit. After 10 months of two tough chemo regimens he is now a potential candidate for surgery. Phil Rosenfeld co-chairs B&G with Ken Portnoy, while also serving on the Board of Trustees. Phil has also been very active at the JCC where he is a former Chair of the Board, B&G Chair, and Preschool Chair. He and Lisa have been Shalom members for 10+ years along with Jacob (16) and Rachel (12). Phil grew up on Air Force bases and moved around while growing up, then attended Texas A&M. He was an attorney for a few years, and is now a successful commercial real estate broker. We thank Phil for all of his efforts to refresh the master inventory of building repair and maintenance needs. Anne Leiman is volunteer extraordinaire in the Religious School – helping two days/week for the last 18 years. She’s the magic behind the scenes…handling attendance records, organizing supplies, and preparing materials for teachers. Since joining Shalom in 1967, she’s also planned onegs, cooked for The Stewpot, and held numerous leadership roles with Sisterhood. Anne and Ted, husband of 54 years, have a son in Washington state married to a congregational rabbi who have a son and a daughter, and a daughter and son-in-law in Waco, who have a daughter. Ted has also been actively involved as a former board member and B&G committee member. We are lucky to have the Leimans in our community. Bella Garber is our Religious School employee extraordinaire covering the Religious School office during Sunday classes. Bella was born on the island of Galveston, Texas. She started working at Temple Shalom in August, 1969. At that time, the Temple office and services were at Northaven United Methodist Church, and the Religious School was at Ursuline Academy. Her favorite part of working at Temple is observing the children as they grow up -- even seeing some as adults bring their children to enroll in Temple Shalom Religious School. A graduate of UT Austin, Bella still enjoys attending various classes at Richland Community College. She loves spending time with her four children, twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. March 2019 www.templeshalomdallas.org Page 5 March 2019 B’nei Mitzvah We honor the mitzvah work in which our B’nei Mitzvah students are engaged. Each month we include information we have received from that month’s families.