Rabbi Bob Alper Is Coming to Temple Beth-El! Friday, August 25
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A Monthly Publication for Temple Beth-El, Las Cruces, New Mexico JULY 2017 (TAMMUZ-AV 5777) Shabbat Services (See Page 2) Rabbi Bob Alper Friday, July 7 is coming to Family Shabbat Service at 6:00 pm, with a Potluck Temple Beth-El! Dinner following Friday, August 25— Friday, July 14 Lay-led Shabbat Service at 7 pm ”The Spirituality of Friday, July 21 Laughter” presentation Shabbat Service at 7pm Friday, July 28 during Shabbat Worship Shabbat Service at 7pm Friday, August 4 Saturday night, August 26 at Family Shabbat Service at 6 pm, 7:30 pm—Stand-Up Comedy with a Potluck Dinner following Saturdays See Page 5 for Talmud Study at 9:00 am, more information! Shabbat Service at 10:15 am, followed by a potluck Kiddush Be watching in late July and early August for Join us on Monday, July 31, at 7:30 pm for our High Holy Day mailings for observance of Tish’ah parts for worship and the B’Av, including read- 2017/5777 Yizkor Booklet ings and songs about Je- rusalem and chanting a ****************** short section from the book of Lamenta- Religious School will begin with tions. a first morning orientation and Rabbi Karol will present a book talk on Tuesday, July 25 at 7:00 gathering on Sunday, August 27 pm at 10:00-11:30 am. All Politics Is Religious: Speaking Faith to the Media, Policy Makers Parents will receive and Community, by Rabbi Dennis registration materials S. Ross (Jewish Lights Publishing). Please email [email protected] if by the end of July! you plan to attend. JULY 2017 (TAMMUZ-AV 5777) Page 2 Worship Schedule Friday, July 28 Please note: All 7:00 pm services will include either a Torah 7:00 pm Shabbat Evening Service—Rabbi Karol will reading and a d’var torah, a brief discussion based on the To- speak on “Where we are, where we are going.” Pearie rah portion, a compilation of prayers and/or songs on the Bruder will sponsor the Oneg Shabbat. Pearie theme of the Torah portion, or a brief D’var Torah that offers Bruder will represent the Board of Trustees. an insight based on the parashah for the week. Saturday, July 29 Friday, June 30 NO TALMUD STUDY 7:00 pm Shabbat Service for Renewal of Spirit, featuring 10:00 am Casey Rosenberg, daughter of Jason and special music and prayers for healing within our Shabbat Elisha Rosenberg, will become a Bat Mitzvah liturgy. Michele Blum and Susan Michelson will spon- during this Shabbat morning service. A Kid- sor the Oneg Shabbat. Ned Rubin will represent the dush luncheon will follow the service. Board of Trustees. Parashat D’varim Deuteronomy 1:1 3:22 Saturday, July 1 Haftarah Isaiah 1:1-27 9:00 am Talmud Study 10:15 am Shabbat Morning Service & Potluck Kiddush Monday, July 31 Parashat Chukat Numbers 19:1-22:1 7:30 pm Join us for an observance of Tish’ah B’Av, Haftarah Judges 11:1-33 including readings and songs about Jerusalem and chanting a short section from the book of Lamenta- Friday, July 7-FAMILY SHABBAT tions. 6:00 pm Family Shabbat Service FOR ALL AGES. Susan Michelson will represent the Board of Trustees. Friday, August 4-FAMILY SHABBAT 6:50 pm Dairy/Vegetarian Potluck Shabbat Dinner coordi- 6:00 pm Family Shabbat Service FOR ALL AGES. nated by Beth Tierney and Elisha Rosenberg. Ann Berkson will represent the Board of Trustees. Saturday, July 8 6:50 pm Dairy/Vegetarian Potluck Shabbat Dinner 9:00 am Talmud Study 10:15 am Shabbat Morning Service & Potluck Kiddush Saturday, August 5 Parashat Balak-Numbers 22:2-25:9 9:00 am Talmud Study Haftarah Micah 5:6-6:8 10:15 am Shabbat Morning Service led by Stuart Kelter and Leora Zeitlin, followed by a Potluck Kiddush Friday, July 14 Parashat Vaetchanan Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 7:00 pm Monika Kimball and Ruth Rubin will lead our Haftarah Isaiah 40:1-26 Shabbat Evening Service. Debbie Levy will sponsor the Oneg Shabbat. Jeff Lewis will represent the Board of Upcoming B’nei Mitzvah at Temple Beth-El Trustees. Casey Rosenberg—Saturday, July 29, 2017 Michael Bruder—Saturday, December 2, 2017 Saturday, July 15 Joshua Rosenberg—Saturday, December 30, 2017 9:00 am Talmud Study 10:15 am Shabbat Morning service, led by Leora Zeitlin and BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2017-2018 Stuart Kelter, followed by a Potluck Kiddush President-Ellen Torres Parashat Pinchas Numbers 25:10-30:1 Vice-President-Jeff Lewis Haftarah I Kings 18:46-19:21 Secretary-Diane Fleishman Treasurer-Allen Blum Friday, July 21 Ann Berkson Jeff Brown Sue Brown 7:00 pm Shabbat Evening Service— Rabbi Karol will speak Pearie Bruder Michael Lieberman on “Something Old, Something New.” Ann Berkson Susan Michelson Ned Rubin and Rebecca Berkson will sponsor the Oneg Shabbat. (Mensch Club—to be designated) Ellen Torres will represent the Board of Trustees. Dee Cook (Sisterhood) Saturday, July 22 Rabbi Lawrence P. Karol 9:00 am Talmud Study *********************************** 10:15 am Shabbat Morning Service & Potluck Kiddush The next Board of Trustees Meeting will be held on Parashat Matot-Mas’ei Numbers 30:2-36:13 Thursday, July 20. Haftarah Jeremiah 2:4-28; 3:4 JULY 2017 (TAMMUZ-AV 5777) Page 3 Message from Rabbi Karol Documents - both Jewish and secular - and pho- “ZEH HAYOM ASAH ADONAI - tographs chronicle our lives. They illustrate the sto- NAGILAH V’NIS’M’CHAH VO - ries we tell about our own beginnings and upbring- This is the day that the Eternal One ing. Sometimes the documents take on an unusual has made; let us rejoice and be glad form. One day when I was visiting my dad’s broth- in it.” This verse from Psalm 118 er, Harry, he began talking about family history. I applies to most any important day in began writing notes on store receipts that I hap- our lives. Rhonda and I included this text on the pened to have in my wallet. I found those notes invitation to our congregation for our son Adam’s again in the last few days. They recorded stories B’rit Milah in March of 1986. I referred to this that my uncle told me that day that I have shared verse from Psalms in the eulogy for my mother in with some of my cousins, including an account of May of 2006 to characterize how she approached how our ancestors helped one another find their way her life, treating every day as an opportunity to do to America. something special for and make an impact on her Knowledge of my family history also enabled community. me to recognize the name of a “real relative” who Rhonda and I witnessed yet another “ZEH was identified as one of my “DNA relatives” on a HAYOM” event on June 8 at the B’rit Milah of well-known ancestry website (his great- Joshua Moise Karol. It was important that this tra- grandmother and my Dad’s mother were sisters). I dition continued for yet another generation of our wrote him a note to make the connection. He said family. What was also special was that some of the of our common ancestors in his response: “I hear friends and family gathered for this ceremony at they were both very strong women!” Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City In just one sentence, a story was told. An aspect had also been present at past simchahs for Juli and of character was memorialized, one that confirmed for Adam. A photo was taken on June 8 that was what I had heard as well. Whenever we share similar to one from the wedding weekend in Febru- these impressions, anecdotes and stories, the past ary, 2015 of six of us: Rhonda and me, Adam and comes alive (whether in families or in congrega- Juli, and Juli’s parents, Steve and Nancie Schnur. tions) and is preserved so that new tales can be told This new picture, however, included one more per- in the years to come. son who is just beginning his life’s journey. We As Rhonda and I each held our new grandson, hope to see this “young man” grow not only in we had a chance to look him in the eyes and to see texted photos and on FaceTime but also in person as him gaze right back. Perhaps what he sees in our much as possible. eyes will be something he will articulate later in his Recently, while working on a project of locating life. What we saw in his eyes was all that he repre- all of our personal documentation for the renewal of sents: a tribute to the past with his arrival, a source our New Mexico driver’s licenses later this year, of joy for the present, and beacon of hope for the Rhonda and I had an opportunity to rediscover and future. We wish for him and his parents- as we explore the necessary materials stored in their ap- wish for everyone of any age - many days on which propriate envelopes. Not only was there my birth to say, “This is the day that the Eternal One has certificate from the State of Missouri, but there was made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” also the Jewish certificate related to my 8th-day cer- L’shalom, emony. My bar mitzvah certificate (from 50 years ago) and Rhonda’s Confirmation certificate from Rabbi Larry K. 1970 are still there. We found our Ohio marriage license from 1982.