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March 2015 Bulletin

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March 2015 Bulletin March 2015 Adar/Nisan 5775 Don’t miss this phenomenal Purim production put on by the TBE Religious School and Temple Emanu-El! See pg. 13 for more info. Join us for this special service & Kiddush Luncheon organized by the TBE Membership Committee. Honors, Aliyot, and gifts will be shared with those who have joined our community. Let’s celebrate our new members! PAGE 2 CONNECTION MARCH 2015 RELIGIOUS SERVICE SCHEDULE PROFESSIONAL STAFF & BOARD Rabbi Randall J. Konigsburg March 6 Erev Shabbat 5:45 pm [email protected] Candle lighting 5:30 pm Director of Congregational Rabbi Joseph Robinson Learning [email protected] March 7 Meditation Service 8:45 am Executive Director Bob Greenberg Saturday morning 9:30 am [email protected] Parashat Ki Tisa Maftir: Robin Benjamin Foundation Robin Gotlieb Shabbat Mincha 5:00 pm Executive Director [email protected] Bookkeeper Tammy McClellan March 13 Erev Shabbat 5:45 pm [email protected] Candle lighting 6:35 pm Communications Lindsey Herring March 14 Saturday morning 9:30 am [email protected] Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei Events/Kitchen Debby Thomas Maftir: Michael Goldstein [email protected] Shabbat Mincha 5:30 pm Administration Emily Gregory [email protected] March 20 Erev Shabbat 5:45 pm Candle lighting 6:41 pm Youth Programs Taryn Fink [email protected] March 21 Saturday morning 9:30 am Officers Parashat Vayikra President Loraine Reznik Maftir: Barry Dreayer [email protected] Shabbat Mincha 5:30 pm Vice President Dan Weinrib March 27 Erev Shabbat 5:45 pm [email protected] Candle lighting 6:46 pm Vice President Jessica Goldstein [email protected] March 28 Saturday morning 9:30 am Parashat Tzav Vice President Eddie Griffith Maftir: Morton Stern [email protected] Shabbat Mincha 5:30 pm Secretary Barbara Brande [email protected] EEKDAY ERVICE CHEDULE Treasurer Steven Sikora W S S [email protected] Daily Morning Minyan 7:00 am Sundays & Secular Holidays 8:00 am 2014-2015 Board of Directors: Michelle Bearman-Wolnek, Danielle Daily Afternoon Minyan 5:30 pm* Bogart, Barbara Bonfield, Steven Corenblum, Tracy Diamond, Todd Doobrow, Lisa Engel, Warren Gewant, Allen Halpern, Jacob Saturday Afternoon Minyan 5:30 pm Halpern, Naomi Kipp, Evan Rhodes, Ben Rosenbaum, Rebecca *Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 8. Rothman, Wendy Rutkoff, Stuart Shiland, Rhonda Siegel, Natalie Sikora, Tim Thornton, Alan Weintraub, Melvin Zivitz Visit www.templebeth-el.net to livestream services. Past Presidents: Karl Friedman, Howard Bearman, J.B. Mazer, Myron Radwin, Morton Stern, Julian Brook, Norman Berk, Maury Shevin, Joan Lebow, Ron Froehlich, Ronald Shiland, Gary Gordon, Jack Schaeffer, Martin Damsky, Jimmy Krell, Steven Corenblum, Barbara Solomon, Seth Wolnek, Franklin Tessler, Vikki Grodner, Arlene Fisher PAGE 3 CONNECTION MARCH 2015 From Rabbi Konigsburg: FaithCraft WHERE IS GOD? This is a question that has inspired much discussion, passion, poetry and argumentation. It is full of assumptions. Are we talking about a God that has some kind of a form that must be in some “place”? Are there “places” that are not part of our physical world? Is God found in good deeds? In our hearts? In our thoughts? Is God something like an “energy source” that flows around us and through us and through all of creation? Is God a thing at all? Is it really possible to see God, or feel God, or hear God? Is it even possible to “know” God? These are the kinds of questions that undermine our confidence in whether or not we can find God at all. Is it just an act of faith that makes all discussion about God possible? Do we just have to believe in God and the rest of the questions take care of themselves? As always, I ask more questions than I ever answer. This month, we celebrate Purim with costumes, noise and celebration. We toast Mordechai and sneer at the evil Haman. It is a time for silliness and making noise. Underneath this fun-filled day is the story of the Book of Esther. Esther is the only book in the Bible, the only one of thirty-nine books that does not mention the name of God. In 10 chapters, not one mention of God. Where is God? God is hidden in the Book of Esther. We can see traces of God’s presence. Esther is in the unique place to save the Jewish People. Mordechai acts with bravery against Haman's misuse of power. The entire story turns on the night the King could not sleep. A day that could have been a tragedy of historic proportions becomes a day of celebration. Evil people are punished in the end and the righteous people prosper. God is everywhere and yet nowhere. In my Bible class we have been studying the story of Joseph. Joseph talks about God all the time. But God never speaks to Joseph. The same God that was such an active part in the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob never speaks in the entire story of Joseph’s life. We see God’s hidden hand: Joseph’s rise to power, the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams, Joseph in the unique place to save his family from famine; it all points to a divine plan, but throughout it all, God is silent. Where is God? So it also applies to our life. We search the world for signs of God. But we can’t see God, we can only “see” where God has been. Are the good things in our lives just “lucky breaks” or are they blessings? Is God missing from our lives or are we just looking in the wrong places? If we don’t “see God” or “feel God”, does that mean God is gone, or that God is just hidden? If God were hidden in your life, where would you look to find God? Can you see God in the way your life is unfolding? It is something to think about once the shouting and celebration of Purim is over and we begin our preparations for Pesach. PAGE 4 CONNECTION MARCH 2015 Message From Bob Greenberg AND NOW… A WORD ABOUT THE ‘SPONSOR OF OUR PROGRAM’ Every time I see an advertisement for the products that I use, I feel a bit sullied. Nike, Coca-Cola, and Apple develop and deliver products I am fond of, and then turn around and spend money to convince me (and many others) to buy more. It’s the way of our world. Temple Beth-El also provides a tremendously valuable product that so many appreciate (healthier and more meaningful than the Coca-Cola I hanker for every day). As a nonprofit, we don’t have extensive marketing budgets to create jingles, subliminally impact the masses, or directly bombard our constituency into submission. Our mission is to provide service to the Temple Beth-El and Birmingham communities, and we do an excellent job in this area. We rely on the generosity of members and friends who choose to support our Jewish mission. Temple Beth-El’s quiet sponsor, the Temple Beth-El Foundation, stepped up to the plate this year by adding a $20,000 Challenge Match for members who increased their commitment. It has been successful beyond our highest expectation—at all levels of commitment, from Star of David supporters to members who scrape together funds to support their Temple. As of January 1, we had received more than $30,000 in increased Membership Commitment, helping us sustain the programming provided by Rabbi Konigsburg, Rabbi Joseph, and our active committees. This initiative is also helping us remain in a balanced budget environment for the second year in a row. We are grateful to the Foundation for providing the matching grant. In addition, the Temple Beth-El Foundation – through its annual 2014-15 allocation – has contributed almost $150,000. The Foundation is therefore responsible for over 16 percent of our annual operations this year… not to mention additional funding of our new Web site and livestreaming capabilities (thanks to the Charles and Esther Lee Kimerling Family Media Fund), replacement of two HVAC units (the ever-vital Deferred Maintenance Fund), and much more. Temple Beth-El is not a corporation that gleans profits to increase marketing and programs. We are, instead, a nonprofit which daily provides services to children, families, seniors, those who are sick, and those who are seeking Jewish prayer and learning. We are committed to being there for our constituency… and we are grateful to the Foundation, which is truly the “sponsor of our program”. PAGE 5 CONNECTION MARCH 2015 Message From Foundation Executive Director, Robin Gotlieb FIVE REASONS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEMPLE BETH-EL FOUNDATION 1. Perpetuate Conservative Judaism Temple Beth-El is the only conservative congregation in Birmingham. The importance of insuring the continued presence of Temple Beth-El by generating growth in the Foundation’s assets is really the only reason necessary to initiate a charitable gift through the Foundation. 2. Benefit Temple Beth-El By giving to the Foundation, there is a direct benefit to Temple Beth-El’s budget. As a supporting Foundation, Temple Beth-El is the only beneficiary of the assets of the Temple Beth-El Foundation. 3. Estate Tax Benefit Charitable Giving is encouraged and rewarded in the United States. There are powerful and long standing incentives incorporated into our tax and estate laws. 4. Create a Personal Legacy By contributing to the Foundation, you not only benefit the Temple in perpetuity, but you will create a personal legacy to the values that are important to you. 5. Opportunities to Give We offer a wide variety of opportunities to create a gift to the Foundation and can help you determine the most effective approach for your charitable gift.
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