June/July 2016
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The Ohef Sholom Temple Monthly News Publication THE TEMPLE POST Established 1844 Volume 55, Issue 17 June/July 2016 Hampton Roads MISSION STATEMENT: LGBTQSI “My House Shall be Called a House of Prayer For All Peoples” Interfaith Celebration To provide a spiritual, cultural, and educational environment inspired TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 by the highest Reform Jewish values. AT 7:00 PM at Ohef Sholom Temple What’s Inside: Clergy Corner ................. 2 Join with folks from all across Hampton Worship .......................... 3 Roads from different faith traditions Announcements ............. 3 to affirm, support, and celebrate President’s Report ........... 4 members and allies of our LGBT Donations ...............5 & 13 Community. We will affirm that the Family Learning .............. 6 Sacred, in the wide variety of Scholarships .................... 7 ways that we understand Interfaith Iftar .................. 7 and perceive it, not only Men's Club ..................... 8 accepts but embraces Long Range Planning ..... 8 ALL of who we are. Music & Medicine ........... 9 Caring Committee ........ 10 Environmental Stewardship ..11 Sisterhood .................... 12 Adult Learning .............. 15 Birthdays & Yahrzeits.. 16-17 Highlighted Events ....... 18 Calendar ....................... 19 For more information contact the office 757-625-4295 www.ohefsholom.org [email protected] Ohef Sholom Temple CLERGY CORNER 530 Raleigh Avenue Norfolk, VA 23507 Phone: (757) 625-4295 Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin Fax: (757) 625-3762 Cantor www.ohefsholom.org [email protected] When I was in Religious School as do, I’m sure - he argues with the donkey. She asks a youth, I knew there was some him, have I not been loyal to you always? He has to good stuff in the Torah because admit she has a point. After Balaam is one-upped Clergy we often heard about the weekly by his beast of burden, God reveals the angel to Torah Portion. There were really juicy Bible stories him, who tells him that the donkey saved his life by Senior Rabbi about creation, a boat that held a pair of every avoiding the angel. Balaam apologizes, and offers to Rosalin Mandelberg animal on earth, a kid with a multi-colored coat, go home, but the angel says, no, it’s fine, go ahead, [email protected] and so many other marvelous ideas to capture my but remember - say nothing to My people except what I tell you. Cantor imagination. However, when I got to Jewish summer Wally Schachet-Briskin camp, and the rabbis on faculty brought up stories King Balak comes down to meet Sorcerer Balaam [email protected] of talking donkeys, God making blessings come out at Kiriath-huzoth, overlooking the Hebrews. They of a sorcerer’s mouth, and the earth opening up and offer a bunch of sacrifices to get ready for the big Rabbi Emeritus swallowing people, I thought they were making it all cursing-fest. Balaam reminds Balak of his instructions: Lawrence Forman up. Guess what? It’s in there! So often we miss these he can only say what God wants him to. The king [email protected] gems in the Torah because they come around during takes the sorcerer to a high place. Balaam consults summer break, and many of us are elsewhere than in with God and then says: You Hebrews are great! I the classroom studying the texts. want to be just like you! Balak says: What are you So, let me give you just a sampling of what goes doing? I brought you here to bury the Israelites, not on in Parshat (Torah Portion) Balak, which will be read praise them! Balaam says: It wasn’t my words - God this year on July 16. Here’s the story: did it. Balak says: Come with me to a different place, Staff The king of Moab, a country on the border of and maybe you can curse them from there! They go Executive Director where the Israelites are camping out during their 40- to the summit of Mount Pisgah, Balaam consults Linda Peck year wilderness trek, gets a little paranoid. We are with God, he opens up his mouth, and says to the [email protected] told it is because of the vast numbers of Hebrews, Hebrews: God is with you! You’re going to have a and his advisers tell the king that the Israelites will great future!. The king is beside himself. “Don’t curse Director of Family pick the land clean like a hungry ox grazes grass. The them and don’t bless them!” “But I told you, these Learning king, Balak, knows what to do in such a case. He are God’s words!” “Come with me to a different Chris Kraus sends for a sorcerer, Balaam, saying, “Come on over place…” (Do you sense a pattern here?) Finally they [email protected] - bring your best curses - because the people in the reach the summit of Mount Peor, where Balaam skips land next door are so numerous… (How numerous the consultation with God, opens his mouth, and Music Director are they?) …that they hide the earth from view. Your out comes a poem we sing almost every Saturday Charles Woodward reputation is that whoever you bless is blessed morning at Ohef Sholom Temple, and around the [email protected] indeed, and whoever you curse is cursed. So curse Jewish world: Educational Consultant them, and then maybe I’ll be able to defeat them “Ma tovu ohalecha, Yaakov; mishk’notecha, Yisraeil!” Kitty Wolf and kick them out of the land. “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob; your dwelling [email protected] Balaam is a wise sorcerer, and he knows the powers places, Israel!” of the universe. So, when the king’s elders try to hire Balak is so furious, he slaps his hands together Administrative Assistant Balaam to curse the Hebrews, he tells them to wait - and tells Balaam to go home, without pay. Balaam Michelle Lutton he needs to consult with the God of the Hebrews. He says, I told you so, and what’s more, the God of the [email protected] does so, and God says to Balaam, “That’s not a good Hebrews has a message for you. Those very Hebrews idea. Don’t do it, because they’re already blessed.” about whom you were paranoid? Now God will give Bookkeeper Balaam tells the elders he can’t. King Balak doesn’t you an actual reason to be afraid: they’re going to Lorenetta Tucker like this answer so he sends dignitaries to persuade rise up and defeat you. And they both go home. [email protected] Balaam. They tell him the king will give him anything When I was a lad, I thought these were fantastic Graphic Designer he asks! Balaam goes back to God and God tells him, (with an emphasis on fantasy) campfire stories. Talking Elyse Stinman “You know what, FINE, but only on one condition: donkeys indeed! Where do they come up with this [email protected] Whatever I command you, THAT you shall do.” stuff? Well, as I came to learn, and now you know too, At dawn, Balaam gets on his faithful donkey to it’s what’s hidden in the Torah while everyone’s away head toward a hill overlooking the Hebrews. An on summer break. Take time this season to delve into angel of God is blocking the road but only the some fantastic stories! donkey can see it. Three times the donkey delays Balaam’s journey: first she swerves off the road into Baruch ata, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech Ha-olam, Lay Leader a field; then she leans up against a wall, crushing asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu la’asok b’divrei Balaam’s foot; then she sits right down in the middle Torah. Gam bakayitz. President of the road. Each time she avoids the angel Balaam Blessed is God, who makes us holy with Ted Kaufman can’t see, he hits her with a stick. Finally she turns to commandments, and commands us to immerse [email protected] him and says, “Why are you hitting me? What did ourselves in words of Torah. Even in summer. I do to you?” Balaam does what any of us would 2 June/July 2016 Announcements Worship Congratulations to Amy Amanda Shroyer and James Godfrey Lightbourn who were married on May 14, 2016, by Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg at Bayville June Torah Portions Golf Club in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Amy is the daugther of Leslie and Michael June 3 26 Iyyar Shroyer. Shabbat Services – 6:30 pm son of Parasha: B'chukotai Theodore (Ted) Crockin, Dr. Stephen Mark Goldstein and Marsha Lev. 26:3 - 27:34 Chenman-Goldstein of Virginia Beach married Katherine (Kazzie) Zerface on February 27, 2016 at the Bel Air Bay Club in Pacific Palisades, California. The Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14 couple resides in Marina Del Rey, California. June 10 4 Sivan Founding partner and member of Ohef Sholom Temple, John Cooper, and Shabbat Services – 6:30 pm partner, Jim Hurley, have been named again this year as Virginia Super Lawyer Parasha: B'midbar in the Super Lawyers Magazine. The designation places John Cooper and Jim Num. 1:1 - 4:20 Hurley in elite company of less than 5 percent of Virginia’s top lawyers. The Haftarah: Hosea 2:1-22 designation is based upon a rigorous evaluation by a blue ribbon panel of attorneys in the Commonwealth, who recognized the attorneys’ expertise and June 17 11 Sivan achievement in personal injury law. Shabbat Service – 6:30 pm Parasha: Naso John and Dale Jacobs are delighted to announce the birth of twin granddaughters Silvi and Isabel (Isa) on April 5, 2016 - proud parents are Num. 4:21 - 7:89 Jordan and Maria Jacobs of New York City.