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Tba's Platinum Delegation for Biennial 2017 CENTER FOR PROGRESSIVE REFORM JUDAISM IN METROWEST tebeVolumeam 62 / No. 5 / January 2018 TBA’S PLATINUM DELEGATION FOR BIENNIAL 2017 A Word from By Jeff Sands Rabbi Sobel FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME TEMPLE BETH AM PARTICIPATED IN A BIENNIAL AS A PLATINUM PARSHA TERUMAH DELEGATION. – COMMUNITY AS For this honor we received discounted rates, special seating at plenary sessions SACRED SPACE and separate meeting rooms to mingle and meet other Platinum delegation at- “…let them make me a sanctuary tendees. Also for the first time we had two tables at the Friday evening Shabbat that I may dwell within them.” dinner just for TBA. What a thrill! (Exodus 25:8) Also, being among 6500 people all here in Boston for five days from I am still receiving wonderful December 6-10 to support the Progressive Reform Jewish movement was a feedback and comments from wonderful and truly positive experience. The 12 of us from TBA had the oppor- my family and friends who tunity to meet and have meaningful and interesting conversations with congre- came to celebrate my Installa- gants from all over. We were also honored to have as plenary speakers Governor Charlie Baker, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber and Senator Elizabeth Warren all Rabbi Sharon L. Sobel tion as rabbi of Temple Beth Am with us mid-November. of whom inspired the attendees. Some of us also had the opportunity to visit a They loved the warm, welcoming feeling they received Mosque in West Roxbury and witness the noon “Call To Prayer.” from our community. They found the sanctuary to be a Shabbat Services Like No Others space of beauty, sanctity and holiness. Imagine walking into a sanctuary for both the Friday evening Kabbalat Each of them commented on the glory of the ark Shabbat and Saturday Shabbat morning services and being part of 6500 other continued on next page continued on page 3 tebeam / January 2018 / 2 A Word from Rabbi Sobel continued from front page doors, the multi-hued stained glass windows, the simplicity of the seats. Sometimes during services or programs, the “hub” of activity takes over and the sense of “k’dushah” — holiness — seems to fade with the noise. I’d like to reflect for a moment on what makes our space “holy” and how we can achieve that sense of the sacred during all our activities as a FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018 / 19 TEVET 5778 sacred synagogue community. TOT SHABBAT SERVICE ................................................5:45 PM Why do we place so much emphasis on the sanctuaries of our Co-Sponsored with JCC synagogues? Can a physical space be holy in and of itself? Before the SHABBAT EVENING SERVICE .......................................7:15 PM creation of the first mishkan (sanctuary) in the Torah, the Hebrews Led by Rabbi Sobel and Co-Led by BATY BATY Shabbat worshipped God on hilltops, beside streams, or wherever they felt moved to pray. It was only after the Israelites were liberated from SATURDAY JANUARY 6, 2018 / 19 TEVET 5778 slavery in Egypt, and after they accepted God’s Torah at Mount Sinai, Weekly Portion SHEMOT Exodus 1:1-6:1 that they were commanded to build a sanctuary. The instructions for Haftarah Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23 erecting this sanctuary are given in great detail in parsha “Terumah” SHABBAT MORNING TORAH STUDY ......................... 8:30 AM from the book of Exodus. SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN .................................... 9:30 AM The Torah seeks to clarify the purpose of the sanctuary when FRIDAY JANUARY 12, 2018 / 26 TEVET 5778 God instructs Moses to tell the people: “V’asu li mikdash v’shachanti SHABBAT EVENING & TORAH SERVICE .....................7:15 PM b’tocham — and let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell within Led by Rabbi Sobel and Cantorial Intern Dara Rosenblatt and Co-Led by Sisterhood them.” (Exodus 25:8). What does it mean for God to “dwell within” the Sisterhood Shabbat people — what does this tell us about our relationship with God? January Anniversary Blessing Commentators are intrigued by the notion that God will not dwell SATURDAY JANUARY 13, 2018 / 26 TEVET 5778 in the sanctuary, but rather, dwell “within them,” within the people. It Weekly Portion VA’ERA Exodus 6:2-9:35 is the physical act itself of building the sanctuary, which will cause God Haftarah Ezekiel 28:25-29:21 to dwell within the people. SHABBAT MORNING TORAH STUDY ......................... 8:30 AM The sanctuary is not for God, it is for the people; it is to be a SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN .................................... 9:30 AM visible symbol of God’s presence in their midst. FRIDAY JANUARY 19, 2018 / 4 SHEVAT 5778 We learn that it is the involvement of the community, expending DINING & DAVENING ....................................................5:15 PM its labor on God’s behalf that brings God’s presence into our midst. It Reservations are necessary is the act of the community joining together for a common goal that SHABBAT HALL’LU SERVICE .........................................7:15 PM makes a space “sacred.” Led by Rabbi Sobel and Cantorial Intern Dara Rosenblatt So as we sit in our sanctuary at Temple Beth Am, let us keep in SATURDAY JANUARY 20, 2018 / 4 SHEVAT 5778 mind, that it is we who bring the sense of the sacred and holy to our Weekly Portion BO Exodus 10:1-13:16 special space by all those things that we do together: our actions, our Haftarah Jeremiah 46:13-28 aspirations, our words and deeds. SHABBAT MORNING TORAH STUDY ......................... 8:30 AM SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN .................................... 9:30 AM JR CONGREGATION SERVICE .................................... 10:30 AM Led by Grade 6 FRIDAY JANUARY 26, 2018 / 11 SHEVAT 5778 SHABBAT FAMILY SERVICE ...........................................6:30 PM “JUSTICE JUSTICE Led by Rabbi Sobel, Soloist Don Levey, Members of Grade 3 and Junior Choir SHALL YOU PURSUE” Passport to Israel Program; Simchat Siddur Next meeting: SATURDAY JANUARY 27, 2018 / 11 SHEVAT 5778 Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 7:15 PM SHABBAT SHIRAH We are seeking committee members who are looking to form Weekly Portion BESHALACH Exodus 13:17-17:16 consensus to determine Temple Beth Am’s social justice mandate. Haftarah Judges 4:4-5:31 SHABBAT MORNING TORAH STUDY ......................... 8:30 AM Our goals: SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN .................................... 9:30 AM • to be inclusive of all our congregants, across the demographic spectrum • to plan initiatives on the local, state, national and international level • to educate, raise awareness and take action • to respond to the lessons of the Torah, our Jewish tradition and the prophet’s call To RSVP or for inquiries, please contact: Social Justice Committee Co-Chairs: Sheila Statlender and Abby Wolf [email protected] 3 / January 2018 / tebeam TBA’S PLATINUM DELEGATION FOR BIENNIAL 2017 continued from front page Reform Jews from around the world all praying and singing the same prayers and songs we sing weekly here at Temple Beth Am. The worship leaders, musicians and choir created warm and meaningful services. The beautiful sound of these voices all singing together was awe-inspiring. Meaningful Learning Sessions Leadership development, networking, Jewish learning, and “how-to’s” to strengthen our congregation were the major themes. The Biennial offered hundreds of breakout sessions led by URJ staff, professionals, clergy, lay leaders and youth from Reform congregations across the US. The sessions were divided into five tracks: Audacious Hospitality, Strengthening Congregations, Tikkun Olam, Transforming Texts and Youth Engagement. Each day also had a specific focus: Diversity, Innovation, Action, Faith and Community. The sessions offered on each day related to each of these areas. Our own Rabbi Kamerow co-led a session on Collaboration: The Winning Formula for Youth Engagement. After the five days we returned home more deeply connected to our Reform Movement, and full of new and creative ideas to try in our congregation. You will be hearing more about some of these ideas soon. The next Biennial will be in Chicago in December 2019. Hope to see you there. Sisterhood’s Annual Christmas Day Mitzvah! turkeys from Kelly’s, prepping the turkeys, cooking the meals, plating the desserts, orga- nizing the boxes, and delivering the meals to four area group homes. Sisterhood members also provided home-baked and purchased desserts to complete the festive holiday meals. This is such a feel-good project and could not have been accomplished without the support of so many! A huge thank you to: Laurie Schneider, Brittany Schneider, Ellen Jagher, Lisa Apostol, Meryl Hickey, Victo- ria Felson, Jay Saret, Merle Kushner, Helen For many years, Sisterhood of Temple Beth Am has provided a home cooked Christmas dinner to group homes in the Framingham Slavid, Hunter Slavid, Sheila Statlender, area sponsored by The Advocates, and this Colleen Breitbord, Ellen Miller, Jami Schultz, year was no exception! We gratefully ac- Beth Wolfset, Cheryl Ouellette, Fern Vona, knowledge Kelly’s Roast Beef for once again, Barbara Sands, Sue Siegel, Jami Stein, Sue generously donating four frozen turkeys for Rakusin, Bruce Rakusin, Jacquelyn Walsh, our dinners, which were prepared and cooked Joyce Green, Andrea Geller, Nancy Gould by our volunteers. Dinners also included and our very own Rabbi Sharon Sobel! A roasted sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, good time was had by all volunteers, and most stuffing, gravy, rolls, and cranberry sauce, and importantly, a beautiful holiday dinner was a variety of desserts. enjoyed by folks who otherwise, would have Over 25 Sisterhood and TBA members had none. Again, many thanks to all who volunteered to help with a variety of jobs, contributed. including grocery shopping, picking up the Wendy Schwartz, Chair tebeam / January 2018 / 4 will be presented to them at their Simchat Siddur Service on January Education Update 26th! Of course, we cannot mention December without mention- ing Hanukkah.
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