12:00pm Tefillah Class; 6:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Services on Zoom
Sat.
May 23
9:00am Spanish Services on Zoom; 10:00am Shabbat Services on Zoom
Sun.
May 24
9:00am Davening on Zoom; 9:30am Maimonides Class on Zoom
Mon.
May 25
12:00noon A Little Mishnah on Zoom
Wed.
May 27
12:00noon A Little Mishnah on Zoom
Thu.
May 28
8:00pm Tikkun Leil Shavuot on Zoom
Fri.
May 2910:
10:00am Shavuot Services on Zoom; 12:00noon No Tefillah Class; 6:00pm Erev Shavuot andShabbat Services on Zoom
Sat.
May 30
9:00amSpanish Services on Zoom; 10:00amShabbat Services on Zoom
Sun.
May 31
9:00am Davening on Zoom; 9:30am Maimonides Class on Zoom
Message From the Rabbi
As a writer, I am sometimes led to question the choices our Rabbis made in dividing our Torah readings as they do. Our parsha this week begins so mundanely. This is even more remarkable, considering that it is not just a new week’s reading, but the titular parsha for an entire book of Torah- Bamidbar, Numbers.
It begins: "And God spoke to Moses in the Sinai Wilderness" (Numbers 1:1). What follows is, for the most part, administrative and technical information. The headcount of various tribes, the arrangement of tribes in camp and on the move. Yet this is how our great teachers of old opted to mark such an important place in our annual cycle.
In looking to their interpretations of the text, though, we see how significant this seemingly mundane introduction can be.
We learn from Midbar (Numbers) Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretive writings from the 12th century- “Why the Sinai ‘Wilderness’? From here the sages taught that the Torah was given through three things: fire, water, and wilderness [...] And why was the Torah given through these three things? Just as [fire, water, and wilderness] are free to all the inhabitants of the world, so too are the words of Torah free to them.”
Were Torah given in private, we might have thought that what we were given at Sinai might just be for us alone, to guard from the prying eyes of other nations and peoples. But it was given to us as openly and publicly as possible- in the wilderness; there is no place to hide or conceal such a gift. We are meant to make our learning available, and to share it with all who might seek it- be it our fellow congregants, new members, or the other communities we live among.
The Rabbis also learn from this verse, “Anyone who does not make themselves ownerless like the wilderness cannot acquire the wisdom and the Torah. Therefore it says, "the Sinai Wilderness."
The concept of being “ownerless”, or hefker, is usually reserved for matters of property and ownership. Yet here, we see it as referring to a state of being, a state of radical openness and separation from old bonds, as the prerequisite for receiving Torah. To embrace wisdom, we must be able to hear it through the noise and barriers of old assumptions. It is not enough to be learned, if what we have learned prevents us from hearing any new truth or wisdom. It is not enough to be accomplished, if our accomplishments blind us to new opportunities or new approaches to existing challenges.
I find myself reflecting on this notion as two months have passed since we, as a community, chose to move online instead of risking our health and safety in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. I am proud of everyone involved in the effort to adapt- so many members of TBSEV have stepped up to provide support in all its forms- material, spiritual, social. The willingness of everyone to show up however they can, and however I can meet them, is proof of the strength of this community and our tradition.
The old wisdom was that we could only find real meaning in gathering in physical proximity, that learning was only viable or valuable when done in the same building. Real friendships were shared only in person, real communication was only done face to face, real community was only who showed up to the synagogue.
We now know that there is more to each of these elements in our lives than we had before, that we are not alone or helpless in the face of the distance we must keep to protect one another. There is Torah, there is communication, there is community in every effort we take to provide for one another, to protect one another, to celebrate and mourn with one another as life goes on via Zoom as much as in person.
Thank you for affirming this truth every day, and may we continue to be open to the wisdom of our tradition and each other now and in the future.
Please help generate donations for TBS-EV by purchasing items on AmazonSmile.The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to TBS-EV once you sign up.
Aluminum can donations will help support our General Fund. Please place your CRUSHED aluminum cans (beverage cans only please) in the administration office mail room.
Please donate your used printer cartridges. Place your used cartridges in the box located on the counter in the Administration Office. We have been paying for most of our office supplies for several years through the money we get from recycling printer cartridges. Please help us keep this worthwhile endeavor going.
The Sisterhood of TBS-EV is collecting old eyeglasses and lenses to be donated to the Lions Club. There are donation containers waiting to be filled in the Sanctuary, Social Hall and Administration Office.
Save the Family has asked for help to transition families into homes. Current household product needs include: toilet paper, paper towels/napkins, shampoo & conditioner, toothpaste & brushes, deodorant, mouthwash, body lotion, body wash, diapers--particularly size 4, baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, all-purpose cleanser/comet/etc., laundry detergent/bleach/dryer sheets/fabric softener. There is a bin in the Office. Please help this worthy community service.
Prayers are needed for Chaim Laib ben Esther, brother of Walter Berkey; Alexander Moshe HaLevi ben Rivkah, father of Regina Fischer; Rivkah bat Rachel, grandmother of Regina Fischer; Brenda Carson, sister of Rebecca Toledo;Bruce Steffens (Avram ben Shlomo), nephew of Helen Cherner;Philip Logan Cherner, grandson of Helen Cherner;Helen Cherner; Donnie Carson, brother-in-law of Rebecca Toledo; Sandy Dunell, friend of Helen Cherner; Laramie Gilberts, friend of Helen Cherner; Roberta Rosenberg (Rivkah Fradel bat Sara);Shimson ben Etel, father of Florence Wibel; Irene Simpkins (Yocheved bat Miriam); Barbara Tricoci (Baila bat Rifka); Elazear ben Dreisyl; Eric Taylor; Sid Brodsky (Zundel Be'er ben Esther); Linda Heartquist;Allen Simon (Aaron Hirsch ben Ceil); Charles Collins; Larry Steffens; Megan Steffens;Brittany Steffens; Barb Klein, friend of Barbara Gold; Carol Osman Brown, friend of Linda Radke; Rijon Erickson; Chano Ruven ben Shaina Chaya; Matthew Werdean, friend of Regina Fischer; David ben Sarah, father of Rabbi Aberson; Jack Heller; Liba Yetta bat Tova; Ilana bat Bella, sister of Ruti Keren; David Ramirez, brother of Louis Ramirez; Pasha bat Fayge, friend of Gloria Windmiller; Moshe ben Hana, brother-in-law of Ruti Keren; HaRav Haim Baruch ben Chana; Lyle Cherner, son of Helen Cherner; Raphael ben Rebekah, friend of Alan Sapakie; Jack Rosenberg (Ya'acov Avram ben Sarah Ruchel); Walter Berkey (Yossel Velvel ben Esther); David ben Nisan; Warren Stern (Binyamin ben Meyer Rav); Jennifer Dally, partner of Maggie Diamond; Rose Tufarelli; Sarah Caliandro (Sarah Nechama bat Leah); Ingrid Gallegos. .
Yahrzeit Letters were not sent out this month.
Yahrzeit dates are included below.
As you light a candle on the evening before the yahrzeit date, and call to mind your departed loved one, please take a moment to reflect on the transience of all our lives and the importance of our commitment to ultimate values.
Elinor Shenker Arnold, mother-in-law of
Susan Arnold – Saturday, May 23 Jose Ricardo Heller, brother of Jonas Heller – Sunday, May 24 Emanuel Levine, grandfather of Amy McCracken – Tuesday,
May 26 Muriel Krampf, mother of Louise Heeman – Saturday, May 30
HaMakom yenakhem etkhem b'tokh she'ar avelei Tzion Virushalayim.
May God comfort you together with all the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem