11:30am Tefillah Class on Zoom; 6:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Services on Zoom
Sat.
Jul 4
9:00am Spanish Services on Zoom; 10:00am Shabbat Services on Zoom
Sun.
Jul 5
9:00am Davening on Zoom; 9:30am Maimonides Class on Zoom; 7:30pmScreening of “West Bank Story” on Zoom
Mon.
Jul 6
11:30am A Little Mishnah on Zoom
Wed.
Jul 8
11:30am A Little Mishnah on Zoom
Fri.
Jul 10
11:30am Tefillah Class on Zoom; 6:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Services on Zoom
Sat.
Jul 11
9:00am Spanish Services on Zoom; 10:00am Shabbat Services on Zoom
Sun.
Jul 12
9:00am Davening on Zoom; 9:30am Maimonides Class on Zoom; 10:30am TBS-EV Board Meeting;4:00pm Sisterhood Installation on Zoom
This week, we get a double treat of Parshat Hukkat and Parshat Balak and lesson in the importance of humility from our animal companions.
In Hukkat, we are given instructions regarding the Red Heifer, a relatively rare animal that is fundamental to ritually purifying the Israelites. This ritual serves as the baseline for all ritual purity- without it, we cannot establish a clear foundation for the purification of all instruments and people. Rabbinic tradition, however, struggles to understand the reasoning behind why this ritual is core to our practices. Only Moses, it is taught, was made aware of the true and basic reason for the mitzvah. It is taught that even King Solomon, of whom it is said had the wisdom to understand the reasons behind all commandments, could not fathom the basic purpose of the Red Heifer. He learned from it, as should we, that even when we have a solid grasp of why and how we ought to observe a mitzvah, we must always accept that there is always value in diving deeper and seeking further understanding. No matter how clever, wise, or intelligent we might be, no single understanding can encompass the whole depth of the laws set before us.
Driving this point home, that nothing is ever as clear or simple as we make it out to be, comes wisdom from the mouth of a donkey in Parshat Balak. There is a standing question- why did God communicate to Balaam through such an unusual vehicle? One understanding is that this comes to teach us that God’s wisdom comes from any source, and that we should not be so confident that we are chosen or blessed from our own faculties. Prophecy from the mouth of a donkey is a corrective to Balaam. For all his power and reputation, gained through his work and given to him by those who hired him to curse Israel, he is no better than the donkey he rides on as a vehicle of Divine power or truth.
What we learn from these special creatures this week is to challenge our assumptions about how much we know, and how firm in our assumptions we really should be. We exist in a time and place where confidence and volume often replaces honesty and humility, voices proclaiming truth without making space for doubt. We are given choices of affiliation, not consideration. Blue team vs. Red team is a way of approaching games or entertainment, but not ethical or existential concerns.
Like King Solomon, may we find that truth requires ongoing commitment to study and understanding. Like Balaam, may we regularly be blessed to meet donkeys that remind us that value and meaning rest in the hands of the Divine, not our egos. With humility and love, may we make this week, and all weeks to come, opportunities to embrace the uncertainty as a source of learning, and not a reason to shut off our faculties to the challenges in our world.
TBS-EV was issued a $132.28 donation from the Fry's Community Rewards Program for our participation during the last quarter.
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.
TBS-EV was issued a $79.85 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of the AmazonSmile program activity between January 1 and March 31, 2020
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;Donnie Carson, brother-in-law of Rebecca Toledo; 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);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; Raphael ben Rebekah, friend of Alan Sapakie; Jack Rosenberg (Ya'acov Avram ben Sarah Ruchel); Walter Berkey (Yossel Velvel ben Esther); Warren Stern (Binyamin ben Meyer Rav); Jennifer Dally, partner of Maggie Diamond; Rose Tufarelli; Sarah Caliandro (Sarah Nechama bat Leah); Ingrid Gallegos; Chaim Shneur Zalman Yehuda ben Hinda Yocheved; Alex Shekhel;Avraham ben Chaya Udel;Mikah Chaim ben Devora;Reuven Asher ben Rivka, brother of Phillip Skirboll;Mordechai Shimon ben Sarah, brother of Roberta Rosenberg.
Benson Benjamin, father-in-law of Cynthia Benjamin Norma Zegerson, mother of Harry Zegerson Fannie Savetsky, mother of May Schneiderman Abe Rotter, brother-in-law of Gloria Windmiller Jennie Goldstein, mother of Wendy Bergsman Philip Berkey, father of Walter Berkey Errol Levy, father of Lorre Levy Morris Charyn, father of Sandy Bernoff Helene Hanson, friend of Juliette Harvey Larry Kabaian, brother of Michelle Berman Leo Senk, grandfather of Wendy Bergsman
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of TBS-EV member Helen Cherner.
Notes of Condolence may be sent to Helen's son, Elliot Cherner, 910 W. Barrow Dr., Chandler, AZ 85225 or email at ERCherner@yahoo.com.
The family appreciates the thoughts and prayers of the community during this very difficult time.
