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D'Var Torah
Parashat
Vaetchanan
(for August 4, 2012)
Deuteronomy
5:1 - 6:25
using the Triennial
Year II schedule
Haftarah:
Isaiah 40:1 - 40:26
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What's Happening
This Week At Beth Or
Monday, July 30
Tuesday, July 31
Wednesday, August 1
Chit Chat at Starbucks 10:00 am
Thursday, August 2
Friday, August 3
Kabbalat Shabbat Services 8:00 pm
Saturday, August 4
Bibliodrama: Joseph: Coats, Dreams, Brothers'
Schemes 10:00 am
Sunday, August 5
Monday, August 6
Tuesday, August 7
Wednesday, August 8
Chit Chat at Starbucks 10:00 am
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 Temple Beth Or Events
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Save The Date 
August 25
Bibliodrama: Judah and Tamar
November 9
New Member Shabbat
(note: this date has been changed from Nov. 2)
November 10
Spaghetti Dinner
(note: this date has been changed from Nov. 3)
March 16, 2013
Evening of music, good food and memories to honor
Dr. Michael Newman
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 Temple Beth Or |
Shabbat Shalom! 
Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Welcome, one and all, to services led by Rabbi Mark Kram, who will speak about Welcoming New Jews.
Oneg Shabbat will follow the service, sponsored by Pat Barron and Kathy Fisler, to celebrate the formalization of their conversion to Judaism.
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D'var Torah
Welcoming New Jews
It will be a PRIVILEGE to be at services on Friday night! Not only to welcome the Shabbat, but to welcome two new Jews into our people. When two of our friends, our members, our own, will formally join our ranks and cast their lot forever with the Jewish people!
Ours has not been an easy road. Of course it's easier today, than, say during Roman persecution, or Spanish Expulsion, or the Middle Ages when (among other things) the blame for the Black Plague rested upon our shoulders. Or during the Holocaust and WWII. At those times, if someone approached us to join our people, the rabbis instructed, they were IMMEDIATELY welcomed and converted - on the spot! After all, for someone who chose to be a part of our history and our destiny during a period of persecution and threat was either crazy or a real believer! (They chose the latter.)
Today, it's easier. In point of fact, to be a part of Beth Or, one does not have to convert. Conversion is NOT a prerequisite for involvement or membership. If one lives a Jewish life exclusively - that's enough!
But this week, we are given the opportunity to invite not one but TWO new Jews into our community. (There will be another giyoret tzadeket - righteous (woman) Jew by choice - in a couple of more weeks!) On Friday, we ADOPT them into the Jewish people. They are not "changing religions." They get new parents - spiritual parents (Abraham and Sarah - of biblical fame) and their pasts cannot ever be brought up to them, nor their seriousness or legitimacy of their profound commitment challenged.
Already approved by a Beit Din in the morning - a rabbinic "court" of three rabbis (including me). They will have submersed themselves in a "mikveh" - the pool at Matheson Hammock Park as well - emerging with "new" spirits and "new" lives.
Wow. In some places around the world, it's still not optimal to be a Jew. And God forbid, who knows what we all may face in the future. But regardless, the meaning, the practices, the customs and heritage of our people and our culture and of course our God, has drawn them magically, slowly, persistently to us.
We welcome them each with love, open arms and great joy! See you Friday night!
Rabbi Mark S. Kram, Temple Beth Or, Miami, FL
Shabbat Shalom!
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Beth Or's Second Bibliodrama! This is not the Sunday School play-acting you remember! Bibliodrama is a form of role-playing in which the roles played are taken from biblical texts. The roles may be characters, objects, images, or scenes from the Bible.
Enacted and enlivened in the present moment, this form of interpretive play is often called
the action version of Midrash. Join us on August 4 for Joseph: Coats, Dreams, Brothers' Schemes, and on August 25 for Judah and Tamar. |
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Chit Chat at Starbucks...
will meet as usual this Wednesday!
Chit Chat is a weekly discussion group that meets on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. that usually meets at Starbucks in the Suniland Shopping Center on US 1.
To be included in the Chit Chat notification list, please send your email address to Mike Leslie at
hebrewnatl@aol.com
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Thank You!
to those who have generously
contributed to Temple Beth Or...
Ossie and Harry Hanauer, on the Yahrzeit of Ossie's
father, Manuel Bosch
Eileen Somerset, for the donation of lovely garden
benches and numerous bonsai plants, and for
microwave oven
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Beth Or's Program Calendar for 2012-2013
The initial version of the Temple Program Calendar for the coming year is available at :
Beth Or Event Calendar
Please bookmark this site so that it's easily available and will allow you keep up with what's going on at the Temple as well as be a part of the process of keeping it current and accurate.
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It's Membership Time...
The Membership Committee has been contacting TBO members to make sure everyone has received their renewal paperwork. We've received feedback from those calls letting us know who needs to have a packet re-sent, either via USPS or email, and replacement packages should have arrived.
Many thanks to those members who have responded with forms and checks! You'll get a confirmation of your renewal by email or phone.
Interested in Beth Or?
Give us a call or an email, and we'll put see that you get everything you need and have all your questions answered.
Please, please, feel free to email or call the Temple with any questions.
305-235-1419 |
SCHOOL SUPPLIES ARE NOW BEING COLLECTED
It's that time again . . .
Each year Beth Or collects school supplies for the residents of the Children's Home Society. There has always been a fantastic response to this drive and the supplies are greatly needed and appreciated by them.
AMONG THE SUPPLIES NEEDED ARE . . .
Paper, Pencils, Pens, Notebooks, 
Duotangs, Paste, Glue Sticks,
Bookbags, Backpacks, Rulers,
Crayons, Scissors (not pointed)
For those who have not yet contributed school supplies for Children Home Society residents, Publix Supermarkets Back to School sale is now being held. A large array of supplies are available at fantastically low prices and buy one/get one free offers. Stop by your neighborhood Publix and see how you can help fill the needs of the residents without emptying your wallet.
Remember . . . this is one of our most successful and appreciated undertakings. There will be a collection box in the Oneg Room until August 9.
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Kids' Socks and Underwear
New, please!!
Jane Weinstock is collecting new socks and underwear for the kids at the homeless shelter in Homestead, a part of the Chapman Community Partnership for the Homeless.
Hit the sales, grab the "two-fers" and bring in the goods. A collection box will be in the Oneg Room for your contributions. Many thanks!
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Garden and Grounds 
Beth Or's ORGANIC GARDEN continues to grow!
Though our Organic Garden lacks a green-thumb Team, we have:
a) Collard plants & Brocolli plants are 'hanging in there'
b) new Banana trees (Red Dwarf, Sweet Heart, Ice Cream, Goldfinger, Sweet Heart, Mona Lisa varieties) were joined by new, edible Nopali Cactus plants
c) We see a future in our Wild Edibles, mostly in the Purselane Family
More News:
- Beth Or Irrigation system has been Upgraded with computerized controls, a high-tech Rain Gauge thanks to a $2,800 grant. This is expected to save 40-60% water by calculating plants' true needs based on humidity, temperature, rainfall, season, etc.
- Our Huge Crop of Kosher Compost in in quiet production as micro-organisms and insects degrade, digest and convert discarded plant material to rich, living humus
- The Childrens' World Montessori School readies for another season of organic gardening under the direction of Lead Teacher, Mary Argumedo.
Do's and Don'ts:
- Don't step on a bed (your weight compresses the soil, reducing 'friability')
- If you don't know what to do- ASK
- Learn as much as you can about organic-veganic methods- Rodale's magazine is a great educational and practical resource
Would you like to help in the gardens, particularly on Sunday mornings? Just email Marcy Prince at mprince@miamidade.gov.
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And speaking of Green Stuff...
Irrigation Retrofit Rebate Program
Sign up and receive:
- a free irrigation assessment
- a rebate for retrofitting your irrigation system to improve efficiency
Irrigation assessments are performed by the Urban Conservation Unit for homeowners and Homeowners Associations. Participants can receive rebates for retrofitting the irrigation system to improve water efficiency. Homeowners can receive up to $400 for up to 3 years and Homeowners Associations can receive up to $2,850 for one year.
Participants must fill out the application form below and receive the irrigation assessment before retrofitting the irrigation system.
Join today and commit to protecting our water resources
Contact: Laura A. Vasquez, UofM Coop Extension
305.248.3311 x239
http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/
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In and For Our Local Community
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 Miami Marlins Jewish Heritage Day
...will be on Sunday, August 12.
Miami Marlins vs. L.A. Dodgers
Pregame festivities at 12:30 p.m, game time 1:10 p.m.
The 9th Annual Jewish Heritage Day will take place at Marlins Park in Miami on Sunday afternoon, August 12, 2011. This day will bring the Jewish community together in support of the Miami Marlins and Jewish education.
Enjoy the game, nosh on delicious kosher food, listen to great Jewish music, show your support for the home team, and, at the same time show your support for Jewish education in South Florida.
The Jewish Heritage Day Foundation, Inc. teamed with the Miami Marlins to create "Jewish Heritage Day." in order to raise awareness of, and much needed funding for, Jewish education in South Florida.
For mor information, visit www.jewishheritageday.org.
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Greater Miami Jewish Federation
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Genealogy: Basics and Beyond
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Miami invites you to join us on Sunday September 23 , 2012 as we kick off our new year with speaker Jerry Naditch from the West Palm Beach JGS as he covers
" Geneaology: Basics and Beyond. "
His talk will cover new and old techniques to find your family!
Time: 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Place: Greater Miami Jewish Federation Building
4200 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Contact: 305-576-4000
Please bring a photo ID. There is plenty of free parking in the lot which can only be entered from the street (N Federal Hwy) at the rear of building. The gate to the lot is closed and there is a security box on the left side. |
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