D'var Torah

Reconstructionist Thought:

Quotes from Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan

• The only way to change the world is to change yourself into what you want others to be.

• Reconstructionism seeks to put gates through the fences that divide Jews into separate groups.

• A religion came to mean to me the sum of those habits and values, which give a people the will to live in common, to perpetuate itself and to make the best use of its collective life...[in short, the enduring definition of Reconstructionism, that we understand]... Judaism as an evolving religious civilization.

• Science does not destroy the belief in miracle. In merely transfers that belief from the supernatural to the natural.

• God is not the conception of the ordering principle in the universe, but of a power predisposing humans to their ultimate human good, provided each person does her share learning about and living up to the requisite conditions. To view the cosmos this way is to believe in God.

I borrowed this from KEHILLAT ISRAEL Reconstructionist Congregation of Pacific Palisades, CA.   

These are some of the principles that our founder created and lived by.  which one do you want to address first this year?  Let me know friday when we begin the discussion."

New Member Weekend at Temple Beth Or

Friday, October 11, at 8:00 p.m.:

Join us in welcoming new members

at a special Shabbat Service

Saturday, October 12, at 6:30 p.m.

Dig into our annual Spaghetti and Potluck Dinner

There will be a WHITE ELEPHANT RAFFLE at the Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, October 11th.  Everyone attending, please bring a gift wrapped 'surprise something'.  This should be valued $5-15, and can include regifts, jewelry, artwork, etc. - Be creative.  One year a gift was a large decorative box filled with avocadoes!  We will be selling tickets, and raffling off these prizes.  You never know what you might win!

Please notify Phyllis Winnick* of what you're bringing for the potluck: appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, salads, desserts, sodas, wine.

Beth Or Kosher rules apply! No meat, poultry or shellfish!

$5.00 donation per person to defray expenses; FREE for new or prospective members.

*Phyllis can be reached at

susi8400@bellsouth.net

or at 305-221-0483

An Evening with Emily Dickinson

Success is counted sweetest

By those who ne'er succeed -

To comprehend a nectar

Requires sorest need.   

               - Emily Dickinson

Excerpts from "The Belle of Amherst"

By William Luce

Performed by Janet Raskin

Spend an hour with the reclusive nineteenth century poet, Emily Dickinson as she wanders through the memories of her life. Emily will treat you to her secret Black Cake recipe and reveal her secret romance. Along the way, she recites her poetry on nature, love, and immortality.

October 19th, 2013

8:00 p.m.

Lighthouse Café Performance Space

Temple Beth Or, 11715 SW 87 Ave., Miami

For reservations, contact Kathy at  305-235-1419 at the Temple Beth Or office, which is open limited hours Tuesday through Friday.

Please leave a voicemail with your contact information, and you will receive a call back.

Please do not leave credit card information either on voicemail or send it by email! 

Lighthouse Café

 

Saturday, October 26, 2013

7:30 pm.

 

We welcome Grant Peeples to the Lighthouse stage for a musical evening!

Reservations are needed to guarantee your seat: $15.00 per person.  Please call the Temple office at 305-235-1419; we can take credit cards by phone, or you can make your reservation and then send a check to Temple Beth Or, 11715 SW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33176.

Memorial Service for Nellie Lee   

A service of remembrance for our member and friend, Nellie Lee, will be held on Thursday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Temple Beth Or Sanctuary.

We will have a Kiddush, and the Beth Or bakers and food mavens are invited to bring appropriate items.  Please notify Kathy at the Temple office what you plan to bring.  305-235-1419, or bethortemple@aol.com.

Jews in the Woods in January

Friday, January 31 - Sunday, February 2

Your trusty volunteer ranger Ellen Siegel will already be at Flamingo camping the week before, and the Trust family camp is on Sat and Sunday so there's lots of activities going on for kids of all ages.

Rocky Horror Picture Show

About the Calendars..

The Google Calendar for Beth Or events can be viewed by clicking the following link:

Garden and Grounds

 

Beth Or's ORGANIC GARDEN can put the OR in Organic!

 

Free advice is available from local Master Gardener Wilfredo Candelaria (786-234-7520).

 

Willing to get your hands dirty and fill your plate with home-grown produce?  Use our infrastructure with his advice.

 

Raised Bed Custodians:

 

1-Jane Weinstock 3' x 8'

2-Mark Rosenblum 4' x 4'

3-Pat Barron 3' x 8'

4-Karen Steinberg-Lewis 3' x 8'

5-Diane Pearl 3' x 8'

 

A sixth, round bed is currently open.

 

You're invited to DO YOUR FALL PLANTINGS in November-December.

 

 

>>> CONTACT Jeff Tucker and Grow Your Own!

JMTucker007@gmail.com

Temple Wish List

Can you help in a small way?  The Temple occasionally needs items, usually under $100 or even $50, that add up. 

Here's what TBO could really use at the moment:

We'd like to keep a spare HP60XL combo pack black/color ink cartridge set for the office printer, $50 - $60.

Shredders need lubricant!  A bottle of shredder oil --yes, it's a special kind -- or a pack of shredder lubricating sheets go for under $20!  Check your local office supply store.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Refuat Ha-Nefesh Program Trains Volunteers to Bring Comfort to the Sick and Lonely

The Jewish Chaplaincy Program and Jewish Volunteer Center of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation are seeking participants for the Refuat Ha-Nefesh Spiritual Care Program, a remarkable and life-changing opportunity to bring comfort, spiritual solace and joy to people in need.

A unique volunteer experience for Jewish people from all walks of life, age 18 and older, the Refuat Ha-Nefesh Spiritual Care Program offers practical training on the mitzvah of bikur cholim (visiting the sick) and compassionate visits to people who are lonely or ill. Professional instruction and resources are provided at no charge and in a group setting by rabbis, doctors and social workers, with topics including the Jewish philosophy in visiting the ill; issues and concerns facing the elderly; Jewish perspective on end-of-life issues and death; Jewish healing rituals; how to handle dementia and depression in seniors with compassion; Jewish medical ethics and more. In addition, participants are able to enjoy three hours a week of hands-on volunteerism in the community.

Volunteer training begins October 28, 2013 and runs through April 7, 2014, with sessions taking place bi-monthly on Monday evenings at Federation's Stanley C. Myers Building, 4200 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami. Certificates are awarded upon completion of the program.

For more information or to apply to be part of Refuat Ha-Nefesh, contact the Jewish Volunteer Center at 786.866.8680 or Volunteer@jewishmiami.org

The application deadline has been extended until October 21, 2013.