This Week At Beth Or

Your guide to upcoming programs,

activities and news

July 26, 2016

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In This Issue

Rabbi Mark Kram

Rabbi

Mark Kram

Click here to meet
Rabbi Mark Kram

D'Var Torah

July 30, 2016

Pinchas

Numbers
28:16 - 30:1
Haftarah
Jeremiah 1:1 - 2:3

(following the
Triennial Year 3 schedule)

Beth Or Links

Other Links

Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

What is Reconstructionism?

Ma Nishma: The latest news from JRF

Alper JCC

Rabbi Rami Shapiro: Our Founding Rabbi

Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Center For The Advancement of Jewish Education

Contact:

Kathy Fisler
bethortemple@aol.com

Temple Beth Or

305-235-1419

Office Hours:

Tuesday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday: Noon - 3:00 pm.

Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

What's Happening This
Week at Temple Beth Or

Tuesday, July 26

Wednesday, July 27
Chit Chat in the Oneg Room 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, July 28
Weight Watchers 10:00 a.m.


Friday, July 29
Special Kabbalat Shabbat to welcome
our local community 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 30
Torah Study 10:15 a.m.


Sunday, July 31

Monday, August 1

Tuesday, August 2

Wednesday, August 3

Chit Chat in the Oneg Room 10:00 a.m

Temple Beth Or
Events

Save the Date!

August 15
Membership Renewal information due

Temple Beth Or Community Notices

Shabbat Shalom

Join us this Friday evening, July 29, at 7:30 and welcome Shabbat with guests from our surrounding community. Rabbi Mark Kram will discuss

The Most Important Thing Left for Liberal Jews.

What could that be? Not being Halachic Jews, for whom the Torah is Law, what's left for us as guidance or direction?

Join us this Shabbat to explore.

Oneg Shabbat will follow the service.

The Rabbi's Blog

Not so random thoughts... July 25, 2016

In the scheme of things, consideration for the Torah for us liberal Jews is important enough to study it on Shabbat. The weekly exploration of a topic or thought or a story draws us to delve into our history to understand why "the rabbis" assembled the stories in a certain way.

In fact, those explorations enable us also to search the minds of our ancient leaders to discover what was important to them during the times in which they lived. Facing pressures of the local non-Jewish community, or from the inside, pushed their thinking in one or other direction. After all, everything is written from the bias of the writer.

Reading a novel or a nonfiction book in another's words and by another's hand, fools us - at least temporarily - into thinking that their perspective is correct. That their perspective in fact is the only perspective because we read the book through their eyes.

It is only when we step back from our reading - often at the end of the book - that we question the validity or reality of the author's perspective. And when we do, that is, when we step back from a distance, that we gain additional insights from what we have just taken in.

So the Torah.

Under what social, economic, or historical situation was it written? Or a certain passage? Or a certain book? Sometimes, it is only then that we gain a true perspective. Then, we gain a broader understanding of their particular situation from which their words flowed.

When we read and study the Torah in that fashion, we gain a much better understanding, and far better relevance to our own lives today.

Have a great week!

Rabbi Mark S. Kram
Temple Beth Or
Miami, Florida

Thank You, Thank You!

...to those who have generously contributed to Beth Or...

Adrienne and Howard Hochman, in memory
of Al Hochman

Chit Chat

Chit Chat will meet Wednesday, July 27.

Chit Chat meets on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Oneg Room, discussing current issues of particular interest to the Jewish community.

If you want to be included on the Chit Chat email list, please contact Mike Leslie at hebrewnatl@aol.com

or just stop by on Wednesday morning -- all are welcome!

Back to School Collection

The Social Action Committee is organizing a Back to School drive for the children who reside at Chapman Partnership for the Homeless.

Please donate new underwear and socks for elementary and middle school age children. Packages of underwear are needed for boys and girls in all children and teen sizes as well as socks and sports socks for boys and girls. These new items will help these children greatly so please donate generously.

A donation box has been set up in the Oneg room from July 22 - August 5th.

Thank you from your Social Action Committee.

Special Open House Shabbat Service July 29

All hands on deck! Congregation members, choir singers, movers and shakers -- we want as many of us as we can gather on Friday evening, July 29, as we open Beth Or to the local Jewish Community, with a special welcome for former Bet Breira Samu-El Or Olom members who are looking for a spiritual home.

We'll have a specially planned Oneg Shabbat, and we're ready to show our neighborhood folks just what TBO is and has to offer.

A flyer has been sent to the BBSOO office and is being distributed to their membership. If you'd like a copy to post in your community, just ask. We'll have one out to you immediately.

Holiday Bazaar Planning

April and Rhoni are looking to invite new vendors to our holiday bazaar, which will be held on Sunday, December 4^th.

If you know of someone who would like to join us, please email rtclowns@bellsouth.net

or call 305-253-4155.

However, we already at capacity for jewelry vendors, so please think about other crafts.

Beth Or's ORGANIC GARDEN
...continues to grow!

Beth Or's ORGANIC GARDEN needs green thumbs!

Let's put the 'Or' in 'Organic"

Just a few committed diggers/planters/harvesters energize our Garden areas - you have the infrastructure. Cultivate your own plot at Beth Or and'ro help our next communal crop of bananas, papayas, other edibles, herbs and medicinals.

Over 20 years ago Beth Orians wer Shomrei Adamah, Guardians of the Earth -- Keepers of the Garden of Eden, aspiring to the highest standards of earth ethics. We can and will carefully select the veggies and herbs to maximize output, with proven techniques such as companion planting, insect control, etc. With today's high prices, a garden is economically desirable. Plus, it is a part of a healthy lifestyle, providing hands-on education and a social communal experience.

Kavanah~ Rabbi Mark: "...to help build up our people, our institutions and our strength so that we continue to l'takein olam b'malchut Shaddai, 'repair the world under the kingdom of heaven.' Let's get our hands deliciously "dirty" in this endeavor as we grow and sustain our beloved community."

Members' Messages

Got Kittens? We Know Who Does

SOS: two adorable kittens, temporarily named Misty and Merlin, rescued and fostered by TBO member Carol Farber. The mother cat, who is feral, was neutered, had shots and nursed the kittens and then she was released. This playful pair, brother and sister need to find a loving home together. I know there a zillion cats out there, especially now in kitten season. If anyone knows of someone who could give a good home to these two, it will free Carol to help others.

Please contact the TBO office if you can help.
719

From Pat Barron

Friend of mine is fostering a 6 year old 40 lbs terrier mix doggie she found who would make a great companion. She is apparently very laid back, and enjoys watching TV, hanging around with the owner, and basically needs someone who needs someone. She is very friendly, sweet, and loves to be petted.

If you are interested or know someone who is, please leave the information at the TBO office to be forwarded to Pat.

Renter/House Sitter

Jewish professional woman (PhD) from Pennsylvania wants to House-sit or rent an efficiency, room, apartment or shared house for several months (or more) at $1,000 maximum budget. Referred by Jeff Tucker. Call Yonah Demby 412-4916625.

Bill Schwartz' next play: