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TES Weekly
July 22-29, 2014    

Rabbi's Message

7/22/2014  - 24 Tammuz 5774   

 

There's a Portuguese expression that roughly translates as, "Am I not also a child of G-d?" One says it, at the same moments I suspect, when one might otherwise have said, "What am I, chopped liver?" I find myself thinking of the Portuguese expression this week, as I read different media condemnations of Israel's actions in Gaza.

 

It's important to preface this by saying that no one people's blood is holier than any other people's blood. When blood is spilled and life is lost, Judaism teaches that a world is destroyed. We must not dehumanize the entire Palestinian people because of the death-dealing leadership of Hamas, or to call all Palestinians extremists. They're not. We are bombarded daily by images from Israel and Gaza, and it seems like our hearts have occasion to break with each image or news story. We pray that Hamas decides to stop lobbing rockets. We pray that a ceasefire emerges out of the rubble of these last weeks. Perhaps the real heartbreak is the majority of citizens on both sides desire nothing more than a secure, peaceful two-state solution.

 

And yet when I read some of the criticism of Israel, it is hard to fathom. What other sovereign nation is told to sit there and not respond when missiles are rained down upon it? And yet even as Israel takes steps to protect its own people, it tries, best that it's able under the circumstances, to limit the loss of life. It is hard to do this when the missiles are fired from the heart of population centers in Gaza. Should Israel let the kilometers of tunnels stored with weapons meant for attacking Israel, stand? Israel has the right to defend itself. Are we not also children of G-d?

 

The Torah portion this week, Mattot, has a section where G-d warns the people about the threat of the Caananites. Our Tuesday evening Torah Study group here at TES had what I thought was a nuanced and thoughtful debate about the "us and them" polemic that the Torah writes about, and that of course exists today in Israel and every other land under the sun. The prophets speak about a time when there will be no more bloodshed, when all nations will turn towards G-d; in short, when the "us and them" polemic will become transparent. That time is clearly not yet here. But how are we to act in the meantime, living in this opaque world that we live in? Even as we identify with our tribe and protect our lives and interests, to what extent is it possible to have some level of awareness about the reality the prophets speak of? How can we bring just a little of that into this? At times like these, it seems impossible, and yet we must keep asking the question. It's what we do as Jews.

 

We express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters living in Israel and we pray for all innocent people caught in the crossfire.

 

May the One who creates harmony above make peace for us and for all Israel and for all who dwell on earth.

 

L'shalom

 

 



Rabbi Joshua Boettiger
Upcoming Services
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, July 25, 6:00 PM

Frida Graumann Bat Mitzvah
Saturday, July 26, 10:00 AM
(see details below)
This Week at TES
Song Circle Voice Class will resume in the fall
Torah Study
every Tuesday at 6:30pm
Jewish Meditation
every Wednesday at 8:00am
Announcements
Special Book Sale to Benefit the Daedulus Project, August 7 
Havurah Shir Hadash and Temple Emek Shalom are proud and happy to come together for a special book sale on Thursday, August 7th to benefit Daedalus Act V: The End of AIDS, as well as both congregations. Come and choose from a selection of great used Jewish books and other books, eat delicious baked goods, and just hang out and support the cause. The book sale will be held at the Havurah from 10:00am-6:30pm. We still need volunteers from both shuls who will be able set up the day before, to staff the tables, and break down that evening. Please contact Bari in the Havurah office at [email protected] to sign up. Time for set up will be determined by what works for the volunteers on Wednesday. And - please bring gently used Jewish books (defined broadly) to TES by Friday, August 1st. 
  
We're particularly excited to support the work of the Daedalus Project. For more about it, please go to:  www.osfashland.org/daedalus. We'll be holding our book sale a few days after Tisha b'Av, the date we fast and mourn over the destruction of the Temple. It feels appropriate to come out of our time of mourning with an act of gemilut hasidim - of loving kindness, working together, and rebuilding the world.






Special Evening with Martin Majkut at Temple Emek Shalom, August 6, 7:00pm
Martin Majkut, Music Director of the Rogue Valley Symphony, will talk about different aspects of the work of orchestral conductor, covering both practical aspects of his profession and the spiritual gratification that he receives from music-making.
Wednesday, August 6th, 7:00-8:30pm in the Sanctuary. 
 

Frida Graumann Bat Mitzvah, July 26, 10:00am
All are joyfully invited to come celebrate Frida's Bat Mitzvah! Please RSVP ASAP to Miranda Graumann at [email protected]. Please see invitation below for details.

 


Ethan Lennon Bar Mitzvah, August 9, 10:00am
All are joyfully invited to come celebrate Ethan's Bar Mitzvah, followed by light kiddush.  Please RSVP by August 1 to Jody Lennon at [email protected].

   

Artist of the Month & Special Exhibit   

JERRI COOK BARTON's paintings on porcelain are currently featured in the TES Artists' Showcase. Jerri painstakingly creates miniature portraits as well as larger pieces. Her work is known internationally and she travels to teach her techniques.  An explanation of her methods is included with the paintings.  

Jerri is also the featured artist this month at Gallerie Karon on 4th and 'A' Street in Ashland. The show is entitled The World of Faces: The Ethnic Series, shown with a collection of masks from around the world.

 
Along with Jerri's display at TES, BRUCE BARTON has a display of "THE BOOK OF BARUCHIO, intentional poems." This is Bruce's third book of poetry, richly deserving of a wide audience.

    
Welcome New Bookkeeper!
We are pleased to have Sharon Semon join our staff as TES bookkeeper. Sharon's hours will be all day Wednesdays (approximately 9:00am to 5:00pm) and half-days Fridays (approximately 12:00 - 4:00pm). Please join us in welcoming Sharon and please introduce yourselves when you stop by the office.    
          
Member News
TES members, don't be shy. Please send us your news, accomplishments, joyous events, etc. for us to put in the monthly newsletter to share with the congregation. Please contact Kathy at the office at 541-488-2909 or [email protected].              
      
Honor Family and Friends with a Gift to TES
You can easily and quickly make donations to all funds, to remember and honor family, friends and loved ones. Visit the donation page and see the possibilities. Click here  
Adult Education
Nonviolent Communication Workshop at TES, Sunday, September 7, 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Learn a practical process that helps people place their attention on shared human values, which in turn connects us more deeply, more honestly and more compassionately with ourselves and others. This workshop is an introduction to the practice of Nonviolent Communication.

This workshop will be taught by Jared Finkelstein (cousin of Rabbi Boettiger), Certified Trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication, who offers communication and conflict resolution training to Businesses, Faith-based Communities, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, Individuals and Families.

Registration fee:  $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
Please contact the TES office at (541) 488-2909 or [email protected] to register.

Social Action Opportunities
Message from Pat O'Scannell, co-chair of Social Justice Action Committee

The Ashland Emergency Food Bank provides soup every Wednesday morning for the truly destitute and hungry. It comes from Uncle Food's Diner, and appears each week without fail.

Pat O'Scannell proposes to match this effort on behalf of TES's Social Justice Action Committee's facet: F'NESS: 'Food Ninjas' by providing a pot of soup each week on Thursday mornings for those in need.

If anyone is interested in joining this effort, we will  expand our effort to two days per week. That means soup being provided for the hungry three times every week. It is eaten hungrily and gratefully by those who stop by for it  People often come in on days we have no soup and we must turn them away. It would be great to see the community fill in this gap. I am proposing cold soups for the summertime, and have recipes for those who need them. This past week I made fresh gazpacho. Foods can be procured from the Food Bank itself in a free and elegantly simple effort. Write Pat at: [email protected] if you are interested in participating.

Sponsor
Allen G. Drescher, PC
Attorney at Law
21 S 2nd Street
Ashland, OR 97520
(541) 482-4935
Quick Links

Services This Week

Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, July 25
6:00 PM

Frida Graumann
Bat Mitzvah
Saturday, July 26
10:00 AM
 

 
Temple Emek Shalom | 541-488-2909 | http://emekshalom.org


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