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TES Weekly
October 6 - 13, 2015   

Rabbi's Message
10/7/2015  -  24 Tishri 5776

Dear Friends,
 
This Friday evening, please join our musicians, Cantor Bella and myself for Shabbat Shira; and on Saturday morning, please come support and celebrate Lucas Cook as he becomes a bar mitzvah.
 
Now that the High Holy Days have passed, we turn towards the New Year with some measure of exhaustion, anticipation, and relief. We begin to actively come into the possibilities we've spent the last month imagining. Often, a good foot to put forward is to come into the New Year with mitzvot on our mind, and to that end, I want to name a few things that I feel are deserving of our individual and collective attention this weekend.
 
First, we have just a little more time to finish our High Holy Day Food Drive. We have done well, but we are not yet at our goal of reaching one ton of food to contribute to the Ashland Food Bank. If you have a chance in the next few days, please drop off any non-perishable food items here at TES and perhaps we can make one last push to reach our goal. Also, as long as you are putting stuff in the back of your car/truck, add some pet supplies to support Lucas' bar mitzvah project of helping the dogs and cats at the Humane Society (see details below for what he is specifically requesting).
 
On another front, we Oregonians and Americans are still recovering from the horrible episode at Umpqua Community College last week. This is a time where we can and should let our representatives know of the imperative for taking steps necessary to begin to reduce gun violence of this sort, which as we know has become tragically common.
 
We can feel powerless in the wake of such events, so it can be a direct tikkun (healing), to simply do good and stand together - however we choose to do so. You'll see details further down in this message about the upcoming OHRA (Options for Homeless Residents in Ashland) sleep-out fundraiser, designed to help families in need of shelter and stability.
 
Also, we have unfortunately seen a nationwide call to participate in anti-Muslim rallies this weekend, and Medford is one of many places where this sort of gathering is happening (Saturday morning at 9:00am in front of the Medford police station). Fortunately, there are even more counter-gatherings promoting peace and tolerance that I hope will more than counter the hateful message being put forward. Many in the interfaith community will be present at 9:00am at Alba Park (across from the station) this Saturday morning to be part of a demonstration calling for love, solidarity, and religious tolerance. There are more details below.
 
In many respects, these are tough times that we are living through; but like any time of tumult and threat, they are also times of great possibility. May we have the courage to act in this coming year with great love and courage.

L'shalom,



Rabbi Joshua Boettiger

Upcoming Services
Friday, Oct. 9
Shabbat Shirah, 7:00PM
followed by potluck dessert

Saturday, October 10
Lucas Cook Bar Mitzvah, 10:00AM

Torah Portion for This Week
This week's Torah portion is Bereshit (Genesis 1:1 - 6:8) and the haftarah is Isaiah 42:5 - 43:10.
This Week at TES
Jewish Meditation Wednesdays at 8:00AM.

Jewish Meditation at Rose Yoga in Ashland Fridays  at 3:00PM.
Announcements
       
Lucas Cook Bar Mitzvah, October 10                    All are joyfully invited to celebrate Lucas's bar mitzvah on Saturday, October 10 at 10:00AM, with kiddush luncheon to follow. Please RSVP immediately to Vivian Keyes at [email protected].

Lucas describes his mitzvah project: 
"My mitzvah project is to collect items and money for the Rogue Valley Humane Society in Grants Pass. They take care of dogs and cats until someone will adopt them. When I met Margaret, the director, she was passionate about how she cares for her animals. I feel really fortunate to help with her efforts. What is donated will lessen her burden with the limited funds she has. There will be a bucket to receive your donations in the Temple lobby. Here is a list for your consideration:
 
           *13 gal trash bags        *Purina Kitten Chow
           *33 gal trash bags        *Purina Cat Chow
           *clay cat litter               *Canned Dog food                                                   and Cat Food (Pate')
           *Gift cards                   *Paper towels
                       *Mr Clean Multi Surface Cleaner

Thank you for supporting my project."          

 



Oregon Celebrates Diversity and Inclusion and 
Stands Against Anti-Muslim Rallies and Events, October 9 & 10
A group calling itself "Global Rally for Humanity" is organizing anti-Muslim rallies across the country on October 9 and 10, 2015. In some states, the organizers of the events are encouraging attendees to openly carry guns. Their message is one of violence, racism and hate. The events are based on anti-Muslim and anti-refugee narratives.
 
In Oregon, a rally is planned in Medford in front of the Medford Police Department, on Saturday, Oct. 10th. Political leaders, human rights groups, diverse religious leaders of every faith, and community organizations condemn these malicious attacks on the Muslim communities.

In response to the anti-Muslim rally in Medford, Center for Intercultural Organizing, Oregon Action, faith leaders, and community groups are organizing a counter-rally called, "Countering with Love," on Saturday, Oct. 10th at 9:00AM in Alba Park in Medford, in which they will express their support for an accepting, welcoming pluralistic Oregon. More details available at oregonaction.org


Yoga with Rabbi Vanessa Grajwer Boettiger
Sponsored by the Temple Emek Shalom Sisterhood
Sunday, October 11 from 8:45 to 10:00am.
Please join us for a yoga class in honor of Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan. Rosh Chodesh means "the beginning of the month," and is traditionally a time that women gather to turn inwards and reconnect to themselves. No yoga experience necessary. The class will include a Rosh Chodesh teaching followed by asanas. If you have a yoga mat, please bring it. Some yoga mats will be available for anyone who needs one. $10 for members/$15 for non-members. Please pay at the door with check or cash (exact change is helpful). 
 
 
Member-Led Torah Study to Resume October 13  
After a short hiatus, a weekly member-facilitated Torah Study will meet on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:00pm in the TES library.  This member-driven Torah study is a long-standing tradition at TES, spanning about 25 years. 
 
The first study session will begin on Tuesday, October 13th, from 6:00 to 7:00pm.  Each week, a different volunteer group member will facilitate the discussion, choosing drash on the parsha of the week for study. A basic principle of the group is support for individual searching:  each of us is likely to have a different take on the parsha. Attendees are asked to have read the week's parsha in advance. We hope for lively, sometimes controversial, but always cordial wrestling with the text. Generally, Rabbi Joshua will lead us on the second Tuesday of each month.

We welcome your participation.  Previous Torah study experience is not required, nor is a knowledge of Hebrew. If you have any questions, or wish further information, please get in touch with Valentine Jones, Ruth Resch or Syl Zucker, all listed in the TES Member Directory.


Little Helen Gets Her New Kidney Next Week!
Helen, a student at Pomegranate Preschool, is getting her new kidney next week. Dana Schallheim is selling "Team Helen" t-shirts through booster.com as part of her fundraising activities for the Children's Organ Transplant Association in honor of Helen.  

Here's the link for information and donations: www.booster.com/COTAforHelenL. Dana's goal is to have Helen fans take pictures of themselves in their shirts that will be made into a photo book for Helen to look through while she is recovering in the hospital.


OSF Memorial Service for Catherine Coulson, October 26
The TES community is invited to an OSF memorial service for Catherine Coulson, to be held in the Bowmer Theatre on Monday, October 26 at 2:00pm. If you would like to attend, please call the OSF Box Office at (541) 482-4331 to obtain a ticket. Tickets are free, but are required.


Mussar: The Ancient Jewish Path to Living a Life of Goodness with Rabbi Ira Stone, October 30 & 31
Temple Emek Shalom is pleased to present this special Shabbat with Scholar-in-Residence, Rabbi Ira Stone.
Rabbi Stone will be speaking on Mussar as part of both the Friday evening service on Oct. 30 at 7:00PM and the Saturday morning service on Oct. 31 at 10:00AM, followed by a vegetarian catered lunch at 12:15PM.

Please register in advance by calling Kathy at the TES office at 541-488-2909 or by e-mail to [email protected]. Sliding scale of $10-$20 per person. Click here for a printable flyer.


The Beauty of Our Lives, November 8
The TES Sisterhood Committee invites you to a special Sunday morning event of ritual, creativity, and community for women.  Inspired by the week's Torah portion, "Sarah's Life", we will gather together to explore the wisdom of our own lives through meditation, SoulCollage (r), and a circle of sharing.  SoulCollage (r) is a creative arts process of cutting and pasting images that call to you, creating a collaged card, and expressing the voice of the card in writing and speaking to offer you insight, inspiration, and support for your own life.  As a group we will then honor the many facets of women's lives in a sacred circle.

Alexa Singer-Telles is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Dharma Teacher in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village, and a registered SoulCollage (r) Facilitator.  She is a member of Temple Beth Israel in Redding and honors and expresses her Jewish roots in her teaching.  Her workshops weave meditation, expressive arts and women's spirituality together for community building, self exploration and reflection.  She discovered SoulCollage (r) as a way "to bring the beauty of spirit into form."  Please contact Alexa with any questions at [email protected].

Sunday, November 8, 2015, 10:30 am - 1:00 pm, snacks provided.
Cost: TES & Havurah Members $25/Non-members $30
Please contact the TES office at 541-488-2909 or [email protected] to register.  Pre-registration is required as space is limited. 


Temple Emek Shalom's Synagogue is Coming of Age!
Thirteen years ago, our Temple Emek Shalom congregation moved into our new home here at 1800 East Main Street. Moving in (and having everything paid for!) was the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and capital-campaigning committed to and carried out by the leadership and membership in the late 1990s and early 2000s. And now it is our bat mitzvah year. To celebrate this, we will have a bat mitzvah ceremony on Saturday morning, November 14th followed by a festive lunch. More details will follow, but save the date and please join us in giving thanks.


Fundraiser for Families in Need, November 7 
It is hard to believe but over 18% of our fellow Ashland citizens live below the poverty level. There are over 200 people who do not have a bed to lay down on each night. They need help to move from just barely surviving to thriving in our community. With our help they can achieve stability.

Option for Homeless Residents of Ashland (OHRA) is sponsoring its 2nd annual SLEEP OUT Fundraiser on November 7, 2015. The event will take place at the athletic field of the former Lincoln Elementary School at Beach and Henry Streets. You can help OHRA meet its $30,000 goal for this event by either making a donation or being a pledge gatherer yourself by asking others to make a donation to OHRA. You can collect pledges even if you do not sleep out overnight.
Stop by and listen to music, eat, drink some hot chocolate and if you can help, set up tents. We would love to have you join us.

Donations collected will be used by OHRA at the Ashland Community Resource Center (ACRC) located at 572 Clover Lane next to the Ashland Emergency Food Bank.  
 
Save the date of November 7, 2015 to Sleep Under the Stars to raise dollars to help Ashland Homeless and those living in poverty. Contact Regina Ayars at 541-482-5019 or at [email protected] for more information. Or go to www.homelessoptions.org to donate. Please note in the comments that the donation is for the SLEEP OUT.  Options for Homeless Residents of Ashland (OHRA) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.


Fall Dates to Note

We have a busy fall coming up with lots of interesting and unique events here at TES, in conjunction with the Havurah, and in the community. Please note the following dates on your calendars.  More details will be forthcoming in future TES Weeklies and Kol Ha'Emek:

October 14, 21, 28 and November 4: 
"At the Mercy of Strangers:  Ancient Israel and Her Neighbors," a four-part series with OLLI instructor, Ean Roby, 7:00 - 8:30 PM at TES
October 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, 25
:  "Divine Lunacy", a play written by TES member Peter Quince
October 30 - 31:   Scholar-in Residence Shabbaton with Rabbi Ira Stone
November 7:   Day of Mindfulness with Alexa Singer-Telles at the Havurah
November 8:   SoulCollage Workshop with Alexa Singer-Telles at TES
November 12: Thursday Night at the Movies - "Witness for the Prosecution"
November 14 (evening): Concert with "Kirtan Rabbi" at the Havurah
November 15:   Workshop with "Kirtan Rabbi" at TES


 
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
Ean Roby, Professor Emeritus at Ohlone College,
returns to TES with a fascinating topic of ancient history that speaks to us today:  "At the Mercy of Strangers:  Ancient Israel and Her Neighbors." 
 
These lectures will investigate the history of ancient Israel from the entry into the land until the great rebellions in the Roman period. The intention of these talks will be to show the different relationships which Israel had with neighboring powers and how those relationships led to significant historical consequences. For example, we will look at the Philistines and how David was able to eventually overcome them. Similarly, when turning to the later Assyrians and Babylonians, we will encounter a dramatically different situation, one which eventually led to deportation of the ten northern tribes and, later, to the Babylonian exile.

We will also investigate over two centuries of peaceful Persian rule, the subsequent Selucid kingdom (whose provocations sparked rebellion and the establishment of a new Jewish state), and the era of ever-tightening Roman control. Taken together, these lectures should provide a deeper appreciation of ancient Jewish history.
 
Ean Roby's adult education classes at OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Southern Oregon University) on the history of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Indian Religions (except Buddhism), and Ancient Greek philosophy and history are very popular and fill up quickly.  If you're one of those who has tried to attend and was told the class was already full, here's your chance to enjoy an informative and lively program at TES.
 
This four-session class will meet in the TES conference room on consecutive Wednesdays,  
October 14, 21, 28 and November 4,
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM.  


Thursday Night at the Movies   
With two down and two to go, the Thursday Night at the Movies series resumes on November 12th with "Witness for the Prosecution," based on Agatha Christie's play and starring Tyrone Power. Nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Motion Picture, the film is another example of writer-director Billy Wilder's finest work.
 
In its review of the film, the New York Times called Wilder's courtroom scenes "splendid and splintering" and credited much of the film's triumph to the "first-rate performance" by Charles Laughton.
 
At the conclusion of the screening, TES member Ron Silverman will lead yet another exciting, informative discussion of the film and of Wilder himself.
 

Click here for a printable flyer with all the dates and details or see below.
    
Social Action Opportunities

Message from Social Justice Action Committee

ONE TON! ONE TON! WE CAN DO IT!

Thank you for all the donations of food that have come in during our High Holy Days food drive for the Ashland Emergency Food Bank. Our goal was one ton and we're not quite there. Just one extra case of food from each member and we can accomplish it. Let's do it this year!!

Yahrzeits for this Week
October 4 - 10, 2015 /21 - 27 Tishri 5776

Lillian Berman
Eva Brown
Trudy Holzman
Morris Schupack
Robert Friedman
Emilie Dempsey
George Wolf
Omer Aaronson
Morris Cutler
Abraham Wright
Marian Dobis Herron

Business Sponsors







RogueValleyCounseling.com


Medicare Specialist




Quick Links


Services This Week

Friday, Oct. 9
Shabbat Shirah
7:00PM
followed by potluck dessert


Saturday, October 10
Lucas Cook Bar Mitzvah
10:00AM


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