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TES Weekly
February 23 - March 1, 2016   

Rabbi's Message
2/24/2016  - 15 Adar I 5776


My friend, Rabbi Steve Gutow, and I share a love of poetry. When I was the rabbi at Congregation Beth El in Bennington, Vermont, he would come up from New York and visit me for shabbatot, and our Sundays always consisted of a trip to Robert Frost's grave. Frost is buried behind a classically New England white church, in a setting that - especially in the Fall - seems right out of central casting. The epitaph on his headstone reads, "I had a lover's quarrel with the world."
 
I can't think of a more quintessentially Jewish description of what it means to be a human being than that. The epitaph is actually an excerpt from the long poem, "A Lesson For Today" - which isn't one of Frost's better-known poems. (It's worth reading in its entirety - http://www.davidpaulkirkpatrick.com/2015/03/26/i-had-a-lovers-quarrel-with-the-world-by-robert-frost/). It is a beautiful and at times humorous meditation on the shortness of life, and how we measure it; on how we all think we are living in an impossible age no matter when we live.
 
Steve and I also visited one of Robert Frost's homes (there are quite a few dotting this part of the New England landscape that make that claim). One time, we took in a display devoted to Frost's extraordinary and enduring friendship with a rabbi, Victor Reichert. It seems like there was some kind of soul-recognition that the two men shared, almost a chavruta (study partnership) over 24 years. In any case, I like thinking of it as a chavruta, because the best way we can have a lover's quarrel with the world that does not give into despair, that keeps a sense of humor, and ultimately helps us choose life - is to do it in close proximity to others. The world doesn't always talk back, at least in language we can readily identify, but other human beings do.
 
Join us this Shabbat for - on Friday - Kabbalat Shabbat at 5:30pm, followed by our regular Shul School potluck, Eat Pray Sing (open to the whole community) at 6:00pm. Saturday morning we'll have Torah Study at 9:00am and morning services at 10:00am.
 
L'shalom,
 

Rabbi Joshua Boettiger

Upcoming Services
Friday, February 26
Kabbalat Shabbat (lay led), 5:30PM

Friday, February 26
Eat, Pray, Sing, 6:00PM (with vegetarian potluck dinner)

Saturday, February 27
Torah Study 9:00AM
Shabbat Morning Services , 10:00AM
Torah Portion for This Week
This week's Torah portion is Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11 - 34:35) and the haftarah is I Kings 18:1 - 18:39.
This Week at TES
Member-led Torah Study Tuesdays at 6:00PM
(Rabbi-led Torah Study
second Tuesday of each month)

Jewish Meditation
Wednesdays at 8:00AM.

Jewish Meditation at Rose Yoga in Ashland Fridays at 3:00PM.
Announcements

Please Pick Up Items Left at TES
There is an assortment of kitchenware that is accumulating on the TES kitchen counter, left here from various events dating back to Break the Fast last September (bowls, plates, vases, utensils, etc.). Please come collect your items (they are on the counter to your right as you enter the kitchen). If they're still there at the end of this month, they will be absorbed into TES' own supply, never to be seen again! :o)  Thanks!


TES Member Julia Sommer to Perform
Julia Sommer will perform with Southern Oregon Repertory Singers this Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, Feb. 27 & 28, at the SOU Music Recital Hall. The program features "big heart" music inspired by images of starlight.  More information at repsingers.org


Interested in Volunteering to help with
Spring Fest 2016?

Come to a Volunteer Meeting this Sunday (2/28) at TES 11:00-12:00. Hear what you can sign-up to do.



Asher Werthaiser Bar Mitzvah, March 5
All are joyfully invited to celebrate Asher Werthaiser's Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, March 5 at 10:00AM, with luncheon to follow. Please RSVP by February 28 to Wendy Werthaiser at 541-778-7543 or 
 

Rosh Hodesh (New Month) Celebration for Adar II for Rogue Valley Women (all are welcome),
March 6 
Please join us as we celebrate Rosh Hodesh and Women's History Month with a special evening program on Sunday, March 6, 6:30-8:30pm at TES.
There will be several presenters to highlight the lives of "4 Rachels"- 4 different Rachels from Jewish history. Presenters will be:
Rabbi Julia Sarah Vaughns
Rabbi Sue Morningstar
Devorah Zaslow
Judith Kurinsky
Rabbi Jackie Brodsky
 
As we welcome Adar II and the coming celebration of Purim later in the month, we embrace the Adar themes of: joy increasing, hidden redemption, giving gifts and other charity, and bringing light out of the darkness.
In addition to the presentation, we will be lighting candles and sending prayers ahead for our families and communities throughout the world; we will also be sharing music, and enjoying snacks (- oh yes, please bring some finger food to share).
We hope to see you there!
Rabbi Jackie Brodsky and Judith Kurinsky

March 26, 2016
Act Now to Take Advantage
of "Early Bird" Ticket Pricing. 
Register today for this fun-filled evening - go to:  www.emekshalom.org 
Look for the Spring Fest logo. 
Click on "register" and purchase your tickets there. 
Or call the TES office (541) 488-2909 to register by phone.  Ticket prices go up to $70 on March 15.
See you at the Spring Fest!

 
Member-led Yoga Class on Wednesdays   
TES member Jonnie Dale Lieberman is offering 
"Self Care Shalom Yoga"
Wednesdays, 9 am to 10 am in the TES Library.  One more opportunity: March 2 
 
Arriving 10 minutes early to get settled in is very helpful.  

Please Bring 
- an Empty Stomach and an Open Mind
- Hearty and Full Water Bottle
- Yoga Mat (mats are available if needed) 
- Layered Comfortable clothes - no belts, clothes for easy movement
- Blankie or Shawl

Everyone Welcome - Gentle Yoga, primarily for beginners  
Donations Welcome to TES General Fund or TES Fund of your choice 
See You on the Mat!


TES/Havurah Member offers Hebrew Chant Group. Next Meeting is on Sunday, February 28, 2:00-3:30pm, in the Havurah sanctuary
Elizabeth Markell  completed the Kol Zimra Chant Leader training with Rabbi Shefa Gold in January 2014.  Chant is used as a vehicle for devotional and contemplative practice, for prayer, healing and transformation, alternating times of singing and silence.  Elizabeth says: "The simple repeated phrases offer opportunity for us to open our hearts and deepen in connection with each other and the Divine."  No musical experience is necessary- All voices welcome!  Donations will be gratefully accepted.  Please call or e-mail to let Elizabeth know if you plan to come, and also with any questions. Contact info: 541-778-6155, [email protected].

        
      
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



(Between) the Wars That Shaped Israel
(please note time change below) 
Many of us know a few things about the Six Day War, the Yom Kippur War and the First Lebanon War. These fundamental events seem to have shaped the nature and character of Israel and its mindset.  However, much less is known about the periods before and after each of these wars, even though these periods were at least (if not much more) as influential in shaping Israel.
 
Emanuel Ben-David will discuss these periods, interweaving his own experience, in a series of three talks in February and March. Those of you who may have had the pleasure of attending Emanuel's previous presentations on Israel should expect to enjoy another fascinating, informative series.
 
Mark your calendars for:
 
            Sunday, February 7, 11:30 AM
            Sunday, February 21, 11:30 AM, and
            Sunday, March 6, 11:30 AM
 
All sessions will be held in the TES Conference Room.

Social Action Opportunities

Thank You From Community Health
"William and I just wanted to thank you for allowing us to be at your 2/6/16 service and to present information about Rogue Community Health.  With appreciation, Karen Elliott"


Volunteers Needed for Winter Shelter 
The City of Ashland, The Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Church and Temple Emek Shalom partner again for 2015-2016, collaborating once more to host the Winter Homeless Shelter on Winburn Way. Sign up to be a part of this important MITZVAH, by contacting our own 
Sharon Harris:  [email protected].  The Shelter is open on Tuesday and Thursday nights beginning in mid-November and running throughout the Winter 
months.

Please see Sharon's guest message in the January 26 TES Weekly for more information about the shelter and the ways you can help.  Thanks! 
 
Yahrzeits for this Week
February 21-27, 2016 /12 -19 Adar ! 5776

Pastora Finales
Celia Kessler
Barbara Melzer
Sidney Rinkoff
Carl Hopfinger
Harry Rubenstein
Samuel Cutler
Adina Shira Kletter
Joseph G. Rubenson
Rose Hoffman Rubin
Ralph Moss
Jean Rosenbaum
William Ferguson
Simpson Edwin Meyers
Thelma Steyskal
Estelle Gottlieb
Rhoda Solomon

Business Sponsors








RogueValleyCounseling.com

Quick Links


Services This Week


Friday, February 26
Kabbalat Shabbat
(lay led)
5:30PM

Friday, February 26
Eat, Pray, Sing
6:00PM (with vegetarian potluck dinner)

Saturday, February 27
Torah Study 9:00AM
Shabbat Morning Services
10:00AM


 
Temple Emek Shalom | 541-488-2909 | http://emekshalom.org
PO Box 1107, Ashland, OR 97520 / 1800 E. Main Street, Ashland