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TES Weekly
 April 19 - 26, 2016   

Rabbi's Message
4/20/2016  - 12 Nisan 5776

First of all, for anyone who would like to have me be their proxy in selling your chametz this year, please click on the link here and email back the form or drop it off by Friday at Noon.

I'm looking forward to seeing many of you at our Seder on Saturday evening - I think we are up to 130 RSVPs! We will have a chance then and there to engage in many wonderful teachings about Passover. But in the meantime, here's one to tide us over and give us strength to get through the cleaning that still needs to be done:

The history behind the custom of Elijah's cup is different than what we might have thought. Elijah is the Prophet of Passover (as well as other times) who is the harbinger of an age of redemption. We open the door for him at our seders, and we connect his presence to the mandate to invite and feed all who are hungry. But what about Elijah's cup? It turns out there is a difference of opinion in the Talmud about whether there should be four or five cups of wine at a Passover seder. The issue was never resolved. And so to honor both the pro-fifth cup camp and the anti-fifth cup camp, we keep the custom of pouring a fifth cup but not drinking it. We call it Elijah's cup, because one of Elijah's future tasks in a redeemed world will be adjudicate all unresolved halachic matters (issues of Jewish law). When he returns, he will tell us whether we need a fifth cup or not!

At first, we might be disappointed to hear this history. No social justice narrative? No roots to an ancient call to feed the hungry? But actually, this reason is quite profound. Judaism law and philosophy highly prize debate and compromise. We have a rich history of finding a third way when we are at an impasse. This custom can be seen as a symbol of great tolerance - making room at our table for divergent opinions, and honoring them all. May your Elijah's cup not only remind you of our shared obligation to feed those who are hungry, but also of the ever-present need in our world to be tolerant and to go beyond mere tolerance towards an embrace of real diversity and pluralism of thought. 

Please note - in addition to the Seder, we will be having a special Saturday morning Shabbat/Passover service on the 23rd at 10:00am (with Torah Study at 9:00am).

Chag sameach v'kasher - Happy Passover to Everyone!
 
  L'shalom,

Rabbi Joshua Boettiger
Upcoming Services
Saturday, April 23
Torah Study, 9:00AM
Shabbat Services,10:00AM
Torah Portion for This Week
This week's Torah portion is Exodus 12:21 - 12:51 and Numbers 28:16 - 28:25 and the haftarah is Joshua 5:2 - 6:1.
This Week at TES
Member-led Torah Study Tuesdays at 6:00PM
(Rabbi-led Torah Study
second Tuesday of each month)

Jewish Meditation
will resume on Wednesday, May 4 at 8:00AM.

Jewish Meditation at Rose Yoga in Ashland will resume Friday, May 6 at 3:00PM.
Announcements

Education Director/Cantorial Soloist Search Committee Progress Report  
 
The Search Committee (Emanuel Ben-David--Chair, Lori Bandler, Sasha Borenstein, Sherry Friedman, Adie Goldberg, Gretski Lieberman, Jordan Saturen, and Michael Schames) is pleased to report its progress.

We published an advertisement on recommended websites and in response have received several applications. After careful review of the applications, together with the Rabbi, we have conducted a few preliminary Skype interviews and are continuing the evaluation process. Additional applications may be forthcoming.

Please feel free to contact any of us to share your thoughts.

Chag Sameach!

 
Traditions in Preparing for Pesach, April 21
Adults and kids are invited to join us in kashering, checking for and burning (Bdika and Be'ur) chametz
on Thursday, April 21 at 5:00PM. 



All Hands on Deck! Help Needed for Set Up for the Seder, April 22
Calling all willing congregants! Please come help us with furniture set-up for our Community Seder. Set-up day will be Friday, April 22 at 12:00 Noon, for about one hour. Please contact Kathy at the office at [email protected] or Emanuel Ben-David at [email protected]. We need your help!       
 
 
Origin & Meaning of Hebrew Prayers, April 21  
Rabbi Julia Vaughns returns for a one-hour class on the meaning and history of Jewish prayers, on Thursday, April 21 at 7:00PM. Everyone is welcome. 


Shabbat Simcha, May 7
Please join us on Saturday, May 7 at 10:00AM as we celebrate the conversion of Erin Stone and her daughters, Juniper and Denali. Please join us after the service for a lunch hosted by Amy & Mort Friedkin.


TES/Havurah Member offers Hebrew Chant Group. Two Meetings in April: Wednesday, April 20, 6:30-8:00pm, theme of liberation for Pesach, in the Havurah sanctuary and Sunday, April 24, 2:00-3:30pm, focus on Chesed/lovingkindness in the Havurah back classroom
Elizabeth Markell
completed the Kol Zimra Chant Leader training with Rabbi Shefa Gold in January 2014.  Chant is used as a vehicle for contemplative practice/prayer/healing/transformation, alternating times of singing and silence.  Elizabeth says: "These gatherings 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 gratefully accepted.  Please call or e-mail to let Elizabeth know if you plan to come (for making handouts), 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

Study Pirkei Avot between Passover and Shavuot with a Different Guest Teacher Each Week!
Pirkei Avot ("Ethics of Our Fathers") is a famous rabbinic compilation with wonderful teachings, both pithy and profound, from the early rabbis. It is a text of timeless wisdom, and creates some of the bedrock for all Jewish ethical literature that follows. And - it is a tradition to study this work during the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot. Seven separate teachers, both rabbis and laypeople, will take turns leading the learning on Sundays from 11:30-12:30 here at Temple Emek Shalom. 
 
May 1st: Moses received the Torah from Sinai: The History and Context of Pirkei Avot 
May 8th: "These Three Things": Teachings That Come in Threes 
May 15th: How a Person Becomes a Mensch 
May 22nd: Disputes for the Sake of Heaven
May 29th: Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself: How Pirkei Avot Relates to Mussar Practice  
June 5th: What is the Impact of Pirkei Avot on Future Jewish Life and Thought?  

Social Action Opportunities
 
Message from Evie Strauss, Co-Chair, Social Justice Action Committee
 
"Did you know that April is "Child Abuse Prevention Month?" Did you know that three great organizations -- Children's Advocacy Center, CASA and the Family Nurturing Center -- are having a special fund drive to raise money for their programs that benefit abused children?  They are putting out collection jars all over the Rogue Valley, including one at TES. Please put your "spare change" in the jar on the lobby table. You can even put in bills: ones, fives, tens are all welcome!!

Then in May, Tami, the Executive Director of the Children's Advocacy Center, will tell us more about what this partnership is doing for the abused children in Jackson County. Please plan to come to the May 7th Shabbat services.

Thank you!"


"UNCLE FOODS" NEEDS YOGURT CONTAINERS
Uncle Foods Diner, the community meal served every Tuesday at the Ashland Methodist Church is in need of "take out" containers. Nancy's Yogurt containers can be washed and re-used many times, so please save ONLY: Nancy's clean, 16 oz or 32 oz containers with lids and leave them with an attendant at the Recycling Center on Water Street in Ashland.  For further info, call:  541-201-0437
 
Yahrzeits for this Week
April 17 - 23, 2016 / 9 - 15 Nisan 5776

Alvin Stolzer
Allen Brown
Israel Freedman
Henry Simon
Virginia Lee
Helena "Nataniah" Zajac

Business Sponsors








RogueValleyCounseling.com


Medicare Specialist
Quick Links


Services This Week


Saturday, April 23
Torah Study
9:00AM
Shabbat Services  10:00AM

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