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TES Weekly
 May 3 - 10, 2016   

Rabbi's Message
5/4/2016  - 26 Nisan 5776

Today is the 11th Day of the Omer. We are in the midst of these mysterious 49 days that serve as a bridge between Passover and Shavuot; between being freed from slavery in Egypt and receiving Torah on Mount Sinai.
 
This second week is the week of gevurah, or strength. Our sages teach in the second blessing of the amida that strength is not what we imagine it to be. Often, we think of strength as that quality that helps us steel ourselves, or impose our will upon the world. But in the amida we hear of a strength that is associated with compassion, lovingkindness, healing the sick, and helping up the fallen. We hear of a strength that is soft and yielding; renewing and generative. It's a strength that sensitizes us to the Other, and compels us to serve them. This week, the Omer period invites us to drop into this version of the dynamic of strength, to consider the ways we cordon ourselves off from the world and the ways we might learn to let our defenses down. It invites us to cultivate a strength that is deeply of service.
 
Our observance of Yom HaShoah / Holocaust Remembrance Day is this Thursday, May 5th, at 7:00pm here at Temple Emek Shalom. As is traditional, we will mark this occasion with Havurah Shir Hadash. This year's service/ceremony will feature poems of the Shoah, most written and being read by members of both communities.
 
This Saturday morning will be our regular Shabbat Simcha - a special monthly service where we mark each other's joyous occasions. This Saturday morning, we will be especially celebrating Erin, Juniper, and Denali Stone's joining of the Jewish people! The family will be sponsoring a lunch afterwards.
 
And we continue our Pirkei Avot series this Sunday from 11:30-12:30. Rabbi Vanessa Boettiger taught last week's study, and this week's learning will be led by Rabbi Julia Vaughns - please join us! Her teaching is: "These Three Things: Teachings That Come in Threes."
 
 L'shalom,

Rabbi Joshua Boettiger
Upcoming Services
Saturday, May 7
Torah Study, 9:00AM
Shabbat Simcha,10:00AM
followed by hosted lunch
Torah Portion for This Week
This week's Torah portion is Achrei Mot (Leviticus 16:1 - 18:30 and the haftarah is Ezekiel 22:1 - 22:19.
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

Emek Shalom Office Schedule Change 
Due to various factors, we are starting a new routine at the Emek Shalom office. Starting on May 17, our office will be closed for lunch from 1:00 - 2:00PM every day.  Please plan your trips to the Temple, scheduling committee meetings, etc. with this in mind as the building will be locked with no access during that time.  Regular office hours will remain as Tuesday to Friday from 10:00AM - 4:00PM, with the closure for lunch.  Thank you for your understanding.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Kathy, Office Manager, at (541) 488-2909 or [email protected].

       
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.


Yom HaShoah Observance, May 5
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony will feature poetry of the Shoah, both written and chosen by congregants of Temple Emek Shalom and Havurah Shir Hadash. The poems will be woven throughout the service, which will take place at 7:00pm on Thursday, May 5th. As always, we will be observing Yom HaShoah as a broader Jewish community, with both congregations coming together. This year's service will be held at Temple Emek Shalom.


PJ Library Event for May



Origins & Meanings of Hebrew Prayers, May 12
Rabbi Julia Vaughns continues her class on the origins and meanings of Hebrew prayers on Thursday, May 12 at 7:00PM, focusing on the Mourner's Kaddish for this session. 


Pam Erwin Bat Mitzvah, June 4
(correction - please note correct date is June 4!)

Pam and Susan invite our TES community to join us for this joyful celebration on Saturday, June 4 at 10:00AM.  Luncheon to follow the service.  If you plan to attend the luncheon, kindly RSVP no later than May 15th to Pam at [email protected] or by phone at 541.708.5158.



 

Oregon Jewish Life Magazine Seeking "Oy" Moments
OJL is looking for submissions for their "Oy!" column - and they're  offering a prize to the first person who has their "Oy!" moment published in Oregon Jewish Life.

"Oy!" is dedicated to those moments in life that make you laugh, shake your head and exclaim (or mutter),"Oy!"  Please send your funniest or most embarrassing "Oy!" moments to [email protected]. Just a couple sentences describing the moment will suffice. And there might be a prize!


                     
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 11:30AM-12:30PM 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?  


Kabbalat Shabbat Prayer Mini-Study, May 13
Led by Rabbi Joshua immediately prior to three Shabbat Shirah services starting in May, this class offers a half hour mini-study of various Kabbalat Shabbat prayers. First session will be on Friday, May 13 at 6:30PM. Subsequent classes will be June 10 & July 8.

Social Action Opportunities
 
Message from Evie Strauss, Co-Chair, Social Justice Action Committee

On Saturday, May 7 at Shabbat Simcha, Tami, the Executive Director of the Children's Advocacy Center, will tell us about what the partnership of the Children's Advocacy Center, CASA and the Family Nurturing Center is doing for the abused children in Jackson County. Please plan to come to the May 7th Shabbat services.


"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
May 1 - 7, 2016 / 23 - 29 Nisan 5776

Samuel Jaffee
Thelma Kaylin
Gertrude Latker
Helen Matter
Sylvia Silverman
Gene Wolf
Lynn Romick
Joseph Goldwasser
J.B. Sherr
Ben Telpner
Melvin Wiesenthal
Jeannette Goldberg
Eva S. Wright
Arnold Hemley
Israel Kessler
Carl Shoesmith
Ethel Novak
Jennie Slipchinsky
Alan "Avyitz" Rosenberg

Business Sponsors








RogueValleyCounseling.com


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Quick Links


Services This Week


Saturday, May 7
Torah Study
9:00AM
Shabbat Simcha
10:00AM
followed by hosted lunch

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