The annual business meeting of Temple Beth Tikvah will be held on Tuesday, June 4th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Environmental Center, located at 16 NW Kansas Ave., Bend, across from the First United Methodist Church.

At the meeting we will elect the new members of the Board of Directors and vote upon the proposed budget. Watch for details coming in a separate email of any additional business matters.

It is very important that as much of our membership attend as possible, so please mark it on your calendars NOW and plan to be there!  

We are rapidly rounding the corner toward a lot of change in our lives.  May has arrived and, if you are like me, there is a lot of wonder about where the time this year has gone, where we are going, and what the future looks like.

For some of us, the approaching summer means a break from the pace that we take on.  For some it means more time with our kids.  For some it means more time with our partners because we send our kids to camp.  And we may even get to just enjoy the beautiful sunshine and warmth of our Bend climate.

The adage that "April showers brings May flowers" has always intrigued me because of its inherent beauty and metaphor, not the fact that weather may in fact bring blossoms.

The month of May can be for us a time where we see the world anew.  It can be a time of growing; a time where we take stock of the whirlwind of Spring and say to ourselves, "this is where I am right now."  And be grateful for whatever that is - be it joyous or challenges; it is life.

The other day, while I was thinking about this, I came across this quote.  Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche is a Tibetian philosopher and he speaks about how we can approach life. He says:

When someone insults us, we usually dwell on it, asking ourselves, 'Why did he say that to me?' and on and on. It's as if someone shoots an arrow at us, but it falls short. Focusing on the problem is like picking up the arrow and repeatedly stabbing ourselves with it, saying, 'He hurt me so much. I can't believe he did that.' Instead, we can use the method of contemplation to think things through differently, to change our habit of reacting with anger. Imagine that someone insults you. Say to yourself, 'This person makes me angry. But what is this anger?' It is one of the poisons of the mind that creates negative karma, leading to intense suffering. Meeting anger with anger is like following a lunatic who jumps off a cliff. Do I have to go likewise? While it's crazy for him to act the way he does, it's even crazier for me to do the same.

This, my friends, is our message for this month of May.  Look out at where you are on your journey.  And, as hard as it may be, embrace where you are.  This thing called life was never supposed to be easy but it certainly is a gift, and as such, we should celebrate the good we find, and not dwell in minutiae that come in our way.

May we be blessed, this month, with insight, foresight and courage.  Then, I truly know, the flowers of the month of May will blossom for each of us.  

Always,

Back Door Cafe

TBT is serving breakfast on Wednesday, May 15th at the Back Door Café located in the social hall of the First United Methodist Church. To quote member Michael Rosenfield, Back Door's doctor of dishwashing, "this is doing God's work." It's a wonderful opportunity to provide hands on help to those in need. We begin prepping and setting up at 7:30 am, serving breakfast from 8:00 - 10:00. And we leave knowing that we have made a difference in someone's world.

On Wednesday, April 24th we served breakfast to nearly 50 people. Many thanks to those who cooked and served this past week: Jeff Adler, Jeanne Freeman & Burt Litman, Corrie & Shelley Grudin, Joe Jezukewicz, Ann & Michael Rosenfield, and Mark Schindel.

Contact Burt Litman to sign up or for more information: blitman@bendbroadband.com or 541-504-5368.

Bethlehem Inn

The Bethlehem Inn is an emergency shelter for men, women and children. We next serve dinner at the Bethlehem Inn on Thursday, May 16th, with the B'nai Mitzvah class hosting, and anyone else who would like to help is welcome. Thanks to the many temple members who generously give their time to cook and serve at the Bethlehem Inn. Contact Burt Litman to sign up or for more information: blitman@bendbroadband.com or 541-504-5368.

Both of these organizations serve the local community in need and are opportunities for us to perform greatly appreciated mitzvahs.

If you know of other organizations that TBT can help support, please contact blitman@bendbroadband.com.

• From Lester & Diane Dober, to the Music Fund, in memory of Goldie Dober.
• From Gary & Terry Reynolds, in honor of the marriage of David and Harriet Deitz.
• From Gary & Terry Reynolds, for Zak and Randi Zlatkus, in memory of Zaks mother.
• From Gary & Terry Reynolds, wishing Jeanne Freeman a speedy recovery.
• From Gary & Terry Reynolds, in honor of  Jeanne Freeman and the entire Passover committee, bakers, set up & clean up crews and costume crews - thanks for a wonderful Seder!