Shabbat Shalom from TBE

Shabbat Shalom

from

Temple Beth El

Friday, March 10, 2017 / 12 Adar, 5777

Parashat T'tzaveh Exodus 27:20-30:10

Dear Friends,

This week's Torah portion, called Tetzaveh, is notable because it is the only portion in the entire book of Exodus in which Moses is not mentioned by name. Instead, much of the attention is focused on Moses' older brother, Aaron, who becomes the High Priest. Our sages share many possible explanations for Moses' absence (by name at least-he presence is very much felt); however, one new idea that I hadn't considered previously comes from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. He speaks of the unique relationship shared between Moses and Aaron. They are brothers who actually get along!

Think of all of the sibling relationships we've explored previously from the book of Genesis: Cain and Abel; Isaac and Ishmael; Jacob and Esau; Joseph and his brothers. Each of these relationships is fractured in their youth; some brothers reconcile later in life, and one even ends in fratricide.

However, Moses and Aaron are different. They are brothers who maintain a very close relationship. They support one another and they complement one another. They show a model of sibling relationship that is quite different from the models of the past. One thought is that they are closer because they didn't grow up together (remember that Moses was raised in the household of Pharaoh). They didn't develop a close relationship until they were in their 80s and God charged them to lead the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. Imagine how close you might be with your siblings had you been raised in different households and gotten to know one another as adults. Something to think about.

I invite you to link to these thoughtful words of Rabbi Sacks and be inspired by the lesson he teaches, just as I was this week.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Charles Briskin

Refuah Sh'leimah

For those recovering from an illness:

Barbara Mozlin

Vivian Rigler

Jack Lebental

Irene Tyson

Elaine Grove

Beth Wahba
Ashley Felsher
David Shneer
Andy Kauffman
Howard Uller

To add a name to this list, please contact the TBE Office. We will not add names until we are notified by the family. Thank you.

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Upcoming Services

Friday, March 10

7:30 p.m. Shabbat Service with a Torah reading

Join us as we celebrate adult birthdays and anniversary blessings with an aliyah to the Torah. Rabbi Briskin will speak about Team Israel's surprising performance in the World Baseball Classic, Jewish Identity in America and what this has to do with Purim.

Saturday, March 11

9:30 a.m. Lay-Led Shabbat Shaharit (morning) service

Noon Potluck Kiddush lunch

Friday, March 17

6:30 p.m. Musical Shabbat Service

Join us for our musical Shabbat featuring the Moody Jews.

Saturday, March 18

10:00 a.m. Meditation Service

Friday, March 24

7:30 p.m. Shabbat Service honoring the 5777 Zebulon Recipients

A special service to honor Grant Perry and Marla Shwarts.

Saturday, March 25

10:00 a.m. Torah on the Trails walking Point Vicente Interpretive Center

Meet in the parking lot of the Interpretive Center located at 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West, RPV.

Friday, March 31

6:30 p.m. MAZON Soup & Salad Dinner. RSVP here.

7:30 p.m. Shabbat Koleinu Service

Shabbat dinner to benefit MAZON, A Jewish Response to Hunger. We encourage you to contribute whatever you would normally spend to prepare a Shabbat meal for yourself or your family. Please click here to RSVP for dinner. Join us after dinner for Shabbat Koleinu featuring TBE member Cantor Stephen Richards.

Saturday, April 1

10:00 a.m. Healing Service