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Friday, May 5, 2017 / 9 Iyar, 5777
What does it mean to be holy? What does God require of us? These two questions are on my mind this week as I reflect not only on this week's double Torah portion Aharei Mot/Kedoshim, but also on my experience in Washington D.C. this week participating in the
Religious Action Center's Consultation on Conscience
with our VP of Member Outreach, Randy Ross.
Parashat Kedoshim
powerfully declares, "You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy." (Lev. 19:2) The Hebrew form of "you" is written in the plural form meaning that when God speaks to you, it's not just one person, it's all of us-a collective "you." How do we become holy? By observing the mitzvot, especially those that defend and protect the most vulnerable among us. God commands us to leave the corners of the field, and to refrain from harvesting all of our crops so that the hungry can come and eat. God commands us to preserve the dignity of our fellow human being by not insulting the deaf or placing a stumbling block before the blind. We are prohibited from lying or dealing deceitfully with another person. By performing these mitzvot both by actively doing and actively refraining from doing, we become holy-like God. The words of this portion lead nicely into the famous verse of action from the Prophet Micah who asks and answers: "What does God require from us? To do justice, to love goodness, and to walk humbly with God." (Micah 6:8)
These verses and others were on my mind throughout the three day Consultation on Conscience that was programmed around its theme, "The Urgency of Now." We heard presentations from leading educators, activists and elected officials who spoke of the threats facing too many people in our country that this week's Torah portion warns against. Threats against the human and civil rights of our fellow person be they of a different race, religion or ethnicity; be they law abiding yet undocumented; be they gender non-confirming. We discussed threats that transcend lines of race, ethnicity and class, including the threat to their health care that 23 million Americans, mostly poor, now face. We were reminded repeatedly that while it is nice to sit in comfortable hotel ballrooms being inspired by others, we need to fulfill Micah's first declaration-to do justice, to respond, and to act. We need to be ever reminded of the thirty-six times the Torah's declares, "love the stranger for you were once strangers." We need to be ever reminded of how our text and tradition implores us to care for the widow, the orphan and the stranger, who collectively are the most vulnerable in society.
I returned from Washington D.C. with the words of the Torah, the words of the Prophet Micah, and the words of many of the leaders who addressed us on my mind and in my hands and feet ready to fulfill this mandate.
If you are interested in learning more about what we can to do act powerfully together, or joining us in this work please reach out to me or to Randy Ross. Together you and I can change the world by acting justly, powerfully and humbly as we move along this long arc that bends towards justice.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Charles Briskin
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Refuah Sh'leimah
For those recovering from an illness:
Barbara Mozlin
Vivian Rigler
Jack Lebental
Irene Tyson
Elaine Grove
Beth Wahba
David Shneer
Andy Kauffman
Howard Uller
Wendy Waterman
Marty Herman
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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 Can't make it to services? Watch from the comfort of your own home!
Temple Beth El now offers
LIVE STREAM of our services.
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Friday, May 5
4:00 p.m. Half-Pint Havurah
6:30 p.m. Shabbat HaMorim-Teacher's Shabbat &
Family Shabbat Service with Youth Choir performance
Please join us for this special Shabbat service honoring our wonderful Torah School teachers and a
Special Blessing for our Graduating High School Seniors.
Please RSVP to Carrie before Noon for our 5:30 p.m. Shabbat Dinner.
Saturday, May 6
10:00 a.m. Refuat Ha'Nefesh-Healing Service
Also on Saturday, May 6
7:30 p.m. Yom Ha'atzmaut Concert featuring Israeli Singer, Shanee Zamir
Please join us in the TBE Sanctuary for a wonderful evening celebrating Israel's Independence Day.
Free Admission! Following the concert, there will be a potluck dessert reception in Al Manuel Hall. Please bring wine, cheese, nuts, fruit or pastries to share.
RSVP to Zorica Sorkin here so that we can plan accordingly.
Friday, May 12
7:30 p.m. Shabbat Service with Torah reading
Celebrating adult birthdays and anniversaries with an
aliyah to the Torah. Rabbi Briskin will speak.
Saturday, May 13
9:30 a.m. Lay-Led Shabbat Shaharit (morning) Service
Friday, May 19
7:30 p.m. Shabbat Service of Confirmation
Join our TBE family as we honor this year's Confirmands for completing their years of Torah School study:
Adam Paul, Alissa Wagner and Eden Zafran.
Saturday, May 20
10:00 a.m. Meditation Service
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"Spam" folder.
Thank you for your feedback.
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Shoe Drive
Ends May 31!
We are collecting any lightly used men's, women's, and/or children's shoes and NEW (unworn) socks to benefit Shoes for the Homeless, Inc., a 501 (c)3 charitable corporation, whose mission is to provide shoes, free of charge, to the homeless and those in need in our local community.
Donation Bins are located in the lobby
next to the elevator.
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We hope to see you soon at
Temple Beth El.
Call the office for more information: 310-833-2467
Or drop by for a visit:
1435 W. 7th Street, San Pedro 90732
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