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Friday, April 28, 2017 / 2 Iyar, 5777
Dear Friends,
A couple of months ago, a photograph from the Oval Office angered advocates for reproductive health and education. The photograph was of President Trump signing an executive order to reinstate a federal ban on funding for international health organizations that counsel women on family planning options that include abortion. It was no surprise that he signed this order-every Republican president since Reagan has. However, the optics were awful because this order that once again removed essential family planning counseling offered to women throughout the world, a majority of whom are women of color, was signed in a ceremony in which only white men were captured in the camera frame.
I thought of this photograph as I prepared to teach my Torah study class about Parashat Tazria yesterday. The opening verses from Leviticus, Chapter 12 describe the period of ritual impurity for a woman who has just given birth to a child. My preparation this week utilized a book called Mikraot G'dolot which, like a page of Talmud, takes a few verses of Torah text and surrounds it with a variety of rabbinic commentaries.
I felt a disconnect with this source I chose (like I did with that aforementioned photograph) because it contained only the opinions of several medieval rabbis trying to teach us about childbirth and other issues of ritual impurity that women face. While these rabbis do offer some interesting commentary, I believe that today, when we look at these verses in particular, they need to be informed by women's voices as well. In preparing for that class at home, I neglected to take my WRJ Women's Commentary from my office as that would've offered both contemporary and feminist perspectives to add to the traditional sources for my Torah study class yesterday. In reading some these insights today, I am inspired by the lessons and poetry offered by these scholars who shine a different light onto these challenging verses.
While medieval male rabbis have a lot to teach, additional vital understanding comes from the diversity of voices from our tradition, especially new voices and women's voices. Not only for portions that speak to issues like childbirth, but to all verses of Torah as well.
Contemporary commentaries can help make difficult and seemingly archaic verses become more relevant in our day. Take a look at the WRJ Women's Commentary; introduce yourself to new voices; read the URJ's Ten Minutes of Torah. When you study Torah, be inspired not only by the traditional voices of our tradition, but by the newer and more diverse voices as well.
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
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, April 28
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, April 29
10:00 a.m. Torah on the Trails walking George F. Canyon Preserve
Meet in the parking lot of the nature center, 27305 Palos Verdes Drive East, (south-west corner at Palos Verdes Drive North), Rolling Hills Estates.
Also on Saturday, April 29
4:30 p.m. Shabbat afternoon service during which Sarah Wagner becomes a bat mitzvah
All are welcome to attend.
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 for our 5:30 p.m. Shabbat Dinner.
Saturday, May 6
10:00 a.m. Refuat Ha'Nefesh-Healing Service
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
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Shoe Drive going on NOW through 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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