Shabbat Shalom from TBE

Shabbat Shalom

from

Temple Beth El

Gift Card Drive

for Hurricane Relief

Drop off (or mail in) retail gift cards to Target, Home Depot, Lowes or Walmart, in any amount.

Rabbi Briskin will send these cards to his colleagues for direct distribution to members of their congregations directly impacted.

Friday, September 29, 2017 / 9 Tishrei, 5777

Parashat Yom Kippur Deuteronomy 29:9-14, 30:11-20

Dear Friends,

I was at my Rotary Club meeting yesterday and many friends, most of whom are not Jewish, struggled to find the right words to say to me.

"I think, 'Happy New Year' is appropriate" they said. "Do I say, 'Happy Yom Kippur' too?"

Well, not exactly.

I often explain to friends who aren't Jewish that the intensity of these Days of Awe is akin to Christmas, Holy Week and Easter, except within a ten day time period. Then they get it.

When then are the appropriate greetings? It depends on the day.

On Rosh Hashanah we wish each other, "L'shanah Tovah Tikateivu-May you be inscribed for a good year." We hope that during these Ten Days of Awe, God will write our names into the Book of Life and extend upon us another year of blessing and promise. I won't go into the theological difficulties that this presents, however, the sentiment is definitely heartfelt and positive.

During the Ten Days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we shift our wish to "G'mar Hatimah Tovah"-which literally means "A good final sealing" but is more commonly understood to mean, "may you be sealed (into the Book of Life) for good.

When we begin Yom Kippur we acknowledge that the "sealing process" is not yet complete. Our tradition expects us to make amends for the wrongs we have done and ask forgiveness from those whom we've hurt. We embark on a journey that symbolizes a spiritual death and rebirth.

Some ritual practices of Yom Kippur include refraining from wearing leather or wearing white clothing (a symbol of purity). However, the most dominant feature of Yom Kippur is our fast. We refrain from food and water (unless one cannot due to health reasons); the physical affliction of hunger and fatigue that we feel on Yom Kippur afternoon especially helps us experience the spiritual affliction that Yom Kippur generates within each of us. However, the uplifting concluding service of Ne'ilah (at the end of the day) gives us hope and resolve. Even as the day darkens, we see and feel the light of hope and renewal guiding us back.

The traditional words to say when we see people tonight (in addition to Shabbat Shalom of course) is "Tzom Kal-May you have an easy fast." This greeting speaks to the basic work of this day. Repentance, prayer and charity, our text suggests, enables us to be inscribed for good in the Book of Life. Fasting on Yom Kippur helps to elevate our words of repentance and prayer.

I look forward to spending most of the next 24 hours together. As the day descends towards darkness, I still wish you "G'mar Hatimah Tovah" and later this evening, "Tzom Kal."

May 5778 be for you and your loved ones a year of healing and wholeness, blessing and promise.

Shabbat Shalom and G'mar Hatimah Tovah,

Rabbi Charles K. Briskin

Refuah Sh'leimah

For those recovering from an illness:

Barbara Mozlin

Vivian Rigler

Irene Tyson

Elaine Grove

Beth Wahba
Wendy Waterman
Jackie Grossman
Josie Morris
Susan Bernard
Sharyl Holtzman
Kevin Bender
Zorica Sorkin
Marc Newman

Brooklyn Ariel Mondschein

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.

Upcoming Services

Friday, September 29

8:00 p.m. Kol Nidrei/Erev Yom Kippur Service *

Saturday, September 30

9:00 a.m. Yom Kippur Family Service

10:30 a.m. Yom Kippur Morning Service *

1:15-1:55 p.m. Yom Kippur Learning
Sermon Recap with Rabbi Briskin. Discuss, respond and react to Rabbi Briskin's Kol Nidrei and/or Yom Kippur morning sermons. Also, learn about our social justice priorities for the year ahead.

2:05-3:00 p.m. "God. One God. God of my humble Understanding-Hear my Prayers. Reflections on T'Shuvah and forgiveness and recovery-- a facilitated conversation with Pam Tarlow.

3:00 p.m. Afternoon Service

5:00 p.m. Yizkor/Ne'ilah Service

6:30 p.m. Break the Fast in the courtyard hosted by TBE Sisterhood.

* Tickets are required for these two marked services

Please click here for a Full Schedule of High Holy Days Services, Programs and Information

Wednesday, October 4

7:00 p.m. Scotch, Sangria and (some) Study in the Sukkah

at the Briskin home

Celebrate the first night of Sukkot at the home of Rabbi Chuck and Karen Briskin. RSVP to Carrie in the TBE office for exact location.

Friday, October 6 -
Shabbat Sukkot

4:00 p.m. Half-Pint Havurah & Hallah Bake

5:30 p.m. New Member Shabbat Dinner Open to All

6:30 p.m. Family Shabbat Service in the TBE Courtyard

Please join us for this special Shabbat Sukkot welcoming our New Members, celebrating Consecration for our New School Students and birthday blessings for children under 13.

Dinner is open to all and complimentary for all New Members, but please RSVP to the TBE Office so we can plan accordingly.

$22/adult; $9/children ages 4-12; $60/family maximum.

Please RSVP to Carrie in the TBE Office.

Thursday, October 12

Simhat Torah

A Night to Celebrate Torah

4:00-5:00 p.m. Family Learning and Sukkot Yizkor Service

Parents: please plan on staying for interactive family learning.

Our Yizkor service marks the end of Sukkkot. Please contact Rabbi Briskin if you would like a loved one added to the Yizkor list.

5:00-6:00 p.m. Simhat Torah Service

Join us as we celebrate the annual completion of Torah and its beginning, with our brief, but musically creative service.

6:00-7:00 p.m. Community Dinner catered by Big Nick's Italian restaurant.
Complimentary Dinner

(with confirmed reservations, please). Many thanks to the TBE Board of Directors for underwriting the dinner.

Simhat Torah service featuring the TBE Youth Choir, dancing, music, flag parade, Torah Tweets, mitzvah bar and more! Featuring Bob Remstein on piano and Leo Chelyapov playing clarinet. RSVP for Dinner to Carrie in the TBE Office.

Friday, October 13

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

Rabbi Briskin will speak. Our very special Oneg Shabbat will be sponsored by Marty Cohn Spiegel in honor of her 90th birthday.

We hope to see you soon at Temple Beth El.

Find us on the web at: www.bethelsp.org

Call the office for more information: 310-833-2467
Or drop by for a visit: 1435 W. 7th Street, San Pedro 90732