Shalom from TBD Religious School

Shabbat newsletter compiled by Gal Kessler Rohs, Education Director
Dear Temple Beth David family,

Today, as was last Friday, I'm sharing an occasion where I share our weekly religious school newsletter with TBD's general mailing list, (as opposed to only our religious school families).

Cantorial Candidate, Cantor Orly Campbell will be visiting us this evening as of 6.30pm for a FREE dinner, meet and greet, children's activity, and more in the theme of July 4th Independence Day. The activities will be followed by Cantor Campbell co leading Friday night spiritual services together with Rabbi Lachtman .

We asked Cantor Orly to share a tad about herself. Please read here below Cantor Orly's shared message to us.

Wishing you Shabbat Shalom, belated happy Independence Day, and looking forward to seeing you this evening,
- Gal Kessler Rohs, Education Director
Shalom Temple Beth David, 

My name is Cantor Orly Campbell and I am so excited to be writing this letter to you all. Do you know אורלי (Orly) in Hebrew means “my light.” I hope to shine my light upon you all, as well as share my voice, knowledge, love of the Hebrew language, passion for music and my love of community. 

There is a saying by Victor Hugo which truly resonates with me and hope it will resonate with you too. “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” 

I hope you will join me for my Shabbat service celebrating the 4th of July with dinner, meet and greet, art project, story time; and a full Shabbat service to culminate this explosive night. Make sure to bring your energy, love, excitement and let’s have some fun. 

Look forward to seeing you all on July 5th at 6:30 for all the fun with the children, and the service at 7:30pm. (See flyer for all the details) 

Thank you and hope to be your new shining light at Temple Beth David. 
-Cantor Orly Campbell

Cantor Orly's mission statement: As a cantor, my hope is to teach, guide and inspire with the power of music and prayer. I hope to elevate the spiritual experience at services and life cycle events, leading every day with my heart, head, and most importantly, my soul.
Additional Upcoming programming
at Temple Beth David
A message from the LA Holocaust museum
about a summer free guided tour for TBD
I am writing to invite Temple Beth David on a private docent-led tour of Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust and Holocaust survivor talk this summer. 

Founded by local Holocaust survivors in 1961, the Museum moved to its award-winning architectural building in Pan Pacific Park near The Grove and Farmers Market in 2010. Today the Museum carries on the mission of the founding survivors to commemorate those who perished, educate future generations about the Holocaust, and inspire a more respectful, dignified and humane world.

In addition to our permanent collection of artifacts and survivor testimonies, this summer we have several compelling temporary exhibits: 

Women at the Frontline of Mass Violence Worldwide gives voice to female survivors of mass violence and genocide during the Holocaust, in Guatemala, and in Iraq today. 
Venerated - Persecuted - Forgotten: Victims of Nazism at FC Bayern Munich (opening July 16), curated by the soccer club FC Bayern Munich and appearing for the first time outside Europe, highlights the heart-wrenching stories of nine players and officials who were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis because of their religion or political views.

We would be happy to schedule a private tour of our galleries and a Holocaust survivor talk for your group. The Museum is open seven days a week, and admission is always free. 

Please contact me for more information or to schedule a tour.

Thank you,
Shelby Jirikils
Executive Assistant
Shout outs
Todah, Thank you, Rav Todot, Thanks!
Pasadena Union Station
available shifts for preparing breakfast for the hungry and homeless
Thanks to Jason Young for being a mensch! Thanks for coordinating TBD's Union Station volunteering. If you would like to volunteer at Union Station please contact Jason and specify which of these dates you would like to help:

August 18, 2019
September 15th, 2019
October 20th, 2019
November 17th, 2019
December 15th, 2019
January 19, 2020
February 16th, 2020
March 15th, 2020
April 19, 2020
May 17th, 2020
June 21, 2020
A message from San Gabriel Humane Society
our community partner for helping animals in need
Serious ADOPTER or RESCUE needed for 6-year-old Husky boy, Beast.
⠀⠀⠀
Beast (whose name was given by previous owner) has been at SGVHS since December 2018. Lately he hasn’t received any interest and he is quickly approaching 6 months with us 😢 Beast enjoys playtime, going for walks, and being around his human friends. This handsome boy will do best in a household who is familiar with huskies. 
Please come in to meet Beast as soon as possible. He is eagerly welcoming visitors Tuesday through Sunday from 10:30am to 4:00pm.
Hebrew Word of the Week
אוֹר light, in honor of Cantor Orly's name
In light of Cantor Orly Campbell visiting TBD, we thought it appropriate to choose her Hebrew name, as part of our Hebrew learning.
Orly's name means "my light". Or, in Hebrew will be the word of the week, in hope that light shines on our community members this mid-week.

Genesis 1:3 “And Elohim said: Let there be light and there was light.”; (va’yomer Elohim yehi or va’yhi or) ⠀ וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי־אוֹר⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
“Or” (אור) is the Hebrew word for “light”. When referring to verbs, (א-ו-ר) is the root of the verb “leha’ir”; (לְהָאִיר), which means “to shine” or “to illuminate”. You will recognize the masculine given name and last name Meir (מאיר), as in Golda Meir, that comes from this root, and which means “one who shines.”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
In the Bible, the word “Or” (light) is opposed to the word “choshech” (חֹשֶׁךְ), which means darkness. In Genesis 1:3, we find the first words uttered by Elohim: “Yehi Or” (Let there be light), and in verse 4, Elohim saw that the light He had created was “tov” (good). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
Light manifests as the divine operation in a world that is in darkness and chaos, and no darkness can overcome the light of Gd. King David, in Psalm 27:1, referred to Elohim as “Ori” (אוֹרִי), My Light, and declared: “Whom shall I fear” When Adonai is our light we will not fear evil. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
Adonai is the “Or Gadol”, the Great Light that dispels any darkness of death (Isaiah 9:2), and in His light we find life (Psalm 56:13). In Psalm 36:9, King David again associates life and light: “For with You (Adonai) is the fountain of life, in your light we see light.”
Blessing for the Hebrew month
Rosh Chodesh Tamuz was this week
יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁיִּתְחַדֵּשׁ עָלֵינוּ חֹדֶשׁ תמוז לְטוֹבָה וְלִבְרָכָה, לְשָׂשׂוֹן וּלְשִׂמְחָה, לְשָׁלוֹם וְאחֲוָה, רֵעוּת וְאַהֲבָה, לַעֲבוֹדָה וִיצִירָה, פַּרְנָסָה וְכַלְכָּלָה, לְשַׁלְוַת הַנֶּפֶש, וּבְרִיאוּת הַגּוּף, לַחַיִּים שֶׁל דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, וְאַהֲבַת תּוֹרָה, לְחַיִּים שֶׁיִּמָלוּ בָּם, מִשְׁאֲלוֹת לִבְּנוּ לִבֵּנוּ לְטוֹבָה, כֵּן יְהִי
רָצוֹן
May the month of Tamuz
be a month of blessings:
blessings of goodness,
blessings of joy,
peace and kindness,
friendship and love,
creativity, strength,
serenity,
fulfilling work
and dignity,
satisfaction, success,
and sustenance,
physical health
and radiance.
May truth and justice
guide our acts
and compassion
temper our lives
that we may blossom
as we age
and become
our sweetest selves.
May it be so.
Ulpan Shabbat class
Hebrew immersion on Shabbat (Friday night)
Ulpan Shabbat comprises of two integrated paths to the curriculum: the part of Ulpan, and the part of Shabbat. Together, we formed Ulpan Shabbat.

Ulpan provides our children with an Ivrit B’Ivrit (Hebrew in Hebrew) curriculum where students learn letters, vowels, sounds, words, all in aim to advance Hebrew literacy and conversation, both modern, and traditional. 

Shabbat provides children with exposure to preparing for the Shabbath, hands-on. Children will learn to set the Shabbat table, cook their meal, perform Shabbat rituals to the guidance of our beloved Rabbi Lachtman, and joyous singing of Cantor Schwartz. The class will also incorporate areas of social justice learning, and performing mitzvot like feeding the hungry, preparing toiletry kits for the homeless, baking for seniors, caring for premature infants, and more.

Temple Beth David’s team look forward to an enriching the Shabbat experience with you, which will culminate with a Shabbat dinner and service led by Temple Beth David’s spiritual leaders.
Useful Reading
and further resources
  • Meet TBD Cantorial candidate, Cantor Bryce Emily Megdal, in Temple Beth David Religious School's last week's eblast here
  • Shalom, and welcome to Temple Beth David of the San Gabriel Valley! Watch our video here.
  • TBD's May/June newsletter here
  • Fun 4th of July Photography Ideas 
  • Colorful sand, mud baths, water play and more #sensoryplay ideas for toddlers and older children here
  • While pink's calming effect has been demonstrated, researchers of color psychology have found that this effect only occurs during the initial exposure to the color. Psychology of the color pink, here
  • Pear with blue cheese, fig and fresh brown turkey, cheetos, lobster, chicken wings and other weird but true ice cream flavors in honor of July 1st's national creative ice cream day
Belated Happy Independence Day!
and Shabbat Shalom from Hadassah and Talia