Temple Beth El of Williamsburg, VA
E-News
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February 5, 2020 Issue 369
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Jill Hyman,
Synagogue Manager
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The Iraelites have finally left Egypt. God does not lead the Israelites along the closest route to the Land of Israel, which is through territory occupied by the Philistines. Instead, the people are led in the direction of the Yam Suf - the Sea of Reeds. One final time, God hardens Pharaoh's heart, and Pharaoh decides to chase after the Israelites with his army. The Egyptian army catches up with the Israelites as they camp by the edge of the sea. Dramatically, the Israelites are caught between the sea on one side, and Pharaoh's chariots on the other. Moses reassures the people that they only have to trust God, and, as he raises his staff, God parts the waters and the Israelites are able to cross in safety. The Egyptians chase after them into the parted waters of the sea, but are drowned as the waters return to their natural state. On the other side, Moses and Miriam lead the people in the "Song of the Sea," a spontaneous song of exaltation and thanksgiving.
Faced with the new reality of survival in the wilderness, the people begin to complain almost right away, with their principal concerns being water and food. God promises that if the people follow the commandments, God will always provide and care for them. God provides fresh water at Marah, and again later at Horeb, and then provides the people with Manna, the miraculous food that will sustain them throughout their years of wandering. Also, through the detailed instructions about the Manna, the notion of Shabbat is introduced. The Parasha ends with the Amalekites' surprise attack. This is the Israelites' first experience with war.
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Shabbat Shira
Winsome
Performs
Tu B'Shevat Oneg
Friday, February 7
7:30 pm
Halyo Singers Perform
Saturday, February 8
10:00 am
TBE School
Sunday, February 9
9:30 am
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Sunday Lecture Series
Rabbi Alfredo Pereira
Sunday, February 9
3:00 pm
Meditation & Mindfulness
Tuesday, February 11
4:00 pm
Board Meeting
Wednesday, February 12
7:00 pm
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Thanks to this week's Shabbat sponsors
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February 7
Friday's Oneg celebrates
Tu B'Shevat with tree related items
(no almonds please).
Suggestions for Friday Oneg include: grape juice, cookies, pastries, & fruit.
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February 8
Saturday's Kiddush luncheon is sponsored by Sheila Feder in loving memory of her father, Sholem Werbin.
Suggestions for Saturday Kiddush include: grape juice, challah, fruit, dips, chips, tuna or egg salad, hummus, sweets, & veggies.
When you wish to sponsor a Kiddush, please call or email Nancy Burstein at (757) 206-1447 or impresaria@cox.net.
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From the Safety and Security Committee
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The Safety and Security Committee and Rabbi David are working closely with the UJC and the Secure Community Network to evaluate TBE's security needs and priorities. Based on their recommendations, we will continue to improve security, including better outside lighting, new locks, an updated alarm and security camera system, and strengthening our doors and windows. A police presence at some TBE functions will continue.
Thanks to a generous donation, we are in the process of getting Automated External Defibrillators in case of heart attack. We have also added two professional first aid kits in the event of emergencies.
If you would like to make a donation of any size to help ensure that TBE remains a safe, secure, and welcoming place for Jewish life here in Williamsburg, please be in touch. And, please
contact me at ewolin@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Elliott Wolin,
Chair, TBE Safety & Security Committee
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Purim is just around the corner. You can add happiness to this fun-filled festival by volunteering to help deliver Shalach Manot packages to neighboring TBE members, and/or to help assemble the packages. Package assembly is planned for Wednesday evening, February 26, at TBE. Deliveries can begin as soon as the packages are assembled. We try to balance the routes so that each route has no more than a dozen members. Making deliveries is a great way to meet (or re-meet) and greet fellow TBE members. Please contact the TBE office or
Bart Singer (
b.bart.singer@gmail.com) if you would like to volunteer by Feb 21.
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Conversational Hebrew TONIGHT - February 5th
Advanced Classes of Conversational Hebrew with Betty Ronnen returns Wednesdays at 7 pm twice a month. The next class will be held tonight February 5, at TBE. Other classes will be held February 19, March 4 and 18, April 1 and 22, May 6 and 20, and June 3 and 17. Contact Betty for curriculum details.
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Celebration of
Tu B'Shvat February 7th
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Tu B'Shvat is the New Year or Birthday of the Trees. We have many connections to trees in Judaism. We are guardians of the planet and tasked with protecting the Earth for the next generation. In this spirit, let's celebrate with a Tu B'Shvat potluck Oneg, Friday, February 7th. It is customary to eat foods from the seven species. Please bring a dairy/vegetarian dish to share (but please do not bring almonds due to an allergy of one of our members).
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Shabbat Shira with Special Musical Performances
- Winsome, February 7th
- The Halyo Singers, February 8th
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Shabbat Shira - the Sabbath of Song - is the name for the Shabbat when we read Miriam's Song (the song of celebration after the Israelites crossed the sea). This year, TBE will celebrate Shabbat Shira with a special musical performance by Winsome during Friday night services, February 7th and by the Halyo Singers during Saturday services, February 8th. Please join us!
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Rabbi Alfredo Marvao Pereira presents
Jewish Voices from Portugal: Commentaries on the Torah
February 9th
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Sunday, February 9th from 3 to 4 pm at TBE, Rabbi Alfredo Marvao Pereira, William and Mary Thomas Vaughn Professor of Economics, will present his book "Jewish Voices from Portugal: Commentaries on the Torah."
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The event will include a Q &A session and book signing.The Program Committee's Sunday Lecture Series event is free and open to all members.
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Simcha Shabbat
February 14th
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Please join us Friday night, February 14 during services to commemorate Simcha Shabbat. We will recognize and celebrate anyone with simchas in February and receive blessings!
In advance of February 14, please email office@tbewilliamsburg.org with who's celebrating and the occasion. For further details, contact Jill in the office.
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Speaker at Services and Concert
February 14th, 15th & 16th
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On Sunday February 16th at 1 PM there will be a concert at St. Bede Catholic Church, in which a recently retrieved violin that belonged to Dutch Holocaust victim Bram Rodrigues will be played - 75 years since his murder in Auschwitz. His nephew David Groen will be speaking at this event, and will also speak during services on Friday night, February 14, and Saturday morning, February 15. David, who resides in Oceanside, NY, will tell the story of how the writing of his book Jew Face - a story of love and heroism in Nazi-occupied Holland - led to the son of his uncle's friend finding him, and returning the violin to David and his family.
The concert, by the Tidewater Intergenerational Orchestra, is Sunday, February 16, at 1pm, in St. Bede's Kaplan Parrish Hall. All are invited and admission is free. Works to be performed on Bram's violin include "Theme and Remembrances" from Schindler"s List, by John Williams, and "Nigun" from Baal Shem Suite by Ernest Bloch.
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Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events
and Stop the Bleed
February 19th
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Wednesday, February 19 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, James City County Police and Fire Departments are hosting a CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events) training session followed by a Stop the Bleed training. Each course lasts approximately 2 hours with a break in between. There is no charge, but RSVP is necessary and space is limited. Contact Assistant Fire Marshal Michelle Toutaint at (757)565-7607 with any questions. Contact Jill in the office to RSVP.
The location of the training is the JCC Fire Administration Building, 5077 John Tyler Highway, next door to Fire Station #3.
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The Great Courses: Jewish Intellectual History, February 19
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Bob and Chellie Booth are leading a study group exploring
400 years of Jewish Thought . It includes lectures and discussion of Baruch Spinoza, Feminist Jewish Theology (Judith Plaskow), and much more. The class meets on select Wednesday afternoons from 2 - 4 pm, with a 1/2 hour lecture followed by a lengthy discussion. The next session will be held on Wednesday, February 19 - The Neo-Orthodoxy of Samson by Raphael Hirsch. If you are interested, please email Bob and Chellie at
rzb2reb@cox.net, or respond to Jill in the office.
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Celebrating Temple Beth El
60 Years of Community - February 23rd
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SAVE-THE-DATE.
Sunday, February 23, from 6 - 8 pm as Temple Beth El celebrates 60 years of community with wine, hors d'oeuvres and desserts at the Williamsburg Community Building, 401 N Boundary Street.
Tickets are $20 per person.
Please RSVP to the office by Thursday, February 20.
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Williamsburg Regional Library Showcases
60 Years of Jewish Community
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Celebrate TBE of Williamsburg's 60 Years of Jewish Community
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For the month of February, our synagogue has been invited to set up an exhibit in the Williamsburg branch of the Williamsburg Regional Library to highlight our Jewish community. In the lobby, near the theater, is a case displaying beautiful objects that represent the beauty and artistry of the Jewish experience.
The theater lobby is open from 9am-9pm Monday thru Saturday and 12 - 6pm on Sundays.
The display was made possible by the generous loans of objects from Flo Gussman, Paula Koz, Betsy Rossheim, Jill Whitten and Temple Beth El.
Stop by and visit!
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Shabbat Kulanu Date Change
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Shabbat Kulanu, TBE's family-oriented service, will take place on Friday, February 28, starting at 6:30 pm.
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19th Annual Jewish Film Festival
SUNDAY - March 1st
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Save-the-Date: Please join us for
Shoelaces, the second film of the Winter Series of the 19th Annual Jewish Film Festival. the film starts at 2 pm on Sunday, March 1, in the theater at the Williamsburg Regional Library. All Winter Series films are free.
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Halyo Singers Perform - March 6th
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The Halyo Singers will perform during services on
Friday, March 6.
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Celebrate TBE's 60th Birthday at the
Family Funday - March 8th
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Temple Beth El is 60-years-old, Wow! That is a lot of candles. Happy Birthday!
Join the Party!
You are invited to a Family Fun Day with your Temple Beth El friends at Baeplex.
Sunday, March 8, 2020
10 am - 12 pm
BAEPLEX Sports Studio is located at
500 Bulifants Boulevard in Williamsburg.
BAEPLEX is off of Mooretown Road (near the Senatara Hospital) at Ferguson Plumbing Supply.
Kids and parents will enjoy the activities for all ages. Experienced martial arts instructors will be on hand to make sure t hat kids learn and play in a safe and carefully supervised environment.
Have family fun in a safe, active environment with you kids and TBE friends.
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To Top It Off
What is better than a Make Your Own Sunday Ice Cream Sundae Bar?
Nothing!
RSVP to Jill Whitten at jillwhitten@gmail.com or (757)258-0182 by March 1.
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TBE Sings with Winsome - March 8th
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Save-the-Date: TBE Sings is being led by the music group Winsome and our very own Mike Schulman and Rob Weinberg. Please bring your singing voices and plan to have a fun musical afternoon. All are welcome, Sunday, March 8 at 3 pm.
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Jill Hyman
Synagogue Manager
757-220-1205
Rabbi David Katz
757-206-1633
mobile 757-634-6407
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Temple Beth El, A Welcoming Synagogue In Williamsburg, Virginia
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