Temple Beth El of Williamsburg, VA
E-News
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September 4, 2020 Issue 401
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Jill Hyman, Synagogue Manager
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Parashat Ki Tavo opens with the commandment to bring the first fruits to the priests. This ritual includes a verse many will recognize from the Pesach Seder, recalling that 'my ancestor was a wandering Aramean.' This is followed by another ritual for the completion of tithing. Both are a statement of God's dominion over the land.
Next we find a dramatic ritual called tochechah - 'admonition' - that is to be performed by the Israelites when they first cross the Jordan and enter into the Promised Land. As a reaffirmation of Israel's acceptance of the covenant with God, they are to inscribe the Torah upon twelve stones, erecting them as a monument on the top of Mount Ebal. And then the tribes were divided, six to ascend to the top of Mount Grizzim, and six to the top of Mount Ebal. The Cohanim and the Levites, along with the Ark of the Covenant, stood in the valley in between. There, they called out a list of curses that would befall anyone who ignored God's commandments and a list of blessings that would benefit those who followed God's way. After each statement, all of the people said, 'Amen'.
The parasha concludes with the beginning of Moses's final discourse. He begins by recounting all that God has done for Israel over the past forty years.
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Renew Membership for 2020-2021 |
Membership reminders were mailed in early August. Please complete and return the dues commitment as soon as possible. |
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Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, all Temple Beth El programs, services, and classes are currently taking place online. This will continue until TBE’s Reopening Committee and Board of Directors determine that it is safe and appropriate for those activities to return to the building - a decision that will be reached based on health statistics, and on recommendations from local and national organizations. In the meantime, the synagogue building is open by appointment only for maintenance and essential services, as we prepare it for the eventual return of the community. |
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Shabbat Morning Service on Zoom - September 5 |
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Shabbat morning services on Zoom will take place tomorrow, on Saturday, September 5, starting at 10:30 am. This online morning service will be led by Rabbi David at Temple Beth El.
Meeting ID: 898 5500 9994
Passcode: 383752
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The office is closed Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day |
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The High Holidays Are Coming! |
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The High Holidays are coming - Erev Rosh Hashanah is in two weeks, on Friday, September 18!! All the information you need to join us for the High Holidays can be found in the TBE High Holiday letter, mailed out last week. If you have any questions about joining us, please contact the TBE Office, or High Holiday Committee Chair Steve Alter.
TBE services will be held online, using Zoom. This decision is based on concerns about community health and safety, in light of the ongoing COVID19 pandemic across the world.
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Selichot Program - September 12 |
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This year's Selichot Program will be hosted by Rodef Sholom on Saturday night, September 12. Last year's Selichot Program was hosted by Temple Beth El. The Selichot service is presented by a different Peninsula congregation each year on a rotating basis. It should be a meaningful and moving evening . RSVP to Sarah@UJCVP.org in order to receive Zoom information. |
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Machzor Leyamim Nora'im
Prayerbook for the Days of Awe
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Purchase a Machzor. There is a 10% discount on the Machzor Leyamim Nora’im: Prayerbook for the Days of Awe to increase its availability to individuals and families who want to purchase it for their homes in light of the pandemic. This discount is not available in combination with any other discount.
Download a Machzor. A PDF of the Mahzor will also be available for free prior to the High Holidays for use during virtual services if people don't want to purchase a hardbound copy. More details to follow.
Borrow a Machzor. If you would like to borrow a Machzor, distribution of our High Holiday prayerbooks will take place at TBE, by appointment only, from 1-5 pm on Thursday, September 17. Please email the office before that date to make an appointment to pick up a book. Please plan to only be at TBE during your appointed time slot, so that we can ensure a socially distant experience for everyone.
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Here is the schedule for our High Holiday Services:
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Friday, 9/18, 7:00 pm
Rosh Hashanah Day 1
Saturday, 9/19, 9:30 am
Tashlich Service
Saturday, 9/19, 5:00 pm
College Landing Park
masks and social distancing required
Rosh Hashanah Day 2
Sunday, 9/20, 10:00 am
Yom Kippur
Kol Nidre
Sunday, 9/27, 7:00 pm
Yom Kippur
Monday, 9/28
Shacharit, 9:30 am
Yizkor 2:00 pm
Mincha & Neilah 6:00 pm
Havdallah 7:44 pm
Break Fast 7:50 pm
All services are Virtual. Zoom links will follow.
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Something To Watch To Prepare For The High Holidays |
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Rabbi David's Yom Kippur talk this year will use the recently ended TV show "The Good Place" as a way to talk about mortality. During that talk, Rabbi David will specifically talk about the last few episodes of the show (the end of the fourth season).
The Good Place is a sitcom that aired on NBC, which imagines the afterlife. While the first season can seem like it continually mines the same joke, there is a major twist at the end of the season that sets up the next three seasons, which explore philosophy and eschatology in ways that are incredibly creative and unusually imaginative. If you're looking for something to watch while you're at home during the pandemic, Rabbi David highly encourages you to watch the entire show. There are four seasons, each composed of 13 half-hour episodes. The first three seasons are currently streaming on Netflix, and the fourth season can be watched on NBC's website, and is expected to come to Netflix later this summer. Please let Rabbi David know if you have any questions, and happy watching!
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For any wishing the honor of blowing the shofar and learning the order of the shofar sounds during the High Holy Days, please contact Terry Lieber at (757) 345-9381.
Whether you are already proficient, or would like to learn, the summer months are a perfect time to prepare! Call as soon as possible - Erev Rosh Hashanah, the 29th of Elul, is September 18 this year.
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Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, September 4
7:30 pm
Meeting ID: 858 0539 0033
Passcode: 339485
Shabbat Services
Saturday, September 5
10:30 am
Meeting ID: 898 5500 9994
Passcode: 383752
Zoom and Schmooze
Monday, September 7
3:00 pm
Check in, say hi, and visit with other TBE friends.
Meeting ID: 758 424 002
Password: 016921
Meditation and Mindfulness
Tuesday, September 8
4:00 - 5:00 pm
LINK: https://zoom.us/j/750545116
THIS ZOOM WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME
Password: 316776
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Zoom and Schmooze
Tuesday, September 8
7:30 pm
Check in, say hi, and visit with other TBE friends.
Meeting ID: 831 5173 0077
Password: 748573
Zoom and Schmooze
Wednesday, September 9
11:00 am
Check in, say hi, and visit with other TBE friends.
Meeting ID: 104 219 597
Password: 042870
Torah Study
Thursday, September 10
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Please join us for TBE's always-lively Torah Study session
LINK: https://zoom.us/j/104488948
THIS ZOOM WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME
Password: 978192
Shabbat Kulanu
Friday, September 11
6:30 pm
LINK: https://zoom.us/j/175881984?pwd=eU5jT1FnM2ZkTjFBRWJmbU9kNG5pdz09
Meeting ID: 175 881 984
Password: 009097
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Passwords for our Zoom sessions are in response to concerns about security. Please do NOT share Zoom passwords with anyone you don’t know. |
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All Zoom sessions can be accessed by phone, if you’re unable to join us on the internet, just call the number 929-436-2866, and when prompted, enter the meeting ID and password for the appropriate section.
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Please use this link to download a PDF copy of our prayerbook, Kol HaNeshamah:
https://rrc0.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/comm/ERDCpHBFXoxGhxt7pXGFG5gBknXW6LjVJw95_HZMvZN4eA?e=2EujCH
This page guide includes the many different prayers, songs, and readings that are used in most of TBE’s Friday night services. The exact prayers, songs, and readings in each service will vary each week.
Please click here for the:
Also attached to is a sheet with the words to Debbie Friedman’s Mi Shebeirach prayer, which is not in our prayerbook.
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Mi Shebeirach by Debbie Friedman |
Mi shebeirach avoteinu
M'kor hab'racha l'imoteinu
May the source of strength,
Who blessed the ones before us,
Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing,
And let us say, Amen.
Mi shebeirach imoteinu
M'kor habrachah l'avoteinu
Bless those in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah,
The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit,
And let us say, Amen
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This week’s Shabbat Box from the Reconstructionist movement |
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Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water. We continue to social distance, staying home as much as possible and staying safe. Please enjoy this special blessing for the mitzvah of putting on a mask. This blessing was written by Rabbi David’s friend Rabbi Michael Knopf of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, which is the synagogue whose Mikvah we use for conversions. Rabbi Knopf introduced the blessing a few weeks ago in this column in TheForward: https://forward.com/opinion/443804/wearing-a-face-mask-youre-doing-a-mitzvah-make-a-brachah/.
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Shabbat Kulanu Online
September 11
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Rabbi David and Rich Roston will lead Onlline Shabbat Kulanu service tonight, Friday night, September 11. Shabbat Kulanu is TBE's family-oriented service. Shabbat Kulanu starts at 6:30 pm, and usually features dancing, guitar playing, and a puppet show. The Shabbat Kulnau service will be the only service TBE offers tonight. |
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Program Committee Book Club
September 13
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The TBE Program Committee Book Club will Zoom on Sunday, September 13, at 3:00 pm to discuss Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson. “It is the compelling tale of two boys and a family who fight to survive in war-torn Poland, and a young love that struggles to endure the unspeakable cruelty of the Holocaust. Two lives, two worlds, and sixty years converge in an explosive race to redemption that makes for a moving and powerful tale of love, survival, and ultimately the triumph of the human spirit.” |
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Simcha Shabbat - September 25 |
Please join us Friday night, September 25 during services to commemorate Simcha Shabbat. We will recognize and celebrate anyone with simchas in September and receive blessings!
In advance of September 25, please email the office with who's celebrating and the occasion.
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Social Action Committee Tzedakah Project |
TBE member Steve Alter is 3D-printing face shields for use by the Virginia Department of Health. He needs help in making deliveries to the VDH and to the Virginia Oncology Associates, as well as to retrieve visors to be made into face shields from a NASA colleague in Poquoson. If you can help out, please contact Steve directly at altertalk@gmail.com.
If you would like to help with the material costs of the face shields, please make checks payable to Temple Beth El, with Social Action/Mask Project in the memo field. This will be a tzedakah project for the Social Action Committee.
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New Building Keys and Codes |
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The Safety & Security Committee is disabling ALL PIN codes and asking for a fresh start. During the period that the building remains closed only essential people will have access. If you feel you need access to the building, please contact the office. As the assigned Lock & Key custodian, all PIN codes and keys will be issued by Mitch Billings after clearance to enter is granted. Once the building is re-keyed with new locks, keys will be issued to authorized PIN holders only. |
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The Community Relations Council (CRC) of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater educates the community on issues impacting the rights of Jews locally, in the United States, in Israel and around the world. The CRC transforms issues into action through the community, public officials and government, the media and other faith and ethnic communities.
Please visit the Jewish Tidewater Virtual Community Resources to connect to many community events.
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Even in these trying times, the ISJL is here for you, to support, connect, and celebrate Jewish life. Implement Jewish learning and engagement by following ISJL on social media for livestreams and more.
https://www.isjl.org/connection-in-the-time-of-coronavirus.html
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If you’re feeling sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, the sooner you act the better. Start with these resources to help protect yourself, your family, and your friends as we all work to stop the spread. |
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There are many locations providing testing for COVID-19. The Virginia Peninsula Health District Office has compiled a list for our convenience.
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Community Information and Resources |
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As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, many community resources are available for assistance with shopping, errands, unemployment, housing, domestic difficulties and many other areas. If we can help in any way, please reach out to Rabbi David, Jill Hyman, or any TBE Board member. |
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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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