שבת נקבלה
Shabbat N’kabla:
Receiving Shabbat Vayakhel-Pekudei, Shabbat HaChodesh
Share Shabbat With TBZ From Home
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Dear TBZ community:
This past week, I have been inspired by the power of community.
As we observe the
mitzvah
of
Pikuach Nefesh
, to care for ourselves, our loved ones, our community and the larger community, through physical distancing, which I prefer to call it rather than “social distancing”, I encourage all of us to continue to practice social, human and soul connections.
For me, every morning this week has started with
Boker Tov TBZ
where many TBZer’s have connected via Zoom in prayer, in songs and sorrow, and even in dancing! We have prayed together for healing and recited the Mourner's Kaddish. Most of all, we have been checking in together and sharing
kavanah
for the day ahead. This has been a powerful experience - to be able to be in community and hold each other in the midst of these challenging times.
Also this week, at the end of each day, I have been honored to lead shiva minyan, also over Zoom, for one of our TBZ families. It has been an incredible privilege to be with people with such intention and closeness.
The TBZ community continues, in strength, and we focus on connecting and caring for each other. Our
Hesed Community
chair,
Amy Bullock
, is working with many volunteers to create small community clusters so we can check in with each other and respond to people’s needs, especially our older members. Our young members, led by 6th grader Beit Rabban student, Amira Sky Barnett, are making calls and connecting to many TBZ members.
This Shabbat we read the last
parshiot
of the Book of Exodus,
P
arshat Vayakhel-Pekude.
The first verse, the first word is Vayakhel - וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל.
Exodus 35:1 reads:
וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶֽת־כָּל־עֲדַ֛ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אֵ֚לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לַעֲשֹׂ֥ת אֹתָֽם׃
Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them: These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do:
The word
Vayakhel
,
convoked
, or
assembled
, is connected to the word,
Kehillah
, community. Moshe brought the whole community together. As one.
And two things Moshe said to them:
Keep Shabbat and Bring a Gift to Adonai!
Exodus 35:2
שֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִים֮ תֵּעָשֶׂ֣ה מְלָאכָה֒ וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֥ם קֹ֛דֶשׁ שַׁבַּ֥ת שַׁבָּת֖וֹן לַיהוָ֑ה כָּל־הָעֹשֶׂ֥ה ב֛וֹ מְלָאכָ֖ה יוּמָֽת׃
On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.
Exodus 35:5
קְח֨וּ מֵֽאִתְּכֶ֤ם תְּרוּמָה֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה כֹּ֚ל נְדִ֣יב לִבּ֔וֹ יְבִיאֶ֕הָ אֵ֖ת תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֖סֶף וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃
Take from among you gifts to the LORD; everyone whose heart so moves him shall bring them—gifts for the LORD: gold, silver, and copper;
The community gathers together and is asked to sanctify time and to open their heart with generosity.
I am finding in these two mitzvot a great inspiration for these challenging times. Our lives have been disrupted and changed, our routines are challenged. None of us has ever experienced something like this ever before.
What if we were to take these two teachings to guide us during this time?
First, Sanctifying Time:
In the words of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel:
“Judaism is a religion of time aiming at the sanctification of time. Unlike the space-minded man to whom time is unvaried, iterative, homogeneous, to whom all hours are alike, quality-less, empty shells, the Bible senses the diversified character of time. There are no two hours alike. Every hour is unique and the only one given at the moment, exclusive and endlessly precious. Judaism teaches us to be attached to holiness in time, to be attached to sacred events, to learn how to consecrate sanctuaries that emerge from the magnificent stream of a year”
(The Sabbath, Its meaning for Modern Man).
Second, Opening our Hearts to generosity:
In times of distress, fear and anxiety can be easy to close our hearts and close ourselves to others. I am inviting us, and encouraging us to let kindness, generosity of spirit and heart guide us. It won't be easy at all times, but if each of us commits to practice generosity of heart, a bit each day, we will bless others and bless ourselves with the most beautiful gift.
We don’t know yet how long this time will last in its current form. There has not been something like this in our lifetime. I know, I am humbled by this experience of trying to figure it out. I know, I am also scared and broken-hearted for the people who will suffer and are suffering. Many of us are blessed to have homes and jobs that let us work from home, that continue to provide routine, financial support and continuity. I want to encourage those of us with that privilege to recognize it and to be responsible in the use of it.
This means continuing, thoughtfully, physical distancing because we will protect others by acting responsibly. And, it means if we are able financially, to support our local small business and the people who are financially at risk. If you can, pay your tuition to your child’s daycare or school, keep up your health club membership, pay your cleaning people, your babysitter, your dog walker, even if you are unable to use them right now. Give presents of gift cards for local restaurants, movie theaters, hair salons, book stores and the businesses that we’ve come to love.
I invite you to use this shabbat as an opportunity to stop for a bit. I know technology is a life saver for all of us now, but perhaps consider using technology for the sake of connection and friendship. Please see the resources we have created to celebrate shabbat together as a community from home below. Go for a walk, read a book, talk with someone you love, sleep, sing, jump high and laugh.
May this Shabbat bring blessings to all of you and your loved ones.
May we find strength, courage, patience and open our heart with generosity.
May we have a joyful Shabbat!
Shabbat Shalom,
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Celebrate Shabbat with TBZ from Home
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Kabbalat Shabbat
ZOOM to Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday March 20, 6:00-6:45pm:
Meeting ID: 674 053 162
By phone: +19294362866,,674053162#
To be ready, please make sure to download
Zoom
.
You may want to have your candles, your kiddush cup and your challah (or any bread) available to join us saying the blessings.
If you are saying Kaddish, please know that we will say Kaddish together at our Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat (as we will intentionally gather together via Zoom), this evening.
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Shabbat Day
We invite you to spend the day of Shabbat in reflection, learning, and family. As you know, we usually encourage not using technology on Shabbat, but if at this time technology will be helpful for you to stay connected and have a Shabbat celebration, we offer these resources for you:
D'var Torah
This Shabbat we had planned to have Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz as a guest speaker coming from Atlanta (see bio below) As she is not able to join us, she instead sent us a short D’var Torah on this week's Parsha. She will also teach us via Zoom on Sunday (more info below)!
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Torah Reading
Video of TBZ Torah Readers reading this week's Parsha (First Triennial):
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The Torah reading text in Hebrew and English can be found
HERE
. Special Maftir for Shabbat Hachodesh can be found
HERE
.
WonderMinyan!
WONDER MINIYAN IS HERE: Join Noah, Rav Tiferet, and Tyler leading us in a soulful, virtual TBZ WonderMiniyan!
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Meditation
Video of TBZ member and Nishmat Hayyim instructor Sheila Yocheved Katz leading us in meditation:
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Mindfulness Session with Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein
We were blessed to have Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein lead us on a session this week. You can find the recording here:
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National Refugee Shabbat
This Shabbat, TBZ was planning to join HIAS to participate in National Refugee Shabbat. As we cannot do this together in person, we offer here the video that HIAS put together:
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Ending Shabbat Together
Havdalah, Saturday, March 21st, 8:00pm via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 740 538 424
By Phone: +19294362866,,740538424#
If you can, have your havdalah ritual objects ready! You will need a candle, wine or grape juice and
besamim
(spices to smell).
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Look out for a Sunday email with offerings and details to stay connected next week at TBZ, including:
- Every morning, Boker Tov, TBZ! with Rav Claudia at 9am
- Tuesday, March 24th, 7:00pm: continuation of Reb Moshe’s class
- Wednesday, March 25th, 7:30pm: Torah Study with Tyler Dratch
- A Healing Service led by Rav Claudia (time TBD)
And more…
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Shabbat Mevarchim: What's in a Blessing? Jewish Bioethics and When Technology Becomes a Blessing and a Curse (cloning, transplans, artificial insemination, and genetic engineering)
With Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz
Sunday, March 22nd, 12:00pm - 1:00pm via Zoom
Zoom info:
Meeting ID: 285 257 333
By phone: +19294362866, 285257333# US
Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz, MD, is the first ordained Latin American female Rabbi from the “Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano Marshall T. Meyer” in 1994. Rabbi Dr. Bortz is the founder and full-time Senior Rabbi at Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs, Georgia. The BBC named Rabbi Dr. Bortz one of the 100 Most Influential Women in 2018 and in 2019 The Forward selected Rabbi Dr. Bortz as one of the 50 Most Influential Jewish Leaders.
Rabbi Bortz has over 25 years of experience as a pulpit Rabbi. As a medical doctor, Dr. Bortz has served in various hospitals and private clinics in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Jerusalem, Israel; Chile; and Atlanta, Georgia. As a bioethicist, Dr. Bortz helped create bioethics committees in Chile and at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She is also the founder of Hope for Seeds, for couples struggling with infertility and sterility and a founding board member of Jewish Fertility Foundation. Rabbi Bortz is a co-founder of “BaKeN” (Hebrew: “In the Nest”: Breehut- Kehillah- Nefesh), an organization with the mission of combating the societal stigma of mental illness.
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STAY CONNECTED
Rav Claudia, Senior Rabbi - ext. 11, ravclaudia@tbzbrookline.org
Reb Moshe, Founding Rabbi - ext. 12, rebmoshe@tbzbrookline.org
Rav Tiferet, Director of Congregational Learning & Programming - ext. 14, ravtiferet@tbzbrookline.org
Sara Smolover, President - president@tbzbrookline.org
Susan Diller, Executive Director - ext. 10, sdiller@tbzbrookline.org
Beth Ehrenreich, Assistant Director - ext. 17, behrenreich@tbzbrookline.org
Lindsay Eagle, Administrative Assistant - ext. 13, leagle@tbzbrookline.org or office@tbzbrookline.org
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