We hope everyone enjoyed the eclipse this past Monday. Although we only saw a partial eclipse in California, it was still awe inspiring to know that so much of the country got to share in this rare experience. There is also something incredibly symbolic about the nature of an eclipse, specifically about perspective. The sun is of course much larger than the moon and produces its own energy while the moon merely reflects the light of the sun. And yet even though the sun is almost 400 times larger than the moon, it is also almost 400 times as far away from Earth. That combination allows the moon, every so often, to temporarily blot out the much more massive and impressive sun. This phenomenon reminds us that the strong and mighty do not always dominate. Throughout Jewish history, much stronger opponents like the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, various European monarchies, and the Nazi regime all tried to obliterate the smaller and weaker communities of Jews. Yet each time those empires fell and the Jewish communities survived, outmaneuvering and outlasting the seemingly invincible. Whenever we observe a solar eclipse, let us all remember that in some circumstances the first can be last, and the last first.
In other news, the Rabbi Search Committee continues in its efforts to search for a new rabbi for next year. We will start submitting announcements and accepting job applications later this summer, with interviews scheduled for the fall. The Board now plans to have a new rabbi selected by the spring of 2025, just before Rabbi Dean’s retirement. We will provide more updates as we get closer to summer.
We also are planning our next major holiday of Passover. This year, we will be holding our annual Passover Seder on Saturday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m. Invitations have been sent out so please secure your spot early. We also need volunteers for that week to help with set-up, clean-up, and other necessities to make the seder a success. Please contact Anna Stein or Jane Kemp if you would like to volunteer. And for those who wish to make a difference in our community, we highly encourage you to consider joining the Temple Beth Hillel Board of Directors next year. Our Board is always on the lookout for members who have ideas for the future of the temple and the ability to carry out that vision. Serving on the Board makes us appreciate how much Temple Beth Hillel means to us and our children. And please mark your calendars for June 9, when we will be holding our annual membership meeting. All Temple members are of course invited.
Finally, our next regular Shabbat Service will take place next Friday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. Family Shabbat will occur earlier that evening at 6:15 p.m. and all families are welcome to join our Passover themed activities. Torah Study will take place Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. on Zoom, and the next Adult Education class will be hosted by Rabbi Dean on April 21 at 10:30 a.m.. And of course, we encourage everyone to come to our wonderful Tefillah services at Religious School each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Thank you everyone!
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel
~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel
From the Presidents – April 12, 2024
April 12, 2024 by tbhrich • president
Shalom Everyone!
We hope everyone enjoyed the eclipse this past Monday. Although we only saw a partial eclipse in California, it was still awe inspiring to know that so much of the country got to share in this rare experience. There is also something incredibly symbolic about the nature of an eclipse, specifically about perspective. The sun is of course much larger than the moon and produces its own energy while the moon merely reflects the light of the sun. And yet even though the sun is almost 400 times larger than the moon, it is also almost 400 times as far away from Earth. That combination allows the moon, every so often, to temporarily blot out the much more massive and impressive sun. This phenomenon reminds us that the strong and mighty do not always dominate. Throughout Jewish history, much stronger opponents like the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, various European monarchies, and the Nazi regime all tried to obliterate the smaller and weaker communities of Jews. Yet each time those empires fell and the Jewish communities survived, outmaneuvering and outlasting the seemingly invincible. Whenever we observe a solar eclipse, let us all remember that in some circumstances the first can be last, and the last first.
In other news, the Rabbi Search Committee continues in its efforts to search for a new rabbi for next year. We will start submitting announcements and accepting job applications later this summer, with interviews scheduled for the fall. The Board now plans to have a new rabbi selected by the spring of 2025, just before Rabbi Dean’s retirement. We will provide more updates as we get closer to summer.
We also are planning our next major holiday of Passover. This year, we will be holding our annual Passover Seder on Saturday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m. Invitations have been sent out so please secure your spot early. We also need volunteers for that week to help with set-up, clean-up, and other necessities to make the seder a success. Please contact Anna Stein or Jane Kemp if you would like to volunteer. And for those who wish to make a difference in our community, we highly encourage you to consider joining the Temple Beth Hillel Board of Directors next year. Our Board is always on the lookout for members who have ideas for the future of the temple and the ability to carry out that vision. Serving on the Board makes us appreciate how much Temple Beth Hillel means to us and our children. And please mark your calendars for June 9, when we will be holding our annual membership meeting. All Temple members are of course invited.
Finally, our next regular Shabbat Service will take place next Friday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. Family Shabbat will occur earlier that evening at 6:15 p.m. and all families are welcome to join our Passover themed activities. Torah Study will take place Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. on Zoom, and the next Adult Education class will be hosted by Rabbi Dean on April 21 at 10:30 a.m.. And of course, we encourage everyone to come to our wonderful Tefillah services at Religious School each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Thank you everyone!
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel
~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel