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Masei – Numbers 33:1 – 36:13 – The Torah portion (parashat ha shavuah) for Shabbat, Saturday, July 26

August 16, 2014 by • ,

What is mercy? In a society of zero tolerance, do we understand nuance anymore? Our Torah is criticized for promulgating a harsh form of justice, with the death penalty for many crimes that we never consider to justify execution. But this week the Torah shows remarkable subtlety, even in the extreme case of murder. First it stipulates a difference between murder, which is intentional, and manslaughter.  Manslaughter is defined this way, “But if he pushed him without malice aforethought or hurled any object at him unintentionally, or inadvertently dropped upon him any deadly object of stone, and death resulted…” (Numbers 36:22-25) Further, a murderer, one who kills intentionally, can only be executed if convicted on the testimony of two or more witnesses, “the testimony of a single witness against a person shall not suffice for a sentence of death.” (Numbers 36:30) Thus the burden of proof in ancient Israel is higher than in our country today. Our Torah teaches us the need for discernment and understanding, even in the most difficult situations and that there are no simple solutions to society’s problems.

Matot – Numbers 30:2 – 32:42 – The Torah portion (parashat ha shavuah) for Shabbat, Saturday, July 19

August 16, 2014 by •

In Judaism words matter. After all, God created the universe through speech. God spoke and the universe came into existence. So what we say is important. We spent this year studying the Talmud’s rules regulating speech and learned how much the rabbis wanted us to avoid hurting other people through speech.  This week, at the beginning of our Torah portion we read, “If a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath imposing an obligation on himself, he shall not break his pledge; he must carry out all that has crossed his lips.” (Numbers 30:3) To the authors of the Bible and our rabbis spoken words were facts; they changed reality. So they took vows seriously. They encouraged people not to make vows, but if someone made a vow they were obligated to keep it up. Their word was their bond. In our society today we debase speech. We hide our meaning and our intentions behind vague and confusing words. Perhaps we would all be better off if we said what we meant and meant what we said… and paused and weighed our words before we spoke.

Balak – Numbers 22:2 – 25:9 – The Torah portion (parashat ha shavuah) for Shabbat, Saturday, July 5

July 4, 2014 by • ,

A blessing in Hebrew is a bracha. It is the building block of Jewish prayer. Maimonides (Egypt 12th century), said that every Jew should recite 100 blessings a day. This isn’t so hard if you pray the statutory services in the evening, morning and afternoon. Why this focus on blessings? One reason is that blessings can help us be fully present to the moment, such as when we say the blessing over bread before we eat. Another reason is that blessings help us focus on the needs of others, as when we ask for God’s blessing and healing for those who are ill. This week, King Balak of Moab hires the prophet Bila’am to curse the Israelites. But despite Balak’s promise of generous financial compensation, in the end Bila’am just cannot do it. When he sees the camp of the Israelites, he blesses them instead. We know this blessing, “How goodly are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places Israel,” because we recite them at the beginning of every morning service. Blessings can be a reflection of reality, as in the case of Bila’am whose blessing recognizes the holiness of the Israelites or it can create a more positive reality like when we see the best in others when we bless our children, or bless one another.

Weekly Newsletter

June 25, 2014 by •

 

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Support

June 21, 2014 by •

If you have ever shopped at Macy’s or Safeway’s, then you can help your synagogue raise money. If you have ever shopped on line at anything from Amazon.com to Target.com, and so many other well known vendors, then you can help your synagogue raise money. All these avenues plus more are easy ways to help Temple Beth Hillel fundraise without costing you more money out of pocket. How you ask?

1. Sign up for www.escript.com This site asks you to register your Safeway club card (the card Safeways gives you to receive discounts off their items) and/or your Macy’s credit card. Every time you shop at Safeways using your club card or Macy’s, a percentage of your bill will be donated to TBH. When you sign up at escript put TBH’s group ID number ins (157978934)
2. Join www.onecause.com There is no charge to join this site. Whenever you want to shop on line, rather than go to the website of your choice directly, sign into onecause.com and then click the site you want to shop on. A percentage of your bill will be donated to TBH (Make sure when you join, you indicate TBH Richmond) as your organization of choice. You will also get coupons for discount shopping.
3. Need a Bnai Mitzvah gift? Wedding, birthday, graduation gift? Or just something special for yourself? Check out our new gift shop at TBH. We will periodically update the items with new and beautiful items. If you don’t see what you want, you can go directly to our vendor www.neshomanetwork.com to shop. Make sure you state that your organization of choice is TBH and a percentage of your sales will be donated to the Temple.

Help support Temple Beth Hillel! If you have any questions, please contact Betty at (510) 528-2263

Emergency Food Drive

June 21, 2014 by •

Emergency Food Drive

As the economy weakens the demand for food assistance from the Richmond Emergency Food Pantry continues to increase. We have been doing a great job raising food to help our neighbors, but we need to keep it up. Thanks to everyone who has contributed, and continues to contribute food to the neediest in our community. Breakfast cereal and peanut butter are still in highest demand. Let us all continue to make sure that no one in our community goes hungry because they cannot afford to feed themselves and their families.

When you come to synagogue, for religious school, to celebrate Shabbat or for an educational or social program, please bring some breakfast cereal or peanut butter. Let’s continue to share what we have by filling the red barrels in our lobby to overflowing to feed the hungry.

The Food Pantry also needs money to buy meat and poultry, which we cannot donate, because of health laws. If you would like to make a donation please leave it with Arlene in the Temple office. Make your checks payable to the Richmond Emergency Food Pantry.

Caring Committee

June 21, 2014 by •

Our synagogue’s caring community is here to help you and your family in times of need.

In support of those sick, injured or homebound we can keep in touch by phone, computer or in person; provide meals; help with some transportation needs; provide respite or childcare, run errands and possibly provide assistance with negotiations with assorted agencies.

For those who have lost a loved one and are grieving, we can help organize the Meal of Condolence after a burial and provide transportation to the funeral or cemetery; provide food and people for Shiva; help with meals, errands, respite or childcare as needed after Shiva; provide a person to stay in regular contact with the family for 6-12 months as needed. We can provide transportation connections to services and other synagogue events, as well as possible other locations.

To activate us for your family or for someone you know in the congregation call  Marilyn Hertzberg (see TBH Roster for contact information).

Welcome

June 7, 2014 by •

Temple Beth Hillel, located just off Hilltop Drive at I-80 in Richmond, California is an intimate, warm and wonderful congregation of Jewish families from West Contra Costa County and beyond. Being small (approx. 100 families) fosters familiarity among members and a special sense of belonging – a sense often missing at larger congregations.

Founded in 1946, Temple Beth Hillel offers a place for celebration of  Shabbat (twice a month or more), the Holidays and Festivals (including a Hanukkah Latke Party, Tu B’Shevat Seder, Purim Carnival, Congregational Passover Seder) and other celebrations.

The Temple has a thriving Religious School (grades pre-K through Bar/Bat Mitzvah year) and an affiliation with Midrasha in Berkeley for high school students.

For adults, Rabbi Dean Kertesz is leading a Kollel for adults to study a wide range of Jewish topics.

Join us for a Shabbat Service – come to a Family Potluck (1st Shabbat evening of the month) – celebrate the High Holidays – experience Temple Beth Hillel and joins us in building our community, the community of Jewish families of West Contra Costa and beyond.

If you’re new to the San Francisco Bay area and are looking for a reform synagogue to join in the East Bay, Temple Beth Hillel welcomes you!

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