Join us this summer for
Bulletin June 2015 Sivan-Tamuz 5775 Vol. 64, No. 9
Shabbat on the Plaza
Established 1858
Starting June 12 & 26 Join us all summer long on the Temple lawn as we welcome Shabbat under the Portland summer sky (weather permitting). Bring your family and friends along with a blanket and your own picnic supper. Chairs and umbrellas (for shading from the sun) will be available as well. Services begin at 6:00 PM.
Gratitude by Rabbi Rachel L. Joseph Assistant Rabbi The May 2015 issue of FamilyFun magazine lists “get into gratitude” as one of the top five actions to make for a happier life. One of the core principles of Judaism is gratitude: the necessity and ability to say thank you. Jews begin their day with two words – modeh ani, I acknowledge and thank You God for having given me the gift of life once more as I awake to the new day. A general attitude of gratitude and thanks makes living life meaningful. Putting this teaching into practice, I want to express my profound gratitude to each of you for making Mitzvah Day such a powerful experience. On May 3, hundreds of us gathered together to build community and make a difference in our world. Whether it was beautifying our own campus or bringing joy and sustenance to our neighbors at NW Towers, providing food for those living on the edge of society or making blankets to keep people warm, working in a food pantry or preparing books for children who have none, each of you made a difference. Thank you. And our impact reaches far beyond May 3, because every day is mitzvah day. To live Jewishly is to live inspired with the optimism that we can build a more just and holy world and with the faith that there is a promising future for all humankind. This is how we view our role and responsibility at Beth Israel every day. Thank you to everyone who contacted their elected officials to support the gun violence prevention legislation requiring background checks on all gun sales; our presence and our voice made a difference in this legislation becoming law. Thank you to everyone who contributed money to the “funds for food” High Holiday drive which allowed us to donate over $7,000 to Lift Urban Portland and Sunshine Pantry. Thank you to everyone who cooked and served a meal for our neighbors at NW Towers and other housing complexes and programs in the area. Thank you to everyone who knit a hat, scarf, or gloves for someone in need; and the list goes on and on because we are committed to repairing this world.
The rabbis teach, “The reward of a mitzvah is the mitzvah itself” (Pirkei Avot 4:2). Rather than some metaphysical intervention, the great feeling that comes from doing something good is itself the reward. This is the Jewish way: feeling good about doing right and giving thanks is an important reminder that we are on the right track. We at CBI are on the right track, and our work isn’t done. Join us for our next Social Action Committee meeting at 7:00 PM on June 3rd to get involved. When we actively cultivate gratitude, we become happier individuals better equipped to change the world and live inspired lives committed to doing good. Thank you.
And a special thank you to the Mitzvah Day Committee: Rebecca Friedenwald-Fishman, co-chair of Social Action and chair of Mitzvah Day Janet Morgan
Leslie Peltz Shoshanna Pro Mary Scalone Julia Waldinger
And to everyone else who helped make Mitzvah Day a success: Rachel Bloom Shaina Boal CBI Brotherhood Cantor Ida Rae Cahana Marge Congress Sarah and John Epstein Elizabeth Friedenwald, co-chair of Social Action Susan Milstein
Leona Mitchell Andy Olshin Benjamin Olshin Solomon Olshin Lawren Paris PARTY Amy Remick Stephanie Siegel Tammy Yashar