True Colors True Colors
By Cyndi Lauper By Cyndi Lauper
Jacob Apter*
Elizabeth Berger*
Margaret Berko*
Rose Bernstein
Eugenio Blumberg
Alexander Brien
Bruce Joel Celis
Lena Cooperman*
Shirley Dissin
Bruce Dworsky
Jennie Friedman*
Gizella Gann*
Jacob M. Getz*
Sallie Goldwater*
Leon Haliczer*
Ruth Hill*
Esther LaHav Klasmer
Allen C. Marmon
Marcos J. Nahon*
Dorothy Nash
Jacob Plotkin
Jill Alison Rosenbluth*
Robert R. Rosenfeld
Emanuel Schuman*
Harry Ullman
Mildred Weinstein*
*Denotes plaque in Memorial Alcove
Rabbi - RabbiMorrison@TempleBeth-El.com nell - Director of Finance & Operations
- Tara@TempleBeth-El.com
- Bookkeeper@TempleBeth-El.com Communications & Engagement Coordinator - Tovah@TempleBeth-El.com nnon - Director of Early Childhood Center
- JennHannon@TempleBeth-El.com
Bookkeeper
As we enter the double portion of
As we enter the double portion of
As enter the double portion of Chukat-Balak Chukat-Balak Chukat-Balak during Pride Month, during Pride Month, during Pride Month, we encounter a powerful reminder that holiness often emerges we powerful reminder that holiness often emerges we encounter a powerful reminder that holiness emerges from unexpected places and voices. In these from unexpected places and voices In these from unexpected places and voices. In these parshiyot parshiyot parshiyot, outsiders , outsiders , outsiders become insiders. The prophet Balaam, who stands beyond the become insiders. The prophet Balaam, who stands beyond the become insiders. The prophet Balaam, who stands beyond the Israelite camp, is nevertheless able to see blessing where others Israelite camp, is nevertheless able to see blessing where others Israelite is nevertheless able to see blessing where others see threat, proclaiming the enduring words, " see threat, proclaiming the enduring words, " see threat, enduring words, "Mah tovu ohalecha Mah tovu ohalecha Mah tovu Ya'akov Ya'akov Ya'akov" "How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob" (Numbers 24:5). " "How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob" (Numbers 24:5). " "How your tents, O Jacob" (Numbers 24:5).
Announcements Announcements Announcements
Saturday, June 27
5:15pm - St. Pete Pride Parade
Sunday, June 28
Torah
Parashat Chukat-Balak: Parashat Chukat-Balak: Parashat Chukat-Balak: 19:1 -
The laws of the red heifer to purify a person who has had contact with a The laws of the red heifer to purify a person who has had contact with a The laws of the red heifer to purify a person who has had contact with a corpse are given. (19:1-22) corpse are given (19:1-22) corpse are given (19:1-22)
The people arrive at the wilderness of Zin. Miriam dies and is buried there. The people arrive at the wilderness of Zin Miriam dies and is buried there The people arrive at the wilderness of Zin Miriam dies and is buried there ((20:1) (20:1) 20:1)
Jewish tradition teaches that every human being is created
Jewish tradition teaches that every human being is created
Jewish tradition teaches that human being is created b'tzelem Elohim b'tzelem Elohim b'tzelem Elohim, in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This sacred , in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This sacred , in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) This sacred truth is not condi truth is not condi truth is not conditional. It does not depend on whom we love, how tional. It does not depend on whom love, how tional. It does not depend on whom we love, how we identify, or whether we fit neatly into society's expectations. identify, or whether we fit neatly into society s expectations. we identify, or whether we fit neatly into society's expectations. Pride Month invites us to celebrate the dignity, courage, and Month invites us to celebrate the dignity, courage, and Pride Month invites us to celebrate the dignity, courage, and holiness of LGBTQ+ individuals and to recommit ourselves to individuals to recommit ourselves to holiness of LGBTQ+ individuals and to recommit ourselves to building communities where everyone is seen, valued, and communities where everyone is seen, valued, and building communities where everyone is seen, valued, and embraced. embraced. embraced.
Allys Allys Allyship is a Jewish value because solidarity is a human value. We hip is a Jewish value because solidarity is a human value. We hip is a Jewish value because solidarity is a human We know from our own history that belonging matters. Sometimes know from our own history that belonging matters. Sometimes know from our own history that belonging matters. Sometimes allyship means speaking out against injustice. Sometimes it means allyship means speaking out injustice Sometimes it means allyship means speaking out against injustice. Sometimes it means advocating for those whose voices are marginalized. And advocating for those whose voices are marginalized. And advocating for those voices are marginalized. And sometimes the most meaningful act is simply showing up, standing sometimes the most meaningful act is simply showing up, standing sometimes the most meaningful act is simply up, beside one another, bearing witness, and declaring through our beside one another, bearing and declaring through our beside another, bearing witness, and declaring through presence: you belong here. presence: you belong here. presence: you belong here.
This coming w This coming w This weekend, our congregation will gather for Pride events eekend, our congregation will gather for Pride events eekend, our congregation will gather for Pride events as an expression of our deepest Jewish commitments. We hope you as an expression of our deepest Jewish commitments. We hope you as an of our deepest Jewish commitments We hope you will join us in celebration, support, and community. will join us in celebration, support, and community. will join us in celebration, support, and community.
12pm - 5pm - TBE Pride Booth @ Grand Central Street Fair
Thursday, July 2
7pm - 10pm - Nifty Over Fifty Sunset Dining Cruise
Friday, July 3
5:30pm - Early Oneg 6pm - Erev Shabbat Services
The people complain that they have no water. Moses strikes the rock to get The people complain that they have no water. Moses strikes the rock to get The people complain that they have no water. Moses strikes the rock to get water for them. God tells Moses and Aaron they will not enter the Land of water for them. God tells Moses and Aaron they will not enter the Land of water for them. God tells Moses and Aaron they will not enter the Land of Israel. (20:2-13) Israel. (20:2-13) Israel. (20:2-13)
TTThe king of Edom refuses to let the Children of Israel pass through his la he king of Edom refuses to let the Children of Israel pass through his la he king of Edom refuses to let the Children of Israel pass through his lannd nd. d.
After Aaron s p After Aaron's p After Aaron's p riestly garments ar riestly garments ar riestly garments ar e given to his son Eleazer, Aaron dies e given to his son Eleazer, Aaron dies e given to his son Eleazer, Aaron dies. ((20:14-29) (20:14-29) 20:14-29)
After t After t After t hey are punished for complaining about the lack of bread and water, hey are punished for complaining about the lack of bread and water, hey are punished for complaining about the lack of bread and water, the Israelites repent and are victorious in battle against the Amorites and the Israelites repent and are victorious in battle against the Amorites and the Israelites repent and are victorious in battle against the Amorites and the people of Bashan, whose lands they capture. the people of Bashan, whose lands they capture. the people of Bashan, whose lands they capture ((21:4-22:1)
Balak, the king of Moab, persuades the Balak, the king of Moab, persuades the Balak, the king of Moab, persuades the prophet Balaam to curse the prophet Balaam to curse the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites so that he can defeat them and drive them out of the region. Israelites so that he can defeat them and drive them out of the region. Israelites so that he can defeat them and drive them out of the region. However, Balaam blesses the Children of Israel instead and prophesies that However, Balaam blesses the Children of Israel instead and prophesies that However, Balaam blesses the Children of Israel instead and prophesies that Israel's enemies will be defeated (22:2-24:25) Israel s enemies will be defeated. (22:2-24:25) Israel s enemies will be defeated. (22:2-24:25)
As we gather this Shabbat, may we hear Balaam's blessing anew
As we gather this Shabbat, may we hear Balaam's blessing anew
As we gather this Shabbat, may we hear Balaam's blessing anew and recognize the beauty that emerges when every person is and recognize the beauty emerges when every person is and recognize the beauty that emerges when every person is welcomed into the tent. Let us go forward with pride, compassion, into tent. go forward with pride, compassion, welcomed into the tent. Let us go forward with pride, compassion, and courage, remembering that God created all human beings in and courage, remembering created all human in and courage, remembering that God created all human beings in God's image, and here, in our congregation, we strive to live that God's image, and here, in our congregation, we strive to live that God's image, and here, in our congregation, we strive to live that value every day. value day. value every day.
If you are new to Temple Beth-El, welcome! OPEN COMMUNITY CREATES ENGAGING & DIVERSE JEWISH PATHWAYS
Located in St. Petersburg on Florida's beautiful west coast, Temple Beth-El is a Reform Jewish congregation that has served this area since 1928 and is focused on strengthening relationships and making connections We are a welcoming Reform community for Jewish and interfaith households to experience an uplifting and joyful sense of belonging as we seek to connect our members with each other and the greater community and world around us.
Enjoy and have a Shabbat Shalom!
God punishes the Israelites with a plague for consorting with the Moabite
God punishes the Israelites with a plague for consorting with the Moabite
God punishes the Israelites with a plague for consorting with the Moabite women and their god The plague is stayed after Pinchas kills an Israelite women and their god The plague is stayed after Pinchas kills an Israelite women and their god. The plague is stayed after Pinchas kills an Israelite man and his Midianite woman. (25:1-9) man and his Midianite woman (25:1-9) man and his Midianite woman (25:1-9)
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