Amy L. Morrison
This week, as we read This week, as we read This week, as we Parshat Eikev Parshat Eikev Parshat Eikev and look back a and look back a and look back a few days to Wednesday and the holiday of few days to Wednesday and the holiday of few days to Wednesday and the holiday of Tu B'Av Tu B'Av Tu B'Av, we , we , we are reminded that love, gratitude, and blessing begin are reminded that love, gratitude, and blessing begin are reminded that love, gratitude, and blessing begin with the way we care for ourselves. In with the way we care for ourselves. In with the way we care for ourselves. In Eikev Eikev Eikev, we are , we are , we are called to remember God's gifts and not lose sight of called to remember God's gifts and not lose sight of called to remember God's gifts and not lose sight of what truly nourishes us. what truly nourishes us. what truly nourishes us. Tu B'Av Tu B'Av Tu B'Av,,, our Jewish celebration our Jewish celebration our Jewish celebration of love and hope, reminds us that hearts can heal, of love and hope, reminds us that hearts can of love and hope, reminds us that hearts can heal, relationships can grow, and new beginnings are always relationships can grow, and new beginnings are always relationships can grow, and new beginnings are always possible. possible. possible.
So oft So oft So often we give everything we have to our families, en we give everything we have to our families, en we give everything we have to our families, our friends, and our community. Yet when we are our friends, and our community. Yet when we are our friends, and our community. Yet when we are running on empty, it becomes difficult to show up with running on empty, it becomes to show up with running on empty, it becomes difficult to show up with patience, compassion, and joy. We cannot pour from patience, compassion, and joy. We cannot pour from patience, compassion, joy. We pour from an empty cup. Caring for ourselves physically, mentally, an empty cup. Caring for ourselves physically, mentally, an empty cup. Caring for ourselves physically, mentally, and spir and spir and spiritually is not selfish. It is a sacred responsibility. itually is not selfish. It is a sacred responsibility. itually is not selfish. It is a sacred responsibility.
Mon., Aug. 3 & Wed., Aug. 5
7pm - Torah Cantillation Class on Zoom
Fri. Aug. 7
5:30pm - Early Oneg
6pm - Erev Shabbat Services
Moses tells the Israelites that if they follow God' Moses tells the Israelites that if they follow God' Moses tells the Israelites that if they follow God' s la s la s la ws, the nations ws, the nations ws, the nations who now dwell a who now dwell a who now dwell a cross the Jordan River will not harm them. (7:12– cross the Jordan River will not harm them. (7:12– cross the Jordan River will not harm them. (7:12–26) 26) 26)
Mos Mos Mos es reminds the people of the virtues of keeping God's es reminds the people of the virtues of keeping God's es reminds the people of the virtues of keeping God's commandments. He also tells them that they will disp commandments. He also tells them that they will disp commandments. He also tells them that they will disp ossess those ossess those ossess those wwwho now live in the Land only because they are idolatrous, not ho now live in the Land only because they are idolatrous, not ho now live in the Land only because they are idolatrous, not because the Israelites are uncommonly virtuous. Thereupon, Moses because the Israelites are uncommonly virtuous. Thereupon, Moses because the Israelites are uncommonly virtuous. Thereupon, Moses reviews all of the trespasses of the Israelites against God. (8:1– reviews all of the trespasses of the Israelites against God. (8:1– reviews all of the trespasses of the Israelites against God. (8:1–10:11) 10:11) 10:11)
M M M oses says that the Land of Israel will overflow with milk and oses says that the Land of Israel will overflow with milk and oses says that the Land of Israel will overflow with milk and honey if the people obey God's commandments and teach them honey if the people obey God's commandments and teach them honey if the people obey God's commandments and teach them to their children. (10:12–11:25) to their children. (10:12–11:25) to their children. (10:12–11:25)
Take a walk with someone you love. Turn off your phone
Take a walk with someone you love. Turn off your phone
Take a walk with someone you love. Turn off your phone for an hour and be fully present with your family. Spend for an hour and fully present with your Spend for an hour and be fully present with your family. Spend a few quiet moments in prayer, read a page of Jewish a few quiet moments in prayer, read a page of Jewish a few quiet moments prayer, a page Jewish wisdom, volunteer, or simply light Shabbat candles with wisdom, volunteer, or simply light Shabbat candles with wisdom, volunteer, or simply light Shabbat candles with intention. These small acts strengthen not only our own intention. small acts strengthen not our own intention. These small acts strengthen not only our own souls but also the people whose lives we touch. souls but also the people whose lives we touch. souls but also the people whose lives touch.
Suggestions for parents of our Suggestions for parents of our Suggestions for parents of our youngest congregants youngest congregants youngest congregants
Relax! God gave children their wiggle—there’s Relax! God gave children their wiggle—there’s Relax! God gave children their wiggle—there’s no need to stifle it in our sanctuary or chapel. no need to stifle it in our sanctuary or chapel. no need to stifle it in our sanctuary or chapel.
This Shabbat, I invite each of us to choose one new
This Shabbat, I invite each of us to choose one new
This Shabbat, I invite each of us to choose one new way to nurture our soul, deepen our connection to God way to nurture our soul, deepen our connection to God way to nurture our soul, our to God and Judaism, and return to the world more whole, more and Judaism, and return to the world more whole, more and Judaism, and return to the world more whole, more hopeful, and more ready to bring love and blessing to hopeful, and more ready to bring love and blessing to hopeful, and more ready to bring love and blessing to everyone around us. everyone around us. everyone around us.
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!
Sit near the front so your little ones can better
Sit near the front so your little ones can better
Sit near the front so your little ones can better see and hear what’s happening on the Bima. see and hear what’s happening on the Bima. see and hear what’s happening on the Bima. They lose interest staring at the backs of They lose interest staring at the backs of They lose interest staring at the backs of others’ heads. others’ heads. others’ heads.
G G G ently explain our rituals and join in singing or ently explain our rituals and join in singing or ently explain our rituals and join in singing or clapping when it fits. Children learn how to clapping when it fits. Children learn how to clapping when it fits. Children learn how to participate by watching you. participate by watching you. participate by watching you.
If you need to step out with your child, that’s If you need to step out with your child, that’s If you need to step out with your child, that’s okay—but please return when you can. okay—but please return when you can. okay—but please return when you can.
Remember, how we welcome children in Remember, how we welcome children in Remember, how we welcome children in synagogue shapes how they feel about being synagogue shapes how they feel about being synagogue shapes how they feel about being here, about God, and about each other. Let here, about God, and about each other. Let here, about God, and about each other. Let
them know they truly belong in this house of them know they truly belong in this house of them know they truly belong in this house of worship, here at Temple Beth-El. worship, here at Temple Beth-El. worship, here at Temple Beth-El.
