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Tishah B’Av

Tishah B’Av, which means the “Ninth of Av”, refers to a traditional day of mourning the destruction of both ancient Temples in Jerusalem. Reform Judaism, however, has never assigned a central religious role to the ancient Temple. Therefore, mourning the destruction of the Temple in such an elaborate fashion did not seem meaningful. More recently, in Reform Judaism Tishah B’Av has been transformed into a day to remember many Jewish tragedies that have occurred throughout history. If the 9th of Av falls on a Saturday, the fast is postponed until the 10th of Av.

Tisha B’av is August 10 – 11 this year.

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Tu B’Av

Tu BРІР‚в„ўAvР’В (the 15thР’В of the month of Av) arrives shortly after the mourning period that leads toР’В Tishah BРІР‚в„ўAv, the date on which the First and Second Holy Temples were destroyed.

Throughout much of Jewish history, Tu B’Av, a rabbinic holiday,was not well known and became more popular upon the establishment of the State of Israel. It is regarded as a “Jewish Valentine’s Day” and is considered opportune for dating, romance, engagements, and marriage. Tu B’Av is a regular workday, and the only special observances that are mandated are the changes to daily prayers, as on other holidays. Still, it is also a day on which celebrations are held in Israel throughout the different sectors of society.

Tu B’av is August 15 – 16 this year.

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With todayРІР‚в„ўs heightened political discord, many families, friends and colleagues struggle to stay calm and civil at even the hint of disagreement. That fact has made Bryn Hazell a very busy woman. As co-founder of the Center for Compassionate Living and a trainer specializing in Compassionate/Nonviolent Communication (NVC) for 17 years, BrynРІР‚в„ўs expertise is more relevant now than ever. Her work is built on the ground-breaking NVC communication process developed by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg and practiced by millions of people around the globe.

Bryn met Marshall Rosenberg in 2000. It changed her life and she loves sharing with others the skills she has learned. Here in Central Oregon, Bryn has helped hundreds of individuals to listen selflessly, speak with compassion, and resolve conflicts peacefully. As a volunteer, she teaches workshops and classes, makes presentations, and facilitates practice groups under the auspices of her Center.

We are blessed to have Bryn join us as guest facilitator at our next special community event, Breakfast & Civil Discourse.

Single Handed

Drawing on eyewitness accounts and extensive interviews, Daniel Cohen presents this inspiring story and gives us a stirring portrait of a true Jewish immigrant American hero!

Please join us on Thursday, October 19th at 7:00 pm (doors will open at 6:30 pm) in the Event Hall of St Charles Medical Center (located directly inside the Main Entrance of the hospital at 2500 NE Neff Road, in the Center for Health & Learning Conference Rooms). Your tax-deductible donation for tickets may be purchased at the door.

At the door, tickets will be $25 for Adults and $10 for Students.

Two Twisted Sisters Productions and Temple Beth Tikvah present author Daniel M. Cohen, discussing his book Single Handed and the extraordinary life of its hero, Tibor “Teddy” Rubin – the only Holocaust survivor ever to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. After being captured by Nazis at age 13 and surviving the horrors of the notorious Mauthausen concentration camp for more than a year, he later volunteered for service in the Korean War. After many acts of heroism, he was captured. As a POW, he helped his fellow GIs survive for two and half years in captivity. After returning to the US, over 50 years passed before TiborРІР‚в„ўs adopted homeland recognized this Jewish immigrant for acts of valor that went “beyond the call of duty”. In 2005, at age 76, he was invited to the White House and given the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush. With a Q&A to follow the presentation, attendees are sure to be part of a fascinating community discussion that connects these trials of the past to our current social climate.

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PRESIDENT JEANNE FREEMAN’S EREV ROSH HASHANAH SPEECH 5777/2016

Shana Tova, and welcome to Temple Beth Tikvah, I am Jeanne Freeman, and honored to be the president. Standing here I look out upon my dearest old friends, my new friends, and friends that I have yet to meet – but will.

When I came to Central Oregon seven years ago, I knew that finding friendship and camaraderie was most important to help me feel that I truly belonged. Since I wasn’t a young mom rooting for my kids on the soccer field or sharing lunch break at the office… it was harder meeting people. I searched for friendly faces at art groups and book groups and floral groups and neighborhood groups, but I was unsatisfied and unable to meet people with whom I felt a connection.

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PRESIDENT JEANNE FREEMAN’S KOL NIDRE SPEECH 5777/2016

When Rabbi Hershenson was diagnosed with breast cancer, there were concerns for her health, concerns for the synagogue, concerns for the High Holy Day services.

And yet, look at where we are.

We have joined our Rabbi in her fight against cancer – with food, with Reiki, with companionship during chemo, with words of encouragement, and with love. This community, our Rabbi’s community, has her back and she knows it. We are her large extended family and we have come together to support her. Demonstrating the power of our love and connection.

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On January 23 Temple Beth Tikvah celebrates a musical moment in Jewish biblical history—this Shabbat is Shabbat Shirah, the Sabbath of Song celebrating Moses and Miriam leading the Israelites across the Sea of Reeds (The Red Sea) and out of Egypt.

This particular evening we are blessed to have Eileen Heaton, one of Bend’s most beautiful voices, joining us in prayer. Ms. Heaton has performed as a soloist for the Sunriver Music Festival, Cascade Chorale, Obsidian Opera and Cabaret Connection, as well as for many area churches.

This is also the time of year where we celebrate the memory of Debbie Friedman, a singer and songwriter whose work married traditional Jewish texts to contemporary folk-infused melodies and is credited with helping give ancient liturgy broad appeal to late-20th-century worshippers.

Our service will include many of Debbie’s most memorable melodies sung by Eileen Heaton, as well as Temple Beth Tikvah’s very own Debbie Pattison, who will be joined on piano by Julie Geveshausen.

Debbie Friedman taught us to long for more in all of her music. She exposed so many people to the idea that you, yourself, can pray to God. She has inspired so many to sing….to sing out….to sing up….so please join us for Shabbat Shirah and sing.

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Purim, which falls on March 11th this year, is a festive holiday that’s celebrated with a rowdy public reading of the Book of Esther, dressing in costume, eating delicious hamantaschen cookies, having festive parties, and more.

Purim is celebrated with a public reading—usually in the synagogue—of the Book of Esther (Megillat Esther), which tells the story of the holiday. Under the rule of King Ahashverosh, Haman, the king’s prime minister, plots to exterminate all of the Jews of Persia. His plan is foiled by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai, who ultimately save the Jews of Persia from destruction. The reading of the megillah typically is a rowdy affair, punctuated by booing and noise-making when Haman’s name is read aloud.

See more at ReformJudaism.org

Lag B’Omer
May 22 (begins at sunset) & May 23

There is an interesting connection between Pesach and Shavuot when weР’В count the OmerР’В (a harvesting unit of measure), starting the second night of Pesach until Shavuot, essentially marking the time from the barley to the wheat harvest. As in all agrarian societies, if the weather pattern deviates, it can be disastrous for the community. This is a precarious time, when everyone prays for positive results. Since our ancestors saw this as a somber time, there are many prohibitions during this 49-day period, including no weddings, parties or haircuts.

The one exception during this solemn period is Lag B’Omer — the 33rd day of counting the Omer. “Lag” is from the Hebrew letters lamed and gimel. Lamed has a numerical equivalent to 30, and gimel has the numerical equivalent of 3 — thus the 33rd day. There are different reasons given to explain why this date is special.

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Shavuot
May 30 (begins at sunset) & May 31

Shavuot is a Hebrew word meaning “weeks” and refers to the Jewish festival marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Shavuot, like so many other Jewish holidays began as an ancient agricultural festival, marking the end of the spring barley harvest and the beginning of the summer wheat harvest. Shavuot was distinguished in ancient times by bringing crop offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Shavuot, also known as the Festival of the Giving of the Torah, dates from biblical times, and helps to explain the holiday’s name, “Weeks.” The Torah tells us it took precisely forty-nine days for our ancestors to travel from Egypt to the foot of Mount Sinai where they were to receive the Torah. Thus, Leviticus 23:21 commands: “And you shall proclaim that day (the fiftieth day) to be a holy convocation!” The name Shavuot, “Weeks,” then symbolizes the completion of a seven-week journey.

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Sukkot

Sukkot, a Hebrew word meaning “booths” or “huts,” refers to the Jewish festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest, as well as the commemoration of the forty years of Jewish wandering in the desert after Sinai. Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur on the 15th of Tishrei.

One tradition, which takes the commandment to “dwell in booths” literally, is to build a sukkah, a booth or hut, which is decorated with fruits of the harvest. Sukkot is so unreservedly joyful that it is commonly referred to in Jewish prayer and literature as Z’man Simchateinu, the Season of our Rejoicing.

The holiday has both historical and agricultural significance. Historically, Sukkot commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Agriculturally, Sukkot is a harvest festival and is sometimes referred to as Chag Ha-Asif, the Festival of Ingathering.

Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah is one of the most joyous holidays in the Jewish calendar and the one that marks the ending of the High Holy Day season. Traditionally, Simchat Torah is considered the Birthday of the Torah, it literally translates to “The Celebration of Torah!” Simchat Torah is a joyous festival where we celebrate Jewish learning, reading, studying and community.

The Torah is one of the foundations of Judaism and comes to symbolize all Jewish learning (from our youngest to our oldest and everyone in between). Our two Torah scrolls will be taken from the ark, carried and danced around the synagogue with great celebration and music. During the service itself, the concluding section of Deuteronomy, the last book of the Torah, is read, and immediately followed by the reading of the opening section of the first book Genesis, when we read about the creation of the world.