n Fridays, at 8:00 pm, we gather for warm, creative, inclusive, and Reform Services. Our prayers cover the traditional Jewish liturgy, with many traditional melodies. We add varieties of music, led by Soloists Charlotte Rosenberg (see bio) and Gerry Vance-Owen (see bio). We include Torah study, reading from the weekly portion, and commentary, plus a D'var Torah (Sermon) on a subject of our Rabbi's choice. About once a month, we learn from a guest speaker. An Oneg follows the service.
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On the third Friday of each month, during the school year,also at 7:00 pm, we gather for our Family/Chavurah Service, led by one of our Religious School classes. We also cover the traditional liturgy, but with music and stories, often told by our students, that are age appropriate. A Pot Luck dinner, at 6:00 pm, begins our celebration, and an Oneg follows.
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Early Childhood: For ages 0 to 5, our early childhood programs already offer our Rishon class, also called Mazel Tots, each month, with the rest of our school, from 9:30 am to Noon, plus and Tot Shabbat, on the first Saturday of each month, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. Our youngest students also participate in the many school social events (click here for dates) and our Family/ Chavurah Shabbat Services on the third Friday of each month, with Services starting at 6:45 pm, preceded by a pot luck dinner at 6:00 pm. With input from our families, we plan more early childhood activities.
Music, arts & crafts, stories, and food play central roles in our early childhood activities. Elisa Harrington-Verb, who coordinates our programs, also leads music for Shabbat Services as our Temple’s Soloist and helps develop music learning for students of all ages.
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Shabbat Morning Service, with Torah Study, Saturday, 10 to 11:30 am, a brief but “full” Service, plus learn to understand the Torah, led by Rabbi Karz-Wagman. A snack is provided while we chant.
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Torah Introduction
08/11/2010 8 Elul 5770
Torah Shoftim
How to Combat Corruption
Corruption remains inevitable. As long as one person has more power than another, that person will, with rare exceptions, abuse that power, in order to gain an unfair amount of resources – especially money, status, and pleasure, as well as gain more power to gain more of those other benefits.
This week, we read about the dangers of having a King, even though all the other nations have one. Kings will take too much power, which always leads to corruption. That applies not only to Kings, but also to Presidents, Mayors, even leaders of businesses, of Temples and of families. As we learn about how to limit the power of Kings, consider how it applies within families, at work, and in all of our communities.
While corruption may inevitable, Moses teaches us how to limit it. By the way, we get similar lessons from the prophet Samuel, in 1 Samuel, chapter 8.
This week’s portion implies the most effective counter to corruption, counterbalancing powers. The King’s power was offset by the powers of the Priests and the prophets. Also, the powers of the Priests and the prophets had their own limits. Priests represented religious authority (people listened to them and learned from them) and also played judicial roles. Prophets were the social critics, but were held in such high esteem that many heard their voices as more accurately reflecting God than the King did. Even Kings listened to prophets, sometimes.
The King was also restricted by limits on his wealth and army – not too many horses. Further, the King had to hear (from the Priests, as Kings did not necessarily know how to read) rules from our Torah (or at least ethical rules from the Book of Deuteronomy). He had to learn, every day, in part to remind him that he was not God, but was subject to God’s rules.
Now, think about today’s power abusers -- family leaders (fathers or mothers) and community leaders and political leaders and business leaders. Imagine if we created more countervailing forces (more power for women, kids, and outside regulators, whether relatives, neighbors, and even government). Imagine if we required daily Torah learning. Imagine if we restricted wealth and military (physical) weapons.
We could cut corruption, in our families, communities, and around our world. Moses, and Samuel showed us the way. As always, we need the wisdom to learn from them, and the will to implement our learning.
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The Ritual Practices Committee assists the Rabbi in making our worship service a meaningful experience. The committee members arrange for honors at Shabbat services, assist in the Torah service and generally facilitate the conduct of the service.
To prepare for congregational participation in High Holiday services, the committee members arrange and schedule readings and honors to provide a smooth transition through the services.
At monthly meetings, the committee and the Rabbi discuss Shabbat services, special services and address congregational recommendations and suggestions. All matters of ritual, as practiced by Temple of Israel, undergo review to accommodate the desires of a diverse congregation. Committee membership is open to all members.
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