Beit Emanuel Bulletin for week ending 4 June 2022

Johannesburg (Parktown) Progressive Jewish Congregation
Affiliated to the SA Union for Progressive Judaism (SAUPJ)

www.beitemanuel.co.za
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Friday, 3 June 2022 to Saturday, 4 June 2022

5 SIVAN 5782, PARASHAT BAMIDBAR (49TH DAY OF THE OMER, EREV SHAVUOT)

Friday, 3 June, 18h00 - Shabbat Evening Service, https://beiteman.link/evening

Saturday, 4 June, 09h30 - Shabbat Morning Service, https://beiteman.link/morning

Mishkan T’filah flipbook: https://beiteman.link/mishkan

Torah readings: Numbers 1:1−4:20, https://beiteman.link/torah
https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.1.1-4.20

Haftarah readings: Hosea 2:1-22, https://beiteman.link/haftarah
https://www.sefaria.org/Hosea.2.1-22

Shabbat Evening Service

Shabbat Morning Service

The hybrid tea party at the close of the Counting the Omer workshop. (Pictures courtesy of Lesley Hudson, collage courtesy of Irwin Manoim.)

BEIT EMANUEL MATTERS

The Week That Was

COUNTING THE OMER – a process of reflection, creativity and getting to know each other

Tessa Abramovitz and Paul Mukasa guided us through the Omer and provided a reflective platform to connect with each other and our inner creativity.

The 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot are a process of moving from oppression to freedom. It’s a time to reflect, heal and be free. And this is exactly what Paul and Tessa gave us in weekly group Zoom sessions. Paul with his beautiful insights and contemplations, while Tessa warmly guided us in creative crafts, while improving our listening skills using the Kabbalistic themes that go with the Omer.

All culminated in a hybrid tea-party (and yes, there really is such a thing).

Learning Together

What is Shavuot?

Shavuot is two things – it is a commemoration of the giving of the Torah, and it is also a harvest festival and one of the pilgrim festivals. That is why you we are asking you to bring a basket of fruit and vegetables for the Bikkurim Procession. The fruit will be donated to the Sarmies Project (which is on Thursday), so keep this in mind when you make up your baskets. Fill them with fruit such as apples, pears, bananas, oranges and veggies such as carrots, cabbage, spinach and anything else you can think of. Have fun and decorate your basket.

We will also be having a cheesecake competition – why cheesecake? The tradition is to have sweet dairy on Shavuot because of the biblical description of Israel as the "land of milk and honey". Also in the Song of Songs the Jews are promised "milk and honey are under your tongue". So, to fulfil this tradition we will be having cheesecake. Lots of cheesecakes! Enter yours in our competition and join us to eat them!

One of the key elements of Shavuot is an all-night study session, a Tikkun Leil Shavuot. We’ll be doing a wonderful study session – although not quite an all-nighter! Our topic "Engraved on the Tablets" is taken from Exodus "The word of G-d engraved on the tablets" as this is the festival of the giving of the law. Our sessions will focus on links between Jewish values and literature and art. Come and listen to Prof Merle Williams engage with Justice Albie Sachs on the 'engravings' on the doors of the Constitutional Court and other special art from the Constitutional Court collection. Then Jodi Brenner will talk about "the giving of the Torah in art through the ages" and finally we'll hear from Dr Wayne Stables on "Sigmund Freud on Moses". It promises to be a wonderful evening – please join us!

Looking Forward

Our usual Shabbat evening and morning services will be happening on Friday evening (6 PM in the Shul) and Saturday morning (9.30 AM) in the Gillis Boardroom. Both followed by a Brocha.

On Friday evening we’ll be joined by a group from the African Leadership Academy (ALA), both faculty members and students. We look forward to engaging with them during the Brocha in the Janks Hall.

The weekend belongs to the festival of Shavuot, however. Please join us in Shul on Saturday evening at 6 PM for the Festival Evening Service, followed by a Brocha, Cheesecake Competition, Shavuot Raffle and our full Tikkun Leil Shavuot programme, all taking place in the Janks Hall.

Sunday morning’s Shavuot festival morning service will be in the Shul at 9.30 AM. This will be a joint service with our sister congregations from the Gauteng Progressive Jewish Congregations (GPJC), who’ll be joining us both in Shul and on Zoom.

The full Shavuot programme is outlined at the link below:

Shavuot 5782 Programme

For those planning to join us on Zoom only (and we would encourage you to participate in the flesh), the services/events will be on this link:

https://beiteman.link/festival_services

Oliver Thompson-Malan becomes Bar Mitzvah next Shabbat, Sat 11 Jun 2022 9.30 AM in the Shul.

The following Thursday (the 16th) is, of course, Youth Day, and Friday’s service will be a special Youth-led Kabbalat Shabbat service.

Our Music Circle will be back that same Friday evening (Fri 17 Jun) at 5.15 PM in the Atrium (Courtyard).

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Shavuot Sameach!
--
Russell Cohen (Executive Director)

REMINDERS…

MUSIC CIRCLE is back

Friday 17th June at 5:15pm in the Courtyard.
Bring your voices and your instruments to learn some old and some new melodies.

JKIDS/YOUTH PROGRAMMES

Jkids Club Activity

This Friday evening we’ll be celebrating Shavuot by delving into the story of Ruth and (of course!) eating cheesecake. Please join us in the courtyard at 6 PM sharp (18:00). We look forward to seeing you all there!

Love from your Jkids team,

Jody and Kathryn

BEIT EMANUEL PEOPLE

Our grateful thanks to the following for their generous donations:

(Up to 2 Jun)

General Donations
Anonymous Donor (Nedbank)
Gerhard de Klerk
Kim Malan Thompson (for Oliver's Bar Mitzvah)
Adelaide White (Brocha)

Yahrzeits/In loving memory
Shirley Boon (for Frank)
Judy Hodes (for Jos Singer and Melvin Singer)
Mirna Lawrence (for Hillel Katzman)

Sarmies Project
(None this week.)

(Donations in cash (EFT) will be gratefully received, as this allows Beit Emanuel to supplement the contributions in kind from congregants and other supporters.)

A hearty Mazal Tov on your birthday:

Rabbi Saar Shaked, Alec Leviton, Ricardo Ribeiro, Londisizwe Sibanda, Jason Milwidsky, Nazia Suleman, Tessa Abramovitz, Sukoluhle Sibanda.

And to our children up to 18 years:

Sophie Chan-Henry, Hunter Chatz, Nadav Turis, Jordan Ten Tusscher.

Refuah Shlema and a Speedy Recovery to:

Jens Andersen, Sylvia Favis, David Hodes, Jody Segel, Lance Wolov.

Please contact the Shul Office to have a loved one included on (or taken off) the list for a Refuah Shlema.

In Memoriam

We mourn this week with the family of our dear member, Hugh Gerald Brickman (Chaim Gittel ben Isaac), who passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning.

We mourn also with Leonard Singer, Judy Hodes and other family of Melvin Singer, who passed away last week.

(Yahrzeit, relationship, observed by)

Frank Boon, husband of Lynette Boon, father of Farrel Boon
George Buric, brother of Ernest Buric
Max Harris, husband of Elizabeth Harris
Maurice Hurwitz, father of Harriet Davis
Sarah Levy, remembered by Yvonne Levy
Vera Saks, grandmother of Carolyn Massey
Douglas Saunderson, father of Kathryn Peck
Max Shapiro, father of Rob Shapiro
Rabbi David Sherman, father of Jessica Sherman
Patricia Shoolman, mother of Sandy Shoolman
Joseph Singer, father of Leonard Singer and Judy Hodes
Sheryl Woest, sister of Sidney Segal

May their memory be for blessing.

Please inform the Shamas on duty if you are observing a Yahrzeit.

"A bisl un a bisl, vert a fule shisl - a little and a little, becomes a full bowl."
It's customary to make a donation (however large or small) to the Shul when observing a Yahrzeit. See our banking details below.

BANKING DETAILS

Temple Emanuel
FNB Killarney Branch, C/C 256 205
Account Number 5486 0049 352

When making payments via electronic funds transfer (EFT), please use a your surname as a beneficiary reference.

We’re now registered for SnapScan. Feel free to make a random donation using our unique QR code! Please use a your surname as a payment reference.

Please insist on an official receipt when making a cash payment!

The link below will take you to all the payment mechanisms for which we are registered:

https://beiteman.link/donate

PROGRESSIVE NEWS AND VIEWS

Wall of Remembrance Westpark

The Wall of Remembrance at Westpark Jewish Cemetery is in need of some significant repairs, as well as more ongoing maintenance than it currently receives. This all takes money, of course. If you have family members interred at the Wall of Remembrance (WOR), please consider making a small (or large!) donation to the upkeep of the structure, if at all possible on a monthly basis. The WOR’s bank details are as follows:

Wall of Remembrance Westpark
Nedbank
Clearing Code 191605
Account Number 1916100538

Please send Proof of Payment (PoP) to email address admin@beitemanuel.co.za.

GENERAL COMMUNITY NOTICES

Limmud 2022: Registration is Open

Limmud 2022 at Limmud 2019 Prices

After 2 years of online events, Limmud Johannesburg is so proud to be together again, in person at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways.

Whether you are into history, politics and society, Torah and text, leadership and entrepreneurship, arts and culture, spirituality and wellness, or just connecting with others, Limmud has something for everyone on their Jewish journey. Our programme promises an incredible line-up of local favourites, new faces and international presenters for an unforgettable weekend of learning, engagement, and community.

https://limmudjhb.paperform.co/

CLASSIFIEDS

HEARTY SOUPS

Back in time for freezing winter days and nights

Please contact db@domesticbliss.co.za or
Whatsapp 083 525 4992 to enquire about our weekly specials

Free deliveries to areas close to Beit Emanuel

Marketplace

In these tough times, we’re always looking for ways to help our members promote their businesses, whether small or large, informal or formal, part or full-time.

Click on the link below to be taken to our Facebook Group, where you can post (as a Comment) to promote your business, goods, practice or service to our members and friends. Images can also be used.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/beitemanuel/permalink/4319988238011359/

(Hat tip to Kathryn Henning for setting this up.)

Affordable spaces to let

Beit Emanuel has a number of vacant spaces to let, suitable for use as offices, classrooms or consulting rooms, and all at affordable rates.

Please contact Morgana Segel on 087 188 9000 or office@beitemanuel.org.za .

ENGAGE WITH US

Morgana Segel, Receptionist & Admin Assistant
087 188 9000 | office@beitemanuel.org.za

Rabbi Sa'ar Shaked
087 188 9001 | rabbi@beitemanuel.co.za

Christine Mcintosh, Financial Administrator
087 188 9003 | admin@beitemanuel.co.za

Russell Cohen, Executive Director
087 188 9005 | director@beitemanuel.co.za