Parashat Korach, Numbers 16:1-18:32 - Parashat ha Shavuah for Saturday, June 12, 2021
Leadership as service is such a simple idea: the role of a leader is to serve the people. But few leaders live up to this ideal. Maybe it just takes too much ego to aspire to leadership. After all, you have to think a lot of yourself to believe you can be an effective leader.
Perhaps that is why so many leaders today seem tone-deaf and more in tune with their own needs than the needs of those they are supposed to serve. Bibi Netanyahu in Israel and Donald Trump immediately come to mind, as supposed populists, men-of-the people, who seem to be out for themselves.
There is one exception--Moses. Who never wanted to lead the Israelites in the first place and was forced by God to accept the job. Our Torah calls him the humblest of all people.
This week he is confronted by Korach, a type we are all familiar with, who claims that Moses is a fraud and only interested in leadership for his own sake. (Numbers 6:3) We are familiar by now with this type of projection. Often what a demagogue accuses someone of is in fact a projection of their own failings. So Moses, in his humble way, says to Korach, “Let God decide who is fit to lead.” (Numbers 6:8). So the next morning, Moses and Aaron met Korach, Dathan, Aviram and all their followers. The outcome is swift and decisive: the earth opens up and swallows them whole, while fire incinerates their 250 followers. Only Moses’ intervention saves the Israelites.
We do not have God to demonstrate to us who is a good leader and who is not and to destroy those who seek to mislead the people, so we must test them. Perhaps the best and simplest one is to support leaders who are humble, like Moses. This week’s Torah portion teaches us that charisma is overrated and humility is to be prized. Humility leads to service.
~Rabbi Dean Kertesz
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From the President
In a normal year we would be meeting in person this Sunday to report on the state of the schul, approve our new budget, elect our board members and officers, and share a community barbeque, but this has not been a normal year. Once again this year in an abundance of caution
our annual meeting will be held online via Zoom.
At our annual meeting in June of 2019, we had no idea that a global pandemic would keep us physically apart for a year and a half. It has been challenging emotionally, logistically, and financially to keep our virtual doors open to serve our community, but the astounding fact is that we have. We observed our holidays, our religious school managed a full school year of learning, we celebrated a Bat Mitzvah, and our caring community was busier than ever. Even Food for Thought reinvented our distribution methods and provided food to 400 families. We have endured and learned and adapted.
This Sunday we will present our plans for the coming year including the joyous and difficult decisions we will have to make. I look forward to seeing you then.
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when?
-Rabbi Hillel
~ Michael R Cohen, President, Temple Beth Hillel
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Join us for Community Candle Lighting this Friday, June 11 at 7:00 PM
Let’s begin Shabbat as a community by lighting Shabbat candles. Please
join us at 7:00 pm to light Shabbat candles together. In this way we can all be “virtually” together in this time of isolation.
Recurring Shabbat zoom link:
https://zoom.us/j/517749891
You can also join by calling
1 (669)900-9128 Meeting ID: 517 749 891
One tap mobile: +16699009128,,517749891#
Online General Membership Meeting Sunday, June 13 at 11:30 AM
All TBH members are invited to our annual General Membership Meeting. This year, due to COVID 19, the meeting will be held online. Participate in our Temple governance as we review the past year and recognize those who have made special contributions to our community.
We will prepare for the coming year by voting on the proposed budget, new board members, and officers. Unfortunately, until Zoom figures out how to serve food over the internet, we will not be able to have our annual barbeque.
Join online
Nigel Weiss’ Bar Mitzvah/ Shabbat Morning Service Saturday, June 26 at 10:00 AM
Hannah Gilberg and David Weiss invite the congregation to join their family for Shabbat morning services for their son Nigel’s Bar Mitzvah.
Services will be held on Zoom. Please join us for this joyous occasion! Memories are made special when shared with friends and community!
Join online
Notes from the Board - May 19, 2021
The Board is preparing for the General Membership Meeting on Sunday, June 13 at 11:30 AM. The Executive Committee has endorsed the recommendations of the Reopening Committee and hopes to reopen as soon as the recommendations can be implemented. The committee will meet again to deal with outstanding issues and questions.
We are operating at a deficit due to loss of rental income. Internet has been installed in the building and needs to be extended from the office to the rest of the property (anyone with expertise in this, contact Michael Cohen).
Contact Michael Cohen (president@tbhrichmond.org) or Linda Rose to contribute to shaping the Temple as Board member or Officer for next year.
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Donate to Food for Thought
Despite all the challenges last year, Food for Thought again successfully distributed boxes of food and turkeys to 400 families of WCCUSD-- elementary school children who are eligible for free school lunches, but who do not get them during winter break.
Thanks to everyone who donated and volunteered, from TBH and from our partner congregations and organizations. While many of us were vulnerable to COVID-19 and unable to participate this year, we welcomed new volunteers from Congregation Netivot Shalom and help from Nystrom School. We hope that next year we will all be able to get involved.
Meanwhile, we appreciate donations. We are aiming to feed 600 families this year, instead of 400, since the need is so great. You can help us meet this ambitious goal by donating.
You can donate:
- By credit card
- By check - Write your check to Temple Beth Hillel with Food for Thought in the memo line, and mail your check to Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central Blvd., Richmond, CA 94803
Donate to Food for Thought
Amazon Smile Benefits Food for Thought
With Father’s Day around the corner now is a great time to shop and help Food For Thought at the same time. Simply shop at
smile.amazon.com/ch/94-1196207 AmazonSmile will donate to Temple Beth Hillel and Richmond Jewish Community Center Inc, at no additional cost to you.
TBH Sandwich-Making for the GRIP Souper Center -- Wednesday, June 23
Wednesday, June 23 is our Temple's next day to make sandwiches for GRIP. We each make about forty sandwiches (your choice) and bring them to the Temple parking lot at about 9:45 AM. Please put the sandwiches in individual baggies, place them in a bag or box, and label the type of sandwiches made. If you can make sandwiches that day and/or if you have any questions, please contact Jane Kaasa (510)222-3221 or (510)421-7331.
Programs for Young People
Information about programs and scholarships, including JCC summer camp, URJ Camp Newman, Six Points Camps, West Contra Costa Public Education Fund scholarship program, and Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Eisendrath Legislative Assistants fellowships,
URJ Youth and Camp Job Opportunities available now.
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