Rabbi's Letters

What a nice quiet week we have here before us. It’s a perfect time to focus on your costumes for Purim.
 
This Shabbat is Shabbat Shekalim and it came about when our ancestors were asked to bring a half shekel to the building and sustaining of the Tabernacle in the desert. On the surface it may seem purely utilitarian, but its significance is so much deeper. The success of any endeavor we collaborate on in our lives, will depend wholeheartedly on the intentions of the team and the dedication they share towards the initial goal, towards the heart passions of all involved. It’s the same with any endeavor we embark upon and especially so with the building and sustaining of a spiritual House of God, like the Tabernacle or like our Temple. We will only be as successful, as the many souls which gather under the tent with us and share our passions. Shabbat Shekalim is an echo from history saying, get involved, bring yourself to this space, pour the best of your heart into the success of this spiritual home we call Temple B’rith Shalom.
 
As a second career rabbi, I wholeheartedly believe that the days of commodity-driven synagogue life are behind us and the days of building a strong and loving environment to feel welcomed in, are all before us. The key to synagogue life today is involvement with the whole of your life. The key is to ask yourself what is it that you can bring to our temple community. Why? Because each of you have unique talents, each of you are the only you who will ever be. Each of you make us more vibrant when you give more, more of your time, more of your talents, more of your support and more of your souls. And the more that you invest of your life, the more meaning this home will have for you.

When you invest your heart it is a forever thing. For true love does not disappear. That’s my dream for all of us, that true love, devotion and loyalty become the ties that bind us to this Temple community. Wherever you stand in your life there is always more to give. Some can do it financially, some with gestures of support, some with volunteering. There’s so much that can be done and needs to be done. So, on this Shabbat Shekalim I wanted to share with you my deep gratitude for all of you who prioritize the good of our congregation with your many gifts. I also wanted to thank the 18 families who go up and above in their dues to insure that we will never turn anyone away and that there will be enough resources to keep this endeavor of goodness that is the Temple, alive and secure for the future. Giving in Judaism to benefit the whole community is the heartbeat of Tzedekah, it is the unique quality of Jewish giving.

This Temple, even in this Covid-19 world, IS YOUR HOME! But that will become, what it will be depending on how you view this endeavor of love and belonging. The Temple is OUR Tabernacle, it holds the Torahs and the heart center of our community. It is humble and strong and much to be proud of. As the image upfront suggests, OUTFLOW DETERMINES INFLOW. I believe that we can take this even a step further, I would say
                                      OVERFLOW DETERMINES INFLOW

In the coming weeks, your Board will be crafting a more structured Circle of Giving for those interested in going up and above in your dues. You will never know what it means to your leadership team who knows full well that this kind of generosity is imperative for any Temple’s success in a small-town Jewish community.
 
I am deeply grateful to all of you who give of your time, your talents, your support. Temple B’rith Shalom is the wonderful Temple it is because of you.
 
The Torah is calling out to us this Shabbat, give it says, give to overflow and your heart will grow right along with it, as will the beauty of our sacred home, Temple B’rith Shalom.

Charity is generous, it runs the risk willingly….We cannot be at the same time kind and wary, nor can we serve two masters, love and selfishness.
We must be knowingly rash, that we may not be like the clever ones of the world who never forget their own interests. We must submit to being deceived; it is the sacrifice which interest and self-love owe to conscience. The claims of the soul must be satisfied first if we are to be children of God.
                                                               Henri Fredric Ameil
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The Rizhiner Rebbe once said, that bringing gifts to the Temple is a good act yet, only when you bring yourself with the gift can you become One with God
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We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
                   Norman MacEwan 
 
Rabbi Nechunia was once asked, what accounts for your blessings in life and he responded, I never accepted honor at another’s expense. I never went to bed cursing a friend and I was generous with my money.
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Money is one gift that God gives to humans in order to measure the size of their hearts.
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Are You Ready for Purim? 

Purim is on its way and we couldn’t be more excited.
We're having a fun Zoom celebration on Thursday, Feb. 25, but there's lots to do to get ready. Please check out this checklist we’ve put together for you.
1)      COSTUME
2)      WILD HAT
3)      RSVP if you would like a Shalach Manot gift bag
4) RSVP to Jessica if you would like to purchase Hamantaschen 
5)      GROGERS, noise makers
6)      A BUBBLY L’CHAYIM

Preparing for Purim- 4 p.m. Sunday, February 21 (Zoom)
So what's this holiday really about? Join Rabbi Julie to learn about Purim and how to prepare for the fun!  
CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR PREPARING FOR PURIM

Rock and Roll Purim Celebration- 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25
It's time to plan your costume - don't forget a wild hat! - for our fun-filled Purim zoom celebration! Just because the Shu-shan Bar is closed due to Covid restrictions doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t make several toasts to our story, so be prepared. This year as we gather in our own separate squares on Zoom we are going to mix it up a bit so, whenever you hear the name Mordechai we are asking that you hold up your glass and make a toast to Mordey, and every time you hear Esther’s name you do a “Chair dance” that doesn’t mean that you stand up on the chair, although if you feel so inspired, who are we to stop you? But otherwise just dance with your arms. And of course, every time you hear Haman’s (BOO) name, you shake your grogers.  Thank you so much to Barbara Sealey who is an amazing creative idea machine. I love it, and her! Stay tuned for much more. Please RSVP to let us know if you will be attending!  CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR OUR ROCK AND ROLL PURIM CELEBRATION!

I am so excited that our Temple B'rith Shalom Social Justice team has planned a great event on February 23rd at 7PM. They are initiating an evening to discuss social justice and the place it holds in our Temple Life. They want to know what matters to you and what kind of programing would inspire you to participate. It’s a timely and perfect program for our community. Please show up on the 23rd and show your support for their efforts, this is a wonderful group of caring human souls.

The Social Justice Committee invites you to a Zoom meeting to discuss: 
 What is Social Justice? Should it play a part in Temple Life?

Since 2015, the Social Justice Committee of Temple B'rith Shalom has provided programs and projects addressing a wide range of topics, including anti-Semitism, voting rights, the Holocaust and its long-term impacts, racial inequity, immigration, Native American history, and LGBTQ experiences. At this time, as our country faces many challenges, it is important for us to explore their social significance, how they impact us, and how we might choose to be part of the solution  Which issues are important to you, would you like to know more about, move you to action? How would you like your Social Justice committee to address these issues and what role are you prepared to play in this vital effort? Your SJC invites you to bring your thoughts, feelings, and ideas to a Zoom conversation on Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 7 - 8:30pm. We look forward to an honest, respectful, and lively discussion.

To join the Social Justice meeting, click on the link to attend.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9507930309?pwd=SkQ2OUNNQUZFaHR3MnYxQklQdTZldz09

Meeting ID: 950 793 0309
Passcode: Y7yzU1

Ta Sh'ma Adult Education Presents Rabbi Steven Sager 
at 3 p.m.Thursday, Feb. 18 via Zoom

RABBI STEVEN G. SAGER, Director of Sicha, is the Rabbi Emeritus of Beth El Synagogue in Durham, NC, where he served as rabbi for 32 years.  He is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) and he earned a Ph.D. in Rabbinic Literature at Duke University.
Rabbi Sager has been a teacher, rabbinic advisor and mentor for students and graduates of the RRC, the Hebrew Union College, The Jewish Theological Seminary and the Rabbinical School of the Boston Hebrew College. An adjunct faculty member of the Duke Divinity School, he has taught at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and in the Department of Social Medicine at the University
of North Carolina Medical School. 
Rabbi Sager is a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem where he is also a leader of the Rabbinic Programs Advisory Committee and of the Rabbinic Havurah program.  Rabbi Sager has served as President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and of the Greater Carolinas Association of Rabbis (GCAR).  He served as the co-director of the GCAR Interfaith Institute.  Rabbi Sager has served as Scholar in Residence on numerous occasions for the GCAR as well as serving in this capacity in congregations throughout the United States. Rabbi Sager has published articles in The Reconstructionist, The Journal of Religious Education, and The Southern Medical Journal.  Rabbi Sager now serves as the Director of Sicha, a project to stimulate conversations between classical Jewish culture and contemporary Jewish needs. 

Please join me for Holy Hiking Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Please RSVP to me directly on Tuesday if you are interested in joining for more details. 

Hamantaschen for Sale! Come and Get it! 
Thank you, as always, to the Porters and their magic in the kitchen, who are making it possible for us to sell delicious Hamantaschen as a fund-raiser this year. For just $10 you will receive a box containing three apricot and three raspberry hamantaschen with a dairy crust. You'll be able to pick them up at the Temple on Tuesday, February 23, but if you need help getting them to your home, we can help. Please get your orders in to Jessica (  office@brithshalom-az.org  ) as soon as possible. Our cut-off date for the Porters' kitchen is at noon, Friday, Feb. 19.  

Shalach Manot
Friends, Giving Shalach Manot is one of the commandments that oversees Purim, the act of giving in celebration for our good fortune and Queen Esther’s victory. This year with Covid, makes our giving of homemade Hamantaschen impossible, that’s where my gratitude to the Porters comes in. We know that their facilities are Covid controlled and that their bakers take on the utmost precautions in preparation so these boxes of Hamantaschen could easily substitute  this year for your gifts to one another. They are also a small fundraiser for your Temple, so it’s a win-win all around. Please RSVP by no later than February 19 at noon to receive your Shalach Manot! 
CLICK HERE TO RSVP 

Pesach is coming!
One of the reasons for this stop along the Torah way, of Shabbat Shekalim is to let us know that Passover is on its way. Actually, six weeks from this Shabbat will be our first seder. Once we have done our great joyous justice to Purim, we will turn our attentions to Passover, just 6 weeks away! I think Moses’ face says it all! :)

The road that stretches before our feet is a challenge to the heart long before it tests the strength of our legs. Our destiny is to run to the edge of the world and beyond, off into the darkness; sure, for all our blindness; strong for all our weakness; gaily in love, for all the pressures on our hearts. In that darkness beyond the world, we can begin to know the world and ourselves. We begin to understand that we are not made to pace out our lives behind the prison walls, but to walk into the soul of God.
            Thomas Aquinas

SHABBAT SHEKALIM

May this Shabbat comfort and hold you in all that is divine and blessed. 

With blessings, 
Rabbi Julie Kozlow