Rabbi's Reflections ~שְׁאֵלָה A congregant asks: Are Jews a race?
Myth: Judaism Is a Race Social Darwinism in the 20th century culminated in the Nazi attempt to purge the imaginary Aryan race of perceived malignant strains of humanity. Jews were defined as one such undesirable race.
Fact: Jews Can Be of Any Race Many Jews share common genetic markers, and the majority of Jews today appear Caucasian, sometimes with characteristics associated with Jewish people, such as curly brown hair and dark eyes. Nevertheless, they cannot be defined as a race, or even as a genetic cluster.
The original Children of Israel most likely had facial features common to peoples of the Mediterranean and Middle East. Since then, over the past 2,500 years, Jews have lived in every climatic region of the world and have both adapted and attracted to their ranks a complement of varied colors and features—especially due to the non-Jewish souls who choose to join the Jewish people.
Today, one can easily see black Jews, Japanese Jews, Inuit Jews, and Filipino Jews, reflecting the kaleidoscope of humanity. In short, Jews are held together not just by genetics, culture, geography, or language, but by a divine covenant and a common responsibility to keep the mitzvot of the Torah.
L'shalom, Rabbi Susan
Thank you to all who have agreed to read Torah during the High Holy Days. If you are able to read the Torah Blessings (Aliyah), and have not contacted me, please do!
You're Invited! What an incredible two years it has been since Rabbi Susan Schanerman stepped into the role as our Spiritual leader of Temple B'rith Shalom.
Join us for a joyful Shabbat Service on Friday, August 23 to Celebrate and Honor Rabbi Susan! We hope you will join us by bringing cards with your personal words of gratitude and thanks to Rabbi Susan. ln addition, please consider donating to Temple B'rith Shalom in Rabbi Susan's honor. Let's show our love and appreciation with our presence and showering Rabbi Susan with cards on Shabbat that evening.
TBS Calendar ~ לוּחַ שָׁנָה
Check out our website to view our calendar and discover the wonderful events coming up! View the TBS Calendar
This Week’s Calendar Fri., Aug 23 ~ 4:45 Oneg; 5:30 Shabbat Service Sat., Aug 24 ~ 10:00 Torah Study Sun., Aug 25 ~ 9:30 Sunday School!; 12:30 Visioning Board and Holiday Card Activity Tues., Aug 27 ~ 11:00 Mahjong; 1:00 Yarn Yentas; 5:00 Choir Wed., Aug 28 ~ 9:30 Chaverim at Panera; 12:00 Lunch Bunch; 5:30 Fressers Dinner
Upcoming TBS and Community Events:
Visioning Board and Holiday Cards Sun., Aug. 25 at 12:30pm. Hosted by Suzy Curry. We're getting creative with magazines and stickers and blank cards and poster board. Snacks will be served. Open to all congregants ages 10 and up. RSVP to Jessica this week at office@brithshalom-az.org .
Fressers Dinner Group Wednesday Aug. 28 at 5:30pm. Triple Creek Restaurant 300 N Montezuma St. Prescott, AZ 86301 RSVP shari@jbrookswa.com by Monday, August 26th.
Great Thoughts Book Group - Thursdays at 12:00 starting Aug. 29 People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn ~ Award winning book filled with essays that explore how we, and others, look at our past.
Women's Book Group ~ Wednesdays at 11:00am Sept., 11 - A strange Death by Hillel Harkin Nov., 13 - Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland
TBS Board Meeting ~ ישיבת דירקטוריון The next Board Meeting is Wednesday, September 18 at 5pm at TBS. Board meetings are open to all members in good standing. If you would like to attend or speak at a board meeting, please contact President Deborah Plotkin by Monday, September 16.
New Paper Membership Directories are now available! If you would like a new directory, please see Heather or Jessica in the office. Suggested donation $5.
Special Events ~ מה חדש
TBS WINE TASTING EVENT FUNDRAISER FOR TBS! "An Inspiring Taste of Italy" Private Wine Class at Total Wine in Prescott Sunday Sept 15th 4:00 - 6:00pm
We will taste 8 premium, hand-selected wines from Italy. The cost is only $36 per person. Limited to 30 people. First come first served (and paid). Please contact Ruth Stern at 805 657-7444 or ruthsstern@msn.com to reserve a spot and make arrangements for payment (cash or checks made out to Temple B'rith Shalom). Please RSVP and Pay by no later than Friday, August 30. From Total Wine: This event is open to all registered attendees without regard to gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or other legally protected characteristic.
Source of All: Comfort them, hold them close. They have been called to leave us. To enter Your eternal embrace.
Dear Congregants, Please consider participating in this meaningful act of adding the names of your loved ones into the Temple B’rith Shalom Yizkor booklet. These names imbue the very foundation of our Temple with the love you have for those who have passed. If you would like the names of your loved ones included in this year’s Yizkor Book, please either call Jessica in the office at (928) 708-0018 or fill out this form and return it to the Temple. As is customary, the cost will be $18 per person to have each loved one’s name listed or $180 for as many names as you wish to list. Please return this form by Tuesday, September 24.
May their memories be a blessing. Sincerely, Rabbi Susan Schanerman
Congregational Support ~ עֶזרָה
Mitzvah Circle ~ מצווה Contact Suzi Abramson-Johnson at 602-570-9688 to participate or to request assistance. Mitzvah circle members send Condolence and Mi Shebeirach cards, offer rides, provide meals, and more. Do what you are comfortable doing to help congregants in need.
Tikkun Olam ~ תיקון עולם
Co-Chairs Amber Caulkins and Allee Steinberg From the Talmud: It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.
Next Meeting: Sunday, Aug. 25 at 11:30 in the library.
Prescott Area Shelter Services (PASS) provides temporary emergency shelter to women, and women with children, in a 19 bed dormitory setting. Guests may stay up to 90 days.
PASS is our TBS August project. Drop off a donation at the temple to support PASS during the month of August: *gift cards to Walmart and Target *M,L,XL,XXL NEW underwear and pajamas *checks made payable to PASS *bulk toilet paper and paper towels Contact Dot Jones for more information: 520-271-7252, jonesdot39@gmail.com August: CCJ Water Drive ~ Drop off a case of water @ 531 Madison Ave. anytime after 5pm.
Weekly: Compost pickup (no plastic bags) in the bucket by the TBS entrance by 11am on Saturdays. roleenack@yahoo.com
Monthly: Adopt-A-Street City: We pick up trash on a monthly basis along Gurley Street from Cortez to San Carlos (1 mile). To participate, please contact Lee Nackman. roleenack@yahoo.com
Religious School בית ספר דתי August 25 ~ Sunday School 9:30-11:45 Registration packets available in the lobby.
THE MOB: Men of Brith Shalom Join THE MOB every Tuesday at 9am at the Wildflower to schmooze over a cup of coffee.
Yavapai College Intro to Jewish Studies Tues afternoons Oct. 1 - Nov. 12 2-4pm 7 week Community Ed course (no homework) Tuition $135 In person and available on Zoom Contact Instructor Rabbi Nina Perlmutter (928-925-8172) for more info. Flyers available with more info at TBS.
Special Prayers ~ תפילות
Kaddish ~ קדיש We are saying Kaddish for the following people at Shabbat this Friday, August 23. We are observing the Yahrzeits of loved ones who have passed from August 23-29. We also remember those who have left us in the last eleven months. These names have been taken from the member portion of our website. If you do not see your loved one's name (family members) and would like their name mentioned at services, please contact Jessica in the office.
Edwin Nackman, brother of Lee Nackman Molly Berkowitz, nana of Robin Frielich David Cain Caulkins, father of Josh Caulkins Mary Zipper, grandmother of Mindy Rubin Louis Dolled, grandfather of Rolene Attias Theodore Ditchek, father of Elyce Ditchek-Goldberg Irving Walter Fellner, father of Rabbi Susan Schanerman Anita Hess, mother of David Hess Randi Chenkin, cousin of Gail Punyen-Davis Ellen Mechanic Schlossmann, cousin of Suzi Abramson-Johnson David Leon Weiss, son of Sue Robyn Henry David Gellerman, ex-husband of Leslie Gellerman Howard Eugene Herst, father of David Herst, grandfather of Jessica Herst Richard Lilley, brother of James Lilley, uncle of Heather Kaplan Sari Benson, cousin of Brian Schanerman Robert Caulkins, uncle of Josh Caulkins Barbara Fischer Moses, sister-in-law of Janet Rifkin Julie Gardner, sister of Bill Dahlin Estherly Allen, wife of Gene Galazan Mara Hollon, mother of Jessica Herst
Purchasing a Yahrzeit plaque is a beautiful way to honor and remember our loved one's who have passed. To purchase a plaque, please fill out this form and return it to the temple office. We kindly ask for $360 per Yahrzeit plaque. Yahrzeit Plaque Order Form
Healing Thoughts ~ מי שבעירך Mark Gray, Karyn Friend, Sue Weiss, Linda Patent, Leslie Adler, Janet Crayne, Carol Gilson, Rachel Coy, Vadim Vaynerman, Richard Jacobs, Mike Wolf, Brett Friend, Amy Snell Kingslinger, Rosario Maya, and Brian Shrager.
If you would like to add or remove your name or your family member's name from the healing list, please call or email the office at 928-708-0018 or office@brithshalom-az.org.
Donations ~ תרומות
Give Back to TBS! We are so grateful for your kindness and generous giving to Temple B'rith Shalom. Your contributions help Temple B'rith shalom to thrive and ensure a home for Jews in the Quad City area.
If you would like to make a donation now, click here. Did you know you could can give back to TBS at no additional cost to you simply by shopping at Frys? For more information, click here.
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