We would like to express our gratitude to the following supporters of Lev Eisha from the month of May 2009.
| Eleanor Allen |
Eve Axelrad | Pearl Barnett |
| Bernice Brown | Helen Budin |
Barbara Cohen |
| Janis Cohen |
Lottie Cohen |
Sheryl Colby |
| Bonnie Davis |
Paula Fern |
| Janice Ruben Friedland |
Myrna Gale |
| Antoinette ( Toni) Glick |
Helena Hershkowitz |
| Esther Jaechel |
Sherrill Kushner |
Renee Last |
| Lynda Malerstein |
Batya Malick |
Julie Mullen |
| Shirley Munch |
Marla Osband |
Linda Owen |
| Cindy Paley |
Marcy Perlmutter |
Beverly Rimer |
| Pamela Rishfeld |
Lea Rosendahl |
Ellen Satkin |
| Kate, Craig and Arielle Singer in honor of Shirley Munch and Blanche Rosloff |
| Evelyn Wander |
Shoshi Wilchfort |
| Doris Winston |
Riya Zelcer |
Rose Ziff |
My term as President ends this month. It is a bittersweet milestone for me. I have enjoyed working with the Rabbi and the incredible women on the Board to ensure that our beloved services go off without a hitch. We are the "behind the scenes" folks, who make sure that we have everyone in place for services, that we have a Kiddush, that there is lighting and sound, and that there is enough money to make all of this happen.
The reason we work so hard to keep Lev Eisha going is that it is a unique service that seems to speak to each of us individually, and to the group as a whole at the same time. We come together as women (and men) of all ages and backgrounds, and in all stages of our lives, to pray, rejoice, dance, sing and cry. We each are touched by the words and music of the Rabbi, Cindy Paley, Mollie Wine, the other fine women who have led the services, and by the members of our community. For me, Lev Eisha sparked a dormant interest in spirituality and Judaism, for which I will always be grateful.
Please welcome Susie Yure as the new President of Lev Eisha, as we move forward into this new era for our wonderful community.
Warm regards,
Olivia
We are blessed and excited by the generous support for Lev Eisha. Each one of you matters and your contributions will allow Lev Eisha to thrive and grow for many years to come!
Todah Rabbah...we thank our donors for their heartfelt donations and look forward to your continuing support.
Please join us at 8:30 a.m. Shabbat morning for "Breakfast and Brucha," our spiritual study before the service.
The Topic is: "The Shortest Prayer in the Jewish Bible" - Moses's plea to heal Miriam. Create your healing prayer.
In addition to our June study and service, I am dedicating this month to ongoing Torah Classes.
Friday mornings from 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., I will be offering "Today's Torah," a class for women.
Let's explore in 4 sessions the 4th book of the Torah: Bamidbar/Numbers, which covers the 40 years of wandering in the desert before entering the Promised Land.
Schedule and Topics for Classes:
1. Friday June 5, 2009
The Spies: What were they afraid of?
Why didn't we enter the land?
2. Friday June 12
Korach: The great revolt against Moses
When should we "revolt" in our lives?
3. Friday June 19
Moses Strikes the Rock!
What consequences should we suffer from our actions?
4. Friday June 26
Balaam's Talking Donkey!
Turning Curses into Blessings
Classes are held at Rabbi August's Home
E-mail info@leveisha for directions.
RSVP: rabbiaugust@leveisha.org that you would like to attend.
Suggested donations: $10 per class or
$36 to register for all 4 in advance.
Let me know what you would like to study together. I am creating classes for next year. When we open our hearts and minds to receive the words of Torah, we are transformed, elevated and are able to find new insights and meaning for ourselves in our challenging lives. Join us for good friendship and study!
The Shavuot celebration has concluded and I want us to take the following teaching into the month of June, the time for learning the Torah, which symbolically we have just received.
Over Shavuot we read the book of Ruth. A consummate outsider, a Moabite, a widow and without any means, Ruth is a woman who, at the crossroads of her life, made dramatic choices.
All of us, at different times, are at crossroads and need to make decisions, and we can use help making choices.
Ruth chose to face the unknown, the uncertainty and to go forward without looking back. She went with her bitter, poor mother-in-law to a strange land and a new religion. She could have returned home to her parents, gotten re-married and lived in a familiar, conventional environment. But instead she chose a radical path, she chose to take a risk, to become vulnerable, to see what could possibly be ahead.
Her future husband, Boaz, asked her, "Who are you?" Not what she was, but who she is, her inside, her neshamah, her yearning soul. Unlike her people, the Moabites, who refused to offer water and food to the ancient Israelites, Ruth was a nurturer, a woman with a deep sense of loyalty and a caring, open heart. She knew Boaz could provide the protection and status that she and Naomi needed. He could be her redeemer and future husband. Yet, ironically, she redeems him.
Ruth woke up the older man's sense of vitality and virility. He too had chosen a conventional route and did not take a risk in relationships. Now he does. He chooses to marry Ruth, a younger, foreign woman and by doing so he too is renewed. They have a child and create a life of meaning and love.
The lesson for us? Take a risk! Try something new. Branch out and renew yourselves in unexpected ways. Try out the unknown, reach out for hope and possibility. Boaz means "strength will come" and Ruth means "friendship." Together, finding strength in new relationships and unknown places brings Tiferet, Redemption, a renewal of dreams and visions in our lives! May it be so.
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Mazal tov to Ben Winston, son of Robin and Bruce Winston, who graduated Cum Laude from UC Berkeley (Economics). Ben was also commissioned as an Ensign (new officer) in the US Navy. Anchors Oy Vey!
If you have a milestone to share please send it to: editor@leveisha.org. Our
newsletter gets printed about a week before each service. Please send the info ASAP.
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