The week that was

Last Friday evening’s Kabbalat Shabbat service was held in the Slome Auditorium, a much cosier venue than the main Shul. The feedback has been largely positive, so we’ll probably stick with Slome until the weather starts to warm up a bit. Exceptions will be made, e.g. when there’s a Barmie or Battie the following day, or some special service, such as the Youth Day service next Friday.

Looking ahead

Happening this Shabbat/weekend

Please join us in the Slome Auditorium for our Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 18h00 this Friday evening. This will be followed by a Brocha in the Gallery/Gillis Boardroom/Atrium area adjoining the Slome.

A reminder to please feed the donation box at each table, or to use the Snapscan App to help us cover the significant costs of providing an appetising Brocha each week.

BE Young and Powerful
There will be a Youth gathering in the Brasch Youth Lounge on Friday evening at 18h00. This will be in honour of the start of Youth Month. Come connect, create, and collaborate.

The Shabbat morning service will take place in the Gillis Boardroom at 09h30. The service will be followed by a potluck Brocha in the Atrium.

Religion School classes will be taking place from 09h30, while the Talmud Study Group will be meeting at 12h00 in the Gillis Boardroom.

Further ahead

Sarmies Project
A reminder that the Sarmies Project will be in operation at Temple Israel Hillbrow next week. Please bring your contributions to the Shul Foyer during the day on Wednesday, for distribution at TIH on Thursday morning.

Youth Day
Join us for Youth Shabbat on June 16th in commemoration of June the 16th, 1976 and Youth Day. The service will be led by Lael Bethlehem and the BE Youth group. The sermon will be delivered by Beth Levin. Please join us for a delicious meal after the service, and for a listening circle. This will be time for parents and adults to listen to the youth and to learn from them. Young people deserve to be treated with complete respect – come find out how we can do this – and how we can support this generation to stand in their confidence, intelligence and power.

Request from our Security Team
A request from our volunteer Security Team: When entering the gate on Friday evenings, please slow down to a crawl and wind down your driver’s window fully in order for our volunteers to see who’s in the vehicle. This will also give you the opportunity to exchange the customary Shabbat greetings with our volunteers, who are giving up their time (and potentially putting themselves at risk) to keep us safe. Thank you!

Loadshedding Appeal

Along with the rest of South Africa, we’re struggling to cope with the impact of loadshedding on our day-to-day operations, as well as on services and other congregational events. To help mitigate the impact, we’d like to invest more in the following areas:

• Additional emergency lighting in our main venues, quoted at +/- R19,000
• Solar-powered lighting at strategic points, for security purposes, quoted at +/- R16,250
• Surge protection at our main electrical distribution boards (DBs) to mitigate the ongoing damage to our electrical appliances and other devices from the side-effects of loadshedding, quoted at +/- R22,500
• Surge arrestor plugs and adapters for electrical appliances and electronic/computer equipment, +/- R5,000
• Replacement of inverter batteries, +/- R16,000

Please consider contributing something, however small or large the amount, to this appeal, which is critical for us to be able to maintain our service levels to our congregants. It sounds like a lot of money (it is!), but once again, the principle of “A bisl un a bisl, vert a fule shisl – a little and a little, becomes a full bowl” can make the difference. Please use the Beneficiary Reference “Your Surname Loadshedding”.

Shabbat Shalom!

The week that was

Beyond the Boundaries (BtB) held another successful workshop last Saturday, this one on the topical matter of What Ingredients for Rabbi(t) Stew? The workshop, which was well attended and well received, gave thought to the characteristics and qualities of TNR (the next rabbi). Diane Fine captured the discussion in a document which you can read here. Your comments/feedback are welcomed. Please address them to office@beitemanuel.org.za, where Morgana will consolidate and distribute them.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MMnnVEOA5nMugTRddzXdJhDa19JddusL/view?usp=share_link

A Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circle was scheduled for last Sunday evening. No reports back received.

Our Pesach festival evening service and Communal Pesach Seder were held last night, and all the feedback received so far has been positive. We were fortunate to have Jeff Davis and David Fine looking after the music during the service. Thanks to Rabbi Saar for leading the service and Seder, and to Morgana, Cliff, Ockie and other grounds, kitchen and casual staff for all the hard graft that went into it. Finally, thanks to our volunteer Security Team for keeping us safe in these horrific times.

The Pesach Festival Morning Service took place at Bet David, Morningside on Thursday morning.

Looking ahead

Happening this Shabbat/weekend

We’re in a quiet interval for now, apart from the Pesach 7th day services next week.

Kabbalat Shabbat will be in the Shul as usual at 18h00 on Friday evening. Due to Pesach and the long weekend, there won’t be a full Brocha following the service. There will, however, be a quick Kiddush with wine and Matzah. We’re not expecting any disruption due to load shedding this Shabbat.

There also won’t be a Jkids Club activity this Friday evening, due to the long weekend.

The Shabbat morning service will take place on the Veranda (weather and inclination permitting) or in the Gillis Boardroom. Once again, the Kiddush will consist of just wine and Matzah.

Religion School Break
The Religion School (Cheder) will be on a break from 1 to 15 April. Classes will resume on 17 April.

Further ahead

Sarmies Project
The Sarmies Project didn’t operate this week due to the Pesach break (not to mention the dietary restrictions). The project will be in operation next week, however, with collection on Wed, 12 and distribution from TIH on Thu, 13.

Disabled Parking Bays
A special request from our volunteer Security Team to please respect the parking bays for the disabled. There is a drop-off/pickup area in front the Piazza as well as three dedicated parking bays to the right of this area. All are clearly demarcated in yellow. Please do not park in either the drop-off/pickup zone or disabled bays unless you or one or more of your passengers are disabled.
With thanks!

Death of Jeremy Gordin

The community was appalled by the brutal murder of semi-retired journalist Jeremy Gordin in his home last Friday evening. Although not an active member in the last decade, Jeremy served as Vice-Chair of Beit Emanuel in 2012, the year that yours truly was Chair of said synagogue. My association with Jeremy (“Gordinsky”, as he was known to some of us) spanned only 2 to 3 years (and only in the context of the Shul), so I’m not qualified to pay tribute to him. Others far better equipped to do so have done an excellent job in various publications, and I suggest you Google his name to find out more about him and his contributions to SA. (By the way, although he was amused by and accepted the Gordinsky moniker, woe betide anyone who misspelled his surname “Gordon” instead of “Gordin”. Our name, I recall him saying, is one of the few things we ever truly own.)

I can tell you that Jeremy was a loyal and dependable colleague and team-mate on Mancom. He was someone who pondered matters deeply and who also approached things with a unique sense of humour and (sometimes) even mischief. He never backed away from a fight, whether intellectual, moral or physical, took no nonsense and spoke his mind. He abhorred injustice and was, at the time, director of the Wits Justice Project. On at least one occasion I recall him having to leave a meeting early to secure the release of someone who has been wrongfully arrested or imprisoned. (Through his death, Jeremy has in a sense become our real-life Arthur Jarvis.)

In his younger days he was a formidable Rugby player, and helped introduce that sport to Israel while studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the late 60s and early 70s. On his return to SA, he served as a paratrooper in 1 Parachute Battalion in Bloemfontein, one of only about a dozen Jewish national servicemen ever to do so. The “Parabats” or simply “Bats”, as they were known colloquially at the time, was one of the SADF’s (now SANDF) elite combat units, with one of the toughest selection and training regimes in the country.

Jeremy’s death is a great loss not just to his family, but also to South Africa, journalism in SA and the other endeavours he involved himself in.

I can only end by saying that I liked and respected him immensely, and will miss his wit and wisdom in the electronic pages of Politicsweb.

L’hitraot, Gordinsky.

Shabbat Shalom and Moadim L’Simcha!

The week that was

Our Human Rights Shabbat service took place last Friday evening. The service was led in part by Mickie Jacobs, while the highlight was the Drash delivered by Professor David Bilchitz.

David was also the special guest speaker at the 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) OF Temple Emanuel/Beit Emanuel Progressive Synagogue, which took place last night. I’ve uploaded and shared the Chairperson’s Address, the Rabbi’s Address and the text of both of David’s talks. You can find all this material here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RlRU9XYSjruu0q4-2DJZhGJ90_iB1icT?usp=share_link

We anticipated a stormy AGM, as these assemblies sometimes are. In the event, though, the meeting ran relatively smoothly, even with a very full agenda. Thanks to all those who attended, especially in person, but also on Zoom. Thanks also to those who put their names forward to serve on our Management Committee (Mancom) and Board of Guardians (BOG). The following are now members of the Mancom. Office Bearers will be elected and portfolios assigned at the first Mancom Meeting, scheduled for next Thursday evening.

Tessa Abramovitz
Ori Ben-Zeev
David Bilchitz
Ruth Challens
Virgil Challens
Paul Davis
Merle Favis
Diane Fine
Graeme Hochschild
Simonne Horwitz
Lesley Hudson
Peter Joseph (for co-option)
Carolyn Massey
Johan Mostert
Ian West

Professor Merle Williams was elected to the Board of Guardians, which now consists of:

Andrew Jacobs
Irwin Manoim (Chair)
Kathryn Peck
Merle Williams

The bad news came in the form of the presentation and approval of the audited financial statements for 2022 and budget for 2023, during which the outgoing Treasurer described the Shul as being “technically insolvent”. We’ll talk more about what that means and what we can do about it in the weeks ahead.

Looking ahead

Happening this Shabbat/weekend

With the AGM done and dusted, it’s routine this Shabbat. You know the drill. Kabbalat Shabbat in the Shul at 18h00, followed by a Brocha in the Janks Hall. Please feed the boxes or do your Snapscan payment. Seriously, folks, unless all those who attend the Brocha start contributing weekly, this much-loved tradition is going to vanish into history. R20-30 a head is all we ask for a tasty 3-course meal. That won’t even get you a Latte at Tashas.

There will be a Jkids Club activity in the Atrium (following candle-lighting) this week.

The Shabbat morning service will take place on the Veranda (weather and inclination permitting) or in the Gillis Boardroom. The service will be followed by a potluck Brocha in the Atrium.

Religion School classes will be held this Saturday morning.

The Talmud Study Group will meet in the Boardroom at 12h00.

Further ahead

Beyond the Boundaries (BtB)

Please see the flyer below for details of the Beyond the Boundaries (BtB) session taking place next Saturday morning. It promises to be interesting.

What Ingredients for Rabbi(t) Stew?

Communal Pesach Seder

Our communal Pesach Seder takes place on the evening of Wednesday, 5 April. We’ve managed to keep the pricing at the same level as in 2022, i.e. Adults: R350, Children 7-13: R225 and Children under 7: R125. This weekend will be the last opportunity to book your tickets for the Seder, as orders need to be placed during the course of the day on Sunday. Please use the Quicket booking links below:

https://qkt.io/rKAN1b
or
https://www.quicket.co.za/events/210816-beit-emanuel-communal-pesach-seder/

Shabbat Shalom!

The week that was

A routine Shabbat/weekend last week, apart from the usual load shedding challenges (albeit at a lower level than we’ve become accustomed to).

Looking ahead

Happening this Shabbat/weekend

We’ll be in Shul on Friday evening at 18h00 to welcome in Shabbat, just at the tail-end of a stint of load shedding.

Our Jkids Club will be taking a break this Friday and will resume next week.

The service will be followed by a Brocha in the Janks Hall. Our Friday evening Brocha was sponsored by Rabbi Dr Robert Ash, in celebration of his birthday on Thursday.

Please remember to “feed” the Perspex donation box at your table to help cover our catering costs. Alternatively, please make use of the Snapscan App and the Snapscan QR Code at each table to donate electronically. A modest donation of R20-30 from each person attending the Brocha would help immensely in closing this gap.

Please join us at 09h30 in the main Shul on Saturday morning, when Ada Iwueze become Bat Mitzvah. Please share in this milestone Jewish life-cycle event with the family. There will be a Brocha in the Janks Hall following the service. The Brocha was sponsored by Kingsley Iwueze is honour of Ada’s Battie.

The Talmud Study Group will meet in the Boardroom at 12h00.

Further ahead

Our Purim festivities will take place on Monday, 6 March at 17h30. We’ll be in the Slome Auditorium and the other venues forming part of the Stalson Building for this one, rather than in the main Shul and Janks Hall. Please see the flyer below for further details. The Purim festivities will be a combined effort with Bet David, and an invitation has also been extended to members of the other Gauteng shuls.

There will be a GPJC Beit Din next Friday morning (the 10th). The successful candidates will be formally welcomed as members of the Tribe during the Shabbat evening service on the 10th.

Human Rights Shabbat
Our Human Rights Shabbat has been scheduled for Friday, 17 March. We have an exciting guest speaker lined up, but we’ll save the details until everything has been confirmed.

AGM date change
The Temple/Beit Emanuel 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023 will now take place on Thursday, 23 March at 19h00. (The date was pushed out by a week to avoid a clash with A Taste of Limmud Johannesburg.)

The AGM will be held in the main Shul to allow us to make best use of our audio-visual technology setup. The formal notice of the meeting and the relevant nomination forms and other documentation will be sent out to members in good standing during the course of next week. We look forward to seeing all of our congregants there, in person or on Zoom.

Our communal Pesach Seder takes place on the evening of Wednesday, 5 April. Further details in the coming weeks.

The week that was

The all-day Scrabble Competition in the Brasch Lounge last Saturday appears to have gone well, as did our Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circle on Sunday evening. I’m hoping to hear some feedback regarding the NETZER 10-pin bowling on Sunday morning, as well the Lewandowski Chorale on Tuesday evening.

Looking ahead

Happening this Shabbat/weekend

We’ll be in the main Shul at 18h00 on Friday evening for Kabbalat Shabbat. This will be followed by a tasty Brocha in the Janks Hall. Please remember to “feed” the Perspex donation box at your table to help cover our catering costs. Alternatively, please make use of the Snapscan App and the Snapscan QR Code at each table to donate electronically. A modest donation of R20-30 from each person attending the Brocha would help immensely in closing this gap.

There will be a Jkids Club activity in the Atrium this Friday evening. Please see below for details.

The Chairman of our Management Committee, Dr Paul Davis, will make a few remarks regarding current issues during the announcements tomorrow evening. Paul will address the value provided by the Sarmies Project, the issue of rabbinic succession and community involvement in choices, as well as collaboration between the Progressive Jewish Congregations in Gauteng.

Our Shabbat morning service will be on the Veranda (weather permitting) or in the Gillis Boardroom at 09h30. The service will be followed by a potluck Brocha in the Atrium. The Talmud Study Group will meet in the Boardroom at 12h00.

Further ahead

The Sarmies Project, a joint initiative of Beit Emanuel and Temple Israel Hillbrow will resume next week (1/2 March) and thereafter on the first Thursday of each month, with contributions being accepted throughout the day on the Wednesday. Sarmies, fresh fruit, boiled eggs, non-perishables and basic toiletries will all be gratefully received. We hope to be able to give each beneficiary a pack that will hopefully last until the first week of the following month.
Your support would be much appreciated!

Rabbi Dr Robert Ash, who served this congregation prior to Rabbi Saar, has kindly sponsored our Brocha next Friday evening (the 3rd) in celebration of his birthday on the 2nd. Yom Huledet Sameach, Rabbi Ash!

Next Shabbat Saturday, 4 March will see Ada Iwueze become Bat Mitzvah. See you in the main Shul at 09h30 to share this milestone Jewish life-cycle event with the family.

Our Purim festivities will take place on Monday, 6 March at 17h30. We’ll be in the Slome Auditorium and the other venues forming part of the Stalson Building for this one, rather than in the main Shul and Janks Hall. Please see the flyer below for further details.

The Temple/Beit Emanuel 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023 will take place on Thursday, 16 March at 19h00. The AGM will be held in the main Shul to allow us to make best use of our audio-visual technology setup. The formal notice of the meeting and the relevant nomination forms and other documentation will be sent out to members in good standing during the course of next week. We look forward to seeing all of our congregants there, in person or on Zoom.

Our communal Pesach Seder takes place on the evening of Wednesday, 5 April. Further details in the coming weeks.

Shabbat Shalom!

The week that was

Last week’s Shabbat evening and morning services were skilfully led by Professor Merle Williams, with the able assistance of our lay reader cohort. Allistair Balutto took care of the Torah reading on Saturday morning.

Looking ahead

Happening this Shabbat/weekend

Gabriel Bertoldi will become Bar Mitzvah this Saturday morning (4 February). Please join us in the main Shul on Friday and Saturday to celebrate as Gabriel demonstrates his Jewish literacy in the presence of the congregation. Saturday’s Brocha will be in the Boardroom/Atrium/Veranda/Garden area, and has been generously sponsored by the Bertoldi family in celebration of Gabriel’s Barmie.

Tu B’Shvat this year will be joint service of Progressive Judaism Gauteng (GPJC) and will be held at Bet David. Please see the invitation from Bet David below and RSVP by end of day on Friday. Please note that the event is now being held on Sunday evening, not Monday evening!

You’re invited to celebrate Tu B’Shvat on Sunday, 5 February at Bet David. Starting at 17h00, there will be a light Brocha before a short service celebrating our natural world. Cheder children will read Torah verses in honour of trees and plant sunflower seeds.
Please RSVP to admin2@betdavid.org.za

JKIDS/YOUTH PROGRAMMES

This Friday evening we’ll continue with our exploration of Tu B’Shvat. Please join us at 18h00 in Shul for the lighting of the Shabbat candles. We’ll then make our way to the Atrium, where we’ll explore nature and its beauty.

Update on Shirlane Davids, BE’s Netzer “Shnattie”

Shirlane has settled in well. The last 10 days have been exciting, as the 12 Shnatties get to know one another. Eight are from Australia, two from the UK, and two from South Africa.

They have back-to-back sessions, from breakfast until well after 10 PM most nights, with Ivrit lessons as well, sandwiched between breakfast and lunch.

They’ve all fallen in love with the close-knit community life on a Kibbutz in the Negev and are all looking forward to ‘going up to Jerusalem’ in the upcoming days.

Thank you to everyone who contributed and made the possibility a reality for Shirlane.

There’s still a sizeable shortfall, so should you feel inclined to donate, please pay it into Beit Emanuel’s account, clearly marked Shirlane or Shnattie.

With much love and appreciation,

The Challens & Davids Families

The week that was

The initial part of last Friday’s service took part under load shedding. The service (along with our Shabbat morning service) was ably led by Professor Merle Williams, assisted by other lay readers, in Rabbi Saar’s absence. The first of our Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circles took place last Sunday evening. I haven’t had any feedback, so I take it the evening was a success! We also had our Benny Stalson Hebrew School orientation and initial classes on Monday afternoon. The Religion School (along with the ITJ Programme) now serve the whole of Progressive Judaism Gauteng. A bold step that we believe will assist Progressive Judaism to both survive and thrive in the region.

Looking ahead

Happening this Shabbat/weekend

As noted last week, Rabbi Saar is on a leave of absence until next Monday. Merle Williams will again be leading our Shabbat evening and morning services, again with assistance from some of our lay readers. The Torah reading on Saturday morning will be done by Allistair Balutto.

The Kabbalat Shabbat service will be followed by a Brocha in the Janks Hall. Please remember to feed the donation box at your table, to help us cover our horrendous catering costs. We also encourage all members and friends to download and install the Snapscan App as an alternative to cash donations. The Snapscan QR Code will also be available at each table to facilitate this handy payment mechanism.

Saturday’s Shabbat morning service in the Gillis Boardroom or the Garden/Veranda will be followed by a potluck Brocha in the Atrium. Please note that we won’t be streaming to Zoom this Saturday morning.

Further ahead

Gabriel Bertoldi will become Bar Mitzvah next Saturday morning (4 February), with the services that weekend being led by Amichai and Yonit (Janis) Rosenberg. Please join us in Shul next Friday and Saturday and celebrate as Gabriel demonstrates his Jewish literacy in front of the congregation. The Brocha next Saturday is being sponsored by the Bertoldi family in celebration of Gabriel’s Barmie.

Tu B’Shvat this year will be joint service of the Gauteng Progressive Jewish Congregations (GPJC) and will be held at Bet David. Please see the invitation from Bet David below and RSVP in due course.

You’re invited to celebrate Tu B’Shvat on Monday, 6 February at Bet David. Starting at 17h00, there will be a light Brocha before a short service celebrating our natural world. Cheder children will read Torah verses in honour of trees and plant sunflower seeds.
Please RSVP to admin2@betdavid.org.za

JKIDS/YOUTH PROGRAMMES

This week we’ll start off our Jkids year with some early Tu B’Shvat planning! Please join us in the shul at 18:00, for the lighting of the Shabbat candles. We’ll then go and plant some beautiful flowers in honour of Tu B’Shvat, while discussing the importance of trees.

The week that was

Last Friday’s Shabbat Evening Service was another of our load shedding specials. For some reason the scheduled load shedding didn’t happen, instead of which our Internet connectivity was down. Heigh-ho. Anyway, a lovely service in our sadly under-utilised Slome Auditorium, followed by a sponsored Brocha in the Gallery/Boardroom/Atrium.

Although I haven’t received a report-back, I understand that the Temple Youth sleepover was a success.

Our first combined Progressive Judaism Gauteng ITJ class for 2023 was to have been held in the Gillis Boardroom on Wednesday. A four-hour stint of load shedding forced a change of plans, however, and the orientation session and class were held at Bet David instead.

Looking ahead

Happening this Shabbat/weekend

Rabbi Saar has taken a leave of absence until Sunday the 29th. Prof Merle Williams has kindly agreed to lead our Kabbalat Shabbat service this Friday. Other services will be led by various members of our lay reader group. Those arrangements will be communicated in due course.

We do have load shedding scheduled for late Friday afternoon, but we trust that the power outage will end on time. The service will therefore be held in the main Shul, and we hope to be able to be present on Zoom.

The issues around load shedding and network availability have meant that we will probably not be able have Rory Rootenberg’s participation for much longer, following +/- 6 years with the Beit Emanuel Choir. It’s Rory’s birthday this week, so this would probably be a good time to wish him and thank him for his contribution over the years, even if this is not a final farewell.

The Kabbalat Shabbat service will be followed by a Brocha in the Janks Hall. Please remember to feed the donation box at your table, to help us cover our horrendous catering costs. We also encourage all members and friends to download and install the Snapscan App as an alternative to cash donations. The Snapscan QR Code will also be available at each table to facilitate this handy payment mechanism.

Saturday’s Shabbat morning service in the Gillis Boardroom will be led by our lay readers, and will be followed by a potluck Brocha in the Atrium. Please note that we won’t be streaming to Zoom this Saturday morning.

A reminder that our first Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circle will be held on Sunday, 22 January, 18h00 in the Brasch Youth Lounge.

Further ahead

The Benny Stalson Hebrew School (BSHS) religion school classes will open on Monday, 23 January at 16h00. This will be a joint introductory session for learners and parents.

Netzer Shnat 2023: A letter of thanks from the Challens and Davids families

Dear Friends,

A very special word of thanks to all who gave financial support for Shirlane these past few months. Many members of the Gauteng Progressive Community, the SAUPJ Gauteng and Beit Emanuel.

She departs for Israel on Sunday night, to commence this phenomenal leadership program.

It means a great deal to us as a family, to witness the generosity displayed towards her.

Thank you, Rabbi Sa’ar and Dr Paul Davis for your unwavering support.

Should anyone still wish to donate to this appeal, please do so freely, as there is still a sizeable shortfall.

Join with us as we celebrate this milestone in her life, as well as in the life of our community.

Shabbat shalom and much love,
The Challens and Davids Families

JKIDS/YOUTH PROGRAMMES

We’ll have our first Jkids Club session for 2023 next Friday (the 27th). We’re planning to get our hands dirty by planting some beautiful pot-plants for Tu B’Shvat.

This post provides a round-up of the administrative and other details you may need for the HHDs  2022/5783 “season”.

Ahead of time

High Holy Days Services Schedule

The link below will take you to the full schedule of services for the High Holy Days. A few minor details may be updated in the next ten days, but dates and times have been locked down:

https://beiteman.link/HHDs

Prayer Books (Machzorim)

Sets of Mishkan HaNefesh, the Machzor for the Days of Awe, are available from the Shul Office for R700 per set. We do have a limited number of donated copies to lend out, but we request that those who can, purchase their own set. Please email your orders to Morgana Segel (details at the foot of this newsletter).

Please use the reference “(YOUR SURNAME) MACHZOR” when making payment.

Selichot

Our umbrella organisation, the SA Union for Progressive Judaism (SAUPJ) has arranged for a Zoom concert and conversation with Nesahama Carlebach on Selichot night.

Healing, Believing and Moving Forward

An evening of intimate conversation and music with Neshama Carlebach (this conversation will include #metoo related content, so please join us to the extent that you feel comfortable)

Saturday, 17 September, 21h00 SAST on Zoom. Please use the link below to register for the service:

https://forms.gle/5nfA2c1bcAWgefaZ7

Rosh Hashanah Communal Dinner

Please note that bookings for the Rosh Hashanah Communal Dinner on Erev Rosh Hashanah (the evening of Sunday, 25 September 2022) have now closed. Orders have been placed and no further bookings can be accepted.

Auerbach Lecture

The 2022 Franz Auerbach Memorial Lecture will take place on Tuesday, 8 November at 19h30. Albie Sachs, in conversation with Merle Williams, will talk about the tensions between religious expectations and the spirit of the Constitution.

“Law and religion? In a shul? Should be fun!”

Finances

Fees

It is a long-established custom for congregants to bring their accounts with us up to date for the Days of Awe. There are solid financial as well as spiritual reasons for this, as the final quarter of the financial year tends to be extremely tight for the Shul. According to our cash-flow projections, this year is unlikely to be the exception. Please get in touch with our Financial Administrator, Christine McIntosh, to obtain your outstanding balance, make arrangements for payment, etc. Christine can be reached on 011 646 6170 (switchboard), 087 188 9003 (direct) or email admin@beitemanuel.co.za.

Donations: You CAN make a difference!

As a Shul with very few “mega-donors” still on our books, we depend on each and every one of members to give generously within their means. So whether that contribution is R18, R180 or R18,000, every single donation is valued. We rely totally on the principle of “A bisl un a bisl, vert a fule shisl – a little and a little, becomes a full bowl.”

Our High Holy Days Appeal will be launched in the coming days, so I won’t try to anticipate the focus and direction of the appeal. Instead, for now, here are the bank details to use when making a donation via a conventional EFT:

Temple Emanuel, FNB Killarney Branch 256 205, Account No. 5486 0049 352

Links to our other convenient payment mechanisms can be found at the link below:

https://beiteman.link/donate

Whatever platform you choose to use, please include a meaningful (to us!) beneficiary/payment reference. In this case, “(YOUR SURNAME) APPEAL” will do the trick nicely.

Administration

Etz Chayim/Tree of Life

Honour the memory of a departed loved one by means of a leaf on our Etz Chayim/Tree of Life, which enjoys a prominent place in the Shul Foyer.

The cost is R550 per leaf, while a larger leaf (suitable for longer inscriptions) is available for R750.

Orders can be placed with Morgana Segel (details below). Please use the payment reference “(YOUR SURNAME) LEAF”.

Send us your Yahrzeit details

The Yizkor (Memorial) Service is an integral part of the order for Yom Kippur. If you’re observing any Yahrzeits that we’re not aware of (particularly parents, siblings, spouses or (God forbid) children), please send us the details for inclusion in the Yizkor List. Please include names, Hebrew name (if available) date of passing, before/after sundown, Hebrew date (if known) and relationship.

Keep in touch

We hate losing touch with our congregants, and the Shul may not be top of mind when any of your contact details change. If you’ve forgotten to notify us of a change of home address, mobile number or email address, please let us know via this online form:

https://beiteman.link/contact_update

On the day

Hybrid Services

Thanks to a very generous donation from one of our member families, all services in the Shul itself will be hybrid, i.e. both in-person and on Zoom. All weekday services during the HHDs season will use the link https://beiteman.link/hhd_services

Shabbat evening and morning services will use their customary (since lockdown) links, i.e., https://beiteman.link/evening or https://beiteman.link/morning

Jkids Club

Jody and her Jkids Club team have arranged separate services and other activities for the kids at the most important times. A separate schedule of these activities will be published shortly.

Load Shedding

Based on the current (Stage 4) level, it would be naïve for us to believe that we will not be impacted by load shedding in the weeks ahead. We’ll do what we can to limit that impact, but our means might be limited to simply being aware of, communicating and planning around the schedule.

Your Security Team

Please show some love for our volunteer Security Team by slowing right down and winding down your driver’s window when entering or exiting the Campus. That might also be a good time to exchange greetings for the High Holy Days.

Disabled Parking

Kindly note that the parking bays directly in front of the Shul’s Piazza are reserved as a drop-off/pick-up point for the disabled and infirm. Please respect this arrangement. Only vehicles displaying a Disabled decal should be parked in any of the bays, but please drop-off/pick-up and park elsewhere if at all possible.

Parking in general

Our overflow parking on the Wedge (which is let out to PPS) will be available to us on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We will also make arrangements with our neighbours at the Holy Family College (HFC) to make use of their parking facilities in need.

Contact Us

For any enquiries, please contact our Receptionist, Morgana Segel, on 011 646 6170 (switchboard), 087 188 9000 (direct) or email office@beitemanuel.org.za.

It’s been three years since we met in person for the High Holy Days, back in 2019. In March 2020 we were quite confident that the lockdown would be history well before Rosh Hashanah, but it wasn’t to be. Looking back, we can clearly see the devastating impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown has had on our lives and our community; psychologically, if not physically and financially.

At Beit Emanuel, we think that the best way to put the trauma of the past 30-odd months behind us, and to heal ourselves and our community, is to congregate (in person, not virtually) for the High Holy Days. Just as we’ve done for decades, and our ancestors for thousands of years before us.

Our Rabbi, lay readers and musicians will be bringing you the meanings, messages and traditions behind each of the very distinct holy days and festivals which make up this “season” in our calendar. My job in this and subsequent newsletters will be to bring you the administrative and other details that you may need to know about.

Rosh Hashanah Communal Dinner

Please book your place at Beit Emanuel’s Rosh Hashanah Communal Dinner 2022/5783 on the evening of Sunday, 25 September 2022.

Every effort has been made to keep the event affordable in these difficult times, while trying to ensure that the event is not run at a loss for the Shul. The pricing per head is as follows:

Adults: R300, Children 7-13: R230, Children under 7: R120

Please use our online booking form here to secure your place:

https://forms.gle/tLcd556DFEFLLvV77

Bookings close on Monday evening, 12 September. Please note that no bookings will be accepted or confirmed until payment in full has been received. Please utilise any of the convenient payment options here and use “your Surname + R/H Dinner” as your beneficiary/payment reference:

https://beiteman.link/donate

Use “your Surname + R/H Dinner” as your beneficiary/payment reference

Selichot

Our umbrella organisation, the SA Union for Progressive Judaism (SAUPJ) has arranged for a Zoom concert and conversation with Nesahama Carlebach on Selichot night.

Healing, Believing and Moving Forward

An evening of intimate conversation and music with Neshama Carlebach (this conversation will include #metoo related content, so please join us to the extent that you feel comfortable).

Saturday, 17 September, 21h00 SAST on Zoom (meeting link to be advised).

Dates to pencil in

Here are the high-level dates to pencil in for the High Holy Days. Service times and other fine print will be published in the next newsletter.

Sun, 25 Sep, Erev Rosh Hashanah
Mon, 26 Sep, Rosh Hashanah Day 1
Tue, 27 Sep, Rosh Hashanah Day 2
Tue, 4 Oct, Kol Nidre
Wed, 5 Oct, Yom Kippur
Sun, 9 Oct, Erev Sukkot/Open Sukkah
Mon, 10 Oct, Sukkot
Sun, 16 Oct, Shmini Atzeret
Mon, 17 Oct, Simchat Torah

Prayer Books

Sets of Mishkan HaNefesh, the Machzor for the Days of Awe, are available from the Shul Office for R700 per set. We do have a limited number of donated copies to lend out, but we request that those who can, purchase their own set. Please email your orders to Morgana Segel (details at the foot of this newsletter). Please use the reference “(Your Surname) Machzor” when making payment.

Etz Chayim/Tree of Life

Honour the memory of a departed loved one by means of a leaf on our Etz Chayim/Tree of Life, which enjoys a prominent place in the Shul Foyer.

The cost is R550 per leaf, while a larger leaf (suitable for longer inscriptions) is available for R750. Orders can be placed with Morgana Segel (details below).

Please use the payment reference “(Your Surname) Leaf”.

Send us your Yahrzeit details

The Yizkor (Memorial) Service is an integral part of the order for Yom Kippur. If you’re observing any Yahrzeits that we’re not aware of (particularly parents, siblings, spouses or (God forbid) children), please send us the details for inclusion in the Yizkor List. Please include names, Hebrew name (if available) date of passing, before/after sundown, Hebrew date (if known) and relationship.

Donations

Our High Holy Days Appeal will be launched in the coming days, so I won’t try to anticipate the focus and direction of the appeal. Instead, for now, here are the bank details to use when making a donation via a conventional EFT:

Temple Emanuel, FNB Killarney Branch 256 205, Account No. 5486 0049 352

Links to our other convenient payment mechanisms can be found at the link below:

https://beiteman.link/donate

Whatever platform you choose to use, please include a meaningful (to us!) beneficiary/payment reference. In this case, “(Your Surname) Appeal” will do the trick nicely.

Auerbach Lecture

The 2022 Franz Auerbach Memorial Lecture will take place on Tuesday, 8 November at 19h30. Albie Sachs, in conversation with Merle Williams, will talk about the tensions between religious expectations and the spirit of the Constitution.

“Law and religion? In a shul? Should be fun!”

For any enquiries, please contact our Receptionist, Morgana Segel, on 011 646 6170 (switchboard), 087 188 9000 (direct) or email office@beitemanuel.org.za.

Happening this Shabbat

Please join us in the Shul (or on Zoom) on Friday evening at 18h00 for our Kabbalat Shabbat hybrid service. This will be followed by a Brocha in the Janks Hall.

Our Shabbat Morning Service will be in the Veranda/Garden area at 09h30 on Saturday morning, and will be followed by a Brocha in the Courtyard. (Although the format of the service does allow for some Zoom participation, the service is best experienced in person.)

Our Talmud Study Group meets in the Gillis Boardroom at 12h00, while the Scrabble Club (an external activity) will be in the Atrium (Courtyard) from 13h30.

Pesach Communal Seder

As mentioned in last week’s Bulletin, Erev Pesach fall on Friday, 15 April this year. We have a window of just one week to accept bookings to ensure that our orders can be placed timeously, so here are the Ts & Cs:

• Please place your bookings by close of business next Wednesday (6 Apr)
• Bookings will be treated as confirmed only on receipt of payment
• No late bookings can be accepted, due to the tight deadline for placing external orders
• Likewise, we will not be able to accommodate walk-ins on the night
• Details of the menu will be made available closer to the time, but rest assured that a full Seder meal will be offered
• A Vegan option will be provided at the same cost

We have managed to keep the pricing the same as that for 2019 (our last in-person Seder prior to lockdown). The pricing is as follows:

• Adults: R350
• Children 7-13: R225
• Children below 7: R120

Please book by calling or emailing Morgana at the Shul Office, or by printing, completing and scanning the form at the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gsMkzX0XPAKNfD4zoPKYtCA3IOcbQ1fR/view?usp=sharing

Housekeeping issues

We are very proud of the manner in which housekeeping, maintenance and repairs to the Campus are attended to, on an extremely tight budget. If you do come across any issues of that nature while you’re on Campus, please report them to Morgana (contact details in the footer) and they will be attended to.

Staying in touch

We know that, when you’re moving house, letting the Shul know about your change of address may not be top of mind. Once you’ve settled in, though, please just drop us a note so that we can stay in touch with you. These are the contact detail changes we’d really like to know about. Please let Morgana know about these and she’ll inform the rest of us.

• Mobile (cellphone) number
• Email address
• Home street address
• Home landline number (or cancellation thereof)

Tableware and table linen

Now that we’re starting to do in-person stuff again, a recent inventory of our tableware and table linen revealed that breakages and wear-and-tear have severely depleted our table settings. If you happen to have any plain white tableware (plates, bowls, mugs, etc), plain cutlery or table linen (mainly large white tablecloths) that you’d like to find a good home for, please get in touch with Morgana to discuss the details.

Shabbat Shalom!
—
Russell Cohen (Executive Director)

Temple/Beit Emanuel 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Our 27th (hybrid) AGM will take place in Shul (rather than the Slome Auditorium) and on Zoom on the evening of Thursday, 10 March 2022 at 19h00 (7 PM).

The formal notice of the meeting was sent out to all members last Friday. If you’re a member in good standing and did not receive the meeting notice, please message me on Whatsapp or email me.

If you’re planning to stand for Mancom, please have your completed/signed nomination form with us by close of business on Tuesday the 8th. Please also indicate (or give some thought to) which portfolio you’d like to head up.

A message from our Chair, Paul Davis, regarding the AGM.

This year’s AGM will be a hybrid meeting, i.e. will be held both in-person and on Zoom, with full participation on both modes.

AGMs are very important events for any organisation, and ours is no exception.

We’ll receive reports on the financial status of the organisation, a Rabbinic Report, and the Chair’s overview of the achievements, concerns and directions of the congregation. There will also be individual reports from the portfolio heads, plus general discussion.

This is a time to put questions and expect answers. We’ll also be electing the 2022 Mancom, so please do your utmost to attend, to keep up to date and contribute to our great Shul.

Kindest and warmest regards,

Paul

Talmud Study Group

Our Talmud Study Group has been meeting online (on Sunday afternoons) for the past two years. With restrictions having now been relaxed, the group took the decision to begin meeting in person again. Meetings will now take place at 11h30 on Shabbat morning, and will usually be held in the Gillis Boardroom, or elsewhere on the Campus in need.

If you’re interested in participating in this study group, please contact Morgana Segel in the Shul Office, who will put you in touch with the organisers.

Music Circle

Next Friday, the 11th March we’ll be starting a music circle at 5:15pm. Bring your voices and your instruments to learn some old and some new melodies which we’ll be singing in shul.

SA Jewish Report

Good news for those who prefer to read the Jewish Report in hardcopy format rather than online. (I’m told it’s also easier to read that way during the Rabbi’s Drash. Just kidding, nobody really does that.) From next week (11/12 March) copies of the Jewish Report will be available in the Shul Foyer, for the first time since lockdown began two years ago.

Thanks to Sandy Furman and the Distribution team at the SAJR for arranging to add us as a distribution point.

ARZENU Beit Emanuel Havdalah: Bafana Modise

ARZENU Beit Emanuel will be holding its next Havdalah ceremony and talk on Saturday, 12 March at 18h45 (6.45 PM). This will be a hybrid event, taking place in the Gillis Boardroom and on Zoom.

The special guest speaker will be Bafana Modise, a radio personality, MC, speaker and members of SA Friends of Israel (SAFI).

Please join us in the Gillis Boardroom or on Zoom next Saturday evening, for what should prove to be an interesting evening.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86366569000?pwd=WXpSeU85RG8rM05wdlhUUlpyTzg2Zz09
Meeting ID: 863 6656 9000, Passcode: 62mDKa5t

Happening this Shabbat

This Shabbat sees our usual line-up of hybrid services, with the Shabbat evening service in the Shul and on Zoom at 18h00 on Friday evening, followed by a Brocha in the Janks Hall. This week’s Brocha was kindly sponsored by Mickie Jacobs. Toda Raba Mickie, and Yom Huledet Sameach for Saturday! Our less-formal Shabbat morning service will be on the Veranda and on Zoom at 09h30 on Saturday morning, followed by a Brocha in the Courtyard.

Temple/Beit Emanuel 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Our 27th AGM takes place virtually (on Zoom) on the evening of Thursday, 10 March 2022 at 19h00. The formal notice of the meeting and related documentation will be sent out separately by end of day on Friday, 25 February.

A reminder that only members in good standing are entitled to participate in the meeting or to be nominated for vacancies on the Management Committee (Mancom) or Board of Guardians (BOG).

Purim/Purim Night Market

We’re gearing up for our Purim festivities, with Purim falling on 16/17 March this year. We’re planning to have a Purim Night Market in the carpark/piazza beforehand. If you’re an artisan, artist or retailer, and you’re interested in taking up a table, please contact Lesley Hudson on 083 325 1701 or email address lesley@woke.africa.

If you’re interested in taking on one of the Megillah readings (English or Hebrew), please get in touch with Martin Ramos on 082 455 3367 or email address erezbenavraham68@gmail.com.

Just to make sure that there’s a suitably festive atmosphere, we’ll be providing punch. If you’d like to bring a bottle to share, though, please do so!

FROM LESLEY’S DIARY OF ACTIVITIES

So much on my calendar I need to share with you!

PURIM NIGHT MARKET: do you have something you want to sell?

WE ARE GOING BIG AND OUT THERE! Beit Emanuel is on one helluva drive to increase membership. So big we are even talking Billboard Big. We need members who are willing to have their photos taken to be part of the campaign. Please, contact me. I’m excited and you will be too.

From BOBBE’S KITCHEN TO THE SHABBAT TABLE – IN SEARCH OF OUR COOKBOOKS: Beit Emanuel is participating in a global search for Jewish cookbooks. Irwin Manoim got an email from an academic in New York who is compiling an archive of cookbooks produced by Jewish communities around the world. Not big Sharon Glass-type stuff; the little amateur cookbooks produced by “ladies committees” to raise money. His interest is how traditional Jewish cuisine travelled, changed, or did not change, over time.

He has already found sixty or more South African cookbooks, and we put a few others that were produced in Cape Town in the history exhibition at the Jewish Museum last year. But he wanted to know if the Joburg Jewish Progressive movement published any.

Anybody have copies of ancient Temple/Beit Emanuel or Sisterhood cookbooks (actually any SA Reform Temple or Sisterhood)? If, so please give Morgana a call.

AND OF COURSE, you know what’s coming next? Our very own new collection of recipes. Watch out for more details in the weeks to come.

Please contact me: 083 325 1701 / lesley@woke.africa.

Happening this Shabbat

Bar Mitzvah Gabriel Ritchken

Gabriel Ritchken will become Bar Mitzvah in Shul this Saturday morning. A hearty Mazal Tov to Gabriel, proud parents Edwin and Alex, sister Lila and the rest of Gabriel’s family. The service will be hybrid (on the usual Shabbat morning service link) for those who are unable to be there in person.

Hybrid Services

Speaking of hybrid services, we’re all over the moon following the very generous donation we received from Gordon Schachat and the Schachat family. The donation was specifically to allow us to invest in the technology necessary to conduct seamless “hybrid” services, i.e. with both an in-Shul/in-person and an online (Zoom) component. Watch this space…

Youth activities

A few weeks ago we had successful Shabbaton with Beit Emanuel’s youth cohort. We continue with monthly activities. On 26 February 2022 at 18h00 (6 PM) we’ll hold a Youth Havdalah on Zoom. Before that, we’ll have a presentation on Jewish ethics and a presentation on Kashrut from the perspective of Progressive Judaism, with questions and debate. One of the questions that has been posed from time to time is whether or not all Jews are vegetarian, with some no longer certain whether they should eat meat or not. These are some of the issues that will be open to discussion. The title of the presentation is Ethical Kashrut. Please contact Kendra Mukasa on 064 089 2669 or kmukasakaren@gmail.com for more details.

On another note, we’ve started compiling a portfolio of creative writing. These are poems, short stories, songs, etc that will go into our publications during the course of the year. Please send any creative writing you’d like included to Thabani Sibanda at ts2301@gmail.com, or write to him at this address for more details.

Purim/Purim Night Market

We’re gearing up for our Purim festivities, with Purim falling on 16/17 March this year. We’re planning to have a Purim Night Market in the carpark/piazza beforehand. If you’re an artisan, artist or retailer, and you’re interested in taking up a table, please contact Lesley Hudson on 083 325 1701 or email address lesley@woke.africa.

If you’re interested in taking on one of the Megillah readings (English or Hebrew), please get in touch with Martin Ramos on 082 455 3367 or email address erezbenavraham68@gmail.com.

Just to make sure that there’s a suitably festive atmosphere, we’ll be providing punch. If you’d like to bring a bottle to share, though, please do so!