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Eblast: Week of May 1st

This Week: Festival Sefardí, Counting the Omer,

& more!

~Counting the Omer~

Week Five: Hod (Starting May 4)

The fifth week of Counting the Omer focuses on Hod, the spiritual essence of variety and splendor underlying all of existence. Sometimes this ‘energy field’ is difficult to describe, since it pervades every physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual aspect of our lives, often in subtle but powerful ways.

We can examine the pattern of veins visible on our hands and arms, allowing ourselves to be amazed at their silent, effective function and the beauty of the patterns they display. We have been blessed by the opportunity to see into the past through the scientific discoveries of the James Webb space telescope. We can marvel at the rhythm and imagery of poetry which expresses ideas in ways that open our hearts and minds. We recognize that meditation, prayer and silence are all doorways to a vast and complex structure of spiritual reality.

During this week, take some time to pay attention to some of those ‘little things’ that we hurry past in our busy lives….the patterns of leaf shadow on the courtyard wall, the varied melody of bird song, the miracle of being able to walk upright, the comforts of memories of times shared with friends, family and loved ones. This is also a week to pay attention to those in our midst who lack the necessary comforts of home: a safe place to sleep, enough healthy food, support of community, and appropriate and accessible health care. Our community is blessed with opportunities to help people who may not have access to a safe environment. Let this week be one in which we recognize that the varieties of life are not all beautiful and positive, but that even painful or difficult situations and events are part of a larger whole…and that each of us can contribute to making that larger whole more complete, integrated and filled with potential.

May you enjoy your encounters with splendid variety this week.

-Rabbi Min

Image Description: a photo of a portion of a field filled with a variety of wildflowers in many shapes and colors.

Events This Week

You can view all events at https://www.nahalatshalom.org/calendar

Counting the Omer

May 5th, Friday 8-8:45 am

Zoom Only

The Omer count was once used to determine taxes. It's now a way to look at ourselves. In this class we'll count the beginning of each of the 7 week's Sefirah (Qualities) that start each Omer week. We'll also nosh on food for thought to launch us into each weekly Omer count. 8-8:30am learning, 8:30-8:45am for meditation or journaling on the week’s teachings. With Rabbi Chavah Carp and Mashpiah Robin Berman.

On Zoom only. Click here for link.

Meeting ID: 810 2960 0193

Passcode: 734342.

Contact Chavah at [email protected] with questions.

Beyond the Torah Study Group

Friday May 5th, 11:45 am-1 pm on Zoom

Zoom Only

Join us every week or as the spirit moves you. Self-led group delves into the entire Bible, book by book, discussing literal, ethical and spiritual meaning of the great writings of our ancestors. All are welcome to join at any point. We hope you will join us!

Meeting ID: 844 6651 3977

Passcode: Neviim.

Festival Sefardí 2023

May 5-7, 2023

Friday 5/5 5:30pm-9pm

Sat 5/6/2023, 9:30am-4:30pm

Sun 5/7 12pm-5:00pm

Sanctuary, Gallery, Courtyard, BB, Zoom

It’s our B Mitzvah year!

Please register, RSVP about Shabbat Dinner, join the volunteer crew, and buy Saturday lunch tickets.

We are thrilled to welcome two incredible guests, Denise León and Rachel Amado Bortnick! Direct from Tucumán, Argentina, Denise Léon is one of today’s leading Sephardic poets, the newest link in the chain of poets writing in Ladino. Rachel Amado Bortnick is a native speaker of Ladino who grew up in Izmir, Turkey.

Expect to hear intergenerational dialogue about their memories of Izmir, the Ladino language and the Sephardic identity they share.

Plus Selfies of Sefardim and Mizrahim: Who Am I, Shabbat celebrations, a memoir writing workshop, food, personal stories, dramatic poetry readings, Turkish lunch with a screening of the excellent documentary “Trees Cry For Rain”, about our guest Rachel Amado Bortnick.

Buy Tickets

RSVP Shabbat Dinner

Join the volunteer crew

Lunch Tickets and Film Showing

Festival Schedule

ID: 865 8630 1766

Passcode: sefarad

Image Description: a small group of people in the courtyard sharing a loaf of challah.

Chanting Morning Shabbat: Going Deep with Davvenen

Saturday, May 6, 10-11:15 am

Zoom Only

This is a contemplative service using Hebrew chants and silence. There is always a prayer for healing and the opportunity to say Kaddish. For questions, reach out to Miryam Levy, Rabbinic Chaplain at [email protected]

Meeting ID: 801 481 3128

Passcode: Sinai

Hebrew Class Taught by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz

Monday, May 8, 4:00 PM -5:00 PM

Zoom Only

If you're a previous Hebrew student, let me know and I'll send you a Zoom link.

If you are not a previous student, contact me via email with your phone number and I will call you and talk about your Hebrew level (I'm assuming all people are pretty much beginners). Rabbi Min [email protected]

Lag B’Omer

Sunday, May 7th 10:30-11:45 am

in the courtyard

Join our Cheder, Gan and Pre-B’nai students as we celebrate Lag B’Omer in the courtyard with fire, stories, and s’mores. We’ll finish in time for the Sephardic Festival’s Sunday program. Bring a picnic lunch, s’mores fixings, and a short story to share about our Jewish experiences–either fact or fiction! Contact Batya

Anyos/Yahrzeits

To learn more about Ashkenazi and Sepharidc mourning customs, here's a great resource.

In the first year of mourning

Joyce Catherine Burt, mother of Nikihanna Baptiste

Beverly Kantrowitz Prosnitz, sister in law of Rabbi Min Kantrowitz

Harry Hirschl, father of Meta Hirschl

Al Hiat, husband of Alice and father of Sarah and Judah

Lia Rosen friend of Nahalat Shalom and spouse of Melanie Baize

Don Lenef, husband of Joy Isben

Joseph Michael Girard, father of Joanna, father in law of Jeff Katzman, grandfather of Jackie, William, and Neil Katzman

Marc Keltz, husband of Iris Keltz

Yahrzeits/Anyos this week (yearly anniversary of death)

Gisela Tusak, mother of Edna Loehman on Tuesday, May 2 (Iyar 11)

Esther Antonovsky, grandmother of Varda Shifra Brahms on Wednesday, May 3 (Iyyar 12)

Helen Plasters Nemzek, mother of Laura French on Wednesday, May 3 (Iyar 12)

Robert Shadur, father of Ellen Shadur on Wednesday, May 3 (Iyar 12)

Arnold Roth, brother in law of Rabbi Min Kantrowitz on Thursday, May 4 (Iyyar 13)

Florence Greenhouse, mother of Gerry Greenhouse on Friday, May 5 (Iyar 14)

Henry M. Leicester, father of Guida Leicester on Saturday, May 6 (Iyar 15)

Paul Segal, father of Myra Segal on Saturday, May 6 (Iyar 15)

Michael Miller, father of Pnina Miller on Monday, May 8 (Iyar 17)

Andrew Browne, father of Patricia Hirschl on Tuesday, May 9 (Iyar 18)

Sue Ellen Eckman, sister of Beth Goldman and Cyn Palmer on Tuesday, May 9 (Iyyar 18)

Image Description: A view of a clear night sky looking up from the bottom of a desert canyon.

Have a Splendid Week!

~The Enews Team

Deadline for the larger monthly ENews is

Friday, May 19th.

(Weekly deadlines are Fridays for publication on Tuesday)

Send submissions and feedback to [email protected].

Congregation Nahalat Shalom | 3606 Rio Grande Blvd NW

505.343.8227- Leave a voicemail, all calls are screened