Shavuot: The Birthday of the Jewish People

What is the Jewish holiday you most associate with a birthday? I’d guess you’d say Rosh Hashanah, which is sometimes referred to (especially for and by kids, as they know all about birthday celebrations!) as “the birthday of the world.” Actually, the holiday of Shavuot, which begins Sunday night and which Reform communities celebrate for one day, is also a birthday: the birthday of the Jewish people. How so? When our ancestors were enslaved, they did the arduous work of building pyramids for Pharaoh. This was a unidirectional relationship of “order” and “obey.” Three months after being freed from Egypt, the Israelites encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai and, as our sacred story relates, they were offered the gift of responsibility - of becoming a partner in a covenant with the divine, to do the shared work of creating a society and a world built on justice, compassion and love. They took upon themselves this sacred responsibility, for they now had the ability to respond. To the offer of Torah, a wellspring from which we can and must draw wisdom and guidance in each generation (in dialogue with our own contemporary values and understanding), the Israelites said “We shall do and we shall hear/understand.” (Exodus 19:8) We celebrate on Shavuot (which is originally and also a harvest festival - you can read more about the development of Shavuot here) that we are now in an ongoing mutual relationship with the divine, because we are free to accept our responsibility and in fact true freedom is freedom is not freedom from oppressive forces, but freedom for a greater good, which we are empowered to choose and to accept.

In this acceptance of Torah (Shavuot is called Chag Matan Torateinu, the Festival of the Giving of Torah, but as I said above, the receiving and acceptance of Torah is just as important as the giving of Torah), our people was born. Because freedom for its own sake is not true freedom. To be free and to become a people, our ancestors had to accept responsibility to take care of one another and the world. It would be a while (40 years!) of internal strife and turmoil, and external challenges, (all of this is much like our people face today), before our ancestors reached the Promised Land and could begin to build their society rooted in one place, with Torah as their guide. 

Of course, our people has evolved through the millennia - in each one of us and in every generation there are new learnings, new challenges, and new ways we are called to manifest our freedom and our responsibility. Because we are not who we once were, not even who we were on last Shavuot, we need to receive, accept, and respond to Torah again and again. In this time that is among the most challenging periods in Jewish history, it is more important than ever in our lifetimes to find our way into relationship with our sacred inheritance. I challenge each one of us to find a point of connection in Torah in the broadest sense. Perhaps you’d like to delve into the study of each week’s Torah portion, or read a Jewish book or listen to a Jewish podcast; connect more with the TOS community in our various services and programs or participate in the many offerings for Jewish learning and connection in our broader Jewish community. I encourage you to begin a renewed commitment to finding your points of connection to Judaism this Shavuot by joining the Tikkun Leyl Shavuot (the tradition of staying up all night to “receive” Torah by learning and connecting Jewishly, in community) that will be held on Zoom and hosted by Temple Israel of Boston. We have partnered in this 24 hours of Jewish learning on Shavuot for the past few years and it is always a source of strength and inspiration that from diverse places - Boston Jewish communities and communities around the country - we can come together and find our way in to Torah. It is fitting that we’ll have Sisterhood Shabbat Morning b’Yachad tomorrow, and then Mitzvah Day (including an Interfaith Pride Service) so close to the holiday of Shavuot. All are beautiful examples of accepting and living out our responsibility to Torah, to our eternal and ever-evolving values in our eternal and ever-evolving sacred partnership with the divine.

Here is a wonderful resource about ways to connect with and observe the holiday of Shavuot even if you don’t participate in our communal learning experience. I also encourage you to listen to this inspiring and informative podcast episode (of the podcast Call Me Back) about Shavuot in which host Dan Senor interviews Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Jewish Educator and mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, z”l (of blessed memory). Torah is ever-evolving because we engage with it anew and bring our contemporary values and circumstances and experiences into dialogue with it. This Shavuot, we know that there are 58 families of our Jewish people who are still in agony as they await the return of their loved ones from captivity in Gaza. This Shavuot, the internal and external threats to our people are profound and manifold. This Shavuot, we must find strength in one another and in the gift of our tradition in order to face our present and our uncertain future. I will “see you at Sinai,” and I’m so glad we are here together.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Shavuot Sameach (Happy Shavuot),

Rabbi Audrey Marcus Berkman

The Brookline Town Meeting voted on 5/29 to approve TOS's application for $800,000 grant from the Town of Brookline Community Preservation Act Committee (CPA). The funds will be used for the much-needed repair of our historic Sanctuary dome. 

Many thanks to the Grants Subcommittee, including Shari Churwin, TOS President Natasha Goldman (along with her grants consulting team at WISSEN, which offered its services pro bono), Lawrence Green, Denise Karlin, Jonathan Kerner, and Amy Ship, all of whom volunteered a total of more than 100 hours to complete this application. Many thanks, too, to Lisa Sears, TOS member and TMM member, who spoke in favor of TOS' application at the Town Meeting, and to all TOS members who are TMMs and voted in favor. 

Attend the TOS Annual Meeting on 6/11 at 7:00 pm, in the Chapel, to learn more about this exciting new development and what it means for TOS's future!!

This Shabbat's Torah Portion is B'midbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20)

Friday, May 30

6:00pm

Erev Shabbat Services (In-Person and Online)

Location: Chapel (also Zoom and Livestream)

Saturday, May 31

Sisterhood Shabbat Morning B'yachad

9:30am

Breakfast (In-Person Only)

Location: Chapel

10:00am

Tot Shabbat (In-Person Only)

Location: Lissner Hall

10:00am

Torah Study (In-Person Only)

Location: Chapel

10:30am

TCEE Playdate (In-Person Only)

Location: Playground or Lissner Hall (weather permitting)

11:00am

Shabbat Morning Services (In-Person and Online)

Followed by a catered lunch sponsored by the TOS Sisterhood 

Location: Chapel (also Zoom)

Remembrances

You will find the list of weekly yahrzeits here.

Mi Shebeirach

If you would like us to include the name of a loved one in our prayer for healing, please let us know.

Sunday, June 1

Mitzvah Day and Shavuot Ice Cream Party

2:00pm - 4:30pm

Location: Penn Hall, please use the wood door on Beacon St.

Come together with us for an afternoon of service, connection, inspiration and ice cream as we spread love, joy, and generosity to those who need it most. More details below. Register today.

2:00pm

Brookline Interfaith PRIDE! Service

Location: United Parish, 210 Harvard Street

Sunday, June 1 to Monday, June 2

Starting at 5:00pm

Tikkun Zoom Shavuot More Information Below

Thursday, June 4

9:00am

Torah for the Heart and Mind with Rabbi Berkman

Location: Zoom

7:30pm

Koleinu Concert: R'fuat Hanefesh: Renewing the Soul featuring Cantor Maayan Silverman and special guest Cantor Robbie Solomon

Location: TOS Chapel

More Information Below

Friday, June 5

6:00pm

Erev Shabbat Services (In-Person and Online)

Location: Chapel (also Zoom and Livestream)

Saturday, June 6

10:30am

Shabbat Morning Services & the Bat Mitzvah of Sydney Kesselheim (In-Person and Online)

Location: Sanctuary (also Zoom)

Not all Heroes Wear Capes

TOS Mitzvah Day 

Sunday, June 1 from 2:00pm - 4:30pm

Sign up now to join the TOS community for our Annual Mitzvah Day! Join us for some or all of an afternoon of service, connection, inspiration and ice cream as we spread love, joy, and generosity to those who need it most. We are still collecting donations through Sunday, June 1. There will be collection bins at the Marshal Street entrance or bring them with you on Sunday, June 1. Walk ins welcome!

There will be a special project combating hunger for all grade 5-7 students -Tie-Dye Hunger: Friends Fighting Hunger Together.

To see a full list of the organizations we will be supporting, head to our website.

Tikkun Zoom Shavuot

Sunday June 1 at 5:00pm - Monday June 2 at 6:00pm

TOS will join with Temple Israel on Sunday, June 1st through Monday, June 2nd for Tikkun Zoom Shavuot. Learn alongside people from around the world as dozens of teachers, artists, and facilitators lead us in study, prayer, art making, music and more over 25 hours in the zoomosphere. Sessions run back to back all night and day, and you can pop in for an hour or two or brew a pot of coffee and stay with us for the long haul. To register for the Zoom link and see a full schedule, click here.

Rabbi Berkman and Larry Green will each teach a session. We hope that you will join for their sessions as well as many others.

Poetry of Mourning, Poetry of Hope

Rabbi Audrey Marcus Berkman

Sunday, June 1 at 8:00pm; Room 2 on Zoom

Rabbi Berkman will share some of the many poems she has written since October 7, 2023 and we will discuss writing poetry as a tool for being present to our pain, to complex emotions, and for generating strength and hope.

The Philosophy and Poetry of Solomon ibn Gabirol

Larry Green

Monday, June 2 at 9:00am; Room 1 on Zoom

Solomon ibn Gabirol lived during the "Hebrew Golden Age" in 11th century Spain. His prolific philosophic writing and unique poetry over a very short life influenced Jewish, Christian and Islamic writers for centuries thereafter. This session will present key texts and poems of Ibn Gabirol.

This event is proudly co-sponsored by Avodah of New York, NY; Hebrew College of Newton, MA; Stephen Wise Temple of Los Angeles, CA; Temple Beth El of Bloomfield Hills, MI; Temple Beth El of City Island, NY; Temple Beth Zion of Brookline, MA; Temple Ohabei Shalom of Brookline, MA; Union for Reform Judaism of New York, NY; and Washington Hebrew Congregation of Washington, DC.

Virtual Poetry Reading With Poet Alan Feldman

Sunday, June 8 at 3:00pm

Zoom

TOS Sisterhood, in conjunction with the TOS Adult Education Committee, is pleased to present a virtual poetry reading with Alan Feldman, our beloved Doris and Saul Feldman’s' cousin, who is a poet of note and the Poet Laureate of the TOS Sisterhood. Alan will be reading his works of original poetry for us that afternoon. Alan has read his works to the TOS community before, and his readings are always very popular. His appearance with us is now a tradition! Please join us for what promises to be an inspiring afternoon.

Please RSVP by Friday June 6^th to Sisterhood President Denise Karlin at djkarlin@rcn.com. Please feel free to contact Denise directly should you have any questions.

TOS Annual Congregational Meeting

Wednesday, June 11 at 7:00pm

We kindly request your presence at the Temple Ohabei Shalom congregational Annual Meeting, to be held in person.

At this meeting you'll hear about our community's accomplishments over this past year, vote on the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2025, and elect new officers and members of the Board of Trustees. In addition, we'll say goodbye and express our gratitude to our outgoing officers and trustees for their service.

The Report of the TOS Nominating Committee and the Minutes of the 2024 Annual Meeting will be sent shortly in a separate e-mail.

The Annual Meeting is a crucial component of the life of our synagogue. Please join us WEDNESDAY, June 11th at 7:00pm.

Light refreshments will be served immediately following the meeting.

Your Voice Matters: Join TOS in Strategic Planning for the Future

As Temple Ohabei Shalom (TOS) looks ahead to its 100th Anniversary in Brookline, it is a time to celebrate our past—and plan for the future. 

The TOS Board of Trustees has launched a robust strategic planning effort, intended to ensure our synagogue’s viability for the coming decades and beyond. Please make your voice heard by clicking here to complete the Strategic Planning Survey today!

Want a TOS parking spot for the High Holy Days or a gift card to a local restaurant? Complete the survey by June 4th and you'll be entered to win!  

Sincerely,

Stephanie Kohn, Chair, Strategic Planning Committee

Natasha Goldman, President, Board of Trustees

Please Join the Circle!

As we approach the end of the Temple's fiscal year on June 30, we appeal to one and all to join the Circle! The Circle of Giving is TOS's primary giving drive and is so very critical to the ability of our Synagogue to balance its budget and sustain its sacred mission.  We are so very grateful to those who have given to date, as set forth on this LIST. You may join the Circle by giving HERE.

Our thanks to all,

TOS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Larry Green, Chair and Past President

Natasha Goldman, President

Rabbi Audrey Marcus Berkman

Shari Churwin

Spence Gould

Howard Koor

Alisa Ridruejo

Amy Ship

Richard Stern

R'fuat Hanefesh: Renewing the Soul

Thursday, June 5 at 7:30pm

TOS Chapel

Koleinu, Boston's Jewish Community Chorus featuring Cantor Maayan Silverman and special guest Cantor Robbie Solomon. This event is co-sponsored by Temple Ohabei Shalom. For tickets and more information: koleinu.org.

Red Cross Blood Drive

Tuesday, June 17 from 1:00 - 6:00pm

Penn Spero Hall

Register here to reserve your spot!

Hello, TOS Community! I’m Benjamin, and my Bar Mitzvah is on June 14. My Bar Mitzvah Project is focused on supporting the organization 5Calls. It encourages and supports people calling their congressional representatives to get their opinions across. There is a theme of ordinary people helping leaders lead in my Torah portion. I find this idea embodied in 5Calls, and I would like to, first and foremost, get people to call their representatives in Congress, and second of all, raise money to help 5Calls spread their message. To make a call, you can go to 5Calls.org. To donate to help 5Calls, you can visit my GoFundMe. Anything makes a difference and I hope you can get involved!

Simcha Shout-Out!

Amy and Dan Deutsch are thrilled to announce their son’s bar mitzvah this past weekend. Amy is our ARS Director and Dan works as the Executive Director at Temple Israel of Boston, so the service was held at TI. Amy and Dan are still kvelling and are so proud of Benji’s accomplishment! Mazel tov!

TOS OFFICE HOURS

Monday to Friday, 9 am - 5 pm: 617-277-6610.

If you experience technical issues during TOS virtual or hybrid events, please email our helpline - techhelp@ohabei.org and someone will get back to you ASAP.