Have you been laid off, furloughed, or lost grants due to recent federal cuts and freezes? Have you experienced reductions in social security? Are you concerned about your ability to access or maintain access to food housing, healthcare, employment, etc.?
If so, please let our rabbi know at rabbigorban@tbetacoma.org as soon as you can. We are trying to ascertain the extent of the losses in our TBE community with an eye to convening a session for addressing this uncertainty together and supporting one another in coming weeks.
Please be in touch with her directly and confidentially.
Temple Beth El
5975 South 12th Street
Tacoma, WA 98465
May 15, 2025 / 17 Iyar 5785
Volume 23, No. 32
TORAH READING
Emor
Leviticus 22:17-33
Haftarah
Ezekiel 44:15-31
Candle Lighting
8:23 p.m.
SERVICE SCHEDULE
EREV SHABBAT SERVICE & TEACHER APPRECIATION (multi-access) Friday, May 16, 6:30 p.m.
Join us online or in person for a special Erev Shabbat service to honor the incredible educators who help shape and inspire our community. On this Shabbat during Teacher Appreciation Week, we will celebrate their dedication and proudly honor this year's recipient of the Hilde M. Slotnick Award for Commitment to Jewish Education. We will have Tot Shabbat at 5:00 p.m., and an oneg generously sponsored by Les and Pat Rosenthal at 5:45 pm.
TORAH STUDY AND SHABBAT SERVICE (multi-access) Saturday, May 17, 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Our Saturday worship experience begins with Torah study, which goes from 9:00–9:45 a.m. This is followed by Shabbat services beginning at 10:00 a.m. (online and in person). At the conclusion of the service, the community is invited to join us in the social hall for a potluck pescatarian kiddush luncheon.
CANTORIAL CONCERT AND HAVDALAH SERVICES Saturday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.
We've been searching for a new Religious Education Director and Chazan hybrid role to oversee our Religious Education program and provide cantorial support at TBE. We have a candidate, Leah Cassorla, Ph.D., with skills in both areas who will be joining us this weekend to demonstrate her skills and meet our community. This lovely concert and service will be led by Leah and takes place at 7:30 p.m.—it's a great opportunity for you to meet and observe her!
The candidate for the Religious Education Director & Chazan role will also be at Tot Shabbat, the Erev Shabbat service (including leading kiddush), and will be co-leading Saturday's Shabbat Service with Rabbi Gorban.
ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
MEETING INFORMATION (note Sunday date)
Sunday, May 18, 1:30 p.m.
We encourage all our members, who are able and willing, to attend and engage in congregational decision making. You will meet and vote on our newest potential board members, and hear select committee and staff/officer reports. We will need a quorum (minimum of 50 adult members) as stated in our bylaws to vote on any decisions. Note that this is 50 individual members and not member families. Anyone attending online is counted toward the needed quorum. Further information has been emailed to all members, including supplemental materials. These are available any time in your member portal.
Registration for childcare is now closed. For those who plan to attend but do not need childcare, registration is still appreciated but not required. Register by clicking here.
Please note that absentee ballots will not be offered this year. If you are unable to attend in person, please follow the instructions to attend via Zoom that have been emailed to all members. Registration for Zoom is required and has a deadline of 5:00 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, May 16.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TEMPLE BETH EL BBQ Sunday, May 18, 12:00 p.m.
TBE members are invited to our Community BBQ! Temple is bringing the food so join us for an afternoon of great food, fun, and community connection. We'll be celebrating the last day of religious school and also coming together as a community after the BBQ for our annual congregational meeting. Members are invited to stay and engage in congregational decision making.
STANDWITHUS NORTHWEST'S COMMUNITY RECEPTION Sunday, May 18, 5:30 p.m.
StandWithUs invites the community to join them for their Community Reception 2025, located at the Town Hall in Seattle. Enjoy delicious food and Israeli wines with other members of our regional community! You won't want to miss out on the keynote speaker, Haviv Rettig Gur, a veteran Israeli journalist who serves as senior analyst for The Times of Israel. Click here to read more about this event and reserve your seats today!
SISTERHOOD'S ENGLISH HIGH TEA AND RAFFLE Sunday, May 25, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
You're invited to an English High Tea & Raffle hosted by Carol and Bunny! This delightful gathering is open to all female-identifying individuals age 13 and up. Enjoy classic high tea treats, warm company, and the chance to win fabulous raffle prizes. You're invited to dress up in your best thrifted or vintage attire, and if you have a favorite teapot, bring it along! If you'd like to volunteer, please make your selection when you register. You can register by clicking here to register—RSVP before May 19 in order to reserve your spot!
SISTERHOOD GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, May 27, 5:45 p.m.
All female-identifying members are invited. There will be a pizza party, followed by a short hour-long meeting to talk about the great work Sisterhood accomplished this board year, and then a fun schmooze after the meeting! Sisterhood will send out a reminder before the event and Zoom link for those who can't attend in person.
SAVE THE DATE
THE KESSELGARDEN KLEZMER DUO Sunday, June 8, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Join us at TBE for an afternoon of instrumental Jewish Folk music from Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova, and beyond! This lovely concert is free to attend thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Reutlinger Music Fund.
OPPORTUNITIES
STITCHING SUPPORT WANTED
Jules Mills, costumer at Tacoma Musical Playhouse (who generously costumed our Sisterhood members for Vashti’s Banquet), is in need of volunteers to help her with her many sewing tasks. Jules will train you and work with you to set up a flexible and convenient schedule. If interested, please contact Mady Plumer at madshell33@icloud.com.
HFLA STUDENT ACCESS FUND LOAN APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN
The Hebrew Free Loan Association of Washington State (HFLA) is offering Student Access Fund (SAF) loans for students aged 18 and above. These are interest-free, no-fee loans of up to $7,500 that can be used by those pursuing higher education, including graduate programs. Applications will be open until May 31, so check your eligibility and apply now!
INFORMATION
JUDAICA SHOP
The shop accepts card transactions only, and will be open on the following days over the course of May:
– Wednesdays, May 7 and 14, from 4:30–6:30 p.m.
– Fridays, May 2, 9, 16, and 30, from 5:30–6:30 p.m.
– Sunday, May 4, from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
We are still in need of volunteers to ensure the shop can always be open during regular hours. You can get in touch with Connie Person or Aubrey Sagalovich to volunteer or to schedule a shopping appointment outside of our regular hours by sending an email to judaica@tbetacoma.org.
CONTACT THE CLERGY
If you have a question or concern you would like to share with the clergy, please email Rabbi Gorban at rabbigorban@tbetacoma.org.
TACHLIS
WANT TO SUBMIT AN ANNOUNCEMENT?
If you have an item you would like included in this weekly newsletter, please email it to frontdesk@tbetacoma.org by noon on Wednesday. Submissions must adhere to the guidelines, which may be found here.
For the URJ's transliteration guidelines, click here. Please note that submissions that do not follow these guidelines may not be accepted.
