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 29, 2025 / 2 Sivan 5785
Volume 23, No. 34
TORAH READING
B'midbar
Numbers 2:1-34
Haftarah
Hosea 2:1-34
Candle Lighting
8:38 p.m.
SERVICE SCHEDULE
EREV SHABBAT SERVICE (multi-access) Friday, May 30, 6:30 p.m.
Everyone is invited to join us online or in person for an Erev Shabbat service. Join us at 5:45 p.m., before the service, for an oneg held in the social hall.
TORAH STUDY AND SHABBAT SERVICE (multi-access) Saturday, May 31, 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.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.
EREV SHAVUOT SERVICE AND CONFIRMATION Sunday, June 1, 6:30 p.m.
Please join us at TBE or online for our Erev Shavuot service and celebrate the confirmation of Ephraim Petersen! This service will include special readings for Shavuot as well as recognition of our graduating 12th grader’s continued commitment to Jewish identity and Jewish learning. The service will be followed by a dairy-filled oneg with cheesecake and more.
TIKKUN LEIL SHAVUOT Sunday, June 1, 8:00 p.m.—midnight, or later!
As we prepare for the giving of Torah and the reading of the Ten Commandments on Shavuot morning, we engage in late-night Torah study. Rabbi Gorban will have study materials on a variety of topics available, and feel free to bring questions and topics of your own. Rabbi Gorban will lead learning until about midnight, but you’re welcome to stay until services in the morning.
SHAVUOT MORNING SERVICE WITH YIZKOR Monday, June 2, 10:00 a.m.
Celebrate the gift of Torah with our Shavuot morning service. We’ll read the Ten Commandments, the Book of Ruth, and offer memorial prayers for loved ones who have died, especially those who died in the last year.
UPCOMING EVENTS
ADULT EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, June 4, 3:30 p.m.
The Adult Education Committee is meeting online via Zoom to discuss classes for the upcoming adult education semester, and welcomes all interested individuals to participate—if you have ideas for classes, are interested in teaching a class, or have other valuable feedback to share, please reach out to Julia Walsh at wisethoughts@live.com to request the Zoom link. Note that the link will be sent out on the day of the meeting.
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. Registration is not required. You can read more about the duo and find their social media information by clicking here.
TEMPLE BETH EL BOARD MEETING Tuesday, June 17, 6:30 p.m.
The Temple Beth El Board of Trustees welcomes all members to attend the monthly board meeting. The agenda will be emailed to all TBE members prior to the meeting. The meeting is multi-access and a Zoom link will be emailed to all members before the meeting begins as well.
SISTERHOOD SHABBAT Friday, June 20, 6:30 p.m.
Everyone is invited to join us for our annual Sisterhood Shabbat! Come at 5:45 p.m. for the oneg and stay for the service. During the service, we will be recognizing our outgoing Sisterhood board members and installing our new ones. There are volunteer opportunities for this service that you can read more about down below. We hope to see many of you at this lovely service!
SAVE THE DATE
TBE BASEBALL NIGHT WITH THE TACOMA RAINIERS Thursday, July 3—Gates open at 4:00 p.m.; First Pitch at 6:00 p.m.
Join TBE community members on this fun evening of baseball at Cheney Stadium as the Tacoma Rainiers take on the Salt Lake Bees! Stick around after the game for a fireworks display. Tickets are $15.50 and include both a reserved seat and a ballpark meal (hot dog, snack, and water bottle). Register here!
OPPORTUNITIES
A SISTERHOOD REQUEST
We have many women who will be participating in Sisterhood Shabbat on June 20 and are welcome to any others who would like to be a part of this soulful and spiritual service! There are reading parts in both English and Hebrew, as well as singing parts. If you're interested in participating or have questions, please contact Melissa Medved at mvmedved@gmail.com.
In addition, we would love more contributions to the oneg at 5:45 p.m. that evening. We need two more people to help set up and three to clean up. We could also use several gluten free and non-gluten free hot dishes and salads. Please email Mady Plumer at madshell33@icloud.com if you're interested or have questions.
REPRESENT TEMPLE BETH EL AT TACOMA PRIDE
Are you interested in representing TBE during the Tacoma Pride Festival on July 12, located in Wright Park? Volunteers will walk around the festival in special pride t-shirts, sharing materials and our Jewish Pride. If you'd like to volunteer for this or have questions, please reach out to membership@tbetacoma.org.
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 are still open until May 31, so check your eligibility and apply now!
INFORMATION
JUDAICA SHOP
Please note that the shop accepts card transactions only. Over the summer months, the shop will only be open on Friday evenings. You can visit the shop on June 6, 13, 20, and 27 from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., or by scheduling an appointment. To schedule, please get in touch with 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.
