Beit Emanuel Bulletin for week ending 27 April 2024

Johannesburg (Parktown) Progressive Jewish Congregation
Affiliated to the SA Union for Progressive Judaism (SAUPJ)

www.beitemanuel.co.za
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Friday, 26 April 2024 to Saturday, 27 April 2024

19 NISAN 5784, PESACH SHABBAT CHOL HAMOED

(Day 4 of the Omer)

Friday, 26 April, 18h00 - Shabbat Evening Service
Saturday, 27 April, 09h30 - Shabbat Morning Service

Torah readings: Exodus 33:12-34:26, https://beiteman.link/torah
Haftarah readings: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Song of Songs, https://beiteman.link/haftarah

Shabbat/Festival/HHDs Service

BEIT EMANUEL MATTERS

The week that was

So the big news, of course, was the arrival of Rabbi Chava Koster to our shores. Rabbi Chava arrived on Sunday evening, and less than a day later led our Pesach evening service and the Communal Pesach Seder thereafter, as well as the morning service on Tuesday. If you attended any or all of the above, I have little doubt that you would have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. If you didn’t attend, you really missed out on something special. Beit Emanuel is about to begin the next stage of its transformation, and we hope you’ll come along for the ride.

Rabbi Chava’s Programme

Rabbi Chava plans to fly back to the Netherlands early next week, and will then return to JHB the following week, along with Pip, her canine companion. Thereafter things should settle down, and travel outside SA will only be in the usual course of Shul business.

Looking ahead

This Shabbat/weekend

We are hoping that Rabbi Chava will be able to lead our services this Shabbat, as well as the Pesach (Day 7) evening service on Sunday, as she is still recovering from the flight and some Highveld allergies. If not, the lay readers mentioned below will lead services instead. Please note that, unless otherwise notified, Shabbat evening and Festival services will be in the main Shul, with the Brocha (where appropriate) in the Janks Hall. Shabbat morning services will continue in the Gillis Boardroom for the time being, with the Brocha in the Atrium.

Rabbi Chava loves kids, by the way, and is committed to finding ways to involve them in services and other activities (as you would have seen at our Pesach morning service). So, if you have kids, please bring them along!

Please join us in the main Shul at 18h00 this Friday evening for our Kabbalat Shabbat service. The service will be led this week by Rabbi Chava (alternate Scott Hazelhurst), assisted by musician Jessica Sherman. We will be streaming to Zoom at the link above.

The service will be followed by a tasty Brocha in the adjoining Janks Hall. Please assist us in maintaining this much-loved tradition by leaving a small donation in the Perspex donation box at your table, or use the Snapscan App if you prefer. If you’d like to celebrate a Simcha or life-cycle event by sponsoring a Brocha (partially or fully), please contact Morgana at the Shul Office. Please also consider donating or sponsoring the sweets distributed to our kids after the Friday evening service.

Shabbat Morning

Our Shabbat morning service will be in the Gillis Boardroom at 09h30. The service will be led by Rabbi Chava (alternate our Shlichei Tzibur team).

The service will be followed by a potluck Brocha in the adjoining Atrium.

The Talmud Study Group will meet as usual on the Veranda (weather permitting) at 12h00, otherwise in the Library.

Pesach (Day 7)

Please join us on Sunday, 28 April, 18h00 in the main Shul for our festival evening service for Pesach (Day 7). The service will be led by Rabbi Chava (alternate Prof. Merle Williams), assisted by musician Jessica Sherman.

The festival morning service for Pesach (Day 7) will be at Bet David (Morningside) on Monday, 29 April at 10h00.

Sarmies Project at TIH next week

The Sarmies Project will be in operation next week. Please drop off your sarmies, fresh fruit, small tins, ePap, basic toiletries or pre-loved clothing (especially warm winter clothing) at the Shul Foyer on or by Wednesday the 1st, for distribution from Temple Israel Hillbrow (TIH) on Thursday the 2nd. The ongoing support for this project is much appreciated!

Shabbat Shalom and Moadim L’Simcha!
--
Russell Cohen (Executive Director)

JKIDS/YOUTH PROGRAMMES

Jkids Club Activities

Jody has unfortunately been admitted to hospital, so there won’t be a “formal” Jkids Club activity this week. The Jkids Club Zone (Classroom 2) will be in operation, however, and Marissa will be there to supervise and look after the kids.

Save the date: Netzer event on 3 May

Please save the date and stay tuned for details about our next Netzer Peulah (activity). This will take place on Friday, 3 May, from 18h00 to 19h30, in the Brasch Youth Lounge. (This also happens to be Graeme Hochschild’s birthday, but we’re sure that’s just a coincidence!)

CIRCLE OF LIFE

Our grateful thanks to the following for their generous donations:

(Up to 25 April)

General Donations
Netherlands student group
Patricia Noah

Yahrzeits/In loving memory
Jason Milwidsky (for Miriam Graff)
Paul Mukasa (for Veredian)

Sarmies Project
Anonymous Donor

Sponsorships
(None this week.)

Donations in kind
Thanks once again from all of us here at the graft to Konica Minolta Gauteng and its CEO, Jason Kupritz, for the superb Konica Minolta Bizhub 454e series multi-function printer they provided. This followed the demise of our previous machine after many years’ service (also provided by KMG/Jason Kupritz, by the way). This beast is a real beauty, and if you’re in the market for a business printer, these are the guys to talk to.

A hearty Mazal Tov on your birthday:

Allistair Balutto, Mila Ravid, Cathy Singer, Gabriella Schachat, Pearl Wasserman-Bass, Ma’or Margo, Shmerah Passchier.

And to our children up to 18 years:

Simon Perlman, Jaydon Toulassi.

Refuah Shlema and a Speedy Recovery to:

David Fig, Michael (Mike) Levi, Barbara Ludman, Jody Segel, Judith Soskin.

Please contact the Shul Office to have a loved one included on (or taken off) the list for a Refuah Shlema.

In Memoriam

(Yahrzeit, relationship, observed by)

Leslie Cohen, father of Russell Cohen
David Davis, father of Paul Davis
Israel Gering, father of Penelope Hochfeld
Stanley Lazar, father of Karen Lazar
Veredian Namagembe, mother of Paul Mukasa
Rebecca Rock, remembered by Alysia Rose
Judy Sifrin, mother of Graham Sifrin
Florence Starfield, mother of Barry Starfield
Alec Uzent, father of Arlene Midlane
Nathan Vogelman, father of Gail Behrmann

May their memory be for blessing.

Please inform the Shamas on duty if you are observing a Yahrzeit.

"A bisl un a bisl, vert a fule shisl - a little and a little, becomes a full bowl."
It's customary to make a donation (however large or small) to the Shul when observing a Yahrzeit. See our banking details below.

BANKING DETAILS

Temple Emanuel
FNB Killarney Branch, C/C 256 205
Account Number 5486 0049 352

When making payments via electronic funds transfer (EFT), please use a your surname as a beneficiary reference.

We’re now registered for SnapScan. Feel free to make a random donation using our unique QR code! Please use a your surname as a payment reference.

Please insist on an official receipt when making a cash payment!

The link below will take you to all the payment mechanisms for which we are registered:

https://beiteman.link/donate

ONLINE RESOURCES AND LINKS

One link to rule them all…

https://linktr.ee/beiteman

PROGRESSIVE NEWS AND VIEWS

SAUPJ Biennial Conference: “Cultivating Connections”

The SAUPJ Biennial Conference will be taking place in Cape Town from 19 to 21 July 2024. If you’re interested in attending, either as a delegate or an observer, please complete the form at the link below in order to be kept updated as to programming, etc.

SAUPJ Biennial 19 - 21 July 2024

The 2024 Conference theme is "Cultivating Connections." We will be workshopping SAUPJ values that help us to do that, and setting projects for our regions around the values. There will be plenty of opportunities to shmooze, take part in various activities and get to know your fellow Progressive community members.

Tikvah Trails Mission

The SAUPJ has two exciting initiatives coming up: the 2024 Biennial (featured above) and our inaugural South Africa Tikvah Trails Mission. You can find out more about Tikvah Trails here:

https://bonisaglobal.com/tikvah-trails-progressive-jewish-adventures-2024-booking

To keep abreast of SAUPJ news and events, please follow our Facebook Page here:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087288583254

GENERAL COMMUNITY NOTICES

CLASSIFIEDS

URGENT ACCOMMODATION APPEAL

Maxwell, who works at TOVA and assists in the Shul gardens, is looking for accommodation in the Parktown, Forest Town, Saxonwold, Parkwood area. In exchange for a room, Maxwell – who is an excellent gardener – could work in your garden.

If you can assist, please contact Maxwell on 076 643 1912 or Peta on 082 566 4026.

Marketplace

In these tough times, we’re always looking for ways to help our members promote their businesses, whether small or large, informal or formal, part or full-time.

Click on the link below to be taken to our Facebook Group, where you can post (as a Comment) to promote your business, goods, practice or service to our members and friends. Images can also be used.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/beitemanuel/permalink/4319988238011359/

(Hat tip to Kathryn Henning for setting this up.)

Affordable spaces to let

Beit Emanuel has a number of vacant spaces to let, suitable for use as offices, classrooms or consulting rooms, and all at affordable rates.

Please contact Morgana Segel on 087 188 9000 or office@beitemanuel.org.za .

ENGAGE WITH US

Morgana Segel, Receptionist & Admin Assistant
087 188 9000 | office@beitemanuel.org.za

Christine Mcintosh, Financial Administrator
087 188 9003 | admin@beitemanuel.co.za

Russell Cohen, Executive Director
087 188 9005 | director@beitemanuel.co.za