A Taste of Torah
Be-Midbar
Numbers 1:1 - 4:20

B’Midbar, the Hebrew name of and first portion in the Book of Numbers, begins with a census to determine the number of adults among the Israelite community.  The reading of this passage year after year can often bore you to tears.  In an attempt to make these lengthy passages relevant, the rabbis worked hard to find some kind of meaning. 

Rashi, an eleventh century commentator on Torah and rabbinic tradition, has the most moving explanation.  According to Rashi, this passage reflects God’s intense love for every member of the Jewish People.  Jewish tradition takes this one step further.  God’s love of humanity, ahavat ha-briyot, extends to all human beings.  Hatred of a fellow human beings turns our back from God’s ways.  Every human being, therefore, needs to be counted.
 
As we approach this Shabbat and begin a new book of the Torah, may we find what is unique in every individual we encounter, bringing God’s light into the world. 

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Daniel Septimus

Tikkun Leil Shavuot
A Night to celebrate and study Torah!
May 28th, Seattle Foyer
1441 16th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

• 8 pm- 12 am TDHS Seattle Foyer
• 8:00 – 8:50 pm Spirit on the Screen
• 9:00 – 9:50 pm The Bible Doesn’t Tell Me So: A Beginner’s Look at Midrash
• 10:00 - 10:50 pm Imagine a World Without Torah
• 11:00 – 11:50 pm When I Pray I… What is the efficacy of prayer? Click here for more information.

John Muir School's Tools Project 
More than 60% of the children at John Muir Elementary qualify for free lunch; many more are from families with limited means. In friendship with the school, TDHS would like to provide John Muir's 320 students with the backpacks and school supplies they will need to begin the 2009-2010 school year. For about $40 each -- the cost of a backpack and a few core supplies -- the TDHS community can make a big difference for these students, most whose families have substantial economic challenges. The deadline is June 30. Please deliver packs and supplies to Temple offices. Thank you so much for being a part of this effort for the students of John Muir Elementary! To learn more about TDHS’sthis program, click here.

Summer Library Hours
Bellevue              Wednesdays      10-4
Seattle                  Thursdays           10-4
The library will be closed June 24, 25, July 8 & 9.

Women of Reform Judaism Pacific District Presents
All Sisterhood Day
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Hosted by Temple Beth El Sisterhood
Join with fellow women from around the Pacific Northwest for a gathering of Sisterhood. Click here for more information.

TIKKUN OLAM
Repairing the World – One Mitzvah at a Time

Don't forget to Donate to Treehouse for Kids!
It's our May Mitzvah-of-the-Month Project
During May we are collecting children’s gently used shorts and shirts to support Treehouse for Kids http://www.treehouse4kids.org/. Treehouse helps thousands of foster children in our own community by providing clothing and other services.

Right now Treehouse is looking for summertime clothing for children of all ages through high school. Please bring donations to Temple throughout the month of May, where there will be specially marked boxes in the Lobby at both locations. If you have questions, please contact Laura Brenner at alurabr@hotmail.com.

Volunteers Needed for Tent City – Sunday May 31st
Want to volunteer and make a difference with your family or friends (teens and up) on Sunday, May 31st? We will be making and serving a meal to about 100 homeless people at Tent City 4, located at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Redmond. This is an important chance to help the homeless who are struggling, right in our own backyard. Please contact Lori Riskin at 425-391-0280 or riskin5@comcast.net to sign up. Only a few hours of your time is needed, and you will be helping so many.

Want to feel more connected at Temple?  Consider joining our growing Tikkun Olam Group. We’d love to have you join us - whether you’re interested in helping out with a small, one-time project, or in a more long-term way.  Please contact Catherine Gonchar at (206) 323-8486, ext. 7309, or send an email to tikkunolam@tdhs-nw.org for more information.

Looking for help with employment in this tough time? Join The Greater Seattle Jewish Business Network and learn ways to find jobs and make the job you have better!
The Greater Seattle Jewish Business Network is primarily a resource for Jewish business executives, professionals and skilled workers. This is your place to network with reliable people in their businesses as well as a means of communications for Jewish professionals to find meaningful employment. The GSJBN will also function as a resource center where members can assist each other on any type of business issue that they encounter.
Upcoming Meetings:
June 10 at Herzl Ner Tamid on Mercer Island
Jeff Levy who will discuss starting your own business
June 24 at Temple Beth Am in Seattle
Gary Kanter, a Career Counselor at Career Management Resources who has just published just published a new book, Resume Empower! will conduct a resume writing workshop.. Click here to download the flier.
Click here for more information on the Seattle Jewish Business Network.

Tzofim Friendship Caravan!
Herzl-Ner Tamid on Wednesday, June 3, at 7:30pm • $50
StandWithUs is thrilled to be hosting the Tzofim (Israeli Scouts) “Friendship Caravan” in Seattle on June 3, 2009. These incredibly talented Israeli teens are selected after a very competitive “American Idol”-like national search. They tour North America every summer, singing and dancing and entertaining audiences and representing Israel as “ambassadors of goodwill.” Log onto www.standwithus.com for more information. Click here for more information

SAVE THE DATE FOR “MINDING THE STORE”!
Who’s Minding the Store? Celebrating 150 years of Jewish Business and Commerce
“Who’s Minding the Store: 150 Years of Jewish Business and Commerce in Washington” will have its grand premier at Congregation Ezra Bessaroth from 11:00 to 4:00 on Sunday, June 7, 2009.  Please join us for a day of history, refreshments, and nostalgia as you tour this outstanding exhibit. Click here for more information

Check out some of these upcoming JFS activities:

Bringing Baby Home,
Sundays June 7, 14 and 28; 9:45 am – 2:00 pm
Honoring Our Parents: Understanding Aging & Finding Supports,
Monday, June 8; 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Jewish Single Parent Family Retreat
Sunday June 14; 9:30 am – 4:30 pm 
Employment Resources: Job Searching, Training, & Health Insurance,
Thursday, June 18; 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Resumes and Interviews: Making Your Case in Hard Times,
Wednesdays June 24 and July 8; 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Mazel Tov to the 2009/5769 Bridge Family Religion School Confirmands and their families! Please join us for the Confirmation Service, Friday, May 29 at 7:00pm in Bellevue.

David Degginger
Son of Grant & Kathryn Degginger

Marisa Dichter
Stephen & Gina Dichter

Mariel Dunietz
Jerry Dunietz & Laurie Minsk

Benjamin Strauch Eggers
Mitch Eggers & Lisa Strauch Eggers

Tess Freedel
David & Carin Freedel

Ariela Garvett
Donald & Jaymi Garvett

Zachary Holcomb
Neil & Alice Holcomb

Zak Lazar
David & Gail Lazar

Ryan Newman
Ronald & Sherri Newman

Jenna Sukernek
Warren & Linda Sukernek

Shayna Waldbaum
Ron & Toni Waldbaum

Congratulations!  The following students and TDHS mebers, will soon be graduating from Northwest Yeshiva High School:

• Aleksey Bikov
• Grant Blumenstein

Please share in their simcha.  Everyone is welcome:
Commencement Exercises
Northwest Yeshiva High School
Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 7:30 pm
Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation
6500 – 52nd Ave. South
Seattle, WA 98118

JEROME J. DONION. Beloved spouse of the Late Mary Jean Donion; beloved father of E. Gary and Cindy Donion; and Ronald Donion; beloved grandfather of Gina and Tim Anspey; Joshua Donion and Yuliya Gordanyova and Mark Donion; beloved Great Grandfather of Jack and Elise Anspey.

Thank God It's Shabbat!
Worship with us at any of our Shabbat Services. The following is the schedule for Shabbat Services for the next two weeks.

Friday, May 29
6:00 PM/ Bellevue
Confirmation & Shabbat
NO SEATTLE EVENING SERVICE
Saturday, May 30
9:30 AM/ Seattle
Torah & T’fillah Together
10:30 AM/ Seattle
Shacharit
10:30 AM/ Bellevue
Shacharit

Friday, June 5
6:00 pm • Bellevue
   Shabbat UnPlugged
NO SEATTLE EVENING SERVICE
Saturday, June 6
9:30 am • Seattle
   Torah & T’Fillah Together
10:30 am  • Seattle
   Shacharit Service
10:30 am  • Bellevue
   Shacharit Service
5:00 pm • Seattle
   Havdalah

Click here for our complete Shabbat Schedule

1511 E. Pike St.
Seattle, WA 98122

3850 156th Avenue SE
Bellevue, WA 98006

206-323-8486

info@tdhs-nw.org
www.tdhs-nw.org