Rabbi Tilchin's Shabbat Messages

May 6, 2022 | 5 Iyar, 5782 |  Parashat Kedoshim
20th Day of the Omer

Enjoy Torah Sparks - creative commentaries on the weekly Torah and Haftarah readings written by Conservative Yeshiva faculty.

Dear Friends,
 
Yesterday (Thursday, May 5) I had the special opportunity to participate in two touching community ceremonies honoring the National Day of Prayer. The fellowship, inspirational words, music and shared meals were heartfelt and inspired. In his wonderful keynote address at the breakfast hosted by the Newport/Mesa/Irvine Interfaith Council, CSUF President, Fram Virjee, posed this question: “What exactly are we praying for?”
 
The answer is not obvious. Depending on who you are and what your value system may be, your prayers - if you pray at all - will differ. I share personally that I have been praying a lot lately for the safety, health and human rights of American women and girls. For the first time in more than 50 years, we are all in trouble, and it is going to take some serious human-Divine miracles to right this ship.
 
By training, I am a Conservative Cantor and Rabbi, educated at both the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. My professional affiliations are with the Cantors Assembly (CA) and Rabbinical Assembly (RA), both arms of the Conservative Movement. 

When compelled to do so, the RA issues statements of moral outcry in response to national crisis. The statement included at the bottom of this email, crafted by some of the movement’s most thoughtful leaders, may be helpful to those of you who are curious about traditional Jewish views on reproductive rights, choice and health. Thank you, in advance, for taking the time to read it.
 
There have been local protests this past week (see this article in the Daily Pilot) and a larger rally for reproductive choice is planned for next Saturday, May 14, in Santa Ana’s Centennial Regional Park at 10am.  “Women’s Rights are Human Rights” is a time-tested truth. The erosion of some of the hard-won freedoms that people in this country have come to take for granted in the last 60 years will continue to devolve under our flawed and politicized judiciary. Trust me when I say that this is only the beginning, and no one can afford to be silent. Whether you are one whose prayers lead you to action, or you pray through your actions, turn the dial up to 10. We need you now more than ever!
 
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Marcia Tilchin

Friday, May 6
FRIDAY NIGHT BY CANDLELIGHT

Something for everyone:
Campfire Shabbat with Beth Am Congregation in San Diego at 7pm
Join Eph Rozensweig and Rabbi David Kornberg for this joyful sing-along worship experience. Join the Livestream. Download the Siddur here.

First Fridays with Temple Beth El in South County - 4:30 - 7pm
Family activities, Food Trucks and music followed by a joyful, intergenerational family friday night service beginning at 6pm. In-person Livestream the service at 6pm.

Temple Isaiah in Newport Beach at 6pm with Jason Feddy and Eric Dangott. Join on Zoom or at 2401 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach.

Saturday, May 7 at 2pm
TWELVE STEPS AND TORAH
Shabbat afternoon Torah study informed by the wisdom of Twelve Step recovery. Join us on  Zoom. For more information and to be added to the Twelve Steps & Torah email list, click here.

Monday, May 9 at 9:30am
ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE
Mussar and the Omer: Mussar maven, Rabbi Marcia Plumb, of Congregation Mishkan Tefillah in Boston, continues to explore the connection between the spiritual practices of Mussar and moving through the Omer in a purposeful way.
​Click here for more information, to register, and to access the previous class recordings.

Sunday through Thursday at 6:00pm
OC EGAL NIGHTLY MINYAN
If you are looking for a place to say Mourner's Kaddish, observe a yahrzeit, or participate in an evening minyan, OC Egal meets online five nights a week. Click here to receive the private Zoom link. All are welcome.

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Friday, May 20 at 6pm
SHABBAT BY THE SHORE
Join Rabbi Marcia Tilchin, Jason Feddy, and special guest Rabbi Aviva Funke for a soulfull Shabbat service followed by a potluck Shabbat dinner, and guest speaker on Jewish geneology at a private home in San Clemente. Click here to RSVP.

Click here  to listen to excerpts from Aviva's recently released album, Yismekhu: Sacred Sounds of Kabbalat Shabbat.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

During this OCJCR program we will watch the 24 minute film about Soledad together on Zoom, then have a conversation with Soledad's legal dream team. For more program information  click here.

Sunday, May 15 Noon - 3:00pm
YOM HA'ATZMAUT CELEBRATION

Orange County celebrates Israel Independence Day on the Santa Ana campus of Irvine Hebrew Day School. Sponsored by the Israel American Council, the Merage JCC of Orange County, and Irvine Hebrew Day School.Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Saturday, May 14th, at 10:00 AM in Santa Ana's Centennial Park

Planned Parenthood national day of action and Bans Off Abortion Rally 
Click here for more information and to register. 

Conservative/Masorti Rabbis Denounce Leaked Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Abortion Rights

New York, NY – According to a draft majority opinion, the Supreme Court appears poised to overturn its previous landmark decisions, Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, effectively ending the constitutional right to abortion. For more than fifty years, the Rabbinical Assembly has fiercely opposed efforts to limit abortion access and strongly supported reproductive rights. For example, in response to legislative efforts that threatened reproductive freedom in 2021, the Rabbinical Assembly (RA), the international association for Conservative/Masorti rabbis, passed a Resolution on Right to Legal and Accessible Abortion in the United States. Following the Supreme Court’s attack on abortion accessibility, the RA issued the following statement:
 
“The RA is deeply troubled by reports that the Supreme Court will soon nullify the constitutional right to abortion. Reproductive freedom is again under assault, this time from the highest court in our nation. The RA supports full access for all those who need abortions to the entire spectrum of reproductive healthcare and opposes all efforts by governmental, private entities, or individuals to limit or dismantle such access.
 
“The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly has affirmed the right of a pregnant person to choose an abortion in cases where ‘continuation of a pregnancy might cause severe physical or psychological harm, or where the fetus is judged by competent medical opinion as severely defective.’ This position is based on our members’ understanding of relevant biblical and rabbinic sources as well as teshuvot – modern rabbinic responsa. Jewish tradition cherishes the sanctity of life, including the potential of life during pregnancy, but does not believe that personhood and human rights begin with conception, but rather with birth as indicated by Exodus 21:22-23.
 
“Denying individuals access to the complete spectrum of reproductive healthcare, including contraception, abortion-inducing devices, and abortions, among others, on religious grounds, deprives those who need medical care of their Constitutional right to religious freedom. The RA has consistently supported these reproductive freedoms for over 50 years.
 
“There continue to be efforts in the United States on both the federal and state levels that pose existential threats to reproductive freedom, especially so-called ‘heartbeat’ bills. The Rabbinical Assembly emphatically opposes all such laws and legislative or executive moves. As the focus of the debate shifts to the U.S. Congress, we call on our members to contact their senators and representatives and demand they advocate for these fundamental rights in each and every state.”
 
The Rabbinical Assembly's full statement can be found on their website.

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