Temple Beth Am Library Minyan  
 April 2013
 The Minyan Monthly
Shavuot Will Be a Picnic!
The Omer is counting up, the Dodgers are back on the field, and the jacaranda trees will soon be blooming purple.  Shavuot can't be far away. This year, the Diaspora Potluck Committee of the Library Minyan will again host a shul-wide potluck picnic in the park on the second day of Shavuot (i.e., not the sleep-deprivation day), Thursday, May 16, 2013. The event is open to the entire Temple Beth Am community. Following Services meet at La Cienega Park near the playground. Bring blankets, picnic lunches, drinks and a dessert (to share). For information, contact Dafna Taryle (dafnat3000@yahoo.com) or Sharon Grob (SGrob@tbala.org).
Ohel Patuach Opens Its Tent
The Library Minyan's new Ohel Patuach ("Open Tent") program is up and running, and we want to give a yeshar koach to the many hosts who have already volunteered so far, including John Antignas and Susan Laemmle, Larry and Abby Harris, Steve and Arlene Klitzky, Jonathan and Alana Rotter, Barry and Kathy Rosenblatt, Steve and Fredi Spiegel, Don Snyder and Rachael Gordon, and Aron and Michelle Wolf, and also todah rabah to Ohel Patuach co-chairs, Lori Port and Vered Hopenstand.
 
Ohel Patuach is a joint effort between the Membership and Social/Hospitality committees to welcome newcomers by inviting them to Shabbat dinners at members' homes.
Most of us know what it’s like to be a newcomer – It’s hard!
The aim of Ohel Patuach/Open Tent is to welcome the newer members of TBA’s Library Minyan and facilitate building of relationships through Friday night invitations by long-time members.
 
Here’s how it works. Library Minyan members Vered Hopenstand and Lori Port will facilitate matches between“old-timers” and “new-comers”. Feeling new can last a long time, so we define “new” as within three years of membership at the Minyan.
 
Lori and Vered are maintaining a list of LM members who volunteer as Ohel Patuach hosts, as well as a list of newcomers who can be matched to a suitable host family (based on neighborhood, children’s ages, etc). The host is responsible for calling to invite their guest(s) and picking a date.

Although many hosts have already volunteered, we have room for more. If this way of strengthening and enlarging the Library Minyan speaks to you, sign up as an Ohel Patuach host by contacting Vered: myveredh@gmail.com,  310-652-1888, or Lori: lhport@yahoo.com, 424-249-3398; and providing the following information:
 
Name of host(s): 
Other members of the family, including ages of any children:
Maximum number of guests you’re comfortable inviting: 
Address with zip & nearest large intersection:
Email address: 
Phone number(s) & best time to reach you:
Did You Know?
Why Ten? (or Bli "Ayin" Harah), by Joel Grossman
 
Did you know why we must have ten people for a minyan?
A wonderful interpretation comes from the story of the 12 spies whom Moshe sent to report on the Holy Land. As you remember, 10 spies brought back a bad report while two spies — Yehoshua and Calev — disagreed and said we could conquer the land. The people cried and cried, believing the 10 spies’ version, and wanted to return to Egypt. God referred to the spies as “ha-edah ha-ra’ah  hazot” — this evil congregation.” (Num. 14:27) Since there were 10 spies that constituted an “edah” — a congregation, we learn that we need 10 persons for a minyan. And now for some Purim Torah. How do we know that the word “edah” refers to 10 people? Take the gematria, or numerical value of the three Hebrew letters which spell “edah.” Aleph is 1, daled is 4, and hey is 5, together making 10. A wonderful explanation except for one thing: the word “edah” begins with an ayin, not an aleph!

Did You Know? is a feature in the Minyan Monthly written by different contributors each month. If you would like to write a Did You Know? article, to suggest a future topic, or to comment about this month's article, please email rachelrubingreen@gmail.com and put Did You Know in the subject line.
 
"Did You Know" Column Welcomes Your Responses
Have you been intrigued, or piqued, by a "Did You Know" column in the Minyan Monthly to which you are dying to respond? We would love to hear from you.  One of the aims of these columns, a project of the Library Minyan's Education Committee, is to foment discussion, exchange, and learning. Your comments are welcome and, space-permitting, will be posted here. Please send your responses to LM Education Chair Rachel Green (rachelrubingreen@gmail.com) or to Scott Taryle (rosh@libraryminyan.org).
VISIT US ONLINE
www.libraryminyan.org
 
VISIT US ON SHABBAT
Mishna study 9:20
Tefillot begin 9:45
Temple Beth Am
Dorff-Nelson Chapel
1039 S. La Cienega Blvd, 90035
Shavuot Services
Tuesday, May 14-Wednesday May 15:
All night, shulwide combined Tikkun Leil Shavuot.  (Details to be announced.)
Wednesday, May 15; 9:30 a.m:  first day shulwide combined service
Thursday, May 16; 9:30 a.m: Shabbat Pesach, Library Minyan separate service, with
Yizkor.
The Library Minyan of Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd 90035  www.libraryminyan.org