Short Schrift: November 2015 Page 1 Cheshvan - Kislev, 5776 Member Engagement Iniave Update Courtesy of Charles Shelan I want to thank all 104 TBH members and friends for completing the recent Member Engagement survey. We were very pleased with the breadth and scope of activities that our Jewish community offers and the survey results reinforce active participation. We had many survey respondents offer to step forward to help organize an activity for this year. The most prevalent new activities that survey respondents wanted to participate in include: Going on an outing such as an art museum, baseball game or bowling Having a dinner and attending a play together Attending a lecture or discussion at TBH Participating in an outdoor activity Attending an arts and crafts class or a game night Listed on the next page are the survey results. Please peruse them and if a particular activity inspires you, please feel free to volunteer to either organize or assist in organizing a specified activity by responding to me, Charles Shelan, at [email protected]. I will try to help you and I'll put you in touch with other people that indicated interest in the activity. And, I look forward to having you join me on a TBH ski trip this winter! November 2015 Cheshvan - Kislev, 5776 The Short Schrift The Short Schrift TBH Board President Julie Frank Vice President Laura Schrager Treasurer Gary Schneider Secretary Erin Syversen Members at Large Judith Barnes Allyson Brooks Tikva Glantz Mike Krasnokutsky Harriet Strasberg Len Trabka Youth Ed Rep Bat-Sheva Stein Contact Us 360-754-8519 (Phone) 360-528-2046 (Fax) [email protected]www.bethhatfiloh.org 201 8th Ave. SE Olympia WA 98501 Rabbi Seth Goldstein [email protected]Director of Family Life and Learning Catherine Carmel [email protected]Community Engagement Coordinator Kirsten Williamson [email protected]Host baskets for the October Shabbat at Home dinner. Turn to page 3 for more information on the program. Photo by Rabbi Seth Goldstein.
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Short Schrift: November 2015 Page 1 Cheshvan - Kislev, 5776
Member Engagement Initiative Update Courtesy of Charles Shelan
I want to thank all 104 TBH members and friends for completing the recent
Member Engagement survey. We were very pleased with the breadth and
scope of activities that our Jewish community offers and the survey results
reinforce active participation.
We had many survey respondents offer to step forward to help organize an
activity for this year. The most prevalent new activities that survey
respondents wanted to participate in include:
Going on an outing such as an art museum, baseball game or bowling Having a dinner and attending a play together Attending a lecture or discussion at TBH
Participating in an outdoor activity Attending an arts and crafts class or a game night
Listed on the next page are the survey results. Please peruse them and if a
particular activity inspires you, please feel free to volunteer to either
organize or assist in organizing a specified activity by responding to me,
Charles Shelan, at [email protected]. I will try to help you and I'll put
you in touch with other people that indicated interest in the activity. And, I
look forward to having you join me on a TBH ski trip this winter!
Short Schrift: November 2015 Page 3 Cheshvan - Kislev, 5776
A note from the President
Proactive Shabbat Dinners
Yum and I had no idea.
Many of us who attended the Friday night services on the 23rd might have been amazed at how
fulfilling a one-hour service could be. It was pretty good. A one-hour service you say? We had and will continue to have services from 6-7pm on the 4th Friday of the month so folks can gather
together afterwards for a nice Shabbat dinner.
In October, to introduce the idea, Nancy Snyder worked her magic and organized people, challah,
wine and useful ritual options for a seamless experience. At our house we ended up with 10 around the table and not only was it a delicious potluck, I enjoyed getting to know folks who are
both new and seasoned TBH members.
How do we keep this up? Well, we need to be proactive. Our new Community Engagement
Coordinator (CEC for short) Kirsten Williamson, is collecting names of people who want to host and be hosted for 4th Friday Shabbat at Home evenings. Feel free to let her know of your interest
by email ([email protected]), phone or in person if you are at TBH. And don't be shy about reaching out to others you would like to know better and organizing a dinner on your own.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the October evening, and to the other hosts Robert Perretz-Rosales, Melinda Holman and Barnett Kalikow, Erin Syversen, Catherine Carmel, Julie Kinn, and
Tikva Glantz. A big thanks to the Ritual Committee members for their thoughtfulness and to Nancy Snyder for all of her planning and doing to grow our community's connectedness.
L’shalom,
Julie
Hanukkah Shop Opening Soon
Opening on Wednesday, November 11
Hanukkah is fast approaching and TBH has everything
you will need to celebrate! We will be selling several
different types of candles, dreidels, and gelt. This year we
are featuring a new product: beeswax candles! Contact
Short Schrift: November 2015 Page 4 Cheshvan - Kislev, 5776
Tikkun Olam
2015 Winter Clothing and Blanket Drive
November 1 - December 25
Even though the weather has been warmer than usual, people on the streets need warmth. Please donate:
jackets, hats, gloves, socks, scarves, sweaters, fleece, and blankets. Bring clean, gently used items from
home or from the Goodwill/Value Village or buy new items to donate.
Drop your donations off in the containers in the TBH sanctuary lobby. These items will be donated to
the St. Michel’s Parish/St. Vincent de Paul Clothing Bank. The Bank is open to everyone on Tuesdays
and Saturdays from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. and on Thursdays from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
High Holiday Food Drive Update We received an additional $350 in monetary donations to the Thurston County Food Bank. Thank you!
Volunteer Opportunity: FORKids Packing
Tuesday, November 10, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Throughout the school calendar year, we will be filling bag lunches for the Food Bank’s FORKids Program. In October we increased the number of TBH volunteers from only two members in September to seven but we still need more volunteers! Please bring family members, children, siblings, and friends
with you. We are now packing at the Tumwater Food Bank Warehouse located at 2260 Mottman Rd. SW. If you have any questions, contact Elie Halpern at [email protected].
Film Series: Never Forget
Sunday, November 1, 7:00 p.m.
In the 1991 film Never Forget, Leonard Nimoy stars as Mel
Mermelstein, a Nazi death camp survivor who wages a court
battle against the revisionist Institute for Historical Review over their claims that the Holocaust never occurred. Noted at
the time of Nimoy’s death in 2015 as one of his most powerful
performances. Also stars Dabney Coleman and Blythe
Short Schrift: November 2015 Page 5 Cheshvan - Kislev, 5776
As we hear heartbreaking stories of escalating violence in Israel, our Torah cycle draws us closer to the story of brothers Jacob and Esau. Rather than recap the story
entirely, I want to fast forward to parashah Vayishlach. After 20 years, Jacob prepares to return home and face his estranged brother, Esau. They had not parted
on good terms. Esau vowed to kill his brother for stealing their father's blessing. On his journey messengers inform him that Esau approaches, "accompanied by four
hundred men" (Genesis 32:7), with motives unknown to Jacob. Thus, "Jacob was terrified. So anxious was he," (Genesis 32:8), scared for his safety in the face of what Esau might do.
The emotion of fear is a healthy response to a dangerous situation, but how we choose to act on our fear can make all the difference in our lives. The Hebrew word yirah means both “to fear” and “to
see.” They represent opposite sides of a situation, we fear what we cannot see. Our fears turn people into monsters. When we face those fears, we can see the monsters are actually more human. Jacob is afraid as he returns home. When he left, he was a young man. He returns as an adult, not knowing if
or how these past twenty years have changed his brother. He cannot see if his life is still in danger so he feels fear.
We are told that by facing his fear of his brother, Jacob is able to return home and live a peaceful life side-by-side with the one he feared most. Fear made him run away, but facing that fear
allowed him to return home. Esau also chose a difficult path though. He welcomed his brother and forgave him for stealing their father's blessing. An act of forgiveness that powerful has to be equally
terrifying. Forgiveness requires us to set aside our pain and our sense that justice requires a reciprocal action. It requires the wisdom and courage to value something greater than ourselves and act for the
benefit of community. These two acts of bravery allowed brothers to live together in peace. I hope their example will inspire those in Israel to have the courage to face each other with forgiveness in the interest of peace.
L’shalom,
Family Life and Learning Director Catherine Carmel
Mezuzah Workshop
Thursday, November 19, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Make gifts for Hanukkah! The workshop fee is $18, payable to TBH. Class size limited to 15, adults and kids welcome. Rabbi
Seth will teach about the mezuzah and TBH member and glass artist Leslie Goldstein will show how to make your own fused
glass mezuzah case. After the workshop, Leslie will fuse and slump the mezuzah cases in her kiln, and they will be ready
before Hanukkah. Please register in advance by emailing Leslie at [email protected] or [email protected]. All materials, tools, and snacks provided.
Short Schrift: November 2015 Page 6 Cheshvan - Kislev, 5776
TORAH STUDY
MUSSAR MORNING & SERVICE
TALMUD STUDY
3rd Saturday, November 21
Mussar 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Mussar is the Jewish school of thought which seeks to root personal character development and
right behavior in Jewish tradition and text. We meet monthly to share some food and learn more
about this tradition and how it may benefit our lives.
Service 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Following Mussar study, we hold Shabbat morning services with Torah reading and discussion. This service is often lay-led. Contact
Rabbi Seth if you would like a role in the service.
4th Saturday, November 28
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
The Talmud is a compendium of law and lore that is the basis on which biblical interpretation
and contemporary Jewish practice rest. Rabbi Seth will lead us as we dive deep into this
complex text. No background required.
2nd Saturday, November 14
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Meditation at 9:15 a.m.)
Prayer and study are equally holy activities and we will do both. We’ll share a Shabbat brunch
and study the Torah together. Food is provided. All are invited. No experience is necessary!
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JEWISH WITH MEANING
1st Saturday, November 7
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Join us to explore, expand, and develop your connection with spirituality within the Jewish
tradition. Bring something to share for the potluck brunch if you are able. All are welcome.