the SHOFAR
Newsletter of the
Congregation OLYMPIC B’NAI SHALOM
| Want to learn about Jewish history and clulture but don't like attending religous services? Come to our adult education meetings! See details below. |
September & October 2010
Dear Congregants …a message from President Marsha Melnick,
This will be my last letter to you as President of the Congregation. I will deliver the “State of the Congregation” message at our annual meeting after morning Rosh Hashanah services. I hope that many of you will attend as we will have some lively discussions on future directions. Enticing? I hope so.
As always there are aspects of my tenure as President that bring great joy. The adult education program is doing well and we will soon be up to the middle ages and discussions of some our noted scholars of the time. Several congregants have served as leaders of the discussions and I again heartily encourage all to take advantage of the many knowledgeable people around us. In this regard, a special thanks to Rick Sherman for organizing the course and frequently serving as leader. Also thanks to Dave Bendell who will be the leader in the New Year on the topic of Maimonides. Kent and I have also served as leaders at times and have enjoyed the experience. One learns a lot in preparation for these sessions. Please volunteer, if you have an interest, but do avail yourself of the camaraderie and the learning.
We have had some great times with the holidays and music provided by Perry Spring and Susan Stombaugh. The music and stories brightened our Sukkoth, Pesach, and Shavuoth celebrations and we hope to be able to continue these in the coming year. We have also enjoyed the informal discussions with Rabbi Stan on Friday nights and the Torah services on Saturday mornings. However, like most people and institutions today, we have suffered financial setbacks. We have lost some members due to changes in employment. When we lose members of the congregation some of our offerings must be curtailed. We are working to raise the funds needed for these special occasions. We as a Board think they are vital to the spiritual aspects of our congregation. Please help however you can.
However, there are other aspects of the past two years that have been troubling. I continue to be distressed and frustrated at the lack of participation in many of our events. If any of you have ideas about how to be a stronger, more active community, please let the Board hear from you. We try to reach out to those who may need an extra push to join us but we are human and do not always succeed. We welcome all suggestions and better yet, your help in these endeavors. We would also welcome new board members.
I do leave you all in good hands for the coming year. Suzanne DeBey will be the new President of the Congregation. The Board as well as the Congregation as a whole have benefitted by her spiritual leadership and I know we will benefit from her new role as President. I thank her for her work as Vice-President over the past 2 years and for her support and friendship.
Lastly, I want to thank the Board who have served so faithfully and so caringly. I especially want to thank Gary Kriedberg who has served as treasurer and has almost brought us back to the black. Thanks to Jody Moss for putting out the newsletter (and even for nudging me to write these brief messages). I was very lucky to have a creative, stimulating and efficient Board. Crystal Sherman, Rich Sherman, Roland Pfaff, Diane Pfaff, Dave Bendell, Scott Gordon, Greg Glassock – thank you for all your hard work and perseverance! Also to Phyllis Darling for continuing to serve as our liaison to the Union of Reform Judaism. Please also give these people your thanks when you seen them on Rosh Hashanah.
May 5771 be a year of life and peace. L’Shanah Tovah.
If you would be willing to serve on the board or help your congregation in any way, please contact us!!
CALENDAR
5771 High Holy Days
9/8, 9/9 – Rosh Hashanah
9/17, 9/18 Yom Kippur
9/25 – Sukkot
10/29/10 – 7:30 Friday evening service - Learn Shabbat music – Place to be determined
Adult Education Program: See page 3 for info and watch email for dates or call Jody Moss – 417-2869 if you do not have email.
10/15/10 – 6:30 pm potluck @ David Bendell’s Home – Maimonides
Upcoming dates (tentative): 11/19, 12/17, 1/21, 2/18, 3/18, 4/15, 5/20, 6/17, 7/15, 8/19
2010-2011 Board Meetings- 7:00 pm – at UU Church-all welcome – 9/20, 10/18, 11/15, 12/20, 1/10, 2/14, 3/21, 4/18, 5/16, 6/20, 7/18, 8/15, 9/19
Teen Dinnersat TAFY– We provide dinners once a month – see page 3 for dates & signups and think about signing up for a few more.
5771-72 Holidays.
Erev Rosh Hashanah – 9/8
Rosh Hashanah – 9/9, Kol Nidre – 9/17, Yom Kippur – 9/18, Sukkot – begins 9/22, Simchat Torah – 10/1, Hannukah – 12/1 – Party on 12/4, Tu Bishvat:1/20/11, Purim – 3/20, Passover 4/18 to 4/26/11, Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) – 5/1/11, Israel Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron): 5/9/11, Israel Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) – 5/10/11, Lag B'Omer – 5/22/11, Shavuot: - 6-7 to 6/9/11, Tisha B'Av - 8/9/11, Rosh HaShanah - 9/29/11, 9/30, Kol Nidre – 10/8, Yom Kippur – 10/9/11
Services for September & October: We have noted that more people tend to enjoy and attend events which are hosted at members’ homes. Because of this, we will try to schedule as many activities as possible in various homes over the next year. Let us know if you would like to host a service sometime.
5771 High Holy Days– See Page 4 for a schedule to post and please join us for some or all of our High Holy Day services. Of particular note for families are the Sunrise services followed by breakfast at the Crabhouse Restaurant and Tashlich at Railroad Bridge. On Rosh Hashanah at the annual meeting we will serve lox & bagels, fruit and veggies. Other dishes are always welcome. At the annual meeting we will be electing a new board, discussing our financial status, and discussing how to spend the Tzedakah funds which are raised each year. And remember that throughout the High Holy Days we conduct a Food Drive for the Port Angeles and Sequim Food Bank – remember to “glean” the corners of your cupboards for those who are struggling in our community. A donation in the form of a check to the Port Angeles Food Bank or the Sequim Food bank works as well.
9/25/10 – Sukkot/Simchat Torah: Come at 3:30 pm with flowers, garden harvests and branches to decorate the Sukkah, followed by a service and a potluck dinner. Please contact us for directions. The wonderful Susan Stombaugh will join us to lead this family friendly event which will also incorporate some of Simchat Torah into the service. Bring chairs, blankets and yourselves.
10/29/10 – 7:30 Friday evening service and dessert potluck– We plan to teach the melodies we use for our Shabbat services – Location to be determined.
Hanukah Party: Tentatively Saturday, December 4th: A committee has formed to begin planning a community wide Hanukah Party. Years ago we held a huge party with a klezmer band that led dancing and served sweets. For years now, many members of the broader community have asked us to begin doing this again. There is an intrepid few who have indicated they would like to work on this. If you have an interest in serving on this committee, contact us.
Adult Education Program:
10/15/10 – 6:30 pm potluck @ David Bendell’s Home – Maimonides. (Per Wikipedia) Moses Maimonides was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and a Torah Scholar during the Middle Ages. He was born in Cordoba, Spain on Passover Eve, 1135, and died in Egypt on December 12, 1204. He worked as a rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Morocco and Egypt. With the contemporary Muslim philosopher Averroes, he promoted and developed the philosophical tradition of Aristotle, which gave both men prominent and controversial influence in the West, where Aristotelian thought had not been known widely. Although his writings on Jewish law and ethics met with opposition during his life, he was posthumously acknowledged to be one of the foremost rabbinical arbiters and philosophers in Jewish history.
Save the upcoming Adult Education program dates(tentative): 11/19, 12/17, 1/21, 2/18, 3/18, 4/15, 5/20, 6/17, 7/15, 8/19
Future Topics for these programs include the following:
Women in Judaism
Jews during the late Greek and Roman periods
Jews in Arab lands
Kabala (part 2)
Sephardic Jews
How did Jews wind up in Eastern Europe and what did they do there?
What is the history of Jews in England and France?
Jews in Central Europe
Jews in the Far East
How did Jews wind up in the new world?
What was the culture of Jews in Germany before WWI (not II) and was it similar to current American Jewish culture (assimilation)?
Genetics of Jews in relation to heritage, achievements, etc.
Weekly Torah portion
Teen Dinners at TAFY - (The Answer for Youth): On the last Saturday of the month, volunteers from our congregation prepare and deliver a dinner for about 15 – 20 at risk or homeless teens to TAFY located at 711 E. 2nd St, P.A. (Near Eunice Street- formerly Little Church of God) Dinners consist of a hot main dish (nothing exotic, just American fare), a side dish, a gallon of milk, bread, and dessert. Meals are dropped off at 4:30 pm. It is not necessary to stay and serve, although everyone is welcome to come in. Dishes and utensils are already at TAFY. TAFY has a crock pot if you want to transfer a dish to keep it warm. Help is needed for all remaining dates in 2010.
Good Financial News after our Flood:
Our insurance company, State Farm, approved reimbursing the community for a significant portion of our losses and will refund up to the cost of replacing some items, like the Ark curtains or repairing the Ark. Many of the items lost in the flood are not replaceable. We have already purchased High Holy Day Prayer books to replace those lost. Let us give thanks for good insurance!
Yahrzeit List – For the Yizkor service on Yom Kippur, we traditionally have the Rabbi or a member read off all the names to be remembered. Please contact us and let us know if there are names to be added to the Yahrzeit list.
Seeking new volunteers: As many of you know, some of the board members have been serving in our roles for years. We are always in need of new blood, fresh ideas, fresh energy for carrying out the work required to maintain a congregation here in Clallam County.
