January 2016

January 2016

Tevet/Shevat 5776

Call 206-567-9414 for event details or see our online calendar here.

January

  • 9 JLC
  • 23 Tu b’Shevat celebration
  • 24 The Kabbalah of the Tree Of Life w/ Arik Labowitz
  • 25 Super Supper

February

  • Date to be announced – Seder Plate Workshop
  • 12 Shabbat
  • 29 Super Supper

March

  • 11 JLC
  • 11 Shabbat
  • 19 Purim Party
  • 28 Super Supper

TU B’SHEVAT

Come celebrate Tu B’Shevat, The New Years of the Trees with Arik Labowitz and others!   We are happy to again welcome delightful, inspiring singer, teacher and storyteller, Arik Labowitz to help us celebrate the holiday. He will be here for two events that weekend—Tu B’Shevat Celebration and a Kabbalah of the Tree of Life Learning Session!  We’ll get our sap flowing with a seder of fruits and juices, songs, meditations, stories and more.

Potluck 1/23/15, Sat, 5:00 pm Location:  Rosenkotz’ Home – All ages welcome!

Learning Session:  The Kabbalah of the Tree Of Life w/ Arik Labowitz 1/24/15, Sun, 9:30 am Location: Araya Sol’s Home

Everyone is invited to join Arik Labowitz as we dive deeper into the teachings and meanings that surround the “Tree of Life”, so central to Tu B’Shevat.   This will be offered on an adult level, and teens and children with stamina for discussion are welcomed.  If you want child care, please let us know!

Questions? Would you like to help organize or have a Tree of Life/ Sap Rising story, song, interpretive dance, drash… to offer?  Please get in touch-  Zann (z-c@themaskery.com, 360-297-4160)

 

From the CHANUKAH PARTY

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TIKKUN OLAM

Eagle Harbor Congregational Church recently posted that they are in the early stages of planning a refugee project and to let them know if we would like to be an active part of it.  I contacted them and said yes – EHCC responded that they will let us know once the planning begins.  We have 5 families so far that have expressed interest. If you are interested, let me know – Rachel.

TIKKUN OLAM CHARITY SPOTLIGHT

Have a favorite charity? Send in the link and some information about it and I will post it here. This month, I’m choosing to spotlight “No Kid Hungry”.  Next month your favorite charity can be in the spotlight!

THE PROBLEM – Hungry children suffer. And 16 million kids in America aren’t getting the food they need. Childhood hunger is widespread. Nearly one in five children in America lives in households that struggle to put food on the table. They may look no different than other children; child hunger in America is often invisible. They are hurting, just the same.

THE SOLUTION – Together We Can End Childhood Hunger. With your support, No Kid Hungry works to ensure that every child in the United States has access to healthy food where they live, where they learn and where they play.

Take a look at their website if you are interested in learning more – “No Kid Hungry”

STEERING COMMITTEE Minutes

November 10, 2015  In attendance: Paul Travis, Lisa Weiss, Carol Shakow, Nina Rogozen and Araya Sol (by phone)

ISSUES AND ACTIONS

  1. Coordinating Committee make up -Jeff Brown and Joanna Church have resigned. Unsure of Jessica’s participation. We recognize the need for more people. A few names were suggested. Action: Monica (Nina will call); Terry Cowan (Carol), Craig Jacobrown (Lisa), David Coates (Paul). We will also ask at the Friday night Shabbat at the Mortells’ if anyone is interested.
  1. State filing of required Shir Hayam papers -We need to submit officers. Paul Travis will be chair, Nina Rogozen will be secretary. Action: We still need a treasurer.
  1. Legal liability for board members -As Lisa understands things, SH has general liability insurance that covers up to $1 million. We would like the consul of an attorney to find out if, as board members, we are covered sufficiently. Action: Lisa will email attorney Kol Medina for his opinion on this issue. He works with nonprofits.
  1. Future CC Meetings -Scheduled next one for January 5, 2016. Action: We’ll schedule rest of meetings (Mar, Apr, May) when new folks come on board.
  1. Annual Meeting date -Decided on Sunday, June 5, 2016. Action: Nina will call fire hall to reserve the space.
  1. Committee budget reports and requests -We need these reports more in advance of annual meeting. Action: At March 2016 meeting discuss asking each committee for a report and what they would like to see in next year’s budget for their committee.
  1. Committee liaisons -We need reports from committees at each CC meeting. Action: We divided this task up: Ruach (Nina),Community Presence (Paul), Tikkun Olam (Carol), JLC (Araya), Mitzvah Corps (Carol), Cemetery (Jessica)
  1. Interfaith Council Thanksgiving Service—Tues November 24, 2015 @ 7 p.m. Rolling Bay Church -Carol was approached about SH contributing a prayer. The whole community is invited. Action: Carol will present Hannah Senesh’s poem, Eli Eli; we’ll let the Chavurah know about the event.
  1. Ruach discussion -Discussed importance of JLC and Ruach coordinating events, discussing dates, etc. so both groups’ ideas, voices are heard. Ruach and JLC need to do their calendaring together much earlier in the year’s planning. Action: Nina will bring this issue to the next Ruach meeting (which Lisa and Araya might attend), as well as discuss what we would like to do with Arik when he comes for JLC Purim celebration, March 19. He’s at Eitz Or evening of Nov 18 and morning of Nov 19.
  1. High Holiday Services Follow up -Lisa said she got more out of these services than any others because she was a “participant” rather than an “observer.” We need feedback from the whole group. Would leaders want to do it again? Would new people. Action: Lisa asked Rachel to send out an e-mail reminder to SH. (1) Shabbat service at the Mortell’s Fri., November 13, including a discussion about this year’s services and thoughts about next year, and (2) Need for CC members.
  1. JLC discussion -Five families this year/lots of kids. Shofar factory workshop was well received/ Same Rabbi coming for olive oil making class. Everyone in the Chavurah is always invited to all JLC get-togethers—JLC activities are for all ages to learn, share and connect.
  1. Communicating with whole Chavurah about CC meetings -Minutes should go into newsletter. People should know that they can attend meetings. Action: Nina will write up minutes and send to Rachel for December newsletter, with note about openness of meetings, once minutes are approved
  1. Budget information from Denise, Shir Hayam’s wonderful bookkeeper -Twenty-one families have signed up, to date for the 2015-16 year. There will most likely be nine more.

From the IFC

Many of you were able to attend Monday night’s vigil at the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial. It was a wonderful, moving event, with music and PA provided by Rick Barrenger, song leading by the Threshold Choir, and moving speeches by BIJAC’s Clarence Moriwaki and Mary Woodward, State Rep. Drew Hansen and State Sen. Christine Rolfes, Councilman Val Tollefson, community organizer Marsha Cutting and more (including a Quran-inspired benediction of sorts from Grace’s Tommy Dillon).

But if you missed it, don’t take my word for it! Listen to the BCB podcast: http://bestofbcb.org/spec-005-let-it-not-happen-again-nidoto-nai-yoni/ ..and check out the pictures, comments and videos on the Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BainbridgeIslandersforInclusivity/

We are hoping that the petition that inspired it all can continue to grow in numbers. We’d like to see the Bainbridge Island City Council endorse this statement at their next meeting on Jan. 5 – and your faith community’s voice can help make that happen.

Please click here and between now and January 3 encourage people in your faith community (and other visitors to your building) to sign it. We want to collect these signatures by the end of the day of Monday, Jan. 4.

Questions? Just ask!
#NidotoNaiYoni
Reed Price
BI/NK Communications coordinator

HAPPENING IN SEATTLE (Bellevue)

Saffron & Honey: Muslims, Jews & Christians in Medieval Spain
Tensions and conflicts between Jews, Muslims and Christians appear in the news every day. But what can we learn when we examine the historical threads and unravel stories of connection and collaboration that defy those headlines? Antonio Davidson-Gómez leads a discussion that reveals medieval Spain as a crossroads connecting the Golden Age of Islam, Sephardic Judaism, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and how they are relevant to our lives today.

Thursday, January 14 10:30 a.m. – noon at Temple B’nai Torah 15727 NE 4th Street, Bellevue For directions, call (425) 603-9677.
RSVP Ellen Hendin or Wendy Warman by Thursday, January 7, (206) 461-3240.
Presented with Humanities Washington.

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