Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah

TISHREI/CHESHVAN 5775

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

October

3 Kol Nidre

4 Yom Kippur, Yizkor, Neilah

12 JLC followed by All Chavurah Sukkot

17 Simchat Torah Shabbat

20 Coordinating Committee Meeting

26 JLC

27 Super Supper

November

2 All Chavurah General Meeting

9 JLC

15 Havdalah

23 JLC

24 Super Supper

5775 Rocked!

And we’ve gotta thank all the folks that worked so hard making these High Holidays a reality. First of all, to Reb Stephanie, who is such a learned, warm, thoughtful, dynamic, genuine, considerate, and fun collaborator and leader. She chose a theme that provoked and inspired us throughout the services, and went above and beyond, coming here weekly from Pt. Townsend to work with the Kugs preparing this year’s music. Again this year, Brian Rohr’s storytelling moved us and led to a fine, vigorous discussion afterwards, filled with many interesting observations shared by all in addition to Brian’s insights. Thanks to Terry Cowan, Dee Axelrod, and Carol Shakow for their beautiful Kol Nidre melodies, to the Kugelettes for their hard work, stirring melodies, and the wonderful drummers, harmonica players, and guitarists that helped lift our music and chants upward.

Who will ever forget Mira’s Hineini poem, Dick Golden’s glowing storytelling, Sue Steindorf’s moving morning meditation, and our incredibly beautiful children in their bibliodrama ? And then there’s thanks for the nitty gritty necessities: The Ruachers who planned, Denise Brown and Robin Hruska who wrote and collated and mailed, all those who came to turn the hall into our synagogue with their efforts and beautiful flower arrangements, to Julie and David and Denise who really shlepped all the supplies and transported the Torah and Ark, to our bibliodrama directors, and to our clean-up crews. And we mustn’t forget all the hospitality that has been offered us – from Julie and David and the Rosenkotz family who helped lead us off with Selichot at their beautiful farm, to Linda and Dick Golden who led us through a serene meditation and hosted our Yizkor service in their home, and to the island’s Filipino community who are so generous to us, changing several schedules so that we were assured of a home for our Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services.

We moved through these holidays with a spirited and thoughtful beginning, through reflection and mourning, and ended together with joyous and delicious delight. L’Shana Tova to the entire chavurah!

SUKKOT

Sukkot Sunday, October 12 10 AM

Rebecca Rockefeller’s house 5353 Ruby Pl NE Bainbridge Island, WA
Directions From either Bucklin Hill or Fletcher Bay Rd turn right onto Lynwood Center Road heading south. Go right on NE Emerald Way and first right onto Ruby Pl. It is the second house on the left.

SIMCHAT TORAH

Simchat Torah Friday October 17 6 PM

Rosenkotz’ yurt at 7439 NE Coyote Farm Lane Bainbridge Island, WA
Directions From SR 305 & High School Rd. travel west on High School Rd. Turn right on Sands Rd. Left on New Brooklyn. Right on Mandus Olsen. Left on NE Coyote Farm Lane. Pass mailboxes, continue right, pull into first left (driveway) and park.

CROPWALK 2014

Chavurat Shir Hayam’s Cropwalk fund drive got off to a very slow start this year but donations poured in at the 11th hour. Our online donations alone exceeded $2,000! There’s still an opportunity to donate click here

The event began on Thursday, Sept. 25 with numerous restaurants on the island participating in Restaurant Day. A designated percentage of revenue brought in on that day is turned over to the Bainbridge Island Cropwalk Funds; these funds are included with the anonymous match grant that has been honored for many years past as well as this year.

On Sunday, Sept. 28 a beautiful day drew a number of SH/JLC participants – parents, children & pets along with 100+ walkers from the BI/NK Interfaith Community for the three mile trek. This distance is symbolic to what one may do on a routine basis in some parts of the world to collect water for their household. The BI/NK walk began at Eagle Harbor Congregation Church & ended where music, refreshments, & massages were generously offered & eagerly welcomed by returning walkers.

 

There’s still time to donate: click here No amount is too small or too BIG! Thank you from fundraisers Denise Brown & Rachel Kerbrat, & to all those who donated. תודה לך

 

NEW WEBSITE

Your Photos/Ideas for Shir Hayam Website are needed.

The chavurah’s current website was built approximately 8 years ago by Lisa & Sam Weiss and has been hosted by their company. They deserve a lot of appreciation as it helped us enter the 21st century! And, it’s difficult to maintain, photos are outdated, etc.

So Gabe Travis will be doing an overhaul over the next few months, in a system that’s easier to keep updated. Dad Travis’ consultancy will host the new site. They’d like your input:

1) Do you have any photographs from events, meetings, Kugelettes’ practices, outings? As high resolution as possible, for maximum flexibility.

2) Do you have any specific requests/ideas for our next web site? This is your time to speak up!

Email shirhayam@vivifyllc.com with either/both. (If you have more than 10 megabytes of pictures to contribute, an awesome mitzvah — simply use the free WeTransfer service).

FOUND

Found (on Yom Kippur) : One white table cloth in a large red Teva fabric bag with large white daisy print. Contact Denise @ 780-0931.

WHAT’S A JEWISH GROUP WITHOUT CULTCHA?

Books, movies, theater, discussion, speakers??? It’s been quite a while since we’ve met for book discussions, seeing and discussing films together, gone on field trips to plays, discussed current events of Jewish interest, or brought speakers to the chavurah. We have some wonderful resources in our chavurah and in the community, and we have plenty of talent and wonderful, inquiring minds. I am sure that there are those of us who would love to dive into some or all of the above. If brainstorming to help make this a reality interests you, please contact me at 206.842.8453 or email me at srutzick1@comcast.net. Thanks, Sharon Rutzick

YIDDISH & LADINO TIDBITS

A Shir Hayam High Holidays Tale by Nina Rogozen

Well, Yom Kippur is a few days before us. I am looking forward to seeing everyone’s glowing sheyna punims on Friday evening. It will be a time to settle on our knoben for the year, sort out the ways we are farlondzhet, and define what glik really is for us. If we must, we will attempt to handl with God, in hopes that we start the year off with not so much somuz on our souls. But don’t sit on your tokhes and tell God any bobes. By the time Neilah comes around, we’ll be kind of golem from fasting and having bobkes in our tummy all day long. Not to worry – we will pray, rejoice and eat – then have in our bellies ongepatsht. After our days of prayer together, we will experience nakhes to help carry us through to the next year.

Sheyna punim – pretty face
Knoben – dream
Farblondzhet – mixed up
Glik – happiness
Handl – bargain (verb)
Somuz – dirt
Tokhes – butt
Bobe – a ‘tall’ story
Golem – sluggish
Bobkes – nothing
Ongepatsht – a little too much
Nakhes – joy

Check out a Rosh Hashana sedar in the Ladino tradition. bendichasbendichosmanos.wordpress.com/tag/rosh-hashana/

THE KVETCH REVIEWS BOOKS….

Lest you think that the Kvetch has stopped reading, let me assure you that it isn’t true.
It’s just that the most recent reads haven’t left any lasting impressions or moved the Kvetch to recommend that anyone else plow through the words.

If you haven’t gotten around to reading Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, or The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, or A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki…..go ahead….take a chance…..you’re welcome!

ISLAND CAREGIVERS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS

Island Volunteer Caregivers Needs You!!
Are you looking for a new volunteer opportunity as we begin the new year? If so, Island Volunteer Caregivers may be the perfect place to practice a little tikkun olam. Island Volunteer Caregivers (IVC) is growing at a rapid rate and urgently needs volunteers to keep up with our demand! New care receivers are coming on at a rate of three care receivers for every one volunteer. We are looking for volunteers to drive people to medical appointments, handle grocery/errands, visit homebound folks and provide respite care. The best thing about volunteering with IVC is that you do as much or as little as you like, and you choose the area of service which interests you the most. If you are a person who likes to connect with others and help out with tasks which enable them to live as independently as possible, then IVC may be perfect for you. One volunteer called it “the best volunteer gig around!” Interested? Please contact us at 842-4441 or e-mail Robin Gaphni at robin@ivcbainbridge.org

HAPPENING IN SEATTLE

Little Merchants: The Golden Era of Youth Delivering Newspapers

October 14, 2014, 10:30 AM
Imagine a multi-million dollar business entrusted to children! In the 20th century newspaper business, legions of children sold and delivered newspapers to support their families. Author Sandra Walker will discuss the historic significance of the paper carriers.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 • 10:30 a.m. – noon
Temple De Hirsch Sinai, 1441 16th Avenue, Seattle
For directions, call (206) 323-8486.

RSVP Wendy Warman or Ellen Hendin by Tuesday, October 7,(206) 461-3240.

Letter to Anita (Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival)

October 11, 2014, 7:30 PM
Award-winning filmmaker Andrea Meyerson explores the painful legacy of singer Anita Bryant’s infamous anti-gay campaign of the late 1970s. Narrated by Emmy-winning actress Meredith Baxter, Letter to Anitatells the story of Ronni Sanlo, a married mother of two who came out as a lesbian and divorced her husband, losing custody of her children as a result – an injustice that propelled Ronni into a life of LGBT activism.
Followed by a special appearance and Q&A with
 Ronni and Andrea!
Saturday, October 11, 2014
7:30 p.m.
Northwest Film Forum
1515 12th Avenue, Seattle
Tickets through Stranger Tickets. 
Questions? Leonid Orlov, (206) 861-8784.