Iyar/Sivan 5775

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

May

• 3 JLC Tikkun Olam Project
• 9 JLC Graduation
• 24 Shavuot
• 25 Super Supper

June

• 5 Shabbat Potluck
• 14 Annual Meeting
• 29 Super Supper

WORDS FROM ROBIN HRUSKA VIA MIKE

Having arrived in Nepal on February 16, Robin Hruska is nearing the end of her scheduled three-month stay teaching and teacher training in a remote part of that country. She has had amazing and rewarding experiences, some challenges, and of course – fortunately without injury – felt the impact of the devastating earthquake that struck near Kathmandu on April 25.

Robin fell in love with the Nepali people, particularly the children, while trekking near Annapurna in 2012. When she learned that the trekking company’s leader builds schools and places foreign teachers in Nepal’s remote areas, she immediately put up her hand. A year after resigning from a 20-year career at the Bainbridge Island School District, she is volunteering at a brand-new school in Margam, a tiny village in the Taplejung District of eastern Nepal. This district includes Kangchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain, but Margam itself is only moderately high (around 7,000 feet) and temperate.

Robin adores the host family she’s staying with (and vice versa!) They are taking great care of her: in classic fashion, they have little, but give much. She’s had a great time with the school kids and their teachers, and her presence and work in the school have led to extra-curricular English with the older kids and adult education sessions in English and Math. She was even able to have a reunion with Kami, the guide from the 2012 trek! (Learn more about him at the “trekking” link above.)

As the world knows, disaster struck on April 25 with a 7.8 magnitude earthquake centered near Kathmandu – roughly 150 miles from Robin’s location. She and her village were rocked and rolled hard, but there were no injuries, and property damage was minor. Because the village is mostly self-sufficient, its food and water supplies are not threatened in the immediate term. As for power, phone, and internet, well… they don’t exist, so they haven’t been lost. It’s been a blessing for Robin that she’s in a place where she can remain safely as long as necessary, though it now appears that she will be on her originally planned schedule: that has her leaving the village on May 9, arriving in Kathmandu on May 12, and being home on May 18.

Robin is incredibly touched by and grateful for the outpouring of concern and support she and husband Mike Orr have received from all areas of their lives, none more so that the amazing members of Shir Hayam. There’s nothing better in this life than belonging to such a community.

Meanwhile, chaos, grief, and desperate need still rule in much of the country. The leader of Robin’s trekking company, Crystal Mountain Treks, aborted a trek and returned to Kathmandu, only to turn around immediately to run supplies to a devastated village where some of his employees had been rendered homeless: 3 out of 100 houses were standing there. Another Crystal Mountain Sherpa was at Everest Camp 3, his condition unknown for days until word finally came that he’s safe. That’s just a microcosm of what’s going on throughout the country, with more than 7,000 killed and many thousands more injured, displaced, or disconnected from their loved ones.

Our hearts go out to all the people of Nepal, and everyone everywhere who has been affected by this terrible disaster.

TIKKUN OLAM – Nepal Earthquake Relief

The devastation of the earthquake in Nepal is just beginning to sink in. News reports estimate that the death toll is now topping 7,000. Tens of thousands have been left homeless, and the aftershocks of the quake continue to escalate panic and grief for millions. Images of the destruction are truly horrifying.

Shir Hayam Tikkun Olam Committee has decided to make a donation to the American Jewish World Service (AJWS) to help with the disaster relief. We will make this donation in honor of our member Robin Hruska who is in Nepal now.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE AMOUNT WE ARE DONATING – please send a check this week (deadline May 10) made out to Shir Hayam with “Nepal” in the comments to:

Chavurat Shir Hayam
PO Box 11142
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

AJWS has been a leader in disaster relief for the past three decades. In response to Saturday’s tragedy, they are staying the course to address both immediate needs for earthquake survivors and invest in long-term recovery for the Nepalese people. Your donation will support community-based organizations that are doing the following:

• Providing food, shelter, emergency medical aid and supplies to the most vulnerable communities in Nepal—including ethnic minorities and indigenous communities—who are often neglected in the aftermath of crises.
• Offering psycho-social support to survivors and their families.

JLC EVENTS ON THE HORIZON

JLC will meet this Sunday, May 3 at Schel-Chelb Estuary for a Tikkun Olam beach clean up project.  All Shir Hayamers and friends are welcome to come.  10 a.m. – noon https://www.bainbridgeisland.com/things-to-do/beaches/schel-chelb-estuary.html

L’ag b’omer beach bonfire and graduation Saturday evening May 9* 5 – 8pm at Zann and Craig Jacobrown’s in Indianola.  8161 NE Midway Ave, Indianola. Please bring a potluck dish to share. Everyone is welcome. Traditional L’ag b’Omer time for haircuts and weddings, optional.

Please contact Araya Sol for more information.

ANNUAL MEETING

Please plan to attend – There will be yummy food!
Sunday June 14 10 am to 12 noon
Location: Madison Ave. Fire Station (the one nearest to town)

Committee Heads: If you need to adjust the amount that was budgeted for your committee last year, please contact Denise Brown or Lisa Weiss ASAP so that this year’s budget can be prepared with your request in mind.

At this time we expect the meeting to be fairly quick. Topics (to date) will include: Committee Reports and 2015-16 Budget Approval. The Coordinating Committee will send out an agenda prior to the meeting.

The Annual Meeting is also when we elect/approve new Coordinating Committee members. Speaking of new CC members…hint…. hint…. nudge…. nudge… If you’re interested in joining the Coordinating Committee, please contact Lisa Weiss, Jessica Lang, Nina Rogozen or Araya Sol. Arthur Mortell and Tom Schaeffer will be finishing out their terms in June and stepping down from the board, so we have (at least) a couple of openings. Be a Mensch. Join the Coordinating Committee!

MORE SHABBATS?

Some Shir Hyamers have expressed interest in having more frequent Shabbat dinners, perhaps even weekly. If you are interested in establish such a lovely informal habit ( practice? ritual? ) please contact Carol Shakow.

NEW WEBSITE

We are continuing to enhance the new website so please send suggestions, photos, and  additional content to me – Rachel Kerbrat.

HAPPENING ON BAINBRIDGE

Shir Hayam mom and ceramic artist Danielle Gordon is thrilled to introduce her Summer Camp Offerings! She is offering both half and full day options, and is excited to include a combination of ceramic projects, light hikes and trips to the local beach, crafts and nature projects, and even a dip in the community pool. Hop on over to daniellegordon.com/school to learn more, and to sign up now!

HAPPENING IN SEATTLE

Eitz Or May Shabbaton with Reb Arik Labowitz

Knatvold Room at University Unitarian Church (UUC), 6556 35th Ave., NE, Seattle

Friday, May 15 7:00 PM – 9:15 PM Reb Arik Labowitz will be joined by Maxxine Smith, our versatile flutiest whose plaintive melodies will support our journey toward Shavuot and the Revelation of Torah. We welcome all who gather in holy community to pray, sing and dance.

Shabbat Morning Service  Saturday, May 16 10:00 AM On Shabbat morning Reb Arik will combine music and prayer to energize and inspire us. We will explore Bechukotai with blessings and discussion.  Vegetarian potluck lunch following the service and Study led by Reb Arik Labowitz.

For more information: http://www.eitzor.org