Kislev/Tevet 5777

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

December

• 2 Shabbat
• 10 JLC
• Chanukah Party – TBD
• 26 Super Supper

January 2017

• 7 JLC
• 21 Havdalah with Jamal Rahman
• 28 JLC
• 30 Super Supper

 

SHABBAT POTLUCK

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 AT 6 P.M. AT BILL AND SHARON RUTZICKS
We’ll do some praying and some singing before sharing potluck dinner.

–there will be a book fair at this Shabbat from the Judaica collections from Harry May and Jean T. May.  Please come and help yourselves.  If you have any Judaica books or items that you would like to give away, please feel free to add them to the table.

–Standing Rock Donations of new or lightly used sweaters, scarves, gloves and mittens will be very gratefully accepted.  If you’re up to a knitting challenge, this would be great time to break out those needles!  You can bring items to this Shabbat or drop off at Sharon’s (address above) in the bin on the front porch any time until December 15.  If drivers are also going to be going to Standing Rock after December 15, we will let you know if that December 15 deadline is extended.

 

ROBIN HRUSKA OFF TO NEPAL

Hi Everyone!

So as many of you already know, Robin is returning to Margem, Nepal to continue the teaching work she was doing there in 2015 – at the same school, with (largely) the same kids.

As of Saturday, Robin had arrived in Margem safe and sound. This time a work crew also arrived with her to make some improvements to the school. They’ll probably be underfoot for the first week or two, but they’re going to be making the school a brighter and more functional place to be, so it’s all good. Robin also brought up a ton of stuff, mostly thanks to you all!

 

SAVE THE DATE – JORDAN’S BAR MITZVAH

I’ll be sending out a separate evite to the whole community, but an advance notice that Jordan’s Bar Mitzvah will be on February 4th at the Wing Point Country Club at 10:30 am, catered lunch to follow would be awesome and appreciated if announced in the upcoming newsletter.

 

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, we are spotlighting the Charity Navigator 4 star charity Plymouth Housing Group. Plymouth Housing Group transforms lives by providing permanent, supportive homes to homeless people with few other options for housing.

Since 1980, they have been providing homes to the most challenged homeless adults in our community. Today, over 1,000 formerly-homeless adults live in 13 Plymouth residential apartment buildings in the downtown Seattle area. Another 600 have found a home in Seattle/King County through Plymouth’s Shelter Plus Care Program (a federal housing program Plymouth administers for King County).

At the heart of Plymouth’s approach is the “Housing First” philosophy, a philosophy that has proven successful across the country. Without a stable home, homeless people cannot access the assistance they need to address their problems. Lack of a stable home exacerbates chronic medical and mental health conditions, making it very difficult to improve one’s life. Plymouth Housing Group workss hard to lower the barriers to housing so that people who are shut out of housing have an opportunity to succeed. Our model of permanent housing, coupled with “wrap around” supportive services, helps people rebuild their lives, regain their dignity, and leave homelessness behind forever.

Read more about them at www.plymouthhousing.org.

 

CROP HUNGER WALK

Cropwalk 2016 –Chavurat Shir Hayam raised $1,343 to date for this year’s Crop Hunger Walk sponsored by BI/NK Interfaith Council on Sunday, Sept. 25. A total of $44,000+ (includes a $22,000 match) was donated by the whole community.

Thank you again to all those who made this year’s walk a success. Close to $350 of the Shir Hayam Team funds will stay in our community to assist those in need at our local food banks.There’s still time to donate, if you haven’t already – click here: https://www.crophungerwalk.org/bainbridgeislandwa/Donate

If you prefer to give directly to Helpline House, here are some options http://www.helplinehouse.org/thanksgiving.shtml. The Tikkun Olam committee presented Helpline House with three $15 gift cards to offset households’ holiday food expenses during their Project Wishbone. This donation tends to be the kickoff of TO annual donations; all funds received for the fiscal year are distributed by the end of the year (May 2017). Sign up (membership form), if you wish to have a voice as to where these funds go.

 

MEMBERSHIP & Tax Deductible Donations

All memberships & program fund contributions made in 2016 are tax deductible . Please send in your membership form to Chavurah Shir Hayam, PO Box 11492, Bainbridge Island WA 98110. Contact Denise Brown via Shir Hayam contact us,  if you need an application forwarded to you.  Tax deductible donations can be made to the General Fund, School, Education Fund, Tikkun Olam, or other fund of your choice to honor an event, person, or as a remembrance.  Make checks payable to Chavurat Shir Hayam.

Our 2016-2017 membership forms are slowly coming in. Our intent is Membership Commitment by signing the membership form and participation with committees/holydays/projects. We are a small organization & every little bit helps.  Contact Denise Brown at mailings@shirhayam.org if you need a form.