May 2021
Iyar/Sivan 5781
Click here to access the monthly calendar.
May
- 1 Shabbat Morning Meditation
- 3 Kugelettes
- 17 Kugelettes
- 23 Coordinating Committee Meeting
- 31 Kugelettes
June
- 5 Shabbat Morning Meditation
- 6 Coordinating Committee Meeting
- 14 Kugelettes
- Shabbat
- 27 Annual Meeting
- 28 Kugelettes
COMMUNITY
We are all wishing refuah shlema, a complete and speedy recovery to Bill Rutzick and Leo Fried.
MAZAL TOV to Molly Stern who is graduating with an RN from nursing school in May. Such a wonderful accomplishment and gift to the medical community and patients.
MAZAL TOV also to Jane and Bob Greenberg on their granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah in Boulder, Colorado.
WELCOME HOME to our beloved Carol Shakow, returning after so many months away.
SHABBAT MORNING MEDITATION
Dick and Linda will lead their monthly meditation this Saturday May 1, from 9-9:30 am. Please come join us for a lovely time to tune in and meditate together. Dick and Linda start us off with some guidance followed by a period of silent meditation. It is a lovely centering way to begin the month. Hope to see you there.
COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS CORNER
To keep everyone aware of the good work being done by our chavurah’s Standing Committees, and help us all be more informed when we hear from them at the Annual Meeting in June, each committee will provide a short summary of its accomplishments and plans in the newsletter in the next couple of months. This month we hear from the Community Presence Committee!
Education and Culture Committee
This year we went virtual and brought speakers from afar into our zoom room-From Italy, Michaela Pavoncello gave us a fascinating whirlwind tour of the history of the Jews in Rome. Lois Roman joined us from New Jersey to teach us the history of the Czech Torahs and our Shir Hayam Torah preserved by the Memorial Scrolls Trust.
We also met on zoom to discuss 3 movies, including two from the Seattle Jewish Film Festival. Ideas for the future include a book club, movie nights, speakers, music, dance, crafts and cooking events. We welcome you to share ideas for events, present or coordinate a program or join the committee to plan and produce future programs to help Shir Hayam members learn about our rich cultural heritage. If you have any questions or you think you would like to join the committee, please reach out to culture@shirhayam.org.
Tikkun Olam Committee
The focus of the Tikkun Olam committee this year has been support for refugees through KIAC (Kitsap Immigrant Assistant Center). Cay Vandervelde, Dee Axelrod & Mike Orr have given many hours to KIAC in Bremerton and we have supported them with donations. Other non-profit organizations that Shir Hayam has given funds to are Fishline in Poulsbo, Foodline in Bremerton, Helpline on Bainbridge, Kingston Cares & Jewish Family Service in Seattle. We also collected & donated food and winter wear to Helpline & helped serve food at Kingston Cares weekly dinner.
The task of Tikkun Olam is never ending but, it is rewarding. Please feel free to continue to offer suggestions and ideas to the committee. When Covid is really done we hope to be able to do more in-person volunteer work. If you have any questions or you think you would like to join the committee, please reach out to tikkun.olam@shirhayam.org
COORDINATING COMMITTEE
Upcoming CC meeting Sunday May 23 at 10 AM. As always SH members are most welcome to attend. Join us in the SH Zoom Room. Contact the committee at cc@shirhayam.org.
Agenda:
- Action Item Review
- Jewish Community Watch Report (if needed)
- Governance Document Update Plan
- Brainstorm ways that the new SH Wiki can be used by CC
- Annual Meeting Preparation
- Ruach Committee and Cemetery Committee present, detailing activities from this year and budget requests for next year.
Minutes from CC meeting April 18
- Began review of By-Laws. Updated by-laws will not be ready for ratification at the upcoming Annual Meeting.
- Torah loan process work group to complete policy details 5/1
- Presentations from Culture Committee and Tikkun Olam Committee
HAPPENING ONLINE
Institute for Jewish Spirituality
If you have not had an opportunity to tune into the Institute for Jewish Spirituality’s daily meditations, they have been counting the Omer, the period of time between Pesach and Shavout. Each week has had a different kavannah. Here are some links to their weekly intentions.
https://www.jewishspirituality.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Introduction-to-the-Omer.pdf https://www.jewishspirituality.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Omer-Week-2-1.pdf
https://www.jewishspirituality.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Omer-Week-3-1.pdf
https://www.jewishspirituality.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Omer-Week-4-1.pdf