SHABBAT SHALOM! Virtual Family Shabbat Service Friday, April 17, 6:00 pm
Our family-geared Shabbat in the comfort of your own home! Grab your computer and candles, and we'll join together for music and candle-lighting in virtual community. Services will be hosted on Facebook Live and Zoom.
Mussar via Zoom, 9:30 am Mussar is the Jewish school of thought which seeks to root personal character development and right behavior in Jewish tradition and text. We will gather to learn more about this tradition and how it may benefit our lives.
TBH Parking Lot Voting Closes Thursday, April 16, 5:00 p.m.
Voting on the TBH Parking Lot proposal closes tomorrow evening at 5:00 pm. If you are a voting member and have not been receiving previous communications on the Parking Lot vote or do not have the link to cast your ballot, contact Kayla at tbh@bethhatfiloh.org for assistance.
Advancing in Hebrew via Zoom Thursday, April 16, 7:00 p.m.
This seminar-type gathering will work on advancing Hebrew knowledge, including grammar and roots.
Green Team Meeting via Zoom Tuesday, April 21, 5:45 p.m.
We have no news to report this month for TBH. So, we want to share this: Carbon emissions across the world have been dramatically reduced as people stay home. We already seeing effects: the air has cleared up over China, the canals in Venice are cleaner, the contrails have lessened in our skies. This has occurred in less than a month. We do have the power to make a difference. What changes have you noticed in your energy use during this time? Everyone is welcome to join our next Green Team meeting.
The book group will be meeting just to get together and socialize. It will be nice to have social time without an agenda and catch up with each other, and talk about books we are reading independent of this book group.
This section of the weekly is dedicated to sharing member creativity and experiences during this time of separation! If you have a recipe, piece of art, poem, short story, photo, etc. that you would like to share, send it to tbh@bethhatfiloh.org. If we receive enough submissions, we hope to compile them after this crisis has passed.
Contagion by David Hanig, March 2020
At first, when word of it began to percolate, I was yet asleep and The virus a forgotten song Heard in a distant dream – Remote, faint, barely pricking my awareness.
Then slowly, siren-like, its pitch began to rise, Its decibels ringing, Demanding attention, And calling me from slumber.
Eventually, fully rousted, Its reveille shocked me to attention. I never realized before how a soldier’s bearing Is the deportment of fear – Abrupt, rigid, breath sucked in – A rictus that shouts out loud: “I’m terrified”. And so, I was.
These days, All things slow down. Fear or no fear, Life now creeps. And the virus implores us to be aware. Where once I was lax, Now I keep a kind of strict kosher: I wash my hands. Step aside on the trail. Spray the parcels that manifest Unheralded on my doorstep.
The virus says, “Be Conscious. Your life depends on it”. After years of practicing Zen on a cushion, I suddenly find myself in the middle of The longest meditation retreat I ever imagined! Such luxury! Such pure indulgence!
Slowly, slowly, my dull awareness Begins to grasp something new: This is no accident, this pandemic. This is no happen-chance, no random event. This is utter intention at work Our collective creation Summoning us from our slumber, Begging us to truly wake up.
RESOURCES
TBH COVID-19 Webpage
Please check out our webpage dedicated to COVID-19 updates and additional resources here.
TBH Office Closure
The physical office is closed, though staff members are still working remotely. For assistance, please email tbh@bethhatfiloh.org.
Providing Communal Support
The following support services have been offered by our wonderfully generous TBH members: home delivery, grocery shopping, prescription pick-up, email and phone chats, safe-distance walking companion, navigating healthcare, tech support, end of life consultation, mental health support, and more! To take advantage of these support services, email Kayla at tbh@bethhatfiloh.org.
AROUND THE CONGREGATION
Yahrzeits
Ruth Samsky Morris Rivkin Gerard Herman Evelyn Friedman Betty Robinson Helen Pollock Barbara Jean H. Clinton Smith William Mann Rose Siegel Max Bard Bella Wirth Ann Okun Sylvia Weiner Joseph Jenkins Rose Rome Belle Rubinstein Rabbi Myron Kinberg
Happy Birthday!
14 Alan Reichman 15 Marilyn Gisser 15 Victor Kogan 16 Max Selwitz 17 Gail Pollock 20 Sally Reichlin 20 Abigail Jenkins
Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501