Torah Readings Parashat Shemot Exodus 1:1-6:1 Haftarah for Ashkenazim: Isaiah 27:6-28:13 , 29:22-23 Haftarah for Sephardim: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
Shabbat Morning Saturday, January 14 Torah Study, 10:00 am Online Prayer and study are equally holy activities. All are invited to join in these highly participatory discussions on Zoom. No experience necessary!
Our Salon@Home features speaker Anson Laytner on the Kaifeng Jewish Community. The Kaifeng Jewish community is over a thousand years old, making it one of the longest-lived Jewish communities still in existence (but just barely). This talk will review the community's history and unique culture, and particularly how it came to be known in the rest of the world.
A focus will be on its difficult present-day situation. Aside from their fascinating history, the Chinese Jews raise a number of challenges for other Jews including "Who is a Jew?" and the legitimacy of, and limits to, cultural appropriation.
Meal pick-up for those who placed an order will take place prior to services in the TBH parking lot. Registrants will receive a reminder email and time slot tomorrow. Those who didn't order a meal are most welcome at services or the presentation--join for all or part! Services start at 6:00 pm, presentation at approximately 7:15 pm on the same Erev Shabbat Zoom link.
Book Group Tuesday, January 17, 7:00 pm Online Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish. Set in London of the 1660s and of the early twenty-first century, the book interweaves the tale of two women: Ester Velasquez, an emigrant from Amsterdam who is permitted to scribe for a blind rabbi, just before the plague hits the city; and Helen Watt, an ailing historian with a love of Jewish history. See the full book group 22-23 reading list here.
Dear community members! My name is Iila Kennelly, and this coming month I am having my Bat Mitzvah event. I have been looking forward to it for many years. I really wanted to do a special mitzvah project that would show my love for the community. I have decided that I wanted to help get solar panels on the roof of TBH because climate change is a concern for me. The world can be a better place for the people who come in the future and solar panels are the way to do it. The good news is that there has been a group at our Temple trying to get solar panels on the roof for quite some time, so they have a lot of good project information started, including how we can get a significant grant for the effort. We have a fundraising goal of $20,000 and anything that you donate will be matched by my parents until our goal is reached. Thank you for reading this and please DONATE NOW!!! My dad and I created a website here with more information: TBH Solar Fundraising Mitzvah Project.
New Monthly Erev Shabbat Program! 4th Friday of the month, starts January 27 Hybrid
Telling Our TBH Story We are the People of the Book. We are also the people of ever so many stories. And we at TBH have stories to share with each other.
“Our stories tell us who we are, who we were, and who we hope to be. They’re how we form our very identity…. Stories are how we keep our collective history alive” (from the forward of The Essential Guide to Memorable Story Telling From the Moth: How to Tell a Story).
We are going to have an opportunity once a month to share and collect stories about our experiences at TBH. Starting in January, the 4th Friday night of the month will include a chance to hear from each other as we share Shabbat and stories about ourselves and TBH. This chance to learn from one another through our personal stories builds upon the Shabbat Salon and story workshops Nancy Snyder held last spring, though participation in them is not necessary to be part of this project.
Rabbi Seth, Nancy Snyder and Leslie Goldstein are working together to develop a TBH Story Shabbat. We are asking for some volunteers each month to tell a personal story around a theme related to experiences with Temple Beth Hatfiloh.
The theme for January 27 will be about peoples’ earliest experiences with TBH. Whether you recently had your first interaction with an event or a person at the synagogue, or you initially came to TBH decades ago, we want to hear the story of your first experiences. Each person will share no longer than 10 minutes.
The theme for February 24 will be: Providing Sanctuary for asylum seekers at TBH. And looking ahead to March 24, the theme is: Going through the pandemic at TBH.
Rosh Chodesh New Moon Circle: Sh'vat Sunday, January 29, 3:30 pm In Person
In acknowledgment of their faithfulness at Mt.Sinai, women were rewarded with Rosh Chodesh (Head or Beginning of the Month) which is a day that mirrors the concept that faith is rewarded with renewal. Women (in its most inclusive sense!) are invited to enter the divine circle and to bring a hand-held object or photograph of a woman who personifies strength, wisdom and spiritual guidance in their lives. Coffee, tea and snacks will be served.
Calling All Musicians: Jam Session! Sunday, February 5, 3:00 pm In Person
Do you play an instrument? Are you interested in contributing musically to our Shabbat services? Rabbi Seth invites you to the first TBH Jam Session! Whether you play the guitar, drum, piano, flute, stand-up bass, xylophone, fiddle, etc., this will be an opportunity to learn and share music. We will both have fun and set a kavannah (intention) to bringing more music to our Friday Night Services. Rabbi Seth will be providing a few pieces in advance, and if you have music you like and would like to share it, please do! (even if you don’t know how to play it yet). Please Register so we can plan accordingly.
The Thurston County Point in Time Count is coming up at the end of January. There is a warm winter and survival gear drive taking place this month for distribution during the count. Donations can be dropped off in the bins in the TBH foyer or at the Old Fire Hall at 108 State Ave on Fridays between 1-3 pm. Learn more here>>
Immigrant & Refugee Task Force: JCIJ Newsletter
The Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW believes another world is possible. In our vision, all immigrants deserve to be treated with respect and care under laws that are just and humane. In our vision, we live in safety, peace and power together. And we welcome the stranger because we have been strangers ourselves.
In this newsletter, learn 8 ways to support immigrants to go with the 8 lights of Hanukkah. Hannukah may have passed, but these needs are still ongoing.
Coleman Gershuny Sophie Scheier Dorothy Ebner Jacob Weiss Kenneth Edgan Goldstein Gale Stanley Blum Abraham Stern Shirley Lamm Ellen Hecker Whitting John Victor Kaydus Isadore Isaac Goodman Chaim Leib Abraham Shats Rachel Kogan Maurice L. Halpern Jacob Goldberg John B. Vincent Maurice Rubenstein Edward M. Reiner Adele Youdin Max Bach Wilma Timian
Members are able to view, edit, and add Yahrtzeits on the member portal of the TBH website here (requires log in). If you need assistance, please feel free to send any updates to tbh@bethhatfiloh.org.
COMMUNITY EVENTS/RESOURCES: Note: These are not officially sponsored or endorsed by TBH, but they are listed as they have Jewish content and/or may be of interest to our community.
Kadima is hiring!
Kadima Reconstructionist Community in Seattle is hiring a temporary part-time fundraiser and event organizer. This position will run through May, 2023 and will be fully remote with the exception of our fundraising event on Sunday, April 30th. Job description, pay, and instructions on how to apply are here. For more information please contact office@kadima.org.
Temple Beth Israel Seeking High Holiday Leader for 2023 Applications due February 28
Temple Beth Israel (Aberdeen, WA) seeks a prayer leader for the High Holiday Services 2023. Temple Israel is an inclusive Reform/Reconstructionist Jewish community. We are working to preserve Jewish life and increase a sense of belonging while living in a predominately Christian town. The leader’s background and training can range from assistant rabbi/cantor, rabbinic/cantorial intern, cantorial soloist, to lay leader.
