Erev Shabbat Friday, December 29 Erev Shabbat Service, 6:30 pm Hybrid Our Shabbat services, on Zoom and in person! Join us to light candles and gather in community to celebrate Shabbat.Â
Talmud Study, 10:00 am Hybrid Our Talmud Study this month has been rescheduled due to the B'nai Mitzvah last week. Please join us at 10 am online or in person.Â
Prayer and study are equally holy activities. All are invited to join in these highly participatory discussions. No experience is necessary!
Advancing in Hebrew Thursday, December 28, 7:00 pm Online
This seminar-type gathering will work on advancing Hebrew knowledge, including grammar and roots. Our next gathering will be October 26th at 7:00 pm.
Senior Schmooze Tuesday, January 2, 12:00 pm In Person
Join us on the first Tuesday of every month for a social gathering, occasional short presentations and healthy dose of humor. Definition of "senior" is up to you. All are welcome. For the first schmooze of 2024, Bernie Friedman will be our presenter and Thomas Courts will be our dessert host.
ForKids Food Packing Tuesday, January 2, 4:00 pm In Person @ Thurston County Food Bank
Kudos to the volunteers who built out 648 lunches in December! For more info about the ForKids program call or email Bernie Friedman at 360 528 7447 bernief25@comcast.net.
1,522 children are served weekly by ForKids. TBH was the first faith community to volunteer to pack bags for the ForKids program when it began in 2007 in the cold environs of the downtown branch of the Thurston County Food Bank. The food that that we bag is delivered weekly to elementary schools in the three school districts of North Thurston, Tumwater, and Olympia, and each week since the beginning of September there have been more and more bags needed to be filled as the need has increased.
COMING UP AT TBH
Warm Clothing Drive Ends January 5th!
The TBH Homeless Task Force is collecting warm clothing during the month of December. The items will be donated to St. Michaels clothing bank. Please consider donating gently used coats, sweaters, hats, scarves, socks- or any other cold weather clothing. There are collection bins placed in the foyer and by the entrance to the social hall. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Melaveh Malka Saturday, January 6, 7:00 pm In Person
Melaveh Malka is a traditional term describing Saturday night—accompanying Shabbat out as we get ready for the new week. Visit with your Jewish community and have fun! For January we are bringing back a crowd favorite--Game Night!
Registration is Open for the January Shabbat Salon! Friday January 12, 6:30 pm In Person
Join TBH for a presentation by Dontae Payne, the new Mayor of Olympia! Dontae will be presenting on his experience in public service sitting on the Olympia City Council and as a Jew of Color in our community. Read more on the event page.
Our salon includes a dinner at 6:30 pm catered by Nineveh, this month featuring vegetarian sushi and yakisoba! We will gather in the social hall at 6:30 to say Shabbat prayers as a community and enjoy dinner together. Our featured presenter will follow at approximately 7:45 pm.
Limmud Ba'salon @ TBH Saturday January 13, 7:00 pm In Person
This year, for Limmud Seattle 2024, TBH is participating in the Limmud Ba'salon, which is a chance for people to gather in small, informal groups to learn, sing, dance, and create deeper connections with a focus on Shabbat. We will say Havdallah, schmooze, and eat. Participants must register through the Limmud Website. Cost is $18/person. For general information on the Limmud Festival, see below in the community section.
Beginning Hebrew for Adults Starts January 21, 2:45 pm In Person
Want to learn the aleph-bet? Want to be able to pick up a prayerbook or Torah and be able to read through? Time to learn Hebrew! At the end of this class students will be able to read and decode Hebrew with some introduction to vocabulary, grammar and the meaning behind our sacred language. Class meets for 10 Sundays, 2:45-4:00 beginning in January: Jan 21, Feb 4, 11, 25, Mar 10, Apr 7, 14, 28, May 19, June 2. (Note: the timing and schedule of the class coincides with the second session of the Darchei Noam youth program) All materials provided. Free for TBH Members, $72 for non-members.
As the fighting between Israel and Hamas continues, here are some links from our affiliate organizations:
Reconstructing Judaism is hosting Holding on to Hope: 3 Organizations Working on Shared Society/Coexistence as the Only Path Forward on Wednesday, January 3 at 9:00 am. See more in the community section below.
Reconstructing Judaism hosted a "Shared Values and Multiple Opinions" Presentation on December 17. See the recording here.
Make a gift that sustains Jewish life in Olympia. ​​​​​​​We are nearing the end of our Fall Giving Campaign, which closes December 31st. Thanks to our generous donors, we have raised $32,000!
Anonymous Donors ​​​​​​​Marcela Abadi Sierra Abrams Lynne Alfasso & George Chappell Bret Anderson Sam Armour Jim Bamberger & Nancy Eastham Jennifer Barber Patricia Bartley in memory of Batia Levy Edie Bean Thomas & Karen Bean Noa Bechtle in gratitude for Book Club Mitch Becker Dahlia Bernal Ericka & Jeff Birkenstein in honor of Bob Birkenstein Susan & Larry Bitow in support of the Jewish people and TBH Susan Rosen & Michael Blum Denise & James Brennan Toby Brown Adrienne Buntain in honor of Dalya Mira Trebatch Molly Carmody Thomas Carr & Wren Wolf Magdalena Cristo-Frank Rachel Dagovitz Diane Dakin & Stephen Bray David Deitz & Donna Landry Kathy Dixon Jill & William Dole James Dolliver with the hope for world peace during someone's lifetime Beth Dubey
Cheryl Duryea Daniel Farber Susan Finkel Karen Fitzgerald Ann Frankel Janice Friebaum Bernie Friedman in memory of Phyllis Greenspan William Gallin Doreen & Nicolas Garcia Leslie Gates Leopold Gendelman Randee Gibbons in honor of Rabbi Seth Marilyn Gisser Tikva & Cliff Glantz in memory of Marv Reiner Robert Godwin Jody Goldman Lisa Goldschmidt Leslie Goldstein Yohanna Kinberg & Seth Goldstein Jill Rosenkrantz & Jay Goldstein Sue Goldstein Karen & Alan Goldstein Ellen Grant Joanne Green in memory of Sadie Morrison Joy Greenberg Susan Gresia Abby Gross in honor of Rabbi Seth Lydia Grossman Elie & Beth Halpern David & Felicia Hanig Aryeh Harif Ann & Timothy Hartman Hilarie Hauptman Robert Haynes Charlene Healy Frank Herman Evan & Stacy Hirsch Michael Hirsch Stephen Hodes & Harriet Strasberg Sheldon Hoffman Diane & Laurence Istvan Kayla and Andrew Iverson Susan Iverson Michele & Richard Jackman Katie Johnson Jessica Josephs Ricki Kahn Rebecca Kamen in memory of Alan Kamen Ezra Katz Mark Kaufman James Kaydus & Phyllis Neff Juli Kelen Lori Kishimoto & Craig Wallace Victor Kogan in memory of Faina Kogan Valerie Kolarik Michael & Ricki Koppel
Jack & Carole Kowitt Michael Krasnokutsky Esther and Warren Kronenberg Diane Kurzyna & Alan Reichman Roberta Lamb Bonnie Lambert Tish Levee Joel Levin & Esther Warkov Yana Levina Audrey Levine & Nels Johnson Cindy Levy Russell Lidman Andrea Lipper in honor of the IDF Deborah Loomis Robert Lovitt Keith Mars Nicklaus McHendry Carol McLaughlin Carla Michalove Diane Miller in memory of Bronwyn Vincent Nicole & Greg Moulton Zoe Myers Maya North Naomi & Ed Obie Margaret Okamoto Mark Peckler Marilyn Piper & Craig Costello Susan & Larry Poplack Isabella Rogol Steve Romance & Sherry Riesner Scott Royer Yelena & Grigoriy Rozenfeld Linda Rubin Edith Rutel Linda Sanda Gary Schneider & Nancy Snyder Randall Schoch Laura & Sam Schrager Sara Shapiro in memory of Roger Trafton Debra Shapiro Schwent Nina Shecter in memory of Morton Shecter Charles & Norma Shelan Mark Sherman Anjali Silva Jane Skinner Oscar and Barbara Soule Cynthia Spencer Mary Stevenson in memory of Jim Stevenson Ahna Stoller Susan Strange Adam Tenenbaum Raphael Venegas Sharon & Steven Weinberg Mark and Meg Weiss Nancy West Jackie Wolf Ellen & Carl Wolfhagen Frank & Ellen Young
Iris Karger Ron Stein Helen Stein Arthur Weiss Robert Haynes Jr Jeremiah Ruben Shirley Hacken Henry Matis Goldie M. Reiner Patricia Marie Greene Morton Saul Poplack Suzanne I. Haiby Ellen Hecker Whitting Shirley Lamm Philip Frank Isadore Isaac Goodman John Victor Kaydus Bill Stockwell George Bamberger Rachel Kogan Abraham Shats
Happy Birthday!
27Â Paul Alig 27Â Joceile Moore 29Â Jacqueline David 29Â Marc Wiseman
Yahrtzeit Updates & Additions
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.Â
Reconstructing Judaism: Holding on to Hope:Â Three Organizations Working on Shared Society/Coexistence as the Only Path Forward Wednesday, January 3, 9:00 am Online
At this moment, when so much feels lost and possibilities for peace and coexistence seem further away than ever, connecting with Israelis and Palestinians on the ground is essential. In this webinar, we will meet representatives from three shared-society organizations continuing to work across communities to lay a foundation for peace.Â
Speakers include: Mohamad Kundos, Principal of the Hand in Hand School, Kfar Saba May Pundik, Israeli CEO of A Land for All Alon-Lee Green, National co-director of Standing Together
Moderated by: Rabbi Elliott Tepperman (RRC '02), B’nai Keshet Reconstructionist Synagogue, Immediate Past-President of the RRA and current Co-chair of the JStreet Rabbinic Cabinet
Join us on Zoom for an 8-week course taught by Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Professor of Middle East History, Emeritus at Stanford University. This will be an opportunity to grapple with the history and current realities of the Israeli occupation, engage with difficult ideas, and process complex questions in a respectful environment. Read more about the course description on the registration page.Â
Before retiring in 2019, Joel taught Middle East history for 35 years at Stanford University. He is one of the organizers of Reconstructionists Expanding Our Conversation About Israel-Palestine and is a member of Havurah Shalom in Portland. He has taught this class in his congregation in Portland.Â
Registration is required. The course fee is sliding scale $36-$72 for the series. Please email office@shamayim.org if you need scholarship assistance.
Reconstructionists Expanding Our Conversation on Israel-Palestine is an independent project organized by rabbis and laypeople and co-sponsored by several Reconstructionist congregations. We embrace the Reconstructionist movement’s values of justice (tzedek), compassion (chesed), and the dignity of all human life (b’tselem Elohim). Our embrace of these values leads us to oppose Israel’s domination of the Palestinian people. We hope this series will expand our understanding of historical and present-day conditions in Israel/Palestine and strengthen our commitment to a just future. All are welcome to join us in learning and listening with open hearts and minds.
Limmud Seattle 2024: Seattle’s Jewish Learning & Culture Festival January 7-14, 2023 Hybrid
With over 50 amazing presenters and musicians from our region and around the world.
E-Festival:Â January 7, 2024, Zoom
Ba’Salon (Intimate Gatherings): January 13, 2024, Various Home Locations
MAIN FESTIVAL EVENT & ISRAEL BENEFIT CONCERT:Â January 14, 2024, Univ of WA H.U.B.
A Jewish Gathering of Discovery, Connection and Growth - Join Us!
To Learn More & Register: www.limmudseattle.org
Limmud Seattle 2024:Â Strings of Solidarity Sunday, January 14, 6:00 pm In Person @ UW
Dayenu's Spiritual Grief and Resiliency Workshop Sunday, January 21, 3:00 pm In Person at UW Hillel
Join Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action for a Seattle climate grief and resilience workshop on Sunday, January 2st, 2024 hosted by Hillel at the University of Washington and co-sponsored by Kavana and Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light.
We will take a journey together through four stages, rooted in Jewish wisdom. We start in (1) gratitude then we (2) honor our pain for the world by making space to process our climate emotions. We then move into (3) opening to new possibilities by imagining a just and livable future on planet earth and finally arriving at theories of change and (4) taking action.
