Candle lighting: 7:09 pm Torah Readings Parashat Vayikra Torah Portion: Leviticus 1:1-5:26; Deuteronomy 25:17-19 Haftarah for Ashkenazim: I Samuel 15:2-34 Haftarah for Sephardim: I Samuel 15:1-34
Shabbat Morning Saturday, March 23
Morning Service, 10:00 am In Person The service will be both a community Shabbat experience and a learning opportunity for our b'nai mitzvah families.
Communal Lunch, 11:30 am In Person
Talmud Study, 12:30 pm Hybrid The Talmud is a compendium of law and lore that is the basis on which biblical interpretation and contemporary Jewish practice rest.
Join us for the return of our annual Purim celebration marking the events of the book of Esther when the Jews were saved from a nefarious plot and we have a party to remember it! Food, crafts, games, the famous Purim Pinata and the reading of the megillah! Come in costume!
We will be hosting a food drive collection at the party--see more below.
Purim Food Drive: FORKids Program Sunday, March 24, 1:00 pm In Person - bring to the Purim Party
Every year for Purim, TBH gathers food for the Thurston County Food Bank. Anna-Min at the Thurston County Food Bank has specifically asked TBH to focus on the following items to put into the bags for the FORKids program: (1) fruit cups, (2) fruit pouches or the fruit squeeze items, and (3) oatmeal or granola bars. These will be used in the FORKids program which provides weekly food bags for kids in need in elementary schools and Head Start programs. The Thurston County Food Bank will also accept other donations as well as the items listed.
Here is a little background about the FORKids food program: the program began, around 2007, to provide weekend meals to kids in elementary schools at North Thurston School District, Olympia School District, and Tumwater School District, as well as to Head Start programs. The first faith community that volunteered to make the bags was TBH, and we have done it regularly since then. On March 5, TBH volunteers filled three pallets full of 72 boxes totaling 522 bags. In 2023, the Thurston County Food Bank distributed 48,227 FORKids bags total to the elementary schools in Thurston County, serving about 1300 students per week. So far in 2024, the program has been serving 1860 students per week--the need has been growing.
TBH once a month on the first Tuesday of each month from 4:00-6:00 p.m. could always use more volunteers, including children and grandparents and parents and friends who are not TBH members. If you have any questions, feel free to call either Bernie Friedman at __ or Elie Halpern at 360-878-3679 for more information.
Unity Commons Meal Preparation and Sponsorship Sunday, March 23
For the past year, TBH has been preparing a monthly meal for 60 at the Unity Commons Shelter on Martin Way. Unity Commons is a supported housing apartment operated by Interfaith Works. This effort has been possible only with the amazing group of volunteers who have been showing up ready to roll up their sleeves and cook.
Funding for our meals is currently only partially covered under the TBH budget. It would be wonderful if this effort was funded by community donations. Over the past several months, we have had donors honor a loved one or a yahrtzeit by sponsoring the meal for the month. We are in need of a March sponsor! The cost to put on a meal is approximately $250. This includes the food, as well as the disposable pans for transporting food to the shelter.
Click here to sponsor a meal, or if you would like to be added to the list of volunteers for cooking, please contact Kayla at tbh@bethhatfiloh.org.
COMING UP AT TBH
DATE CHANGE: Almost April Tot Shabbat Saturday, March 30, 10:00 am
Because of our Bat Mitzvah coming up on the first weekend in April, we will be rescheduling our April Tot Shabbat session to the 5th Saturday in March.
Bat Mitzvah: Laura Citrin, Nancy Koppelman, Jean Mandeberg Saturday, April 6, 10:00 am
Almost two years ago, Rabbi Seth put out a call to anyone in the congregation who didn't have the opportunity for a Bat or Bar Mitzvah when they were 13 to get to study and prepare for one now as adults. Ever since then, Laura, Nancy, and Jean, three friends and former Evergreen colleagues, have been studying, discussing, and learning together. They have each focused their study on a different aspect of becoming a Bat Mitzvah: reading from the Torah; commenting on the Torah portion Sh’mini (Leviticus 9-11); and leading the Mourner's Kaddish prayer and offering a meditation on its meanings.
Now we look forward to their Bat Mitzvah celebration on April 6, 2024, at 10:00 am. The congregation is invited to join them for this Saturday morning Shabbat service at TBH in person or on Zoom (link below). A Kiddush lunch in the Social Hall will follow.
Our spring trimester for school-aged kids will begin in April and runs through June, with classes meeting 6 times on Sunday afternoons. Program options include: Torah Drama!, Traditional Folk Life, Hebrew, Making the Omer Count, Weaving Connections, and What's Jewish About?
Sustaining Fund Esther and Warren Kronenberg in memory of Martha Organek Charlene Healy Janet Roller in memory of Tiby Roller Susan and Stuart Lucas in honor of Jean Mandeberg's Bat Mitzvah Paul Surette
Volunteers
Children's Library Sara Glass
Art Inventory Barb Soule Laura Hurtado-Webb Melinda Holman
We still have open slots to give a d’var Torah! If you are interested in sharing your thoughts on the weekly Torah portion at Friday night services, sign up on this Google Doc. Rabbi Seth is willing and able to help you craft your message. Please note that some services are hybrid, some are online only
Directory Photos!
Do you know all the members of TBH? We are approaching 250 member households, and would love if folks know "who's who?" when they come by the synagogue. We encourage adding member photos on our online Member Directory. If you are willing, please update your account to include a photo, or send one to Kayla.
AROUND THE CONGREGATION
Yahrzeits
Leonard Ostrer Anna Gelber Mitchell Mandeberg Joan David Hittle William Eastham Lawrence Strasberg Tillie Bard Hal Marcus Belle Goldstein Sadao Kishimoto Oscar Rosenkrantz Tania Gottessmann Marion Denitz David Aaron Solomon Elliott Ostrer Richard Bamberger Zangwill Freed
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 necessarily officially sponsored or endorsed by TBH, but they are listed as they have Jewish content and/or may be of interest to our community.
“When Jewish Women Lead: Activating People & Possibilities through Turbulent Times,” Wednesday, April 3, 4:00 pm Online
Join Rabbi Deborah Waxman and fellow leaders Cheryl Cook, CEO of Avodah; Cindy Greenberg, CEO of Repair the World; and Ilana Aisen, CEO of JPro.
This year, Reconstructing Judaism is honoring its leader, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, for her 10 trailblazing years as president and CEO. Deborah has met turbulent times with hope and resolve, projecting a vision of Judaism that inspires people to share wisdom, connect in community, prioritize inclusion, innovate for future generations and build resilience to surmount obstacles. Don’t miss your chance to honor her and experience a conversation with other pioneering female leaders about the lessons of the past decade, and the hopeful progress to come. As part of your registration, sign our virtual tribute wall.
Camp Kesher Early Bird Registration Closes March 31
On Labor Day weekend, come join this fun-filled weekend with other Jewish families across our region! It kicks off on Friday where we meet at beautiful Camp Sealth on Vashon Island (each family will have their own cabin). For four days, campers of all ages are immersed in Jewish community and study, and enjoy nature, sports, music, mahjong, and crafts—away from everyday distractions and responsibilities. (No cooking!) Make this experience a gift for yourself and your family. Bring the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends! Early bird registration discount until March 31. Watch this video on why you should come to camp: https://youtu.be/GpfxYY9zR2Y?si=9KGhOo7HV8zPidKt Register at https://campkesher.org
HFLA: Education Assistance Programs Applications open in April
Need help paying for college? HFLA can help! We offer interest-free, no fee loans of up to $7,500 for postsecondary education and need based scholarships. Scholarship applications open April 1st, Loan applications open May 1st. Informational webinars Mar 20th at 7pm and April 16th at 7pm. Put it on your calendar. Contact office@hflawa.org (206) 397-0005
Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501
