Erev Shabbat, 7:00 pm In Person Join us to light candles and gather in community to celebrate Shabbat. This service will be lay led, with Sara Eve Sarliker presenting the d'var and diasporic music by Anjali Silva and Rosie Koppelman!
There is no Saturday morning program this week. Our Saturday morning regular Shabbat morning/afternoon rotation starts up again in September!
THIS WEEK AT TBH
Tevah Sharing Circles Thursday, August 29, 7:00 pm OR Thursday, September 5, 7:00 pm
In Person
The word tevah is used in the Torah to refer to Noah’s ark as well as the basket that Moses was placed in. This tevah will be created by each other for each other as a vessel of safety in turbulent waters.
A space will be formed that’s safe and confidential for participants to express what’s on their hearts and minds about our Jewish and our wider world so rife with hatred and conflict. All participants will agree to some basic ground rules to give structure to our tevah. Each participant will have an opportunity to speak while holding the talking stick.
Sessions will be co-facilitated by Evan Ferber and Eliana Stockwell-Ferber who both have training and experience in small group facilitation. Each session will be limited to twenty people. All are welcome, including participants from the last series of tevah sharing circles.
Senior Schmooze Tuesday, September 3, 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. We don't have a dessert host this month, feel free to bring a shareable item if you are able!
ForKids Food Packing Tuesday, September 3, 4:00 pm In Person @ 2260 Mottman Rd SW
TBH was the first faith community to begin the Thurston County Food Bank ForKids program by filling actual backpacks full of food that were handed out at elementary schools in 2007.
TBH will be the first group in September to fill bags starting on Tuesday, September 3, at 4:00 p.m. at the Tumwater Food Bank. Thank you to Elie Halpern and Bernie Friedman who have coordinated this program in the past. And welcome and thank you to Michael Koppel who will coordinate this group for the 24-25 year.
Anna-Min will again be the Thurston County Food Bank person in charge of this program, and TBH will continue to fill bags the first Tuesday of every month throughout the school year when TBH volunteers will gather at the Tumwater Food Bank. We look forward to a good turnout and encourage both parents, grandparents, children, single adults and childless adults who wish to volunteer to come on the first Tuesday of every month beginning with September 4. Thanks to all the past volunteers.
COMING UP AT TBH
Blessing of the Animals Shabbat Friday, September 6, 7:00 pm
In Person
Shabbat in the TBH courtyard! And as it is the start of the month of Elul, which is the New Year for the animals, we will invite all courtyard-appropriate pets to join us.
Melaveh Malka New Year Starts Up with Game Night Monthly 1st Saturday evenings, Starts Saturday, September 7, 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. This will be a new monthly opportunity for some TBH social time! Visit with your Jewish community and have fun!
Melaveh Malka will often be themed as a game night, but interspersed look for other programming, like bingo, crafts, cooking, and more. Let us know if you would like to help plan a program!
Introduction to Judaism Class--Registration Open Sundays, beginning September 8 Online
Presented by the Washington Coalition of Rabbis. This online, 31-session class is a survey of Jewish texts, practices, ideas, and history, taught by rabbis from across Washington State from a variety of denominations, backgrounds, and work experiences.
This class is suitable for all adult learners, including those exploring Judaism personally (including possible conversion), those looking to add depth to their Jewish identity, those partnered with Jews or part of Jewish families, or those just interested in learning more about Judaism. Register>>
Darchei Noam Registration & Orientation Sunday, September 8, 1:00 pm
In Person
Darchei Noam specifically encompasses programming for children ages 5-13, but all families are welcome to come see what the program looks like.
Here's the schedule: 1pm - 1:30 meet and schmooze - this time is to reconnect with people you haven't seen all summer, meet some educators and make new friends. 1:30 - 3pm educational programming - this time is for Catherine to meet with parents about the program and kids will have an activity time with some of our educators 3pm - turn in your paperwork and head out - Kayla and Catherine will be here to help you complete everything so you're ready to go for upcoming events.
Shabbat Salon: Rabbi Deborah Waxman Friday, September 13, 7:00 pm
In Person
Join TBH for the first salon of the season, welcoming Rabbi Deborah Waxman. THE FIRST WOMAN RABBI to head a Jewish congregational union and a Jewish seminary, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., became president and chief executive officer of Reconstructing Judaism in 2014. Since then, she has drawn on her training as a rabbi and historian to be the Reconstructionist movement’s leading voice in the public square. She was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and received a Ph.D. in American Jewish history from Temple University.
Our salon includes a dinner at 7:00 pm catered by Nineveh! We will gather in the social hall to say Shabbat prayers as a community and enjoy dinner together. Our featured presenter will follow at approximately 8:00 pm. Register for the dinner>>
It's Great to Greet! Sunday, September 22, 5:00 pm
In Person
The pre-High Holiday greeter training is coming up and WE NEED MORE GREETERS. You are the perfect person to be a greeter. It’s a fun way to get to know our community. You don’t have to be big and tough to be a greeter. In fact, greeters can be of any size and friendly temperment!
Please join us for a short training on Sunday, September 22 from 4-5:30 p.m. at TBH. Our facilitator is none other than local historian, stand-up comedian and chair of the TBH Safety Committee, David Scherer Water. Questions? david.scherer.water@gmail.com
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Immigrant & Refugee Task Force: JCIJ Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice August newsletter to learn about our our September summer gathering, or how you can volunteer, donate or advocate for our newest community members.
Subscribe to receive our newsletter and our action alerts. Keep In touch with the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW at team@jewishcoalition.org, and check out our website.
FROM THE OFFICE
We are hiring! A/V Staff
We are looking to hire someone to help with our synagogue service streaming on Friday evenings and on Rosh Hashanah morning. If you know of someone who would be interested, email tbh@bethhatfiloh.org for a complete job description.
High Holiday Torah Reading
We are still looking for people to read Torah during the High Holidays, specifically on Rosh Hashana. If you would like to read, please sign up on this form. Contact Rabbi Seth with any questions.
Share your Torah Thoughts!
Each week we have the opportunity to share thoughts and teachings about the weekly Torah portion as part of our services. And we want to hear your wisdom! Rabbi Seth invites you to deliver a d’var Torah at an upcoming service, no experience necessary—and he can help you craft your message. (Also look for a d’var Torah workshop over the summer). If you are interested, sign up here..
THANK YOU!
Contributions
Unity Commons Meal Sponsor Doreen and Nicolas Garcia in memory of Doreen's grandmother Dodo
Sustaining Fund Rob Kaminsky Rachael Jamison Edith Rutel in memory of Jerry Rutel
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund Poker Group
Volunteers ForKids Elie Halpern and Bernie Friedman for their many years of coordinating this program on behalf of TBH!
Eva Carr Ingeborg Asher-Pepper Arnold Goldstein Jacob Bean Donald Stedman Howard Greenberg Kenneth Wilfred Strange Nate Cooper Marianna Dapello Victoria Cohen Ben Rome Edward Ferber Edna Shecter Sydney Rubin Bunya Rosenfeld Lawrence J Bornstein Lewis Weiner Reina Holman Sharon Weiner Bronwyn Vincent Charles Ackerman Della Marie Larabee
Happy Birthday!
2 Maryrose Asher 3 Harry Steinman 3 Susan Rosen 3 Rhone Orman 3 Sandra Parker 3 Dan Katz
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 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.
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle: Jewish Community Public Policy Priorities Survey Now through September 30 Online
Each year, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle advocates in Olympia on behalf of both our local Jewish agencies, as well as the broader Jewish community. Learn about what the Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) achieved during the 2024 legislative session here .
Now, we need to hear from you again! Please take a few minutes to fill out this year’s Public Policy Priorities Survey. Your answers will be critical in shaping our community’s 2025 legislative agenda and will ensure your voice is heard in our state’s Capitol!
IJS: Shofar Project - Awakening to Action for the New Year Wednesdays, September 4 – 25, 5:00 - 6:00 pm Online
Join faculty members of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality for four weeks of ongoing Jewish spiritual practice to prepare our inner lives for the challenges and joys of the upcoming Jewish year, 5785.
JCIJ: 2nd Annual Picnic Sunday, September 8, 10:30 am In Person @ Gas Works Park, Seattle
Join the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice on September 8 for our 2nd annual Picnic to come together in community! Please let us know if you can make it - registration is required and tickets are free. Register here.
Make a Difference this Election!
If you’re looking for a way to make a difference this election year, register and come to the RAC’s (Religious Action Committee of Reform Judaism) Ready, Set, VOTE on September 12 at 5 PM. Help kick off the final weeks of the election season, hear from inspiring speakers about what’s at stake, and learn what we can do together in the coming weeks: mobilizing more people to vote yes on reproductive freedom ballot measures, overcoming barriers to voting, and ensuring every vote is counted, so you can wake up on Nov, 6 knowing you did everything you could to build a community where everyone belongs. Ready, Set, VOTE is part of a weekly series. Find an event at www.rac.org/everyweek.
Reconstructionists Expanding Our Conversation on Israel-Palestine: Legacies of Dissent--American Jews, Zionism, and Palestine Tuesday, September 17, 5:00 pm Online
Geoffrey Levin’s Our Palestine Question and Marjorie Feld’s The Threshold of Dissent reveal the long history of debates over Zionism and Israel within the American Jewish community. Levin records the voices of American Jews who called for an honest reckoning with the moral and political plight of Palestinians from even before Israel’s founding. Feld examines how and why mainstream Jewish leaders marginalized anti- and non-Zionists from the 1880s through the 1980s. Feld and Levin will talk about the implications and costs of limiting the Jewish communal agenda with an eye toward today’s Jewish protests over the devastation in Gaza.
Email expandingourconversation@gmail.com for registration.
Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Growing Shabbat! at TBH Friday, Mar 13th 5:30p to 8:00p Everyone is welcome to join us for family friendly dinner and a service.
Registration is free but required for planning.
Please put any dietary requirements in the notes when registering.
