Erev Shabbat Friday, February 14 Shabbat Salon, 6:30 pm In Person There is still time to register for this Friday's salon with Suzanne Simons! Read more below.
Haftarah for Ashkenazim: Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6 Haftarah for Sephardim: Isaiah 6:1-13
Shabbat Morning Saturday, February 15 There is no Saturday morning programming this week. Join Richard and Michele Jackman for the first Mussar Torah Study of 2025 next month on March 15th at 10:00 am on Zoom.
THIS WEEK AT TBH
February Salon Registration is Open: Suzanne Simons Friday, February 14, 6:0 pm In Person
Registration for the dinner closes this evening, Wednesday, February 12 at 5 pm. For our February Salon, we welcome Suzanne Simons, presenting “The Power, Peril, and Promise of Poetry” Poetry has the power to build community, strengthen connections, and compassion for ourselves, each other and communities other than our own, as well as bring healing and joy. The peril - and promise - of poetry comes when poetry of the page and the stage are used as means of resistance and voices for justice
In this reading/conversation, Suzanne Simons will share some of her poetry and her journey that led her to the Arab and Iranian Middle East, the Washington Correction Center in Shelton, and science labs at The Evergreen State College where she is faculty emerita.
Our salon includes a dinner at 6:30 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 7:45 pm.
Teen Roundtable Saturday, February 15, 1:00 pm In Person
Youth ages 12-16 are invited to join Catherine for pizza and a discussion on what ideal teen programs or activities look like to them. Please email Catherine if your teen is planning on attending with (meatless) pizza preferences.
Shabbat Shirah Kumsitz Saturday, February 15, 4:00 pm In Person
Member Feedback Meeting Sunday, February 16, 2:00 pm In Person (Zoom by request)
All TBH members are invited to attend a congregational feedback meeting this Sunday at 2 pm. A separate invitation and additional information was sent out last week, and a reminder will be emailed tomorrow!
Alex Graham Mitzvah Project
Hi, I'm Alex Graham and for my Bar Mitzvah Project, I am collecting clothes for defendants on trial. I am doing this because often people on trial don't have access to nice clothes and have to wear what the Office of Criminal Defense has available. Often attorneys buy clothes with their own funds. This can cause biased views based on their image, preventing an impartial trial.
I believe that during trials, what someone is wearing shouldn't be a factor in determining innocence. Having easy access to clothes will help eliminate unfair trials and create more equitable trials. This way everyone can have a chance in court.
I will be collecting gently used or new business casual clothes such as suits, ties, button down shirts, slacks, belts, shoes and skirts as well as monetary gift cards or money. Thank you for your generosity.
COMING UP AT TBH
Board Meeting Wednesday, February 19, 6:00 pm Online
All TBH members are invited to attend monthly board meetings as guests. Agenda are located here. If you would like to request to be put on a board meeting agenda, please be in touch with your board representative or the board president in advance of the meeting.
Growing Shabbat at TBH Friday, February 21, 5:30 pm Hybrid Service at 6:30 pm
Everyone is welcome to join us for family friendly dinner catered by Nineveh at 5:30 pm, story time for young kids, and a hybrid service at 6:30 pm. Join us for just dinner, just the service, or both! Registration is required for the dinner.
Make Your Own Mezuzah Case Party Sunday, February 23, 4:30 pm In Person
Make your own fused glass mezuzah case. All materials will be provided by your instructor, Leslie Goldstein. You will start with a glass base and add colored pieces of glass to create your design. Leslie will fuse the pieces in her kiln, them slump them to provide a space for the scroll, and create holes to hang your art. It will fit up to a 4 inch scroll. Since this is a party and a chance to create together, snacks and beverages will be provided. This is a fun raiser for TBH and all funds go to TBH!
Acting 101 Starts Monday, March 3, 6:30 pm (8 week-workshop) In Person
Have you always dreamed of being on stage but never had the nerve? Acting 101 is an introduction to performing that is fun and never scary led by Janet Spencer. Eight workshop sessions in an ensemble environment will familiarize you with exercises used by actors the world over. Learn to relax, to focus, to free your imagination…. Nothing to memorize and no competition! Everyone is a star!! We will also take a few minutes during each session to reflect on the roles of the many – the great many – Jewish people who have shaped show business as it is practiced in the US. This class is for grownups and youth, not children. The curriculum is available upon request. Cost: $36.
We’re excited to introduce the Oral History Program of the Washington State Jewish Historical Society (WSJHS). Over the years, we've gathered over a thousand personal stories from Jewish community members across Washington—and now, we’re ready to take it even further!
We’re looking for volunteers to help us record these stories and expand our collection for the Olympia area. You’ll receive all the training and equipment you need to create high-quality oral histories, which will be showcased in our digital exhibitions. It’s a meaningful way to connect with the community while preserving important histories.
Ready to get involved? Reach out to Ruth Kodish-Eskind at ruthke@wsjhs.org to learn more.
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Immigrant & Refugee Task Force: Join the TBH Immigrant Action Alert Group
There is so much happening in our nation right now, it can be overwhelming. There are still some things that we can do together.
If you would like to know what you can do to support immigrants in our communities there are some actions you can take, often with a few clicks online.
Join the TBH Immigrant Justice Action Alert group to receive occasional emails with opportunities for being part of the response.
Contact Nancy Snyder at nancy_snyder@comcast.net and ask to be included in the Action Alerts.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
On-Site Zoom Hosts Needed
Looking for an easy volunteer opportunity? We are looking to build out a cohort of folks who are willing to help run the Zoom component for our hybrid services. Training will be provided--no fancy A/V skills needed, mostly just helping host the Zoom meeting. Please contact Kayla if interested.
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
Sustaining Fund Gaby and Tyler Graham Leslie Panowicz in honor of Molouk Dilamani Esther Kronenberg in memory of Martha Organek Poker Group Zoe Curlee-Strauss Lisa Goldschmidt
Volunteers
Greeters Will Gallin Anjali Silva Debra Taylor Josh Manning Michael Koppel
January AIDNW Packers Michelle Kagan Gaines George Chappell Robert Perretz-Rosales Nancy Snyder
February FORKids Paige Brown Ricki Koppel Laura Hurtado-Webb Sue Goldstein Michele Jackman Michael Koppel Emily Chadwick Bernie Friedman Evan Ferber Laura Gallin William Gallin Abby Gross Frances Caplan Emmett Gross Tikva Glantz
Evelyn Berger Kristine Stinson Frances Kolker Dorothy Ridout Walter Furman Thomas Kaufmann Sylvia Strasberg Phil McLaughlin Tammy Roth Barbara Ann Wherry Martha Organek Richard Simons Marguerite M. Connors Nathan Shenfeld Jackie Madlem Leonard Finkel Betty Blum Jackie Madlem Meta Williams Elaine Gross Richard Green Nancy Phillips Lidman John Hansen Bertram Hacken Rey Rodrigues Sarah Goldberg Ruth Maybruck Hayyim Leizerman Leah Boyd Joseph Mollan Janet Hansen Kurt Kleinberger Celia Friedman Albert Kitmacher John Turner
Happy Birthday!
12 David Scherer Water 14 Stephanie Hoffman 18 Marcia David 18 Melinda Holman
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.
Mi Sheberach Updates
During Shabbat services, we always include a prayer for healing and maintain a list on behalf of members who want to include names in the healing prayers (as well as offering them verbally during services). Fill out this form to add a name to the list. May all be blessed with a refua shleyma, a complete healing of body, mind, and spirit.
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.
Camp Kesher: Early Registration is Open
Tired of your kids having all the camp fun? Join us at Camp Kesher for its 25th Anniversary! Held Labor Day weekend at beautiful Camp Sealth on Vashon Island, Kesher is the only Northwest Reform Jewish, regional camp weekend for the whole family (infants to grandparents). Each day there is a fun kids camp program while the grown-ups have their own activities. This year's Scholar-in-Residence is Rabbi Leora Kay from New York. Learn more about our full program and register by March 31 to take advantage of early bird discounts. Financial assistance is also available. All info at www.campkesher.org. Questions? Contact Kesher.info@campkesher.org
Reconstructing Judaism: Lawsuit Against the US Department of Homeland Security
Dear Hevre,
Today Reconstructing Judaism joined with a diverse group of Christian and Jewish denominations in filing a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that would generally prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents from entering our houses of worship to conduct enforcement actions.
For 30 years, the federal government maintained a policy that ICE would only conduct immigration enforcement actions – including arrests, interviews, searches or surveillance – in or near “sensitive locations” in limited, extraordinary circumstances. The Department of Homeland Security recently announced a reversal of that policy. This lawsuit challenges that reversal, as it applies to houses of worship, on the grounds of religious freedom. The press release linked in this email outlines the goals of this bold legal action.
This fight is about protecting the sanctity of our congregations and the free exercise of religion by members and guests. The suit also seeks to protect the ability of churches and synagogues to open their doors to offer food and comfort and social services to people in need, regardless of their legal status. Reconstructionist congregations are places of sacredness, learning, peaceful community building, celebration, support and social justice. This lawsuit provides us an opportunity to protect our congregations, their missions and their members and to fight for the same protections for tens of thousands of other church and synagogue communities across America. It is expected that, if the court grants the relief we are requesting, all congregations affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism (and the other denominations that have joined the suit) would be protected from warrantless ICE raids.
Even as Reconstructing Judaism is a non-partisan organization, we are first and foremost a Jewish one, serving nearly 100 congregations and tens of thousands of people whose lives are inspired by Jewish teaching and shaped by our lived experience. As the Torah teaches us 36 times, we do remember that we were once strangers, and we refuse to surrender our moral and religious obligations as Jews and as human beings.
Hizku ve’imtzu, let us be strong and of good courage–
Rabbi Deborah Waxman, President and CEO Seth Rosen, Chair, Board of Governors
PS -- If you would like to add your voice as an individual citizen to the effort to revoke the rescission of the "sensitive locations" policy, you can sign onto this petition, which will be delivered to the President, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and every member of Congress.
IJS: Thaw, Release, and Renew:A Shevet Day-Long Mindfulness Retreat Sunday, February 23, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Online
Join IJS’s Young Adult Community for a virtual day-long retreat to deepen your practice as we move towards spring. Start 2025 by deepening your mindfulness practice in connection with the earth. Practitioners of all levels in their 20s and 30s are warmly welcome, including those new to meditation. Learn more and register>>
Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Elul Workshop: Join the Shofar Corps Sunday, Aug 31st 3:30p to 5:00p Are you interested in blowing shofar on Rosh Hashanah this year? Rather than an open call, Rabbi Seth is formalizing our "Shofar Corps".
If you want to blow shofar on Rosh Hashanah, please contact Rabbi Seth at rabbi@bethhatfiloh.org.
