Erev Shabbat Friday, August 15 Shabbat in the Park, 6:00 pm In Person *rain or shine* Join us to light candles and gather in community to celebrate Shabbat. We will gather at Squaxin Park Shelter #4 (near the playground) for food, fun and friendship. This version of Shabbat in the Park will be POTLUCK ONLY--please bring a dairy or vegetarian dish (fish ok) to share and a lawn chair or picnic blanket.
After eating we will have a short service, then feel free to explore!
Mussar Torah Study, 10:00 am Online Please join us for Mussar Torah Study. The Parashat for our study will be Eikev – Deuteronomy 7:12 to 11:25. The middah or soul trait for this Parashat is N’divut/Generosity. The message of this torah portion is the inseparability of Generosity from Gratitude.Be a part of a lively discussion. Our study is from 10 AM to 11:30 AM on Zoom. Please join us. We are looking forward to being with you. - Michele & Richard Jackman.
For the last 6 months, a TBH strategic planning group has been gathering information about the history of the temple, its existing programs and services, and known challenges that lie ahead. During August and September, a series of community membership meetings will take place both online and at the temple, to inform members about what the strategic planners have come up with so far and to reach out and ask TBH members about their hopes for the future. TBH members should expect to receive in the coming days (through both mail and email) information about these meetings and other ways to engage in this planning effort. If you wish to participate, but are not able to attend upcoming meetings, please contact either Kayla at the front office or President Daniel (dbenfarber@gmail.com or 360-402-9983) to ask questions, share opinions, or find other ways to be involved.
COMING UP AT TBH
Singing Circle Shabbat Friday, August 22, 7:00 pm In Person
Come sing in the courtyard this Shabbat. We will have a “Singing Circle Shabbat”—rather than follow the breadth of the liturgy and service, we will focus on depth and focus on a few songs and prayers, letting them reverberate in the room andin our souls. Instruments and percussion welcome!
Walk for Immigrant Justice Saturday, August 23, 6:30 pm In Person
RBIs with the Rabbi Sunday, August 24, 1:35 pm In Person @ Cheney Stadium
Join TBH for a summer afternoon of minor league baseball in an outing to see the Tacoma Rainiers take on the Oklahoma City Comets on Sunday, August 24th at 1:35 p.m.!
Tickets are $16 each and include a seat and concessions. TBH has a total 40 tickets available and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
2SLGBTQ+ Scheduling, Snacks, and Schmoozing Wednesday, August 27, 6:30 pm In Person
Are you Jewish and a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community? Are you questioning whether you are part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, or do you love someone who is LGBTQ+? If so, we hope to see you at our end-of-summer potluck and planning meeting. This event is open to all ages. Join us for a night of community, collaboration, food, and fun! If you are able, please bring a potluck dish to share with the group. ( Potluck sign-up sheet .) This meeting will center around uplifting and expanding the queer Jewish community at TBH via icebreakers, conversations, and future event planning. Please register here to help with planning. For additional information and/or questions regarding this event, please reach out to Avi at abernarddonals@gmail.com or 608-440-5797.
Introduction to Judaism Registration Open! Sundays starting September 7 Online
Join Rabbi Seth and 30+ other rabbis from across Washington in this comprehensive, 36-session introduction to Judaism. Open to all! Suitable for those pursuing conversion, Jews looking to deepen their Jewish knowledge, those who are part of Jewish families, and anyone who wants to learn more about Judaism. Tuition is sliding scale. Register here>>
Committee Updates
Library Committee
Come take a look at the Washington State Jewish Historical Society book and website, while relaxing on the library's comfy couch!
Our adult library has two new books. They are listed below:
To Be a Jew Today, by Noah Feldman generated a great discussion at last year’s TBH Book Club.
Immigrant and Refugee Task Force: Immigration Support and Advocacy
Read the August Newsletter from the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice.
We know that many of you are looking for how best to support our immigrant neighbors at this perilous time. We want to help by highlighting local and statewide organizations that are doing this important work. Periodically, we will highlight one that we feel is worthy of both your time and financial support. We encourage you to visit the organization web sites.
This week we highlight AIDNW --- Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest. Focusing its activities on the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, the AIDNW website defines as its vision "a welcoming community that affirms the dignity of all immigrants" and as its mission "AIDNW Supports immigrants in detention and welcomes them upon their release."
One of AIDNW's most important services is its visitation program, where volunteers receive training and support to visit immigrants waiting for court dates inside the detention center.
Another fundamental service to help immigrants inside the facility is its pen-pal program. Immigrants write letters to AIDNW, and volunteers respond, offering companionship, encouragement, and a reminder that they are not alone.
AIDNW volunteers also collect, assemble, and deliver care packages of books and puzzles to detainees fighting boredom as they wait for months and sometimes years while their case is pending.
AIDNW volunteers also put together a care package whenever an immigrant notifies us that they are scheduled for deportation. These backpacks full of items to help them travel in a bit more comfort is a way to let immigrants know that Americans care.
Of course, in addition to volunteering, financial donations are also needed.
To learn more, visit the AIDNW website: www.aidnw.org .
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Looking for Torah Readers
After a summer hiatus, our Shabbat morning services will resume in September and ou. We need Torah readers! If you are interested in reading Torah during a Saturday morning service over the course of next year, please fill in your name on this form.We are also looking for Torah readers for the upcoming High Holidays: sign up here .
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 Jack & Carole Kowitt Zoe Curlee-Strauss
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund Judith Stefchak
Stars of David Will Gallin
Volunteers
Greeters Daniel Farber
We need greeters to sign up for the 25-26 membership year! Email Kayla if you didn't receive the new sign up sheet.
Nancy Koppel David Goodman Shirley Goldberg Albert Annette Goldberg James Davis Constance Shapiro Les Brodie Ingeborg Asher-Pepper Jerome Parker Dorothy Bamberger Jacob Bean Ann Ostrer Sam Shapiro Edward Ferber Doris Gershuny Ingeborg Carola Asher Pepper John Weiner Victoria Cohen Colleen A. Schumann Lum Marianne Neff Jay Goldstein Max Esfeld Bunya Rosenfeld
Happy Birthday!
13 Roman Raitses 15 Zachary Graham 16 Ava Asher 17 Leslie Shore 17 Julianne Gale 17 Tess Brandon 18 Gary Schneider
18 Anjali Silva Marron
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 kiverson@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.
The Shofar Project: Getting Real (Again) for the New Year
Believe it or not, Rosh Hashanah is right around the corner, and we’re thrilled to invite you to join our annual Shofar Project Program! This free course is a highlight of our annual calendar and is a powerful way to prepare our inner lives for the Days of Awe.
The Shofar Project will have two tracks—one for the general community and one for our 20s and 30s community as part of our weekly Shevet meditation sit. Back by popular demand, this year’s program will be grounded in teachings from the contemporary classic book, This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared, by Rabbi Alan Lew, z”l. Throughout the month of Elul leading up to the High Holidays, we’ll delve into the book’s transformative teachings together through weekly source sheets, guided practices, and live practice sessions on Zoom.
Community Track: A FREE Four-Week Online Program from IJS for the Hebrew month of Elul: August 27 – September 17, 2025 Four Live Zoom Sessions: Wednesdays, 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET Learn More & Register >>
20's & 30's Track: A FREE 4-week program led by Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife and Rebecca Schisler: August 25 – September 15, 2025 Four Live Zoom Sessions: Mondays, 8:00 – 9:15 PM ET *(Please note: the second session will take place on Tuesday, September 2) Learn More & Register >>
Ritualwell Elul Journey Towards Yizkor Wednesdays, August 13, 20 & 27 and September 3, 2025 12-1:30 p.m. EDT / $180 Online
As we welcome the month of Elul, our thoughts naturally shift towards spiritual introspection. This year, many of us carry not only our personal grief but also the collective sorrows of the world.
Elul offers us the opportunity to explore the traditions surrounding the Mourner’s Kaddish and the Yizkor service. Join liturgist Trisha Arlin to a meaningful journey that includes conversation, meditation, and creative writing. Together, we will delve into various aspects of the Kaddish, connecting it to your personal grief journey and the wider state of the world. For those attending the Yizkor service, this session will enhance your experience and participation.
All sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience. Learn More & Register >>
Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501
