Erev Shabbat Friday, August 22 Shabbat in the Park, 6:00 pm In Person @ Squaxin Park Shelter #1 (near the Rose Garden) We will gather at Squaxin Park Shelter #1 for food, fun and friendship. This version of Shabbat in the Park will be potluck only--please bring a vegetarian dish to share and a lawn chair or picnic blanket.
After a short service, we will eat, then feel free to explore!
There is no Saturday morning programming this week. Morning services and afternoon study resumes next month.
THIS WEEK AT TBH
Planning for the Future of TBH First Online Meeting Thursday Evening
Members received additional communication with the Zoom link! 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.
Walk for Immigrant Justice Saturday, August 23, 6:30 pm In Person
LAST CHANCE TO PURCHASE TICKETS! RBIs with the Rabbi Sunday, August 24, 1:35 pm In Person @ Cheney Stadium
Game is this Sunday and we still have some tickets left! 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. Tickets are available for pick-up at the TBH office Thursday and Friday the 21st and 22nd before 3 pm, or at Shabbat in the Park.Tickets>>
Advancing in Hebrew Tuesday, August 26, 7:00 pm Online
Meets 4th Tuesday of the month with Rabbi Seth. This seminar-type gathering will work on advancing Hebrew knowledge, including grammar and roots.
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.
COMING UP AT TBH
Join the Shofar Corps Workshop: Sunday, August 31, 3:30 p.m. In Person
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.
Those who wish to blow shofar this year will be expected to know the order of the shofar service and have practiced their blowing skills. For potential and returning shofar blowers, there will be a workshop on Sunday, August 31 at 3:30 p.m. to learn about the mechanics, notes, and the meaning behind the shofar. (If you are an experienced shofar blower knowledgeable about the order and structure of the shofar service, you need not attend the workshop, but you are welcome to!)
Darchei Noam Registration and Orientation Sunday, September 7, 1:00 pm/1:30 pm Online
Darchei Noam registration and orientation is coming up! Mark your calendars and join us on September 7th. Toddler families are invited to join us at 1pm to go over the new program for the year. All other school-aged and teen families should join us at 1:30 pm. Register your family, meet other families, see your TBH friends, pick up a calendar and learn about the new things Darchei Noam has to offer this year!
Volunteers Needed: Meals for TBH youth and families! Starts Friday, September 12
This year we are asking our TBH community to help us prepare simple meals for our TBH kids, families, and community for our monthly Growing Shabbat. We can provide the food and the kitchen, we just need a small team to prepare it! If you have questions or are interested in signing up, let Kayla know .
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>>
Lulav & Etrog Order
It's not too early to order a Lulav and Etrog for Sukkot! TBH is an affiliate with the Esrog Headquarters and we earn a commission for each set sold if you use our unique link: https://esrogheadquarters.com/?ref=HoptyqBSzyMeK Celebrate Sukkot and support TBH!
HIGH HOLIDAYS 5786
High Holiday Volunteer Opportunities
Each year, the High Holidays happen because dozens of volunteers pitch in to make our communal holidays meaningful. This year we are looking for: torah readers (see below), ushers, greeters, oneg sponsors, oneg preparation, and A/V assistants. Please email kiverson@bethhatfiloh.org to be sent the volunteer sign up sheet.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Looking for Torah Readers
After a summer hiatus, our Shabbat morning services will resume in September and on. 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
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund Jim Bamberger and Nancy Eastham
Ann Ostrer Jacob Bean Howard Greenberg Sam Shapiro Victoria Cohen John Weiner Ingeborg Carola Asher Pepper Doris Gershuny Edward Ferber Marianne Neff Colleen A. Schumann Lum Jay Goldstein Bunya Rosenfeld Max Esfeld Jim Stevenson Eva Carr Lawrence J Bornstein Arnold Goldstein Kenneth Wilfred Strange Donald Stedman Beverly Godwin Nate Cooper Marianna Dapello Mitchell L Cohen Ben Rome
Happy Birthday!
20 Nancy Snyder 20 Eleanor Kinn 21 Allen Roth 22 Joel Sacks 23 Linda Rubin 23 Alysha Sussman 24 Melissa Kerson 26 Jocelyn Brown
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
