🍋 🌿 Chag Sameach! חַג שָׂמֵחַ 🌿🍋 TBH wishes you a Happy Sukkot!
October 8, 2025 | 17 Tishrei 5786
SHABBAT SHALOM!
Erev Shabbat Friday, October 10 Sukkot Tisch, 6:00 pm In Person Join us as we celebrate Sukkot and Shabbat with the annual Sukkot Tisch! We will come together in the TBH sukkah for singing, storytelling, study, and sharing food and drink around a big table (“tisch” is table in Yiddish). Soup will be provided; please bring some fish/dairy/vegetarian food or drink to share.
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, 12:00 pm In Person
Torah Study, 1:30 pm In Person Prayer and study are equally holy activities; and we will do both. All are invited to join in these highly participatory discussions. No experience is necessary!
THIS WEEK AT TBH
Come build homes with TBH and Habitat for Humanity! Friday, October 10, 8:00 am - 2:30 pm In Person
Come celebrate Sukkot by joining TBH to help build houses for those in need. TBH Homeless Task Force invites you to join our second Habitat for Humanity work party for 2025. We are assembling a team to contribute to the Habitat project in Tumwater (Tâlíčn) site at 73rd & Henderson. Our TBH work day is Friday, October 10th from 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. No construction experience needed! Habitat can accommodate a group of up to 15 volunteers, so if you are interested please create an account with Habitat to register. https://www.spshabitat.org/ Also, please email Kayla to let us know that you have signed up ( kiverson@bethhatfiloh.org ).
Coming out of the Sukkah! Saturday, October 11, 6:00 pm In Person
Join Beit Ha'Keshet as we merge our Queer and Jewish identities for some National Coming Out Day/Sukkot Havdalah festivities. Saturday, Oct. 11, gates open at 6:00pm, Havdalah at 6:30pm. Food, smores, campfire, and merriment in and around the sukkah following until 10:00pm. Bring your cis-hetero family and friends along! All ages welcome! RSVP here
We are Beit Ha'Keshet! TBH's own community for Olympia's Queer Jews! Engage in planning events, or just attend our parties, activities, walks, talks, and walk and talks. Fill out a contact form to get connected.
Unity Commons Meal Preparation and Sponsorship Sunday, October 12
TBH prepares a monthly meal for 60 at the Unity Commons Shelter on Martin Way. Unity Commons is a supported housing apartment operated by Interfaith Works. For more information: https://www.iwshelter.org
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. Our October meal is sponsored by Bernie Friedman & Emily Chadwick. Contact the office to sponsor a future month's meal or to be added to the list of volunteers for cooking.
Tot Sukkot & Simchat Torah Sunday, October 12, 4:00 pm In Person
Celebrate Sukkot and Simchat Torah in the Sukkah! We’ll gather in the sukkah to sing songs, read a story, shake the lulav, and share a holiday snack together. This gathering is designed for kids ages 0-4.
Simchat Torah Tuesday, October 14, 6:00 pm In Person
Simchat Torah is the celebration when we mark the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle. We end the reading and begin again! It’s a time for dancing and singing and we will unroll the entire scroll. We also use the opportunity to honor our B'nai Mitzvah students.
Lunch & Learn: Weekly Torah Portion Study Every Wednesday, 12:00 pm, starting October 15 Online
New this year: Join Rabbi Seth every Wednesday from 12-1 on zoom for a look at the weekly Torah portion. Log in from work or home or on the road for an hour of learning and community. Feel free to eat your lunch (or not). Beginning October 15—when we begin a new cycle of Torah reading. No prior knowledge (or Hebrew) needed!
Board Meeting Wednesday, October 15, 6:00 pm Online
All TBH members are invited to join monthly board meetings as guests. If you would like to be put on the agenda, please be in touch with your board representative or the Board President in advance.
CPR & AED Training Saturday, October 18, 1:00 pm In Person
Get CPR, AED, and First Aid certified with Ian Brinker from The Best BLS. Certifications are valid for 2 years. This training is appropriate for both first time and refresher certifications. Training will include getting up and down off of the ground repeatedly, so please bring a pillow or yoga mat for comfort if desired.
Register for Adult Hebrew Tuesday Evenings, 6:00 pm, October 21 - December 23 Online
Want to learn how to read Hebrew? This class starts from the very beginning, learning how to “decode” Hebrew texts. Beginning with the letters and vowels, we will also examine some vocabulary, basic grammar, how Hebrew “works,” and more. This class is online only, all materials including text book will be provided. Cost: $0 members, $72 non-members
Shabbat Salon: Mae Kessler Friday, October 24, 7:00 pm In Person
Join TBH for the first salon of the season, featuring Mae Kessler presenting on "A History of Klezmer!" We’ll explore what we know about who was playing it, when it was played, traditional instrumentation, and how it has changed from the middle ages in Europe to the modern day. We’ll also delve into what the different types of tunes are and what they sound like. Join us for an evening of history, music and fun!
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>>
Calling all Makers:
We are looking for a few additional artists and craftspeople to for TBH's 3rd annual Hanukkah Bazaar. We have had artists and makers ranging from makers of soaps and essential oils, woodworkers, fiber artists glass artists, print artists, jewelers and painters. The Bazaar is Sunday November 16th from 11 to 4. The table fee is $75. A Hanukkah shop and bake sale add to the festivities.
For more information please contact Leslie Goldstein by email at lagoldstein@comcast.net or by text or phone at (360) 791-9759.
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Library Committee
Attention, Lego fans! New books in the Brick Bible Tales series are ready for you in the upstairs Youth Library! We also have Jonah and the Whale. Come check them out! And send a photo of your own creations to Kayla to be published here :)
Immigrant & Refugee Task Force
A new fund which supports our immigrant neighbors has recently been established in Olympia. We encourage you to donate.
LISO, Legal Immigration Services of Olympia, begun by Stefani Powell
From Steffani: “As you have heard, immigration arrests are rising in the South Sound. What many folks don’t know is that people taken into custody - facing life-altering consequences - have no right to a court-appointed attorney. They must either hire their own or find pro bono representation. But when someone is arrested by ICE, cut off from their job and income, hiring counsel is nearly impossible. This enormous gap between need and available services is exactly why the nonprofit Legal Immigration Services of Olympia (LISO) was created. LISO’s mission is to provide free or very low-cost legal services to detained members of our immigrant community. But LISO is more than legal defense - it’s about restoring dignity, stability, and hope to families torn apart by detention. We want every client we serve to feel seen, heard, and never alone in their fight.” LISO is an official 501 (c3) so your donation will be tax deductible. Donate at lisowa.org
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Looking for Torah Readers
After a summer hiatus, our Shabbat morning services have resumed. 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.
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
Fall Giving Campaign Erin Pratt Asha Novak Linda Goerges Maggie Jekel-Penn & William Penn Judy Broderson Paul & Rosemarie Marchant in meory of Helen, David and Rochelle
Dale Boesky Roland Barnes Jack Friedman David Robinson Carl W. Connors Lubov Shats Nuce Nathan Jeremy Lee Goodman Salsbury Ben Goldstein Adolph Goldstein M.L. (Bob) Robinson Ivens Siegel Jennie (Gottlieb) Goodman Jacob Cohen Hannah Rubenstein Nathan Levy Faina Kogan Jane Pate Eastham Thomas Stevenson Allison Tovo-Dwyer Elsie Sahanow Bruce Godwin
Happy Birthday!
8 Lisa Hoffman 10 Mary Stevenson 12 Ari Lipson 13 Molly Moran 14 Rona Ruben
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 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: Public Policy Priorities Survey
The public policy priorities survey guides our advocacy and will shape our 2026 legislative agenda. Take the survey>>
Hope Over Hate Summit Sunday, October 19, 1:00 pm In Person in downtown Seattle
Join the Anti-Defamation League’s Pacific Northwest Office for the inaugural Hope Over Hate Summit hosted in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle! This half day program, on Sunday, October 19 from 1-5pm in downtown Seattle, is for Jewish and non-Jewish allies to join together for education, community building, and activation. You can expect inspiring speakers and workshops, a chance to meet and collaborate with people of impact and practical tools to help you effectively use your voice to promote change. Register today! Tickets are $40 and free for students.
