Erev Shabbat Friday, December 5 Choir Shabbat, 6:30 pm Hybrid Our Shabbat services, in person and on Zoom, with Kol N'Shama, the TBH Choir! Saul Petersky will be giving the d'var Torah.
There will be a oneg to celebrate December birthdays and congregational simchas. Feel free to bring a dessert or snack to share if you are able!
Shabbat Morning Saturday, December 6 Tot Shabbat, 10 am In Person All kids ages 0-4 and their grown-ups and families are invited to share in song, story, movement, music and prayer as we celebrate Shabbat together! Followed by a snack and a craft in the Social Hall.
THIS WEEK AT TBH
Teva Sharing Circles Saturday, December 6, 3:00 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. Our circle will be a safe and confidential space to express what’s on your hearts and minds, both about our Jewish world and about our wider world so rife with hatred and conflict. At the outset we’ll agree to some basic ground rules to give us structure and safety. Each participant will have an opportunity to speak while holding the talking stick (actually a silver sugar bowl). Evan Ferber and Eliana Stockwell-Ferber will facilitate. They both have training and experience in small group facilitation. Please come, including those of you who’ve come to past teva circles.
Dates: Shabbat - Every 1st Saturday of the month Where: the Temple chapel, from 3pm to 4:30 pm For more information, please email Evan or Eliana at evanpferber@gmail.com or elianasf1@gmail.com
Melaveh Malka: Game Night Saturday, December 6, 7:00 pm In Person
Join us this Saturday for Game Night! Snacks, drinks, and some games provided. Bring any of your favorite games to share!
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!
Children’s Clothing and Hanukkah PJ Swap Sunday, December 7, 1:00 pm In Person
Starting at 1pm and running through 4 pm is the Children’s clothing and Hanukkah PJ swap! You are invited to bring clothes in good condition for all ages of children from baby to teen. Clothing and accessories (shoes, hats, etc) only, please! We will have a special section for swapping Hanukkah PJs. Take what you can use and anything leftover will be donated.
Lunch & Learn: Weekly Torah Portion Study Every Wednesday, 12:00 pm Online
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). No prior knowledge (or Hebrew) needed!
Monthly Poetry Circle Wednesday, December 10, 1:00 pm In Person
Activities may include sharing our original work, friendly critiques of members' poems, short writing exercises, and/or whatever else the group wants the focus to be. Let's come together in a supportive environment to further our own practice, enjoyment and understanding of poetry, and how it applies to our individual and collective lives, and the world today.
COMING UP AT TBH
Growing Shabbat! Friday, December 12, 5:30 pm dinner/6:30 pm service In Person
Everyone is welcome to join us for family-friendly dinner, young kids story time, and a service. Join us for just dinner or everything! Registration is required for the dinner. Registration is free, but required to help with planning--please be sure to email if you are unable to make it.Register>>
Bingo Night Saturday, December 13, 7:00 pm In Person
Why was the bingo player smiling so much? Because they were having a ball! Come for a TBH FUNdraiser. Play some bingo, enjoy some nosh, and win the best white elephant prize in the room.
TBH will provide tasty snacks and beverages. Bring your favorite mouthwatering dessert or closet-cleaning party gift for the prize table! Bingo cards $10 each (cash appreciated, CC accepted) Wrapping not required for prize table donations
Tot Hanukkah Sunday, December 14, 4:00 pm In Person
Join us for a joyful Hanukkah celebration designed especially for little ones ages 0–4 and their families! We’ll explore the Festival of Lights with playful songs, a story, movement, and interactive fun. Together we’ll light the candles, try out dreidels, and have a Hanukkah snack!
Save the Date: Hanukkah Party Sunday, December 21, 5:30 pm In Person
We are celebrating with our annual party, including latkes, donuts, crafts for the kids, and menorah lighting with songs. New this year! A Beatles Hanukkah in the Sanctuary at 5:30 before the party in the social hall at around 6 pm.
Volunteers Needed! Latke makers (prep party at noon on Wednesday, December 17th), craft helpers, and set-up volunteers need: no experience is necessary, just a willingness to help. Sign up here>
Save the Date: Fiddler on the Roof at OFS Wednesday, December 25, 4:00 pm In Person @ Capitol Theatre
Directed by Norman Jewison, the critically acclaimed screen adaptation of the international stage sensation tells the life-affirming story of Tevye (Topol), a poor milkman whose love, pride and faith help him face the oppression of turn-of-the-century czarist Russia. Come in costume! Temple Beth Hatfiloh will be holding a warm coat and blanket drive, so bring your donations to the theater the day of the movie!
Featured title from the Youth Library: The Inquisitors Tale Adam Gidwitz 2016 (ages 11 and up) From Kirkus Reviews: "In a style reminiscent of The Canterbury Tales, this multiple-narrator fairy tale relates the adventures of Jeanne, a white Christian peasant girl who has prophetic visions; biracial white/black William, a Muslim-born monk-in-training with preternatural strength; and Jacob, a Jewish boy with incredible healing powers." This isn't an easy read- you need some knowledge of the Middle Ages in Europe and an interest in and desire to learn more about religion and persecution. A good book to read this winter, with short days ahead!
Featured title from the Adult Library: One Little Goat Dara Horn/Theo Ellsworth 2025 Summary from the author's website: "A delightfully bizarre exploration of the meaning of Passover, One Little Goat is layered with joy, humor, and magic that flows from generation to generation." You can find this new book in the Adult Library, although teens would also enjoy it.
Immigrant and Refugee Task Force
Here's the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice December Newsletter. Learn about building community power to protect our neighbors, the new JCIJ community response list, the upcoming JCIJ Chanukah party and more.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
NEW Shabbat Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet
For 5786, we have integrated our various sign up sheets into one google sheet, so that all the volunteer roles are in one place. Here is a short description of TBH volunteer roles, and here is the sign-up for Shabbat volunteers (with other volunteer opportunities on additional tabs). Contact Kayla with any questions!
5786 FALL GIVING CAMPAIGN
Your gift today ensures a bright year for our Jewish community in Olympia in 5786.
Our Fall Giving Campaign will close December 31st. Our goal is to raise $36,000—double chai!
Thanks to our generous donors, we have already raised $16,000!
Anonymous Donors Marcela Abadi Meadow & Daniel Amster Bret Anderson Rene Bigardi Judy Brodersoin Parke Burgess Mindy Chambers & Paul Peck Phyllis & Mel Citrin Allison Criswell Rose Davidson David Deitz & Donna Landry James Dolliver Cheryl Duryea Debra Eisen Susan Finkel Claire Fite Sylvia Fox Susan Frager Bernie Friedman & Emily Chadwick in honor of Charles, Jack, Roberta & Phyllis Linda Georges Randee Gibbons Debra Glasser Denise Goldberg Jay Goldstein & Jill Rosenkrantz Karen & Alan Goldstein Rick Hahn Charlene Healy Rich Hurst Richard & Michele Jackman
Maggie Jekel-Penn & William Penn Ricki Kahn Cynthia Kaiser Rebecca Kamen Mark Kaufman Julia Kelen Jack & Carole Kowitt Esther & Warren Kronenberg Tish Levee Yana Levina Andrea Lipper Paul & rosemarie Marchant in memory of Helen, David, & Rochelle Keith Mars Jon Monger Asha Novak Margaret Okamoto Claire Petersky Jonathan Pitts Stephen Posner Nancy Powell & Paul Kirschner Erin Pratt Laura Pruden Cathy Reiner & Cliff Godwin Suzanne Rose Sara Shapiro Cynthia Spencer Nancy West Cobie Whitten Dana Wilcox Remus Yakovlevitch
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund Nicholas and Sandra Parker
Volunteers Greeters Patricia Barr
AROUND THE CONGREGATION
Yahrzeits
Bill Kolker Diana Connors Schilling Earl Bean Dallas Cline George Hoffman Karen "Rosemary" Snyder Harry Robinson Arlene Glantz Martha Stein Adelson Minnie Cohn Gregory John Neff Emil Korolik Lenore Greene C. William Chappell Sunni Adrianne Goldman Bernat Esther Reiner Michael Brocha
Happy Birthday!
3 Stephen Hodes 3 Martin Bard 7 Laura Hurtado-Webb 9 Carl Wolfhagen
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.
Reconstructing Judaism: Shutafut (Partnerships): Protecting Human Rights in Israel in Times of War and Uncertainty Sunday, December 7, 12:30pm
Join Noa Sattath, Executive Director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) to learn about how the organization advocates across the broad spectrum of human rights and civil liberties for everyone living in Israel and Palestine. Founded in 1972, ACRI is the oldest and most influential civil and human rights organization in Israel.
TBH frequently tries to share news and events from partner organizations and other items of interest for our community. We encourage you to explore some of these organizations and sign up for their newsletters if you are interested:
