Erev Shabbat Friday, December 12 Growing Shabbat!, Dinner 5:30 pm/Service 6:30 pm In Person Everyone is welcome to join us for family-friendly dinner, young kids story time, and a service. Register for the dinner below. Registration closes tonight at midnight! Registration is free, but required to help with planning--please let us know if you cannot attend.
Shabbat Morning Saturday, December 13 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 month we will do a special study looking at the traditional sources of Hanukkah: the 8 days, the oil, the Temple, etc.!
THIS WEEK AT TBH
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
Unity Commons Meal Preparation Sunday, December 14 In Person
TBH prepares a monthly meal for 60 at the Unity Commons Shelter on Martin Way. 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 December meal is sponsored by Doreen Garcia. Click here to sponsor the January meal , or contact the office to be added to the list of volunteers for cooking.
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!
Latke Party Wednesday, December 17, 12:00 pm In Person
Come help prepare latkes for the TBH Hanukkah party! We will be getting as much done early this year and freezing them to minimize work on the day of the party.
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!
Mussar Torah Study Saturday, December 20, 10:00 am Online
Please join us for Mussar Torah Study on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The Parashat for our study will be Mikeitz - Genesis 4:1 – 44:17. The middah or soul trait for this parashat is Emunah/ Faith: A Pathway to Patience, Courage, and Acceptance. "Stop, take a few breaths, and wait a moment before acting." Be a part of a lively discussion. Our study is from 10 AM to 11:30 AM on Zoom. We are looking forward to being with you. - Michele & Richard Jackman
Hanukkah Party Sunday, December 21, 5:30 pm In Person
A Beatles Hanukkah 5:30 pm in the Sanctuary Join Temple Beth Hatfiloh's Heart Felt Band in the Sanctuary before candlelighting for a joyful mash-up of Hanukkah fun and Beatles classics. Celebrate our 8 Days a Year together in song!
Candlelighting & Celebration 6:00 pm in the Social Hall We are celebrating with our annual party, including latkes, donuts, crafts for the kids, and menorah lighting with songs.
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>
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
AIDNW has enough of everything we have been collecting except for: men's warm winter coats, specifically L-XL, and non-English books.
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 over $25,000!
Anonymous Donors Marcela Abadi Meadow & Daniel Amster Bret Anderson Patricia Bartley Edie Bean Rene Bigardi
Judy Broderson Parke Burgess Mindy Chambers & Paul Peck Phyllis & Mel Citrin Allison Criswell Diane Dakin Rose Davidson David Deitz & Donna Landry James Dolliver Cheryl Duryea Debra Eisen Susan Finkel Claire Fite Sylvia Fox Susan Frager Bernie Friedman & Emily Chadwick Will Gallin Linda Georges Randee Gibbons Marilyn Gisser Debra Glasser Denise Goldberg Betty Goldstein 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 Jonathan & Denise Kleinman in memory fo John Van Burik
Jack & Carole Kowitt Esther & Warren Kronenberg Roberta Lamb Tish Levee Yana Levina Andy Levitt Russell Lidman Andrea Lipper Robert Lovitt Paul & Rosemarie Marchant in memory of Helen, David, & Rochelle Keith Mars Jon Monger Asha Novak Margaret Okamoto Claire Petersky Jonathan Pitts Melinda Posner Stephen Posner Nancy Powell & Paul Kirschner Erin Pratt Laura Pruden Cathy Reiner & Cliff Godwin Steve Romance & Sherry Reisner Suzanne Rose Edith Rutel Samantha & Nik Schrader Sara Shapiro Anjali Silva Marron Cynthia Spencer Dylan Timm Meg VanSchoorl Mark & Meg Weiss Nancy West Cobie Whitten Dana Wilcox Remus Yakovlevitch
Sustaining Fund Judith Barnes in memory of Margaret Barnes
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund Tessa & Stephen Taft
Volunteers Greeters George Chappell Richard Jackman
Hybrid Host Andy Levitt
AROUND THE CONGREGATION
Yahrzeits
Arlene Glantz Harry Robinson Karen "Rosemary" Snyder Emil Korolik Gregory John Neff Minnie Cohn Martha Stein Adelson Lenore Greene Sunni Adrianne Goldman Bernat C. William Chappell Esther Reiner Michael Brocha Sidney Shapiro Sidney Schwartz Esther Oksengorn Richard Schneider Albert Tenenbaum Beatrice Kalikow Roberta Nelson Evelyn Bean Bercovitz Edward Granville "Ted" Strange Rosemary Coufal Steve Charak Terry Jo Parker Sidney Shapiro
Happy Birthday!
10 Susan Poplack 12 Karen Janowitz 14 Sara Eve Sarliker 15 Frank Herman 16 Gary Franklin
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.
IJS: The Peaceful Grandparent Project Starts January 15
The Peaceful Grandparent Project is offered in partnership with our colleagues at Orot. This transformative cohort offers grandparents the tools to deepen connections with their adult children and grandchildren and infuse family moments with sacredness and tranquility.
This accessible six-week course interweaves Jewish wisdom with mindfulness practices and teachings to help grandparents cultivate greater empathy, understanding, and connection in their families. Learn more and register>>
Some of our Community Resources
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:
