Erev Shabbat Friday, December 26 Erev Shabbat, 6:30 pm In Person Join us for the last Erev Shabbat of the year, to light candles and celebrate in community!
Morning Service, 10:00 am In Person There is no Moving Traditions class this Saturday. Join us Saturday morning for a community Shabbat--Leslie Gates and Tikva Glantz will be chanting Torah.
Due to holiday scheduling, there will be no Talmud Study this Saturday.
Warm Clothing Drive Now through the first week of January
Cold weather is upon us, and once again the Homeless Task Force is collecting warm clothing for those in need. Please bring donations of warm, gently used clothing to the bins just outside of the social hall. We will be collecting through the first week of January. All items will be taken to the St. Michael’s clothing bank.
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!
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!
Learn or Refresh on Leading Services Sunday, January 11, 1 pm In Person
Come to a fun class on how to be a lay leader. Whether you have lots of experience or none at all learn the TBH minhags and logistics. Share with other lay leaders tips for success and confidence. We will go over the order of the service, what is essential, how to bring in your flavor, resources for music, logistics, what's expected of you. We will focus on the Friday night Shabbat service and touch on the differences for Saturday Shabbat morning. Rabbi Seth's sabbatical is approaching and you can help us keep our Shabbats special and lively!
Modern Mystics Book Discussion Group Starts January 18 In Person
Contemporary authors have brought a new understanding of Jewish mysticism to modern readers.This group will begin by reading Seek My Face; A Jewish Mystical Theology, by Rabbi Arthur Green. We will meet on January18, February 8 and 22, and March 8 and 22 from 1:00-2:15. (This is during the first session time slot of the winter quarter Darchai Noam children’s program.)
This book explores the possibilities of an inner connection to Divine Oneness, prayer, and Torah. In the introduction Rabbi Green says,
Cautiously, hesitantly, I begin to make the words of tradition once again my own. I hesitate because I know that its story is not quite my story, that it will try to take me along on its journey as I seek to appropriate it in order to express mine. Ultimately…I will enter into its language, celebrate the weekly re-creation of the world, the liberation from bondage in Egypt…I will do so not as a literal “believer,” but rather as one who recognizes that all these “events” are themselves metaphors for a truth whose depth reaches far beyond them.
This book is not available at Timberland Regional Library, but you can find inexpensive new and used copies online. Note: We will be using the 2003 edition. If you are unable to purchase a copy, or if you have any questions, please contact Nancy Snyder at nancy_snyder@comcast.net.
Registration will open soon!
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Immigrant and Refugee Task Force AIDNW Drive AIDNW has enough of everything we have been collecting except for: men's warm winter coats, specifically L-XL, and non-English books.
Immigrant Support Fund Interfaith Works is involved in many actions to support immigrants, refugees, and supporting allies.
In 2025, the Interfaith Works Sanctuary Fund was restructured into the Immigrant Support Fund through the efforts of the newly formed Faith Network for Immigrant Support (FNIS), a coalition of faith and spiritual communities based in Thurston County. This new initiative builds on the foundation of the original Interfaith Works Sanctuary Fund, which began in 2018 as a collaboration among multiple faith communities to support sanctuary efforts at Temple Beth Hatfiloh. At this time, the fund only accepts requests from Organizations.
The reimagined Immigrant Support Fund is designed to be more diverse and inclusive, extending support for the ongoing disruptions faced by our undocumented immigrant neighbors.
If you can help support these efforts, please consider making a donation below or mailing your contribution to Interfaith Works, designating it for the “Immigrant Support Fund” via the memo line or with a note to Interfaith Works, PO Box 1221, Olympia, WA 98507.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Event and 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 $34,000!
Anonymous Donors Marcela Abadi Meadow & Daniel Amster Bret Anderson Gidon Bach Patricia Bartley Edie Bean Rene Bigardi Susan & Larry Bitow Michael Blum & Susan Rosen Judy Broderson Lisa Brodoff & Lynn Grotsky Allyson Brooks Ellen Brown & David Sosnow in memory of Edith Sosnow Adrienne Buntain in honor of the birth of Sam Trebatch Parke Burgess Mindy Chambers & Paul Peck Phyllis & Mel Citrin Allison Criswell Diane Dakin Rose Davidson Katherine Davis-Delaney David Deitz & Donna Landry
James Dolliver Cheryl Duryea Debra Eisen Daniel & Jean Farber Susan Finkel Claire Fite Sylvia Fox Susan Frager Bernie Friedman & Emily Chadwick Will Gallin Billy & Lorian Gans Linda Georges Randee Gibbons Karen Gidson in honor of Nathan Gibson Marilyn Gisser Tikva & Cliff Glantz Debra Glasser Denise Goldberg Betty Goldstein Jay Goldstein & Jill Rosenkrantz Karen & Alan Goldstein Leslie Goldstein Sue Goldstein Rick Hahn Beth & Elie Halpern Charlene Healy in honor of Pat Melinda Holman & Barnett Kalikow Rich Hurst Laura Hurtado-Webb Kayla & Andrew Iverson Richard & Michele Jackman Maggie Jekel-Penn & William Penn Noah John Jessica Josephs Ricki Kahn Cynthia Kaiser Rebecca Kamen Ruth Katz in memory of Hilda Katz Mark Kaufman Julia Kelen Lori Kishimoto & Craig Wallace Jonathan & Denise Kleinman in memory fo John Van Burik Jack & Carole Kowitt Esther & Warren Kronenberg Nancy Koppelman in memory of Ruby Koppelman Diane Kurzyna & Alan Reichman Roberta Lamb Bonnie Lambert in honor of Morris Schertz Tish Levee
Yana Levina Andy Levitt Russell Lidman Andrea Lipper The Mark & Claire Litchman Trust Deborah Loomis in memory of Lawrence Klein Robert Lovitt Paul & Rosemarie Marchant in memory of Helen, David, & Rochelle Keith Mars Jon Monger Nathan Niederhause & Mariana Rosenthal Asha Novak Margaret Okamoto Gordon Pabst & Sarah Weiss in honor of Jacob & Leah Weiss Claire Petersky Jonathan Pitts Larry & Susan Poplack Melinda Posner Stephen Posner Nancy Powell & Paul Kirschner Erin Pratt Laura Pruden Cathy Reiner & Cliff Godwin Janet Roller Steve Romance & Sherry Reisner Suzanne Rose Alexander & Chelsea Rosen Edith Rutel Gary Schneider & Nancy Snyder Samantha & Nik Schrader Diana Schwartz Madelyn Schwartz Sara Shapiro Charles & Norma Shelan Anjali Silva Marron in memory of Jacqueline Silva Marron Suzanne Simons Oscar & Barb Soule Cynthia Spencer Erin Syversen Tessa & Stephen Taft Dylan Timm Susan Tuttle Meg VanSchoorl Raphael Venegas Mark & Meg Weiss Nancy West Cobie Whitten Dana Wilcox Remus Yakovlevitch Daniel Zeitlin
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund Michael Blum & Susan Rosen
Volunteers A Beatles Hanukkah Thank you to the wonderful performers and volunteers who put on this program! A big thank you to Michele Jackman for organizing it!
Latke Makers Bernie Friedman Justin Stern Sara Eve Sarliker Ashlynn Bradford Jonathan Pitts Krystapher Brown Leslie Goldstein
Hanukkah Party Hadassah Budrevich-Ryan Akiva Budrevich-Ryan Sara Eve Sarliker Ella Sarliker
Greeters Patricia Barr Laura Hurtado-Webb
Growing Shabbat Meal Prep Michele Jackman Justin Stern Rae Michaelson Abby Gross Gaby Graham Vanessa Malapote Leslie Goldstein
AROUND THE CONGREGATION
Yahrzeits
Sidney Shapiro Terry Jo Parker Margaret Barnes Pearl Rubin Joanne Royer Helene Grossman William Schrager Iris Karger Helen Stein Ron Stein Robert Haynes Jr Billie Wolf Hanig Jeremiah Ruben Ida Brinn Charlie Burge Ben Gale John Van Burik Beatrice Neff Shirley Hacken Hilda Katz Henry Matis Patricia Marie Greene Goldie M. Reiner Suzanne I. Haiby Morton Saul Poplack
Happy Birthday!
25 Eric Stein 25 Eliana Stockwell-Ferber 25 Joe Puchot 27 Paul Alig 27 Joceile Moore 29 Jacqueline David 29 Marc Wiseman
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.
Camp Solomon Schechter: Women's Getaway March 13-March 15
From Friday, March 13, to Sunday, March 15, get ready to unwind, relax, and have fun as we put together a unique program designed entirely around YOU! This extraordinary weekend is all about reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, while experiencing the magic of camp. Whether you prefer lounging by beautiful Lake Stampfer, taking on the exhilarating challenge course, or embarking on a picturesque hike, this retreat is your canvas to paint the perfect weekend for yourself.
Camp Schechter is offering a day pass price of $150 to to the local community. Please make a donation online and indicate it is for Women's Getaway. Then register here for the weekend.
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.
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:
