Beth El Temple Center Bulletin
December
1996
This html document contains the abridged content of the printed
bulletin.
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Table of Contents
December
Worship Schedule
Special Services
Thursday, December 5th
Public Menorah Lighting Celebration: 6:30 pm
Shabbat Services
Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7
Shabbat Pot Luck: 6 pm
Chanukah/Consecration Service: 7 pm
Shabbat Morning Service: 10 am
Va'yeshev Genesis 37:1-40:23
Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14
Shabbat Evening Service: 8 pm
Junior Congregation Service (downstairs): 8 pm
Shabbat Morning Service: 10 am
Tot Shabbat (downstairs): 10:15 am
Miketz (Genesis 41:1-44:17)
Friday, December 20, and Saturday, December 21
Shabbat Evening Service: 8pm (Friday Torah Service)
Shabbat Morning Service: 10 am
Va'yigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27)
Friday, December 27, and Saturday, December 28
Shabbat Evening Service: 8 pm (December simchas)
Shabbat Morning Service: 10 am
Va'yechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26)
Bat Mitzvah of Abigail Miller, daughter of Ellen and Jonathan Miller.
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From the Rabbi
I am writing these words after a glorious November weekend in our community.
Our youth group (BEFTY) pulled together an impressive conclavette program
for 90 high school students from Reform congregations throughout New England.
Of course, BEFTY received tremendous support from many of you and we
are grateful for your kindness and help. But our young people did a terrific
job and we are very proud of them.
Yasher koach to BEFTY President Rachel Harrison, Advisor Jen Nissenbaum, and
everyone else who helped plan and run this weekend.
But wait... there's more! Many of us also shared moments of great joy and
holiness as Ben Weiner (son of Myrna and Bruce) becam Bar Mitzvah and
Audrey Toman (daughter of Sylvia and Laurie) stood beneath the chuppah with
her husband, Eric Goldstein. At both events, I was delighted to see members
of our Beth El Temple family, both old and new,
gathered together in our synagogue to create precious, shared Jewish
memories.
In a sense, that's our synagogue's "business" --- the business of creating sacred,
Jewish memories. Our work is to create precious and memorable moments ---
moments overflowing with holiness and meaning. All year long, through a wide
variety of shared experiences, we weave the sacred threads that bind us together
as a family, that strengthen and nurture our souls. To do so, we use the wonderful raw materials
with which Jewish tradition provides us. These three events exemplified that
potential in our community's life.
December always brings special challenges for American Jews. This year,
I hope the powerful, nurturing memories of a November weekend will help us
through December's challenges. I hope they continue to sustain us well into the new year. But most of all,
I hope that many of you will join us in the weeks and months ahead to create more such wonderful
memories.
Rabbi Jonathan Kraus
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Consecration Celebration 5757
Please plan to join us for a pot luck dinner and special early
service on Friday night, December 6th. At that service, we
celebrate the consecreation of our youngest students as they
begin their lifelong journey in Jewish learning. Since that night is also
the second night of Chanukah, the service promise to be an especially
joyous one. We hope that every member of our Temple family will
come out to honor and welcome the newest Jewish learners in our community!
The pot luck will begin at 6 p.m. Please be sure to call the temple office
no later than Wednesday, December 4th to RSVP. The service will begin
at 7 p.m. and should be over by eight. Please note that his special 7:00
pm service will replace both the early Family Service and the regular adult service
usually held the first Friday of the month.
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Family Table
Family Table is is an ongoing food drive for 60 needy Jewish families in the
Boston area. The next collection date is December 15th. We need boxes of cereal and 20
cans or bottles of apple juice. Please help us meet our quota by dropping off
cereal or juice next time you're at the temple!
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Lunch with the Rabbi
"December Days --- Battleground for America's Culture Wars",
December 12th at noon, at Beth El Temple Center. Light lunch
provided. Sponsored by Adult Ed.
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Sunday Morning Learning Workshops
These workshops are from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM, and are cosponsored by
the Adult Education and Outreach Committees.
- December 15: Judaism and the Nature of Spirituality
- January 26: Judaism and the Nature of Prayer
- February 9: Talking to your Children about God
- April 13: Judaism and the Nature of God
All are welcome! Please contact Arlene Feinberg or Cindy Rubin for
further information.
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New Year's Brunch
Celebrate the New Year at the Beth El Temple Center brunch!
- When: January 1, 1997, 11:30 AM
- Where: the temple
- Who: Liz Malsky, her superb committee, and all members
- Keep the date... details will be forthcoming
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Jewish Philosophy Study Group
We will next meet on Wednesday, December 11, at 7:30 PM at the
temple. We will discuss Genesis. There will be copies of the
readings in the Adult Education box at the temple office. Anyone can
come and join the group, and new members are always welcome. You do not
need to have any prior knowledge.
Julian Harlowe
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Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh Group
Our next meting will be on Tuesday, December 10th, at 7:30 p.m. at a member's
home.
We will be celebrating the sisth night of Channukah --- feel free to bring
along a favorite menorah to light together.
We will be welcoming the month of Tevet, where we will study the ritual
of yahrzeit. Please bring a yahrzeit candle and
a picture of a loved one who has died. We will share memories of
our loved ones, and do a meditation to teach us to
handle the pain of grief.
Sheila Doctoroff
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Sisterhood Book Discussion Group
- Independence Day, by Richard Ford
- Monday, December 2nd, 7:30 PM
- At the home of Sylvia Tolman
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Adult Education
Please see the information about the Sunday morning workshops,
and lunch with the rabbi.
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Outreach Committee
Join us for our annual discussion on "Handling the Holidays." It will
be facilitated by Esther Kosofsky, who has worked with interfaith couples
and "Jews by Choice" on many issues for over ten years. Whether you
celebrate one, two, or none of the holidays at this time of year,
you will have the opportunity to share your thoughts and find out
how others have handled some of these issues. The
session is on Sunday, December 8 at 9:30 AM at Beth El.
RSVP to Rhonda Murphy, especially if you need baby sitting.
(General information is available on-line about the
Reform outreach program, and
regional
outreach programs.)
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Religious School Committee
The committee continues to discuss Family Education, our religious school
philoshophy and goals, and other issues of concern and interest.
Our next meeting will be Monday, December 9, at 7:30 PM.
Hildy Dvorak, Chairperson
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SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE
Our next meeting is on Sunday, December 8th at 9:30 AM at Beth El.
Among the planned activities is a presentation on Jewish teachings
about Tzedakah.
Sharon Rich and Ariel Kohn, Co-Chairs
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Brotherhood
On Thursday, December 5th at 6:30 PM, join us for the lighting
of the first "candle" at the temple. The rabbi will lead us in prayer and song, and
then usher us into the auditorium for the annual latke feast. There will be enough
latkes to feed a small army. Gelt and dreidals will be provided to all the
children who attend. The cost of the event is $5.00 per adult, and children will
be admitted free of charge.
Also on the agenda for the evening will be the 2nd annual latke contest.
To enter, just show up with a dozen homemade latkes. We'll waive the admission charge,
and you'll be eligible for fame, glory, and some very nice prizes.
Anyone interested in assisting with this event should come to the
Brotherhood meeting on Monday, December 2nd, at 7:30 PM at the
temple.
Joseph Tovares, Brotherhood President
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Sisterhood
Mark you calendars for the Sisterhood Shabbat dinner to be held on
January 24th.
Sharon Feinberg, Sisterhood President
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