TBT Monthly Newsletter

   August 26 - Shabbat Service
   August 27 - Lauren Goldstein Bat Mitzvah
   August 28 - Adult Education
   September 16 - Shabbat Service
   September 17 - Logan Danek Bar Mitzvah

For more details on any of these events, see our complete schedule of Services, School activities and Events online:

http://www.bethtikvahbend.org/calendar.html.

Summer Scholars
3 TBT Students Reach Milestone

Three of TBT's young members are coming of age this summer: Lia Taus, Lauren Goldstein and Logan Danek. These B'nai Mitzvah students have made great progress this past year in their studies to become "Children of the Commandment" according to our Jewish tradition.

"All three are super smart, ask intelligent questions and are highly motivated," said Kathy Schindel TBT Hebrew coach and teacher. "They are ready to be considered responsible for their actions from a religious perspective," said Kathy.

Lia Taus is first up as her Bat Mitzvah takes place July 9 at 8:00 a.m. at the Inn of the Seventh Mountain. Lauren Goldstein's Bat Mitzvah is Saturday August 27 at Aspen Hall at 10:00 a.m. Logan Danek is becoming Bar Mitzvah on September 17 at 4:00 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Each young person plans to lead prayers, read from the Torah and give his or her unique perspective of the week's Torah portion.

Please add these dates to your calendar and plan to attend and support each one of our young B'nai Mitzvah students this summer.

Upcoming Rabbi Weekend - New Time for Friday Evening Service

Rabbi Glenn Ettman is returning to Bend to lead our Shabbat services July 8-9. Beginning July 8th, Friday evening services will start at a new time, 6:30 p.m.

TBT Summer Picnic - July 31st
Multi-Generation Fun for Everyone!

Sunday, July 31st.
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Pioneer Park - at corner of Portland and Wall Streets

TBT's Summer Picnic will provide an opportunity for the adults and children to interact and create an extended family experience within our congregation. Inter-generational games and activities will be organized.

TBT will provide BBQ of hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and garnishes.

Congregants are invited to bring any personal preferences for foods, as well as pot luck salads, desserts, drinks. Wine and beer are ok.

Please R.S.V.P. by Thursday, July 28th to Lorraine Shapiro: lorbigsur@gmail.com or 541-771-1937.

Greetings from Rabbi Ettman Rabbi Ettman photo

Dear Friends,

The other day, Irra and I were seemingly transported into the story of Alice In Wonderland! And it made me remember the power stories have to inspire, influence and guide us in our lives.

One of my dear friends from my graduate program at NYU, creates and performs wonderful avante garde dance pieces that are, what is technically called, "site specific". The method and model of these performances is to take a normal outdoor space, for example a park, and stage the story within it. Rather than using a formal theatre or stage, the story that is being told takes on the life of the area in which it is being created. Characters walk around you sitting having a picnic. The trees are those in the story.

This was how our Alice In Wonderland experience began to unfold. And while the piece itself was very visually stunning (and of course pretty neat when you know one of the performers), the effect was that we actually felt transported into the story. At one point, Irra said to me, "I feel like I do when I read a book but here the characters really are dancing around me." For two hours, we were transported through the interactions of the Red Queen and the White Rabbit, with the Mad Hatter tempting Alice to a tea party and the White Queen trying to orchestrate good. Certainly the magic of theatre is something that is unique and transformative, but the true power of what we saw reminded me of how important it is to read stories, share adventures and allow ourselves to be transported to another world for a short bit of time.

My friends, we have come upon our summer months, the time in our lives when vacations occur, perhaps our work slows down and the sun wanes longer into the evening before it sets along the horizon. It is also a perfect time for us to allow ourselves to be transported into the worlds of stories and books and even movies. And here is something that I want to encourage each of you to do in the next month. Jewish tradition explains that if you find someone with whom you can learn and share, you have found a friend for life! Sometimes all we need to do is to share an experience of a story to begin to attain that connection.

My prayer for each of us is this: May we find meaning in our stories. May we allow ourselves to be transported to the worlds of wonder that exist through characters. May each of us learn with someone this month. And may this first full month of our summer lives be filled with joy, hope and promise.

Always,

Rabbi Ettman is available via email. If you want to set up an appointment please email him at: rabbiettman@bethtikvahbend.org.

His office hours are Fridays from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

President's Message Photo of Lisa Uri
From TBT President Lisa Uri

I have been spending a lot of time this past month with temple leadership planning for our upcoming year. Some things remain exactly the same and some are changing. We recognize the various needs and wants of our congregants and we are doing our best to offer something for everyone. With a little history behind us, we are using our past experiences to plan events for the upcoming year well in advance. Please see the TBT website online calendar for a schedule of events for the year.

I have written a "glossary" for TBT events so you know what you can expect on certain weekends.

FRIDAY NIGHTS

Rabbi weekends: The TBT Board has heard concerns about the early start time for services. So beginning in July, Friday night services will start promptly at 6:30 pm rather than 6 pm.

Beginning in December, we are offering a Shabbat Kids Club during services. We encourage parents to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. There will be two babysitters for children, toddler age or older, who may find it difficult to sit quietly in services in the sanctuary. Children may stay for as much of the service as they and their parents wish. There will be a specific time - just before the Amidah - when children are invited to go to "Shabbat Kids Club" to celebrate Shabbat with the other children in a kid-friendly environment. This will hopefully create a more organized way for the children to exit the sanctuary. All the children will meet their parents after services in fellowship hall for Kiddush, hamotzi and an oneg that includes cheese/crackers, veggies, fruit and a dessert.

Lay-led weekends: There will be four lay-led weekends in January-April that include an early service and a late service. The early service starts at 6 pm and is geared slightly more to families with children, yet certainly all are welcome. At 6:45 pm, there is an oneg/pre-neg, for both services, which includes pizza, fruit and dessert for all. At 7:30 pm, our late service begins.

Other lay-led weekends start at 6:30 p.m. These include our Consecration/Simchat Torah service in October, our Chanukah service/party in December, and our Religious school-led service in May.

SATURDAYS

Torah Study: Don't let the title scare you. You don't need to know a thing about Judaism, Torah or religion. Surprising, right? These 90-minute sessions are discussions about life, community, ethics, philosophy and how the Torah readings relate to modern times. And it is all in English. Rabbi Ettman has handouts with quotes from Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks to Ghandi to Kermit the Frog. It is interactive, enlightening and fascinating. You can either sit quietly and listen, or chime in at any time.

Torah Service: This service is held right after Torah study in a more intimate setting than our Friday night services and is a wonderful way to worship if you can't make it on a Friday night. Often you will have a chance to see the Torah text as Rabbi Ettman invites the entire group to surround him and to learn something directly from the Torah.

Havdallah: We are planning many Saturday night events throughout the year...some just for fun, such as Purim; some with educational opportunities, such as "Ask The Rabbi." In addition, several "Havdallah With A Purpose" events are planned in support of local charities. If you are interested in hosting one of these events, please contact Bonnie Ruby.

SUNDAYS

Adult Education: Again, always fascinating. And this year we will be asking the congregation for ideas for adult education topics. Is there something you always wanted to know about? Let us know.

We are excited to start another year with Rabbi Ettman and continue to create programming that offers something to everyone. Please make it a habit to check our website frequently www.bethtikvahbend.org for the most up to date information on programs and times.

Enjoy the summer weather.....finally!

B'Shalom,

Lisa Uri
President, Temple Beth Tikvah

TBT Board Notes
Next Board Meeting: July 12, 7:00 p.m.

Your TBT Board meets monthly and everyone is invited to attend. Dates and times of Board meetings are on the TBT calendar at http://www.bethtikvahbend.org/calendar.html.

If you would like to read the minutes of previous board meetings you can request a copy from Board Secretary Ralph Uri: raduri@bendcable.com

Committee News

Social Action Committee

Beverly Adler and Bonnie Ruby, co-chairs

TBT's first B'nai Mitzvah and friends prepared and served dinner at the Bethlehem Inn in May. Special thanks are extended to Linda Brant, Leslie Conley, Ceil Herman, Terry Reynolds, Ann Rosenfield, Bonnie Ruby, Kathy Schindel, Lawrence Schecter, Lorraine Shapiro, and Shari Winicki.

August Newsletter Deadline: July 20th

This newsletter is emailed to both members and non-members at the end of each month. If you have something you want to include in the newsletter, please email it to leslie.conley@bendbroadband.com by the 20th of each month. As always, you will continue to receive "eminders" before important events take place.

Shalom,
Leslie Conley and Sara Charney Cohen

TBT Mens Night - July 21st

The Men's gathering this month is at the Bethlehem Inn. We will serve BBQ style on Thursday, July 21st, starting with prep at 5:15 p.m. We'll go out for Happy Hour food and drink at a local pub afterward. All men of TBT are invited.

Adult B'nei Mitzvah Class Reunion
900 Wall logo

A venue for the Adult B'nei Mitzvah class reunion has been confirmed. We are booked for 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 10th at 900 Wall St. We have the upper room reserved for our group including significant others. We hope to see all of the group there.

TBT Tributes

You may honor the lives and achievements of friends and relatives via a tribute with a donation to TBT. You can do this by sending a check and the name and address of the person being honored to TBT at P.O. Box 7472, Bend 97708. Donations are made to the temple's general-purpose fund unless otherwise specified.

Temple Beth Tikvah gratefully acknowledges the following contributions:

From Harriet Richard and David Dietz in honor of the Reynolds 40th anniversary and Ceil Herman's birthday.
From Cheryl and Neil Schlackman in honor of Dr. Larry Kaliner's special birthday.
From Cheryl and Neil Schlackman in honor of the birth of grandson Taiki Brian of Judy and Bruce Morse.
From Ceil Hermann in appreciation of all her TBT friends and family who made her birthday so very
special.
From Liz and Paul Levinson in honor of Terry and Gary Reynolds - Mazel Tov on your 40th anniversary. May you continue to share love and joy for many more years.
From Liz and Paul Levinson in honor of Ceil Hermann - Mazel Tov!! May you live to see many more blessed
birthdays!
From Jerry and Phyllis Greenbach in honor of the Reynolds 40th anniversary and in honor of Ceil
Herman's 93rd birthday.
From Kathy and Mark Schindel in honor of the special birthday of Ceil Hermann and in honor of the 40th anniversary of Terry and Gary Reynolds.

About Temple Beth Tikvah

Temple Beth Tikvah is a new Jewish congregation based in Bend, Oregon. We are affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism and are excited to become the first Reform synagogue in Central Oregon.

Our members come from a range of Jewish backgrounds, including Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Renewal. Temple Beth Tikvah welcomes interfaith families and Jews by choice.

We are committed to providing a Jewish education for our children as well as stimulating educational activities for adults. We value social action and strive to provide a Jewish cultural, social and religious experience in Central Oregon.

Temple Beth Tikvah is a warm and enthusiastic community that includes families, singles and "empty nesters." We are a mix of long-time Bend residents and newcomers from around the country who moved here to enjoy Central Oregon's beauty, active lifestyle and quality of life.

Please contact us at 541-388-8826 or info@bethtikvahbend.org for more information.