Temple Beth Tikvah Monthly News

Join Temple Beth Tikvah for the joyous celebration of Simchat Torah during
Shabbat services on Friday, October 21st at 6:00 pm at the First United
Methodist Church, downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.

Simchat Torah means "rejoicing in the Torah." It marks the ending of the High Holy Day season and celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the the five books of the Pentateuch - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It is a very joyous holiday that is celebrated immediately after Sukkot and is a time for dancing with the Torah, waving flags and carrying banners. The Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried by congregants around the synagogue seven times. During these seven circuits, or hakafot, everyone waves brightly colored flags and sings Hebrew songs. During the Torah service, the concluding section of Deuteronomy is read, and immediately following, we read the opening section of Genesis, or B'reishit as it is called in Hebrew, starting anew the yearly cycle of Torah reading. We celebrate the reading of the end of the Torah and then the beginning of the Torah all at once, signifying that for us Torah study never ends.

There will be activities for the kids during the service, participation in dancing with the Torah scrolls and music for all to enjoy! The service will be followed by a pizza oneg.

PJ Library Pajama Story Time

October 15th, 6:45 p.m. at JCCO

PJ storytime

Come for the fun. Come for the stories. Come in your pajamas! It's the first Central Oregon PJ Library event on Saturday, October 15th from 6:45 - 7:30 p.m. at the JCCO building located at 21555 Modoc Lane in Bend. Stories at this fun family event are geared to children ages 8 and under. Whether or not you've registered for PJ Library you're welcome to join us...and bring your friends with you. To RSVP for this fun evening, or for more information, email: Patricia Givens at pgivens@cocc.edu

PJ Library mails free, high-quality Jewish children's content to families across the continent on a monthly basis. Today, families in hundreds of communities across the United States and Canada are able to explore the timeless core values of Judaism through free art, music, and literature.

All families raising Jewish children from age six months through eight years in the Central Oregon area are welcome to enroll. (Ages may differ in other communities.)

Greetings From Rabbi Ettman
Rabbi Ettman Photo

Dear Friends,

A flash mob is a weird American cultural phenomenon: On a given day and time, people are asked - usually by a notice online, or a forwarded email - to show up in a specific place and perform a task, just for fun. Sometimes, everyone will be dressed as Santa Claus; other times, a song will blast out and people will spontaneously start square-dancing, doing the Electric Slide or some other choreography. This phenomenon has been recently depicted in episodes of Modern Family, recent movies and even a little AT&T commercial that my mother frequently giggles at.

However, even more recently, an even newer flash mob solicitation was being circulated online, calling for people to coordinate and assemble in different cities around the world. This time, people were being asked to bring a Shofar.

On September 18th, at public spaces in various cities, people showed up and took out their ritual ram's horns, traditionally blown throughout the Jewish month of Elul as a way to inspire introspection, and blew.

The event itself was the brainchild of a group called Art Kibbutz. So far, confirmed locations included Budapest, Tel Aviv, and New York City and even the foot bridge at the Old Mill here in BEND!!! If you don't believe me, take a look at this:

From L. to R: News reporter, Diane Dober, Jo Booser blowing shofar, Rabbi Ettman.

As it did for those of us gathered at the Footbridge to listen to Jo's Shofar blasts, the sound of the Shofar is supposed to interrupt our mind and daily activities - just like a flash mob is designed to do. The Shofar, for centuries, was blown to warn us of the coming of the High Holidays, to wake us up from our slumber of daily monotony. It's both scary and joyous - also, kind of like a flash mob.

As you contemplate this time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (and the entire rest of the month), I invite you to allow yourself to be awakened to the newness and possibility that is dawning during this New Year.

Shanah Tovah, Umetukah - May this New Year be sweet, special and full of 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. to 3:00 p.m.

President's Message
From TBT President Lisa Uri

Greetings,

As we begin 5772, I want to remind everyone to think about how much we have accomplished in 3 ½ short years. Each year we continue to grow in so many ways. Our growth is the result of hard work by many of our members. Volunteers. That is what we are all about.

Our board consists entirely of volunteers. Our school is run and taught by volunteers. A volunteer organizes our beautiful music. Volunteers set up our onegs. Volunteers arrange our fundraisers, social events and havdallahs. We would not be as successful as we are without the time commitment and dedication of members.

But it is not enough. We need more help.

I have asked before, I will ask again now, and I will continue to ask in the future. Each person joins a synagogue for his/her own personal reasons. Yours may not be the same as mine and I fully respect that. But I believe Judaism reaches out to all of us on some level. It holds special meaning for each of us. Every one of us benefits from the beauty of Temple Beth Tikvah in some way ...some on a daily basis, some maybe just once or twice a year. But regardless of how often you utilize the services TBT offers, we ask you to contribute your time in some way. We can only grow as much as our members are willing to contribute. I know how busy life can be (believe me, I KNOW), but I ask that you consider giving a few hours of your time over the next few months. It's not a lot to ask, and I know it is much easier to just say no, or put it off until -- but don't.

Do it now. Show your commitment to TBT by giving a small part of yourself. Let's make 5772 a year of commitment and growth.

L'Shana Tova and my warmest wishes for a sweet New Year.

Lisa Uri

President - Temple Beth Tikvah

Save the Date - Jewish Book Fair!
November 6th at Barnes and Noble

Please join us at the Jewish Book Fair to be held at Barnes and Noble in Bend on Sunday, November 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The purpose is to raise funds to automate Bend's three synagogue libraries. Readings feature local authors Leonard Gross and Suzanne Schlosberg, and other fun events throughout the day. This will be a great time to support our synagogue library while at the same time buying books for holiday gift-giving. All day long, when you mention the Bend Jewish Library at the checkout counter (or if you submit a voucher), 10 percent of the purchase total will go to the Bend library automation project.

And if you buy a Nook - which makes a great Chanuka gift! - 5% of the cost goes to the automation project.

You can purchase books either in person on Sunday, November 6th, or online from November 6th through November 11th.

Be a book fair volunteer! Volunteers are needed for one or two hour shifts on Sunday, November 6th. Please email Bev Adler (fiber12@gmail.com) if you want to volunteer. Volunteer training is Sunday, October 9th at 1:00 p.m. at Barnes & Noble Café.

Gan Shalom "Garden of Peace" Cemetery Dedicated

By Harriet Richard

L to R: Jerome Daniels (owner of Deschutes Memorial Gardens,) Alice Huskey, Rabbi Jay Shupak, Rabbi Glenn Ettman, Harriet Richard, Ralph Uri

On a beautiful Sunday in September Temple Beth Tikvah consecrated the first Jewish cemetery for all of Central Oregon. From North to Madras, South to Chemult, East to Burns, and West to Black Butte, Jews now have consecrated ground for burial. The cemetery is located at Deschutes Memorial Chapel and Gardens on North Highway 97. Lauren Olander played the flute accompanied by violinist Jo Booser. Rabbi Jay Shupak chanted an ancient melody that floated across the empty ground containing 104 burial plots. Congressman Jason Conger arrived to become part of the group of thirty people that at the end of the short service chanted Kaddish for those souls yet to be placed in the ground.

The process began when Evie Lerner emailed me with the words, "There is no place in Bend for mother to be buried!" This shocking sentence led to my contacting Jerome Daniels, owner of Deschutes Memorial Chapel and Gardens, that very day. After explaining to him that the Jews of Central Oregon had no place to bury their dead, (Evie's mother is still alive, thank God,) he and his board agreed to give us eight plots. I came back to him stating, "That's not what I had in mind." As we negotiated, Jerome began to realize the depth of the problem and we agreed on fifty plots. Then after a long weekend, he called me. He had been looking at census numbers and decided that there were many more Jews in Central Oregon than we originally thought and thus raised the number of plots to 104!

Jerome is a delight to work with - always positive, funny, and willing to go the extra mile to ensure that things would be perfect. He was flattered that we had chosen his cemetery to be our home for eternity and wanted to let the community know that he was there for us.

As we go into the High Holidays let us realize with great joy the process that brought us our own Jewish cemetery in Central Oregon - a place of peace and closure and love. I hope some of you will take the time to drive north on 97 past the mailboxes on the right and turn into Deschutes Memorial Gardens. Ask to see our consecrated ground. It will make you feel peaceful and still.

TBT Board Notes
Next Board Meeting: October 11th, 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://bethtikvahbend.org/calendar.

If you would like to read the minutes of previous board meetings, you can request a copy from Board Secretary Kathy Schindel: schindelke@aol.com.

Committee News

Back To School

David Uri

Chair, Education

Sunday, September 18th was the official start of our 2011-2012 religious school programming. Many of our younger congregants joined together to learn about holidays, customs, and Torah and to begin preparing for the High Holidays. During the last half hour of Sunday school, students and many of their families, joined together in song led by members Hillary and Adam Diskin. The Rabbi was there to welcome all the students. It was a great start to the new school year! If you haven't enrolled your child in religious school, it's not too late. Please contact David Uri for more information.

TBT In the News

Jeanne Freeman

Chair, Public Relations

Antique radio operator jpeg

There's been much publicity on the events in our TBT community.

Hopefully you've all seen the feature story in The Bend Bulletin on Gan Shalom, the new cemetery. Harriet Richard and Rabbi Ettman were both interviewed for the article and a photographer was there to record the event.

We contacted KTVZ to invite them to the Shofar Flash Mob for a public blowing of the shofar on the bridge at the Old Mill. We were delighted to have a reporter meet us on the bridge - and to hear Jo Booser's magnificent blasts on the horn. You can see and hear the event at: http://www.ktvz.com/video/29226139/index.html.

Musical Blessings

Lauren Olander

Chair, Religious Committee

I know that I usually write something from the Religious committee perspective, but this month I would like to write from the heart of the Music Committee:

" Music is what feelings sound like."

The High Holidays are upon us and this time of year means many different things to all of us. This time of year allows us to experience some of the most beautiful and haunting melodies of Jewish tradition that we only hear during the High Holidays. The musicians, Cantor Bruner and Rabbi Ettman have been working endless hours to bring you music that will truly move you this High Holiday season.

In the middle of September during the last Rabbi weekend, we had a weekend filled with music and joyful sounds of the Shofar. At our friday night Shabbat service we were blessed with the voices and music of the choir from Nativity Lutheran Church who raised their voices to sing Oseh Shalom and Elohai N'tzor. We had the added bonus of Franchot Tone joining them on guitar. It was wonderful to have them attend and be part of our service, so much so, they are asking when they can come back and learn more Hebrew prayers! Look forward to another appearance sometime in the early spring!

On that Saturday afternoon, we had the opportunity to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Logan Danek and were lucky enough to have our wonderful pianist, Julie Geveshausen join us for this service as well. Mazel Tov goes out to Logan and his whole family.

Then, on Sunday morning, at the Cemetery consecration, we were also blessed with more music from our resident violinist, Jo Booser, to bring the beautiful melodies of Eli Eli and You are the One to our consecration. Later that afternoon, in a first time event ever, our congregation was able to participate in a worldwide Shofar Flash Mob. Jo Booser not only stood on the foot bridge at the Old Mill, but also climbed atop the "rock" at the Amphitheatre to blow the Shofar and call out to our community to ready themselves for the upcoming High Holiday celebrations. Not only was it fun to be part of such a unique "Flash Mob", it was really wonderful to have people come up to us and recognize the call of the Shofar!

As we saw during that weekend filled with celebration and music, Julie our wonderful pianist, and Jo our talented violinist, have become a huge part of our congregation and prayer services. We are lucky to have such wonderful musicians bring themselves,their talent and spirit to our congregation. Please, next time you attend a service and see either one of them, please take a moment to say "thank you" to them - for without the music they bring to our services, we would not have such beautiful and musical prayer opportunities.

Project Connect

Bonnie Ruby

Co-chair, Social Action

Several of our congregants volunteered for Project Connect held September 24 at the Hooker Creek Event Center Deschutes County Fairgrounds. Project Connect brings together large numbers of resources for people who are homeless or struggling in this economy. The day included: meals, medical and dental, vet services, housing, legal aid, and acupuncture - truly a Mitzvah Day!

The purpose of life is not only to be happy, but also to matter, to be productive, to be useful and it have it make some difference that you have lived at all. Thank you to the TBT members who gave of their time and efforts: Ron and Bonnie Ruby, Lisa Uri, Ralph Uri, Lawrence Schechter and Lorraine Shapiro.

November Newsletter Deadline: October 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 e-mail it to leslie.conley@bendbroadband.com by the 20th of each month. As always, you will continue to recieve "e-minders" before important events take place.

Shalom,

Leslie Conley and Sara Charney Cohen

Second Annual Celebration of the TBT Men's Night!

Tuesday, October 18th, 5:30 p.m.

The second annual celebration of our TBT Men's Night will be Tuesday, October 18th, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on the mezannine at 900 Wall, (900 Wall St., Bend, OR 541-323-6295.) Bring your significant other to join the happy hour fun!

RSVP to reserve your space: susarch@bendbroadband.com

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, OR, 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 & David Dietz, in honor of Jeff Adler's birthday and retirement.
From Harriet Richard & David Dietz, in honor of Jerry and Phyllis Greenbach's new granddaughter, Mollye Eve Goldstein.
From Harriet Richard & David Dietz, in honor of Isaac and Charlotte Tevitt's new granddaughter.
From David & Arlene Multz, in honor of Lauren Goldstein on her Bat Mitzvah.
From David & Arlene Multz, in honor of Sid and Marcia Garon's anniversary.
From Neil & Cheryl Schlackman, in honor of bar and bat mitzvah of Carli and Ross Klingerman.
From Neil & Cheryl Schlackman, in honor of Aniie Nita Fishman.
From Lester Dober, in honor of the anniversary of Lauren and Jeff Olander.
From Lester Dober, in memory of Lloyd Livstone.

About Temple Beth Tikvah

Temple Beth Tikvah is a growing Jewish congregation based in Bend, Oregon. We are affilliated 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 stimulation 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.