September Calendar of Events
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
Sept. 8 -- Slichot --
Sept. 9 10:00 a.m. - "Bagels and Back to School
High Holy Days Workshop"
Sept. 10 5:00 p.m. - Dinner at Bethlehem Inn
Sept. 11 4:30 p.m. - First day of Hebrew School
5:30 p.m. - TBT Men's Night
Sept. 14 6:30 p.m. - Meditative Kabbalat Shabbat
Service w/Rabbi Ettman and
Cantor Bruner
Sept. 15 6:30 p.m. - Pre-Theater Social at Bend d'Vine
8:00 p.m. - TBT at the Tower - The Producers
Sept. 16 7:00 p.m. - Erev Rosh Hashanah Service
Sept. 17 10:00 a.m. - Rosh Hashanah Morning Service
2:00 p.m. - Family/Children's Service
4:00 p.m. - Tashlich & Picnic at Pioneer Park
Sept. 18 4:30 p.m. - Hebrew School
Sept. 20 7:00 p.m. - TBT Board Meeting
Sept. 22 9:00 a.m. - Project Connect
Sept. 23 10:00 a.m. - First Day of Sunday School
Sept. 25 7:00 p.m. - Kol Nidre Service
Sept. 26 10:00 a.m. - Yom Kippur Morning Service
12:30 p.m. - Adult Study & Discussion
2:00 p.m. - Family/Children's Service
3:00 p.m. - Yom Kippur Afternoon Service
4:00 p.m. - Yizkor Service
4:45 p.m. - Neilah (concluding) Service
6:15 p.m. - Break-the-Fast Dinner
Sept. 30 -- Sukkot begins at sundown --
ON THE HORIZON
October 28th - 3rd Annual Men's Night Celebration
November 10th - TBT Social event
SEPTEMBER School Activities:
Sunday School (10:00 a.m): 9/9, 9/23 (at Shalom Bayit)
Hebrew School (4:30 p.m.): 9/11, 9/18 (at Dudley's)
For more details about any TBT events, see our complete schedule of Services, School activites and Events online:
http://www.bethtikvahbend.org/calendar.
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High Holy Days at TBT
We invite you to join Temple Beth Tikvah, Rabbi Glenn Ettman and Cantor Margaret Bruner for this year's High Holy Days. We welcome all to attend any or all of our services. For planning, we do ask that everyone, including TBT members, make reservations as soon as possible. Reservations for services can be made online at www.bethtikvahbend.org/worship/jewish-holidays or by calling TBT at (541) 388-8826.
There is no charge to attend services for TBT members. If you are not a member and would like to attend, we are requesting a minimum donation of $75 per adult or $150 per family. This entitles you to attend any or all of our services. If you decide to become a member of TBT in 2012, your donation will be applied to your membership support contribution. Of course, additional donations in honor of the High Holy Days from members and non-members are always appreciated. If the donation request presents a financial hardship, please contact our Treasurer, Evie Lerner, at evielerner60@gmail.com to make special arrangements. Your request will be kept strictly confidential.
Break-the-Fast Dinner
We also invite you to join us for a Break-the-Fast dinner at 6:15 pm on Wednesday, September 26th, following the concluding Yom Kippur services. Cost for the dinner is $15 per adult, $8 for children 5-12 years, and children under 5 years are free. The charge for families with more than one child under age 12 is a maximum of $46. Reservations for the Break Fast must be received by Friday, September 14th.
Yizkor Memorial Booklet
We are in the process of putting together our Yizkor Memorial booklet for Yom Kippur. If you would like the name or names of departed loved ones included in the booklet, please include that information in the appropriate section of your online reservation form and send in your check for $36. Names for the booklet must be received by Friday, September 14th. For questions about the Yizkor booklet, please contact Kathy Schindel at schindelke@aol.com.
We look forward to having you with us for High Holy Days services and future TBT events.
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TBT High Holy Day Mitzvah Projects
Two community projects are focus of this year's fund drive.
Please join us in supporting our High Holy Days social-action project with your donation in increments of chai ($18). This year we ask that members support one of two community projects.
Our friends and hosts at the United Methodist Church sponsor the Compassionate Care Fund. The fund, which is supported by member contributions, provides financial assistance to people who can't make ends meet on their own. Assistance is given for a wide range of needs including rental assistance, utilities (especially with shut off notices), and prescriptions. Since 2008, those asking for help are people who in a bad economy have lost their businesses and often times their homes; they are no longer the homeless or recovering addicts of previous years.
TBT also continues to support Bethlehem Inn, the largest homeless shelter in Deschutes County.
The need in Bend has increased and it falls to community minded individuals to pull together to help each other. Please consider donating to one or both projects.
Donation envelopes for both projects will be available at all High Holy Day services. If you cannot attend, but would like to contribute, please contact Kathy Schindel at schindelke@aol.com.
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Greetings From Rabbi Ettman
 Dear Friends,
In the Woody Allen film, Love and Death, Boris, played by Woody Allen, and Sonia, played by Diane Keaton, are a Russian couple discussing what to do under threat of attack by Napoleon's soldiers. Sonia asks Boris if he is suggesting they perform passive resistance. Boris responds by saying, "No...I am suggesting that we perform Active Fleeing..."
So many of us try to run away from the power of this time of year. But we cannot. And moreover, the upcoming Holy days remind us why.
We have come once again around the bend for another year. For many of us it is hard to sit and reflect on what this year has been like. For many there have been some major changes with the status of life. Or for others there have been moments that have shaken our faith. We have weathered deaths, illnesses, and heartbreaks. We have celebrated in births, conversions and happy times. It has been quite a year. It is strange to think that any of us would flee from the power of this time of year but so many of us try to.
As the New Year approaches and we finish the important work we set out to do during Elul, we are forced to confront our reality. We cannot run away from these words. We cannot flee the drama. And we cannot resist the questions that arise for ourselves. Each one of us must ask:
How am I going to be a better person this year?
What will I do differently?
How did I act this year?
What changes will I make to help make me happy?
These questions are hard. I know. I truly know. Because sometimes the answers are not ones we want to hear. But we must ask them.
The overarching theme of the High Holy Days is the concept of Teshuvah. Teshuvah is commonly translated as "repentance" but that is not exactly correct. In the truest sense of the word, Teshuvah means "return," or,"to turn around". Meaning that the main idea of these Holy Days and the preparation we make for them is about reflecting on the past in hope of helping us reach the future. It is a reminder that we can make a change. We can turn our behavior. And we can return to our goals. Our faith is not and cannot be simplified. No fate is final and nothing is predetermined. There is always the possibility of an appeal and a hope for more.
To me, this is the most beautiful part of the Holy Day experience we are about to embark on. Each year we are allowed to begin again, to make the changes that we need to make, to be honest with ourselves, to return to the person we ought to be...and to be prepared to embark on the great journey that the new year sets before us.
My friends, this year more than any other, I hope that we can all reach a new level of awareness and holiness.
May this be our blessing.
Always,
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 Rabbi Ettman is available via email. If you want to set up an appointment, please email him at: glennettman@gmail.com. His office hours are Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
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President's Message
From TBT President Mark Schindel
TBT Members & Friends:
We are extremely fortunate to have generous members willing to step up to meet special needs for this Congregation. Jerry & Phyllis Greenbach and Ted & Carol Rosen are sponsoring the construction of a new Ark, which will accommodate the lovely Torah and crown donated by Ted & Carol's family. Lawrence Schechter is assisting in the design of this new Ark. We are most thankful for our current Ark, which has served us well, but was not built for the constant moving that it has endured. Harriet Richards and David Dietz coordinated the original Ark, which was donated anonymously to hold our first Torah. The new Ark will reside in the Main Sanctuary and move only to the bimah and back while our current Ark will remain in the Wesley Room for our Shabbat morning services.
As an added blessing, an anonymous donor is willing to match up to $2,500 in funds to be collected in September, and which is designated for additional Rabbi or Cantor services to fill in the months that are not currently scheduled. More information on this wonderful opportunity will be coming out in direct e-mails, so please be looking to see how you can help with a generous contribution.
I hope everyone has taken advantage of the warm and beautiful weather in August by getting outdoors and enjoying the many wonderful activities here in Central Oregon. Our lay-led service on August 31st was another outdoor, kid-friendly Erev Shabbat and picnic at Sawyer-Uplands Park. Again, Audrey and Ezra Cook blessed us with lovely music, and Lauren Olander provided a wonderful Torah teaching story. Also in August, we welcomed Rabbi Ettman back for a wonderful weekend of services and inspiring education.
Of course, as nice as these services have been over the summer, it is just the prelude to another memorable set of High Holy Days events that are planned. Erev Rosh Hashanah this year will be on September 16th, Sunday evening. We are excited to have Rabbi Ettman and Cantor Bruner leading our services, with great music planned. As a rare bonus, they will also conduct a special Shabbat service on the Friday night, Sept. 14th, prior to the Rosh Hashanah services. Please check the TBT website (www.bethtikvahbend.org) for all the details concerning the High Holy Days events and be sure to send in your reservation information! You especially will not want to miss a wonderful Tashlich experience and picnic, sponsored by Jerry and Phyllis Greenbach, and very special Break-the-Fast dinner being planned by Laurel Fishkin, Arlene Multz, and Vivian Freeman.
As if that isn't enough to keep us busy in September, there are several other important events to mark on your calendar. Our social fundraiser, TBT at the Tower, will be on September 15th, with the evening performance of the musical, "The Producers". So, come be part of the fun and enjoyment, joining Rabbi Ettman, Cantor Bruner, and many of your fellow members, before getting down to the seriousness of the High Holy Days. Contact Liz Levinson or Arlene Multz for further details.
For the children, we have an exciting new year with a combined Jewish Community Sunday School program, beginning with a welcome back kick-off event to meet the teachers on September 9th. The first Sunday School classes are on September 23rd. Families should have already received details about the new program and registration, but for any questions, please contact Kathy Schindel at schindelke@aol.com.
Shortly after the High Holy Days, we get ready for Sukkot (9/30 - 10/7). Again, we will be having a gathering to celebrate and eat under our Sukkah. Details about this event will be forthcoming soon.
As for Board news, there are three key items that the Board felt we needed to start working on immediately:
1) New Spiritual Leader search process;
2) Rebuilding committees and member involvement;
3) Defining Board roles & responsibilities;
However, before being able to actually do the work on these items, the Board needs to develop a plan on how to deal with each of them. This will involve investigating how to be successful in accomplishing these actions by talking to the URJ, to other congregations, and even with our own members.
In order to best work on these three items concurrently, the tasks were divided up among the Board members with the following assignments:
1) New Spiritual Leader search process - determine how to choose the right Chair and Search Committee members, what should be the criteria for the candidates we seek, how to best advertise and find the right candidates, how to conduct a thorough, but reasonable search & selection process, how to appropriately communicate progress to the Board and Congregation, and investigate how other small congregations have been successful with their Rabbi search process - Diane Dober and Vic Chudowsky.
2) Rebuilding committees and member involvement - determine where we need Committee help, who might be best at helping in certain areas, preparations for the Board in contacting all the members, and investigate how other congregations have been successful in getting members involved - Jeanne Freeman and Suzanne Schlosberg.
3) Defining Board roles & responsibilities - identify the expectations of our Board members, what criteria should there be for Board members, how can we develop congregants to be future Board members, how should the Board be communicating and listening to the Congregation, and investigate how other congregations have been successful with their Boards - Lisa Rosen and Lisa Uri.
As Board President, I will be providing additional support and assistance to each area as they work on these items. However, anyone who has useful ideas and suggestions on these topics is encouraged to contact the appropriate Board member(s) and share their information.
Finally, as a helpful reminder, if you have not yet filled out and sent in your Membership Renewal form, please do so as soon as possible. Please at least get the form sent in, even if you send in your check later.
Best wishes for a joyous and sweet New Year.
L'shana Tova,
Mark Schindel
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Call for Volunteers for
Project Connect 2012
Day-long event helps deliver necessary services to community members in need, Sept. 22nd
Project Connect 2012 is coming to the Hooker Creek Event Arena at the Redmond Fairgrounds on September 22, 2012. The mission of Project Connect is to rally our region to support and create lasting solutions for those experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness here in Central Oregon.
Once a year, community volunteers partner with government agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses, schools, and the private sector to provide health, social, and humanitarian services for struggling members of our community. Last year 3,421 guests received important services from 809 caring volunteers including 163 community partners and organizations.
This year the Interfaith Network of Central Oregon (INCO) has volunteered to staff Guest Services of Project Connect, greeting guests, assisting them in filling out forms and helping them find the services that they need. INCO is responsible for a total of 100 volunteers to work as a welcome team. You can make an incredible difference in the lives of your neighbors by volunteering to help INCO warmly welcome our neighbors to Project Connect.
To volunteer with INCO at Project Connect 2012, contact INCO secretary Carole Nuckton at cnuckton@bendcable.com or 541-382-2407.
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Jews, Conversos, and Crypto-Jews in the Iberian World
 Weekend in Quest, March 1-3
The Institute for Judaic Studies of Portland's "Weekend in Quest" is presenting a weekend with Matthew Warshawsky, a professor at University of Portland. He has studied and written extensively about "New Christians prosecuted by the Inquisition tribunals of colonial Mexico and Peru during the 1600s for the heresy of secretly practicing Judaism. The term 'New Christian' describes Spanish and Portuguese Catholics whose Jewish ancestors were forcibly baptized."
Temple Beth Tikvah is one of the sponsors of this unique learning experience, which is offered Friday evening through Sunday noon, March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 2013. The event takes place at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites in Astoria, OR.
Every year, the Institute for Judaic Studies facilitates programs that link individuals together in learning and understanding our complex and challenging world. They provide a forum where intellectual people can learn from each other and from nationally and intellectually acclaimed scholars, contemporary artists and musicians.
Shabbat services Friday evening and Saturday morning will be led by Ilene Safyan who is an integral part of Portland's Jewish music community. She is the Music Coordinator at Congregation Havurah Shalom and serves as Cantorial Soloist at both Neveh Shalom and Havurah Shalom. She has received
national acclaim for her award winning compositions and recordings of Jewish music.
The weekend includes the lectures, Shabbat services, a special program Saturday evening, five meals and a river-view room for $265/person based on double occupancy.
For more information and to register go to: http://www.weekendinquest.org/index.htm
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TBT Board Notes
Next Board Meeting: September 20th, 7:00 p.m, in
the High Desert Room at the Environmental Center
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 Lisa Rosen: lisallr@gmail.com.
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Committee News
Education
 Kathy Schindel, Chair
Community Sunday School Begins As mentioned in last month's newsletter, we have been working hard on planning the upcoming year for our new Community Sunday school. We have had a meeting with all of our teachers as well as meetings for curriculum planning. We have a group of knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated teachers who are enthusiastically looking forward to launching our new program. Please remember to attend our "Bagels and Back to School High Holy Days Workshop" on September 9th at 10:00 a.m. at Shalom Bayit (JCCO). This event is for the whole family and each child will have the opportunity to make their very own Shofar at the "Shofar Factory" facilitated by Rabbi and Mimi Feldman of Chabad. This will also be an opportunity for families to meet their children's Sunday school teachers. The first regular day of Sunday school will be September 23rd at 10:00 a.m. at Shalom Bayit. Religious School information and the Registration Form are both available on the TBT website. If you have not registered your children for religious school yet, please do so right away. We are looking forward to a wonderful year of Jewish learning, fun, and community. See you on September 9! |
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Marketing/PR
Jeanne Freeman, Chair
Have you found us on Facebook? There are now two more ways to keep in touch with your TBT family. There is a TBT Members Group on Facebook where you can chat with other members. If you're not already a member of the Facebook group, search for it under Temple Beth Tikvah Bend, OR - members group and 'Join Group'. It's a private group limited to our current members so you will need to be accepted. There is also a public Temple Beth Tikvah Facebook page that provides information on upcoming services and events. 'Like' us there to get all the latest TBT info.
Our own TBT website continues to expand with more information for our community. And we're keeping it up to date with photos from recent events. There are photos from the cemetery consecration, Passover, Shabbat in the Park, Havdalah and more. Our roving photographers are taking photos at most of our TBT events and sending them on to the website.
Please, if at anytime you choose not to have photos of you or your family on the website, (they will not be posted on Facebook), send an email to Jeanne Freeman, jfreeman@bendbroadband.com or call her and ask that your photos not be included on the website.
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Social Action
Beverly Adler
Bethlehem Inn Thanks
The Adult B'Nai Mitzvah class, with the help of some very special friends, will cook and served dinner for the Bethlehem Inn in September. A special thank you is extended to Grant Tittsworth for being our honorary adopted member! As always, we want to thank Beverly Adler, Jeanne Freeman, Ceil Herman, Terry Reynolds, Corrie Grudin, Kathy Schindel, Shari Winicki, and the Shapiro/Schechter Merger!
The TBT Board will be hosting at the Bethlehem Inn in November.
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TBT Library Seeks Bookshelves
Does anyone have an extra bookcase they can donate to TBT? Our library collection has grown to nearly 250 titles and we have no more space. If you can help, please contact Beverly Adler at fiber12@gmail.com or Tully Ellsberg at
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Social Activities 
Diane Dober, Chair
Do you enjoy knitting?
Is anyone interested in forming a TBT Knitters club? If you are, please contact Grant Tittsworth by phone at 541-771-3109, or by email at mishooganer@live.com.
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October Newsletter Deadline: September 24th
This newsletter is emailed to both members and non-members each month. If you have something you want to include in the newsletter, please e-mail it to sarrava@gmail.com by the 24th of each month. As always, you will continue to receive "e-minders" before important events take place.
Shalom,
Sara Charney Cohen
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TBT Men's Night - September 11th
The TBT monthly Men's Night is generally held on the third Tuesday of each month but will be on the second Tuesday of September to avoid Rosh Hashana. The next TBT Men's Night will be Tuesday, September 11th, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Joe and Leslie's. Joe will get the food, costs will be shared. Please bring your own wine or drinks.
Joe needs RSVPs by Sunday, Sept. 9th to know how many to shop for. Please contact Joe by Sept. 9th to let him know you're coming: joejez@bendbroadband.com.
We'll be playing bocci ball in the backyard. All men of TBT are invited. For more info, contact Lawrence at susarch@bendbroadband.com.
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TBT Tributes
You may honor the lives and achievements of friends and relatives via a tribute with a donation to TBT. You can make your donation online using PayPal, or print and complete a donation form to send along with your check to TBT at P.O. Box 7472, Bend, OR, 97708.
Donations may be designated to a specific fund, including the Youth Education Fund, the High Holy Days Fund, the Music Fund, the Library Fund, or to the General Fund. Donations listed below were made to the Temple's general purpose fund unless otherwise specified.
Temple Beth Tikvah gratefully acknowledges the following contributions:
- From Vivian Freeman, condolences to the Uri Family on the passing of Marcia's father.
- From Shelley & Corrie Grudin, in memory of Marcia's father.
- From Zac & Randi Zlatkus, in memory of Marcia's father.
- From Gerald & Phyllis Greenbach, in memory of Marcia's father.
- From Jeff & Beverly Adler, in memory of Marcia Uri's father.
- From Jeff & Beverly Adler, in honor of Lawrence & Lorraine's wedding.
- From Shelley & Corrie Grudin, on the happy occasion of the wedding of Lawrence & Lorraine.
- From Zac & Randi Zlatkus, in honor of the wedding of Lawrence & Lorraine.
- From Gerald & Phyllis Greenbach, in honor of Lawrence & Lorraine's wedding.
- From the Ketubah Krew, in honor of Lawrence & Lorraine's wedding.
- From Jill & Kim Muinch, in memory of Charlotte Kornfield.
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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 be 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. |
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