In February, Shalomites attended events for all ages. Many of our eighth graders went to the JOSTY Shul-In in Brookline to sample what NFTY would be like next year. Shalomites also attended MANTY's Winter Wonderland in Manchester.

 

This month we will be sending members to NFTY's Spring Conclavette which will take place March 21-23. You can register for this event at www.nfty.org/ne.

 

Coming in March, there will be many new ways to get involved. On March 1st, we will be going Glow Bowling with TEMTY, the youth group from Temple Emanuel in Andover. We will be continuing our planning of the Creative Service and Purim Carnival on March 4th and all Shalomites are encouraged to come and help us out!

 

The Shalomites will be hosting the Purim Carnival on March 16th, with a Shul-In the night before. We will be running out annual Hamentaschen Contest to determine which cookie will reign supreme. Please contact shalomites@congregationshalom.org if you would like to enter.

 

We look forward to seeing you soon.

 

Andrew Bass

Shalomites Communications VP

 

From the Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation...

 

March Music Madness with the Jon Nelson Band

Sunday, March 23

 

2:30 pm - Make You Own Sundaes & Camp Hadar Camper Reunion

3:15 pm - Concert

 

The Jon Nelson Band will provide a wonderful afternoon of celebration for all ages!

 

At Temple Emanuel in Andover

Your reservations from the originally scheduled First Light concert will be held for you.

 

Register at www.MVJF.org .

  

 

MVJF Create A Masterpiece

Sunday, March 30   4:00 - 5:30 PM

 

Professional Artists will teach you, step by step, how to create a special Passover Painting and everyone will leave with their own masterpiece. Perfect for hanging in your own home or to give as a gift to grandparents!

 

No Painting experience necessary and all supplies are included.

$25.00 per person   Space is limited.

Registration deadline: Friday, March 14

Visit www.mvjf.org to sign up.

 

 

Israeli Dance Workshop With Shmulik Gov-Ari

Sunday, March 30, 3:30 - 4:30 pm Basic, 4:45 - 6:45 pm Advanced

Osgood Landing, 1580 Osgood St., North Andover, MA

 

Learn new Israeli dances from internationally acclaimed Israeli dance choreographer and teacher Shmulik Gov-Ari. His dances tell the story of Israel, many based on his Yemenite heritage. For more information or to pre-register contact Arline at 978-388-6995 or arlineferguson@gmail.com.

 

Basic $8, Advanced $12 before March 18. At the door $10/$15, both sessions $23.

Co-sponsored by Merrimack Valley Israeli Dancers and the Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation.

 

 

4^th Annual Jewish Film Festival

Sunday, May 4

Osgood Landing, North Andover

More details coming soon!

SAVE THE DATE

 

  

What is the MVJF anyway?

 

MVJF/Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation has been in existence for 25 years. There are many Congregation Shalom members who are actively involved on our board; it's one of the ways we participate in Tikkun Olam.

 

Some of the worthwhile programs and projects your gifts to the MVJF support include:

 

CAMP HADAR: a quality Jewish day camp in Salem, NH

 

PROJECT HOME AGAIN: provides new bedding and used home furnishings to needy families

 

FREE LOAN SOCIETY: provides confidential interest-free loans to Jews in the Merrimack Valley who need assistance paying for essentials

 

JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL: Annual program which will be Sunday May 5th this year in Andover.

 

PJ LIBRARY: Provides Jewish families with young children with free books, CDs, and programs with Jewish content

 

YEMIN ORDE YOUTH VILLAGE: A village in Israel which houses and treats traumatized youths

 

TZEDAKAH BOXES: For every Bar/Bat Mitzvah child in the Merrimack Valley - to encourage them to 'live generously'

 

GRANTS to area temples. Funding for: Jerusalem City of Gold...LEGOs program in March 2014 at our very own Congregation Shalom!

 

And so much more! We hope to see you at one of our events this spring!

 

If you already participate in our annual campaign, we thank you. If you do not, or haven't in the recent past, we encourage your engagement and participation. We can only fund these worthwhile programs with your support. Please visit our web site www.mvjf.org  for more information or to make a contribution, or contact the MVJF office at: 978-688-0466, or mail a check to: MVJF, PO Box 937, Andover, MA 01810.

 

TODAH RABA!

Margi Loyer, MVJF board member and co-chair of the 2014 annual campaign

 

Tikvah Family Shabbaton

 

On March 28-30, Camp Ramah in New England is hosting its first-ever Tikvah Family Shabbaton for families with kids with disabilities. We are looking forward to a wonderful weekend retreat with programming catered specifically towards parents, siblings and children and young adults with disabilities. For more information about the Shabbaton click here. To register for the Shabbaton click here. If you have any questions about the Shabbaton contact Tali Cohen, Director of Tikvah Vocational Services at talic@campramahne.org or 781/702-5290 x108.

   

From the Visiting Nurse Association of Boston & Affiliates...

 

VNA Hospice Care needs volunteers! Hospice volunteers play a key role in helping to provide caring and compassion to patients and families facing life-limiting illness and loss. A volunteer may provide patients with company and emotional support, give the spouse, partner or other caregiver a needed break from care giving, and/or help caregivers run errands or get to and from appointments. A strong need exists for volunteers who can visit on weekdays. We also seek: musicians who would like to sing or play music quietly at the bedside of nursing home residents; Reiki practitioners who would like to offer Reiki to patients and/or caregivers; and people interested in visiting with their therapy dog. Volunteers who speak both English and a second language are also helpful. We provide volunteer training and ongoing support. Call 781-569-2888 and ask to speak to a Volunteer Coordinator for more information. Or email LPalais@vnab.org.