Join us for "Ruchi G'viati--My Soul, My Body," our Jewish Mind-Body Spirituality experience. Together we will learn timeless strategies drawn from Jewish tradition for caring for your mind, body and soul. This dynamic series of workshops is based on music, contemplative meditation, Torah study, psychological thought and gentle Yoga.

• Wear comfortable clothing
• Come prepared to remove your shoes
• Bring a yoga mat (mats will be provided for those who need them)
• Bring friends, old and new
• Bring frayed nerves in need of healing
• Bring open minds and hearts, eager to learn, share and sing

Facilitated by Cantor Hollis Schachner, Dr. Randy Kamen Gredinger and Holly Friedman Glick, LICSW, RYT 

Sunday, March 22, 9 a.m. - Noon

Dr. Donald Bachman, Radiologist, Metrowest Medical Center presents:

What Families Need To Know About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women and has and will occur in many families in our community. A panel discussion will explore what we currently know and hope to discover and a subsequent panel will address the critical areas of psychological and social support for patients and their families.

Also participating in the discussion, moderated by Dr. Bachman, will be Dr. Timothy Ernst, Medical Oncologist, Charles River Medical Associates; Dr. Jami Rubens, Diagnostic Radiologist, Newton Wellesley Hospital; Dr. Gayle Tillman, Radiation Oncologist, Newton Wellesley Hospital; Dr. Rita Sadowski, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Metrowest and Newton Wellesley Hospitals.

As part of the Chazon Initiative, a Physical Space Working Group was established last year (2013-14) to review feedback from the Chazon process and investigate the physical space of the Temple. After many interviews and fact-finding sessions, we developed a detailed list of needs and wants, covering all areas of the Temple's facilities.

With that achieved, a new committee was established this year (2014-15) to move forward with investigating and planning for potential building improvements. The committee recently requested proposals from architects for a Planning Study that will enable us to further define and prioritize our needs, and provide us with conceptual designs and cost projections. The Planning Study will permit the Congregation to have a meaningful informed discussion of our alternatives and what they may cost.

We invited six Boston-area architectural firms to respond to our request, inviting them to a walk-through at the Temple on January 6, 2015. Three firms [Finegold Alexander, Jonathan Levi, and Solomon+Bauer+Giambastiani] attended the walk-through, and the committee spent the afternoon talking to them about our physical space, our culture, and our desire to be spiritually and community oriented. We gave the architects the detailed list of our needs and wants, but we also gave them four general priorities, based on a distillation of the detailed list:  

• Create a warm, spiritual environment in the Sanctuary;
• Create more gathering space;
• Improve the kitchen; and
• Provide more storage space.

Other priorities involving making the Temple entry more inviting, the school space, library, beit midrash, administration space, building security, etc. were discussed as well.

We expect to receive proposals for a three-month Planning Study from each of the three firms on February 18, 2015. The committee will evaluate the proposals soon after they arrive and prepare a recommendation for the Board of Trustees. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to talk over any aspect of this process.

With best regards,

Carole Osterer Bellman and Ed Perlman, co-chairs, Building Improvement Committee

Members of the Building Improvement Committee

Susan Altman, Diane Black, Steve Dannin, Doug Dolgov, Beth Greenberg, Rabbi Neal Gold, Julie Kniznik, Karen Miller (liaison to Executive Committee), Doreen Rao, Sander Rikleen, Nancy Rossman, Laurene Sperling

• Harry and Rowena Abadi, on the birth of their grandson, Isaac, son of Daniel and Yael Abadi
• Donald Schuler and Joan Blair, on the engagement of their son, Steven Schuler to Serena Shulman
• Peter and Nancy Gossels, on the engagement of their son, Daniel Gossels to Jackie Chae

• Lauren Rikleen, on the death of her mother Elaine Stiller
• Joan Blair, on the death of her brother, Roger Blair
• Lisa Schreiber,  on the death of her father, David Botvin

Two superstars of the music world - E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg and Israeli singer/songwriter David Broza - will discuss the role of spirituality in their careers.

Moderating the event will be former Boston Globe music critic Steve Morse. Max Weinberg is the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. He is widely known for his role as bandleader for Conan O'Brien on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. In 2014, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band. International composer, guitarist, and singer David Broza has filled concert halls around the world. A modern troubadour of urban folk-rock, he was featured in the PBS special David Broza at Masada with Jackson Browne and his American debut album, Away from Home, was praised by The New York Times as one of the best pop albums of the year.

Rock and Scroll - The Spirituality of Two Music Icons is presented as a signature event of the Jonathan Samen Hot Buttons, Cool Conversations Discussion Series at the JCC - a program of the Ryna Greenbaum JCC Center for the Arts. Following the discussion, the evening will culminate with a musical performance.

Tickets are $85, $100, $118 or $150 ($150 level includes private reception, autograph session and photos). For tickets, contact 617-965-5226, boxoffice@jccgb.org or visit www.bostonjcc.org/hotbuttons.

Sunday, March 8, 1-4 p.m.

Seder Plate Class at Danforth

Create and decorate beautiful Seder plates. You will form the plate out of clay and paint it. The Danforth then glazes and fires the plates and you can pick them up the week before Passover.

Workshops are limited to 10 adult/child pairs, and work best for children ages 5 and above.

Cost: Danforth Members: $25, non-members: $25

Click here to register 

SAVE THE DATE!

Sunday, May 31, 2015, noon- 7 p.m.

Prowse Farm, 5 Blue Hill River Road, Canton

Bringing the Community Together for Israel

Join us for a festive afternoon filled with music, art, dance, fun, food and activities for all ages.  

Sign up at celebrateisraelboston.com to receive event updates!

The Site Is Up. The Box Office is Open!

Whether it was meeting an Indian singer who was so excited to do a concert with a cantor, or the joy of the Irish Consul of Boston when we talked about Saints and Tzadiks, there are many incredible stories to tell about this year's festival. Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing more details and anecdotes with you.

Click here to find out more information and to buy tickets