December 27, 2015 Issue 45

Congregational Meeting and Vote

Special Congregational Meeting and Vote - Jan. 11, 2016, 6:30 p.m.

I am pleased to report that our Board of Trustees has voted to approve the Rabbi Search Committee's recommendation that Rabbi Douglas Kohn serve as our senior interim rabbi beginning July 1, 2016. Rabbi Kohn has served as senior rabbi in congregations in suburban Chicago and San Bernardino/Redlands, CA, and currently is in his second year as interim rabbi at a newly merged congregation in Rockland County, NY. In early January, you will receive a letter from Judy Kaye, our Search Committee chair, with more detailed information about Rabbi Kohn's background and expertise.

We will begin our evening with a wine and cheese schmooze at 6:30 p.m. followed by the congregational meeting and vote.

I urge you all to come and meet Rabbi Kohn on January 11^th at 6:30 PM, and we will vote as required by our by-laws to approve the Board's recommendation and finalize his appointment. As always, if you have questions or concerns please contact us at transition@shirtikva.org.

Julie Kniznik

President

Need a Little Help Understanding Friday Night Services?

Starting January 8, Shir Tikva will be piloting a short English-language "companion" to the regular Friday night prayer book. The Ritual and Interfaith Families Committees collaborated to produce this tool.

Designed to give participants a better understanding of the Friday Night Shabbat services, our aim is to demystify the service and to break down those barriers in an effort to welcome more members on Friday nights. Whether you have questions about the order of the liturgical pieces and their meanings or the rituals we perform and/or why we perform them, we hope this companion booklet will help our congregants better understand Friday Night Shabbat services.

The pilot version of the Siddur Companion will be available beginning with our New Member Shabbat on January 8, and each consecutive Friday night throughout the month of January. Your feedback on this tool is appreciated - a survey is included in each Companion, and a link to complete online will also be open in the coming weeks.

Family Promise: Year Two

We are getting ready to welcome our Family Promise guests. We will be the host congregation starting Sunday January 10 for two weeks concluding on January 24, 2016.

We have already posted the tasks through the Lotsa Helping Hands website, and while many tasks are filled, there are still many opportunities to volunteer.

Thank you to everyone who participated last year. For those of you who have not signed up and want to find out ways to help please visit our Family Promise website at: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/722086.

Once you have signed up you will receive regular emails about needs still unmet while the families are with us. You can volunteer for a particular need such as cooking a meal, being an overnight host, a greeter or doing laundry. There are certain tasks that can only be done by trained volunteers, though there are many ways to help if you aren't. You can still be trained before our guests arrive. Please contact one of our community leaders for the specific dates and time.

Thank you for participating in the program.

Cindy Lombardo, Co-chair Cindy@lombardos.com

Wendy Newman, Co-chair wnewman32@gmail.com

Year End Giving

May the lights of Chanukah usher in a better world for all humankind.

Author Unknown

We wish a Happy Chanukah to you and your family. As the days grow shorter, we recognize that it is that time of year when the lights from our menorahs will shine a warm glow, reminding us of the power of traditions and Jewish identity in our lives. As representatives of the Jewish diaspora, our origins are from diverse and varied backgrounds. As a temple community we come together to create new experiences built on our core values of Tikkun Olam and hope for a bright future. In planning for our future, we hope that you will consider making a donation to this year's 2015-16 Annual Fund campaign.

In order to sustain our sacred Jewish community, Shir Tikva needs your support. To invest in our future, we must secure the financial health of our congregation today. Our partnership is critical and we experience it in many ways, including donating to the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund is a central part of our budget every year, ensuring that we remain committed to one of our community values of making membership affordable for all. When we have financial support from our members, we stabilize our finances and build strength for the future. We invest in and shape the spiritual, educational, social, and religious programs that are at the heart of our community.

You may think, "But I gave already...I paid my dues!" You are right; you have given and you have given generously. But our system is based on a social contract....those who can give a little more do so to ensure the overall health of our community. For some, that is a meaningful donation of $18 and for others that might mean $1,800 or more. Any gift helps to secure the long term stability and growth of Temple Shir Tikva.

As you consider your end of calendar year charitable gifts, please include the TST Annual Fund in your giving plan. Donate today by clicking here or by mailing your donation to: Temple Shir Tikva, 141 Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA 01778.

We appreciate your generosity and your ongoing commitment to our synagogue.

First Annual TST New Year's Brunch

January 10, 2016, 9 - 11 a.m.

Join us for our first annual TST New Year's Brunch hosted by the Congregation Engagement Committee. Reconnect with old friends or make new friends after the holiday break in a warm and friendly environment over hot scrambled eggs and coffee, and other nosh.

All are welcome, so whether you are dropping kids off for religious school, looking for a reason to get out of the house or are just in the neighborhood, please join us.

This is a social event so you can drop in any time. If you know you will be there, please RSVP at www.shirtikva.org/NewYearBrunch so that we can be sure to have enough food. Otherwise, stop by anyway.

Brotherhood Presents: Comedy Night

Saturday, January 30, 7 p.m.

Join us for a great night of community and laughs! The night will include great headliner comedians and our traditional Chinese food buffet dinner, drinks (beer and wine) and great homemade desserts. This has always proven to be a very fun, great adult night out at the temple. (Must be at least 21 years old.)

Please register by Jan 27th if you plan to attend so we know how much food to get. You will also get the lower pricing.

For more information and to register click here. Please be sure to list the names of the people coming with you in the appropriate box.

Payment can be made online when you register with a credit card or you can pay at the door.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Save the Date: New Member Shabbat

Help us welcome our newest Shir Tikva members at Simchat Shabbat, Friday, January 8, 2016, 6:15 p.m.

Upcoming Sisterhood Events

Sisterhood Post-Holiday Schmooze:

Thursday, January 7, 2016; 7:30-9:30 p.m. Prime Bar

Kick off the New Year by getting together with Sisterhood friends. Come relax with a glass of wine or other beverage, and start the year off right.

Book Group Dates

2/4/2016 - Leaving Berlin, Joseph Kanon

4/7/2016 - The Betrayers, David Bezmozgis

6/2016 (day TBD) - On the Move: A life, Oliver Sacks (or other writings by Oliver Sacks)

Save the Date: March 26, 2016, 7 - 10 p.m.

Brotherhood and Sisterhood are co-sponsoring a Brisket and Scotch Tasting Dinner

All adult members are invited - plan to join us for good food, scotch and friends!
Sign-ups and RSVP details to come

amazonsmile

Please help support Temple Shir Tikva while shopping.
Click here to shop at Amazon and they will donate a percentage of your purchase price back to us for our Religious School and Annual Fund. Happy shopping! (you must select Temple Shir Tikva as your designated charity up entering site)

Shir Tikva on Facebook

Like us on Facebook - Temple Shir Tikva Wayland, MA

Help us reach 350 members by weeks end!

If you or your committee has information you would like posted, please email jmkeseberg@gmail.com.

Regularly Scheduled Services

Simchat Shabbat, Friday, 6:15 p.m.

Early Shacharit, followed by Torah study, Sat. 8:30 a.m.
Shabbat Yeladim (Tot Shabbat) - 1st Saturday of each month, 9:30 a.m.

In Our Congregation

R'fuah Sh'lema...

Our Thoughts and Prayers are with those that are ill:

Abba Noach ben Yehudit

Maureen Andreassi

Aryeh ben Raizel

Joan Carlton
Ray Cue

Janet Decker

Aliza Dorfman

Roseann Dunn

Murray Finkel

Robert Friedman

Gittel Leah bat Sarah Faige

Minnie Goldenberg

Gedalia ben Rut

Vanessa Gravenor
HaRav David Hillel ben Chaya Brina

HaRav Mordecai ben Chana

Ethan Kadish

Vivienne Kalman

Edith Kaye

Wanda Kolofoff

Lenore Larkin

Luke Lorio
Yonina bat Manya

Rachel Marker

Mendel Peretz ben Ita Chana

Christopher Montgomery

Nachama bat Trayna Raizel

Jeremy Pivor

Sherri Pilskin

Shayndl bat Mina v'Beryl

Stacey Roswell
Rhoda Sakowitz
Stan Sakowitz
Sarah Faiga bat Malka
Arden Suvalle

Heidi Tissenbaum

Merle Zabusky

Mazel Tov...

Mike and Aveie Rosemark on the birth of their granddaughter, Maya Lynne Hipsh, daughter of Yoni and Bethani Hipsh
Eric and Abby Davis on the birth of their daughter, Lilah Paige Davis
Nancy Falkof, on the birth of her granddaughter, Estelle Violet Millstein, daughter of Matt and Beth Millstein
Jeffrey West and Amy Davis West, on the birth of their grandson, Warren Harvey Amaral West, son of Joshua and Roberta West

Condolences...

Ben Boverman, on the death of his father, William Boverman

In Our Community

Pursuit of Harmony

Playing By Air

Sunday, January 3, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Leventhal-Sidman JCC Newton

The award-winning performers of Playing By Air share their sense of playfulness and breathtaking feats in a high energy performance for the entire family. Featuring an electrifying display of lights, color, and motion, engaging characters, and musical instruments that fly through the air, this program is geared for families with children ages 3+ years.

Cost is $15, JCC member cost is $13. Show is part of the JCC Magic Ark Performing Arts Series for Families, a program of the Ryna Greenbaum JCC Center for the Arts.

For tickets, visit bostonjcc.org/magicark or call 617-965-5226 or 866-811-4111.

JFS Healthy Aging Lunch and Learn

Monday, January 4, 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.

Temple Israel, Natick

Todd E. Lutzsky Esq. LLM Presents: Financial Planning: Understanding Trusts

Protect your assets
Maintain access to your money
Understand blood line inheritance

Todd Lutsky is an expert in the field of financial planning, estate planning and income and gift tax issues. From 1998 to 2013 he co-hosted the radio show "Money Matters" and now hosts "The Legal exchange with Todd Lutsky" on WRKO. Mr. Lutsky serves as an adjunct professor at Boston University where he taught a course on Elder Law. He has published many works related to elder law, Medicaid, estate planning and trusts. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Boston Estate Planning Council.

We look forward to Mr. Lutsky sharing his expertise with the JFS Healthy Aging Community.

Kosher lunch is $3 in advance or $5 at the door