January 4, 2016                                                                                  Issue 47

Saturday Morning Minyan and Torah Study
During the next six months, Cantor Schachner, Rabbi Gubitz and our Cantorial Intern, Audrey Klein, will continue to lead our Morning Minyan and Torah Study gatherings. However, there are a several dates that they will be busy with other Temple Shir Tikva programs such as Shabbat Yeladim (Tot Shabbat), Bar/Bat Mitzvah Torah Study and Shabbat B'Yachad (Shabbat Together).
 
We are very excited to inform you that Rabbi Michael Shire will be at Temple Shir Tikva on those Shabbats that our own clergy are unable to join us. Much of Rabbi Shire's work has been applied in our own Jewish learning programs at Shir Tikva. Rabbi Shire's wife, Rabbi Marcia Plumb, also highly regarded, may join him at times.
 
Rabbi Shire's CV is extraordinary and we are very excited to have this opportunity to learn from him. He is the Chief Academic Officer, Hebrew College and the Dean, Shoolman Graduate School and Jewish Studies Program. His Rabbinic Ordination is from Leo Baeck College and he holds a Ph.D., Hebrew Union College.
Michael Shire joined Hebrew College in 2011 as professor of Jewish education and dean of the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education. In July 2015, he assumed the additional responsibilities of chief academic officer of the college and dean of the graduate programs in Jewish studies. Rabbi Shire has published widely in the field of religious growth and development as well as the Jewish theology of childhood. He has also published four books of creative liturgy with medieval illuminations in association with the British Museum. He and his wife, Rabbi Marcia Plumb, have two children.
 
We hope that you will continue to or begin to participate in and enjoy our weekly Shabbat Morning Minyan and Torah Study.
See you on Shabbat!
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.
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 11th 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.
Reyim Progressive Dinner
When: Sunday, January 24, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Temple Shir Tikva
Who: * Any member that has at least one child in college,   or has kids that have finished college
 
Reyim invites New and Nearly Empty Nesters*
(Any member that has at least one child in college or children finished with college)
 
Remember all the fun times we've had together, whether it was at the Original Family Camp, TST Players, or just schmoozing in the atrium when our kids were at Hebrew School?
It's time for us to get back together!
 
Please join us for a PROGRESSIVE DINNER to join together and rekindle our wonderful community!
 
 
Contact Mona Dolgov with questions or to help plan at dolgov@comcast.net.
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
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 
Shir Tikva Early Learning Center on Facebook
The Early Learning Center has its own Facebook page!
Search for Temple Shir Tikva Early Learning Center and like us. It's a great way to get a glimpse of the wonderful things happening in our school!
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
In Our Community
Pursuit of Harmony