HATIKVAH
Beth Tikvah Synagogue Newsletter         
December 11, 2015

Like us on Facebook
Greetings! 
  
What a fantastic time we had this past Wednesday at our Chanukah celebration! Over 50 pounds of potatoes were turned into over 400 yummy latkes by Benita Amsden, Ruth Weiner, and myself. Cindy Avergon made some additional latkes that afternoon with the help of Jack Goodman and Rachel Fredman. Abbe Allexenberg made her famous, and totally delicious, sufganyot. Thank you guys! Also, thank you to everyone who brought such great side dishes, from salads to kugels to lasagna and deviled eggs, it was all so amazing! Thank you to Bill and the rest of the Amsden family for setting up and staying to the bitter end to clean up. Also, thank you to Mike Smith and Shelley Dubin for being a terrific clean-up crew. And thank you to the myriad of others (pretty much everyone who attended) who set up, cleaned-up, worked in the kitchen reheating, served latkes, etc. We truly had that Beth Tikvah mishpacha (family) feeling where everyone just pitched in.
 
Of course we did more than eat at our celebration. We began our celebration with the traditional chanukiah lighting.
Chanukiah Lighting Part 1
Chanukiah Lighting Part 1
Chanukiah Lighting Part 2
Chanukiah Lighting Part 2
Then we all enjoyed the fantastic play put on by our talmidim (students). They were so adorable! Thank you to Miri Sharon and Wendy Gonsenhauser for working so hard with the talmidim. Thank you to everyone who donated the recyclable material that the talmidim turned into the scenery and props.
 
Chanukah Play
Chanukah Play
     Our next service is Federation Shabbat on Friday December 18 at 7:30 PM. Our twon emissaries from Israel, Lihi and Omri, will be representing the Federation that evening. I hope you will all come and join us that evening to hear our emissaries. It will be a very special evening.
 
     Finally, our annual Beth Tikvah Coffee House, quickly approaches. Join us for a fun-filled musical evening on Saturday January 2, 2016. 


  top 
In This Issue
From the Rabbi - The Timeliness and Relevance of the Chanukah Story
    One of the advantages of an eight-day holiday is that if I forget to send something out at the beginning of the holiday or if I discover something worthwhile after the holiday has started (as is the case here) I can still send it out to you during the holiday. It happens that three worthwhile articles that relate the Chanukah holiday and narrative to contemporary events came to my attention within the past few days.
 
1-    Jonathan Sacks is the former Chief Rabbi of England, and a prolific writer and thinker.  His Washington Post piece relates the Chanukah theme of religious freedom to events in our world today, including the alarming religious oppression of religious groups in the Middle East and Africa.  In the midst of the furor over one public figure's comments about forbidding Muslims entry to the U.S, as American Jews we must be grateful of the religious freedoms that we enjoy.
 
 
2-   In his New York Times column of a few weeks ago, David Brooks cites Sacks' assertion in his recent book on religious violence that we can expect it to continue in the decades ahead.  Sacks argues that the anecdote can be found within religion itself, when it reconciles the ideas of love and justice.  For while the great religions are based on love, and they satisfy the human ned for community, love can be problematic, as it can exclude and create rivalries.  "Love of one scripture can make it hard to enter sympathetically into the minds of those who embrace another."  Justice, on the other hand, is universal and dispassionate, and demands respect of the other.
 
 
3-   Lastly, Donniel Hartman, the President of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, contrasts the ways in which Chanukah is understood and experienced by American and Israeli Jews.  The former focuses on the message of religious freedom and tolerance, while the latter relate to the story of the Maccabean military victory over an oppressive enemy that sought to destroy us.  Each of these groups, Hartman asserts, need to recognize the validity of the other's understanding in order to appreciate the other and the value of the other's Chanukah.  Israelis must work toward a Jewish society where all forms of Judaism and all religions are supported and treated with equal respect.  North American Jews must learn to recognize and respect the real threats and dangers which Israelis experience every day.  He concludes, "As a people, we share the same Chanukah. To be a united people we must learn how to share each other's stories, share each other's needs and values, and together fight to embody them in our lives."  Amen!
 
 
Rabbi Mike

Daughters of Abraham Book Group
A friend and colleague of mine recently told me about a graduate student at Clark who is forming an interfaith book group called "Daughters of Abraham," which is part of a network of similar groups around the country (www.daughtersofabraham.com). The group is looking for 4-7 Jewish women to join them. Participants "do not have to be experts on Judaism but they do have to be relatively comfortable about their own identity."  I believe the group will be meeting in Shrewsbury.
 
If you are interested in participating, please let me know, and I will pass it along to the organizer.
 
Rabbi Mike


From the Chastanet Family
The Chastanet Family would like to thank the congregation who participated in making Jordan's Bat Mitzvah such a success.  We have such amazing Synagogue family that we truly adore.  Our family and friends enjoyed the warmth and kindness they received.  Rabbi Mike was adored and they loved the excitement Canter Joe created.  
The turn around from the sanctuary to the big room for the Kiddish was done in record time only because everyone helped.  That is a true family!

Thank you so much and we love you all.
Lori, Paul and Jordan

     
Youth Group - Sunday Dec. 13, 2015
     We will make craft gifts to bring the residents at the Coleman House nursing home in Northborough.  Jody Fredman has generously offered to provide pizza for lunch. If your child does not like pizza, please have them bring a dairy/pareve lunch. 

There is no cost for this youth group activity. Please click here to register, or email Abbe.

Come help brighten up a senior citizen's day!

Adult Education - Hold the Dates
February 7: Jewish Aerobics - The Choreography of Services
March 6: Torah Study
April 3: Passover: history, traditions, reflections
May 1: Counting the Omer/Torah Study 
     
scholarshipJFCM Overnight Camp Scholarships
     Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts is pleased to announce the limited availability of camp scholarships for the summer of 2016. Children attending resident camp for at least three weeks are eligible to apply. All Jewish children from Central Massachusetts are welcome to apply.
     Qualifying camps must be not-for-profit Jewish camps with strong Jewish educational and experiential components.
Preference will be given to families that donate to the Federation's Annual Campaign.

Deadline for submitting applications is January 31, 2016.

Applications can be submitted three ways:
Email: [email protected] - please put camp scholarship in subject field. All emailed applications will receive a reply that they have been received.
Fax: 508-798-0962
Mail: JFCM, 633 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609 Attn: Camp Scholarship
If you have any additional questions, please contact JFCM at 508-756-1543.
 
 

FreelanderFreelander Camp Scholarships
    Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts
The Freelander Family Jewish Camping Initiative
In cooperation with the Foundation for Jewish Camp
SUMMER 2016 Summary
 
Goal
The goal of the Initiative is to promote and support Jewish overnight camping among Jewish families in Central Massachusetts. 
 
Parameters
The program is a partnership among the Freelander family, the synagogues, and the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts.
 
Each participating synagogue will eligible to receive $1,500 grants to 2nd-3rd-4th-5th grade students who will attend a qualifying Jewish overnight camp for the first time for at least one month.
 
Participants
Synagogues in Central Massachusetts
 
Who is eligible?
  • Families in good standing, belonging to the synagogue. 
  • The oldest child who is currently in 2nd-5th grade and will be a first -time camper.
  •  A family can participate regardless of financial need.
  • The child must be the oldest sibling in the family (if there are siblings).
  • Both the oldest child and the siblings have not gone to overnight camp before.
  • The family has not received the scholarship before. 
What camps qualify?
Qualifying camps must be not-for-profit Jewish overnight camps with strong Jewish educational and experiential components.  Each participating synagogue will determine which overnight Jewish camps qualify for this program. 
 
The role of the synagogues
Promote camping among its members; Identify prospect families; Work with families to recruit campers.
 
The role of the Federation
Coordinate and administer the program; hold the funds and distribute grants to camps; assist synagogues with marketing and promotion of the program; serve as a liaison to the Freelander family.
 
Deadline - 
Applications must be received by January 31, 2016.
 
How to enroll campers
Each camper/synagogue must fill out the attached JFCM Camp Scholarship form and submit it to the Federation in order to be eligible for the scholarship.


New - Beth Tikvah Synagogue Bar/Bat Mitzvah Facebook Group
    A "Beth Tikvah Synagogue Bar/Bat Mitzvah Group" page has been created on Facebook.  It is intended to assist those who are planning Bar or Bat Mitzvahs and who are looking for advice and suggestions from those who have had previous experience in the areas of locations, themes, vendors, etc.  It is a closed group so if you're interested in joining, or if you have a friend you think would be interested, please send a request to Abbe Allexenberg.
  
2015-2016 Kiddush and Lobby Greeter Sign-ups

     Every Beth Tikvah family is requested to host one Friday Night oneg or Shabbat morning kiddush.  We request that all Beth Tikvah board members usher at least one service.  

 

You can choose the service you'd like to host by clicking here:

Sign Up Now!  

    We are also asking all of our families to volunteer to be a greeter in our lobby on Sunday mornings and Wednesday afternoons when school is in session.  Beth Tikvah takes pride in being warm and welcoming. Having greeters in the lobby when school is in session helps foster that ideal.  Please use the sign-up genius link to pick your preferred date(s).

Sign Up Now!

    Please sign up by the end of September. After that, we will assign the open slots.
  
Membership
   Membership in a synagogue is an important decision. Beth Tikvah Synagogue is a growing congregation that enjoys the sharing of Jewish rituals and customs, a superior Religious School, and of course, fun and socializing.  If you are not currently a member, and would like to be, please contact Benita Amsden.

You may submit your membership form and pledge form via our website. Or, you may use the forms below (please note the pdf instructions in the side bar)


Membership Form


 

Pledge Form
  

FAQ
 


 

Kvell and Tell
If you have a kvell (good news, milestone, etc.) to share, please email me by Thursday night for the weekly newsletter. 


B'Shalom,

EJ Dotts
President

Beth Tikvah Synagogue

[email protected] 

About Beth Tikvah
Beth Tikvah provides a warm and relaxing place to worship, study and share with other Jewish families.  It is an inviting and spiritual place which provides a unique opportunity for families to grow together under a Jewish umbrella.  We encourage each individual to contribute his or her skills and ideas to maintain our Jewish heritage and history so that our children appreciate their Jewish roots.
Join Our Mailing List
EventsUpcoming Events
12/13/15 - Mommy, Daddy, and Me - 9 AM

12/18/15 - Friday night service, 7:30 PM, Federation Shabbat

1/2/16 - Annual Coffee House

Youth Group
Sunday December 13, after school - Make gifts for seniors at Senior Center. Contact Abbe for more information.


events
Community Events
 
Jewish Federation of Central Mass Young Adult Division
Are you a Young Jewish Adult 22-45 looking to connect with your peers living in and around the Central Massachusetts area?Then join YAD on facebook and find out what's happening in our area.

Volunteers Needed

Torah Reading (contact Rabbi Mike)

 

Leading Wednesday Evening Minyan (contact Michael Smith)

 

 

 

Form Fillable PDFs

A lot of the links connect to form-fillable pdfs.  You may need to follow these steps to save your filled out form:

1. Save to your computer first. 

2. Open the file you saved

3. Fill in the information and save it with a new name. 


 

 If you don't wish to save the form, just fill in the information and print.