NOVEMBER EVENTS

   Nov.  2   2:00 a.m. - Daylight Saving Time ends

              10:00 a.m. - Sunday School

   Nov.  4   4:00 p.m. - Hebrew School

                7:00 p.m. - Adult Education at Hershensons

                                "Maimonides' Tzedakah Hierarchy"

   Nov.  6   7:00 p.m. - Taizé Service at St. Francis

   Nov.  9   7:00 p.m. - TBT Board Meeting

   Nov. 12   5:30 p.m. - TBT Men's Night at Greg's Grill

   Nov. 14   6:00 p.m. - Kaballat Shabbat at Rafilsons

   Nov. 16  10:00 a.m. - Sunday School

   Nov. 18   4:00 p.m. - Hebrew School

   Nov. 20   6:30 p.m. - INCO Interfaith Thanksgiving Svc.

                                 at Trinity Episcopal Church

                                 231 NW Idaho St., Bend

   Nov. 21   7:00 p.m. - Erev Shabbat Service at 

                                 First Presbyterian Church 

                                 230 NE 9th St., Bend

   Nov. 22   9:00 a.m. - Munch & Torah Study

               10:45 a.m. - Torah Service

   Nov. 24  11:59 p.m. - December Newsletter Deadline

 

ON THE HORIZON

   December 3rd - Cooking & Serving Dinner at Bethlehem

    Inn by Bnei Mitzvah class and Post Bnei Mitzvah group 

   December 20th - Latke Palooza!

   May 16th - Auction Dinner

 

NOVEMBER School Activities:

(All activities at Shalom Bayit unless otherwise listed.)

Sunday School - 10:00 a.m.:  11/2, 11/16

Hebrew School - 4:30 p.m.:  11/4, 11/18

    

For more details about any TBT events, see our complete schedule of Services, School activites and Events online:

http://www.bethtikvahbend.org/calendar.

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I am currently reading "Death of a King",  a new book written by Tavis Smiley of PBS notoriety. 

 

Smiley writes about the last year or so of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life.  It is a year filled with failed expectations, social and political isolation, and even betrayal. 

 

Our historical memory of Dr. King, according to Smiley, has been whitewashed. We remember the heroic face of the civil rights movement.

 

During and certainly after many achievements in the Civil Rights marches, speeches, and bus rides, in 1967, Dr. King began speaking out against the war in Vietnam and about poverty in the US and worldwide.

  

King lost support and trust from Lyndon Johnson, and became a more pressing interest to J. Edgar Hoover's FBI.  Younger African American leaders began to mock Dr. King's nonviolent practice and embracing expressions of power and declaring chaos victory.

 

 

In his last year of life, Dr. King began to appear out-dated and out of touch.  His closest colleagues (including Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel) warned him to stay out of the discourse around Viet Nam.  Black leaders felt that joining the antiwar movement would weaken and dilute their cause.

 

Dr. King insisted that there was no difference between the cause of the black man and the yellow man, nor any other destitute and disenfranchised man.  He insisted that the values of the civil rights movement applied to everybody, everywhere.

  

It appears that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. measured the value of every human being the same.  His commitment to an indiscriminate practice of nonviolence cost him fame, respect, and popularity.

 

His last year of life was filled with depression and anxiety, isolation and loneliness.  When he was killed, Dr. King became a hero and a martyr.  The conviction that brought him so much pain and ultimately made him a target for assassination was too complicated and deemed unnecessarily sad for our memory of him.  So we forgot.

  

I am struggling to make sense of Dr. King's experience. Do convictions so strong mere mortals cannot bear them ultimately lead to isolation and loneliness?

 

Is bringing others along a greater virtue than being right?  How do we cultivate the patience and unconditional love required to bring others into our dreams and visions?

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 Members & Friends ~

 

October was a busy month for celebrations.  It started with the solemn observance of our Yom Kippur services and culminated in the joyous celebration of the Bar Mitzvah of Jared Charney Cohen.  With a lot of "special" events, it is important to recognize the extraordinary efforts by so many people to make these programs possible and so magnificent. 

 

For the High Holy Days, Rabbi Hershenson, with Cantor Adelle Nicholson and the musicians under the direction of Lauren Olander, spent many hours rehearsing and perfecting the beautiful services we enjoyed.  The High Holy Days Committee, led by Kathy Schindel, needed many people to step up to help organize, set-up, clean-up, bake, participate, and assist in a variety of tasks that made the holiday so meaningful for all of us. 

 

The Religious Committee, led by Ann Rosenfield and Jill Muinch, worked with the Rabbi to plan the fun celebrations for Sukkot and Simchat Torah.  Laurel Fishkin again organized the Sukkah building party; and the Fishkins graciously hosted the entertaining Sukkot activities in their backyard. 

 

The Rabbi, Bonnie Chaikind, and I worked closely to prepare for the Leadership Development Workshop.  But, it was the participation by a number of our members that made this workshop so successful and worthwhile.  The results from the workshop are being compiled and will be shared with the entire congregation. 

 

While Jared Charney Cohen deserves the bulk of the praise for all his study and preparation and outstanding performance for his Bar Mitzvah, Sara and Alex and their family did amazing work to provide such a warm and welcoming reception and party for the congregation and community.  Of course, they are most appreciative of the many members who helped in so many ways to make the Bar Mitzvah so wonderful.  As I shared with Jared on his Bar Mitzvah, it is this powerful force of interdependence, our sense of community and being able to support and rely on each other that makes our congregation so extraordinary.

 

As we look forward to November, we get back to our more normal routine of events.  But, while the events may be ones you're familiar with, make note that the locations of the events will take us all over Bend.  The Adult Education on Tuesday, November 4th, will be at the Hershensons' home.  The family-friendly Kabbalat Shabbat celebration on Friday, November 14th, will be at the Rafilsons' home. 

 

Then, on Thursday, November 20th, there will be an Interfaith Thanksgiving service at the Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Bend. This was the Church that suffered severe damage due to an arson fire last year, so it is a special occasion to have their building repaired and ready to host this Interfaith Thanksgiving service.  Rabbi Hershenson along with Pastor Dave Beckett of the First Methodist Church are the principal organizers for this year's interfaith service. 

 

Our Erev Shabbat Service on Friday, November 21st, ran into a conflict with a concert scheduled in the Sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church that same evening.  So, our service will be held in the beautiful sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church.  Finally, for our Torah Study and service on Saturday, November 23rd, we are back to a familiar location -- the Wesley Room in the Methodist Church.  So, program your GPS unit, and come out to join us for these fabulous events this month.

 

While not a Jewish holiday, it is an important gathering for family and friends, so I just want to wish everyone a very happy and delicious Thanksgiving.

 

B'Shalom,

Mark Schindel

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Contact Naomi Chudowsky at  naomic@bendbroadband. 

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GREETINGS TO THE TBT COMMUNITY!

I am so glad to be writing to you with my reflections on our time together during the High Holy Day season, which steeped us in its texts, music, rituals and ideas.  

 

As you can imagine, it takes a lot of effort to prepare the music of the Days of Awe.  I am so grateful for the combined talents and dedication of Lauren Olander, Julie Geveshausen and Jo Booser, as we traveled our sacred musical journey together for a second fulfilling year.  Many thanks also to Rabbi Hershenson for her inspiring commentary on the liturgy and uplifting sermons.

 

My visits in Bend also have included quiet time.  This year I visited the Deschutes River, Crater Lake National Park and Tumalo Falls.  I am continually awestruck as I experience the beauty of the Bend region.  And I take countless photos in the hopes of preserving a few morsels of that awe and recalling them in the years to come.

 

Days after I bid my Bend friends goodbye, the joyous holidays of Sukkot and Simchat Torah further elevated our spirits.  Now, the month of Cheshvan is upon us.  We are winding down and resting, as we catch up on what we may have missed.  

 

During Cheshvan, we observe the holiday of Shabbat, Shabbat again, and again, and, gratefully, again!  During the weeks, also, we can stop, center ourselves, close our eyes, take several deep breaths and reflect.  We have the blessed time, rest, peace and quiet to focus without distraction. The gift of a month containing no annual holidays affords us the time to create clarity and order in those parts of our lives that may be in disarray.

 

The word Cheshvan shares the same letters as chashai, or "stillness" and "secret," and chushim, or "senses."  It is when we are quiet that we can best appreciate the gifts of the senses.  Our senses mark our experience upon us.  The quieter our spirit, the more nuance and depth can be captured and imprinted.

 

During the tranquility of Cheshvan, we can take our internal deliberations and decisions begun during the month of Elul and continuing throughout the month of Tishrei to the next level.  As autumn slips into winter, we can consider the passage of time, and how well we have used it in the past year.  Indeed, are we using well the quiet time we have right now?

 

We can decide to imbue our daily activities with holiness, and, in these peaceful weeks, figure out just how to do that.  Shall we give thanks for our daily blessings by reciting more brachot in praise of our Creator?  Shall we think of a few new mitsvot to perform with our annually granted extra time?

 

I would like to conclude my greetings to you with an excerpt from Rabbi Vicki Hollander's poem called The Moon of Cheshvan.  I hope, as you read her words, you will consider this gift of quiet time, and make the most of it!

 

In Cheshvan the farmers gently lay the newly plucked olives into their garlicky brine, that they might in quiet turn to luscious morsels.

 

After reviewing my harvest, cleansing my spirit, living in the elements and dancing in joy, I too now eagerly enter into the tantalizing invitation of the velvety quiet, to absorb, reflect, shift shape, rest my soles.

 

For just as the earth wraps herself in fallen leaves and composting flowers, in pine needles and fugitive nuts, tree's cast off clothing, lying down to rest, so too do I need pause and tuck myself inwards, relearning that my native resources lie within my own soil which in season needs enriching, replenishing, and restoration.

 

Everything good, 

Cantor Adelle Nicholson

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October began with Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur. It was great to see your familiar faces there for the outstanding services presented by Rabbi Hershenson with the wonderful music lead by Lauren Olander and Cantor Nicholson. We were also blessed with some new faces who prayed and sang along with us.

 

A big thank you to the Fishkins for once again hosting and building the Sukkah. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon of crafts and food. Also, Simchat Torah was celebrated on October 16 in the sanctuary.

 

October included three Monday evenings of Taste of Judaism, a URJ funded event which brought out many curious people in our community yearning to learn something about Judaism. It was very successful and proved to be a great avenue for people to meet Temple Beth Tikvah's Rabbi Hershenson.

 

TBT concluded October with the Bar Mitzvah of Jared Charney Cohen. Jared did a fabulous job and was a bright star to his family and friends who attended.

 

Now that the high holidays are passed, we are getting back to our normal monthly schedule. Each month we will have a theme which will be promoted in a variety of ways. The theme for the month of November is practicing gratitude. On November 4th, Rabbi Hershenson will be hosting Adult Education at her home beginning at 7:00 p.m.  For those of you who have never attended adult education, put the date on the calendar and try to attend. Rabbi Hershenson is a great teacher. On November 14th, we will have a Kaballat Shabbat at the Rafilson home at 6:00 pm. We will send out more information about that family friendly event soon.  Please note that on November 21st, the Erev Shabbat service will be held in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church at 7:00 p.m.  We had to change the location because the Methodist Church was unavailable. On the following morning, Munch & Torah study and the morning service will be held at 9:00 a.m. in the Wesley Room of the Methodist Church.

 

Hope to see everyone in November.  Enjoy the gorgeous Central Oregon fall colors!  

 

The Social Action Committee thanks all who donated to the Tzedakah Fund, now known as the Social Action Fund.  As you can read below, your donations are timely and being used to provide those less fortunate than ourselves with food and comfort.  Our thanks go also to those members who have been willing to give of their time to help on the Social Action projects.  

 

Back Door Café

 

Have you ever wondered what it takes to feed breakfast to 95 hungry people?

 

On Wednesday, October 22nd, Temple Beth Tikvah members served breakfast at the Back Door Café. From the moment we started serving at 8:00 a.m., until the last person was served at 9:30, we cooked and served:

 

Fifteen dozen (180) eggs; two kugels - leftover and frozen from the Break Fast; 4 dozen English muffins; 3 dozen bagels; 13 pounds of ham; 1˝ loaves French toast (made when we realized we were running out of eggs); 3 dozen pancakes - when we ran out of everything else; 24 containers of yogurt; dry cereal; 4 gallons of milk; 2 gallons of orange juice; 1˝ gallons of apple cider; 40 cups oatmeal (about 80 servings); and nobody can figure out how many pots of coffee, but between 10 and 15.

 

Nearly everyone had seconds; many had thirds; some had fourths. And they loved the kugel!

 

There are 16 Beth Tikvah members who rotate in on the Back Door Café schedule - a well-staffed kitchen includes 10 of us. Thanks to Bonnie Ruby, Burt Litman & Jeanne Freeman, Jeff Adler, Phyllis & Jerry Greenbach, Linda Brandt, Kathy & Mark Schindel, Joe Jezukewicz and Ralph Uri who worked in October.

 

If you'd like to get in on the early morning breakfast rotation, please email Burt Litman at blitman@bendbroadband.com.

 

Bethlehem Inn

 

See information above regarding Bnei Mitzvah and Post-Bnei Mitzvah evening at Bethlehem Inn on Dec. 3rd.

 

There are a few fundraising events in the works:

1. Auction Dinner - May 16th, 2015. Beverly Adler will chair this event.

2. Progressive Dinners - tentatively scheduled for mid-February, early March 2015.  Kim Rafilson is chairperson of this event. 

3. A Poker Tournament is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2015.  George Brant will chair the poker tournament. 

More details will follow for all events as they are determined.  Assistance and/or participation will be needed from the entire congregation to make these events successful and put them over the top!  Please contact Gerald Greenbach or the appropriate event chair(s) if you would like to help with planning. 

The old saying, "It takes a village..." was never truer! Many hands, from set-up to clean-up, worked together to create the lovely Break-Fast dinner. Liz and Beverly want to thank the many temple members who worked diligently to make this event happen: Tully Ellsberg, Laurel Fishkin, Mark Hershenson, Mickey Freundlich, Jeanne Freeman & Burt Litman, Marilyn Lebowitz, Debbie Pattison, Ann Rosenfield, Bonnie Ruby, Kathy & Mark Schindel, Cathy & Michael Wynschenk, and Randi & Zak Zlatkus.

 

This newsletter is emailed to both members and non-members each month.  If you have something you want to include in the newsletter, please e-mail it to sarrava@gmail.com by the 24th of each month.  As always, you will continue to receive "e-minders" before important events take place.

 

Shalom,

Sara Charney Cohen

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All TBT members are invited to Taizé - an Evensong of Interfaith prayerful meditation, peace, and silence. Taizé services are held the first Thursday of each month, October through May, 7:00 p.m. at St. Claire's Chapel, St. Francis Catholic Church, 2450 NE 27th St. in Bend, OR. Everyone is invited to attend and participate.

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You may honor the lives and achievements of friends and relatives via a tribute with a donation to TBT.  You can do this  online or by sending a check and the name and address of the person being honored to TBT at P.O. Box 7472, Bend, OR, 97708. 

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Temple Beth Tikvah is a growing Jewish congregation based in Bend, Oregon.  We are affilliated with the Union for Reform Judaism and are excited to be the first Reform synagogue in Central Oregon.

 

We are committed to providing a Jewish education for our children as well as stimulating educational activities for adults.  We value social action and strive to provide a Jewish cultural, social and religious experience in Central Oregon.

Temple Beth Tikvah is a warm and enthusiastic community that includes families, singles and "empty nesters."  We are a mix of long-time Bend residents and newcomers from around the country who moved here to enjoy Central Oregon's beauty, active lifestyle and quality of life.

 

Please contact us at 541-388-8826 or 

info@bethtikvahbend.org for more information.  

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