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Office Hours
Tues: 9:00am - 11:00am
Thurs: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Fri: 9:00am - 11:00am
No office hours on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday. We will make every effort to be in the office at the posted times but please call first, 343.8227 to ensure that we will be in the office. |
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Your Weekly News & Updates
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VOICE OF THE VA'AD!
Dear members of Congregation Nahalat Shalom:
Rabbi Brin announced in December what many of you already knew, the position of Cheder Director has been eliminated. In the aftermath, some of you have had questions about whether Roberta has been given the appreciation she was due. Without hesitation or equivocation, the Va'ad is deeply grateful for the dedication and professional knowledge Roberta brought to the Cheder. Roberta brought more than just an administrator's expertise. Roberta brought us an educator's "touch." Roberta taught us the importance of the structure of a learning space. If I were to try to describe what Roberta did for the space in which the children learn, it would sound like I was saying, "Roberta moved the furniture around." Yes, that she did.
But what Roberta accomplished by "moving the furniture around" created a physical space for our students that is now more open, accessible and cheerful than it was before. The thoughtful and creative changes Roberta brought include modifications in the classrooms, tables and benches that little people can easily use, an arts and crafts project room, and direct access to the playground that is contained and safe. All in all, it is a much more welcoming learning environment for our Cheder students.
In addition, Roberta began "regularizing" the Cheder. She was working with Judy Brown to develop a Cheder corner on our web page. Roberta worked with parent coordinators to make communicating with all Cheder parents easier. She loved organizing large events and did a wonderful job with that as was self-evident with the very successful Purim and Hanukkah parties and TuBishvat celebration. And, as most people know, she very much enjoyed making music with the children. Roberta made changes to the Cheder program which will serve us well as we move forward. We will always be grateful to Roberta for her service to Nahalat Shalom, and we wish her well.
Sincerely,
Nancy Koenigsberg
Va'ad President
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Fundraising: Make a tax-deductible donation to Nahalat Shalom. Do you have a friend/relative who "has everything"? Please consider a gift to Nahalat Shalom in his/her honor. Those wishing to donate by credit card may visit www.nahalatshalom.org and use the Donate button. Mailed donations should be sent to 3606 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107. Questions? Call the office at 343-8227 or send an email to office@nahalatshalom.org.
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If your contact information has changed, please email office@nahalatshalom.org with your new info so that we can update our records. This is especially important now, as we will be sending your 2015 statements at the end of January. Thank you!
Web Calendar: Did you know that you can print our web calendar? Just go to our website, www.NahalatShalom.org, scroll to the month you want, and then click on the print icon at the top right corner of the page. You may want to adjust your printer setting to print it in landscape mode. This is the most accurate calendar, so please use it!
The NS calendar will no longer be published (emailed) the last week of the month for the following month. For those who do not have access to a device and printer, paper copies of the web calendar will be available at the synagogue (near the front and side doors).
Save the Date: We, members of the Caring for Ourselves and Our Elders/Loved Ones group, are embarking on an expedition to get more informed about our own aging and coping with it and options for care. We have chosen to begin with a reading group reading Atul Gawande's BEING MORTAL. The first meeting will be the 4th Sunday in January (24th) from 2-4pm in Bayt B'racha. We are telling you now to save the date if interested and to start reading the book. We intend to meet monthly on the 4th Sunday and to read several chapters before the 1st meeting. The reading group will be open to all of Nahalat Shalom and beyond. BEING MORTAL is available at the public library in several formats but there is a long waiting list. Local bookstore Bookworks is offering a 10% discount on this book if you identify yourself as a Nahalat Shalom bookclub member. At present, we don't have a single leader but may share responsibilities, unless you or someone you know is knowledgeable about leading such a group. For more information/questions, contact Joan at 341-2306 or 1robins@swcp.com.
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Thursday, January 7, 4:30 pm. Cheder. Cheder Building. Friday, January 8- 10:30am - 11:30am. Learn to Read Hebrew. Rabbi's Study. Taught by Rabbi Deborah J. Brin.
- 11:45am - 1:00pm. Beyond the Torah. Front Entry Room. We are delving into the entire Bible, book by book. Join us as we discern the literal, ethical and spiritual meaning of the great writings of our ancestors. We are a self-led group and rely on assorted commentary as well as our own sensibilities. No ongoing commitment is required. Join us every week or as the spirit moves you.
- 1:15-2:30 pm. Torah Study with Rabbi Brin. Rabbi's Study
- 6:30 pm. Der Freylekher Shabbes. Sanctuary. A joyous danced Shabbat service in a heimishe, old-country Eastern European style led by cantorial soloist/ music director Beth Cohen, Alavados holy days band, Rikud dance troupe, The Nahalat Shalom Community Klezmer Band and surprise appearances by Rabbi Brin. These are USUALLY on the first Friday evening of the month. At 6:30pm we begin with a danced Shabbat service led by Rikud to live music by Alavados, plus lighting candles, Mishebeyrach, Kaddish Yatom, Kiddush & motzee; 7:10pm-potluck vegetarian dinner; 7:55-Birkat Hamazon; 8-9pm Yiddish dancing with Rikud to a live Klezmer music JAM led by The Community Klezmer Band. Everyone is welcome to all or any part of the evening's celebrations.
Saturday, January 9, 10 am. Reconstructionist Service. Sanctuary. An egalitarian, inclusive and participatory service. It is led by Rabbi Brin and volunteers from the community and includes the preliminary prayers, Shaharit, Torah reading (when readers are available), Torah discussion (D'var) and closing prayers, as well as interpretive readings. Kiddush will follow the service. Sunday, January 10, 10 am. Pre-K Cheder. Cheder. Monday, January 11, 5:30-7:30 pm. Va'ad Meeting. Bayt B'racha.
Thursday, January 14, 4:30 Pm. Cheder. Cheder Building. Friday, January 15- 10:30am - 11:30am. Learn to Read Hebrew. Rabbi's study. Taught by Rabbi Deborah J. Brin.
- 11:45 am - 1 pm. Beyond the Torah. Front entry room. We are delving into the entire Bible, book by book. Join us as we discern the literal, ethical and spiritual meaning of the great writings of our ancestors. We are a self-led group and rely on assorted commentary as well as our own sensibilities. No ongoing commitment is required. Join us every week or as the spirit moves you.
- 1:15-2:30 pm. Torah Study with Rabbi Brin. Rabbi's Study.
- 6:30 pm. Sephardic/Anusim/Converso/Crypto-Jewish Shabbat Dinner. Bayt B'racha. This service will consciously explore the connections with our Sephardic Heritage. Sefarad is the Hebrew word for Spain and Sephardic refers to those Jews who once lived in and then were expelled from Spain, who carried their language and their traditions with them wherever they went. We share songs and stories, food and conversation. This is a potluck dinner, so please bring your favorite vegetarian dish to share. We gather at 6:30pm, with candle lighting starting promptly at 7pm. Come celebrate New Mexico's oldest Jewish community with us! Hosted by Maria Apodaca, Stephanie SofieShefia Cohen, and Hershel Weiss. We meet in Bayt B'racha, the building on the north side of the courtyard.
Saturday, January 16, 10 am. A Journey through Shabbat Shacharit [The Shabbat Morning Service]. Bayt B'racha. Rabbi Brin will show us Shacharit through the lens and inspiration of the Jewish Renewal movement. We will engage Shabbat with passages selected from the Shabbat morning service which take us to the heart, spirit, and meaning of Shabbat. On our journey, we will sing, chant, meditate and wrestle with the inner meaning of the prayers. Questions are as welcome as answers - and probably both more numerous and more instructive. Torah discussion included. A great experience for both adults and kids seeking insight into the real meaning of our tradition. Sunday, January 17 - 10 am. Cheder Parents Meeting. Bayt B'racha.
- 1:30-3:30 pm. Caring for Ourselves and Our Loved Ones. Rabbi's Office. Our monthly meeting is a time to share with each other while we care for loved ones who are ill, declining in health, or aging. The Rabbi helps us listen to and support each other, while gently reminding us of the importance of taking time for ourselves. If you are caring for a loved one - of any age - and would like to have a place to come for supportive ears, please join us. You'll feel better when you leave!
- 4:15-6:15 pm. Planetary Judaism: Bringing Down the Torah of the Future, led by Rabbi Miles Krassen. Gallery. This ongoing series of talks, updating the teachings of Hasidism and Kabbalah, explores ways in which Torah can support an emerging vision of planetary consciousness. The Torah of the Future is the Torah of the Whole Earth that reveals the inherent holiness and essential interconnectedness of all people and of the Earth itself and all that she contains. "The Whole Earth is full of Your Glory." (Isaiah 6:3). Classes are taught by Rabbi Miles Krassen, former Professor of Contemplative Judaism at Naropa University and author of significant works on Kabbalah and Hasidism. Your generous donations will pay for these classes. Checks may be made out directly to Rabbi Miles Krassen.
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Spain has a new citizenship law for descendants of Spanish Jews. Sunday, Jan. 24, 10-11 am. Sanctuary. Presentation by Luis Portero de la Torre, a renowned Spanish lawyer
A free presentation about the new law, which applies to ancestors of Sephardim who were expelled from Spain or forced to convert to Christianity since 1492. He will also offer free, private consultations from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 at the synagogue, with a sign-up sheet available on Sunday.The presentation by Portero de la Torre, who is special counsel for the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain, will focus on the requirements and the steps that must be taken to acquire Spanish nationality. Portero de la Torre, who has law offices in Malaga, Seville and Madrid, is coming to Albuquerque at the invitation of Nahalat Shalom in collaboration with the Federation of Jewish Communities. He has more than 10 years' experience as a member of the legal team of Federaciòn Acoge, one of the finest non-government organizations helping immigrants in Spain. |
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Front of House Committee
The Front of Committee needs volunteers for various events throughout the year. We need people to help: - Setup and bring out food,
- Cleanup/break down tables and chairs, sweep crumbs, bring trash to bins,
- Greet and escort guests, and
- Help guide cars for parking.
If you are interested please contact: Ellen Light, 505-243-7333 or ellenlight@aol.com. |
Want to Help: If you would like to help with special projects, please email the office (office@nahalatshalom.org) with your name, phone number, and your area of interest. From time to time, we need help with building/property maintenance (like planting, weeding, shoveling, and painting), parking, greeting, BB kitchen cleaning, and other stuff that is fun to do as a group and helps build and nurture our community. Thank you!
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Forward from Paris: The Participation of Civil Society and Faith Communities in Combating Climate Change. Wednesday, January 13, 6:30 pm. First Unitarian Church, 3701 Carlisle Blvd NE, ABQ
Joan Brown, osf will talk about her experience as an official NGO observer at the UN Climate meeting in Paris and offer an overview of this historic agreement. Evening will include ways to get engaged. Co-sponsored by Transition ABQ & NM Interfaith Power and Light. Flyer |
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Friday, January 15, 2016, 12:30pm - 01:30pm. FREE concert: The Rebbe's Orkestra performs at VSA N4th Theater, 4904 4th St. NW Albuquerque NM 87107
Contact AMP Office Albuquerque: 505-232-9868, http://www.ampconcerts.org/event/231846/the-rebbes-orkestra. AMP Concerts is pleased to host The Rebbe's Orkestra as part of our integrated series at N4th Theatre, where we bring musicians to perform for the artists with developmental disabilities at N4th and invite the community to come join the fun and see the great work they do there. Community spots are limited to 60 people --FREE: reservations are required.The Rebbe's Orkestra is an exciting group of musicians who have been performing and celebrating simchas (happy occasions) in the Southwest since 1996. The band plays an international and eclectic variety of Jewish music (and some not-so-Jewish music): Klezmer (Jewish instrumental music of Eastern Europe), Middle-Eastern and Israeli, Yiddish theater and folk songs, Sephardic (Judeo-Spanish), Spanish New Mexican, Mediterranean, Balkan, Roma (Gypsy), even Jewish Jazz and Chamber-style music (known as table music). |
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The Rebbe's Orkestra presents: The Story is Enough - a special KlezmerQuerque pre-festival event in Santa Fe Saturday, January 23, 2016, 07:30pm - 09:30pm
Contact Beth Cohen 505-243-6276 cohenedmunds@netzero.net. "The Story is Enough" will take place at The Historic San Miguel Chapel, which is located at 401 Old Santa Fe Trail, in Santa Fe, NM 87501. Limited seating of only 140 seats. Early-Bird discount tickets can be purchased in advance online from Brown Paper Tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2478201 or via phone 24/7 toll-free 1-800-838-3006 for $15-general (plus $1.52 service fee). At the door tickets will cost $20-general and $18-for students/seniors with IDs. Doors will open at 7:00pm. For more information about The Rebbe's Orkestra, "The Story is Enough" concert & KlezmerQuerque Festival 2016 please contact: Beth Cohen in Albuquerque (505)243-6276 and follow/LIKE The Rebbe's Orkestra on fb: https://www.facebook.com/therebbesorkestra. |
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Introduction to Judaism Class. Jan. 27 through May 11th
The Rabbinical and Cantorial Association of Albuquerque, Congregations Albert, B'nai Israel and Nahalat Shalom and the Albuquerque JCC are sponsoring an Introduction to Judaism Class for those who are on a Jewish journey or interested in a journey toward Judaism. Classes will be team taught by Cantor Barbara Finn and Rabbis Deborah Brin, Arthur Flicker and Min Kantrowitz, and Harry Rosenfeld. We will meet at the JCC, 5520 Wyoming NE. The class costs $54, plus the purchase of books. To register, call Congregation Albert 883-1818.
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Thursday, February 11th at 7 pm for the Grandparents Circle Salon!
Are you a grandparent looking to nurture the Jewish identities of your interfaith grandchildren? The Grandparents Circle Salon is a FREE one-time book club-style gathering for grandparents from interfaith families to explore ways to nurture the Jewish identities of their grandchildren while respecting the decisions of their adult children. This important program, offered by Big Tent Judaism (bigtentjudaism.org) is co-sponsored by Congregation Albert, Congregation B'nai Israel and Congregation Nahalat Shalom. Susan Seligman, former Regional Director of the New Mexico Anti-Defamation League will facilitate the program in her home near Tramway and Paseo del Norte. Participants will be required to read three chapters of the book "Twenty Things for Grandparents of Interfaith Grandchildren to Do (and not do) to Nurture Jewish Identity in their Grandchildren" by Rabbi Kerry M. Olitzky and Paul Golin prior to the event. The reading material and directions to the Seligman home will be sent upon your RSVP. The complete book is also available on amazon.com. Kindly RSVP to Susan Seligman at seligman.susan@gmail.com by February 5th. Space is limited. |
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July 11-17, 2016. The Biennial ALEPH Kallah in Ft. Collins, CO
Each Kallah has hundreds of people from all around the US, and from overseas too! It is a wonderful opportunity for inspiration with Jewish Renewal learning, as well as joyful and inspiring connections of all kinds, through a great variety of classes, meditations, prayer services, choir, hiking, dancing, and much more; it's also a chance to meet some of the many wonderful teachers and rabbis, students of Reb Zalman, z'l, who are part of the international ALEPH community. Being able to attend in CO can be beneficial too, as the Kallah rotates location to different regions of the country- attending in other years might mean higher transportation costs. And, if a core contingent of NS members experiences the Kallah together, it may give much strength and support to carrying out new ideas and possibilities here! Although this year's fees have not been published yet, the cost to attend can be reduced -- if 10 people sign up TOGETHER, we will get a discount on the fee. (Work-study trades will also be available.) I am interested in organizing a group of 10 (or more, if there is interest). Please contact me if you would be interested in being part of this 'group of 10'! Thanks very much - Varda Brahms - vardab36@gmail.com or leave a message at 505-247-2245 (home). |
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September 5-11, 2016. Lessons from the River
Lessons from the River: A Rafting Trip down the San Juan River in wondrous SE Utah with Rabbi Shefa Gold and Rabbi Eli Herb. $1295, for more info and to register: elisha.herb@gmail.com |
Member Announcements Guidelines: Nahalat Shalom aims to provide a 'big tent' for members, who hold a wide range of political views and are involved in many activities. As a courtesy to all members, we offer an opportunity to post brief announcements. Inclusion in the newsletter is not an endorsement by Nahalat Shalom. Any member is welcome to submit items to office@nahalatshalom.org. In the interest of available space, items will run once, and they may be edited.
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Emergency Assistance Available
The Jewish Care Program at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque provides limited financial aid to Jewish individuals and families in crisis. If in need, please call (505) 348-4451. The Jewish Care Program receives a large number of calls and is not always able to respond to all requests for emergency assistance. Here's what they offer: - General Financial Assistance: The Miriam's Well Fund provides one-time, short-term emergency financial assistance to Jewish Women in crisis.
- Utility Assistance: The Jewish Women's Endowment Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico (JCFNM) provides one-time utility assistance to Jewish women and children in crisis.
- Rental Assistance: The Ziegler Fund of the JCFNM provides one-time emergency rental assistance to Jewish men and women in crisis.
- Indigent Burial Assistance: the Carole Beckhoff Indigent Burial Fund of the JCFNM provides assistance with burial costs of Jewish individuals.
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About Tikkun Olam Club: Please email any project ideas or questions about current projects to nstikkunolam@gmail.com. We are looking for projects where we can work together. It has been suggested that we adopt a trail or median near Nahalat Shalom. This would require meeting monthly to pick up trash. Interested? If you wish to be on the Tikkun Olam mailing list, please send an email request to nstikkunolam@gmail.com.
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Alliance for Jewish Renewal
As a Renewal Congregation we are a member of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. Click to read blog. |
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Membership
Your membership dues, financial contributions, and volunteering keep Nahalat Shalom's doors open and our community thriving. If you have already renewed your membership to Nahalat Shalom and/or signed up to volunteer on a committee, thank you! If you have not, please complete a membership form today (see our website) and make your pledge for the year, 5776. And, let us know if you would like to be part of one of our committees (AKA, fun working groups.) Here's how to make payments: - You may setup automatic or one-time payments by using the Donate button (PayPal) on our website or
- by using the bill payer service from your financial institution (creating a bank check to be mailed to NS). Of course, we also accept personal checks! Please indicate in the memo field if your payment is for dues or a donation; if a donation, you can specify "For General Operations" or another category/fund. If donating to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, please write the check to (or indicate in the online/PayPal memo field) "Rabbi's Discretionary Fund".
Please let us know if you have changes to your contact information or any yahrzeit additions. (Yahrzeits and contact info can be emailed to office@nahalatshalom.org.) |
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E-News Schedule
The NS E-News is usually a weekly publication. Changes will be announced. Look for it in your email box on Thursdays. If you want to include any items, please email office@nahalatshalom.org by 8 am each Tuesday. Special announcement emails (other than the regular e-news) require prior approval of the Va'ad President or Rabbi Brin. If you are not currently receiving the e-news, but would like to do so, you can sign-up on our website.
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Sermons
Rabbi Brin's Sermons can be found on our website's Home page ( http://www.nahalatshalom.org), lower left corner, under the section called, Rabbi's Reflections. |
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How Shopping Can Helps Us
Did you know that shopping at Albertson's and using a swipe card (available at NS in the copier room) earns dividends for Nahalat Shalom? Also true for Smith's, and we will soon have a Smith's swipe card, too. It's an easy way to help NS, especially if you already shop there.
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Chemical-Free Space
Please keep our buildings free of perfumes/fragrances in consideration of our members who are chemically sensitive. This is a serious medical issue for some, and completely preventable. Leaders, please announce at all meetings that "this is a fragrance-free zone".
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Congregation Nahalat Shalom is a spiritual and cultural center for Jewish Renewal in the Southwest. We affirm and support the discovery and exploration of our diverse identities and heritages.
We are a vibrant community, open and welcoming to individuals, couples, and families of all sizes, shapes and colors. Nahalat Shalom values, nurtures, and needs the creative, spiritual, and intellectual contributions of each member. We cultivate and live our Judaism through worship, learning, dialogue, joyful celebrations, community involvement, arts, music, and dance.
Children are always welcome in our sanctuary and at our celebrations and events, and they genuinely enjoy themselves in our once a week Cheder (Hebrew school). We are committed to living, sharing and passing on a vital and heartfelt Judaism to those who come after us.
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