August 2011

Av/Elul 5771

Note: to access older newsletters (only the most recent 10 show on the newsletter page) please type http://www.shirhayam.org/news/june-2010 in your browser (replacing month and year in the example with the one you are requesting).

Event Quick Reference:

September
20 – Coordinating Committee Meeting
28 – Erev Rosh Hasahana
29 – Rosh Hashana

October
2 – CROP Hunger Walk
7 – Kol Nidre
8 – Yom Kippur
21 – Simchat Torah

November
29 – Coordinating Committee Meeting

HIGH HOLIDAYS

We are so excited to have Rabbi Hanna Tiferet Siegel back with us again to help us celebrate the High Holidays. As in the tradition of Shir Hayam, the more of our community we can get involved the more meaningful our rituals will be. Please let Rabbi Hanna or one of the Ruach members know if you would like to participate this year. We need to know who will be involved by the end of August. Thank you so much. See you all soon!!

Shalom,
Julie, Jeff, Robin, Sue, Nina and Sharon

Shalom Shir Hayam,

I look forward to the opportunity to be with the Shir Hayam community in prayer and practice for the upcoming New Year of 5772. Each year I fall in love again with the individuals who participate, the Kugelettes who offer the songs of their hearts,
the children who attend with wide and questioning eyes, and all the voices that join together as one to renew our connection to life and to each other. I respect the many years that you have dedicated to provide a meaningful Jewish experience on Bainbridge Island and I hope that I can be a part of the tradition that keeps that dream viable.

This year, the question that arises in my mind for our theme is, “Do We Have a Choice?” Every day, as we simultaneously make choices and cope with the unexpected, we seek to find the balance between free-will and fate. As much as we try to control our worlds, our experiences reveal that we are part of something much greater that reminds us to love more and judge less. During the High Holy Days, we move from “The Day of Judgment” to “The Day of At-One-ment” and courageously choose new ways of being. But choosing is just the first step. Then we need to practice, adapt, commit, surrender, and accept. And many times we feel that we are sliding backwards in our personal habits and in the instability of the world around us.

This theme includes important issues for both children and adults. It is my hope that people of all ages will “choose” to share their thoughts and feelings at our services. You can teach about strategies and insights that you have developed to make good choices. You can sing about what guides you or your awareness of God in your life. You can tell a story about a time that you made a bad choice and what you learned from that situation. You can dance your difficulty with making choices and your fear of being right or wrong. You can create a puppet show with a group of people to take us into a magical realm where everyone makes their choices for the highest good of all concerned. So many possibilities!

Summer is finally here and as you enjoy the sunshine and good times, I want to encourage you to think about the High Holiday theme. I hope that you will contact me with your ideas and your insights by the end of August. (HannaT@telus.net)

See you on Wednesday night, September 28th!

Love and Blessings,

Rabbi Hanna

SUMMERTIME RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROJECT PLANNER

Summertime Religious Education Project Planner/ Facilitator position available
Duration: 2 months (starting ASAP in August 2011)
Pay: $1000
Contact a Member of the Religious Education Committee:
Julie Rosenblatt
Cay Vandervelde
Lisa Weiss
Jon Garfunkel
Tom Schaeffer
Craig Jacobrown
Rebecca Rockefeller

Position available for person to help transitioning Jewish Education program establish structure, materials and logistics for a K-7th grade ‘Sunday School’, a post-bnai mitzvah program and adult education plan for kick-off in the Fall 2011. Person will arrange and facilitate no fewer than 3 meetings with a Jewish Education volunteer committee to establish curricular basis for the K-7th program, no fewer than 2 meetings with staff for K-7th program to ensure readiness for coming year (plus attendance at first two K-7 class days), no fewer than 2 meetings to create structure for post-bnai mitzvah program and at least 1 meeting to establish goals and plans for an adult education program.
Desired outcome of Project Planner/ Facilitator efforts (with inputs and concurrence of Volunteer Committee):
By September 11 (first day of K-7 school):

• Selection and acquisition of K-7 curriculum prior to first day of class
• Confirmation of Sunday School location, arrangements as needed (including purchasing of materials/set up as needed)
• Notification to Shir Hayam community of K-7 Sunday School plans
  Student roster established
• Yearly calendar for K-7 Sunday School drafted, corresponding to major points in the selected curriculm
• Job description drafted for Religious Education Coordinator (including K-7 School, post-bnai mitzvah and adult ed program support duties) for school year 2011-2012

By October 15:

• Documentation of further topics for development / resolution related to K-7 School
• Written plan for bnai-mitzvah program: structure, leadership, ideas for activities, actions required, draft calendar
• Written plan for adult education program: ideas, action required, draft calendar

TIKKUN OLAM

CROP Hunger Walk

Once again Shir Hayam will participate in the IFC sponsored CROP Hunger Walk. 25% of what we raise goes to the Helpline Food Bank and the remaining 75% to hunger fighting programs around the world. This years walk will be held on October 2. Everyone can participate as a walker or a pledger. Please contact Denise Brown or Rachel Kerbrat to join the Shir Hayam walk team.

Project Backpack

Project Backpack is back for its eleventh year. Through the generosity of the Bainbridge Community we have been able to help over 1,500 students the past 10 years.

Project Backpack 2011 begins August 1st. Items needed most are larger sized sturdy backpacks, binders, notebooks, colored pencils, markers, etc. Also welcomed are cash donations. Supplies will be distributed to students the last week of August. It is our hope that with your help Project Backpack will provide students the needed supplies to start the school year ready to learn. Thanks for participating.

• Sturdy Backpacks, especially larger sized
• 3 ring binders, various sizes
• College ruled notebooks and paper
• Notebook dividers
• Graph paper, 3 hole punched
• Colored pencils
• Colored markers, both broad and fine point
• Highlighters
• Rulers
• Blue and black pens
• Pencil sharpeners and #2 pencils
• Sturdy pencil pouches that fit into binders
• Sharp pointed school scissors
• Boxes of “Kleenex” tissues, Baby wipes
• Gift cards for additional supplies and clothing

If you have questions or need more information, please call Helpline House at 842-7621 and leave a message for me, Madelyn Fox, Project Backpack Volunteer.

JEWISH YOUTH GROUP

The latest adventure of the K’tonton Jewish Youth group of North Kitsap had some unexpected bonuses. When we heard the circus was in town we cancelled our beach outing (besides, it was 52 degrees) and headed for the Circus! The youth enjoyed popcorn, cotton candy, and even got to ride on an elephant. Now that’s just not something that happens too often in Kitsap County! Stay tuned for our next adventure. Interested in learning more? Email Meredith for information at dogland2@comcast.net

SIMCHAT TORAH PLANNING

Simchat Torah Service; Friday 7:00 pm Oct.21st 2011, Seabold Hall.

Hello Chavurah,
I have been very excited recently to collaborate with Joan Cowan on several dance events over the years. This year Joan and I and the Ruach committee would like to try out a new format for a service/dance event and I would like to recruit several of you Chavurah members to help us. There is a long standing tradition for Jewish communities to dance together on Simchat Torah. On that first day we begin reading the Torah, when we read the opening parsha from the Torah, ‘In the beginning’ Jewish communities everywhere dance into the night and even parade with their Torahs out into the street.

While Joan has offered to organize the dancing portion of this years Simchat Torah service I would like to recruit a small team of people who would be willing to join me in the offering a brief line from the Parshat Breisheet. If you have always wanted to chant a line from our beloved Torah or simply feel it might be a good opportunity to offer up a story, I hope to find some people who are willing to chant the Hebrew or recite the English. In addition I think the community would enjoy trying out our old format for services where volunteering members can get even more involved offering their personal touch to the ceremony.

Maybe you have always looked at one of the six days of creation as especially important to our human condition. Maybe you can see a clear key for us to reenter the Garden of Eden. Maybe you have a story from your own life which is just like the time the snake lulled Eve into eating the Apple. No matter what morsel of the opening of Genesis you can relate to, I believe the Chavurah might like to hear from you.

Please give me a call or an email if you are willing to meet with me and the team who are willing to present something for the Simchat Torah service on Friday night Oct.21st 2011. Of course we will also do some circle dances, line dances and freestyle dances that evening so we would certainly encourage the whole community to come, nosh, schmooze and try out some new perspectives on the opening of the Torah. Craig Jacobrown 360-297-4160, z-c@themaskery.com

COORDINATING COMMITTEE MINUTES

July 26, 2011

ANNUAL MEETING FOLLOW-UP – We discussed the issue of whether or not we need officers, which had been questioned at the Annual Meeting, and felt that our current practice of having officers is in compliance with our bylaws.

Insurance and indemnification of officers: Cay checked with Dan Gottlieb, attorney, and he said that our articles of incorporation protect our officers. Jeff checked with our insurance company, which said that we can get D&O insurance providing we provide them with our existing anti-discrimination clause and a few other things. He will pursue. Cay and Jeff will put the anti-discrimination policy into the bylaws or member Handbook

ANNUAL LETTER, MEMBERSHIP PACKET, HIGH HOLIDAY INFO – Jeff and Denise will take the lead on getting these out. Lisa will create a master calendar of all chavurah activities and holidays and it will be included in the membership packet

EDUCATION COMMITTEE – The Ed Committee is leaning toward purchasing a curriculum. The Committee requests $1,000 to hire a PT Summer Coordinator to get the JLC off the ground because the effort is not tenable without that. The request was approved, providing the Committee supply a job description and clear goals for the position. CC authorized the Education Committee to look into purchasing a curriculum; if the Committee asks for money to purchase it, we will meet by email to expedite a response. The money for the Coordinator and curriculum will come from Chavurah reserves, not the JLC budget, but future expenditures will not automatically come from reserves; we will have to explore other options including special fundraising for that purpose. The Committee requested that a Coordinator attend the next Education meeting to act as facilitator. Eric agreed to do so.

RUACH SCHEDULE FOR YEAR – Ruach has made a calendar for the year. It will go out in the membership packet and will be posted on the website.

COMMUNITY VISIBILITY/ NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT/ JLC RECRUITMENT

Denise will contact Sharon to try to get early Sept as a regular slot in the Review.
Lisa will ask Tom Schaeffer to write an article for this September.

Advertising:

• Lisa has advertised JLC on Island Moms
• Denise will look into listing us in the “ongoing” section of the BI Review calendar
• Lisa will check into our being listed in the Worship Directory in the BI Review and Kitsap Sun
• Eric will join CPC
• Fall community-wide event to create visibility before High Holidays and beginning of JLC
• Can we use Arik’s September visit as a public event on Sat 9/10 and to kick off JLC on Sun 9/11? Cay will broach with Education committee. Jeff will see if Arik is available & check with Ruach. Ruach would organize the public event.

ANNUAL WORKPLANS FOR COMMITTEES AND COORDINATING COMMITTEE
We decided that each committee, including Coordinating, should make an annual “calendar” of activities that need attending to each month, and that Coordinating should make sure those activities are coordinated between committees. This will help us ensure that all necessary activities are attended to in a timely manner and that things don’t fall between the cracks. We will tackle this after High Holidays.

We need to announce CC meetings to community. Robin will forward meeting dates to Rachel for inclusion in newsletters. Meetings are scheduled for 9/20/2011, 11/29/2011, 1/24/2012, 3/27/2012 and 5/22/2012.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, Sept 20, 7:00

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Dance in our Midst

For her last year at Madrona School, Savannah Travis chose a “passion project” as did each of the other 8th graders who worked with a mentor. Examples included learning cake decorating and bagpipe blowing. Savannah, having grown up as a ballet dancer, selected a focus to complement her skills: Bollywood Dancing. Not only is she having fun, the dance troupe is now featuring her as a one of their shining stars! See their promotional video at http://youtu.be/QGCP0sDLbsU

FROM THE IFC

Annual Nipponzan Myohoji Peace Walk

The Annual Nipponzan Myohoji Peace Walk will begin in Eugene, OR on July 20. The walkers will come over from Seattle to Bainbridge Island the morning of August 5 and leave at noon to walk to Suquamish. See the attached Peace Walk flyer for the whole schedule.

We would appreciate some help with a potluck lunch at the Nipponzan Myohoji Temple, 6154 Lynwood Center Road, between the Hyla School and right before the intersection of Lynwood Center Road and Fletcher Bay, Bainbridge Island beginning about 10:45am. Please reply to Kathryn Keve kbkeve@earthlink.net if you plan to bring something to eat!

On the evening of August 5 there will be a potluck dinner at 6:30 pm at the Suquamish UCC Church. Following dinner there will be a talk by Br. Senji Kanaeda (“I Bow to the Buddha in You”), a Powerpoint presentation, and community prayers for peace. See the attached “I-Bow” flyer. Kathryn Keve kbkeve@earthlink.net

5 Fri – Bainbridge Is.-Suquamish
6 Sat – Suquamish-Bainbridge (Dedication of WW II Japanese Exclusion Memorial at Pritchard Park 10-11:30 am)-Lake Forest Park-Seattle
7 Sun – Ground Zero (Poulsbo)
8 Mon – Ground Zero/Bangor

Please join us for the 2011 Peace Walk this summer! Bring your smile and joyful heart!
For more information, contact: Br. Senji Kanaeda at 206-780-3528 or email: senji@nipponzan.net or Br. Gilberto Perez at 206-419-7262 and let us know if you will join the walk.

The Interfaith Peace Walk is sponsored by Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order, Tacoma Catholic Worker, Las Vegas Catholic Worker, Lake Forest Park for Peace, Veterans for Peace, Indian People Organization for Change, and The interfaith Council of Bainbridge Island/North Kitsap, among others.

Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Dedication Ceremony

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 from 10 am to 11:30 am at Pritchard Park in Eagledale, Bainbridge Island. For more information, please visit http://www.bijac.org/
Please try to attend to show our chavurah’s compassion for and solidarity with our island’s Japanese American community who experienced such injustice and deprivation during the Second World War. The simplicity, dignity, and familiar names of our neighbors on this Memorial, and the Park’s beauty are very moving.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND BLOOD DRIVES

Thursday, August 4th
First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, HWY 305/Madison 11:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed 1-2)

Tuesday, August 10th
St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church Conger Hall, High School Road/Madison 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 2-2:45)

Wednesday, August 31st
Seabold United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, HWY 305/NE Seabold Church Road 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 2-3:00)

Tuesday, September 7th
Bethany Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 7968 Finch Road 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 2-2:45)

Monday, September 12th
American Legion Hall 7880 NE Bucklin Hill Road 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 2-2:45)

Friday, September 16th
Commons Senior Center 370 Brien Drive 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 2-2:45)

Tuesday, September 20th
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church 1187 Wyatt Way NW 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 2-3)

For information about these drives please call Greg Supancheck 1-888-475-5275 or gregs@psbc.org

SOUNDLY JEWISH

Message: Chavurat Shir Hayam has now been added to the synagogue listing of Soundly Jewish, www.soundlyjewish.org.

Soundly Jewish is a relatively new and growing online Jewish newspaper for our area. When we began in mid-February we had very limited coverage aspirations, but requests from members of congregations and chavurot have led us to expand our coverage area to south King, Pierce and Thurston counties and the entire Olympic Peninsula. Our goal is to complement the coverage offered by our Seattle-based friends and colleagues at JT News, with whom we have a mutual republication agreement.

HAPPENING IN SEATTLE

The PJ Library Storytime at Seattle Jewish Community School with Song and Storyteller: Jeff Stombaugh August 12, 2011 10:30 AM

The PJ Library welcomes Jeff Stombaugh as our guest musician and storyteller. Jeff has been entertaining and educating the Jewish community with his music and songs and The PJ Library is delighted to have him hosting our Friday storytimes. Come on by and stay for songs and a story, activities and playgroup fun!
Read more

The PJ Library Music Mash! August 26, 2011 10:30 AM

Come shake your wiggles out at our PJ concert with musicians Josh Niehaus and Ben Gown. Fun for the whole family and kids of all ages. Let’s celebrate the end of summer with a musical good-time get together!
Read more

Hebrew High Open House August 31, 2011 7:00 PM

Come check out what all the acclaim is about! Hebrew High Seattle is an accredited after-school Jewish studies program that educates and inspires high school students. Get more details at our open house and get involved in building our young Jewish Community! Read more

Jul 31, 03:39 PM