June 2011
Iyyar/Sivan 5771
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Event Quick Reference:
See member’s calendar or call 206-567-9414 for event details.
June 2 & 5 – JLC Brainstorming Session
June 2, 8 & 17 – Blood Drive
June 12 – Annual Meeting
CONDOLENCES
May has been a hard month for several of our chavurah households. Our deepest condolences to Carol Hurwitz Cowan on the loss of her mother in Los Angeles, and to Paul Travers on the loss of his father. Both Carol and Paul had been able to be with their parents as they were ill. May their memories be a blessing to both Paul and Carol and their families.
MAZEL TOV!
To Dee Axelrod on the high school graduation of her marvelous son Ben, and to Ben himself, for his writing and all that he has accomplished in these past few years. Ben is deferring college for one year to travel and do volunteer work abroad. Stay tuned, because we know Ben will continue to do amazing things.
Robin Simons is moving from her home on Coyote Farm Lane – home to our school and many of our gatherings for services, meetings, and discussions over the years. Best wishes to Robin and Hallie in their new home on the island – may it always be filled with warmth and creativity. In addition – Robin and Hallie and their 3 (very well-behaved!) cats are looking for someplace to stay from approx July 7 to approx Aug 7 while they wait to move into their lovely, deliciously tiny condo on Winslow Way. Any leads? Please call or email Robin. 780-4353 or robin.a.simons@gmail.com. Thank you!
ANNUAL MEETING
Shir Hayam Annual Meeting – Please save the date
Sunday, June 12, 10:00 – 12:00 at Jessica Lang and Dana Hanford’s house.
Directions to follow.
Agenda will include:
- Committee Updates
- Budget
- Ratification of By-Laws
- JLC Update and Discussion
- Slate of Coordinating Committee nominees
JLC BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS
To our Shir Hayam Community,
We need you! Those of us with children pre-b’nai mitzvah age need your help. Shir Hayam has been so lucky for many years with our JLC (Jewish Learning Center) program. Many kids have had wonderful Sunday School experiences and have grown up with a loving creative Jewish Centered Sunday School. The model and leadership the school has had for many years is changing. Zann has stepped down from her leadership position and is taking some well deserved time off. We are looking for input and help in creating and sustaining a new model of Jewish learning. We would love as many of you that can come to come, even if you don’t have school age children. Please come and help brainstorm with us. The Jewish Learning Center doesn’t just mean the learning of the young kids, it could also (as it has in the past) mean Adult Ed for example.
Please join us for one or both of these brainstorming sessions.
- Thursday, June 2nd 7:00 pm Tree House Cafe (Lynwood Center)
- Sunday, June 5th 8:30 am Bainbridge Bakers (Winslow)
Hope to see you there. If you can’t make it, but would like to be involved, please email:
Julie at drjrosenblatt@gmail.com or
Rebecca at rebeccarockefeller@gmail.com
TIKKUN OLAM
The Tikkun Olam committee held their annual e-meeting/discussion to decide how to distribute our funds for this fiscal year. The following 5 organizations each got a contribution from Shir Hayam. Our total disbursement was $1191. Click on organization to access their websites and find out a little bit more about them.
- BI Schools – $1 a day fund – $360
- Helpline Food Bank – $172
- Kitsap Immigration Assistance – $100
- Doctors without Borders – $346
- Jewish Funds for Justice – $213
JUNIOR JEWISH YOUTH GROUP
The first meeting of the Kitsap K’tonton Jewish Youth was a success with fun
had by all!
We discussed how our group would move forward in terms of group name, activities and guidelines, and of course had a great time socializing, eating pizza, swinging on the rope swing, and roasting marshmallows around a campfire. What’s not to like?
The K’tontons came up with a list of activities that will keep us busy for some time! (such as, bowling, skating, baking, art, movie and fashion night.) As decided, our next event will be a beach picnic day.
If you have/know of a Jewish 6th, 7th or 8th grader of any affiliation who is interested in attending please email Meredith at dogland2@comcast.net or
Susan at susanbusterthomas@mac.com
We would like to send a special thank you to Lew and Nancy Mandell who have had the foresight and generosity to establish a Youth Group Fund to support our Jewish Youth. All donations are tax deductable and reserved for the Kitsap K’tonton Jewish Youth. Thank you so much for your support and enabling our kids to make these bonds! Thank you to Janet Hanrahan for supporting our kids by donating to our first meeting by funding the Pizza!
JLC GRADUATION
In addition to the JLC classes graduating this past Sunday at the Rosenkotz farm, the Zann Jacobrown retired from leading the JLC after 15 years of service. Coordinating Committee member Jeff Brown read a wonderful letter of appreciation, saying many Shir Hayam families are indebted to Zann for her service over the decades! Thank you, Zann!
COORDINATING COMMITTEE MINUTES – May 26, 2011
JLC:
Zann will no longer be the director or teacher. Parents (we currently have 8 families, 14 kids) have been discussing the future of JLC. We can see this transition as an opportunity to change aspects of the JLC. Different format? Multi-generational? Teens as teachers? JLC families will be having 2 meetings next week to discuss possible options. They will have a ½ hour at the Annual Meeting to present their thinking. Zann will prepare materials to send out in advance of the Annual Meeting. The parents will determine a JLC committee. The JLC committee will come to the Coordinating Committee in August to tell us their plans for the school and tell us how they plan to allocate their budget. We will allocate $2500 now; they can request a different amount later. We will consider their request in light of the overall budget.
We should have a representative from JLC on Coord. Committee.
Decision was taken that a CC member will attend every JLC meeting to keep the two groups connected.
BY-LAWS
We reviewed the changes to the By-Laws recommended by attorney Dan Gottlieb and came up with a version which will we present at the Annual Meeting.
BUDGET
We proposed a budget that is similar to last year’s with a few changes – will be distributed at the annual meeting.
ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA
committee updates, budget, ratification of By-Laws, JLC update, slate of CC nominees
discuss idea of people donating to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, yartzeits, etc. and doing a monthly ad in Review citing one of these donations as a way of advertising the community aspect of SH.
Jeff will send out a packet to members in advance of the meeting. Annual Meeting will be Sunday, June 12, 10:00 – 12:00 at Jessica Lang and Dana Hanford’s house.
INTERFAITH COUNCIL
This year’s IFC (Interfaith Council):
Representing the chavurah on the IFC this year has been a pleasure, and I wanted to share with you some of the things the Council has done or that members have taken on, as well as mention several upcoming events:
Beginning with the Crop Walk last fall, we and our respective congregations raised a good amount of funds going toward alleviating world hunger. Our annual Thanksgiving service had to be cancelled due to terrible weather, but in the early
spring, an inspiring spring concert with most of the congregations participating was held, and the Kugs were a standout! Later in the spring, we helped support Sing Out! in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King. The chavurah has continued participating with Super Supper, which provides free dinners the last week of very month, and our kudos go to Denise Brown who has worked selflessly Throughout the year doing this mitzvah. In the spring, the IFC became affiliated with the United Religious Initiative, an international organization whose purpose is to help “the good” of every religion become visible, to foster common values, and
promote peaceful coexistence. We also wrote a letter to the DNR affirming the Bainbridge City Council position to stop the eviction process for the harbor’s liveaboards and to support the goal of a permanent liveaboard community.
Some IFC members are doing important work that we hope island households will support, among them
—RePower Bainbridge, an organization committed to lessening the energy demands of the island, by providing free energy assessments to island homes with suggestions as to steps that each home could take to lessen its energy usage;
— A Common Security Club, developed by Chuck Collins and David Korten, will begin on the island this fall with the purpose of strengthening community by facing our economic and ecological challenges, learning together about root causes, and taking action to create a fair and healthy economy that works for everyone;
— Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center has volunteer opportunities, as does Kitsap Literacy Council;
—Weed pull work done throughout the year including Earth Day;
—Interfaith Caregivers help elderly and homebound islanders with needed assistance as well as providing company;
—Helpline food needs continue to increase, especially with its loss of so much funding this year. Please remember this when you shop locally or go to Costco.
Finally, upcoming this summer:
August 6, 2011: The Japanese Exclusion Memorial Wall will be dedicated at Pritchard Park. This moving and stunning memorial, such a crucial part of Bainbridge and our national history, is open at Pritchard Park now, and if you haven’t had a chance to visit here, I urge you to stroll through during the summer and attend the dedication as well.
Wednesday, July 20 to Monday, August 8, 20ll: Interfaith Peace Walk for a Nuclear Free Future in Respect of Mother Earth
Each Step will be a prayer towards world peace and a nuclear free future.
Sponsored by Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order (you may have seen Brothers Senji Kanaeda and Gilberto Perez walking, chanting, and drumming along Bainbridge roads), Tacoma and Las Vegas Catholic Workers, Veteran for Peace, Indian People Organization for Change. This walk will begin in Eugene, Oregon and end at the Bangor base. You may march for any leg or all of the march. HOUSING IS NEEDED for marchers. If you are interested in opening your home, marching, or in receiving further information about the route, please contact either Senji (senji@nipponzan.net) or call Senji at 780.6739 or Gilberto at 419.7262.
As you can see, it’s been a full year. If working on the IFC appeals to you, please do not hesitate to contact me – Sharon Rutzick 842.8453 (srutzick1@comcast.net)
HAPPENING ON BAINBRIDGE
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND BLOOD DRIVES FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 2011:
Thursday, June 2nd
First Baptist Church
Fellowship Hall, Hwy 305/Madison
11:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed 1-2)
Wednesday, June 8th
St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church
Conger Hall, High School Road/Madison
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 2-2;45)
Friday, June 17th
Bethany Lutheran Church
Fellowship Hall, 7968 Finch Road
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 2-2:45)
For information about these drives please call
Greg Supancheck 1-888-475-5275 or gregs@psbc.org
JEWISH SUMMER CAMPS
Jewish Summer Camps. The Chavurah recently received literature from the following organizations:
B’nai B’rith Camp, Beaverton, OR www.bbcamp.org (for entering 2nd-11th grade campers)
Kehila Program for children with special needs (same link as above; 50% off grant available to first time campers)
http://www.jewishcamp.org//one-happy-camper/ link to other grant opportunities
Contact Denise, 780-0931 if you’d like to see some of the literature.
Also – we received the following: Nesiya’s 6 week summer Israel experience and year long community service fellowship just increased the merit scholarships available. This additional funding is made possible through a special grant only for teens living in Washington State. We would be so grateful for your help in spreading the word about this amazing opportunity and Nesiya’s newly established merit funding increase for young people from Washington State.
You are also encouraged to recommend and nominate High School students who you believe would benefit from Nesiya’s Regional Fellowship program.
Washington State, High School students, ( grade 10-12) who want to journey through Israel this summer with Israeli peers, and participate in follow-up enrichment and community service when they come home are ideal candidates for this fellowship. As you begin to identify teens that could benefit from the Nesiya experience it would be our pleasure, with your approval, to reach out to your nominations directly. Contact information for teens you would like to recommend can be sent to me or Racheal Brill, Nesiya’s US Manager of Recruitment and Community Outreach. (contact information is below)
Your encouragement of interested teens and their families to contact Nesiya directly would be greatly appreciated.
I look forward to being in touch and in the meantime please also feel free to contact me with questions or for additional information. Thank you very much for your help in publicizing this opportunity.My colleagues and I greatly appreciate your support.
Debbie Kardon Schwartz, Special Projects Consultant, debbie@nesiya.org, 774-279-8004 www.nesiya.org
HADDASSAH FUND RAISER
SOCIAL GAME NIGHT FUND RAISER
WITH WEST SOUND HADASSAH
SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 18TH, 7:30pm
CONGREGATION BETH HATIKVAH,
E. 11th St. and Veneta, Bremerton
Mah Jongg, Poker, Bridge, Rummikub, Dominos, Scrabble
$15.00 per person in advance/$20.00 at the door
Create your own table of 4 in advance or complete a table there.
Beverages, Hors d’Oeuvres and Dessert Buffet Included, Wine and Beer are extra
To reserve a spot, send an email or phone: Barbara VanDerlaske: GAME NIGHT RESERVATION
HAPPENING IN SEATTLE
Top Cholent Date: Thursday, June 23rd Where: Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath • 5145 South Morgan Street • Seattle, WA 98118 Time: 6:00 pm Cost: $8 members / $10 nonmembers
The traditional stew made for the Shabbat midday meal is so much more than a stew. Heinrich Heine wrote that: “Cholent is the food of Heaven, And the recipe was given By the Lord himself to Moses One fine day upon Mount Sinai.” Come and learn, taste, and choose your favorite. We’ll make cholent that is traditional, Sephardic, vegetarian, nouveau. And, of course, you’ll take home recipes. Space is limited. Purchase Tickets or call Lori Weinberg Ceyhun 206–774–2277 to reserve your spot.
Northwest Gefilte Fish: A Family Affair Date:Tuesday, August 16th Where: Congregation Beth Shalom • 6800 35th Ave. NE • Seattle, WA 98115 Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm Cost: $8 members / $10 nonmembers
Dorothy Becker and her family make their fish together. They have it down to a science. Did you never have the opportunity to learn how to make gefilte fish? Dorothy and her daughter Arlene Azose are experts. Come and learn. Step by step. From the first step when Dorothy brings up her large pot and the scarf that protects her hair from the fishy smell, to the taste of the soft, flavorful fish ball that is made with salmon from northwest waters. You’ll go home with a packet of fish recipes – gefilte, sweet and sour, pickled and a layered fish terrine. Space is limited. Purchase Tickets or call Lori Weinberg Ceyhun 206–774–2277 to reserve your spot.
FOUND
2 green waffle fabric towels were left at the Cowan/Steindorf household after a Chavurah event. They have migrated to the Orr-Hruska household. Let me know if they are yours. 306-297-4228.
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