March 2010
Adar/Nisan 5770
Event Quick Reference:
See member’s calendar
or call 206-855-7924 for event details.
March 12-13 – Save the Date – Shabbaton Weekend with Arik
March 30 – Passover begins
April 24 – Earth Day Work Party at Pritchard Park
Mazel Tov
To Marilyn Gottlieb on her recent art exhibit in Florence, Italy. Such talent!
Mishaberach
We continue to wish full and complete recoveries to Linda Golden following her knee replacement, and to Melanie Solonsky after her recent illness.
SHABBATON WEEKEND
We are thrilled to once again have Arik Labowitz visiting us for a Shabbaton on March 12 and 13. It is always a joyful experience to celebrate Shabbat with him. There will be 3 gatherings all at the Rosenkotz yurt on Coyote Farm Lane.
Friday night’s service is a potluck at 6 PM
Saturday Day Service is a 10- brown bag lunch
Havdalah is at 6:45, dessert potluck.
Call Robin 360-297-4228 or Julie 206-595-8824 for directions if you need. Hope you to see you there!
TIKKUN OLAM
From MAZON:
The Fifth Question: Why on this night are millions of people going hungry?
Answer: Because on this night, like every other night, millions of people living in poverty have no other choice.
This Passover, as we celebrate our people’s freedom from bondage, we can also take the opportunity to raise awareness about hunger and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. We ask you to help MAZON help the millions of men, women and children who face hunger every night.
Incorporate The 5th Question discussion in your Passover Seder
Print a copy of The 5th Question placemat here Display it on the Seder table or create an empty place setting to remind everyone of the people whose plates are empty this night and every night. Print additional copies for each child to fill the plate with drawings of food.
Have the youngest person read the 4 questions from the placemat, then add The 5th Question and discuss the crisis of hunger. Talk about how it would feel if you and your family lived meal to meal. Talk about the injustice of senior citizens missing meals to afford rent. Talk about how hunger impacts a child’s ability to learn.
How can you make a difference? Take a collection for MAZON — ask your family and friends to donate.
About MAZON:
Founded in 1985, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is a national nonprofit organization that allocates donations from the Jewish community to prevent and alleviate hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Each year, MAZON grants over $4 million to more than 300 carefully screened hunger-relief agencies, including emergency food providers, food banks, multi-service organizations and advocacy groups that seek long-term solutions to the hunger problem.
MAZON (“food” in Hebrew) believes its dual purpose is to provide for those who are hungry today and to address the systemic causes of hunger and poverty, both domestically and globally. Although grants are provided to many organizations serving the Jewish poor, in keeping with the best of Jewish tradition MAZON believes it is important to respond to all who are in need.
HELPLINE FOOD DRIVES 3/19 AND 3/20:
For the Interfaith Council’s twice yearly food drive for Helpline House, Shir Hayam has been asked for volunteers to work at Safeway on Friday, March 19 between 2 and 6pm distributing lists of food needed for Helpline to shoppers. Volunteers usually work 1 or 2 hour shifts and it’s fun to do it in pairs. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, PLEASE CALL ME ASAP so we can call in our list of volunteers to the scheduler. The food drives usually happen when the food bank is particularly low, and as you know, the need has really increased on the island this year. Even if you can’t volunteer, please consider shopping at T & C or Safeway over that weekend and donating the needed items at the stores or dropping them off at Helpline. Many thanks, Sharon Rutzick: 206.842.8453
COORDINATING COMMITTEE MINUTES
February 23, 2010
Present: Robin, Cay, Jeff, Lisa, Sam, David
RETREAT/ANNUAL MEETING: The annual meeting will be separate from a Shabbaton retreat. The annual meeting will be Sunday, June 6. Ruach is organizing a shabbaton retreat at Port Townsend with Arik.
SHOULD WE PUT THE ROSTER ONLINE?:
Sam and Lisa came to discuss their concerns. We had a long discussion about the lack of security for the roster as it is currently being sent (via email), or if we put it on the Forums (which are going away in any event because they are not updatable any longer).
Ultimately we decided to test Big Tent for the roster and as a Forums replacement.
Sam will investigate the security of Big Tent and, assuming it passes muster, he will set up a test site and Coordinators will “join” and test it for a few weeks before the next Coordinating meeting.
Sam and Lisa will come to the April meeting and hopefully we will be able to make a decision to adopt Big Tent then, and then train people to use it at the annual meeting.
Next meeting: Tues, April 13, 2010 7:00 at Jeff’s
Agenda
1. report from Sam and Lisa
2. report from Sharon and Cemetery Committee: a proposal for how we can purchase plots for SH
HAPPENING ON BAINBRIDGE
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND BLOOD DRIVES FOR THE MONTHS OF MARCH & APRIL 2010:
Tuesday, March 16th
Grace Episcopal Church
8595 NE Day Rd East
10:00 am to 4:00 pm (closed 1-1:45)
Thursday, March 18th
First Baptist Church
(HWY 305 & Madison)
11:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed 2-2:45)
Friday, March 26th
Commons Senior Center
370 Brien Drive
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 3-3:45)
TAX HELP: Free income tax assistance & electronic filing is available for seniors and low-to-middle income taxpayers at the Bainbridge Public Library, Feb. 1 – Apr. 14. Hours are MWF 10:30-1, Mon. eve 5:30-7:30, and by appointment only-Sat. Bring all pertinent forms and 2008 tax return. Volunteers are trained and sponsored by the IRS and AARP. Information: 780-0931.
FROM THE IFC
6/6/10 (Sunday): *Baccalaureate: The 2010 High School Seniors’ Baccalaureate will be hosted by the Interfaith Council on Sunday, June 6th at 3 p.m. Location to be determined. Seniors will come dressed in their caps and gowns, and the service will be followed by refreshments. Come and celebrate their achievements!
The Baccalaureate committee needs the following:
1. Clergy and lay members to serve on the committee. We can have our meetings at BHS, but our role is to mentor the students and help them plan their Baccalaureate service, including all of the little details associated with it (inviting speakers and musicians; finalizing, laying out, and printing the program with the associated artwork; communicating with the students and following up with them).
The number of graduating high school seniors from your congregations, including the names of 1 or two outstanding seniors that you would nominate to serve on the Baccalaureate committee and/or to speak or perform during Baccalaureate.
Last year we had just 45 students participate in Baccalaureate. The year before that we had about 100, and the year before that we had about 150 students. Do we have fewer students within our congregations? Do we need to do a better job of promoting Baccalaureate and preparing our high school seniors for this sweet, spiritual celebration of this important milestone in their lives?
You can send this info to patricialahtinen@msn.com
HAPPENING IN SEATTLE
March 11-21, 2010
AJC Seattle Jewish Film Festival:
“The World Through a Vibrant Lens”
The annual AJC Seattle Jewish Film Festival (SJFF) is an 10-day international cinematic exploration and celebration of Jewish life, culture, identity and history. Jewish film festivals are one of the most popular expressions of Jewish culture today, providing unparalleled opportunities for moviegoers to plumb every aspect of the Jewish psyche and experience. SJFF uses the magical medium of film to both entertain and educate the Jewish and general communities about complex issues facing Jewish people and world communities alike, while challenging conventional perspectives. SJFF also strives to build bridges of mutual understanding between diverse groups by creating forums for engaging in respectful dialogue about timely subjects and concerns. By viewing “The World Through a Vibrant Lens,” SJFF audiences also gain profound insight into the universal human experience.
Subscribe via RSS