November 2011

Heshvan/Kislev 5772

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Event Quick Reference:

November
11 – Shabbat at the Mortell’s
14-18 Deliver Project Wishbone food to Robin
22 – IFC Thanksgiving Service
29 – Coordinating Committee Meeting

December
10 – Havdalah & Roots Fair

All blessings and continued healing to our two amazing women, Carol Shakow and Robin Simons. Yesher Koach!

POTLUCK SHABBAT

Dinner, singing, blessings and discussion. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 AT 6:30 PM at Dina and Art Mortell’s home, 7222 NE Abies Drive – BI For info, call Sharon 206-842-8453

So that all can plan and get these dates on their calendars, Ruach has scheduled this year’s upcoming Shabbat celebrations for the same day each month. All Shabbats get togethers will be the second Friday of each month. There will be a few exceptions, so please check the monthly newsletter for any variations. In December, for example, we are combining Havdalah with the JLC Roots Fair on Saturday, December 10. Here is the tentative Shabbat schedule for the rest of the year:

Second Friday Shabbat Potluck and Celebration:
Friday, January 13
Friday, February 10
Friday, March 9
Friday, April 13
Friday, May 11

CROPWALK 2011

Rachel Kerbrat and Denise Brown with help from Sada Ross, once again went way over the top with fundraising for Cropwalk. This year’s walk brought in over $21,000 and Chavurat Shir Hayam raised over $2500. Many, many thanks to all those who contributed and a special thanks to Sada, who took the opportunity to ask for reciprocal donations from her friends. A little bit goes a long way!

HIGH HOLIDAYS WRAP-UP

The Days of Awe extended into another day for Carol Shakow, Dee Axelrod, Denise Brown and Lisa Weiss (for good intent). With an invitation from Cedars Unitarian Universalists Church, these Kugelettes contributed to the Cedars UU Yom Kippur Forgiveness themed service with a repertoire of Eitz Chayim He, Pray for the Peace, and Ma Tovu. The service concluded with the burning of grievances – not as intimate as our outdoor mini-bonfire of the night prior, but emotionally symbolic just the same.

Many thanks to all the people who helped make this year’s High Holidays so special:
-to Hanna for focusing on a theme which provoked us all to think and dig a bit deeper,
for her warmth and inclusiveness, her ability to improvise nimbly, and her accessibility,
-to all those who stood and spoke to us of their lives and choices – such powerful, important, revelatory, and provocative talks – and to all those who helped participate in the services,
-to the Kugs who worked so hard to prepare the High Holiday music, and to our three
Kol Nidre leiners, Dee Axelrod, Terry Cowan, and Carol Shakow, who lift us up higher,
-to all those who came early to set up and stayed late to clean up, who donated beautiful flowers, candles and fabrics which helped create our holy space,
-to the Fil-Am community, for making their home available to us,
-to Ruach, which helped plan and make possible our services again this year,
-to the Rosenkotz family who hosted Hanna and then hosted us all at the lovely Sukkot celebration at their house, featuring David’s Sukkah,
-to all our wonderful cooks and bakers,
-and finally, to Stephanie Reith, who will soon receive her smicha as Rabbi Reith, for
adding her beautiful voice and meaningful thoughts to our services.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Welcome back from their travels to Dick and Linda Golden, returning from Turkey, and to Jane and Bob Greenberg, returning from their summer in Vermont. A wonderful winter to Renee and Elliot Leiter, heading to Maui until spring. Congratulations to Robin Hruska for her showing at a Portland art gallery of the beautiful handmade books she does in collaboration with several other artists. And finally, all our best wishes for establishing a wonderful new home in Snohomish to Harley Soltes, Susan Thomas, and Wylie. We will miss you here, miss your smiling faces and chopped liver, and look forward to hearing of your farming adventures further north.

From Talia Weiss –
My name is Talia Weiss (I think most of you know me, but if not, a quick introduction!) and I am currently a sophomore at Dartmouth College. I have been involved with Shir Hayam since I was very little (graduating Sunday School, being bat-mitzvahed, and then going on to teach pre-k classes with Hallie) and am continuing to further my knowledge of Judaism here at school. Last year, my freshman year, I became involved with Dartmouth’s Hillel and headed a Jewish Freshman organization called Jew Crew. This year I am currently the Community Service Chair for Hillel, and am hoping to start a Challah for Hunger chapter here on campus. Challah for Hunger is a national organization that has chapters on many college campuses. Its main objective is to raise money and awareness for hunger through the baking and selling of Challah bread! For more information, you can visit http://www.challahforhunger.org/.

The first (and perhaps even the most important!) step to starting Challah for Hunger is to find the most delicious Challah recipes. Instead of googling for Challah recipes online, I would love to ask the members of Shir Hayam to donate any special recipes you all may have. We are looking for ALL different kinds of Challah – plain, cinnamon, chocolate chip, etc. Baking Challah from the recipes of friends is so much more meaningful than finding generic recipes online.

Also, if you do decide to donate a recipe and would like to be updated on how the organization is doing, let me know and I’ll gladly send out updates :)

Thank you so much!
Talia

TIKKUN OLAM

PROJECT WISHBONE

Project Wishbone is a Helpline House project that matches the generosity of our community with those Bainbridge Island families in need. This past year, more than 750 families used the Helpline House food bank. 

Shir Hayam is going to support Helpline’s Project Wishbone project again this year. Our goal is to collect enough for 3 families. Please click on the link http://www.doodle.com/vumgs36i3q3xg928 and enter what you would like to donate (there is space for optional comments at the bottom of the sign up sheet).

We will be purchasing gift cards for the Turkeys.

Note: Helpline is well supplied with canned cranberries, canned pumpkin (and canned pumpkin pie mix), canned yams, canned sweet potatoes and stuffing mix so please DO NOT PURCHASE MORE.

If you would like to get something extra – ALWAYS Needed at Helpline House: Hearty Soups, Chilis and Stews, Canned Fish and Meats, Canned Beans, Cereal, Fruit and Vegetable Juices.

Robin Simons has again graciously volunteered her (new) place as the drop off point for our collection. Her address is 343 Winslow Way West #202 (corner of Wood and Winslow Way, south side of the street). Robin says “ people should ring doorbell to see if I’m home. If I’m not they can just leave the stuff right outside the door.” We will deliver the food to Helpline on Saturday, November 19th so it should be dropped off at Robin’s house during the preceding week (11/14-11/18).

If your household or one of your neighbors is in need of assistance, confidential help is available at HELPLINE HOUSE. Please visit their office Monday – Friday from 9am to 5pm or call at 206-842-7621. 


Women Peace and Security Network Africa

Leymah Gbowee has been recently honored by being awarded, along with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Tawakkol Karman, the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work”. I thought I would profile her and her organization here.

A Social Worker by profession, Leymah has been a Case Worker and Peacebuilding Practitioner for over 10 years. She is presently the Executive Director of Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN-Africa). As a Case Worker, she worked with the Ministry of Health Displaced Shelter as a Counselor for refugees. She was also the Liberian Program Coordinator for Women in Peacebuilding and worked as a Commissioner Designate for Liberia Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The documentary entitled Pray the Devil Back to Hell details her work. Ms. Gbowee holds a MA in Conflict Transformation from the Eastern Mennonite University and is a mother of six.

Click here to read more.

LOST AND FOUND

“All the liturgy you could possibly want and more.” The Chavurah purchased a CD set by Hazzan Jack Kessler back in Spring/Summer 2004. Does anyone know where they may be? Check your CD collections & contact Denise @ 206-780-0931 if you know the whereabouts.

Coordinating Committee Meeting Dates

Tuesday evenings at 7:00
Meetings are held in a secret bunker. Email robin.a.simons@gmail to find out where and get the passcode. Nov 29, Jan 24, March 27, May 22

HAPPENING ON BAINBRIDGE

IFC Thanksgiving Service

Join with neighbors of many backgrounds and faith traditions in the annual Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011, at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church (Valley Rd. and Sunrise Dr. NE, Bainbridge Island): “In Gratitude For Those Who Have Come before Us.” All persons and ages are welcome. The service will include music, readings, prayers, spoken reflections and silent meditation, from many local faith groups and traditions. There will be a special collection for the Bainbridge Island Japanese-American Exclusion Memorial. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the serevice. If you can, please also bring donations of nonperishable food for Helpline House and Fishline. Preschool nursery care will be available Sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Bainbridge Isl;and and North Kitsap. www.binkinterfaith.org.

Note to Shir Hayam: our own Jeff Brown will be offering a prayer at the service.

Health and Wellness Open House

Enjoy healthy, yummy food, laughter and wellness education! Join us Thursday evening November 10th, 6:00 to 8PM
Featuring Complimentary: Five Minute Massages, Coaching Sessions, Intro to Laser Therapy, Chiropractic Screening and much more!!

To my fellow Shir Hayam members,
Welcome to fall, a time of harvests and new beginnings. Integrated Wellness Center is welcoming this time of transition. We have practitioners joining and even some returning to the center. We are celebrating with food, fun and connection. Please join us for our Open House.

The Integrated Wellness Center is a place where we provide services that address the whole self – body, mind, soul, spirit. As the definition of Holisim states: treating of the whole person, parts of a whole are in intimate interconnection, such that they cannot exist or be understood independently of the whole. Likewise our wellness practitioners work together to optimize your wellness.

Now under one roof you can have chiropractic, laser therapy, massage, acupuncture, life or business coaching and nutritional consulting among other wellness services. It has been a long held dream to offer patients an integrated approach to healing and self-care.

In this lifetime you get one body, one mind, one heart. So we ask you-What do you do regularly to ensure you’re functioning optimally? How might your life be improved if your body was in alignment and your nervous system flowed unhindered?

It’s good to know we’re here when you’re hurting. We are also here for you when you’re ready to take your wellness to the next level. Make an appointment now to tend to your one great self.

Ask us about out great referral program. Send us the people in your life who need to tend to themselves and earn your way towards free services.
Come join us at our Open House and meet all the great practitioners of Integrated Wellness Center. Bring a friend and we will give you a head start in our new referral program!

Looking forward to seeing you soon,
Dr. Julie Rosenblatt and all the Integrated Wellness Practitioners
Integrated Wellness Center
164 Knechtel Way
Bainbridge Island, WA
206-842-4219

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND BLOOD DRIVES

Friday, November 25th
Commons Senior Center
370 Brien Drive
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 2-2:45)

Monday, November 28th
American Legion Hall
7880 NE Bucklin Hill Road
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 2-2:45)

Wednesday, December 7th
St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church
Conger Hall, High School Road/Madison
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed 2-2:45)

Thursday, December 8th
First Baptist Church
Fellowship Hall, HWY 305/Madison
11:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed 1-2)

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

HAPPENING IN SEATTLE

Compassionate Support for Family Caregivers. In a major new initiative, JFS has received special funding to provide an array of no-cost support services to the primary caregivers of relatives or friends. For more information visit http://www.homecareassoc.org/

LOOKING FOR HOUSING

A Request via a recent email to the Chavurah from a HH visitor:
In order to be able to “land” on Bainbridge Island, to be able to immerse myself in the training and volunteer work (http://www.strengthofconnection.com), I will need to find affordable housing. I have begun reaching out to people that I am looking for “a housesit,” (winter, spring, and/or beyond). I am also hoping that someone whose heart is enthusiastic about the work of Nonviolent Communication will be willing to supply a place for me to stay (a room, a garage apartment, a cottage, a camper etc) – perhaps in exchange for services, or a reduced rent. If you can think of anyone who that might consider this, by all means, please let them know I am looking. I realize that my hopes for support are quite bold and optimistic. I can provide a very long list of references! If you can help, please contact Phil Schulman (210)365-7169

Oct 31, 11:05 AM