Friday: Erev Shabbat Service (Multi-access) Friday, January 19, 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to join us online or in person for an Erev Shabbat service. Join us before the service for an oneg at 5:45 p.m. There is also a Tot Shabbat service at 5:00 p.m.
Live streaming services: – The Erev Shabbat Facebook event can be found here. – You can watch services on the TBE YouTube channel here. – The streaming player for online services can be found on our website here (click "play" and this feature will work after services begin).
Saturday: Torah Study and Shabbat Service (Multi-access) Saturday, January 20, 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Our Saturday worship experience begins with Torah study from 9:00–9:45 a.m. This will be followed by services beginning at 10:00 a.m. (online and in person). All are invited! At the conclusion of the service, all are invited to join in for a potluck kiddush luncheon! (Dishes can be pescatarian.)
ADL Virtual Program: Understanding & Reporting Hate Incidents & Crimes Friday, January 19, 12:00 p.m. The Anti-Defamation League is hosting a virtual education program to help the community learn about hate incidents and crimes, best practices for reporting, and the difference between free speech and hate speech. Speakers will include: Bias Crimes Coordinator Detective Beth Wareing (Seattle Police Department), Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Dreher (Western District of Washington), and Legislative Counsel Beth Holtzman (Anti-Defamation League). Register here.
Shabbat Shirah: Shabbat of Song Friday, January 26, 6:30 p.m. Every year, Cantors around the world present different aspects of Jewish music in connection to the chanting of Moses’ Song of the Sea from the portion B'shallach. This year, join Cantor Fine as he presents a musical sermon entitled: “The Songs that Bind Me to Israel,” a journey into the different styles of Israeli music that Cantor Fine holds dear and the stories behind his love for these beautiful and diverse songs. Gaga Ball Learn-and-Play Tournament Sunday, January 28, 11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Join the Sagalovich brothers in the Bet Wing yard for an overview of Gaga Ball rules and safety for maximum fun! For questions, please contact Madi at madi@tbetacoma.org.
Dayenu Green Team: Tu BiSh'vat Celebration (Oak Tree Park) Sunday, January 28, 2:00 p.m. Celebrate Tu BiSh'vat with TBE Green Team/Dayenu at Oak Tree Park! Enjoy an afternoon of community spirit, removing ivy and litter, and preserving nature. No experience needed; tools will be provided. A fulfilling and fun way to make a difference! For more information about these events, please contact jberk24@gmail.com. Erev Shabbat Service Featuring Tacoma Refugee Choir Friday, February 2, 6:30 p.m. The Jewish community across North America comes together for the sixth annual HIAS National Refugee Shabbat on Friday, February 2, 2024. Temple Beth El is delighted to have invited the Tacoma Refugee Choir to our Shabbat service. Join us as we take the opportunity to deepen our compassion for the refugee crisis and draw inspiration through song, story, and prayer.
Save the Date HFLA's Champagne Brunch Sunday, March 3, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Come to HFLA's Champagne Brunch and enjoy mimosas, bagels, and warm blintzes at the Mercer Island Community Center. You can enter a raffle for exciting prizes, bid on getaway experiences, enter an auction for a dinner at Canlis restaurant, or just enjoy good company and good food, catered by Leah's Kosher Cooking. This event will include Rabbi Jay Levine as its keynote speaker. This is a ticketed event, fundraising in support the programs that help our Jewish community across the state. Space is limited; buy ticketshere.
Sisterhood Hamantaschen Bake Tuesday, March 10, 12:00–3:00 p.m. Join us in the social hall for Sisterhood's annual hamantaschen bake. The hamantaschen that you make will be added to Sisterhood's Purim boxes, which are sold in support of our community! Many volunteers are needed; this event is open to all adults of the TBE community. If you have any questions and/or would like to volunteer, contact Kerry Geffen at kgeffen@gmail.com or at (253) 228-4105. Canter Fine's Retirement Weekend Friday May 3, 5:30 p.m. and Saturday May 4, 5:00 p.m. Save the dates for Cantor Geoffrey Fine’s retirement celebration weekend. There will be a Friday evening family Shabbat with a Pre-Oneg sponsored by the Shir Simcha choir, and a retirement Dinner Gala at TBE Saturday evening. More information to come soon. For questions, contact Alice Greenwood at mom.greenwood@gmail.com or Sue Burget at sueburget@gmail.com.
Opportunities
Congregational Survey—Tell us your thoughts about the future of Temple Beth El! As we prepare for the next fiscal year, July 2024–June 2025, we would love to know your ideas for the future of our temple. What is shared in this survey will help inform our budget planning for the coming year and onward. Please answer the three-question survey here by February 7, 2024. If you prefer to share your thoughts via phone or in person, please call: (253) 564-7101 x102 to schedule a meeting with Becca.
Leaders Needed for Purim and Passover Events Both the Adult Purim Costume Party & Cocktails event on Saturday, March 23 at 5:30 p.m. (M’gillah Reading & Purim Spiel at 7:00 p.m.) and the Community Passover Seder on Tuesday, April 24 at 6 p.m. need the leaders from the community to manage overall event planning. You could be the one! Are you really excited about costumes? Do you love to sing "Frogs Here, Frogs There" with all your TBE friends? Then answer the call to make one or both of these events happen. Staff has prior event information to make planning easy and are ready to help take things from plan to production. Contact Becca at becca@tbetacoma.org or (253) 564-7101 x102. Sisterhood's Mishloach Manot Fundraiser Participate in Sisterhood's only fundraiser by purchasing Mishloach Manot, gifts of food and more to friends to celebrate Purim. Each box purchased gives back to the community in so many ways, from Break-the-Fast to the Latke Fry for the Hanukkah Party, from reestablishing the Children's Library to supporting the Religious School and more. Purchase your boxes here and participate today! The deadline to order is March 8th. If you have questions, please contact Mady Plumer at madshell33@icloud.com.
Mishloach Manot Volunteers Needed Many hands make light work, so please help Sisterhood put together and distribute Mishloach Manot. Join us for one or more of the upcoming volunteer opportunities:
March 10: Hamantaschen Bake (see the Upcoming Events for more info) March 14–19: Fill the Purim boxes with wonderful, donated treats. Contact Alice Greenwood atmom.greenwood@gmail.com. March 22–24: Distribute boxes at TBE and/or deliver boxes to those who can't come in, contact Jacqueline Kleiner at JacquelineKleiner@gmail.com.
Advocacy Training (Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice) For members of Temple Beth El who are interested in becoming involved with the work of the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice (JCIJ), information is available, including a tape of last year's advocacy training, for their lobby day in Olympia on February 7th. Email Vivian Morrison atviviansm@earthlink.net if you would like a copy of this information. The focus of work for the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice is solely on issues pertaining to immigrant and refugee issues in the State of Washington, working closely with WAISN, Washington Immigration Solidarity Network.
Volunteers Needed for Youth Cooking Classes Do you have a passion for cooking? Looking for members of the TBE community to lead our students in learning to cook the foods of our people. Email Madeline Pimentel Diaz at madi@tbetacoma.org for additional information.
Tacoma Jewish Community Fund:Israel Urgently Needs Your Help Join with those who have already given more than $30,000 to the Tacoma Jewish Community Fund’s special appeal for Israel. Your donation will provide trauma relief and psychological support, medical care, emergency services, housing, as well as other needs. Donate online at www.tacomajcf.org. Just use the tab “Donate,” then “Select Fund,” and choose “Israeli Social Services and Disaster Relief” from the drop-down options. You can also call Judith Florence at (253) 752-3621 to donate via phone. To donate with a check, just send your donation, with Israel Special Appeal in the memo line, to: Tacoma Jewish Community Fund P.O. Box 64831 University Place, WA 98464
Information
Reminder: Temple Board Meeting The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 20, at 6:30 p.m.
If you attend Saturday services online and wish to purchase your own copy of the Mishkan T'filah (the prayer book used at our Shabbat services), the Judaica Shop has them in stock. Come and check out our new Pride items and sale table. Jewelry Sale: all items are 20% off.
Masks are not required but are highly recommended for all.
To keep our community healthy and avoid any service closures, we strongly recommend wearing a mask while at the temple.
Tachlis (the bottom line)
Submitting an event or announcement to Shabbat Shalom
If you have an item you would like included in this weekly bulletin, please email it to olivia@tbetacoma.orgby noon on Wednesday. Submissions must adhere to the guidelines, which may be found here.
For the URJ's transliteration guidelines,click here. Please note that submissions that do not follow these guidelines may not be accepted.
To have a copy of the guidelines emailed to you, simply reply to this email with a message to that effect.
