Temple Beth El
5975 South 12th Street Tacoma, WA 98465
December 12, 2024 / 11 Kislev 5785
Volume 23, No. 10
TORAH READING
Vayishlach
Genesis 32:31-33:5
Haftarah
Hosea 11:7-12:12
Candle Lighting
4:02 p.m.
SERVICE SCHEDULE
EREV SHABBAT SERVICE (multi-access) Friday, December 13, 6:30 p.m.
Everyone is invited to join us online or in person for an Erev Shabbat service. Join us before the service at 5:45 p.m. for an oneg.
TORAH STUDY & SHABBAT SERVICE (multi-access) Saturday, December 14, 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Our Saturday worship experience begins with Torah study, which goes from 9:00–9:45 a.m. This will be followed by services beginning at 10:00 a.m. (online and in person). At the conclusion of the service, the community is invited to join us in the social hall for a potluck pescatarian kiddush luncheon!
SISTERHOOD LATKE BAKE Sunday, December 15, 12:30 p.m.
Sisterhood members—why have your house smell like latkes for days when you can join together for a latke bake in the temple kitchen? Sisterhood will provide the ingredients! Please RSVP by midnight on December 7 via emailing sisterhood@tbetacoma.org. All participants need an active food worker card.
TEMPLE BETH EL BOARD MEETING (multi-access) Tuesday, December 17, 6:30 p.m.
The Temple Beth El Board of Trustees welcomes all members to attend the monthly board meeting. The agenda will be emailed to all TBE members prior to the meeting. The meeting is multi-access and a Zoom link will be emailed to all members before the meeting begins as well.
SISTERHOOD FOCACCIA ART CLASS Sunday, December 22, 10:30 a.m.
Take a break from holiday preparation to relax and be creative! Take your bread home or donate it for future Shabbat noshes. This event is free and open to all female-identifying temple members. RSVP to sisterhood@tbetacoma.org by Wednesday, December 18.
JCONNECT—LATKEPALOOZA! Tuesday, December 24, 8:00–11:00 p.m.
Join Jconnect Seattle for a joyous and bright pre-Hanukkah party. With a latke bar, DJ, and a bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available, it's the place for Jewish 20-30 somethings to be for the night! Everyone is invited to get dressed in their finest; black tie is optional, you can also wear your most fun and festive Hanukkah apparel. TBE has one more free ticket available, so email becca@tbetacoma.org to claim it while you still can! Otherwise, tickets are $25 per person through December 16—prices will increase to $36 the next day. The first 50 Jconnectors who RSVP to will be entered into a raffle for a $40 gift card (to a location of the winner's choice)! Details and registration can be found here. Co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and TBE!
COMMUNITY HANUKKAH DINNER & MENORAH LIGHTING Friday, December 27, 5:00 p.m.
Please join us for our Community Hanukkah Dinner and Menorah Lighting hosted by our very own Beth El Temple Youth. The menu includes latkes (provided by Sisterhood) and a topping bar. This event is free to attend. Donations made for this event will go directly towards Beth El Temple Youth activities and programming. Please RSVP on our website by December 23.
OPPORTUNITIES
SISTERHOOD OPPORTUNITY
There is a very exciting opportunity for a Sisterhood member to be on a WRJ (Women of Reform Judaism) committee. If you would be interested or have questions about serving on this short term and entry level WRJ committee, which selects the WRJ Kavod Awards from all over our Pacific District, please write to Mady Plumer at madshell33@icloud.com. It’s a wonderful way to meet new women, learn more about WRJ, and one which is fun-filled and enriching.
PURIM PLANNING HAS BEGUN
Temple Beth El’s Sisterhood has already begun planning for Purim 5785, which begins on March 13, 2025. Each TBE member family and BELC family will receive a free Purim package filled with donated, homemade, and locally sourced treats. This gift box project, Mishloach Manot, is Sisterhood’s only fundraising event and is now in its 18th year. This number has a special meaning in Judaism, as it is the numerical value of the letters in the word ‘Chai,’ meaning life.
What were your favorite items last year? Is there something you could make or buy in bulk to make the boxes more festive? Are you able to assist with a monetary donation to offset production costs? Our goal is to have the treat list confirmed by the end of January and to have all non-perishable items delivered to the Temple by the end of February. There will be volunteer opportunities for filling boxes (March 10 and 11) and delivering boxes (March 16), as well as baking hamantaschen (date to be determined). If you would like to donate, please contact Procurement co-chairs Jani Doctor at (253) 223-4705 or jani@tripsnships.com, or Deb Freedman at (253) 377-4157.
Most importantly, thank you for your help in the past. We continue to hear from members about the positive impact of receiving these boxes.
INFORMATION
JUDAICA SHOP HOURS
Our regular hours are as follows:
– Sundays: 9:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
– Wednesdays: 4:30–6:30 p.m.
– Fridays: 5:30–6:15 p.m. The shop will be closed on December 22, 25, and 29.
We are still in need of volunteers to ensure the shop can always be open during regular hours. Please email Connie Person or Aubrey Sagalovich to volunteer or to schedule a shopping appointment outside of our regular hours. We look forward to seeing you soon at the shop! Email: judaica@tbetacoma.org.
CONTACT THE CLERGY
If you have a question or concern you would like to share with the clergy, please email Rabbi Gorban at rabbigorban@tbetacoma.org.
TACHLIS
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 frontdesk@tbetacoma.org by 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.
