Temple Beth El
5975 South 12th Street
Tacoma, WA 98465
January 23, 2025 / 23 Tevet 5785
Volume 23, No. 16
TORAH READING
Va-eira
Exodus 6:29-7:7
Haftarah
Ezekiel 28:25-29:21
Candle Lighting
4:42 p.m.
SERVICE SCHEDULE
EREV SHABBAT SERVICE (multi-access) Friday, January 24, 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 sponsored by Sigrid Elenga and Steve Smyth! It is in honor of Sigrid and Vivian Morrison's birthdays on January 20, and Sigrid's sister's birthday on January 24. Mazel tov!
TORAH STUDY & SHABBAT SERVICE (multi-access) Saturday, January 25, 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!
MOR: ART FROM ASHES Monday, January 27, 5:30 p.m.
In commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Music of Remembrance joins forces with the young talents of the Northwest Boychoir and the Seattle Girls Choirin a program ranging from cabaret songs created by prisoners in the Terezín concentration camp, to selections that were played by a prisoner orchestra in Auschwitz, to music from the Vilna and Lodz ghettos. This Seattle event is free but requires reservation. Find details and get tickets by clicking here.
LIMMUD SEATTLE 2025 FESTIVAL Sunday, February 16, 8:30 a.m.
Join Limmud in-person on February 16 for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration! Explore diverse talks on Jewish tradition, identity, culture, music, and more. There are options to attend a virtual edition on February 9 as well as get involved with one of many informal home gatherings on February 15. Jewish educators can attend at no charge using the code ‘educator 2025’, as their fee will be covered by the Samis Foundation. This is a volunteer-run, for the community, by the community event. Limmud is offering childcare this year. Click here to take a look at their agenda. Please register on this page!
SAVE THE DATE
SPEAKER SERIES: THE WOMAN BEHIND THE FLAMES Thursday, February 20, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join local history-buff and author Deb Freedman as she shines a light on the intriguing insights and illuminating individuals she met researching and writing her newest book! A retired Tacoma Public Library veteran, Deb has dedicated decades to documenting our city's Jewish heritage. Her latest work, Finding History: Twenty-One Tales of Temple Beth El, weaves together the fascinating stories spanning our congregation’s 130-year history into an engaging and informative treasure hunt, bringing the past to life through the living memory of architecture. More details and registration found here.
COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR WALK-A-THON Saturday, February 22, 4:00–7:00 p.m.
Support or join Temple Beth El’s team, led by Rabbi Gorban and Stacey Soltoff, for Associated Ministries’ first annual Coldest Night of the Year walk-a-thon fundraiser! The main event will take place at Wright Park on the corner of 6th Ave & I Street. You can choose to join the team and walk, join the team and fundraise, volunteer, or support the team in reaching its goal of $1,800. Contributions of any amount are appreciated; money goes to support housing services in Pierce County through Associated Ministries. For more information or to support the team, click here: https://cnoy.w-ith.me/TBE.
OPPORTUNITIES
DELONG ELEMENTARY BACKPACK FOOD DRIVE
Every year we collect food for St. Mark's Lutheran Church to support students struggling with food insecurity at DeLong Elementary. Typically, we hold this at the same time as our High Holy Day food drive. This year, we decided to do it separately so we can really meet the needs of these kids. We will be collecting items until February 12. Please consider helping our community by bringing things in! If you prefer to donate financially, you may do so by clicking here.
BUBBE BUDDIES OPENINGS
We invite enthusiastic and caring TBE members to join our beloved Bubbe Buddies program (which welcomes zeydes too)! Picture yourself in a cozy chair, sharing a Jewish story with a little one holding a Bubbe Buddy stuffed bear. All the books will be available here—just bring yourself and a love for storytelling and connection! The program takes place every Sunday at 11:00 a.m., with slots available from March to May. Interested? Email Stacy, nslappin@yahoo.com.
ADULT EDUCATION STARTS SOON
The beginning of Spring semester is right around the corner, starting on February 2! Whether you're looking to study Torah, explore Jewish history, engage in contemporary issues, or enhance your Hebrew skills, our classes are designed to inspire learners of all backgrounds and levels. To view the course catalog and sign up, please visit the adult education page on our website.
SISTERHOOD MISHLOACH MANOT FUNDRAISER
Please help us celebrate 18 years of Sisterhood's Mishloach Manot! (in Jewish tradition, 18 symbolizes "chai"–a word meaning life). Sisterhood helps spread Purim joy each year with complimentary treat-filled boxes for every TBE member household, part of the mitzvah of giving gifts of food. Those who contribute to the fundraiser will have their name recognized on the card included in each box. You can select a level of giving and find more information by clicking here or using the paper form in the January bulletin. Even if you don’t make a donation, please complete the planning questions regarding gluten-free needs or opting out.
INFORMATION
RESOURCES FOR HELPING THOSE IMPACTED BY THE L.A. FIRES
✡ A selection of organizations (vetted by the Jewish Foundation LA) responding to the devastating wildfire crisis in Southern California. Please note that this list is evolving and will continue to be updated: https://bit.ly/4awrgz4.
✡ Jewish Federation Los Angeles—Providing essential resources, including mental health support, warm meals, shelter, and space for displaced individuals, families, and institutions. Please give here: https://bit.ly/4h5duFX.
✡ Jewish Family Services LA—Your donation will go directly to helping those impacted by the wildfires. Donate here: https://bit.ly/4h5Z4W7.
✡ Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center—Your support covers unexpected costs as they get their community back on its feet, staying connected and covering needs that are not covered by other sources. If you'd like to donate you can do so now, with a note that this is for fire relief: https://bit.ly/4jqJF4p.
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 January 19 & 26.
In order to streamline bookkeeping and respect the time availability of our volunteers, the TBE Judaica Shop is cashless effective immediately. We accept card transactions only. Thank you for your support and understanding.
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.
