We hope everyone is having a meaningful and wonderful Passover! Because so many of us are out of town this week, the Temple will be closed on Friday, April 14th, and Saturday, April 15th. No matter where you are, we hope that you celebrate Shabbat with your families and find a little time to rest and be refreshed! We will come back together for Shabbat next week when we will also enjoy a pre-service pot luck at 6:30. All of the yahrzeits that would have been remembered on the 14th will be included in our Shabbat service on April 21st. Hag sameach and Shabbat Shalom (a little early)!

Passover - A Personal Yet Universal Holiday - Thursday, 6 April 2017

"As a child, I loved everything about the way my family celebrated Passover. I couldn't wait until it was time for my sisters and me to carefully prep, measure, and then mix all of the sweet-smelling ingredients as we "helped" my grandmother make charoset (a dish of apples, nuts, and spices that symbolizes the mortar the Israelite slaves used to build Egyptian structures).

I eagerly anticipated the first night of Passover, knowing that as my family gathered, we would find that the dining room had been transformed into a beautiful seder table filled with small mementos from past generations. As the seder (the festive holiday meal) began, I would flip ahead in the haggadah (the prayer book used during the seder) looking for my favorite illustrations. And, after we finished eating our meal, which included matzah ball soup, gefilte fish (my grandmother's rule was and continues to be "You don't have to eat all of it, but you have to try some of it"), brisket, and more, my sisters and I would begin to bounce in our seats because we knew that it was almost time to begin the search for the afikomen (a Greek word for a piece of matzah that had been broken and hidden earlier in the service)." Read more!

Archaeological discoveries in Israel are always controversial and fascinating. Come hear about recent historical discoveries!  A crossroads of civilizations over many thousands of years, Israel has seen many important archaeological sites and artifacts come to light over the past few years changing our views on the history, cultural practices, and ways of life in the Holy Land.

TBC member Jeffrey Bendremer will present this fascinating lecture.  Jeff is currently on the faculty of the College of New Rochelle.  With over 30 years of experience in archaeological fieldwork, Jeff has participated in numerous excavations including at Tel Aphek, Israel, and in Connecticut and Rhode Island, as well as directed 21 archaeological field schools for the University of Connecticut and Indiana University, among others.  

Please join us for a community potluck dinner prior to services on Friday, April 21, at 6:30 pm. Shabbat will follow at 7:30 pm with Vanita Wagner chanting from the Torah.  Please bring a vegetarian dish to share with old and new friends and families prior to services. We look forward to sharing a Shabbat dinner with you.  Please let us know how many will attend, and what you will bring. RSVP to Russ Robbins, Chair Ritual Committee at ritual@templebnaichaim.org. 

Jane and Moses Alexander are sponsoring the flowers in honor of Solomon Bedremer being called to the bimah to offer the Torah blessings for the first time and Vanita Wagner chanting. 

(You too can Sponsor a Shabbat! )

TBC is hosting Noah Aronson, an internationally acclaimed soulful and energetic Jewish composer and  performer on Sunday, May 7.  This program is free to all members thanks to generous donations to the Cantor's discretionary fund over the past few years in support of musical programs at TBC.  Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this most special TBC event. Please RSVP so we can plan to accommodate those attending. 

Noah will be teaching our children in the religious school from 9:30- 10:30am followed by a concert for all our school children, their parents, and all TBC members from 11:00am-12:00pm in the TBC sanctuary. Check out Noah's website at www.noaharonson.com for a sampling of some of his exciting and inspiring music.

May is Older Americans Month, and senior care for you and your aging relatives is just one of the many areas in which Jewish Family Services can help. They can provide assistance with:

• Homecare resources
• Senior housing and long-lerm care options
• Medical-related and mental health matters
• Caregiver support

• Daily Bread - An Ecumenical Food Pantry
  Monday, April 24 at 9:30 am
  We need your help!
   
• Shabbat Family Service with Preneg
  Friday, May 5 at 6:00 pm (service 6:30pm)
  Preneg RSVP!
   
• Pot Luck Dinner followed by Shabbat Torah Service
  Friday, May 12 at 6:30 pm (service 7:30pm)

• Annual Congregational Meeting
  Sunday, May 14 at 9:30 am

• Climbing Your Family Tree with Rabbi Rachel Bearman (Part 2)
  Tuesday, May 16, 7:30pm

• Dorothy Day Hospitality House and Danbury Soup Kitchen
  May 31 at 2:30pm

• Scholars-in-Residence Shabbat
  Friday - Sunday, June 9 -11, Times TBD

• Confirmation and Shabbat Worship
  Friday, June 16, 2017 at 7:00pm

• Sisterhood Shabbat
  Friday, June 23 at 7:30pm

• Daily Bread - An Ecumenical Food Pantry
  June 26 at 9:30am