Chailites 2/8/2024 - Urgent Request, Shabbat+Movie Night, Torah Study Returns, Progressive Dinner Prep, Report on Confronting Hate Event, Purim Planning, Toy Drive, More!!

CHAILITES

February 8, 2024

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (Mohandas Gandhi)

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Friday, February 9 & Tuesday February 13, 8:00 am - Daily Bread Food Pantry (to volunteer, contact Jane Alexander)

TOMORROW - Friday, February 9, 6:30 pm - Shabbat Movie Night: An American Tail (1986) -- See below!

Saturday, February 10, 9:30 am - Torah Study (This week's Torah portion is "Mishpatim". Get a leg up by checking out the URJ commentary here!)

Saturday, February 10, 11:00 am - NIFTY-NAR - Regional Event open to Teens

Friday, February 16, Shabbat at Home - See DIY Shabbat for home here!

Click here for more TBC Special Events and Happenings!

For the full TBC calendar, click here.

Urgent Request

Cantor Harriet has forwarded this urgent request for funding from Carmel Tadmore Kaminer, the Israeli woman who sang at our Vigil on Oct. 12. Her husband, Yuval, a former IDF Navy Seal, also spoke. Her request:

"I’m reaching out to ask for your help. My brother in law is a combat reserve duty soldier in YAHALOM unit (unit specializes in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)) and is currently fighting in Gaza. They are in desperate need of life-saving and protective gear and are looking for funding help."

Cantor Harriet adds: "Anyone at the Vigil will surely remember Carmel's gorgeious voice and their family's heart-wrenching story."

Support Israel's Elite EOD Unit - Social Online Fundraising | JGive

https://www.jgive.com/new/en/usd/donation-targets/122167/about

This Friday's Shabbat-Movie Night!

Tomorrow, February 9, there will be a brief Shabbat ceremony followed by the film "An American Tale," a classic that tells the story of Fievel Mousekewitz and his family as they emigrate from Russia to the United States for freedom -- but Fievel gets lost and must find a way to reunite with them.

This will be the first of a new monthly 'evening at the movies' with hosts Josh Friedman, former studio exec at Sony, and Richard Lerner, Digital Imaging Specialist. Each month a new film will be screened and discussed from a Jewish perspective as well as other cinematic themes. More about the movie...

Click for larger size pic!

Popcorn & snacks will be served

TBCY & NFTY Israel Extravaganza for Jewish Teens, Feb. 10!

Click for poster version

Event Description:

Please join us for the day on Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 11:00 am - 4:30 pm for a fun-filled Israel Extravaganza!

Click here to RSVP

Simcha Shared!

Mazel Tov to Jason and Katie Rosenthal & big sister Evie on the birth of daughter Charlotte, who was born in January 2024!

Please Share Your Simcha! TBC congregants are invited to share news of their family events and celebrations in Chailites. Please send your information to chailites@templebnaichaim.org.

Save the Date, April 6th! TBC's Long-Awaited Progressive Dinner!

Our new, improved TBC Progressive Dinner is on the calendar for April 6th. If you would like to sponsor and host a dinner at your house (it's fun!) or help with hors d'oeuvres and desserts at the temple, please email Jane Alexander or Joe Sondheimer. If you are excited for a fun evening of good food and conversation with your TBC family, just mark your calendars.

We will meet at the Temple for hors d'oeuvres, spread out to host homes for dinner, then meet back at the Temple for dessert. Attendees, other than dinner hosts, will bring either an hors d'oeuvres or dessert. We will try to accommodate allergies or dietary restrictions, dependent on hosts. More details and an invitation to follow! PS: For newbies to this tradition, it has nothing to do -- necessarily -- about progressive politics!

Amazing "Confronting Hate" Town Hall Meeting Last Sunday!

Cantor Harriet Dunkerley

Senator Richard Blumenthal

Sarvesh Damle

On Sunday Feburary 4 around 250 participants and guests attended TBC's town forum "Confronting Acts of Hate in Our Community," planned by our Social Action Group to Confront Antisemitism and Hate in cooperation with the Riverbrook Regional YMCA and the Wilton Library. Panelists included Cantor Harriet Dunkerley, Father Reggie Norman (Our Lady of Fatima) Rachel Simon ED (Norwalk Triangle Center, Sohair Omar (Muslim Community), Sarvesh Damle (Hindu Community). In addition, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Representative Jim Himes, Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, and Wilton First Selectman Toni Boucher spoke. Steve Hudspeth, Coordinator of Wi-ACT, moderated the session. (Here is the poster distributed for the event in case you missed!)

Panelists, speakers and attendees felt that this was an important and timely event, successfully speaking to the experience of minority/marginalized groups in Wilton and encouraging the development a community framework for addressing hate crimes and supporting individuals and groups who are victimized by them.

Selected coverage of the event in the local press may be see here:

Many of those in attendance expressed their interest in helping plan for and implement a sustainable community framework to address these issues, and signed up to be contacted. A preliminary brainstorming meeting will be scheduled in March.

It is worth mentioning that our sponsorship of this event accomplishes one of the important responsibilities TBC took on in becoming part of the ADL's Kulanu Program. ---

Many thanks to Bonnie Heft and Andy Bayer and members of the TBC Social Action Group to Confront Antisemitism and Hate who led the effort to make this important project a success.

In this issue of Chailites we thank the following individuals who generously contributed to TBC during January, 2024. To everyone who has supported TBC, we offer you our most sincere thanks and heartfelt gratitude.

Pledge Extra Dues

Susan and Mitchell Farber

Sue and Richard Hagan

Wendy and Mac Nadel

Operating Fund

Doris and Lew Bender

Toby Curtin

Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Rakos

Capital Fund

Jane & Moses Alexander

Religious School

__Jane & Moses Alexander

B'nai Cafe

__Jeffrey Busch & Stephen Davis

Tzedakah Fund

Jane & Moses Alexander

Oneg/Flower Donation

Jane & Moses Alexander

Jeffrey Busch & Stephen Davis

Rudy Escalante & Diane Berenbaum

Bonnie Heft & Andrew Bayer

Robin Kowalski

June Mara

Russell Robbins & Valerie Rosenson

Julia and Ben Saunders

Ezra Spilke & Marlee Book

_ _Susan & Mitchell Farber

Sponsored by the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Fairfield County

More information here!

If you would like to volunteer for the Purim Carnival on Sunday, March 24th, please contact Morah Ellie.

Jewish Family Services of Greenwich's Refugee

Resettlement Program Needs Supplies and Donations

JFS of Greenwich would love contributions of both supplies and gift cards to help families they are resettling under the broader HIAS Resettlement Program.

Here is a list of Welcome Basket Items needed. Here is a link for purchasing gift cards.

Please send any questions to Jaymen Schneider, Volunteer & Marketing Coordinator, JFS of Greenwich.

Jewish Federation Plans Volunteer Mission to Israel!

The Jewish Federation of Greater Fairifield County community Volunteer Mission to Israel is scheduled for March 16-24. Click here for more information.

Sophie Barenberg's Annual Toy Drive for Yale New Haven Hospital's Toy Closet!

"Hi all! My name is Sophie Barenberg and I am a Senior at Weston High School and a “graduate” of TBC RS. Starting when I was 12 when I did my Mitzvah project, I have been organizing a toy drive for the Yale New Haven Hospital Toy Closet, an organization near and dear to my heart. I usually organize this toy drive around the holidays, but due to my busy schedule in December, I decided to do the Toy Drive during Valentine’s Day. I have a collection bin at the Temple and would greatly appreciate your donations. Donations include new and unwrapped toys from ages birth-teen. Thank you!"

Summer Camp Funds Connect to Israel Funds Available Now!

The Future Fund connects students to Israel through programs of their choice. Grants are $2000 per student. click here for more information

Summer Camp funds are available for kids who want to go to a Jewish camp. Submissions are ONLY accepted through a Rabbi or Cantor. Grants are up to $1800 per camper. click here for more information

TBC is Here For You!

If you or a family member is ill or in need of care - or if you know of someone in our community who needs help - please contact Cantor Harriet. Our Caring Committee is here to provide assistance - meals, rides to doctors' appointments or shopping.

Yahrzeits February 9-15

Zeicher tzaddik livrachah!

February 11, 2024

Sydelle Carter, mother of Suzanne Carter Kramer

Sadie Friedman, grandmother of Jane Alexander

Marvin Greenberg, father of Iris Busch

Emanuel (Manny) Zamore, father of Steven Zamore

February 12, 2024

William Cohen, father of June Mara

February 13, 2024

Elsie R. Alexander, grandmother of Moses Alexander

It is traditional to light a memorial candle at home on the eve of the yahrzeit. You may also find it meaningful while kindling the yahrzeit candle to offer prayers of remembrance or reflect on your loved one’s life. Many also choose this time to make monetary donations in memory of loved ones.

Yahrzeit Memorial Plaques

When remembering loved ones who have passed away, we invite you to commemorate their lives and blessings with a memorial plaque for the TBC wall of remembrance. Ordering information is available here.

A reminder that the Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County schedules a variety of programs that TBC members will find interesting.

ShopRaise Now for TBC!

Whether you're shopping for food or decor for your home, or anything else, we've got you covered. A portion of every purchase you make with the ShopRaise app can benefit TBC. Make today a time for giving.

More information about ShopRaise for TBC can be found here.

Contributions to TBC add up! You can shop at hundreds of stores, including Macy's, Walmart, Wayfair, Nordstrom, Petsmart, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Handmade Kippot

The kippot are $18 each, and we will continue to use the proceeds to ship Machzorim to the community and also send the balance of the proceeds to purchase food! Please make checks payable to: Temple B'nai Chaim, with 'TBC Social Action Fund-Ugandan Jewry' in the memo line. Additional donations are welcome through the TBC Social Action Fund on the TBC Donation Page with a note indicating 'Ugandan Jewry' as the recipient.

You Can Make a Difference at TBC

Have you been thinking about making a donation to support TBC in some way? We have made it easier for you to do just that! Please check out our new Donate Now button below! Don't forget, you can sponsor and oneg, preneg or flowers for Shabbat Services.

Sponsor a TBC Oneg or Service Flowers!

TBC's B'nai Cafe is Looking for Sponsors!!

TBC is looking for sponsors for our B'nai Cafe on the following dates: 3/3, 4/7, 5/5.

To sponsor, please click here!