Temple Shalom Sisterhood's eSchmooze
December 2021 / Kislev 5782
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Greetings from your Co-Presidents
Shalom Achot Sheli,
Hello my Sisters,
Welcome to December, the first month of winter and the last month of the year. Did you know that originally December was the 10th month of the Roman calendar (until 153 BCE)? That’s where that name "December" comes from - the Latin word decem, meaning "ten." Hanukkah is one of just two Jewish holidays not mentioned in the Torah. (Purim is the other one.) Of course, we all know that Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the oil that was only supposed to burn for 1 night and burned for 8 miraculous nights. Our Hanukkah traditions center around hope and promise for a bright future. Menorah candles, dreidels, gelt, latkes and sufganiyot are just a few of the traditions that we have brought with us from our past to our future. Our homes are aglow with the candles each of the eight nights to once again remember the miracle that we call Hanukkah.
Did you know that Google has tracked at least 16 different spellings for Hanukkah including Chanukah, Hanukah, Chanuka, Chanukkah, Hanuka, Channukah, and Chanukka? But, no matter how you spell it, the celebration always begins on the 25th day of Kislev and the meaning always translates to “dedication.”
The Torah portion in December begins with Joseph interpreting Pharoah’s dreams. In fact, the entire story of Joseph, which spans three sections in the final third of the Book of Genesis, centers around dreams: their interpretation and the actions that interpretation then inspires. In the Talmud, we read that, "a dream not interpreted is like a letter not read" (Babylonian Talmud, B’rachot 55a). As long as it is not interpreted it cannot be fulfilled — and we have an enormous personal responsibility regarding its outcome.
We are so blessed to have such amazing sisters who are dedicated to making our Sisterhood the best that it can be. We have a dedicated board who dreams big and works tirelessly to bring a variety of programming for each and every one of us.
Have you ever dreamt of serving on the Sisterhood Board? Then you should consider becoming one of our dedicated board members. We have several openings like Financial Secretary and We Care Chair that you could fill. Contact Robyn or Laney for more information.
It’s hard to believe that 2022 is quickly approaching. As we end this year, we pray that everyone has a joyous holiday full of love, laughter and health.
Bashlom obhakhart thuda,
In Peace and Gratitude,
Robyn & Laney
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Join or Renew your Sisterhood Membership Today!
We are the Sisters of Shalom.
Working together for Sisterhood, Spirituality,
and Social Good. Won't you join us?
Click Here to visit our membership page where you can choose to complete an online membership form and pay online or download a form to complete and mail to Temple.
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Fantastic News from Traditions
We are now open on Fridays before services from 5:30-6:25!
December Hours
Sunday, December 5th from 9:30-12:00 (shop for those last-minute Hanukah gifts!)
Sunday, December 12th from 9:30-1:00 - CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY - All shoppers receive 10% off one full-priced item (excluding books and kosher scrolls).
Also open Sunday, January 9th & 30th from 9:30-12:00
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Gourmet Hanukkah Brunch
December 4th / 11:00 – 12”30
At the home of Chris Harris
Brunch? That’s right. Come join your Sisters for mimosas and a festive holiday brunch. Please bring your favorite brunch type dish along with the recipe to share and a $10 gift for a Hanukkah Gift Exchange. Homemade waffles will be provided and possibly a few more surprises. Weather permitting, we will be eating outside even if it’s a little cool, so please bring a jacket. Chris needs to know how many to expect, so you must RSVP by December 2nd to Chris at nansnotes1@gmail.com or 972-742-5506 or Linda Widman at lw.design@yahoo.com. At that time you will also receive the address to Chris’ house. Without you, we are one woman short. You must be fully vaccinated in order to attend.
YES FUND FUNDRAISER: Say YES to purchasing some jewelry. With all money going to WRJ’s YES Fund to support youth, education and special projects. Lucille Klein and her sister Alice left their jewelry to Sisterhood to be used for a fund-raiser. Sisterhood has done this jewelry exchange before but there a lot of beautiful pieces left. So come and eat, schmooze, exchange gifts and recipes, and get some beautiful pieces while donating money to a great cause! The YES FUND Remember Hanukkah doesn’t end until December 6th so this is the perfect time to get that last minute gift! We hope to see you there.
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Girls Night: Games Galore (BYOB)!
Wednesday, December 8 / 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Palio’s Pizza Café / 1941 Preston Rd, Plano
Do you have a favorite game you want to share? Have you heard of a game and always wanted to try it? Is there a game we've played this year that you'd love to play again? Join Sarah and Elise for our December Sisterhood Game night, where you can choose from a menagerie of games to explore. Bring your own, or choose from a wide selection. On Wednesday, December 8th we will be playing in-person at Palio's Pizza Café. Arrive at 7pm and stay until 9pm to play, or come at 6:30pm if you want to purchase dinner prior to the game.
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Sisterhood/Brotherhood Book Club
December 11 / 1:45-3:00
In-person or via Zoom
Mark Fischer will be leading our book club review of Be Strong and of Good Courage: How Israel's Most Important Leaders Shaped Its Destiny by Dennis Ross and David Makovsky. This is the story of modern Israel's founding fathers and the epic struggle to secure Israel’s future.
Join the discussion in person at the home of Staci Mendelsohn or via Zoom. Please RSVP to Staci Mendelsohn at sm@slgacorp.com and specify if you will be coming in person or on Zoom so we can accommodate everyone. Vaccination and masks are required for attending in person. If attending in person, you will receive the address to Staci’s home when you RSVP. If you have any questions, please call Staci at 214-529-7780.
Meeting ID: 362 253 5092 Passcode: 6930
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Sole Sisters Continue Walking
Sunday /December 12 / 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Willow Bend Mall in Plano
Meet at Willow Bend Mall on the 2nd floor by Dillard's.
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Social Justice Committee presents
ADVOCATE EDUCATE TAKE ACTION
Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of democracy. The Torah teaches to accept others without prejudice and to work with others to achieve social justice.
Here are three ways you can work to advocate for voting rights:
· Do you know who your Representatives and Senators are? Click here (Who Represents Me)
· Take Action -
YOU ARE INVITED TO A POSTCARD PARTY!
Sunday/ December 19/ 1pm to 2pm
Temple Shalom Lifelong Learning Center
Join us! We will write postcards to urge U.S. Senators to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, and make the promise of democracy real for us all. Fully vaccinated only, please. Social distancing and facemasks required, per Temple Shalom policy.
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Sisterhood Game Night - Lyrics with the Ladies
Wednesday / January 19 / 7pm
At the home of Sarah Becker
Come join your Sisters in a fun game of Spontuneous- no singing skills required! Spontuneous is a song game, but talent is absolutely not required. This has board game has been voted as one of the best board games for family game night and parties with friends.
Click the link for more information, Sarah’s address, and to sign up to play!
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Temple Shalom Sisterhood is proud to present
January’s General Meeting
Don’t Let Jewish Guilt Create Clutter
in Your Life!
Monday, January 24, 2022/ 7 PM / via Zoom
Join us for a presentation with Beth Blacker, founder of It’s Just Stuff, a Professional Organizer and Move Management company based in Boulder, CO, as she helps us better understand how our internal clutter creates far too much external clutter in our homes and lives. We all have too much stuff but we still carry the burden of maintaining and containing it, oftentimes due to the guilt we feel because it was inherited or gifted to us by a friend or relative, especially if they are no longer alive. Beth has spent her entire life with a “let it go” mindset and she has helped hundreds of clients through the years create their own decluttering mindset and is excited to share her expertise with us.
We invite you to fill out a pre-event questionnaire so she can get a better sense of every attendee’s current organizing pain points. In exchange, your name will be entered in a drawing for 4 hours of one-on-one virtual coaching to help take you from chaos to calm!
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Happy December Birthday
Yom hu’ledet sameach
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Jackie Berk
Julie Gothard
Lara Johnson
Elise Khan
Robyn Klein
Cindy Munn
Brenda Nibert
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Would you like to get more involved in Sisterhood?
Sisterhood has several opportunities to become part of our board. If you're interested in knowing more about any of the positions listed below, contact Laney Arndt at laney229@gmail.com or Robyn Klein at whatsup290@yahoo.com.
WE CARE CHAIR - designed to give our sisters help for a short period of time, the chair organizes committee members to run errands, supply a meal(s), or provide companionship for Sisters in need
CHAI DINNER CHAIR - organizes the CHAI (Community Homes for Adults, Inc.) dinner (usually in February) that follows the CHAI Shabbat traditionally held at Temple
HISTORIAN – collects pictures and fliers for our archives and uses these to create a “yearbook” of the biennium; also responsible for keeping the Sisterhood case at Temple up to date
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Click on the link above for contact information for Sisterhood's 2021-23 Board.
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Temple Shalom Sisterhood is a proud member of the Women of Reform Judaism, Southwest District. |
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