Happy New Year.

How lucky we are to get to offer one another this wish twice a year. And while I prefer to anchor on Rosh Hashanah as the time to reflect and set goals, there’s something beautiful about celebrating the secular new year. Here in Central Oregon it’s especially lovely where the nights often feel so long. There is a certain sense of anticipation as we start the slow move toward the brighter days of Spring.

Somewhat ironically, many of us are wishing for the onset of more definitive signs of winter. At the mountain so far this break, there is very little snow. With this dry December, it was all too easy to make trips over the passes and make flights with no weather delays. Regardless of whether we are seeking more snow or hoping for a quick move to a true Spring, the turning of the secular calendar offers us the opportunity to reassess, reevaluate, and reaffirm our commitments to personal and communal growth.

May this New Year be filled with moments of connection, understanding, and joy within our community.

L’shalom,

Cere

Cere Fingerhut, President of the Board

TBT's 2023 Secret Santa Project is a Success!

Members and friends of TBT have reached an all-time high in giving to Assistance League^® of Bend’s Secret Santa Program during our 5 year of participation.

We had 37 (7 new) Secret Santa elves who provided gifts for 68 (up from 62) needy seniors this year.

For the second year in a row, our group provided gifts for just over 16% of all 424 Secret Santa requests!

The most common comment from donors was, “I had so much fun shopping for the requested items. Count me in for next year.”

Thank you again for your support.

- Beverly Adler

Moral Courage Group

TBT's Moral Courage Group, as it is currently, is coming to an end. For the last three years, the group has met consistently twice a month to discuss important topics and current events that matter to the community. Together, we learned new things, we challenged ourselves and each other, and we grew. Each member showed up with curiosity, open-mindedness, and authenticity. The group was the special place it was thanks to each and every person who participated. Now, at the end, we celebrate the goodness we cultivated over those three years. 

We do not yet know what the future holds, but for now, we are parting ways, carrying with us all that we have learned. Keep an eye on the Happenings and newsletters for more information, should it become available

Editor's note: Thank you to Lauralei Garrity for their extraordinary leadership these last three years and for the group members for their thoughtful conversation and concern for humanity.

Thank you MOC!

Thank you to Market of Choice for providing our monthly challahs!

TBT Board Notes

Next Board Meeting: January 12, 9 am

All board meetings are being held in person. Contact Cere Fingerhut if you want to attend. cere@bethtikvahbend.org

Your TBT Board meets monthly and members are invited to attend. Dates and times of Board meetings are on the TBT calendar at: https://bethtikvahbend.org/calendar/

If you would like to read minutes of previous board meetings, you can request a copy from Board Secretary, Kathy Schindel at kathy@bethtikvahbend.org

Social Action Update

We may not know who will win the 2024 Superbowl, but we do know some tasty local soups will be up for sampling at the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance's first annual SOUPer Bowl!

All are welcome to this fun, family-friendly event! Restaurants who will be providing samples include:

• Anthony's at Old Mill
• Bodega Market
• Brasada Ranch
• Cascade Lakes Brewing
• Deschutes Brewery
• Fix & Repeat
• Mountain Burger
• Pine Tavern
• Schoolhouse Produce
• Spork

Date: February 3

Venue: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Price: $15.00

Time: Two Admission Times 12 PM | 1:30 PM

Information: hdffa.org/events

All proceeds will go to support HDFFA's Food Access, Agricultural Support, and Consumer Education/Resourcs programs.

Games Club - January 14, 3 - 5 pm

The next Game Club will meet on Sunday, January 14, 3 to 5 pm at a private home. Scrabble, Rummikub, card games, Bananagrams, Pictionary, Stratego — play whatever suits you!

Join us for a fun way to exercise your brain and get to know TBT members. Newcomers are welcome.

Invitations will be sent to everyone on the Game Club email list. If you are new to TBT or have not yet joined the email list, please email Suzanne Schlosberg at schlos1@gmail.com.

February Newsletter Deadline: January 24th 

This newsletter is emailed to both members and non-members each month. If you have something you want to include in the newsletter, please e-mail it to Sharon Maier-Kennelly 

sharon_maier@yahoo.com for the following month's publication. As always, you will continue to receive "e-minders" before important events take place.

Taizé Service

Next Taizé: February 1

The Taizé Choir of Central Oregon invites you to participate in an hour of meditative non-denominational Taizé music, prayer, and silence at their monthly ecumenical service, 7pm, Thursday, February 1, at Trinity Episcopal Church (St. Helens Hall), 231 NW Idaho, Bend.  The theme for this service is "Praying for Healers."

You are welcome to participate in or listen to the rehearsal starting at 6:15.

For more information call 541-815-5574, email taizebend@gmail.com, or find them on Facebook.

We will recite Kaddish at our service this month for:

• Gerry Brennan
• David Ruby
• Ella Wideman
• Louis Brant
• Marie Rosenzweig
• Marian Shultz
• Adrienne Gold
• Mary Solomon
• Goldie Dober
• Bevie German
• Sid Spiro
• Steven Ruby
• Dan O Freebird Taylor
• Helen Cohen Malorius
• Estelle (Casey) Phillips
• Philip Freeman
• Wolfe Nichols
• Helen Shattuck
• Ida B. Levinson
• Phyllis Blumenthal
• Josephine Hoogstede
• Evelyn Brant
• Irving Steiman

Temple Beth Tikvah gratefully acknowledges the following contributions from:

• Beverly Dubs in honor of Jeanne Freeman
• Bill Rich in honor of Conrad & Abby Myers
• Mel Siegel & MJ Krohn in memory of Robert Siegel
• Stephen Katz in memory of Edith Katz
• Jeff & Virginia German in memory of Beverly German
• Terry Reynolds in memory of Wolfe Nichols
• The Shattucks in memory of Helen Shattuck



Donations listed above were made to the Temple's general fund unless otherwise specified.

You may honor the lives and achievements of friends and relatives via a tribute with a donation to TBT. You can do this online by clicking here, or by sending a check and the name and address of the person being honored to TBT at P.O. Box 7472, Bend, OR, 97708.

Donations may be designated to a specific fund, including:

• General Fund
• Rabbi Hershenson Anniversary Fund
• Gary Reynolds Memorial Fund
• Youth Education Fund
• Music Fund   
• Special Projects Fund
• TBT's Goodwill Fund
• Social Action/Tzedakah Fund
• The Corrie Grudin Memorial Fund