President's Message 

Cere Fingerhut

The other night, when Scott and I were walking out of Back-to-School night, he turned to me and said, “That’s the most comfortable I’ve felt at one of these things. I finally feel like I know enough people now.” We’re in our third year of our kids attending this school.

Just a few days before this exchange, as I was sitting in morning services on Rosh Hashanah, I had the same thought. I noticed the same thing—I felt comfortable, whole, connected. The awareness of the sensation and the following thought surprised me. 

The truth is, neither Scott nor I are joiners. He, because he is inherently introverted. I, because I am inherently shy. He spends his days behaving like an extrovert at work and is drained at the end of the day. He enjoys and needs solitude and some time with us as a family. My shyness often leads to behavior that mimics introversion, yet I am most energized when around others, especially when around others I know well.

This is, in large part, why I was so surprised by my awareness of how comfortable I was at Rosh Hashanah services. It is also why I was so sad to have not been able to attend Yom Kippur services do to our family’s illnesses. Before we moved to Bend, we had a deeply connected Chavurah. We were matched at a time when most of us were newly wed or just about to stand under the chuppah. We got pregnant and had miscarriages together, we named our babies and celebrated britot milah together, we celebrated all the holidays together. During the High Holy Days we’d all camp out in the balcony of the concert hall our congregation had to rent for HHD services and celebrate together. The seats were luxurious, the emotional connection strong—so very comfortable. 

The surprise I felt at the thought, “This is the most comfortable I’ve felt,” was immediately followed by curiosity. What was different? How was it, that I could feel this way at a time when many in our community seek me out only to offer feedback or ask for updates/changes? Then I realized what it was. I felt both needed and known by more of you in this amazing community. And I want to continue to put effort into increasing and strengthening our bonds.

I am happy to say that being part of the Temple Beth Tikvah Board of Directors forced and accelerated the connection and the comfort that I feel in our community. For someone like myself (that is shy), I really appreciate that it challenged my comfort zone and helped me connect with many of you. 

I am aware the reasons for joining TBT are varied. I imagine that for each of us, there are many reasons, some being stronger than others at different times. I also realize that not all of us find value in engaging in our congregation by joining the board—of course not. I am hopeful though that you will take a few moments to consider what might increase your connection to TBT.

Please allow me to make a few suggestions to get you started:

1.    Read the next Board Meeting announcement and email me at president@bethtikvahbend.org to tell me whether or not the most important thing about your TBT commitment is being talked about. If it’s not, tell me what that is?

2.    Volunteer to bring marshmallows to our Sch’mores on Shabbat with Schneiderman on Friday, October 13^th by emailing Kathy Schindel at kathy@bethtikvahbend.org. 

3.    Reach out to Kerrie Zurovsky, Past President and member of our Member Engagement Committee to ask her what tasks you might be able to shoulder for the next (a) shabbat event or (b) social event at kerrie@bethtikvahbend.org.

4.    Email the board member or committee chair you feel closest to and tell us 1 thing you LOVE about TBT and 1 thing you’ve always wished were true. If you don’t feel connected to any of us—email me! cere@bethtikvahbend.org.

5.    Contribute $18 to TBT or another charity that’s important to you and your Judaism. 

6.    Join me at an upcoming Pastries with the President—schedule out soon.

7.    Go grocery shopping on a Friday and when the clerk asks how you are say, “I’m doing well, I get to celebrate Shabbat tonight.” Answer any questions you can about shabbat. 

I look forward to hearing from you,

Cere

Divrei Tikvah 

From Rabbi Johanna Hershenson

On Rosh Hashanah it is written. On Yom Kippur it is sealed.

Now what?

Sukkot. That’s what.

Sukkot. Festival of booths. Sitting in the sukkah. Eating in the sukkah. Celebration of late harvest. Remembrance of setting up camp in the wilderness, breaking it down, and setting it up again at the next campsite.

The sukkah and Sukkot also remind me of the prayer for peace that ends with the phrase sukkat shalom—God, please spread over us a shelter of peace.

Building or better yet, cultivating a shelter of peace is a spiritual practice. The sukkah, a shelter, is not meant to be permanent but rather a place in which one can lodge a night or two, maybe a week. When natural disaster occurs, evacuated people find temporary shelter. When a woman finds the courage to leave an abuser, often she finds a shelter in which she can stay until she has a plan for what is next. When stranded on a mountain or in a canyon, one seeks shelter from cold or rain or wind.

Mentioned throughout the High Holy Days has been the fact that Temple Beth Tikvah, as an organization, is experiencing changes. I have pulled back in terms of hours spent. Our leadership is working to form a search committee for a new rabbi.

I can’t think of a better time to cultivate a sukkat shalom in time, if not space, to ready ourselves. On the one hand, change is hard and its scary. At the very least it requires a lot of work. And, change is an essential lesson of Sukkot.

To eat and/or sleep in a sukkah seven days and nights, one is exposed to certain elements. In Southern California it is sprinkler systems. In Anchorage, Alaska it is strong winds. Here in Central Oregon it might be gorgeous sun and clear, starry nights or rain or snow. The whole point is to feel exposed to the elements. To be stirred from the complacency of luxury and comfort to heightened awareness and memories of transitory times.

We, in Temple Beth Tikvah, don’t know what next year looks like. We don’t know if we will find a rabbi or enter another year of search. We are in a transitory time.

As Americans, on the brink of primary elections in preparation for general elections, we don’t know what next year looks like either. The noise of presidential election cycle is already increasing, and will increase in volume until just beyond next year’s High Holy Days. There is contention and division we may not have felt in a long, long time. We are in a transitory time.

We will need to generate our own sukkot shalom, our own shelters of peace, to gird ourselves during the uncertainty. Let’s remember, shalom is more than the word peace suggests in the English language. Shalom, in Hebrew, refers to wholeness and completion. We have each other. Kindness matters. Patience matters. We will lean on each other throughout the changes. We can do this and we will be a stronger synagogue as we see it through.

Family Kitchen

Each year we ask you to support Temple Beth Tikvah’s High Holy Days Tzedakah Project. This year’s recipient for your donations is Family Kitchen where we have volunteered since 2015. We began serving dinners six times a year. Now we help with the lunch shift, working the second Wednesday of every month.

Let me tell you what it’s like to work at the Kitchen, and ask you to support our on-the-ground efforts with your financial contribution.

How to describe preparing lunch for hundreds? Each month we put together a crew of 14 people working in two shifts. Our youngest volunteer is 12; the oldest 92. The early crew prepares the sandwiches, salads, condiments, desserts and beverages. The second shift serves lunch to those who come into the Kitchen, prepares “to-go” boxes, and cleans up. Let me offer some visuals:

·     Up to your elbows (literally!) in a vat of mixed peanut butter and jelly making 163 sandwiches.

·     Smashing (not mashing) dozens of hard-boiled eggs for egg salad.

·     Calculating just how many of the 168 meat and cheese sandwiches you’ve actually made.

·     Cutting and dicing a barrel of vegetables for three gigantic salads.

·     Preparing “to-go” boxes for one shelter, bags full of sandwiches for another and starting bagged lunches to bring into the camps for COVO – Central Oregon Veterans Outreach.

·     Somehow making the prep-mess disappear just in time to serve lunch.

·     Serving up dozens of desserts and interesting concoctions of beverages… Starbucks has nothin’ on us!

·     Serving a hearty meal of soup, sandwiches and salad to hungry people.

It’s chaos, it’s laughter, it’s friendship, it’s sharing, and it's definitely everyone having a grand time! 

And the benefits…. The gratitude and smiles of a population that feels unseen in so many other situations. Watch a hungry person fill their plate with two sandwiches and salad and a bowl of soup and then come back for seconds. And each one of them is so thankful for us - that we give one morning a month to work at the Kitchen. Family Kitchen does this for 5 lunches and 3 dinners every week.

According to the 2023 world census, 10% of the population - more than 800 million people in the world - suffer “food insecurity.” On a planet that has so many vast resources, no citizen of the earth should go hungry. We’re Jewish. We all know that feeding people is loving people. And in this season of renewal, we all should be looking toward loving one another.

Am I my brother’s keeper? Yes, as each one of us should be, if we are ever going to improve the state of humanity. I cannot feed all of the hungry, but I can be a small part of helping to feed those who are hungry locally. I am asking you to please make a donation to our Tzedakah drive for Family Kitchen. You can do so on our TBT website. https://bethtikvahbend.org/high-holy-days-tzedakah-donation-form/

When we give to another human being, it changes our own humanity. The soup and sandwiches stave off the hunger for someone for one day. Their gratitude fills you for many days.

Shana tova,

Jeanne

Jeanne Freeman is the Chair of TBT's Social Action Committee

L'Shanah Tovah!

Thank you, Kerrie Zurovsky, for sharing this beautiful photo from our Tashlich service. It was wonderful to gather together again by the river to cast away our sins, listen to the sound of the Shofar welcoming in the new year, and enjoy conversation and dinner as a community.

Mitzvah Madness!

Kayleigh Mahony's Mitzvah Madness on September 29 was a great success! Over 50 volunteers supported the event at six volunteer projects around Bend. Despite the cold morning, many members from the community picked up trash from a Bend Park and weeded at Ronald McDonald House. Several volunteers made and served food at three different volunteer spots in Bend. The culminating project was to build the Sukkah and the full crowd's opinion was unanimous: it was gorgeous! Thank you to Cere Fingerhut, Shannah Werner and Kerrie Zurovsky for leading the prayers.

Mazel tov, Kayleigh, on orchestrating so many wonderful mitzvahs in our community!

Once again, thank you to Market of Choice for donating challah bread every month for us to enjoy at our monthly Shabbat Lights service!

TBT Board Notes

Next Board Meeting: October 13 at 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 kathy@bethtikvahbend.org

Games Club is Back!

Sunday, October 8

2:00 - 4:00 pm



After a summer hiatus, our monthly Game Club will resume on Sunday, October 8, 2 to 4 p.m., at the home of Steve (Scrabble Master) Katz and Eileen Katz. 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.

Ladies Who Lunch

Please join the Ladies Lunch on October 25. Details in the weekly happenings email.

Would you please consider organizing the November Ladies Lunch? It's easy to do. Please let Terry Reynolds know if you want to set up lunch for November by emailing tlrsboard@yahoo.com

November Newsletter Deadline: October 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: October 5 

The Taize Choir of Central Oregon invites you to participate in an hour of meditative non-denominational Taize music, prayer, and silence at our monthly ecumenical service, 7pm, Thursday, October 5, at Trinity Episcopal Church (St. Helens Hall), 231 NW Idaho, Bend.  The theme for this service is 'Praying for the Sick.’

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

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

Temple Beth Tikvah gratefully acknowledges the following contributions:

• In memory of Herb Reynolds, Gary Reynold's Dad
• In memory of Gary Reynolds, beloved Husband of Terry
• In memory of Selma Nichols, Mom to Terry Reynolds
• Congratulations on B'Nai Mitzvah achievement to Kayleigh Mahony, Ellie & Gracie Zurovsky, Abby Arathoon, Alia Boettcher, Simone Halpern

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