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TBC Connections Bulletin

August 2024

26 Tamuz - 27 Av 5784

What's Inside

Cantor's Corner

A Note from Our President

High Holy Days 5785

What's Happening Now

Leadership Opportunities

August Birthdays & July Donations

Welcome!

We are delighted to bring you TBC's , monthly newsletter - "TBC Connections." It is designed to keep you connected to the multitude of exciting initiatives that are underway at TBC -- not just events and programming -- but all that the leadership team is planning for TBC's future.


Please feel free to provide any feedback or suggestions for future issues by emailing connections@templebnaichaim.org.

Cantor's Corner

Sadness & Joy: The Beauty of Av


August brings us so many things: the last full month of summer, hot days with cooling nights, returns to college campuses and, in the Jewish calendar, the month of Av! And Av brings us two distinctly different observances – Tisha B’Av on the 9th of Av which falls this year on Monday evening 8/12 through sundown on Tuesday 8/13, and Tu B’Av or the 15th of Av, sundown Sunday 8/18 through evening on Monday 8/19. Falling just short of a week apart, at first glance, these two observances seem to be diametrically opposed; Tisha B’Av is understood to be the saddest, heaviest day in the Jewish calendar. Laments are chanted – the book of Eicha (Lamentations) is traditionally read on the morning of Tisha B’Av, a fast is observed and joyful celebrations are not allowed as we mourn the great losses the Jewish people have faced throughout our history since the time of the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE which resulted in our exile from the land... 

Click Here to Read the Full Article!

A Note from Our President

It is difficult to believe that the Summer is almost behind us. With all the activity to get kids ready to go back to school and late summer vacations, it is easy to overlook paperwork – particularly membership renewal packets. If you haven’t returned your packet, I urge you to do so as soon as possible. If you dislike filling out the forms and want to keep everything, including your membership level, the same as last year, please send an email to Denise (officeadmin@templebnaichaim.org) and Simon (treasurer@templebnaichiam.org) and let them know. Keep in mind that dues at each membership level have increased slightly. You’ll save our leadership countless hours of calls to follow up. Thank you in advance.


This month we have begun planning for the High Holidays. There is a great deal of work to do and many details to work out to make the holidays as meaningful for all of us as we possibly can. You will hear more in the coming weeks.


Denise and Simon have been working on Rakefet Online. In the next couple of weeks, we are planning to roll out member accounts. You will be able to access and update your information and make payments and donations online. Watch for the email with instructions.


We also have been working on our annual Burgers and Brews Shabbat, which will take place on Friday, September 6th. We are in need of volunteers to help with set up, grilling and clean up. Please let Morah Ellie (morahellie@templebnaichaim.org) know if you are available to help.

Click Here to Purchase Tickets

This year's High Holy Day Guide PDF coming soon!! This will include more information on our High Holy Day offerings as well as the Sisterhood Honey Sale and Yom Kippur Break Fast.

High Holy Day Worship Schedule

Worship Opportunity

Date

Time

Selichot at United Jewish Center of Danbury

Directions

Saturday, 9/28/24

7:00 pm

Erev Rosh Hashanah Service

Wednesday, 10/2/24

7:30 pm

Rosh Hashanah Day 1

Family Service

Thursday, 10/3/24

9:00 am

Rosh Hashanah Day 1

Traditional Service

Thursday, 10/3/24

11:00 am

Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Tashlich

Thursday, 10/3/24

2:00 pm

Rosh Hashanah Day 2

Traditional Service

Friday, 10/4/24

11:00 am

Shabbat Shuvah

Friday, 10/4/24

7:00 pm

Kol Nidre Service

Friday, 10/11/24

7:00 pm

Yom Kippur Family Service

Saturday, 10/12/24

9:00 am

Yom Kippur Traditional Service

Saturday, 10/12/24

11:00 am

Yom Kippur Study Session

Saturday, 10/12/24

2:00 pm

Yom Kippur Afternoon Service

Saturday, 10/12/24

3:30 pm

Yom Kippur Yizkor & Ne'ilah Service

Saturday, 10/12/24

4:45 pm

Yom Kippur Break Fast

Saturday, 10/12/24

7:15 pm

Sukkot Shabbat

Friday, 10/18/24

5:30 pm

Simchat Torah Shabbat

Friday, 10/25/24

6:30 pm

What's Happening Now

TBC clergy, the leadership team, various committees and Sisterhood are working on many amazing initiatives. Here are just a few.

Religious School

We are currently in the process of collecting Religious School Registrations for the 2024-2025 school year! If you would like to receive more information about Religious School, or request to receive monthly Religious School newsletters, please contact the Assistant Education Director, Ellie Gluck!

Membership

Every congregation has a heartbeat and for TBC, this is the membership committee. Our mission is to bring the life blood of welcoming and fun programming to our current and future members. Committee members, Allie Berger-Rabinowitz, Beth Brown, Pamela Friedman, Rachel Langberg and Rachel Sanderson represent our communities (Wilton, Ridgefield, Redding) and the various strata of membership (school age, teens, young adults and empty nesters). Each month there is programming to which any new family would be welcome as well as all the programming for our current families. And if there is a program you would like to create, reach out to one of us to help you get started. For July and August we have two free evenings to which members and non-members are welcome! - --


Needed Now More Than Ever: TBC


"A diverse community filled with love, acceptance and a social conscience striving to make the world a better place. Temple B'nai Chaim is your spiritual home - regardless of how you connect to Judaism." Visit us at: templebnaichaim.org.

Communications

TBC's Communications team certainly has their work cut out for them! Under the guidance of Ellie Gluck, who has taken on the role of Communications Coordinator, we are looking to expand on what we are currently doing to include a monthly TBC Connections newsletter as well as maintaining our weekly Chailites. We are excited to announce that we will be transitioning to Rakefet Online, which will really add to our team's productivity as this transition will allow for forms and bill payments to be made online through individual member portals and for new communication tools to be implemented! We are always looking to hear feedback from congregants, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us at any time at communications@templebnaichaim.org!

Social Action

Social Action continues to help out at Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen in Danbury the first Wednesday of each month, serving take away meals to those in need, Laundry Love, and Tuesday and Friday mornings at Daily Bread Food Pantry in Danbury. All are excellent opportunities to reach out to the community and it feels great to help others. There are excellent volunteers and we have fun while helping. Depending on Bridge of Hope patients, there may be need for support over the summer. We usually find out close to the time of a patient with cystic fibrosis arriving due to visa issues. If you are interested in helping at any of these, you can get more information on the Social Action page on the website or reach out to Jane Alexander and/or Peggy Zamore.

Kulanu

TBC’s social action group Against Antisemitism and Hate concludes its second year implementing the ADL’s Kulanu endeavor. The ADL provides synagogue participants with educational webinars, meetings and assistance. With their support, the partnering synagogue

creates and delivers programming to address Antisemitism. These programs occur both inside its temple walls and outside, engaging temple members and neighboring partners within our local towns . Our spin off project, Confronting Hate in Our Community started its real work this past May and June to prevent and rectify hate incidents, as well as to offer support to our friends of other faiths, color, gender and sexual orientation. Kulanu has partnered with our religious school to introduce Anti Semitism and Holocaust in age appropriate curriculum. We have brought in ADL speakers to guide adults and teens to constructively recognize, speak about and report Antisemitism and all incidents of hate. Please watch out for and plan to attend our Kulanu sponsored educational and social events. Our group meets monthly on Zoom and in person. We seek temple members to join us...Webinars and live events will keep you informed. By joining us, you will play a meaningful role in the fight against antisemitism and all hate in our community. You may contact Bonnie Heft, TBC’s Kulanu

coordinator at Kulanu@templebnaichaim.org.

Adult Education Opportunities

If you would like to enroll in Morah Ellie Gluck's Adult Religious School, request specific programming, would like to share program ideas or have an interest in joining the Adult Education Committee, please click here!

House/Building

Stay tuned for upcoming information in our next issue!

Finance Committee

Assisted with the review and finalization of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Will continue to work with the Treasurer this month to assess financial needs. For more information, please contact Jessica Diskin Evans.

Progress of our Future Preschool

We are in the process of forming a committee to work on this exciting initiative and exploring grant opportunities. If you would like to participate or are looking for more information, please contact June Mara.

Sisterhood

The Sisterhood of Temple B’nai Chaim has enjoyed an active and engaging partnership in all aspects of synagogue life for over forty years. Our calendar has traditionally been a very complete one, including activities for almost every month of the year, providing a

diversity of experiences, and satisfying a wide range of interests. Some of our events, such as the High Holiday Honey Sale, sponsorship of the Yom Kippur Break Fast, Shalach Manot greetings, and the Tu B’Shvat Seder, are long-standing successes, as have been programs in collaboration with other sisterhoods and community organizations.


We welcome challenges and the prospect of doing new things, of experimenting with untried programs, and developing additions to our roster of favorites. From our earliest days, we have been involved in advocacy and social action and embrace community service. As members of Women of Reform Judaism, we participate in their many

offerings, regularly attend regional and national conferences, and take note of what other sisterhoods are offering, especially those in our area. We create new projects through suggestions and by committee. And we’re always ready to listen to new ideas.


As a result, it is possible for the women of Temple B’nai Chaim to see membership in Sisterhood as participatory, rather than merely supportive, active rather than passive. There are many organizations to which we gladly lend our names and give our money, but TBC Sisterhood encourages personal involvement and the hope that each of our members will take something away from the experience, as well.

Therefore, as we welcome a new season and plan for the year ahead, we encourage all our members to engage with us and contribute to our success.


If you would like Sisterhood to serve a need not already met by our programs or those of the synagogue, your input would be welcomed and appreciated. If you would like to serve on one of our committees, the door to our meetings is always open. As you schedule many activities and events on your calendar, please consider including time for Sisterhood. We would love to have you join us!


Best wishes,

Pam Klem and Sharon Sobel (Co-Presidents, Sisterhood)


Sisterhood is affiliated with the Women of Reform Judiaism network. Click here to become a member, or contact sisterhood@templebnaichaim.org for more information.

Movie Committee

Please join us for an evening at the movies with hosts Josh Friedman, former studio exec at Sony and producer, and Richard Lerner, Digital Imaging specialist. Each month a new film will be screened and discussed from the Jewish perspective as well as other cinematic themes, alternating between Adult movie nights on Tuesdays and Shabbat movie nights on Fridays that are more family-friendly. On Friday, August 23, we will be viewing the popular Disney movie "Wreck It Ralph." In this 2012 animated film, a video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives. If you would like to join the committee or would like to share any suggestions, please contact Josh Friedman and/or Richard Lerner.

Leadership Opportunities Still Available!


If you are interested in serving on one of the committees listed above, please contact our Temple President, June Mara!


TBC Singers Needed!


The new TBC Chorale needs YOU! Calling all singers… do you love to sing? Are you looking for a creative outlet, an opportunity to have fun with friends and make a difference at TBC? Please join our emerging TBC Chorale and raise your voice in song with fellow music lovers! Contact cantorharriet@templebnaichaim.org

Stephen Eder

Adam Nevas

Melinda Weber

Gavin Furtado

Judson Scruton

Jack Larson

Ellen Bonheim

Rachel Langberg

Richard Ruben

Jace Simson

Robert Kapel

Hilary Whitaker

Linda Bolton

Russell Robbins

Richard Hagan


To view the list of July 2024 donations, please click here!

Please see our weekly Chailites for news on upcoming events and happenings at TBC or go to our website for detailed information!

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