President's Message 

Cere Fingerhut

Pacing is important.

I have a dear friend who is a runner, and she taught me how to run in a way that felt accessible. On one of our first runs together—both of us just a few months postpartum—she shared something that completely changed my mindset. She said, “Just slow down. You don’t have to stop, just slow down.”

Until that moment, I had always believed that if I couldn’t keep up with my planned pace, I might as well give up. But she showed me a more effective approach—one that prioritizes sustainability over rigidity. I’ve carried that wisdom in my heart ever since.

As we grow older, simple yet profound lessons like this seem obvious. Even as I write this, I feel a bit embarrassed to share something so straightforward. But as groundbreaking psychologist Marsha M. Linehan wisely said, “It’s simple, not easy.” Slowing down when all we want to do is just finish can be a real challenge. And yet, in any successful organization, pacing is essential. Sometimes, progress requires moving slower than we’d like—but the reverse can also be true.

Almost two years ago, when my term began, we were hearing concerns about the speed of change and how many people in our community felt out of the loop. I know many of us are experiencing something similar at the national level right now. While the pace of change was a factor, other issues—such as communication breakdowns and siloed programming—also played a role. To truly bring the Temple Beth Tikvah community along, we had to slow down and be more intentional. Today, the feedback we receive is far less about concern and far more about excitement for all that we’re accomplishing together!

I encourage you to keep sharing your thoughts and, most importantly, to enjoy being part of our community—especially as two of my favorite holidays, Purim and Passover, approach. Mark your calendars, RSVP, and I’ll see you there!  

L'shalom,

Cere

Divrei Tikvah 

From Rabbi Sara Abrams

On Friday, we began the month of Adar, a month in which winter goes out, and spring comes in. The rabbis say, “One who enters Adar, multiplies his/her joy.” Adar is the month in which we celebrate Purim and it is also the month that precedes Nissan, the month of Passover. 

Adar, this month of joy, asks us to embrace the opposites within ourselves, death and life, winter and spring. It is where, in the book of Esther, good meets evil, and the few triumph over the many. It is when the underdog tops the overdog, where the gentle intelligence and beauty of a woman stands up to the sinister functionings in the king’s court. It is a place where the end meets the beginning. Opposites reconnect, cycles come full circle as we get ready to begin again in the first Jewish new year – the first of Nissan. We get to ask ourselves what are our wishes for spring? How will we come out of the cocoon of winter into the blossom of April? What can we do to get ready for a new season in a new time? Tradition asks us to examine the opposites through joy, whether that means personally meditating, walking, listening to music and dancing, playing with children and dogs, we are commanded to have fun! 

Well here at TBT we are getting together on March 13 to celebrate the holiday with a shpiel, appetizers, games, hamantaschen and gathering. Space is limited so please sign up as soon as possible and help us to laugh, eat, drink, and be merry during this upside down holiday! I look forward to seeing you soon and wish you many blessings in this month of joy!

B'virkat Shalom,

Rabbi Sara

Passover: Save the Date!

TBT's Members & Their Guests Passover Seder

Saturday, April 12th 

Doors Open 5:00 pm; Seder begins at 5:45 pm

Come for an inter-generational Seder with music and song, games for all ages, a taste of the Seder plate and a delicious buffet dinner from Shim Shon Israeli Street Food! Rabbi Sara will lead our Seder with music and song.

The Seder is open to TBT members and their invited guests at a cost of $46 for member adults, $28 for member young adults 14 – 22, $10 for member children 5-13, and member children 0 – 4 are free for those who RSVP by Friday, April 4th. Click here for the website with more information and rates for non-members.

Based on space limitations and the need to have reservations in on time, those RSVPs received March 29th through April 4th will be charged a premium so get your reservation in by March 28th. No reservations will be accepted after April 4th.

Click here for more information and click here to make your reservation.

If If you'd like to lend a culinary hand, we're also in need of 10 bakers and 4-6 charosets makers to add to the festive meal. Please contact Jan Bauer at janetlynnfreemanbauer@gmail.com if you'd like to help!

Social Action

If you’d like to join the Family Kitchen crew on the second Wednesday of the month, please send an email to Anne Held at held.anne@gmail.com and let her know you’d like to be on the notification list. You are welcome to join us regularly, occasionally, or as it’s convenient for you! It’s one of the many TBT Social Action projects where the giver gets more out of it than the receiver.

Purim! Fun Events for Families & Adults

Holler if you'd like some Challah!

You may have seen Rachel at the Northwest Crossing Farmers Market last summer selling her babka. Though if you didn't arrive early enough, you'd see her sitting at her table with a "Sold Out" sign. Rachel is a TBT Member and baker-extraordinaire. She's got challah bread (and more!) at rachelsbaked.com.

Thank you MOC!

Thank you Market of Choice for donating challah for our services!

Plan to join us Saturday, April 26 for Havdalah with a Purpose and learn about The Giving Plate, which supplies groceries for over 1,600 families each month. Their heartwarming story has grown them into one of the major sources of food for those in need. Lynne Connelley will share more information coming soon.

TBT Board Notes

Next Board Meeting: March 14, 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

Vindaloo with the Jews

What's better than kibitzing over curry or schmoozing over saag? Nothing! Join us monthly for our Vindaloo with the Jews at Taj Palace March 16 at 12:30 pm. No reservations needed and all are welcome! Great conversation, friendship and food.

Contact evielerner60@gmail.com for questions. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Learn a new game or play an old favorite! Join us occasionally or every month.

The member games club meets monthly on Sunday afternoons at a private home. It will meet again in April.

Please email Suzanne Schlosberg at schlos1@gmail.com or Evie Lerner at evielerner60@gmail.com to receive an invitation.

Ladies Lunch

The next Ladies Lunch will be Wednesday March 19. Please watch the Weekly Happenings for details.

Pleae help us by taking a turn at organizing one of the monthly lunches. It’s very easy! Please email 

Terry Reynolds tlrsboard@yahoo.com

to pick a month to organize.

An Editor's Note

This is my last newsletter as editor. I'm so pleased to turn the reigns over to Ellie Zurovsky. This rising star will design the newsletter, working with Roberta Spiro who will reach out each month to our "usual contributors" to remind you of the deadline. Thank you TBT community for being just that - a true community. Special thanks to Kathy Schindel and Jeanne Freeman for their friendship, support, and extraordinary "eagle eyes" to help guide me these last two years.

- Sharon Maier-Kennelly

Taizé Service

We will recite Kaddish at our service this month for:

• Gustav Berger           
• Chester Bonder            
• Joyce Bonder             
• Stanley Enker             
• Rick Farber             
• Tony Garber             
• Gloria Marie Koch        
• Mark Kraski         
• Leon H. Litman       
• Obie Malorius              
• Woodrow Miller          
• Jeri Phillips             
• Paul Phillips              
• Carol Rosen             
• Nathan Strauss             
• Phillip Taylor             
• Alsey Tolleson             
• Sheri Trachman            
• Lillie Mae Winecoff

Temple Beth Tikvah gratefully acknowledges the following contributions:

Mark and Kathy Schindel 

In Memory of Nathan Bernstein

Jerry and Natalie Margolis

In Memory of Edith Margolis

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