ATTENTION ALL TE GENTLEMEN. Michael Neufeld is organizing a Men’s Club which will be similar to Sisterhood in many respects, particularly the goal of fundraising for TE, but with its own flair and activities. Anyone who is interested in learning more is invited to join an organizational meeting to be held at TE on Sunday, October 19th, at 10:30 a.m. Michael is very excited about this endeavor and has received very positive feedback based on informal discussions with other members of the congregation.
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SELICHOT: An inspirational service and study for the local Reform Congregations in preparation for the upcoming High Holy Days
Update: Selichot Services at CBSRZ will be Live Streamed via YouTube.
Congregants and friends can view the live feed by accessing the link below: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSqzEsniCplf6GucRcFADVA
SELICHOT
An inspirational service and study for the local Reform Congregations in preparation for the upcoming High Holy Days
featuring
Rabbis, Cantors, Choirs & Soloists
Participating Congregations:
Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, Chester
Congregation Mishkan Israel, Hamden
TempleBeth David, Cheshire
TempleBeth Tikvah, Madison
TempleEmanuel, Orange
B’nai Israel of Southbury
TempleEmanuel, Waterford
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek,
55 East Kings Highway, Chester
7:00 P.M. beginning with Havdalah
For directions or more information, please call CBSRZ at (860) 526-8920.
NEW YEAR MUSINGS
It is hard to believe that fall is here and that the Holy Days are around the corner. This is a time of new beginnings and contemplating where we might have “missed the mark.” It is a time of reflecting what we might do better in the up-coming year. As we begin 5775, I am optimistic with our potential for growth and for bringing our congregation together. I believe we can have a thriving community. This will take dedication, volunteerism, and financial support. Previous TE President Jon Zonderman stated that to do this, it is important that we all agree on one key statement: “I believe that maintaining a vibrant Reform Jewish community at Temple Emanuel is important.” If we all believe that, then we all must believe that each one of us needs to take responsibility for maintaining our community and may not leave it up to others to do so.
What can each of us do to keep TE strong?
- Add one new member family to TE by sharing your experiences with your non-TE friends. Bring them along to TE events. Show them how really wonderful our community is.
- Participate in our fund-raising efforts by coming to our many “friend-raisers,” buying citrus, baked goods and New Year honey wishes.
- Contribute to the “One Campus Campaign” so that we continue to be mortgage free as we build. My goal is that every TE family will contribute something toward making this a reality.
- Join a committee, help run an event large or small, get your hands dirty, donate time to stuff envelopes, and/or pick up supplies. We are a small community with a tiny professional staff. So we need everyone’s energy to be actively involved.
- Consider making a “Leave a Legacy” pledge so our children and our children’s children will have a community where they can welcome Shabbat and celebrate life cycle events.
- Finally, there is still time to make your Fair Share Pledge before the Holy Days. Dig as deeply as you can afford to. TE needs you and TE needs your financial support.
Come find me in the coming weeks, and let me know how you want to be involved.
Shanah Tovah.
TE Barbecue and Shabbat Under the Stars – Friday, September 5
Join us at TE on Friday, September 5 for our annual barbecue picnic and Shabbat Under the Stars! The festivities start at 4:30pm with a Fair for the kids with activity booths, 5:00 pm cookout, and 6:30 pm Shabbat under the stars service, followed by an Oneg in the Social Hall. Don’t miss this wonderful family gathering!
TE JOINS THE PEOPLE’S CLIMATE MARCH Sunday, September 21 in New York City.
On September 21, 2014, heads of state from around the world met at the United Nations in New York to discuss climate change. TE members joined some 400,000 people from businesses, unions, faith groups, schools, social justice groups, and environmental groups in the People’s Climate March in New York City to demonstrate our belief that the world we want is within our reach: a world safe from the ravages of climate change.
TE Tag Sale – Sunday, August 24; Main event 9 am-3 pm, Early bird special 8-9 am
The TE Tag Sale is almost here! Tag Sale hours on August 24 are 9:00 am-3:00 pm and there will be an early bird special from 8:00-9:00 am ($5 donation for early birds). The Tag Sale Team has everything ready and waiting for you so be sure to come by on Sunday and support TE! There is something for everyone so bring your family and friends! Have questions? Click here to contact Jake and Anna Zonderman.
Shabbat under the stars June 27 at 8pm and July 25 at 7pm!
In what has become a beautiful annual tradition at Temple Emanuel, we will be greeting Shabbat on our beautiful patio, surrounded by nature on our wonderful grounds. Bring your voices, your friends and your family for this not-to-be-missed Shabbat service! Please bring a lawn chair or a blanket.
Get your tuchus in gear… it’s a tag sale year! Tag Sale 2014: Sunday, August 24th
Drop off items at TE beginning Sunday, July 20th or by appointment.
Pick Up and Drop Off
You can begin dropping off items on Sunday, July 20. Stay tuned for a schedule of drop off times.
If you are unavailable during these times, need to drop off items before July 20, need assistance packing or preparing items for donation, or if your car is too small to transport the items you wish to donate, please make an appointment with the Tag Sale Team (see Contacting the Tag Sale Team for more information).
Donation Guidelines
1. All items must be in good condition. Please see specifications below. Items that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted.
Metal Minimal rust
No pitting or breaks
Wood Minimal gouging or water stains
Glass No cracks or breaks
Minimal scratches
Plastic No cracks or breaks
Electronics Must be in working condition
All batteries must removed (exception: phones)
Books Must have front and back covers
As few torn pages as possible
Minimal highlighting and underlining
Toys No dirty plush toys
No broken plastic toys
Furniture Minimal staining, wear and tear
No broken parts (arms, slats, legs, etc.)
Rugs and carpets must be clean and in lightly used condition
Kitchenware No cracked ceramics and minimal chipping
No rust
No missing screws, bolts, etc.
DVDs/VHSs Minimal scratching and wear
Must be in playable condition
2. The following items will NOT be accepted for donation:
Bathroom fixtures (sinks, toilets, etc.)
Bedding
Clothing
Full sized floor rugs or carpets
Mattresses
3. All fragile items must be packaged for transport before pick up / drop off. Bubble wrap, boxes and other packaging materials will not be provided for donations.
Contacting the Tag Sale Team
Have Questions? Need assistance? Want to join the tag sale team? Please contact Anna and Jacob Zonderman at TagSale@templeemanuel-gnh.org
Havdalah at the Lincoln Memorial
I just returned from a long weekend in Washington, D.C. where I accompanied two TE teens (Noah Simon and Anne Ryack) who attended the L’taken seminar of the Religious Action Center (RAC) of the Reform Movement. They were part of a 12-strong group from New Haven area, bringing together teens from Temple Emanuel, Congregation Mishkan Israel and Temple Beth David. I have asked Noah and Anne to share some of their thoughts about the experience with you all, and they have provided a wonderful report below. All I can add is how much I was impressed with our kids, their incredible ability to discern important issues, their passion for justice and their grasp of what matters in this world. It made me truly proud of our kids and of the life lessons they are able to draw from their heritage and Jewish identity. My heart was filled with pride as I ‘kvelled’ at the way they presented themselves and the issues they felt passionate about: gun control, stem cell research, LGBT rights and protection for people with disabilities. The response of congressional staffers and Rep. Rosa DeLauro was a great testament to the work that went into the visits.
As part of the weekend, we got a chance to have Havdalah ceremony with 300 other Jewish teens, rabbis and educators at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In the heart of the capital, with the Lincoln Monument behind us and Washington Monument and the Capitol building ahead of us, we celebrated the end of Shabbat and the transition from sacred to ordinary. It was an amazing opportunity to acknowledge the blessings bestowed upon us all – a simple act, unthinkable in virtually any other place in the world. The words of Rabbi Michael Namath of the RAC rang so true that night, as he reminded us that while we work to make our country a better place, we show tremendous gratitude for all the wonderful freedoms and opportunities that we get to enjoy every single day.
The teenagers left Washington, D.C. with a renewed sense of commitment to making our country better for all its citizens. I leave humbled by their talents and their passion for justice – and awed by the Havdalah lights at the Lincoln Memorial… Until next year.
Rabbi Farbman
In our opinion, it is not unfair to be skeptical about the L’taken seminar when you are first told about it. It wasn’t until the program actually started that we realized the power that it can offer for us and for our Jewish peers. The program is run by the Religious Action Center, a Union of Reform Jews determined to fight for what they believe in, and incorporates numerous workshops to inform you about various issues such as gun violence prevention and LGBT equality while also connecting it to Jewish values. With all the new information you accumulate over the weekend, you have the opportunity to write a speech on a topic of your choice and walk up Capitol Hill to lobby about it. Even in our packed schedule, we still had time to go to the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of American, walk around Georgetown, see the MLK, Jr. Memorial, as well as have Havdallah at the Lincoln Memorial. And on top of that, we had the privilege of staying and hanging out with 10 other great kids and meeting a ton more. We highly encourage anybody that is thinking about taking the seminar when it is available to do so. It was an unexpected, though pleasant, surprise that turned out to be much more than just a trip to D.C. We were able to connect to our religion as well as learn about Congress. Learning all the Jewish perspectives on the different policies we thought we knew so well was a truly new and wonderful treat. But we both agree, meeting and bonding with hundreds of other Jewish teens was the greatest part of the trip and is something that we could do more often.
-Noah Simon and Anna Ryack
TE & the 38th Annual 2014 Greater New Haven Walk Against Hunger
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) called upon area synagogues to send teams to the 38th Annual 2014 Greater New Haven Walk Against Hunger on Sunday, May 4 in East Rock Park, New Haven. TE members answered the call and joined folks from many congregations from the greater New Haven area to amplify what we all do as individual congregations to help those in need around us. Walk Against Hunger events are a non-competitive 2.5 to 3 mile walk. Participants enjoy the camaraderie, the exercise in the outdoors, and the sense of solidarity with others who share a concern about feeding the hungry in our area.