Friday: Erev Shabbat and Hanukkah Service (Multi-access) Friday, December 8, 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to join us online or in person for an Erev Shabbat and Hanukkah service, featuring the Shir Simcha choir. Join us before the service for a special Hanukkah dinner, see information under Upcoming Events below.
Live streaming services: – The Erev Shabbat Facebook event can be found here. – You can watch services on the TBE YouTube channel here. – The streaming player for online services can be found on our website here (click "play" and this feature will work after services begin).
Saturday: Torah Study and Shabbat Service (Multi-access) Saturday, December 9, 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Our Saturday worship experience begins with Torah study from 9:00–9:45 a.m. This will be followed by services beginning at 10:00 a.m. (online and in person). All are invited! At the conclusion of the service, all are invited to join in for a potluck kiddush luncheon! (Dishes can be pescatarian.)
Host a Meaningful "Shabbanukkah" Friday, December 8, 2023 OneTable invites you to participate in Shine A Light Shabbat on Friday, December 8. Drawing inspiration from Hanukkah, gather your friends or community for a Shine A Light Shabbat to dispel the darkness and shine a light on antisemitism. Learn more here.
Hanukkah Dinner Friday, December 8, 5:00 p.m. Join us before services for a special Hanukkah dinner! The menu will feature tomato soup, salad, and latkes and toppings—with fruit and donuts for dessert. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the blessing will be at 5:30 p.m. If you have not registered already, registration at the door will be available as space allows. Cost at the door: $10/person or $25/family.
Community Hanukkah Party Sunday, December 10, 12:00–2:00 p.m. Join us for the celebration of lights! There will be a latke contest (bring them from home and vie for the honor of the golden snail!) and a hanukkiyah contest (make one at home and wow us with your creativity!) along with sufganiyot, games, music, and dancing. There will also be a community candle lighting so bring a hanukkiyah from home. Please RSVP here.
Sufganiyot-Making Class Thursday, December 14, 5:00–7:00 p.m. Join us for a sufganiyot-making class taught by our very own Solomon Selkin here at Temple Beth El on Thursday, December 14, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. Ages 13+ only. Youth ages 13–18 are encouraged to attend. RSVP to Lana at frontdesk@tbetacoma.org. For those who are 19 or older, we will have 15 available slots.
Tools and Conversations for Supporting Jewish Students (ADL) Tuesday, December 19, 12:30 p.m. Join Project Shema and the ADL for a webinar to help educators and school leaders understand and address anti-Jewish harm that students are facing in this moment. While the presentation will not focus specifically on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it will engage participants in learning around the ways that Jewish students outside of Israel are experiencing psychological and, sometimes, physical impact because of the conversations unfolding around the conflict. School leaders and educators will have the opportunity to ask questions, and will gain access to educational resources and programs that address antisemitism and maintain a supportive learning environment for all students. RSVP here.
Opportunities
Tacoma Jewish Community Fund:Israel Urgently Needs Your Help Join with those who have already given more than $30,000 to the Tacoma Jewish Community Fund’s special appeal for Israel. Funds raised provide a dynamic, holistic, and comprehensive assessment to support immediate and urgent needs, such as medical care, emergency services, evacuation, transport, housing, resources for victims of terror, trauma relief and psychological support, as well as preparing for medium- and long-term needs.
It is easy to make your donation by credit card when you visit our safe and secure web site: www.tacomajcf.org. Just use the tab Donate, then Select Fund, and choose Israeli Social Services and Disaster Relief from the drop-down options. If you prefer to donate with a check, send your donation, marked for Israel Special Appeal, to:
Tacoma Jewish Community Fund P.O. Box 64831 University Place, WA 98464
Or you can call Judith Florence at (253) 752-3621 to donate by credit card, if you prefer.
Sisterhood's Mishloach Manot Fundraiser: Donate Items to Fill Purim Boxes "They are to observe these days of feasting and gladness, and for sending delicacies to one another, and giving gifts to the poor." (Esther 9:22)
As Sisterhood's only fundraiser, donating small items or purchasing a box or two gives back to the temple community in so many ways. Donate to Sisterhood's annual project to fulfill the Purim mitzvah of mishloach manot: sharing delicious treats with temple congregants, friends, and family. Is there something you could make or buy in bulk to help make the boxes more festive? Can you donate to help cover the cost of the supplies? You can also participate by baking hamantaschen with Sisterhood and helping to assemble, mail, or deliver boxes so we can all share in the joy of Purim.
Please contact procurement co-chairs Jani Doctor at (253) 223-4705 or jani@tripsnships.com, or Deb Freedman at (253) 377-4157.
Advocates for Immigrants in Detention: Donations Needed Advocates for Immigrants in Detention (AIDNW) needs new or nicely used men’s shoes, sizes 7–10. All sizes of men’s coats hats and gloves are also needed, along with backpacks and/or duffle bags. The AIDNW Office has moved to 6445 S. Montgomery St., Tacoma 98405. If you have items to donate, to receive the AIDNW monthly newsletter, and/or receive information about volunteering, contact the office volunteer at office.volunteer@aidnw.org.
Information
End of the Semester for Religious School The last day of Hebrew class for this semester will be Wednesday, December 6, and the last day of Religious School will be Sunday, December 10. We will return from winter break for Hebrew on Wednesday, January 3, and we will resume Religious School the following Sunday, January 7.
Reminder: Temple Board Meeting The November and December board meeting was held on Tuesday, December 5. The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 16, at 6:30 p.m.
If you attend Saturday services online and wish to purchase your own copy of the Mishkan T'filah (the prayer book used at our Shabbat services), the Judaica Shop has them in stock. Come and check out our new Pride items and sale table. Please come browse and shop for all your Hanukkah needs.
Masks are not required but are highly recommended for all.
To keep our community healthy and avoid any service closures, we strongly recommend wearing a mask while at the temple.
Tachlis (the bottom line)
Submitting an event or announcement to Shabbat Shalom
If you have an item you would like included in this weekly bulletin, please email it to olivia@tbetacoma.orgby noon on Wednesday. Submissions must adhere to the guidelines, which may be found here.
For the URJ's transliteration guidelines,click here. Please note that submissions that do not follow these guidelines may not be accepted.
To have a copy of the guidelines emailed to you, simply reply to this email with a message to that effect.
