February 2015

Coming Events at Beit Haverim February 2015 Rabbi Alan Berg

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Potluck Dinner Shabbat Service led by 2/3 Grade Religious School Class, Rabbi Berg and Ann Brown & Birthday Blessings

6:00PM 7:00PM

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Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Berg

10:00AM

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Religious School Board of Trustees Meeting Hebrew School

2:30PM 2:30PM 4:30PM

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Confirmation Class

6:00PM

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Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class

7:00PM

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Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Berg and Ann Brown

7:00PM

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Rabbi’s Hours: by appointment

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Torah Study led by Rabbi Berg

10:00AM

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Phone: 503-568-1241

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Ladies’ Night Home of Leslie Bratschi

6:30PM

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Confirmation Class

6:00PM

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Congregational Dessert

7:00PM

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Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Berg and Ann Brown - Scout Shabbat

7:00PM

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Torah Study led by Rabbi Berg

10:00AM

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Religious School Hebrew School Bagels Chat-Discussion “Happiness”

2:30PM 4:30PM 2:30PM

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Shabbat Service led by Gabe HunterBernstein

7:00PM

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Cantorial Soloist Ann Brown Shabbat Services Fridays at 7:00 p.m. at Beit Haverim 1111 Country Club Rd. Lake Oswego, OR 97034

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 311 Lake Oswego OR 97034

Email : office@beithav.org Website www.beithav.org

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Beit Haverim is an open, inviting, and spiritually alive Jewish community, located just outside of Portland, Oregon in Lake Oswego. We welcome everyone to our Reform congregation of Jews by birth, Jews by choice and Jews at heart.

FROM Rabbi Alan Berg

The Spiritual Power of Your Voice Dear Friends, The four congregational dessert discussions in January proved to be a welcome spiritual experience for me. I’ve tried to understand why, as I anticipate the final meeting in this series on February 19th.

I believe it has something to do with the privilege, in a Jewish context, of listening to the many voices of our members. I hear so many voices, and Jewish histories of our very own members. Who is this person, I ask myself, who is willing to entrust Beit Haverim with their and their families spiritual lives, and their Jewish journey? How can the temple be there for this person, and that family?

This is the first time I have been a part of a process like this that wasn’t derived from solving a strategic problem, financial or otherwise, within a temple. At our meetings, I immediately noticed the difference. It’s that unique gift of being able to focus on the heart, the soul, the ‘neshuma’ the Jewish soul, that has made this a spiritual experience for me.

I’m looking forward to our gathering on the 19th. Many ideas, concerns, thoughts and feelings have been put forward to help shape our temple.

But for me, it’s been the meetings themselves, your voices; that will have the greatest impact on me.

Warmly, Rabbi Alan Berg

February, 2015

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Letter From Our President, Sue Greenspan The fund (fun) raiser is coming The auction is near Services and goods are preferred this year Dig deep into your mind to fill our coffer, And find what services or goods you’ll be glad to offer So cool that someone will surely want to aspire To bid high and win will be their desire!

On March 14, as part of our Trivia Night, Beit Haverim will be holding a Service/Goods Auction. Shira Fogel will gladly take your donations or any questions you may have. Please contact her at shira_design@yahoo.com or 503-754-8776.

These are some suggestions to get your mind working:  Freshly baked challah one Friday night a month for a year  Baked goods once a month for a year  Mah Jongg lessons  Hem a pair of jeans  Baby sitting  Family portrait (for the photographers in the congregation)  Teeth cleaning  Home appraisal  Host a swim party with a barbecue lunch or dinner  Weekend at your Beach House or Mountain Cabin  Host a Special Dinner at your home for 8, perhaps with a musical accompaniment

February, 2015

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February Events “Super Bro” Super Bowl Party!

Sunday, February 1, 1:00PM or later Location: Home of Rob Hershinow Join the Beit Haverim Brotherhood Sunday, February 1st for the 2015 “Super Bro” Super Bowl Party! Early schmoozing kicks off at 1pm at the home of Rob Hershinow. the game kicks off at 3:30pm.

Please bring your favorite foods and beverages –Rob will be providing beef, turkey and veggie burgers on the grill. Please RSVP and let Rob know what you will be bringing.

Shabbat Service led by Religious School class grade 2 and 3, Rabbi Berg and Ann Brown - Birthday Blessings!

Friday, February 6, Potluck Dinner 6:00PM Shabbat Service 7:00PM Join us for a potluck dinner and stay as the 2nd and 3rd grade Religious school class leads Shabbat Service. We will also be celebrating our February birthdays.

Ladies’ Night Tuesday, February 17, 6:30PM At the home of Leslie Bratschi Join us for our first ladies’ night of the New Year!

It's Mardi Gras, so bring your favorite Cajun dish, if you have one!

Come for an evening of food and friendship!

RSVP Leslie or call 571-482-0212.

Address will be given when you RSVP (Leslie has recently moved, so please call and make sure you have her correct address).

February, 2015

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February Events Scout Shabbat Friday, February 20, 7:00PM

Girl Scouts promise to serve God and Boy Scouts promise to be reverent and to do their duty to God. Scout Shabbat offers Scouts the opportunity to fulfill part of that promise.

All Brownies, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are invited to join us for our regular Friday night services led by Rabbi Alan Berg and Cantor Ann Brown.

All Scouts in attendance will receive a commemorative Scout Shabbat patch.

Scouts and Scout Leaders are encouraged to attend in full uniform.

All are welcome. You need not be a member of Beit Haverim to attend. Dessert Oneg to follow.

Bagel Chat Sunday, February 22, 2:30PM Discussion: Happiness Our own congregant Sharon Rose will lead a discussion on Happiness based on the ideas of Dennis Prager, author of Happiness is a Serious Problem, Prager emphasizes several ideas to help create more happiness in one's life. Some of these ideas are having meaningful friendships, having purpose in one's life, enjoyment of fun, being grateful, having loving relationships...and much more. Sharon will be providing handouts from the book.

February, 2015

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Spring Fundraiser

February, 2015

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Great Work, Beit Haverim!

On January 18th, religious school students put together “blessing bags� for Transitional Youth, led by Heather Kirkbride.

We were able to make about 75 bags for donation. People were very generous in what they brought in. Each bag got a toothbrush, floss and toothpaste with additional goodies such as gift cards, chapsticks, hand sanitizer, and deodorant. Thanks to all who donated and all the kiddos who came out to help build the blessing bags. You have made a difference in the lives of homeless youth .

Tikkun Olam

Beit Haverim women and our guests are amazing! We collected 18 new and gently used bras and also donations for our bra fund for the women of CODA. Our attempt at helping other women came in conjunction with our annual women's led Shabbat service. Clearly, it was a good fit and we are so very grateful to everyone who brought bras or made donations. Thank you!

February, 2015

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Committee Updates Beit Haverim Cookbook Be one of the first to order your copy of Bubbe and Zayde Cook.

All recipes are from members of Beit Haverim. All tested by families and well loved. We are very excited with the results and can’t wait to try all the fabulous recipes.

These will make great gifts and wonderful addition to anyone’s cookbook collection. They are $15 each. Please use this link to place your order.

Volunteer Opportunity within the Religious School We are in need of volunteers. YOU are very important to our program! The success of our religious education program depends on the dedicated individuals in our congregation willing to share their time, talents and knowledge with our future, the children. We encourage all our members, as well as parents of children in our program to help.

I am looking for members who would be willing to substitute in the classroom on Sundays, help set up snacks on Sunday, and classroom aides for a second set of hands when needed.

Please let Heather Kirkbride know if you are interested in these or the many other volunteer opportunities that are available.

Friday Night Shabbat Clean Up The Congregation is looking for people that would be willing to come a few minutes early to Shabbat Services and help set up for the Oneg and then spend a few minutes after cleaning up. This would entail setting up the Bema, pouring wine, putting cookies on trays, and wiping down the counters.

If you are interested, please call Allison at the Temple Office at 503-568-1241. She will assign you a date and a board member to work with.

Member Information Changes When you have changes in your address, phone, email or any of your information, please let us know for our records. Also, we can put that information in our newsletter so the other Beit Haverim members can take note of your new information.

This month:  Constance Dorreman wanted to let folks know that her new email is: ctsukjmb@gmail.com 

Paul Diller and Jennifer Evert have moved. You can reach them at: (H) 503-826-5166 28500 SW Meadows Loop, Wilsonville, OR 97070

February, 2015

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Tributes & Memorials In honor of 

Thank you to Maital Guttman and Netta Cohen for your contribution

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Thank you to John Moss for your contribution to the Rabbi’s fund

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Thank you to Elizabeth Rogers for your contribution

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Thank you to Janet Sahni and Barbara Gold for donating to the ‘bra fund’ for women of CODA

Donations help your Beit Haverim Community Thrive!

Donations to Beit Haverim can be made in honor of a loved one's simcha (special occasion), in memory of a loved one, or "just because."

Click here to make your on line donation! Thank you!

Community News and Notables Help us share community news and notables. We'll include community members' simchas and acknowledgments of life event struggles and condolences. Let us know if you received an award/honor, earned a promotion, welcomed a new addition to your family, celebrated a special anniversary or occasion, are mourning a special person or healing from an illness or surgery.

Email Gabrielle Williams (photos welcome) or call the office at 503-568-1241. We hope to hear from you!

Pet Loss Support Our member, Sharon Rose, is offering pet loss support for other members of Beit Haverim at no cost. Sharon is certified to do this.

If you need some help, you can just call or email Sharon and she will be happy to talk with you as you go through your grief process. Email Sharon or call her at (503) 352-5045.

Amazon Shopping Earns $'s For Beit Haverim Just use this link here when you make your purchases through Amazon and Beit Haverim earns a percent of your spending. Be sure to share the link with family and friends - it really adds up!

February, 2015

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Beit Haverim member survey Thank you to those who took our Member Survey which was sent out December 30th.

We have received 37 responses. Here is a summary: Please choose the programs and/or services that are important to you and your family: High Holiday Services/Friday Night Services: 82-88% Passover Seder/ Newsletter & Bulletin/Rabbi & Cantor: 61-73% Spiritual Leadership: 58% Social Action/Chanukah Dinner/Torah Study/Religious-Hebrew: 42-52% Adult Ed/Ladies Group/Bar & Bat Mitzvah/Potlucks/Nosh/Rabbinic Counseling: 28-39% All other responses had 7 or fewer respondents Please select what you believe are the three most important collective values of the Congregation: Building a community/Jewish Worship: 55% Welcoming interfaith households: 49% Celebrate cycles of Jewish life/Connecting w Jewish families/Social Action: 33-39% All other responses had 8 or fewer respondents What do you believe are the most important issues confronting the congregation today?

By far the most prominent answers were financial stability and increasing membership (4 respondents did not answer) Based on your answers above, what should be the primary goals of the congregation?

Most prominent answers were maintain and grow membership Building and strengthening a welcoming community (6 respondents did not answer) What does the congregation do well?

Welcoming and inclusive Rabbi/Cantor Religious school/Bar and Bat Mitzvah (6 respondents did not answer) How could the congregation improve?

Most notable answers: Spend more money on religious school Some members feeling excluded/rejected Fund raise from outside sources..members are financially tapped out More continuity of religious school and Hebrew curriculum, especially at higher grades Participation as a part of membership (16 respondents did not answer) On what committee would you like to volunteer?

12 people responded Social action/Tikun: 4 Adult Ed: 3 Religious school: 2

We will be following up with your suggestions in the hope of constant improvements based on your needs. Please contact the office if you’d like to take the survey.

February, 2015

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Community Events Holocaust Survivor Alter Wiener Monday, February 9, 7:00PM Location: Lakewood Theatre Lake Oswego 368 South State Street, Lake Oswego, OR 97034 Holocaust survivor and author of From a Name to a Number, Alter Weiner will share his experiences as a young man during WWII. Mr. Wiener's father was brutally murdered on September 11, 1939, by German invaders of Poland.

Alter was then a boy of 13. At age 15, he was deported to Blechhammer, a forced labor camp for Jews, in Germany. Mr.Weiner subsequently survived five different camps. Upon liberation by the Russian Army on May 9, 1945, he discovered most of his family was gone.

Through sharing his experience of a time in our history which must never be forgotten, Mr. Weiner's message is ultimately one of tolerance and strength.

Weekend in Quest Friday afternoon through Sunday noon, March 6-8 An Exhilarating Study Weekend in Astoria, on the Beautiful Oregon Coast by the Mighty Columbia River Click here for more information.

The Rise and Fall of Ladino-Speaking Jewry Professor Devin E. Naar University of Washington Sponsored by the Institute for Judaic Studies of the Pacific Northwest Portland, Oregon

February, 2015

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Community Events Good Deeds Day March 15, 2:30-5:30PM During Religious School Once again for Good Deeds Day, Beit Haverim will be making polar fleece blankets for Project Linus. These blankets are distributed to babies and children when they are hospitalized.

All you need to do to participate in this worthwhile project is to bring a sharp pair of small scissors. Constance Dorreman will bring the pattern and her knowledge and teach us how to complete the blankets.

If you are unable to attend this session, you can still participate.

Visit Project Linus and complete directions will be given.

Drop the blankets off on Sunday, March 15.

Coffee and Goodies will be served!

February, 2015

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In the Beit Haverim Community Yarzheits

Birthdays William Saphir

February 3

Nicholas Payne

February 5

Aurelia Rohrbacker

February 5

Nancy Lepler

February 6

Nathan Sansone

February 6

Alex (Abi) Markgraff

February 7

Juliana Sahni

February 17

Donald Spear

February 17

Tamara DiVergilio

February 23

Glen Friedman

February 24

Kovi Lefkowitz

February 24

Leslie Bratschi

February 25

Roberta Deasis

February 25

Matt Peterson

February 25

Nancy Gray

February 28

Henry Hauck

February 28

Garland Horwitz

February 28

Matthew Macovsky

February 28

Sidney Kaplan

February 1

Maternal grandfather of Allison Fowler Roza Casuto

February 2

Grandmother of Esther Schwartz Thelma Kleinstein

February 4

Aunt of Judith Kleinstein Charles Olson

February 6

Father of Brian Olson Marie Wiegler

February 8

Mother of Barry Wiegler Andy Hamon

February 10

Partner of Brian Olson Leo Kay

February 12

Grandfather of Robin Kay Fay Newman

February 12

Mother of Mark Newman Faye Jarett Miller

February 13

Daughter of Paul Jarett Frances Kalik

February 14

Mother of Evan Kalik Reba Payne

February 18

Mother of Alvin Payne Reuben Moss

February 23

Father of John Moss Anna Brilling

February 28

Paternal Grandmother of Karin Stolz Max Brilling

February 28

Paternal Grandfather of Karin Stolz

August, 2015 February, 2015

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