May 2014 Rabbi Alan Berg 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 Rabbi’s Hours: by appointment
Phone: 503-568-1241
Coming Events at Beit Haverim 2
Religious School class 4/5 led Shabbat Service, Teacher Appreciation
7:00PM
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Hebrew Classes Religious School Spaghetti/Bingo Night
2:30PM 3:30PM 5:30PM
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7
Confirmation Class
6:00PM
BH
8
Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class
7:00PM
BH
9
Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Berg and Ann Brown
7:00PM
BH
10
Torah Study led by Rabbi Berg
10:00AM
BH
14
Board of Trustees Meeting
7:00PM
BH
15
Foundations of Judaism Class
7:00PM
BH
Email : office@beithav.org
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Annual Shabbat All Music Service
7:00PM
BH
Website www.beithav.org
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Ladies Tea Home of Suzanne Causer
2:00PM
21
Confirmation Class
6:00PM
BH
23
Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Berg
7:00PM
BH
24
Torah Study led by Rabbi Berg
10:00AM
BH
30
Beit Haverim Blood Drive
2:00-7:00 PM
30
Shabbat Service led by Robin Kay And Erin David
7:00PM
BH
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 Draw Close To Israel
In Honor of Israel Independence Day May 5 Dear Friends, Often these days, there are glaring challenges facing Israel. The dangers she faces within her borders forces each Israeli to live with an ever present terror. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis was the greatest leader in the history of American Zionism. Among his most remembered writings is the following: “America’s insistent demand in the twentieth century is for social justice. That has also been the Jews striving for ages…. It made them think as well as suffer. It deepened the passion for righteousness.” This passage continues: “Indeed, loyalty to America demands … that each American Jew become a Zionist. For only through the ennobling effect of its strivings can we develop the nest that is in us and give to this country the full benefit of our great inheritance.” Brandeis was arguing that by feeling fully engaged in the plight of the Jewish people, we deepen our understanding of human suffering and become stronger in our commitment of all who are in need. With his classic use of the English language and his capacity to be reasonable, Brandeis was pleading with American Jews to lend their hearts and talents to the historical need for a Jewish homeland. This same need confronts each of us today. Israel needs our help. How? In what manner? I cannot say with certainty. Nor can I speak for you. The way a Jew feels connected to Israel is as personal as the way a Jew feels connected to the Sabbath. In any case, now is the time for each of us to find our own way to draw close to Israel. We ask God’s blessing for peace for Israel and her neighbors. B’shalom, in peace Rabbi Alan Berg
May, 2014
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Letter From Our President, Alan Cohen It's May, which means amazingly enough, that we've come to the end of another religious school year. It always seems surprising to me how fast that year does go by, but the calendar says we are here. I hope many of you are going to join us for what has become a very fun tradition at Beit Haverim, which is our end of the school year Spaghetti Dinner and Bingo game. What can be better, dinner already prepared for you, and fun entertainment with prizes. We will be starting the fun immediately after religious school on Sunday, May 4th. I also would like to announce that Malka Osserman, our religious school administrator, is leaving us after the school year concludes. I would like to thank Malka for he leadership of the school the past two years, and for expanding the program to include art, dance and music. That's a direction I hope will continue after she departs, it has been very popular. I would also like to thank all of the religious school teachers and staff, and especially Mark Newman for bringing music to our religious school. Finally, I want to extend an early invitation for everyone to attend our next congregational meeting, which has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 4th, at 7pm. While I believe all congregational meetings are important and worthy of attending, this one is especially so because your Board of Trustees is planning to propose some bylaws revisions - the biggest issues are using a Covenant of Membership instead of financial standing to determine membership, as well as some updates that include formalizing our name, as well as adding additional ways of voting such as proxy voting. Additionally, the congregation will be voting on many board positions (so if you are interested in joining the board, please contact me for information) - from the results of that election, the Board of Trustees will then elect a new executive board which will start on July, 2014. This is my final term as president. If the congregation votes in board candidates who are standing for election, I will be proposing a motion at the June board meeting for a new executive team, with Sue Greenspan to be the next president of Beit Haverim. Have a great month, enjoy the sunshine, and tune in next month for what will be my final President's Column.
Until next month, Alan Cohen
May, 2014
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Beit Haverim News Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov and Good Luck to Tessa DiVergilio, a 5th grader at Westridge Elementary School in Lake Oswego, who is part of the Westridge/Hallinan Destination Imagination (DI) "VitaminZ" team that will be traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee to compete in the DI Global Finals competition May 21-24th. The team competed in the regional and statewide STEM based DI competition and was awarded a spot at the Global Finals. Their project is a community outreach project, where Tessa and her team developed an Android app to help the community with earthquake preparedness, and worked with their community partner the Lake Oswego Fire Department to get earthquake preparedness information out to the community.
New Member Corner Please welcome our newest member family to Beit Haverim -- Amy Steingrebe and her daughters, Lucy and Emily. Lucy is 7 1/2 years old and in 1st grade at Capitol Hill School in Southwest Portland. Emily, whose favorite sport is basketball, is 10 and a 4th grader at Capitol Hill. Both girls attend the Beit Haverim Religious School and enjoy gymnastics and piano. Amy manages a software development team at US Bank and loves to read in her spare time. Amy and her family are enjoying getting to know their new Beit Haverim family and being a part of our community.
May, 2014
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Events in May Religious School led Shabbat Service and Teacher Appreciation Friday, May 2, 7:00PM Beit Haverim, 1111 Country Club Road, Lake Oswego, OR 97034 Please join us for our 4/5 class led Shabbat Service on May 2. This type of service gives our Religious School students the opportunity to lead worship. These services highlight our amazing students, serve as a testament to our outstanding Religious School, and are an inspiring reminder that our Jewish future is in terrific hands. Beit Haverim is blessed to have an incredible staff of dedicated teachers. Our teachers work each week to instill a love of Judaism in our students that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Please join the congregation in honoring our teachers as we offer them a special blessing.
You are most cordially and tunefully invited to
Annual Musical Shabbat Service May 16, 7:00 PM Beit Haverim, 1111 Country Club Rd. Lake Oswego, OR 97034 Our Service this week will be conducted entirely through melody and song. Enjoy the beautiful voices of Ann Brown and the Beit Haverim Choir under the direction of Allan Kalik, accompanied by Aaron Cohen. This special service is a unique and wonderfully creative way to welcome Shabbat. Don’t miss it! If you can, please bring an item of food for the Sunshine Food Pantry and a treat to share at the oneg which will follow the service.
May, 2014
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Events in May Ladies Tea Saturday, May 17, 2:00PM Home of Suzanne Causer Dust off your spring bonnets and pull out your gloves, and iron your floral dress! Check out these photos lovely gals and the amazing spread from our last tea! It’s once again time for the Ladies' Group Spring Tea hosted by our own Suzanne Causer. We will sip tea, munch on finger sandwiches, cookies and tea cakes! Bring your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, or a special friend. $5.00 at the door! Please RSVP to Suzanne Causer.
Beit Haverim Blood Drive May 30, 2:00PM—7:00PM Beit Haverim, 1111 Country Club Rd. Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Please consider donating blood at the upcoming Beit Haverim Blood Drive. If you've never donated before, please know that this effort could help save up to three lives. All the money in the world cannot save someone's life who needs blood, because blood cannot be manufactured -- it can only come from generous donors. The process, including the interview and snack time, only takes about an hour -an hour that reaps life-saving rewards. To schedule a time to donate blood, click here and enter the Sponsor Code: BeitHaverim. Sign up early to get the time that works best for you. If you have any questions or need help with sign up, email Dena Gutterman.
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Upcoming events The 22nd Annual Song of Miriam Award Celebration Sunday, June 1, 10:00AM Location: Mittleman Jewish Community Center
Beit Haverim is very happy to announce that the Song of Miriam Award will be presented to Naomi Angier this year. We are so grateful to Naomi for taking on many responsibilities that keep Beit Haverim moving forward.
Click Here for details and to Download a Reservation Form
Save the date B’nai Mitzvot August 9—Abigail and Audrey Minch August 16– Jacob Sherman August 23– Edyn Pilkington January 10, 2015—Natalie Goldberg April 15, 2015—Caden Ellertson April 25, 2015 Matigan Williams June 20, 2015—Zack Friedman August 29, 2015—Gabriel Horwitz
Temple Fund Raiser June 7, 2014
May, 2014
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Upcoming events
For reservations and auction information click here.
May, 2014
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Get Involved! Beit Haverim Cookbook Remember the time you were at a Friday Night Shabbat Potluck and you had the best tasting (fill in the blank) ever? You wish you had that recipe. Well, the time has come! The Ladies' Group is compiling a cookbook of all those delicious recipes. We are looking for everyday recipes as well as those special holiday recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation. Whether it is Kugel, or Taco Salad, or that dessert that was gone before your eyes, we are asking you to share. Don't forget all those oneg or break-the-fast treats.
Click here to submit your recipe online, or blank forms can be found at the temple. All recipes should be in by July 15th so we have them published by the holidays. If you have any questions call or email: Suzanne Causer (317) 694-3957 Karin Stolz (971) 219-3484 Sue Greenspan (503) 691-0370
Help Sponsor the New Beit Haverim Directory Beit Haverim will be publishing a printed directory and distributing it to our 90 member families with the 2014/2015 membership packets later this spring. Please consider purchasing advertising space or a greeting to help sponsor this new directory. The printed directory will be 5 1/2"W x 8 1/2"H, with a black and white ad or greeting space available as follows: *Business Card size (3 1/2"W x 2"H): $25 *Half-page (4 1/2"W x 3 1/2"H): $35 *Full-page (4 1/2"W x 7 1/2"H): $50
If you are interested in purchasing an ad, please contact Dena Gutterman or click here.
May, 2014
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Get Involved! Volunteer Opportunity Are you are a Web Designer / Web Developer with experience in Joomla CMS? Beit Haverim is seeking an experienced individual to volunteer as an assistant to administering and managing our custom designed Joomla web site. Interested? Contact Michelle Bombet Minch.
Clothing Drive Time to start thinking about switching out your winter duds for spring. We are sponsoring a clothing drive for the Clackamas County Clothes Closet. It is an organization that depends strictly on donations. Low income school children can go there twice a year and "shop/pick out" clothes they can wear to school. Any gently used or new clothes can be donated. Under-garments need to be new but everything else can be used. It is a great cause and the needs just keeps increasing.
We have a bin at Beit Haverim set up for you to drop off your items starting April 1st. The kids range from kindergarten through seniors in high school, so pretty much any size works! For a tax receipt for your donation, please contact Gabrielle Williams. Any questions contact Karin Stolz or Barbara Gray.
Knitzvah! We are again knitting/crocheting hats, cowls, headbands and scarves for Lift Urban. They host a party every December for low income adults living in NW and Downtown Portland. This helps keep folks warm and it is often the only gift they receive all year. We have yarn at Beit Haverim that you can use. It is a basket in the fireside room. Last year we were able to give 47 items. It would be great to increase that number. Any questions, call Karin Stolz. Thank you so much for being part of this worthwhile project
May, May,2014 2014
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news Beit Haverim Geniza
Congregants who have materials they would like considered for geniza placement may contact Sue Greenspan, Chair of the Ritual Committee. For more details about the Geniza process please visit the December Newsletter.
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!
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!
April, May, 2014 2014
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More News Bar Mitzvah Suit Closet Reduce – Reuse – Recycle! Bring in your rapidly growing boy to borrow a suit for any synagogue occasion. We only ask that you dry-clean any borrowed item before returning it. This clothes closet benefits those in need AND lets us recycle through re-use. We are currently in need of donations of clothes in “like-new” condition, including belts and shoes as well. Girls clothes are welcome for donation too! If you have something to contribute, or if you would like to check out our collection for your own son’s use, please call Rita Sherman at 971-295-6884 or email.
Pet Loss Support Our member, Sharon Rose, is certified and offering pet loss support for other Beit Haverim members. Email Sharon or call her at (503) 352-5045 and she will be happy to talk with you as you go through your grief process.
Beit Haverim At Your Fingertips! Did you know that Beit Haverim offers a secure Member’s Only Section of the Web Site? You’ll find useful information there such as our membership directory. Visit Membership to learn how to obtain access to the Member’s Only.
While we’re talking about on-line tools, don’t forget to Like the Beit Haverim Facebook Page! It’s a great way to be reminded of upcoming events and see some great pics of your community! Beit Haverim On Facebook
May, 2014
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Community Events
May, 2014
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Community Events Call For Artists! ORA Northwest Jewish Artists invites artists and artisans of the local Jewish community to become members or a guest artists in our annual Celebration of Art Show and SALE. Join the only Jewish Arts Guild in the Pacific Northwest. Meet fellow artists, get inspired, discover new venues for exhibiting your work! For more information send a request to : oraartists@gmail.com Check out our website.
Nursery position at Lake Oswego Unified Church of Christ There is a Nursery position open at the LOUCC (where we share space). Click here for the link. Go to their website for their other open positions.
May, 2014
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In the Beit Haverim Community Yarzheits
Birthdays
Sidney Landskroner Todd Scheele
5/1
Madison Sternoff
5/2
Michael Willet
5/2
Kendra Ellertson
5/3
Anne Levine
5/7
Deena Klein
5/8
Nick Levine
5/8
Judy Silverforb
5/9
Heather Kirkbride
5/10
David Williams
5/10
Michael Dearborn
5/13
Joshua Hershinow
5/13
Mara Newman
5/15
Kelie Greenspan
5/15
Shira Fogel
5/16
Constance Dorreman
5/18
Joshua Willis
5/20
Lynne Saphir
5/21
Debra Freedman
5/25
Claire Frye
5/25
Joseph Willis
5/25
Robin Kay
5/27
Father of Charles K Landskroner Ron Landskroner
5/4
Brother of Charles Landksroner Rose Merr
5/11
Grandmother of Matthew & Cary Goldberg Miriam Ginsberg
5/15
Grandmother of Robin Kay Lucy Casuto
5/18
Mother of Esther Schwartz Sam Casuto
5/20
Father of Esther Schwartz Baby Dorreman
5/22
Grandson of Constance Dorreman Tami Haslam
5/25
Sister of Barry & Deanna Wiegler Roberta David
5/27
Great Grandmother of Erin and Brian David Morton Popkin
5/28
David and Nancy Levine Leon Bombet, M.D.
5/29
Uncle of Michelle Minch
Anniversaries
Adeline Marcoux
Jeffrey & Michele Beyer
5/2
Lynne & William Saphir
5/7
May, 2014
5/1
5/30
Grandmother of Michele Beyer
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