Beit Haverim November 2013 Newsletter

Coming Events at Beit Haverim November 2013

*Please note, there are 3 Torah Studies in November

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

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 311 Lake Oswego OR 97034 Beit Haverim Office 530 Fourth Street Lake Oswego OR 97034

1

Family Shabbat led by Rabbi Berg

7:00PM

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2

Torah Study led by Rabbi Berg

10:00AM

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3

Religious School Portland Monthly Book Club Hebrew Classes

2:30PM 2:45PM 4:30PM

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6

Confirmation Class

6:00 PM

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7

Men’s Group Trivia Night

6:00PM Blitz

8

Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Berg Sermon: In Celebration of Thanksgiving, “The Birth of the American Voice”

7:00PM

9

Tot Shabbat led by Rabbi Berg-Chanukah! 9:30AM Torah Study led by Rabbi Berg 10:00AM

12

Ladies Night At the Home of Karin Stolz

6:30PM

15

Shabbat Service led by Ann Brown and Gabe Hunter-Bernstein

7:00PM

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16

Torah Study led by Rabbi Berg

10:00AM

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17

Religious School Congregational Meeting Hebrew Classes

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

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20

Confirmation Class

6:00PM

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21

Beit Haverim and LOUCC Thanksgiving Service Joining Hands In Gratitude

7:00PM

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22

Shabbat Service led by Ann Brown and Robin Kay

7:00PM

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Rabbi’s Hours: by appointment Phone: 503-344-4839 Fax:: 503-344-4870 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

Friendship Good Deeds and Thanksgiving November 21 7 PM A shared service between Lake Oswego United Church of Christ and Beit Haverim Featuring Cantor Ann Brown, pianist Bill Davis and Guest Speaker Gary Davis from Nightwatch Dear Friends, I hope you can join me on Nov 21 in our sanctuary when we join together with our partners from the Lake Oswego United Church of Christ to celebrate Thanksgiving.

The service has been created by a very unique group of temple and church members. Our meetings to create the service have included lovely times of sharing readings, prayers, songs and, yes, ideas for dessert.

Let me start with the dessert. Country pie! Apple, pumpkin, cherry and vanilla ice cream. Why not it’s Thanksgiving!

Our mitzvah focus for the evening is Nightwatch, an organization that is a night ministry providing hospitality to promote dignity and community among Portland's neediest, hungriest and homeless. It is an organization with a mission that we need to learn about and try to support. Bring a pair of men’s socks and a donation for the basket. It will help Nightwatch perform its important mission.

Our own Ann Brown will lead the music program that will include the Church’s Bill Davis on piano, and will feature some of the treasured Thanksgiving songs and folk songs, including This Land is Your Land.

Additionally, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, at our Shabbat Service on November 8, I’ll be speaking on the topic: The Birth of the American Voice.

November will be a month filled with Hanukah, Thanksgiving, Apple pie, and community.

A great month at Beit Haverim!

Warmly, Rabbi Alan Berg

November, 2013

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Letter From Our President, Alan Cohen We had quite an evening last week at services. We welcomed our new member families (and by the way, there were 13 that we welcomed) with a dinner and special program during Shabbat services. We also were able to place a Mezuzah at the entrance of the sanctuary. I think it makes our place of worship and little more like home. It is also noteworthy that November 2nd marks 5 years that we have shared a space with LOUCC. What a wonderful partnership that has turned into. We have a lot to be thankful for.

Talking about Thanksgiving, I am very pleased that we will be holding a shared Thanksgiving service with LOUCC on Thursday, November 21st, at 7pm. I am hopeful that there will be a very strong Beit Haverim presence. This picks up a tradition we used to have with our friends in West Linn before we moved to LOUCC. Rabbi Berg and Cantor Ann Brown will be there. I hope you will be there as well.

Our office manager, Allison Fowler, is remotely operating at this point, and we will be closing down our physical office by the end of the year. We will be letting you know via the weekly email what the details are, but we could use help packing things up, and moving out items.

The financial committee and Mark Newman are actively trying to wrap up our pledge drive. If you haven't responded yet, please consider letting us know what your pledge is this year. We want to make sure we maximize any matching funds. Your generosity helps us continue to do what we do.

Finally, I want to make sure everyone is aware that we are having a Fall Congregational Meeting on Sunday, November 17th, at 2:30pm. Coffee and Bagels will be provided. Please plan on attending, learn more about what is planned in the near future (including a bylaws update that will be presented to the Congregation this Spring) and several board seats will be up for election. We need you to vote.

I look forward to seeing everyone at Beit Haverim sometime soon, and while it sounds strange for November, Happy Hanukkah (and Happy Thanksgiving) Until Next Month, Alan Cohen Take a look at our Facebook Album for photos from the New Member Dinner and be on the lookout through Nov. for an Lake Oswego Review article covering the Mezuzah Hanging and Thanksgiving Service.

November, 2013

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Beit Haverim Events, Cont’d "It's A Wonderful Life" Last day to purchase tickets is November 4th!

A musical adaptation of Frank Capra's film

by Janet Mouser Music and Lyrics by Michael Allen Harrison, Alan Berg and Julianne Johnson-Weiss Rabbi Berg joined together with Michael Allen Harrison and Julianne Johnson-Weiss to create an award winning score for “It’s A Wonderful Life” An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.

Portland Center for the Performing Arts Brunish Theater 1111 SW Broadway Portland, Oregon Saturday, December 7, 2013 Tickets are $25 each* Purchase tickets here.

Beit Haverim has a block of tickets reserved for the December 7th performance.

For more information, contact Karin Stolz.

As we approach the performance date, we will send out information for those interested in meeting at a restaurant for dinner prior to the show.

Check out press from last year’s premiere showing!

Portland Tribune/Lake Oswego Review The Oregonian 9 Time PAMTA Award Winner Including Best Score and Best Song November, 2013

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Beit Haverim Events Portland Jewish Book Month Discussion Nemesis by Phillip Roth Discussion led by Rabbi Berg Sunday, November 3, 2:45PM Beit Haverim, 1111 Country Club Rd. Lake Oswego, OR 97034 Nemesis� by Phillip Roth is an excellent story that takes place in New Jersey in the 1940s during a polio epidemic. It is fairly short and very readable and has a lot to say about faith in the face of an epidemic. Rabbi Berg will lead the discussion on Sunday November 3rd at 2:45PM at Beit Haverim. Check your local library or order the book from Amazon through Beit Haverim’s Shopping Link and Beit Haverim earns a percent of purchase price!

Enjoy bagels, cream cheese, coffee and great discussion!

November, 2013

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Beit Haverim Beit Haverim Events, Events Cont’d Men's Group Trivia Night Thursday, November 7, 2013, 6:00PM Blitz 99 West Sports Pub 10935 SW 68th Pkwy Portland, OR 97223 Answer: The Beit Haverim Men's Group, of course!

Question: Men, with whom will you enjoy a night of brotherhood and trivia on Thursday, November 7th?

Join us for a fun evening of comaraderie on the first Thursday of November! Blitz has it all: good food, cheap drinks, great music, exciting sports, fun games...and Thursday trivia! Arrive at 6pm to settle in - trivia begins at 7pm. New members and old friends always welcome!

Blitz 99 West is located on SW Pacific Hwy/99W in Tigard, about 1/2 mile west/south of I-5 exit 294.

Please contact Rob Hershinow if you plan to attend - look forward to seeing you!

Tot Shabbat—Chanukah!

Led by Rabbi Alan Berg Saturday, November 9, 9:30AM Beit Haverim, 1111 Country Club Dr. Lake Oswego, OR 97034 Welcoming all children and their families.

A fun-filled, casual service of songs and stories!

This month we'll be celebrating Chanukah with latke tasting and crafts! Enjoy Shabbat with your child and get to know other young families at Beit Haverim.

November, 2013

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Beit Haverim Events, Cont’d Ladies' Night Out - Chanukah Goodies and Recipe Exchange Tuesday, November 12, 2013, 6:30PM At the home of Karin Stolz. Address will be given when you RSVP to Karin phone number (971) 219.3484 or (503) 699.6189 Chanukah is just round the corner.

Bring your favorite dish and a copy of the recipe.

Everyone has their favorite latke recipe.

How about sweet potato latkes, apple latkes, or zucchini latkes.

A salad wouldn't hurt.

Beit Haverim Annual Congregational Meeting Sunday, November 17, 2013, 2:30 - 4:00PM Beit Haverim, 1111 Country Club Dr. Lake Oswego, OR 97034 Please join us for our annual congregational meeting. It's a great opportunity to learn more about what is being planned for our congregation in the coming months. We have several Board of Trustees positions that need to be voted on, and we will be having bagels and coffee at the meeting as well.

November, 2013

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Calling All Latke Mavens!

Sunday, December 8, 2013, 2:00PM Beit Haverim, 1111 Country Club Dr. Lake Oswego, OR 97034 The Beit Haverim Religious School will be having a Latke Party.

We need Latke Mavens (and those who would love to learn to make these tasty treats!)

All you will need to bring is an electric frying pan (if you have one), a spatula or pancake turner, and, of course, an apron.

Everything else will be provided!

Please RSVP to Sue Greenspan ,503.691.0370 A fun way to help out the Religious School and learn a new Jewish Tradition!

November, 2013

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CO-SPONSORED EVENTS Beit Haverim and LOUCC Thanksgiving Service Joining Hands In Gratitude Thursday, November. 21, 2013 1111 Country Club Road Lake Oswego, OR 97034 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Services led by Rabbi Alan Berg and Reverend Jennie Ott Cantorial Soloist Ann Brown Keynote Speaker: Gary Davis, Executive Director, Operation Nightwatch Guests are requested to bring Men’s Tube Socks or to make a monetary contribution to Operation Nightwatch.

Operation Nightwatch is a non-sectarian night ministry of friendship and community that has been serving Portland’s street population since 1981.

8:00 – 9:00 PM Pie and Ice Cream Social

Eighth Annual Weekend in Quest February 28, March 1-2 2013 Astoria, OR A Shabbaton of study and fun at the beautiful Oregon Coast Dr. Ellen Eisenberg Professor at Willamette University Department of History Topic: Go West, Young Mensch!

Presented by The Institute for Judaic Studies For more information, or contact Mimi Epstein , 503-203-2671

November, 2013

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Committee reports Sweet Repeat Wrap-Up Sweet Repeat was everything we hoped it would be!

Over twenty women came to the event. We drank wine and soft drinks, ate a crazy amount of sweets, laughed and chatted, and exchanged great looking garments and accessories. The result of this evening of fun is well over $500 for the updating and beautification of Beit Haverim‘s items at our sanctuary. Best of all, we had a great time doing it and nobody left empty handed.

Click here for a peek at this year’s event.

Ladies from this point forward, set aside your really nice, but no longer adored pieces of clothing for our next Sweet Repeat next year. You don’t want to miss it!

Thanksgivukkah Jewish Family and Child Service (JFCS) Please bring a can of Mixed Nuts (10 oz.) when you visit Beit Haverim.

In 2013 we have the blessing of being a part of the historic and once in a lifetime event of Thanksgivukkah!

Each year JFCS provides all the fixings for clients to prepare a nutritious and festive thanksgiving meal. In addition they collect items to provide low-income households with emergency assistance, toys and gifts during the holidays.

Last year because of your generous monetary donations and time, JFCS was proud to say that we raised enough funds to provide 483 individuals with all the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. We had 155 volunteers to help assemble and deliver the Thanksgiving box to clients homes. In addition we provided 63 families with gifts for the holidays.

This year Beit Haverim is directly partnering to help JFCS with this important work and be a part of the mitzvah to take care of our community. Beit Haverim has agreed to collect 150 Cans of Mixed Nuts (10 oz.) as part of a complete Thanksgiving meal.

Please bring your can of mixed nuts and deposit in the temple lobby box marked “JFCS Mixed Nuts” As you can imagine this year poses a unique challenge for JFCS to meet the needs of so many families with Chanukah and Thanksgiving falling on the same day. They couldn't do it without the generous support of our so many in the community.

Any questions please contact Constance Dorreman.

November, 2013

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Committee reports, cont’d Tikkun Olam “Repairing The World” Tikkun Olam at Beit Haverim 10/15/2013 During the month of September we collected nonperishable foods for the Oregon Food Bank. The final number was an amazing 618 pounds! I am told that this was almost 200 pounds more than last year. Participation in this event was remarkable. A big thank you to everyone who brought food items or made a monetary donation. The Oregon Food Bank will ensure that it will get to folks who really need it.

We are in planning meetings with folks from LOUCC for interfaith Thanksgiving service to happen on November 21, 2013. We will be collecting food on that date for their annual Thanksgiving basket project. Watch for more information on this inspiring event.

In September Dena, once again did a wonderful job organizing the annual blood drive. Over 22 donors made this a success. Thank you!

Rabbi, Sue Greenspan and I met with a representative from JFCS, who offered us several opportunities for partnership. We agreed to participate in their annual Thanksgiving basket project. Every partner in this project will collect one non-perishable item for the baskets. The goal for our congregation is to collect 150 containers of mixed nuts (10 oz), which we will deliver on November 15th. On November 22 we take the items to Neveh Shalom. The Project coordinator is Constance Dorreman in collaboration with Heather Kirkbride, will be getting more information to everyone about this partnership with JFCS. Be sure to check out the article on Page,10, “Thanksgivukkah Jewish Family and Child Service Food Drive” for more details.

Knitzvah is ongoing with hats and scarves to be delivered on November 30 to Lift Urban for their Christmas dinner. 32 items have been collected to date for this effort. Project coordinator is Karin Stolz. A big thank you to the donors for their participation in this project.

If you have an idea for a mitzvah project, that you would like to put forward for the months of January or February, please contact me to discuss it. Stacy Epsteen.

November, 2013

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Committee reports, cont’d Knitzvah!

Knitting to benefit Lift Urban Join our group of busy knitters who create hats and scarves that will be distributed by Lift Urban. Each December, Lift Urban throws a party for low income adults that live in NW and Downtown Portland and person gets to pick a hat or scarf to take home.

So far we have 31 hats and scarves and we’d really like to be able to donate at least 50.

Donations of yarn or finished product is GREATLY appreciated through Nov. 30.

Arrangements or questions can be directed to Karin Stolz.

Spring Fundraising Committee Are you interested in getting more involved in the synagogue?

We are looking for a Chair for the Spring Fundraiser. Please contact Alan Cohen if you are interested.

Community News and Notables Help us share community news and notables in a new section in the monthly newsletter. Each month 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 503-344-4839. We hope to hear from you!

Volunteer Opportunity Opportunity knocks!

Looking for someone to help with a project that is both Social Justice and an Interfaith effort. We are co-sponsoring with LOUCC a photo exhibit on February 9, 2014, called “Coming Out As A Person of Faith”. This exhibit is sponsored by Oregon United For Marriage.

We need representatives of Beit Haverim to work with LOUCC to help plan this event.

Most of the planning will take place in the next couple of months, with a couple of meetings. This is a great way to be more involved with our temple while supporting a worthwhile cause. Please call or email me Stacy Epsteen.

November, 2013

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Committee reports, cont’d Beit Haverim Geniza A geniza (a place where Jews store sacred objects/documents when they fall out of use) is established for the Beit Haverim community. This geniza is maintained in a congregant’s home, since Beit Haverim does not have its own property and since the BH office is closing. (When sufficient quantity of material warrants, the contents of the geniza in the congregant’s home will be removed and placed in the ground in a location yet to be determined.)

Items submitted for containment in the geniza are, per the Talmudic reference to this requirement and per traditional Jewish practice, permanently remain there and are not again used, examined or retrieved for any purpose. The BH Board Ritual Committee is responsible for overseeing the geniza function.

Material requiring storage in the geniza meets all of the following criteria: 1. Served a sacred purpose and/or there is sanctity ascribed to it. Therefore, a Hebrew newspaper would not require placement in the geniza.

2. Written in Hebrew and/or has God’s Hebrew name (Tetragrammaton) in it, if it is a document.

3. Written by a Jew, if it is a document.

4. It is no longer usable, namely that it is falling apart and/or is irreparably damaged.

Therefore, material that is out of date but still useable (such as a prior edition of a prayer book) could still be in circulation.

Examples of materials requiring storage in the geniza are damaged Torah scrolls, damaged tallit or tefillin, damaged prayer books, bibles or other sacred texts, damaged haggadot.

Where material that is no longer useable and has sanctity ascribed to it but does not seem to meet all of the above criteria, but where a congregant would like it considered in any case, the Ritual Committee is designated to review the matter and advise the Board as to whether to accept the material for placement in the geniza.

Congregants who have materials they would like considered for geniza placement may contact Sue Greenspan, Chair of the Ritual Committee.

Thank You to Barbara Brady for bringing this sacred project to fruition.

November, 2013

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News!

Bar Mitzvah Suit Closet Reduce – Reuse – Recycle!

Beit Haverim is launching a Suit Closet 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 .

Amazon Shopping Earns $'s For Beit Haverim Beit Haverim has earned $404 from your shopping at Amazon. Thank You! For those of you not yet familiar with this great fund raising tool - it's simple.

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!

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

November, 2013

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In the Beit Haverim Community Anniversaries Steve & Patricia Bilow

11/5

Karoline & Mitch Brock

11/14

Donald & Ione Spear

11/19

Kelie & Jeff Greenspan

11/24

Jonathan & Mair Blatt

11/28

Roberta & Lester Deasis

11/28

Birthdays David Birenbaum Karoline Brock Rachel Brock Cary Mallon Michael Dreger Deborah Perlstein Shira Naomi Cohen-Mallon Jahleel Heath Benjamin Kalik Alvin Payne Roy Lambert Isaac Payne Michael Langley Joey Peterson Robert Emmich Charles K. Landskroner Nancy Levine Fariba Mutschler Elijah Pilkington Ione Spear David McTeague Daniel Brock Allan Kalik Ilana Newman Rachel Tarmy Kevin Charles Mermelstein Jeff Sternoff Naomi Yospe Rose Miller Sam Dearborn

November, 2013

11/1 11/1 11/1 11/2 11/5 11/7 11/9 11/11 11/11 11/11 11/12 11/12 11/13 11/13 11/16 11/18 11/18 11/18 11/18 11/18 11/19 11/21 11/22 11/22 11/22 11/23 11/24 11/24 11/27 11/30

Yahrzeits Theodore Abrams 11/2 Father of Barbara Gold. Grandfather of Janet Sahni Bessie Ginsberg 11/4 Step Grandmother of Robin Kay Vicki Olson Sister-in-law of Brian Olson

11/4

Joseph Beyer Beyer, Jeffrey & Michele

11/6

Gail Schwartz

11/8

Eva Hunter 11/10 Mother of Michael Hunter-Bernstein George Siegall 11/10 Grandfather of Ken and Daria Ettinger Shirley Rosalyn Feinstein Mother of Alan Feinstein

11/12

Else Julius 11/16 Maternal Grandmother of Judith Kleinstein Murray Brown 11/17 Father of Ann Brown, Husband of Sylvia Brown Alma Berkowitz Sister of Hannah Berkowitz

11/18

Samuel Ginsberg Grandfather of Robin Kay

11/18

Charles Hunter 11/21 Father of Michael Hunter-Bernstein Earl David Grandfather of Jeff David

11/22

Kalah Reinshriber Jeffrey & Michele Beyer

11/22

Allison Cohen 11/24 Friend of Sahni family Mary Brown 11/28 Simon Wotman 11/28 Grandfather of Roberta DeAsis Lilyan Fish 11/30 Aunt of Eve Miller and Michael Langley