January 30, 2018/5778
Helene Bailen leading a class on Cooking & Memory
Calendar On the Calendar
18 Shevat, 5778
Torah portion:
Exodus  18:1-20:23

Haftarah portion:
Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6
Friday, February 2
6:00 p.m.  Qabbalat Shabbat

Claire Carroll will chant Qiddush 

6:45 p.m. LGBTQIA+ Shabbat (20's & 30's). Registration required. Recently featured  in Jewish Boston.
Saturday, February 3
9:00 a.m.  Shabbat Service & Torah Study

10:00 a.m. Thank Goodness It's Shabbat!

10:15 a.m. Shabbat Service

Claire Carroll Bat Mitzvah
Super Bowl Tzedakah  Wager
Look out, Philly! Temple Israel and Congregation Rodeph Shalom of Philadelphia have made a sacred #SuperBowlTzedakah wager! WHEN the Patriots win, Congregation Rodeph Shalom will donate 18x's the difference in scores to the CTE Center at Boston University School of Medicine. The CTE Center conducts high-impact, innovative research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy and other long-term consequences of repetitive brain trauma in athletes and military personnel. Let's all consider a donation before the Super Bowl in celebration of this exciting time for Boston! In the unlikely case the Eagles win, Temple Israel will donate 18x's the difference in scores to Philadelphia Youth Basketballwhich empowers youth as students, athletes, and leaders.
Read Rabbi Soffer's sermon on the meaning of being a good fan.
January 25, 2018
Local Synagogue Makes Super Bowl Wager with Boston Counterpart
Jewish Exponent
January 25, 2018
Synagogues Wager For Charity Over Super Bowl
CBS Philly
January 25, 2018
Temples in Boston and Philadelphia make Super Bowl wager
The Jerusalem Post
January 25, 2018
Temples in Boston and Philadelphia make Super Bowl wager
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
January 25, 2018
Temples In Boston And Philly Make Super Bowl Wager - With A Jewish Twist
The Forward
January 23, 2018
Childhood temple of Eagles owner in Boston makes charity wager with Philadelphia temple for Super Bowl
7 News Boston WHDH
January 24, 2018
Two Synagogues, One Sacred Super Bowl Tzedakah Wager
ReformJudaism.org

Chai in the Hub
"Michael Fishbein has that rarest of talents-he can meaningfully communicate with a teenager." Mazal tov to our Assistant Director of Education, Mike, who is being honored as a 2018 Chai in the Hub honoree! Read more about Mike's background and what he brings to the Temple Israel community.

Latest Issue of Insight
Our latest issue of Insight is now available online! Print copies have been mailed to all Temple Israel members, and we will have free extra copies available at the front desk. 
CAJLCenter for Adult Jewish Learning
Hundreds have joined us for thoughtful and engaging classes and learning opportunities at the Center for Adult Jewish Learning at Temple Israel. We invite you to join us as we continue our legacy as  as a place committed to deep Jewish scholarship, a community that is unafraid to ask the difficult questions and think about Judaism in new and exciting ways.
Tracing Family Genealogy
with Rachael Cerrotti
Three remaining sessions:  Mondays 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. 2/5, 12, 26
This course will give students the tools to begin exploring their family history and provide a chance to share stories, research methods, and discuss ethical questions regarding documenting personal history.  Read more and register .
Justice: Power, Broad-Based Organizing, and Leadership
A class from the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization-Metro Industrial Areas Foundation 
with Kathleen Patrón and guest GBIO leaders
6:30 - 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays: February 6, 13, 27; March 6, 13
$150 (TI member), $200 (non-member), coffee/tea provided
Content will include simulated exercises and role-play combined with lecture and discussion.
Storytelling, going behind the scenes of GBIO and Metro IAF's biggest successes and challenges, will be woven throughout to bring the concept to life. 
Read more and register .
Cooking & Memory: A Dash of This and a Spoonful of That!
with Susan Ebert and Phyllis Tobin
Sundays 10:00 - 11:45 a.m. 2/11, 3/25
$10/session
Gather to learn and prepare special recipes from TI members. Share memories, enjoy conversation, and learn a few cooking tips from our star chefs.  Read more and register
  • February 11: Hamentaschen - Susan Ebert
  • March 25: Charoset from around the world - Phyllis Tobin
Mussar: Seeking Everyday Holiness through Practice and Community
with Rabbi Jen Gubitz
Mondays, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. 2/12, 26; 3/12, 26; 4/9, 30; 5/14
Through group learning sessions and personal practice, we will delve into Mussar, Jewish spiritual practice, using methods drawn from the Mussar Institute and Everyday Holiness by Alan Morinis.   Read more and register .
Me'ah Select: Jewish Gastronomy in America
with Rabbi Lila Kagedan in coordination with CJP and Hebrew College
7:00 - 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays: February 15; March 8, 15, 29; April 12, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24
$300 (TI member), $400 (non-member), coffee/tea provided
Join us on a culinary tour of the history of Jewish food in America. This class focuses on both the Jewish history of American Jewish food and offer a "hands on' cooking component.  Read more and register .
Nominate an Emerging Leader
Do you know someone who would be a great addition to our Board of Trustees or Leadership Council? We are interested in identifying "emerging leaders" in our community - people who are either actively involved at Temple Israel or people who we hope will become more involved. Submit a nomination.
TILLITILLI Winter Session - Open to All
The Arts: Seeing, Creating, Learning
The Drawing Lab: Explore Your Drawing Mind
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Coffee at 10:30 a.m., program at 11:00 a.m., brown bag lunch at 12:30 p.m.
Presented by Deborah Putnoi, 
Visual Artist, Educator, Researcher

Daily Life in Ancient Greece
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Coffee at 10:30 a.m., program at 11:00 a.m., brown bag lunch at 12:30 p.m.
Presented by Phoebe Segal,
Mary Burgess Comstock Curator, Greek and Roman Art, Museum of Fine Arts

RSVP to Sue Misselbeck.
Mah Jongg
Come play Mah Jongg with TILLI! Games for experienced players and those who attended both learning sessions begin Thursday, February 1, 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., in the Youth Room.  RSVP  for the February 1 game, and p lease bring a bag lunch.  Space is limited.
racialRacial Justice Initiative
Support Black-Owned Businesses
Temple Israel's Economic Justice Working Group promotes purchasing from Black-owned businesses. This project is anchored in our awareness of insidious past and present racial discrimination; and in the evidence that Black-owned businesses are likely to hire Black people, and foster economic improvement for Black families and communities along with myriad other benefits. When we make a meaningful effort to spend dollars in line with our hopes for the world around us, we are participating in the drive for economic justice. Read Temple Israel's full list of recommended businesses.
Temple Israel-Beacon Academy Community Read: The Hate U Give
Thursday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m.
Temple Israel of Boston
Our communities will come together to discuss Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give. According to The New York Times, the book "offers an incisive and engrossing perspective of the life of a black teenage girl" as the protagonist's worlds "converge over questions of police brutality, justice, and activism." Written as a young adult novel, the book provides a window into that experience for adults as well. Sign up here.
fjeccFrances Jacobson Early Childhood Center
Havdalah with FJECC and the Village
Saturday, February 3 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Come and Celebrate with the FJECC Community and The Village for Families with Young Children at TempIe Israel! The event will include singing, parent learning and sharing, a Havdalah ceremony, and a family-friendly pizza dinner (a suggested donation of $18/family is appreciated). We will collect new or gently used boys' and girls' tops & onesies in sizes 18-24 months for the local non-profit, Cradles to CrayonsRSVP with the number of adults and children to Lisa Scott by Friday, January 26
Life Cycle Events
With each new life the world begins anew! We celebrate the birth of:
George Douglas Friedman
January 17, 2018
Son of David and Katie Friedman
May they be blessed with health, courage, and good fortune, and may their love and friendship deepen through the years. We celebrate the engagement of:
Lindsay Jacobson to Benjamin Ernstoff
December 8, 2017
Lindsay is the daughter of Lori and David Jacobson
May their memory be a blessing. We mourn the loss of:
Arnold Perlman Gold
January 23, 2018 (7 Shevat, 5778)
Father of  Maggie Gold Seelig (Jonathan)
Grandfather of Koby, Asher, and Max
Icek Litwin
December 31, 2017 (12 Tevet, 5778)
Father of Sharen Litwin
If you would like to send extend wishes of congratulations or condolences, please send them to  Rachel Daniels, Executive Coordinator to Rabbi Zecher, who will pass along your message. Are you or is someone you know celebrating a wedding? An engagement? A new baby? Do you know someone who is ill or in need of a friendly, supportive call? Please tell Rachel to let our clergy know.
beaconBeacon Academy
Motown Night
Thursday, February 15
7:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Temple Israel of Boston
Early bird tickets are $35; $40 at the door
Beacon Academy's Motown Night is an evening celebration that brings hundreds of people together for a night of live music, soul food, dancing, silent auction items, and more!  Last year Motown Night convened 300 people of all ages, from every walk of life and faith. Together this diverse group danced and rejoiced and raised over $25,000 for Beacon's Class of 2017.   Buy tickets .
Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.