Chailites 11/17/2021 - Upcoming Congregational Meeting, Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, and More!

CHAILITES

November 17, 2021

TBC Events Through November 25, 2021

Friday, November 19, 7:30 pm - Torah Shabbat Services - Click here for zoom link NOTE START TIME!
Saturday, November 20, 9:30 am - Torah Study
Sunday, November 21, 9:30 am - Religious School
Sunday, November 21, 11:45 am - B'nai Mitzvah Seminar
Sunday, November 21, 4:00 pm - Interfaith Thankgiving Service at Christ Church Parish
Sunday, November 21, 7:30 pm - TBC Film Club Click here for zoom link
Wednesday, November, 24 - No Hebrew School

Temple B'nai Chaim

Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting

November 30, 2021

7:30pm via Zoom

The TBC Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. Remember, to join this meeting you will need to register on ZOOM!

At Temple B'nai Chaim, there are two Congregational meetings each year, held in November and May. This is your opportunity to hear what's going on, vote on important issues, ask questions and get to know one another.

Please come participate in our community! A quorum of member families is required to conduct TBC business. Attendance will be taken on Zoom.

**Please make every effort to attend and participate in these critical conversations.**

To respect everyone's time, we hope to keep this meeting to no more than 1 1/2 hours.

Agenda

Opening D'var, Cantor Harriet Dunkerley

Business Meeting

Approve minutes of May 2021 Annual Congregational Meeting (click here for a copy of the minutes)
President's Introduction/Report, June Mara
Cantor's Report, Cantor Harriet Dunkerley
School Report, Ellie Gluck and Dara Marceau
Membership Report, Susan Farber and Kiki Cahn
Treasurer's Year to Date Report, Deb Case
Vision for the Future, June Mara and Cindy Baulsir

As the meeting will be conducted on Zoom, please use the chat function during the meeting to ask questions and we will address them within allotted discussions.

To submit your vote on the minutes:

An electronic poll will open displaying the choices available
Each family has 1 vote - you will be able to make your choice and then submit. Once the vote is entered, the system will not allow you to change it or submit a second vote.
Voting will remain open throughout the call and will also remain open via email to susancfarber3@gmail.com for 15 days for us to conduct official TBC business (per the bylaws)

New TBC Film Club

November 21, 2021 at 7:30 pm

TBC is starting a brand new Film Club. All you need to do to participate is join the online streaming platform called ChaiFlicks. It is similar to Netflix, but offers Israeli movies and documentaries for a minimal monthly fee of $5.99. To sign up, go to www.chaiflicks.com.

Each month, a different participant will select a movie for the following month and the movie will be listed in Chailites. Watch the movie at your leisure; then join in for a fun and stimulating discussion on Zoom.

This month Ria Miller has selected "The Last Suit", a movie in which Abraham Bursztein, an octogenarian Jewish tailor, embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. Escaping a family intent on confining him to a nursing home, Abraham leaves Buenos Aires in search of the man who, over 70 years ago, saved him from certain death. With assistance from a roll call of generous strangers, the sharply-dressed suitmaker makes his way across Europe to Poland, undeterred by travel mishaps, family foibles and geographical obstacles. Heartfelt and charming, with a wonderful comedic flavor, THE LAST SUIT reminds us of the enduring importance of family, friends and keeping your word. In Spanish (with English Subtitles).

Please join us on Sunday, November 21 at 7:30 pm (click here to join) to discuss this delightful movie.

Rise Against Hunger ...

And That TBC Did!

Many members of TBC joined congregants from 9 other Wilton faith organizations, on October 23rd, and packaged 70,632 meals for hungry children. This is enough nutritious food to feed 327 children for a year! Many other congregants donated funds to be able to purchase the supplies for these meals.

This was a project of WI-ACT, (Wilton Interfaith Action Group), whose motto, appropriately, is “We Act Together for the Common Good”. TBC has played a very active role in WiACT for many years.

Due to COVID this event did not take place last year, but it was decided to do it this year with very strict COVID protection protocols in place. The number of participants was severely reduced, each participant had to show proof of vaccination and a negative covid test and all were masked.

Given these constraints, the event was an especially huge success. In addition to the meal packing to ship to other countries in need, we ran a successful food drive to fill the shelves of the Wilton Food Pantry.

Here's the response from Wilton's Department of Social Services:

"Thank you so very much for delivering all of that food this morning. We were beginning to have empty spaces on our shelves so your donation was timely. Please share our thanks with all who participated in the WiAct Rise Against Hunger event for donating their time and all who gave so generously for the food."

Thanks to all who made this possible!

Join us to honor

Bonnie Heft

as our Mitzvah Hero

at the Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County

MITZVAH HERO AWARDS CEREMONY

Sunday, December 12th at 4 PM

To make a gift in Bonnie’s honor, visit TzedakahShop.com.

Have You Ever Wanted To Learn How to Lead a Friday Night Service???

We are in need of several volunteers who would like to work with Cantor Harriet to learn how to lead a Friday night Shabbat Service! Prior experience with Hebrew or service leading is not required!

Families and friends are encouraged to learn and lead together. Practice services with the Cantor are part of the training!! Contact Cantor Harriet for more information.

Torah Study

This year we are taking a break from regular Torah study and diving into the Tanakh to see what scholars have been debating for millennia. New participants are welcome! You don't have to have any knowledge of the texts to participate and hopefully will bring new insights as to what has or hasn't changed since ancient times, and how it relates to our lives today.

Here is the next session: November 20th, 9:30 am - Book of Job

Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

Sunday, November 21 @ 4:00 pm

Cantor Harriet Dunkerley will be participating in leading the service and will be teaching the Modim.

Please bring a donation for the Redding Food Pantry. Here is a list of items that are most needed:

Toiletries
Feminine Hygiene products
Household cleaning products
Dried rice
Dried beans
Cooking oil
Caraluzzi’s or Shop Rite cards with amount written on card or on envelope

Help Murray Siegel Spread some Warmth

with his Mitzvah Project!

Hat & Glove Drive

for guests of the Dorothy Day Hospitality House

November 3, 2021-January 26, 2022

Collection Bin will be located in the lobby of the Temple B’nai Chaim from November 3, 2021-January 26, 2022

You can make a difference!

Your generosity will help Danbury residents in need stay warm this winter. The Dorothy Day Hospitality House has been providing meals and shelter to individuals since 1982. DDHH will distribute hats and gloves and mittens to guests who need them to get through the bitter Connecticut winter.

Items Needed:

● NEW Men’s Waterproof Insulated Gloves (size Medium & Large)

● NEW Warm Fleece or Knit Hats

So many ways to give!

● Drop off Hats & Gloves in the collection bin at TBC

● Make a Cash Donation (checks can be made out to TBC for hats and gloves)

● Make a donation by Credit Card on the TBC website (in “select a fund” drop down menu, choose “Tzedakah” then enter “hats & gloves in the “donation for” field Click here.

● Purchase directly from Amazon wishlist Click here

Giving couldn’t be easier! Just open your phone’s camera and scan the QR codes below to be led directly to the TBC Donation Page and Amazon Wishlist.

JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY

Thursday, Oct. 14 –

Sunday, Nov. 21

Ed Asner's final big-screen appearance, Menachem Begin's true story, a real-life mystery in the Roman Jewish ghetto, and more! What's Playing?

The Weekly Torah Portion

Vayishlach

[Jacob] Sent

Genesis 32:4−36:43

Jacob prepares to meet Esau. He wrestles with a "man," who changes Jacob's name to Israel. (32:4-33)
Jacob and Esau meet and part peacefully, each going his separate way. (33:1-17)
Dinah is raped by Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, who was chief of the country. Jacob's sons Simeon and Levi take revenge by murdering all the males of Shechem, and Jacob's other sons join them in plundering the city. (34:1-31)
Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin and is buried in Ephrah, which is present-day Bethlehem. (35:16-21)
Isaac dies and is buried in Hebron. Jacob's and Esau's progeny are listed. (35:22-36:43) Click here to learn more .

UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENCE

Tuesday, December 7 - 6:30 pm

Via Zoom

Dr. Aaron Krasner, a Board Certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, will speak at Temple B'nai Chaim on Dec 7th at 6:30 on "Understanding Adolescence."

In addition to discussing elements of adolescence, Dr. Krasner will offer practical guidance to parents and grandparents. Please join us for what should prove to be a very enlightening discussion. Please click here to register and obtain a Zoom link.

Surviving the Holocaust

In this moving and engaging talk, Lou Reens shared his personal experience as a young Dutch child in hiding from the Nazis and separated from his family for three years. If you were unable to join that conversation, you can listen to the recording by clicking here. To skip directly to the talk, you can start listening at 4:55.

COVID-19 Protocols - Masks Required

TBC now requires anyone entering our building for any reason to wear a mask - regardless of vaccination status. Masks must cover the nose and mouth and remain on while in the building. The only exception to the mask requirement will be for fully vaccinated staff and clergy while in their offices and for clergy (not lay leaders) on the bimah.

We will continue to watch the infection rate closely and will keep you apprised of any changes. We thank you for your cooperation.

Upcoming Events and Save the Dates!

November 30, Tuesday, 7:30 pm - Congregational Meeting via Zoom

December 3, Friday, 6:30 pm - Family Chanukah Celebration Shabbat

December 7, Tuesday, 6:30 pm - Understanding Adolescence with Dr. Aaron Krasner via Zoom

See the TBC Calendar for more upcoming events.

✓ Check out the TBC Event Planning Guidelines

Yahrzeits, November 19 - 25

Zeicher tzaddik livrachah!

Friday, November 19

Sylvia Krengel, mother of Marilyn Van Raalte

Saturday, November 20

Mel Yavner, remembered by the Heft Family

Sunday, November 21

Robert Enteen, father of Alice Learman

Monday, November 22

Rose Bloom, grandmother of Richard Bloom

Lori Kamber, cousin of Moses Alexander

Tuesday, November 23

Bernard Satten, cousin of Sandi Prince

Thursday, November 25

Solomon Fried, father of Bonnie Heft

Armen Dildilian, father of Karen Tartell

Robert Tartell, father of Ross Tartell

It is traditional to light a memorial candle at home on the eve of the yahrzeit. You may also find it meaningful while kindling the yahrzeit candle to offer prayers of remembrance or reflect on your loved one’s life. Many also choose this time to make monetary donations in memory of loved ones.