Chailites 12/22/2021 - Yiddish documentary, New Member Service, Return to the Catskills, and more!

CHAILITES

December 23, 2021

TBC Events Through December 30, 2021

Friday, December 24 - DIY Welcome Shabbat - Click here for a copy of the prayers and accompanying recordings
Sunday, December 26 - No Religious School
Wednesday, December 29 - No Hebrew School
Friday, December 31 - DIY Welcome Shabbat - Click here for a copy of the prayers and accompanying recordings

Mazel Tov!

Mazel Tov to Michele and Judson Scruton on the marriage of their daughter, Liz Cooke to Ian Cooke under a gorgeous Chuppah in a castle in Ireland!

Photographs From Last Friday Night's

Torah Shabbat Service

Wishes of the Season from TBC!

As we near the end of our secular year, we invite you to gather safely to share sacred, precious time with family and good friends as you welcome Shabbat on Friday 12/24 and Friday 12/31 in the comfort of your own home or that of a loved one. Click here for a copy of the prayers and accompanying recordings.

To give our Clergy, lay leadership and staff some much deserved time with family, TBC’s building and office will be closed beginning Friday, December 24 through Sunday, January 2. We look forward to welcoming you back in person again beginning Monday, January 3. With prayers and our best wishes for a joyous and peaceful start to 2022. May it be a year of good health and blessing for all.

TBC Gives Back

Family Service to Welcome New Members

Friday, January 7, 2022 at 6:30 pm

אור חדש (Or Chadesh)

"A New Light for a New Year"

For the first Shabbat of the year 2022, we come together to create a light to spark us with joy for the new year.

There have been many new families that have moved into our communities in the last two years and we are thrilled to welcome them at a service filled with the light from a multitude of candles. Everyone is invited to bring a candle or candlesticks and we will tell the family stories that come with those lights: "this candle was purchased on a trip to Israel," or "this one sat by the side of my bed on the night I gave birth to my daughter."

Our very participatory evening starts promptly at 6:30 pm January 7th. Whether you are a TBC founding member or you joined last week, our intention is to send everyone home with the perfect “glow” – from an individual spark to a community blaze!

(Note: The TBC protocol for safe gathering includes wearing masks indoors. The sanctuary is set up to maintain recommended social distances. There will be heaters in the courtyard at the end of services so that we may enjoy time to schmooze and nosh safely.)

Zoom into Havdalah and Return to the Catskills!

Please join with our neighbors in B’nai Israel Southbury to ZOOM into Havdalah and Return to the Catskills!

Saturday, January 8, 2022, 7:00 PM

(Havdalah Blessings)

Followed by presentation by noted historian Oscar Israelowitz.

This audio-visual Journey will revisit the grand hotels, historic landmarks, and experiences of the Jewish farmers who settled in the mountains in the early 1900s, and their remaining wood-framed synagogues. This event is co-sponsored by TBC Sisterhood, TBC Adult Education, and B’nai Israel Sisterhood and is open to all TBC members, friends, and guests.

Please RSVP here to register and receive a Zoom link.

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

A collection bin is located in the lobby of the Temple B’nai Chaim from November 3, 2021-January 26, 2022. Click here for more Information

TBC Film Club Movie is "Yiddish"

Tuesday, December 29, 7:30 pm (Zoom)

At our December TBC Film Club meeting we will be discussing a documentary called "Yiddish," in which seven young people tell their personal stories with the Yiddish language while discussing the life and work of avant-garde Yiddish poets.

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.

The Weekly Torah Portion

Sh'mot

Names

Exodus 1:1−6:1

The new king of Egypt makes slaves of the Hebrews and orders their male children to be drowned in the Nile River. (1:1-22)
A Levite woman places her son, Moses, in a basket on the Nile, where he is found by the daughter of Pharaoh and raised in Pharaoh's house. (2:1-10)
Moses flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian. (2:11-15)
Moses marries Zipporah, the daughter of Midian's priest. They have a son named Gershom. (2:16-22)
God calls Moses from a burning bush and commissions him to free the Israelites from Egypt. (3:1-4:17)
Moses and Aaron request permission from Pharaoh for the Israelites to celebrate a festival in the wilderness. Pharaoh refuses and makes life even harder for the Israelites. (5:1-23) Click here to learn more .

Parkinson's Education Series for Those With Early Onset Parkinson's and Their Caregivers

Jewish Senior Services is offering a free educational series for those newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s and their caregivers with a focus on the stages of the disease and how to maintain safe mobility and minimize functional decline. This program is supported by a community grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation. SATURDAYS, JANUARY 15, 22, 29 & FEBRUARY 5 & 12 10:00 AM–11:30 AM In-person and Zoom attendence options are available. Please arrive 15 minutes early for the first session to fill out a questionnaire.

All classes take place at: Jewish Senior Services, Grasmere Adult Day Program, 4200 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT Park in the back of the building and enter through the Community Services entrance. If you are attending virtually, a Zoom link will be emailed to you prior to the sessions’ start times.

RSVP TO MARY AT MPRUZINSKY@JSENIORS.ORG OR 203-365-6474 BY JANUARY 10

COVID-19 Protocols - Masks Required

TBC 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!

Wednesday, December 29, 7:30 pm - TBC Film Club

Friday, December 31, - DIY Shabbat Service

January 7, 6:30 pm - New Member Family Service

January 8, 7:00 pm - Sisterhood Havdalah & Learning - Welcome Back to the Catskills, Oscar Israelowitz via Zoom Register here

January 22, 6:00 pm - Sisterhood Potluck Havdalah at congregants home

See the TBC Calendar for more upcoming events.

✓ Check out the TBC Event Planning Guidelines

Yahrzeits, December 24 - 30

Zeicher tzaddik livrachah!

Saturday, December 25

*Florence Cohen Aronson, mother of June Mara

Monday, December 27

*Madonna A. West, mother of Valerie West-Rosenthal

Wednesday, December 29

*Adrienne Merkel Berenbaum, mother of Diane Berenbaum

*Arthur M. Gold, father of Amy Gold Socher, friend of Wendy Nadel

*Barbara Prince, aunt of Russ Prince

*Malcolm Whitham, nephew of Russell Robbins and Valerie Rosenson

Thursday, December 30

*Barbara Paul, wife of Roland Paul

*Martin Shapiro, uncle of Michael Bonheim

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.