Chailites 6/1/2022 - Cantor's Installation Weekend Events, Mitzvah Day, Food Drive, More!

CHAILITES

June 1, 2022

TBC Events Through June 9, 2022

Friday, June 3, 5:30 pm - Installation Shabbat Buffet Dinner
Friday, June 3, 7:00 pm - Cantor Dunkerley's Installation Shabbat Service followed by a festive oneg (in person at TBC; also via Zoom - click here)
Saturday, June 4, 10:30 am - Torah Study Brunch (in person at TBC)
Saturday, June 4, 7:00 pm - Havdalah, Shavuot Dairy Potluck and Music/Learning with 3 Cantors (in person at TBC)
Sunday, June 5, 10:30 am to 1:30 am - Mitzvah Day and Food Drive (in person at TBC)

Note: For events held on site at TBC, see TBC's COVID Safety Guidelines for information on vaccination requirements and reporting.

Come and Celebrate Together!

Friday, June 3 at TBC

Dinner at 5:30 pm

Installation Service at 7:00 pm

No celebration would be complete without food!

At 5:30 pm eat and drink with choices from a wonderful buffet dinner

Your Community, Your Clergy, Your Jewish Expression

At 7:00 pm Cantor Harriet's Installation Service Begins with

Prayers led by our amazingly talented school singers (singing and dancing along strongly encouraged)

Readings by our diverse congregation - from founding members to our newest TBC families

Stories of love and musical expression that capture Cantor Harriet's spiritual journey

It must be a party! There's more food at a festive oneg following the service.

With guest clergy Rabbi Brian Beal and Cantor Sally Neff. (See biographical information below.) We look forward to seeing you there!

BTW, the table centerpieces will be flowering plants that will be planted in our gardens on Sunday as part of our Mitzvah Day!

May 2022 COVID Policy Update

With the increase in the COVID infection rate and because we will be having many congregants and guests in the building next weekend for the Cantor’s Installation, TBC will be returning to the policy in effect prior to making masks optional. This policy will remain in effect until further notice. The updated policy means:

You must be fully vaccinated (see guidelines here) to enter the building and you must be masked (masks may be removed while eating, but we ask that people maintain social distancing);
On the bimah, clergy may remove their masks while speaking or singing;
Congregants and guests invited up to the bimah for a reading, candle lighting or prayer must remain masked.

Join Us for a Delicious, Catered Brunch

Saturday June 4, 10:30 am

And Torah Study With Rabbi Brian Beal

While we feast on bagels and lox and other delicious delicacies, we will participate in an interactive study and workshop on Ethical Wills framed by this week's Parasha - B'Midbar - the first portion in the book of Numbers.

We will consider the most important life lesson someone significant in your life taught you. Then, how you impart these life lessons to your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Join us as we explore these and other questions and learn how to effectively share our answers! We look forward to seeing you in person at TBC.

Guest Clergy for the Installation Weekend

Rabbi Brian Beal

Rabbi Beal grew up in Monmouth County, NJ and served as the JFTY (now NFTY-GER) Chaplain. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Emory University and received a Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters in 1997 and ordination in 1998 from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he wrote a thesis on Judaism and the Twelve Steps.

Rabbi Beal served Temple Shaari Emeth in Manalapan, NJ, where he was particularly focused on engaging youth and young families. He was the rabbi of Temple Beth Torah in Nyack, NY - now called the Reform Temple of Rockland - for thirteen years, where he worked with staff and volunteers to develop award-winning social justice experiences, initiated an interfaith symposium in partnership with local synagogues, churches and a mosque, and fostered a welcoming environment for people with disabilities. Most recently, he served as the interim rabbi at Beth David Reform Congregation in Gladwyne, PA, Temple Beth-El in Jersey City, and Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction.

Cantor Sally Neff

Cantor Sally Neff was born and raised in Queens, New York. She completed a double degree program through Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Oberlin College, where she studied Vocal Performance and Judaic Studies earning honors in both. Her great love for Judaism, spirituality, and music led her to pursue cantorial school rather than a career on the stage. She attended the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion School of Sacred Music, completing her degree in 2002, with a thesis entitled, “Music as Midrash: Music as a Language for the Creation and Communication of Meaning.” She has served congregations in Edison, New Jersey, Worcester, Massachusetts and is now in her eighteenth year as Cantor at The Reform Temple of Rockland.

Havdalah, Shavuot Dairy Potluck, Music/Learning

Saturday June 4, 7:00 pm

Join congregants and the community to celebrate the eve of the Jewish festival of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. We will enjoy a Havdalah, dairy potluck, singing, dancing and special recognition of Cantor Harriet Dunkerley for her installation weekend. Cantor Dunkerley will be joined by Cantor Penny Kessler (United Jewish Center of Danbury), and Cantor Laura Breznik (Temple Shalom, New Milford). We will hear the magical melodies of Shir HaShirim - an exploration of the erotic love poetry of the Song of Songs. RSVP required!

TBC Mitzvah Morning and Community Food Drive

Sunday June 5, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm

Below are items needed by the pantries at this time. Monetary contributions are even more welcome! Checks can be made out to the Wilton Community Assistance Fund (WCAF) or to Redding Social Services. Donations may also be made using the Temple's Donation Form specifying Tzedakah Fund and indicating the contribution is for the "Food Drive." If contributing food items, please be sure it has not passed the "best if used by" date.

Wilton Food Pantry needs

oatmeal
granola bars
individual fruit cups
peanut butter
jelly/jam
salad dressing
hearty soup
canned legumes, corn, baked beans
condiments, relish, pickles
feminine products
adult incontinence products
coffee and tea

Redding Social Services needs

Caraluzzi's or Stop & Shop gift cards
toiletries
laundry detergent
coffee

Cantor Harriet Dunkerley offered the closing Memorial Day benediction at Hillside Cemetery and also served as the Chaplain for Wilton’s Memorial Day Parade! (More pictures!)

TBC Film Club

Wednesday, June 8, 7:30 pm

We will meet on June 8 at 7:30 PM and discuss a movie called Shiva Baby. (Click here for the Zoom link.) It is available for viewing on Kanopy (using your local public library) or on Amazon Prime for rental for $2.99. You can also watch it on some HBO channels. Please let Ria Miller know if you are planning to come.

The movie is about a college student who runs into her sugar daddy and ex-girlfriend while attending a Jewish funeral service with her parents. The movie won 11 awards and 44 nominations.

Sisterhood Shabbat is around the corner!

Friday, June 10, 7:00 pm

Please join us in celebration on June 10 at 7:00 pm in a joyous and original Shabbat Service. Of course, Cantor Harriet will lead us in song chosen for this special service, and community members will lead us in readings. Do we need to say, “A special Sisterhood Oneg will follow the service"? We think not. The following morning, Sisterhood will lead Torah study at 9:30 am. We look forward to seeing you there!

TBC congregants are invited to share news of their family events and celebrations in Chailites. Please send your information to chailites@templebnaichaim.org.

TBC is Here For You!

If you or a family member is ill or in need of care - or if you know of someone in our community who needs help - please contact Cantor Harriet. Our Caring Committee is here to provide assistance - meals, rides to doctors' appointments or shopping.

The Weekly Torah Portion

B'midbar

In the Wilderness - בְּמִדבַּר

Numbers 1:1 to 4:20

God commands Moses to take a census of all the Israelite males over the age of twenty. (1:1-46)
The duties of the Levites, who are not included in the census, are detailed. (1:47-51)
Each tribe is assigned specific places in the camp around the Tabernacle. (1:52-2:34)
The sons of Levi are counted and their responsibilities are set forth. (3:1-3:39)
A census of the firstborn males is taken and a special redemption tax is levied on them. (3:40-51)
God instructs Moses and Aaron regarding the responsibilities of Aaron and his sons, and the duties assigned to the Kohathites. (4:1-20) Click here for more information

Upcoming Events and Save the Dates!

June 10, 7:00 pm - Sisterhood Led Shabbat
June 11, 9:30 am - Sisterhood Torah Study
June 17, 5:30 pm - TBC Burgers and Brew Shabbat
June 24, 7:00 pm - TBC Pride Shabbat

See the TBC Calendar for more upcoming events.

✓ Check out the TBC Event Planning Guidelines

New Address for Jewish Senior Services

From Nancy Altchiler, Synagogue Liaison: Jewish Senior Services has moved to its beautiful new campus at 4200 Park Avenue in Bridgeport! If anyone is interested in a tour please contact Nancy Altchiler at naltchiler@jseniors.org. To learn more about the first state-of-the-art intergenerational senior living campus and Household Model nursing home in the state, visit www.jseniors.org. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Darlene Miakos at dmiakos@jseniors.org. Also, membership in the J Fitness Center is open to the public. There is a discounted rate for synagogue members. Please contact Kim Fox at Kfox@jseniors.org for more information. This is an exciting time for our community, please be a part of it!

Yahrzeits June 3- 9

Zeicher tzaddik livrachah!

Friday, June 3

David Isacson, step-father of Ronnie Ross

Saturday, June 4

Ruth Lipsky, mother of Ann Paul and grandmother of Jaimie Meyer

Sunday, June 5

Libby Bender, mother of Lew Bender

Bobby Garek, uncle of Patti Masarek

Monday, June 6

Selma Benn, aunt of Sandy Tepper

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.

You Can Make a Difference at TBC

Have you been thinking about making a donation to support TBC in some way? We have made it easier for you to do just that! Please check out our new donate now button!