News & Events - Thanksgiving Edition

NEWS & EVENTS

Nov. 14 / 21, 2023

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INTRODUCING "THE LEGACY PROJECT"

✦ Nov. 17, 7PM

▶︎ THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: WORLD JEWRY AT A CROSSROADS

RABBI FALICK WILL SPEAK

As Israel continues its attack on Hamas rule in Gaza, the consequences have spread to Jews throughout the world. Even as Jewish communities find themselves facing surges of antisemitism, many Jewish communities are also riven by disagreements over Israel's—and America's—policies. Where does our global Jewish family stand at this moment in time? What are our disagreements? And what does Humanistic Jewish philosophy teach us about expressing them with respect?

IN PERSON OR ON YOUTUBE:

Click HERE or on the graphic for YouTube (live & recorded).

Nov. 24: No Service

✦ Dec. 1, 7PM

▶︎ IN HONOR OF OUR 60TH ANNIVERSARY ....

THE LITTLE-KNOWN TALE OF HOW HUMANISTIC JUDAISM GOT ITS INDEPENDENCE!

During our big Nov. 10 celebration, we ran out of time before Rabbi Falick was able to tell a small story of how Humanistic Judaism became the true—and ONLY—movement for Humanistic Judaism. Come hear the fascinating story of how our movement came SO close (well, maybe not THAT close!) to being swallowed up by the Reform Movement!

🕎 Friday, Dec. 8, 6PM 🕎

Souper Supper

Chanukah Celebration!

Recommended Donation:

$10/Person ✡︎ $25/Family

More details below.

✦ Dec. 15, 7PM

▶︎ GUEST SPEAKER: STATE REP. SAMANTHA STECKLOFF*

UPDATE FROM LANSING

We will welcome Rep. Samantha Steckloff, Michigan House District 19, representing Farmington Hills, Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Southfield, Bloomfield Township, Bingham Farms, Franklin and Southfield Township.

*Re-scheduled from original date of Nov. 17.

SOUPER SUPPER & CHANUKAH CELEBRATION

Friday, Dec. 8, 6PM

Get your recipes ready! We'll need all the soup (and bread and desserts) we can get!

Funds raised from the Souper Supper will be used to fund Social Justice Committee projects, including the lunch-making project for the N.O.A.H. Soup kitchen.

✡︎ ✡︎ ✡︎

GUESTS ARE ENCOURAGED!

Invite your friends and family members!

✡︎ ✡︎ ✡︎

CELEBRATE CHANUKAH WITH CHJ ... AND HELP OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AT THE SAME TIME!

ATTENTION:

SOUP-MAKERS AND BREAD-BAKERS!

IT'S (ALMOST) TIME TO GET COOKING!

Please contact Audrey Pleasant to sign up! ([email protected]).

YOGA UPDATE!

GENTLE YOGA

WITH KAREN LUTZ

Fridays at 1PM

Beginning Nov. 17

________

AND DON'T FORGET OUR ONGOING ...

YOGA CLASS

WITH CONNIE GROSSMAN

Wednesdays at 9:30AM

Suggested donations for both classes:

Members, $5 / Non-Members, $10

JEWISH SETTLEMENT IN ISRAEL TO 1948

WITH NATAN FUCHS

With the current events in the Middle East, this is a good time to take a second look at the Jewish settlement in Palestine/Israel from the late 19th century to the present.

How did the century and a half Jewish-Arab conflict over Palestine begin? Why is it so persistent? In this series we will look at the history of the Zionist enterprise from its beginning in the early 1880s to 1948.

In Person, Sundays, 10:30AM

(check calendar for exceptions)

Recordings online at THIS LINK

NEXT LUNCH BUNCH

TOMORROW:

Wed., Nov. 15, 12:30PM,

Topic: “Getting Good at Getting Older.” Please. bring your own lunch / beverages will be provided. No RSVP necessary.

✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎

CHANUKAH PARTY

Wed., Dec. 13, 12:30PM

Lunch provided by Julie,

CHJ’s extraordinary culinary wizard!

$15 per person. RSVP: Suzanne Paul ([email protected]).

Following lunch:

Our annual “white elephant” gift exchange!

✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎✡︎

QUESTIONS? Please contact:

Suzanne Paul ([email protected]).

Join Prof. Fran Shor...

For a Brown Bag

Lunch 'n' Learn Discussion

... about the recent Detroit Public Theater production of "Eight Nights" by Jennifer Maisel.

Thursday, Nov. 16, Noon

In the Wine Library

EIGHT NIGHTS is Jennifer Maisel's award-winning story of Rebecca Blum, a Holocaust survivor who arrives in the United States in December of 1949. Set during the eight nights of Hanukkah, we travel with her as she builds a family and a diverse community of loved ones—always moving forward—daring only to touch the past for those she loves the most.

SUPPER CLUB!

IT'S BACK!

COMING IN SPRING 2024...

Back "in the day" our congregation was famous for its ongoing Supper Club program where members hosted lively dinner parties for other members (who also shared their own culinary contributions).

More than the food, what made Supper Club so popular was the conversation, the laughter, and the opportunities to meet other members.

Whether you're interested in hosting, attending, or just learning more about these events...

...Contact Bruce and Cindy Hillenberg at 248.892.4364 (or [email protected]).

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING

Sat., Dec. 16, 11:30AM to 12:30PM

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82417709465

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND!

COLLECTIONS UNDERWAY

Help us to clothe and supply those in need ...

... with new or very gently used books for children or young adults and new or very gently used winter clothing. Drop off in lobby.

If donating gently-used items or items from other categories, please first contact Audrey Pleasant ([email protected]) for more information.

KNIT / CROCHET / CRAFT FOR A CAUSE

Next Session: TBA

All welcome; no skill needed. Contact Audrey Pleasant ([email protected]) to be on the reminder list.

JEWISH EARTH ALLIANCE

Put Plastic Pollution in Its Place

Jewish Earth Alliance Network Briefing

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 8PM

To Register: CLICK HERE

Plastic production and waste is fueling climate change and poisoning the land, air, and water. Unless we act, the problem is only going to get worse. Globally, 450 million tons of plastics are produced each year, a number that is projected to triple by 2050. That's why this month's Action Alert, Break Free From Plastics, covers the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act (H.R. 6053/S.3127).

Our speaker, Rebekah Creshkoff, a self-proclaimed anti-plastics warrior, will highlight the issues surrounding plastic pollution. Rebekah also is an environmentalist and a "wannabe naturalist."

Opening words will come from Shani Mink. Shani is a seasoned farmer, experiential Jewish educator and co-founder and executive director of the Jewish Farmer Network.

INTRODUCING "THE LEGACY PROJECT"

After our wonderful sixtieth anniversary celebration, I decided to change our plans for this Friday night. Before our regular service schedule is interrupted by Thanksgiving and Chanukah, I felt it was important to turn to less celebratory issues. Our previously scheduled speaker, State Representative Samantha Steckhoff, has graciously agreed to re-schedule, allowing me to deliver some remarks about the Israel-Hamas war, including a look at its impact on Jews worldwide. I hope you'll join us at our usual time on Friday.

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Since I'm already devoting Friday's presentation to the war, I'd like to turn to another topic for this week's commentary.

Some of you might remember my Yom Kippur morning talk, "The Gifts of Legacy." (It's available for viewing at this link). I talked about the legacies we build throughout our lives, including the wisdom we impart to our loved ones and those in the wider circles of our lives; how these do not vanish with our deaths.

One of the most sacred duties—and I do not use those words lightly—of any rabbi is initiating the mourning and healing process. This often involves sharing the deceased's life story, as told to me by their grieving loved ones. While I strive to convey these stories as accurately as possible, I'm conscious that they are, at best, third-hand accounts by the time I share them.

To that end, I am excited to announce my "Legacy Project." I will dedicate one to two hours to listen to and record the life stories of our congregants. I hope to accommodate two to three congregants each month, depending upon the other demands on my time and schedule.

I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to get to know so many of you. And yet, over the years I've also been filled with occasional regret that there was so much more that I wish I had known.

If you are interested in meeting with me to share your life story, please email [email protected] to arrange a meeting. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to learn from and—when the time does come—share the wisdom of your experiences.