הקשר HaKesher
TBT's Newsletter: The Connection
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Come be a part of our growing Reform synagogue.
All are welcome!
Temple Beth Tikvah is pleased to welcome our newest members:
Jennifer Schindel and children: Lilith Schindel-Rockman & Meyer Schindel-Rockman
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February Calendar of Events |
Events and Activities
The following Events are held via Zoom:
February 10 - 4:00 pm - Board Meeting
February 12 Friday Night Shabbat Lights:
5:45 pm - Tot Shabbat
6:00 pm - Proneg (Oneg before the service)
6:20 pm - Erev Shabbat Service
6:45 pm - Meaningful Conversations
February 20 - 7:00 pm - Havdallah and Game Night
February 21 - 10:15 am - Tikun Olam-Do-the-Work
February 26 - 7:00 pm - Shabbat Purim Tish
February 28 - 10:15 am - Tikun Olam-Do-the-Work
February 28 - 2:00 pm - Community Purim CARnival
CHEVRUTA
"Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed"
Weekly on Sundays 9:00 - 10:00 am - 2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28
HAMSA: "FIVE CONGREGATIONS" COURSES
Jewish Environmentalism, Wednesdays 7:00-8:30pm 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10
Hamsa-Shmamsa, Sundays 7:00-8:30 pm-2/7, 2/21
ON THE HORIZON
March 27 - Start of Passover
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President's Message
Sheila Luber
With my two feet firmly planted in 2021, I can imagine the day when we vanquish this virus. I received a shot in the arm with my first vaccine and am hopeful for our future knowing many temple friends have also received their vaccinations or have put their names on waitlists.
My heart is lit with the prospect that in due time we will congregate in person, gather without concern and face each other openly. (I want to give and get HUGS!) But it can’t happen yet. So for Passover, Rabbi Johanna is producing a joyful virtual Seder while Jeanne Freeman and crafty member volunteers on the Passover crew are planning special goodies and the possibility of a few minutes of safely distanced face time.
During February, you can join your fellow members for online learning and Jewish studies with Rabbi Johanna exploring the connection between Maimonides and Jewish mysticism; two mini-Hamsa courses discussing Judaism and Environmentalism and Hamsa-Schmamsa: Laughing Our Way to Resilience; and two Tikkun Olam Do-the-Work groups, for adults and for teens, led by Rabbi Johanna and Lauralei Garrity. Members can join the conversations anytime. Just check your TBT Happenings on Wednesdays for the Zoom/registration links. When you’re there, learn more about our Havdallah & Game Night and Shabbat Purim Tish.
Last month’s services and events were indeed lovely with Rabbi Johanna hosting a congenial Shabbat@Home and a Friday Night Shabbat Lights, made even more delightful with two of Rabbi’s three Sunday School students, Vida Halpern and Jayda Wikler, adding their voices to the readings. We also enjoyed a lovely Tu B’Shevat Shirah with poetry, prose, and wonderful music provided by our talented musicians, Julie Geveshausen, Jo Booser, Eileen Heaton and guest cellist, Janet Gesme.
Though most of our Social Action programs have been paused due to COVID, Habitat for Humanity is offering an opportunity for those members who wish to be active and help build affordable housing cottages in downtown Bend. Reach out to Lynne Connelly to learn more and sign up to participate.
It’s always gratifying to hear from temple members acknowledging the effort and good work of our Rabbi, our Program Coordinator, and our many members who volunteer to serve on our Board, committees and teams. It takes a village and you are part of the tribe. You can make a difference. Please consider sharing your time and talents when called upon to participate as we all take our turn supporting and growing our wonderful congregation.
If you were amazed by the lyrical prose of the young poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, as she delivered her brilliant inaugural poem, click here to listen and marvel as she reads another -- Miracle of Morning.
B'virkat Shalom,
Sheila
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Divrei Tikvah
From Rabbi Johanna Hershenson
With the month of February, this year, comes the Hebrew month of Adar...the month that brings us the holiday of Purim. The ancient rabbis teach in the Talmud: In the month of Adar, marbim b’simcha—Increase joy!
Increase joy! Increase joy???? Where’s the joy to increase? We are home-bound, couch potatoes, missing each other, missing life the way it was, tired of Zoom and FaceTime and GoogleDuo and on-line school, longing to hug and kiss grandchildren, travel to destinations of choice, eat in restaurants, see live shows - music, art, film, comedy, poetry...
And yet, I find as I chat with folks...despite everything that feels so wrong, most of us are doing OK. We’re alright. Some of us have picked up new hobbies, or old ones long neglected. Some of us are eating better now that we are forced to cook for ourselves. Some of us are getting out into the outdoors and appreciating its steadfast beauty and capacity to regenerate each year as the seasons turn.
We are living in a time in which many challenges dampen our dreams—Covid, divisive politics, climate change, new perspectives on our history that hurt but are demonstrably true...
And...we are for the most part doing OK. Resilience is a thing.
Fault me for falling for formulaic film fantasies...but I just loved the fourth Rocky film, in which Rocky comes back for one more fight after years of retirement. At some point in the movie he says, it’s not about how many punches you land—it’s about how many times you get knocked down and then get back up again.
Our strength as individuals, as Jews or as Americans, is that we emerge from challenging times and rebuild, rededicate ourselves to the journey.
The story of Purim suggests one coping tool that works is humor, the capacity to laugh—even at ourselves. Imagine a Jewish uncle caring for his Jewish niece puts her in a beauty contest to be exploited by a heathen king? Imagine the king extends his scepter to the beautiful queen and when she takes it in her hand he gives her everything he has to give. Really? We’re not supposed to pick up the innuendo? Better yet, after Queen Esther saves the day, imagine the real end of the Megillah that we never read in front of the children...the Jews get several days during which they are permitted to plunder and kill Persians at will as compensation for the pain and suffering caused by Haman and his plot. Are you kidding me? Are we supposed to take this story seriously?
I don’t believe so. I believe it is a work of comedy intended to help us laugh at our enemies (which are no laughing matter) and laugh at ourselves, how we provide fodder for our own stereotypes.
Laughter is healing. Laughter is more fun than the alternative, crying or complete surrender.
It makes sense that the rabbis draw our attention to joy and laughter as the winter gives us its hardest blows and we are feeling batty from being indoors.
How can we rise to the call to increase joy in this month of Adar, February? Let’s practice and see what emerges. It can never hurt to share a laugh, a smile, a glint in the eye with our loved ones. There is no reason to not give it a try! Happy Adar, Temple Beth Tikvah. Increase joy!
B'virkat Shalom
~~ Rabbi Hershenson's office hours are by appointment. If you would like to set up an appointment, please contact her by email at: johannahershenson@gmail.com, or by phone at 541-213-9880.
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Board Member
Lester Dober
Member-at-Large
and Past Treasurer
This is the fourth in a series of bi-monthly spotlights on our board members. Eileen Katz
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When you talk with Lester you recognize that you are speaking with someone who has a truly positive outlook on life and is deeply committed to Judaism and family.
Lester was born in Bridgeport Connecticut where he and his brother were raised in a Jewish home in a Jewish neighborhood. Lester attended Hebrew school twice a week. As a teenager he played basketball and tennis and even managed his high school tennis team.
When Lester was a freshman in college, he met Diane at a party. Although he was intrigued by her, a potential relationship seemed far-fetched as Diane lived 500 miles away in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Still, Lester finally called her several months later. And the rest, as they say, is history. The two were married in 1960 after postponing the wedding several times while Lester served in the Army Reserves.
Lester attended the School of Pharmacy at the University of Connecticut. For the first eleven years after graduation, Lester worked for pharmacists in the area. He and a partner then opened two pharmacies in Connecticut, one in Trumbull and one in Darien. Lester and Diane moved to Trumbull where their two daughters, Lauren and Robin were born. Diane left her career as high school AP English and French teacher to raise the children.
While in Trumbull, Diane was in charge of publicity for a synagogue production of Fiddler on the Roof which played four performances. Lester took pictures during rehearsals. After putting in full days, one night he fell asleep during rehearsals and woke up to find he had been assigned two parts, the Russian Orthodox priest and one of the Cossacks! The theater production was a real family affair with Robin playing in the orchestra and Lauren selling candy.
The cold weather in the East finally got to the Dobers and in 1994 they moved to Marina del Rey in Southern California. Later, they found their way to Bend when their daughter Lauren and her husband moved here. While Lauren’s husband commuted to California for two years, the Dobers moved in with Lauren and helped with their two grandsons, Jake and Zack.
At one time the Dobers were worldwide travelers. In their adventures, they made it a point to visit a synagogue in each of their destinations, from Norway to Moscow, from Florence to Krakow, and all places in between. When Jake and Zack celebrated their Bar Mitzvahs in Israel, the Dobers visited the synagogue that Diane’s father helped build in Tel Aviv. Luckily Diane works as a travel agent for her clients in Beverly Hills!
How did Lester and Diane find their way to TBT? Their daughter Lauren was one of the founding members of the synagogue. It’s a small world. Diane knew one of TBT’s first Rabbis, Alan Berg, from their Temple in Pittsburgh where both their parents were founding members.
Lester has been active in and committed to TBT since he joined the temple in 2011. He served four years as treasurer and is serving an additional two as a Member-at-Large. Even before his service to TBT, he attended board meetings. Lester has also taken pictures at community events.
When asked what he would say to someone contemplating a more active role in TBT, Lester said “Jews have a lot to offer the world. It is important to keep Jewish heritage and synagogues alive.”
We can all agree that we are fortunate to have someone as committed to TBT as Lester Dober.
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During the month of February, TBT members are invited to participate in two mini-courses presented by Hamsa: Five Congregations Learning Together.
Judaism and Environmentalism with Rabbi Devorah Marcus
Wednesday evenings, January 27 – March 10
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Zoom
January 27th is the festival of Tu B’Shevat – the New Year of the Trees! To celebrate Judaism’s deep roots with environmentalism, we will begin our seven week mini-course on Jewish environmental perspectives. Together we will look at Jewish attitudes towards conservation, restoration, and different philosophical perspectives and theologies concerning our relationship to the world around us.
See the weekly Happenings for the link to register.
Hamsa-Schmamsa: Laughing Our Way to Resilience with Rabbi Johanna Hershenson
Sundays, February 7 and 21
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Zoom
Purim is not fun by accident. The ancient rabbis instruct us to increase our joy throughout the Hebrew month of Adar. On February 7th, we will explore the tropes in Jewish humor that are familiar to us. On February 21st, we will travel back in time and re-read the Megillah, as if it is an early piece of distinctively Jewish humor and see what happens…
See the weekly Happenings for the Zoom information.
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Havdallah Game Night at TBT |
Game Night
Saturday, February 20
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Zoom
The Hebrew month of Adar — and its holiday, Purim — are all about having fun and finding joy, even during tough times. Covid has us home-bound, glued to our tv’s, quarterbacking everybody and everything from our armchairs and sofas.
Let’s do what we used to do when we were stuck at home and a thunderstorm caused a power outage and we couldn’t watch tv...play games! Rabbi Johanna Hershenson and Alex Charney Cohen are exploring virtual gaming venues we can use to play games together...from home!
Please RSVP by Friday, February 19 by emailing our program coordinator at lauralei.garrity@gmail.com so that we can share any necessary downloads beforehand.
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Friday, February 26
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Zoom
Celebrate Purim with Rabbi Johanna Hershenson and your TBT family at our Zoom Purim Tish (table). Members of all ages are welcome! We will help Esther save the day by solving a series of puzzles together!
See the weekly Happenings for the Zoom information.
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The Teen Tikkun Olam Group will be meeting twice a month starting in March. The schedule has been altered slightly since we last posted about the group in the weekly Happenings.
Facilitators Rabbi Johanna Hershenson and Lauralei Garrity welcome TBT teens from bar mitzvah age and up to join the on-going conversation.
The group’s first meeting will be on Sunday, March 7 from 10:15 AM - 11:45 AM. For more information email Lauralei at lauralei.garrity@gmail.com
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Sunday
February 28, 2-4 PM
Congregation Shalom Bayit/JCCO - Parking lot
Come celebrate Purim in costume, bring a friend, and donate your new or gently worn shoes to our Soles4Souls Shoe Drive. Drive through or walk to physically-distanced stations with fun activities for all ages!
Costume Contest -- wear something special, decorate your mask or your car!
Games and prizes for the kids and young at heart!
Purim Trivia and Stump The Rabbi!
Hamantaschen... yes, there will be Hamantaschen!
Soles4Souls is a 501c3 organization that turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity, by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use – providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty. https://soles4souls.org/
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Regional Jewish News
Terry Reynolds
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If you have teens interested in STEM, an exciting opportunity awaits them! Your teen can apply for the SciTech 2021 Technion Israel Institute of Technology's summer science camp in Haifa, Israel. There are other programs for young adults in Israel as well. Learn about all of these programs and available scholarships in The Jewish Review. Click here for the January 6th issue that has information about STEM for teens & other camps.
If you are interested in reading what's going on in the Jewish community in Oregon & SW Washington, The Jewish Review is your best source for regional Jewish news, programs, opportunities, art and more for adults and kids. It is published twice a month and is free online from the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland.
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TBT Board Notes
Next Board Meeting: February 10, 4-6 pm.
Due to COVID-19, all board meetings are being held via Zoom. If you would like to attend, contact Lauralei Garrity at lauralei.garrity@gmail.com.
If you would like to read minutes of previous board meetings, you can request a copy from Board Secretary, Terry Hoogstede tahoogstede@bendcable.com .
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March Newsletter Deadline: February 24th
This newsletter is emailed to both members and non-members each month. If you have something you want to include in the newsletter, please e-mail it to Eileen Katz: eileentam@aol.com by the 24th of each month for the following month's publication. As always, you will continue to receive "e-minders" before important events take place.
Shalom,
Eileen
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Temple Beth Tikvah gratefully acknowledges the following contributions:
- Lester & Diane Dober In Memory of Goldie Dober
- Tully Ellsberg In Memory of Cana Ivy
- Jeanne Freeman & Burt Litman - In Memory of Philip Freeman
- Seana Jollo Donation to TBT Goodwill Fund
- Liz & Paul Levinson In Memory of Mary Solomon
- Liz & Paul Levinson In Memory of Annie Solomon
- Liz & Paul Levinson In Memory of Steven B Solomon
- Liz & Paul Levinson In Memory of Ida B Levinson
- Liz & Paul Levinson In Memory of Michael J Levinson
- Liz & Paul Levinson Donation to Social Action (Tzedakah) Fund
- Liz & Paul Levinson Donation to Music Fund
- Lee & Joseph Henson To Youth Education Fund in Honor of the birth of their grandson, Jesse Cyprus Henson
- Andreas & Terry Hoogstede In Memory of Josephine Hoogstede
- Terry Reynolds To Gary Reynolds Memorial Fund in Memory of Wolfe Nichols & Herb Hochstetter
- Chuck & Marilyn Shattuck In Memory of Helen Shattuck
- Roberta Spiro In Memory of Sidney Spiro
Donations listed above were made to the Temple's general fund unless otherwise specified.
You may honor the lives and achievements of friends and relatives via a tribute with a donation to TBT. You can do this online by clicking here, or by sending a check and the name and address of the person being honored to TBT at P.O. Box 7472, Bend, OR, 97708.
Donations may be designated to a specific fund, including:
- General Fund
- Gary Reynolds Memorial Fund
- Youth Education Fund
- Music Fund
- TBT's Goodwill Fund
- Social Action/Tzedakah Fund
- or the Corrie Grudin Memorial Fund
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Temple Beth Tikvah
P.O Box 7472
Bend, OR 97708
541-388-8826
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Your secure online donation to
Temple Beth Tikvah
is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your generosity.
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Celebrations in February honor the following:
Birthdays:
- Camille Smith February 1
- Carl Schlosberg February 5
- Jay Luber February 6
- Elena Maidenberg February 6
- Chuck Shattuck February 7
- Anne Held February 10
- Adrienne Phillips February 12
- Eileen Katz February 13
- Eliana Canas Katz February 13
- Julie Geveshausen February 16
- Ben Wikler February 17
- Gene Hudson February 18
- Asher Mahony February 19
- Rudolph Gold February 21
- Phyllis Greenbach February 25
- Jennifer Schindel February 27
- Bradley Slate February 27
- Aya Rainier Salant Jambor February 28
- Tracy Smith February 28
Anniversaries:
- Roberta Spiro & Wendell Brown February 14
- Richard & Susan Lazarus February 19
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President:
Sheila Luber
Past President:
Ann Rosenfield
Vice President
Kerrie Zurovsky
Secretary:
Terry Hoogstede
Treasurer:
Mark Schindel
Members-at-Large:
Lester Dober
Jillian Frankl
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Budget & Finance
Chuck Shattuck
Membership
Terry Reynolds
Program Oversight
Kathy Schindel
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Adult Learning
Mel Siegel
Bikur Cholim
Suzanne Schlosberg
Evie Lerner
Linda Brant
Calendar Keeper
Kathy Schindel
Chevra Kadisha
Ralph Uri
Communications & PR
Kathy Schindel
Sheila Luber
Music
Julie Geveshausen
Newsletter
Eileen Katz
Onegs
Jan Freeman-Bauer
Program Coordinator
Lauralei Garrity
Religious Education
Melissa Wikler
Social Action
TBD
Venue Logistics
Mark Schindel
Webmaster
Jeanne Freeman
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Your secure online donation to
Temple Beth Tikvah
is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your generosity.
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About Temple Beth Tikvah
For Jewish families, retirees and singles at every level of faith in Central Oregon, Temple Beth Tikvah provides a comforting embrace for the soul of your DNA. We are a dynamic Reform Jewish congregation with friendly, giving, active people drawn to Bend and Central Oregon because of the active lifestyle we find here.
We come together in different ways, inspired and informed by our common thread of Jewishness. Whether you were born Jewish, love someone who is Jewish or choose to be Jewish. Practice Judaism a little, a lot or not at all. TBT can serve as the heart of your vibrant, connected life.
We can be your primary source of friendship, purpose, spiritual and intellectual pursuit. Or a side note adding flavor and dimension how and when you want. Whichever you choose, TBT offers an inclusive, communal foundation on which to build your relationships, experiences and practice. From social activities to social action, worship to study, participation to leadership. It's your choice, in this community of yours.
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PO Box 7472
Bend, OR 97708
(541) 388-8826
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