February 3 - February 9, 2020 / Shevat 5780  
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Please click on underlined items throughout this newsletter for more information and to RSVP. 
OCTOBER 19-NOVEMBER 2, 2020 - ONLY FOUR SPACES LEFT! 
The only thing better than visiting Israel is visiting Israel with Rabbi Sharfman and your Kehillah friends!  
 
Kehillah members receive $200 off by using memberk200 when registering and paying!
 
If you're interested -- from "just curious" to "ready to pack RIGHT NOW!" -- email us so we can keep you updated.

THIS WEEK
Torah Talk

Beshalach
Exodus 13:17-17:16
The Israelites flee from Pharoah to the Sea of Reeds. God parts the sea for Moses, the Israelites walk through and the Egyptians drown in the the returning waters. This is where we find the  Song of the Sea (Mi Chamocha.) 
TORAH TALK                                                 
Saturday, February 8
10:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m.

No prior knowledge is needed to enjoy Torah Talk; all are welcome. Be part of an amazing 4,000-year-old conversation, as relevant today as when it began. Torah Talk is one of Kehillah's most-loved traditions -- a morning filled with questions, conversation, and laughter. This session will be led by Rabbi Sharfman.

Please RSVP by Thursday, February 6, and please park in the back when you arrive
on Saturday. Would you like email reminders about Torah Talk? Just  let Ellen know
See below for the complete Torah Talk schedule. 
YEP! and Cafe Kehillah
Sunday, February 9
9:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m.

During Cafe Kehillah you will be given the opportunity to meet and talk with Camp Stein          Director, Leah Zigmond. Food will be provided by the Schaeffer family.

LOOKING AHEAD
 BOOK GROUP
  Monday, February 10
 1:00 p.m. 
 
You don't have to be a "regular" to enjoy Book Group; you can come to any meeting for any book you like, any time. Book Group is open to all Kehillah adults and their guests. At our February meeting, we'll discuss Let the Great World Spin, by Collum McCann.  Click to RSVP and for location information. 
 
Read ahead! At our March 16 meeting we'll discuss Atonement, by Ian McEwan. To get on the Book Group mailing list, please  email Rick.

WOMEN'S NIGHT OUT (WNO)
Monday, February 10,  5:30 p.m. for Happy Hour pricing; 
6:00 p.m. dinner
Picazzo's
7325 Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Please RSVP to Renee by February 7th.
  KABBALAT SHABBAT  
   Friday, February 14       
  Kabbalat Services will begin at 7:30 p.m                     
    
  We will be recognizing February birthdays and anniversaries. The Oneg will be sponsored by Jordan Bock & Sharon Agopian in honor of Sharon's birthday.

 Join us to welcome Shabbat.

movie-tickets3.jpg MOVIE TIME 
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Late morning/early afternoon

Movie Time meets on the third Sunday of most months, and is open to all Kehillah adults and their guests.  
 
Click here for updated information and to get on the Movie Time email reminder/update list, which lets you help decide what movie to see; or send your name and email address to  Leona.   

GAME NIGHT
Saturday, February 29
6:15 p.m. 
 


Here are some of the donors who are providing fabulous prizes for our Game Night! Click the links for more information.

AUGUSTA Ranch Golf Club  
https://www.augustaranchgolf.com/  
Augusta Ranch Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona is an 18-hole, par 61 golf course renowned for its exceptional playing conditions, friendly service, and challenging layout. This course allows players of all abilities to get out and enjoy the game of golf, the way it is meant to be enjoyed.    

Biosphere 2              
https://biosphere2.org/      
Massive Open Online Course Free MOOC available through Coursera! This online course will take you on an incredible journey around Planet Earth and beyond. We welcome you to take advantage of this exciting opportunity!


Butterfly Wonderland                    
https://butterflywonderland.com/    
Butterfly Wonderland is a one-of-a-kind experience for locals and tourists, children and adults alike. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona.


WOMEN'S PROGRAMMING
ROSH CHODESH PROGRAM

As we all know the Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashana (Head of the Year) began the end of September; but did you know that the first day of the new Jewish month is called Rosh Chodesh? Rosh Chodesh (Hebrew: ראש חודש; Beginning of the Month; lit. Head of the Month) is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the birth of a new moon. It is considered a minor holiday, akin to the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot. Women have celebrated Rosh Chodesh together for centuries, gathering in people's homes or synagogue and bonding over a common theme. It is a meaningful experience and we have been approached by several of you who wish to attend a Rosh Chodesh at CK periodically (this is NOT in place of WNO).

We have scheduled a Rosh Chodesh program and celebration on Tuesday, February 25th at 6:30 pm at the synagogue.
SOCIAL ACTION
Remember "Mom" and the other women!  

Reminder: There are hungry neighbors and families experiencing food insecurity throughout the Valley, throughout the year -- even if we can't always see it. And there are women who can't afford basic feminine products. Our food collection bin for  Mom's Pantry  is always in our lobby, and our Kehillah Cares bag for  women4women tempe  is in our ladies' room. 
 
Please bring food and toiletry donations whenever you come to Kehillah. 
OUR KEHILLAH FAMILY
Condolences to...
Karen (Alan) Thursby on the passing of her aunt Henrietta (Henny) Lebowitz in Florida. Funeral will take place in New York on Thursday.

Refaeinu . . .
Stanley Rosen,  father of Robin Rudin
Dan Simon
Cathy Michels
Ethan Miller, son of Reisa Miller
Abbott Miller, son of Reisa Miller
Hinda  Sterling , sister-in-law of Reisa
Miller 
 
Da vie Glaser
Kimberlie Rich, sister of Pamela Miller      
Rose Sobel,  mother of Bruce Sobel
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I am available to all Kehillah members in times of joy and sadness. Please let me know when I can extend support and comfort to you and your family.
~ Rabbi Sharfman
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund
Penny Celmins - In honor of the birth of Zoey Lee Kirklin 
Marc & Debbie Melhado - In honor of Rabbi Sharfman
Stan & Cookie Morganstern - In memory of Shayna Bickel & Jacob S.Tucker

Your donations in any amount are genuinely appreciated. 
Please help support Congregation Kehillah by donating to Kehillah's various funds  
-- to celebrate, honor, remember, give thanks, to assist, or simply to do tzedakah.  
You can donate through our website in any amount or send a check. Congregation Kehlllah is a 501(c)(3) organization; donations are tax-exempt to the fullest extent allowable by law. (Please consult with your tax adviser.) 
General Fund 
Caring Fund 
Torah Fund 
Social Action Fund
Gottlieb Music Fund 
Education Fund 
Oneg & Hospitality Fund 
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund 
Bookplates  
Memorial Plaques 
You can also plant trees in Israel directly through Kehillah, shiny-tree-button.jpg  
and Jewish National Fund will send a certificate out on your behalf.  
Each tree is $18 and a portion of your donation stays with Kehillah.  
Contact Renee for more information or to place your tree order. 
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Here are other great ways to support Kehillah 
 
Celebrate with an Oneg
Sponsoring an Oneg is a great way to celebrate your lifecycle events and other wonderful news with your Kehillah family. For 2020, we are aiming to have every Oneg sponsored. To reserve your Oneg, please email Renee or call her at 602-369-7667.
 
Use Amazon Smile when you buy on Amazon
You can sign up for Amazon Smile and choose Congregation Kehillah as your charity. It's simple, costs nothing, and Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase price to Kehillah. Here's how to sign up:  
 
Visit smile.amazon.com and select Congregation Kehillah. That's it! After you're signed up, shop on Amazon by visiting smile.amazon.com (your Prime account goes with you) and continue as usual. The website will remember you selected Congregation Kehillah, and every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com  will result in a donation.
Did you know . . . 
that it is customary to donate at the time of Yizkor or when Kaddish is recited in memory of a loved one? It is also customary to make a donation when given an aliyah (honor) during a service. 

Jewish Philanthropy: The Concept of Tzedakah is a much-admired practice throughout the world. "In Jewish tradition, tzedakah requires the donor share his or her compassion and empathy along with the money. Judaism teaches the belief that donors benefit from tzedakah as much [as] or more than the recipients." 

You can find out more about the roots and practices of Jewish philanthropy at Learning to Give.   
OF INTEREST ELSEWHERE
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 7 p.m. at the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, 122 E. Culver Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

JEWISH PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN - by Edward Kritzler
Professor Stan Mirvis of Arizona State University will lead a critical discussion of the book, highlighting the history of Jewish life in the Caribbean through a tale of swashbuckling  Jews who ransacked the high seas in the aftermath of the Spanish Inquisition.

FREE. Please RSVP to lbell@azjhs.org or call 602-241-7870.


PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE _______________________

The message below was originally emailed to our congregants on January 29, 2020.
 
Dear Friends, 

Thanksgiving in January - Sometimes we forget to say thanks, or we take something or someone for granted. In this case, it's someone near and dear to all of us, namely our Rabbi Sharfman. Two weeks ago, Rabbi and Erica were belting out tunes from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Kabbalat services. Other times it's somber and serious as we deal with the difficult issues of the day. For those who attend Torah Talk, Rabbi brings the parsha (Torah reading for that week) to life. For others, she quietly deals with congregants' personal issues as she helps them ease the pain. If Rabbi hasn't seen you in a while, don't be surprised if you receive a telephone call checking up on you and making sure everything is okay. I've known and worked with Rabbi for many years and I want to take this opportunity to publicly say "thank you" for her leadership and caring. Why now, you ask? The answer to that is simple. As President I work closely with Rabbi and see up close and personal the love and dedication she invests in our Kehillah. What we don't see is just how difficult that job is. Whether it be YEP! or a life-cycle event, Rabbi is there. There will be an Israel trip in October with an amazing itinerary - negotiated by Rabbi. I could go on, but you get the point. Thank you Rabbi Sharfman!
 
Regarding the  Israel Trip, the invoices and group airfare schedules are out, and the price is very reasonable for a trip of this scope. The invoiced price is for coach airfare, but individuals can choose to upgrade to Premium Class or Business Class. As you probably know, we still need a few people to sign up to secure our group travel. For those concerned about the costs, you pay a $250 deposit now to book the trip with the balance not due until August.  Click here for trip information
 
I've already received some  photos for the Goldfarb Family Bistro. The call for photos will be ongoing, so go through your photos and see if you have any that are "wall worthy." As a reminder: 
                - Pick 6-10 (absolute max) photos that are in digital form (e.g., .jpg)
                - Subject matter, preferably Israel/Jewish 
                - Excellent quality as these photos will be enlarged
                - Email them to:  Kehillahpix@gmail.com
 
I've been copied on the list of prizes for February 29th  Game Night. The list is amazing! Thank you, Paulette and everyone else involved in making this a fun evening for all. Check Connections for details.
 
Finally, I was asked about  sponsoring an Oneg. The concern was that if you are the sponsor, you must buy the food, do the setup, etc. Fortunately we have several volunteers from our congregation who handle the details. A big thank you to them! We do have some openings for Oneg sponsorship, so please contact Renee if you're interested.
 
Enjoy the beautiful weather.

L'Shalom,

Gil Blumenthal

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CompleteScheduleKabbalat Shabbat   |    Torah Talk   |   YEP!
_________________________________________ 
 
Shabbat candles
SERVICES  
Kabbalat Shabbat  
B'nai Mitzvah

Kabbalat Shabbat begins on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.  
    
February 14
February 28
March 13  
March 27
March 28 - Bar Mitzvah of Isaac Hemmert, 10:00 a.m.
April 17
May 1 - Bar Mitzvah of Noah Sunshine-Barinbaum, 6:30 p.m.
May 15
June 12
June 13 - Bar Mitzvah of Ryan Heller, 10:00 a.
TORAH TALK
   
Torah Talks are led by Rabbi Sharfman (except where noted) and are held monthly on Saturday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. They are among Kehillah's most-loved traditions --  mornings filled with questions, conversation, and laughter as we explore that week's Torah portion. No prior knowledge is needed to enjoy Torah Talk; all are welcome. For more information, contact Ellen Lerman.
   
February 8
March 21
April 25
May 2 ( depending on weather) 


YEP!  
  Youth Education Program 

YEP! sessions are held on Sundays during the school year from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon unless otherwise noted. Read about YEP! here. Please use this registration form. Questions? Please contact Renee.  
    
February 9
February 23
March 15
March 29
April 5
April 19
May 3
May 17
 
 
 
 
Congregation Kehillah   
602-369-7667
info@congregationkehillah.org    |     congregationkehillah.org
5858 E. Dynamite Blvd., Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Mailing Address: 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Ste. 1630 #439, Phoenix, AZ 85050
IN EVERY ISSUE

QUICK-LOOK CALENDAR              
 
Saturday, Feb.8
Torah Talk
 
Sunday, Feb. 9
YEP!
Cafe Kehillah

Monday, Feb. 10
Book Group
Womens' Night Out

Friday, Feb.14  
Kabbalat Shabbat

Sunday, Feb. 16
Movie Time 
 
Sunday, Feb. 23
YEP!

Tuesday, Feb. 25
Rosh Chodesh
 
Friday, Feb. 28
Kabbalat Shabbat
 
Saturday, Feb. 29
Game Night
 
October 19-Nov. 2
Kehillah's Fabulous Trip to Israel
      
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  Information for Seniors  
 
The Senior Concierge Project (through Jewish Family and Children's Service) can provide information and help with socialization, education, transportation, home care, living facilities, legal assistance and more for those over age 60. Contact Janet Arnold Rees, Senior Concierge, at 480-599-7198 or janet.rees@jfcsaz.org.
 
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  Need a hand?   
 
Need a ride to services or to an event? Have an odd job that might need an extra hand or two? Give Men of Kehillah a shout! MOK members are ready to help out. Email Rich Fox at 
phoks1@hotmail.com.   
    
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Remember "Mom" and the other women!  

Reminder: There are hungry neighbors and families experiencing food insecurity throughout the Valley, throughout the year -- even if we can't always see it. And there are women who can't afford basic feminine products. Our food collection bin for   Mom's Pantry is always in our lobby, and our Kehillah Cares bag for women4women tempe is in our ladies' room.  
 
Please bring food  
and toiletry donations whenever you come to Kehillah.    
 
       
 
   
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Congregation Kehillah Leadership 

Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman
Gil Blumenthal,  
  President
Scott Leader,
  Cantorial Soloist
Renee Joffe,                
  Administrator

Board of Directors:
Rich Goldman,
  Immediate Past President
Joseph Ettinger,
  Member at Large
Henry Fleet,
  Member at Large
Rich Fox,
  Member at Large 
  MOK President
David Goldfarb,
  Member at Large 
  Building Chair
Leslie Goldman,
  Member at Large
Arlene Maletta,
  Member at Large
  Hospitality Co-Chair
Ilene Malka,
  Education Chair
Jane Neely,
  Member at Large 
  High Holy Days Chair  
  Hospitality Co-Chair
Dr. Bruce Sobel,
   Member at Large
Dan Sommer,
   Member at Large
Paul Stein,
   Member at Large

Additional Support:  

Scarlett Allison,
  Caring Committee
Amy Bessen,
  Webmaster
Rick Cohen,
  Book Group
Paulette Fraenkel,
  Social Action
Leona Garza,
   Movie Time
Dr. Stephanie Kirklin,
  OLC Director 
Ellen Lerman,
  Torah Talk and Special  
  Projects
Vicki Mardell,
   Membership Co-Chair
Reisa Miller, Sherry Siegel
   Newsletters
Mark Solow,
  Finance Manager

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We love hearing from you!

If we don't respond to your email within 24 hours, it means we did not receive your message.  Please call us at 602-369-7667.
   
 
We  take a technology break for Shabbat and Yom Tov. If you have an emergency during these times, please leave a message on the Congregation Kehillah phone and we will get back to you. O therwise, we ask that you please call or email us after the Sabbath or holiday ends.