Temple Beth El. Spring & Summer. Program Guide 5778

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1 Temple Beth El Spring & Summer Program Guide 5778

2 Chaverim, TBE exists to help its members elevate their Jewish spiritual and communal lives. Our dynamic Rabbi, talented lay leaders, and dedicated staff are always working to find new ways to accomplish this goal, and we are particularly proud of the quality and diversity of programs coming up in the next several months. Here is an overview of the types of classes and events included in TBE s March through August 5778 Program Guide: Adult Jewish Learning Cooking Classes Community Events Family Engagement Spiritual Programs Tikkun Olam In every program we seek to grow and enrich our community and we cannot do it without your help and participation. Therefore, we ask that you read over this booklet and mark your calendars for the events you would like to attend, and don t forget to RSVP when required. If you have any questions or suggestions, would like to register or RSVP, or if you would like to be a part of planning our future programs, send an to office@tbemaine.org or give us a call ( ). Wishing you a beautiful spring and summer! Kate Shalvoy Executive Director OUR MISSION is to be an embracing, supportive and vibrant community which observes Conservative Judaism and is committed to perpetuating Jewish values, culture and tradition. Temple Beth El honors the diversity of its members and is committed to their spiritual, intellectual and religious growth. 2

3 3 Encountering God: A Conversation Special 4 Week Course taught by Rabbi David Friedenreich Every Sunday in March at 10:30 am $18 for members / $36 for non-members Scholarships Available What does it mean to speak about God? What have Jews past and present said about God? What do we feel comfortable saying about God? We ll explore these questions and more in this four-session class. Participants are strongly encouraged to read chapters from Neil Gillman s The Way into Encountering God in Judaism before each session, but all are welcome regardless of advance preparation. A limited number of copies of the book are available at the TBE library for loan. A Taste of the Maine Conference for Jewish Life: The Complications of Egalitariansim with Melanie Weiss March 11-9:45am Free - No RSVP Join Melanie Weiss from the Center for Small Town Jewish Life as we look at the changing roles men and women have played -- and are currently playing -- in the American Jewish landscape, and how feminism has changed the Jewish world, creating both massive opportunities and new challenges. We ll put a special emphasis on the Conservative movement! Haifa: City of Steps with Nili Gold April 22-10:30 am Free - No RSVP Haifa: City of Steps is an intimate and revelatory journey through the author s native city. With an expert hand, Nili Gold offers a guided tour through Haifa during its heyday in the 1920s and 30s as an international port and cultural center through the 1948 war and the city s subsequent decline. She weaves together urban, architectural landmarks and Haifa s mountainous topography with literary masterpieces to elucidate how a childhood landscape is imprinted in memory. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Caro lauded Gold s book on this subject as beautifully written and impeccably researched a true contribution to the literature of cities. ADULT JEWISH LEARNING

4 ADULT JEWISH LEARNING Israel and the New Jewish American Novel with Guest Lecturer Anthony Wexler Sunday, April 29-10:30 am Free - no RSVP required Since its founding in 1948, Israel has played an important role in the Jewish American imagination. But the Jewish state has come to mean very different things to different segments of the American Jewish community. Perhaps not surprisingly, many twentieth-century Jewish American writers steered clear of the topic, focusing instead on the Holocaust or on Jewish life in America. In the last five years, however, a new generation of Jewish American writers have turned their attention to the relationships between American Jews and the State of Israel. But what do these contemporary writers have to say about this fraught and complex connection? And how do they imagine Israel s influence on Jewish American identity today? You Asked About the Family with Sculptor Robert Katz Sunday, May 6-10:30 am Free - no RSVP required Many of us have family tales that resonate with the common themes of life in the old world, persecution, immigration, redemption and the reconstruction of memory. It is in the details of each of our stories that the uniqueness of each journey is revealed. Robert Katz will present a compelling, illustrated talk about his journey that began on a dark, wintry night along the banks of the Kennebec River in Maine to a mountaintop in Montana. We then continue with him on an expedition to a remote mountain landscape in Eastern Europe where, by following the footsteps of a pack of wolves, he discovers the fate of his family. Hill 24 Doesn t Answer Film Screening and Discussion Sunday, June 3-10:30 am Free - no RSVP required Released in 1955, Hill 24 Doesn t Answer (running time 1 hour and 41 minutes) was the first movie to be produced in Israel. Set during the Israeli War of Independence in1948, four soldiers from the newly formed Israeli Army are assigned to hold one of the hills surrounding Jerusalem before the United Nations imposed cease fire. We learn in a series of flashbacks how each soldier came to fight for Israel. A discussion of the film will follow. 4

5 Sephardic Shabbat Monday, April 16-5:30 pm - RSVP Required For this class, Daniel Heinrich reaches into his own heritage going back 600 years to Sepharad (Spain) to instruct a meal of traditional Judeo-Spanish dishes. Learn to cook Saffron Rice with Almonds and Pomegranate Seeds, Chraimeh (Fish with Spicy Tomato Sauce) and Fennel Salad with Olive and Lemon. The course will be followed by dinner and participants are encouraged to invite up to 3 friends or family to join them for the meal at an additional $8 per person. BYOB Wine. $18 for members / $22 for non-members. RSVP by April 9 Falafel b Pita Monday, May 14-5:30 pm - RSVP Required Back by popular demand! Join Daniel Heinrich as he walks you through making fluffy Israeli-style pita and crispy falafel. Perfect for cooks of all ages and skill level; parental supervision required for children under the age of 13. Includes: 1 Sandwich and extra falafel mixture to take home. $10 for members / $12 for non-members. RSVP by May 7 Israeli Desserts: Baklava to Babka Monday, June 4-5:30 pm - RSVP Required Israel is a diverse pressure cooker of history and culture. In few other ways is this more apparent than in the foods enjoyed by its citizens. Join Daniel Heinrich as he walks you through making Turkish/Israeli baklava and Polish/Israeli chocolate cinnamon babka. Parental supervision required for children under the age of 13. Includes a small plate of desserts to take home. $10 for members / $12 for non-members. RSVP by May 28 Knead, Rise, Braid, Bake Wed., August 22-5:30 pm - RSVP Required Join Rabbi Braun and Daniel Heinrich for an evening of rising dough and elevated spirituality. Daniel will walk you through making our special Maine Maple-Blueberry Challah and while it rises, Rabbi Braun will explore the ways in which we can sweeten our New Year through personal engagement and open conversation. Includes challah, recipes and texts. $5 for members / $8 for non-members. RSVP by August 15 COOKING CLASSES 5

6 COMMUNITY EVENTS Yom HaShoah Observance at the Slivka-Blechman Memorial Wed., April 11-5:30 pm - Free Commissioned by Jerry and Rochelle Slivka and crafted by the sculptor Robert Katz in 2003, the Slivka-Blechman Memorial is Maine s first and only Holocaust Memorial and a powerful symbol of our dedication to remember those who perished in the Shoah. All are invited to join together as we gather around this monument for reflection, remembrance, prayer and mourning. Israel at 70: Yom Ha atzmaut Community Celebration (Israeli Independence Day) Sunday, April 22-12:00-2:00 PM JCA 1342 Congress St., Portland Join the entire Jewish Community of Southern Maine at the JCA for a festive afternoon of Israeli music and folk dancing, kids crafts and games, community activities and more. Admission is free and Daniel will be selling his delicious falafel all afternoon! Annual Brotherhood Brunch Sunday, May 27 - Approx. 9:45 am following Morning Minyan Free - RSVP by May 14 Each year Temple Beth El s Brotherhood (who, among other things, also bring you our daily morning minyan!) hosts a beautiful brunch and a featured speaker for the entire community. This year s speaker is yet to be determined, but if last year s talk by Rabbi Rachel Isaacs is any indication, this will be an event not to be missed! Honor Jewish War Veterans Sunday, May 27-11:30 am Please join Jewish war veterans and volunteers as we visit Portland s Jewish cemeteries to place flags at the grave sites of our veterans. Many families have found this to be a touching hour or two of service to do together while honoring our Jewish servicemen. We will meet in the lobby at 11:30 am at Temple Beth El, rain or shine. Please contact Sherri Quint at controller@tbemaine.org with any questions. 6

7 Unlikely Harbingers: The Unique Message of Clergy from LGBT and Other Traditionally Marginalized Populations in Our Time Sponsored by the Keshet Committee Tuesday, June 12-5:30 pm This event will offer an opportunity for dialogue, new connections, and reflection on the challenges the Jewish LGBT and other traditionally marginalized populations have faced and continue to face, both in the U.S. and in Israel. Rabbi Gadi Capela, the spiritual leader of Congregation Tifereth Israel in Greenport, NY will offer his unique perspective on what it means and how to create a welcoming and inclusive community. Rabbi Gadi was born and raised in Israel and moved to New York in 1995 after completing his military service as a lieutenant in a rescue unit. He was ordained in 2012 from the Jewish Theological Seminary and is among other things the founder of Project Genesis Interfaith - an organization devoted to Jewish-Christian adult education to promote inter-religous harmony in Israel and abroad. TBE Annual Meeting Sunday, June 24-10:00 am Free - RSVP required by June 17th Please join us for a delicious breakfast as we review the past year and look toward our future! Breakfast begins at 10 am, followed by presentations by staff and lay leadership, recognition of our dedicated community members and the election of new 2018/2019 Board of Directors. KADIMA BETH EL Religious School Program COMMUNITY EVENTS 7 Inspiring Jewish education Kadima means forward and reflects our striving to help today s families bring the vibrancy and relevance of Jewish tradition forward into their lives. Pre K-Kindergarten (Sunday) Grades 1-2 (Sunday) Grades 3-6 (Sundays & Wednesdays) 7th Grade (Sunday) Teen Beit Midrash (Twice Monthly) Hebrew High (Once Monthly) Madrichim (Assistant Teacher)

8 SPIRITUAL PROGRAMS Rosh Chodesh Women s Group Wednesdays: Mar. 14, Apr. 11, May 16, Jun. 13 6:30-8:00 pm - $10/session drop-in rate For generations, women have been associated with the moon. Some associate the moon s monthly cycle with that of women s cycles. Others refer to a story from Rabbinic literature (midrash) which explains that when Aaron asked the Israelites to give up their jewelry to create the Golden Calf, the women refused to be part of this idolatrous act. Their reward was a monthly holiday - Rosh Chodesh - where women were to be treated to a minor holiday and prayers were added to the daily services. As we seek to make old traditions new, TBE created a Rosh Chodesh group for women. Together, as a collaborative effort led by Rabbi Braun, we explore our tradition and our identities as women. No experience is necessary, all are welcome. Yoga Minyan Sundays - 9:30-10:20 am Six session punch card - $36 Members $54 non-members $10/session drop-in rate TBE s yoga minyan offers a moment of peace meant to nurture your heart, soul, and body through a centering, grounding yoga practice taught by Danika Kuhl. Danika has been teaching Kripalu yoga for the past 15 years. Her classes reflect her resonance with the lineage of compassion starting with one s self. The class opens with some words of Jewish philosophy, followed by stretching, gentle movement, and breathing. Please bring comfortable clothes and a yoga mat. Open to all, no prior experience necessary. Spirits and Spirits Thursdays: Apr. 19, May 10, Jun. 13-5:30 pm We start as dust and end as dust, in between let s have a drink. -Yiddish Proverb. Join Rabbi Braun at Maine Craft Distilling (123 Washington Ave) for a casual evening of libation and conversations about life. People of all faiths and curiosities are welcome to join. No RSVP required. Shabbat B Chutz (Outside) Saturdays April 28, May 12, Jun. 23, Jul. 14, Aug :00am-12:00pm Free and Open to All There are infinite ways in which a person can pray, and Temple Beth El is dedicated to providing diverse opportunities for spiritual deepening. We invite you to join us for Shabbat B Chutz, an outdoor davening alternative. We will take a walk through Jewell Falls in Portland to take in the beauty that surrounds us and connect with God and our environment. Shabbat B Chutz does not replace regular morning services which begin at 9:30 am on Saturday in our small chapel. Kids and dogs (on leash) are welcome. Following the hike, we will return to Temple Beth El to rejoin our community to say Kiddush and have a nosh. *In case of rain, Shabbat B Chutz will join the regular Shabbat morning service B fnim (inside). 8

9 Kabbalat Shabbat on the Lawn Friday, July 27, August 24-5:30 pm In the summer when the air is warm and the sun stays out well into the evening it can be hard to stay inside. Therefore, we plan on spending a few Kabbalat Shabbat services enjoying the best that Maine has to offer while welcoming Shabbat through prayer. We will have chairs set up outside or you are welcome to bring a picnic blanket. Additional dates may be added, weather permitting. SPIRITUAL PROGRAMS Community Observance of Tisha B Av and Reading of Eicha Saturday, July 21st - 9:00 pm Please join Temple Beth El and the Jewish community in the garden at Etz Chaim Synagogue (267 Congress St) for a special observance of the Fast of Tisha B Av, the Ninth of Av, commemorating and mourning the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, with meditation, teaching, and chanting Eicha - the Book of Lamentations. Please bring a few folding chairs for extra seating if you are able, and a flashlight! TEMPLE BETH EL COMMITTEES AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS Interested in joining a committee? Reach out to out to our amazing volunteer leaders to see how you can get involved. Kiddush Krew Sara Kahn-Troster skahntroster@yahoo.com Library Committee Sandrea Kornblum lovetolearn11@icloud.com Education Committee Tara Gingerich taragingerich@yahoo.com Adult Jewish Learning Judy Gatchell judy.gatchell@gmail.com Tikkun Olam Carolyn Turcio-Gilman cturciogilman@yahoo.com Cemetery Sherri Quint controller@tbemaine.org Keshet Committee Lawrence Jackson-Rosen lawrence.jacksonrosen@gmail.com Brotherhood Robert Levine ralevine@maine.rr.com Sisterhood Karen Farber kfarber@maine.rr.com Ritual Committee Joy Krinsky joykrinsky@gmail.com House Committee Gil Dichter gil-dichter@idexx.com Family Engagement Tova Mellen tova.mellen@gmail.com 9 Want to start a new committee? Contact the office for information on how you can help make TBE the best it can be.

10 TIKKUN OLAM Care Packs for Those in Need Sunday, Apr. 8, :00 am Have you ever seen someone standing at a busy intersection in Portland asking for help and wished that you could do something more to help? Join TBE members and families to assemble care packs containing essential items such as socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, etc. Donations of care pack items and help assembling the packs are welcome! Bruchim HaBa im Speaker Series April 6: Breaking Down Barriers: New Mainer Women Leading in Business, The Arts, and Civil Society Date TBD: New Mainers, Government, and Civil Service with Pious Ali In Hebrew, Bruchim HaBa im is the way to say Welcome! Literally, it means blessed are those who come. The Bruchim HaBa im Speaker Series offers our community an opportunity to hear directly from Portland s newcomers from around the world and those working to support and advocate for them. Join us to learn about ways to express -- through action and support -- our belief that they are blessed. This event is free and open to all. TBE Garden Cleanup Day Sunday, June 3-10:00 am The roots of Temple Beth El grow deep into the Maine soil and we need your help making our grounds reflect the love we have for our land. When the snow and ice finally disappear, our gardens and grounds will bloom back into life, but only with your help! Join your TBE community by coming with your extra perrenials, plants, and vegetables to grow our gardens and beautify our space. 10

11 Monthly Family Kabbalat Shabbat Fridays at 5:30 pm April 6, May 4, July 27, August 18 Parents and kids ages 6 and under are warmly invited to join us for this fun, interactive monthly Family Kabbalat Shabbat service! 5:30pm: Schmooze and enjoy complimentary Kosher PB&J sandwiches on fresh Challah (with allergy alternatives upon request in advance) 6:00pm: Family service 6:30pm: Option to join the rest of the minyan for Kiddush and more snacks! Childcare during Shabbat Morning Services Saturdays 9:30 am-1:00 pm: Mar. 24, Apr. 21, May 19, Jun. 9, Jul. 21, Aug. 18 Coming to Shabbat morning services is a chance for everyone to engage with their spirituality and find moments of peace and clarity. We recognize that can sometimes be hard for parents with young children. As a complement to our monthly Family Kabbalat Shabbat, TBE s Family Engagement Committee will offer monthly childcare during Saturday morning services for children up to 5 years old. RSVP 1 week in advance to guarantee a space. KBE Open House April 29-9:00-11:00 am Join the Temple Beth El Religious School for a day of fun activities and a chance to explore the rich educational opportunities on offer at Kadima Beth El. Meet the dedicated teachers, volunteers and students that make KBE a special place for children to explore the Jewish tradition. Whether your child is ready for school today or in a few years, it s never too early to find a good fit for you and your family. Shabbat HaLailah Friday, May 4, :30 pm All are welcome at our Family Kabbalat Shabbat Service & Community Dinner! TBE s religious school program, Kadima Beth El, invites the entire community to our special Family Shabbat Service and Community Dinner. Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to celebrate Shabbat together with old friends and new over a joyous Shabbat meal prepared by our amazing volunteers! Services at 5:30 pm Dinner at approx. 6:30 pm Free & open to all Portland Pride Parade: Family Meetup and Picnic Saturday, June 16 11:45 am - Parade line up in Monument Square 1:00 pm - Picnic in Deering Oaks Park Pride Week is a time where people of every walk of life come together and celebrate the beautiful diversity of our community. Meet at Monument Square at 11:45am to march in the parade with Southern Maine s Jewish Community and/or join us for a family picnic and crafts at Deering Oaks Park at 1pm sponsored by TBE s Family Engagement Committee and PJ Library. We will have kid-friendly lunch items and blankets, or feel free to bring your own! All are welcome. 11 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

12 YOU ARE WELCOME HERE Egalitarian Welcoming Open Dues Rabbi Carolyn Braun 400 Deering Ave, Portland, ME