Incredibly, we are now in August. The summer just seems to fly by so quickly every year. Thankfully, we can now add the trips and experiences of this summer to our memories, scrapbooks and Facebook and Instagram pages!
Soon we will all see our little ones back to school (including our Religious School!) At this time of year, it is critical to keep in mind the importance of educators in our communities. Although it might look like teachers get the summer off, in reality they are always thinking and preparing for the upcoming school year and the best ways to make learning more fun and exciting. Judaism especially puts a premium on learning. The very act of B‘nai Mitzvah is not only reading from the Torah, but engaging and understanding the text of the portion and what it means. For that reason, it is always important for our community to never forget the importance of teachers, students, and support staff in all of our schools. This year, when school begins, we can all make a pledge to go the extra mile for our children’s teachers and their classrooms by providing as many of the supplies they requested as possible. We’re sure you have all seen the teacher wish lists sent out by the districts, so if we all work together, we can help provide everything our kids’ teachers need to start the school year off right! Because the well educated youth of today is the solid citizenry of tomorrow.
On a related note, our Religious School will be starting again on August 20, just a few short weeks away. The teachers and staff are preparing to welcome the kids back to school, and we are in need of volunteers to help get the classrooms ready. Accordingly, this Sunday, August 13, we will be hosting another volunteer classroom readiness event. Please come and assist the teachers in making the opening of Religious School for the coming year an unforgettable experience for the Religious School families! Also, starting on August 19 and continuing through September 4, our own Mercedes Cohen’s play “Faeries of the Moonlight” will be showing at John Hinkel Park in Berkeley every Saturday and Sunday at 4:00 p.m. A carpool “field trip” to this event is in the works and we will fill in more details later. And on September 10th, Temple Beth Hillel will be hosting a booth at the Solano Stroll in Albany and Berkeley. We and the rest of the Board will be volunteering to help spread the word about our wonderful community, and we encourage all members who are able to do so as well. Larry will be sending out sign-up sheets as we get closer to the event.
Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held on Friday, August 18, at 7:30 p.m., hosted as always by our own Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney. On the same day, Co-President David Z. will also be hosting the first Family Shabbat event of the year at 6:15 p.m. Please spread the word! We hope to see y’all there. Thank you everyone!
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel
~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel
From the Presidents – Aug. 11, 2023
August 10, 2023 by tbhrich • president
Hello Everyone!
Incredibly, we are now in August. The summer just seems to fly by so quickly every year. Thankfully, we can now add the trips and experiences of this summer to our memories, scrapbooks and Facebook and Instagram pages!
Soon we will all see our little ones back to school (including our Religious School!) At this time of year, it is critical to keep in mind the importance of educators in our communities. Although it might look like teachers get the summer off, in reality they are always thinking and preparing for the upcoming school year and the best ways to make learning more fun and exciting. Judaism especially puts a premium on learning. The very act of B‘nai Mitzvah is not only reading from the Torah, but engaging and understanding the text of the portion and what it means. For that reason, it is always important for our community to never forget the importance of teachers, students, and support staff in all of our schools. This year, when school begins, we can all make a pledge to go the extra mile for our children’s teachers and their classrooms by providing as many of the supplies they requested as possible. We’re sure you have all seen the teacher wish lists sent out by the districts, so if we all work together, we can help provide everything our kids’ teachers need to start the school year off right! Because the well educated youth of today is the solid citizenry of tomorrow.
On a related note, our Religious School will be starting again on August 20, just a few short weeks away. The teachers and staff are preparing to welcome the kids back to school, and we are in need of volunteers to help get the classrooms ready. Accordingly, this Sunday, August 13, we will be hosting another volunteer classroom readiness event. Please come and assist the teachers in making the opening of Religious School for the coming year an unforgettable experience for the Religious School families! Also, starting on August 19 and continuing through September 4, our own Mercedes Cohen’s play “Faeries of the Moonlight” will be showing at John Hinkel Park in Berkeley every Saturday and Sunday at 4:00 p.m. A carpool “field trip” to this event is in the works and we will fill in more details later. And on September 10th, Temple Beth Hillel will be hosting a booth at the Solano Stroll in Albany and Berkeley. We and the rest of the Board will be volunteering to help spread the word about our wonderful community, and we encourage all members who are able to do so as well. Larry will be sending out sign-up sheets as we get closer to the event.
Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held on Friday, August 18, at 7:30 p.m., hosted as always by our own Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney. On the same day, Co-President David Z. will also be hosting the first Family Shabbat event of the year at 6:15 p.m. Please spread the word! We hope to see y’all there. Thank you everyone!
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel
~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel