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Religious School Update September 18, 2022

September 22, 2022 by • Beit Midrash •

Shalom Everyone!

It was great to see everyone again after a three week break for Labor Day and the Solano Stroll.  Thankfully, our schedule will now be a bit more predictable as we will have Religious School every Sunday between now and November.  Our next class will be this Sunday, September 25, starting at 9:30 a.m. with a Tefillah service.  

And now for the recap.  Rabbi Dean led us in our Tefillah Service with help from Chase, who is practicing for his Bar Mitzvah coming up on October 22.  It’s always so exciting to see one of our students make their transition into Jewish adulthood.  Afterward, the younger grades learned about Rosh Hashana, including picking out their own pomegranates, the symbolism of apples and honey, and enjoying a sweet home-made Challah snack.  The Bnai Mitzvah class mainly worked on Chase’s Torah Portion, simulated carrying a Torah, and thinking about the meaning of Genesis to prepare for his Dvar Torah.  

And that about covers it for now.  If any families would like to have child care at TBH during the High Holidays, please send me an email so we can try to accommodate.  I look forward to seeing everyone at the High Holiday service.  

 

Best,

David

Notes from the Board – Sept. 21, 2022

September 22, 2022 by • board •

Welcome to:

  • New member Ahuva Simon-Saar.  Ahuva has been coming to services recently.
  • New Office Manager Brandy Mahrt.  Brandy has started and will be training with John Maxson until the end of September. She can be reached at bmahrt@tbhrichmond.org. We appreciate the great job that John has done working in the office.

News

  • High Holy Day services will be multi-access – indoors and on zoom. For those attending on zoom, prayer books may be checked out during office hours (Monday – Friday 1-5 PM).  If you need child care, please respond to David Zimring’s e-mail.
  • Masks are not required, but are highly encouraged for all services, including High Holy Days.
  • The High Holy Day appeal will be for Food for Thought.
  • Youth Shabbats have been instituted the third Friday of the month before the service.
  • Chase McCrary will become a bar mitzvah Saturday, October 22.
  • Thanks to all who volunteered to help at the Solano Stroll.
  • The GRIP Harmony Walk will be Saturday, October 22.
  • We have a new lease with the Chinese for Christ North East-Bay Church.

Religious School Update – September 2, 2022

September 2, 2022 by • Drashot •

Shalom Everyone!
And our school year is off and running! It was so wonderful to see all of you again after the summer break. I and the teachers are looking forward to an exciting year full of knowledge, projects, and trips we are planning for the kids. As I had mentioned last Sunday, we will not have Religious School on September 4 (because of Labor Day) or September 11 (because of the Solano Stroll). We will meet again on September 18 and have a more consistent schedule from that point onwards. Thank you to all the families who have already signed up to help the Temple at the Solano Stroll and I highly encourage all the families to participate if you can.
And now for the recap. Rabbi Dean led us in our first Tefillah service for the year, getting us back in the rhythm of the service. Jenny’s and Heather’s classes went over what they will cover for the year and enjoyed a fun cupcake decorating session to start off the year. The Bnai Mitzvah class will be concentrating on the Jewish Life Cycle for this year along with preparing Chase for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah. It will be an exciting time at the end of October when we have our first in person Bnai Mitzvah in nearly three years.
And that about covers it for now. Everyone have a nice Labor Day Weekend and we’ll see you hopefully on the 11th at the Solano Stroll or at Religious School on the 18th.

Best,
David

Notes from the Board August 17, 2022

August 19, 2022 by • board •

  • Religious School starts Sunday, August 28. Clean-up will be Sunday, August 21.
  • Last call for tickets to Oakland A’s Jewish Heritage Day game August 28. Contact Larry Fox.
  • High Holy Day services will be multi-access – indoors and on zoom. Elaina Genser has graciously volunteered to host our Rosh Hashanah afternoon get-together. The break fast will be noshes rather than a pot-luck dinner.
  • We will be participating in the Solano Stroll, Sunday, September 11. Please volunteer to help staff our booth.
    Sheri Tattenham has been appointed to fill a Board vacancy. There are still vacancies; contact the Presidents if interested in the Board or a committee.
  • We will be putting out boxes to collect unusable Hebrew sacred texts or papers with the name of God for the genizah.
  • Food for Thought has started an emergency needs pilot program and so far has distributed half the available debit cards.
  • Ralph Payton is the new Executive Director of GRIP. In addition to toiletries, a list of GRIP needs can be found at List of most needed items! – Greater Richmond Interfaith Program.

Notes from the Board July 20, 2022

July 29, 2022 by • board •

  • Religious School starts Sunday, August 28. Clean-up will be Sunday, August 21.
  • We will be participating in the Solano Stroll, Sunday, September 11.
  • GRIP Harmony Walk is Saturday, October 22 at Nicholl Park. We are being asked to participate and have a table.
  • Finances are progressing. The deficit for 2021-2022 has been greatly reduced, and now represents only loss of rent. We are working on recovering rent that has not yet been paid. Statements have been sent for 2021-2022 and will be sent shortly for 2022-2023. Thanks to the many members who have paid their dues and especially to those who have paid over and above their dues amounts.
  • The HVAC project is completed and awaiting inspection.
  • Office Manager Committee created to deal with the Office Manager situation.

Notes from the Board–June 15, 2022

June 16, 2022 by • board •

  • Religious School ended the year with a revived in-person mensch ceremony and a trip to the Contemporary Jewish Museum to enjoy the Jim Henson exhibit.
  • There was a break-in last week. When they went into the sanctuary, the alarm went off as designed. The alarm panel was torn off the wall and destroyed. Nothing was taken; the panel was replaced; and the damage was repaired. Anyone wanting to enter the building when no one is there will need a new alarm code from Michelle.
  • The HVAC ducts have been installed and the project is near completion. We need to decide whether to paint the ducts.
  • Finances are progressing. Our deposits and bills paid are mostly current. We have received the Sprint and some other rental payments and some significant dues payments (Thank you!), which have cut our deficit almost in half. Arrangements still need to be made for statements and regarding tenants.
  • TBH is now on Instagram. Please follow us. You can find us at @templebethhillel. Please let your contacts, especially young people, know.
    Instagram

Religious School Update–June 9, 2022

June 9, 2022 by • Beit Midrash •

Hello Everyone!

  And so we have made it!  Our final Religious School session will take place this Sunday, June 12, at our regular time of 9:30 a.m.  We plan to have an abbreviated session with just a short Tefillah Service and our traditional end of the year Mensch Award ceremony (first time in person in 3 years).  When that is done, all families will head out to the Contemporary Jewish Museum for our grand tour.  The tour begins at 12:00 p.m. so we should have plenty of time to get there.  We will all meet at the entrance.  They do not have parking at the museum but the director said there are three parking garages nearby.  The tour will last a little over an hour and then Religious School will be officially done for the year.  If anyone requires a carpool for their kids, please let me know and we can accommodate (I have extra space in our van).

  And now for the recap.  Rabbi Dean led us in our Tefillah service and gave insights into the holiday of Shavuot.  Afterwards, all the kids went with me for a combined class learning about Shavuot.  We learned the origins and symoblism of Shavuot, especially its connection to the giving of the Torah and the harvest season.  The kids then made special flowers and a fruit basket, sketched images of tractors and orchards, and listened to a story about how the fictional community of Chelm received 3 extra commandments thanks to Shavuot.

     For the second half of class, all the kids got to taste traditional treats that we eat on Shavuot, especially dairy treats.  They all tried labhneh cheese with graham crackers, bagels with ricotta cheese and tomatoes and basil, and focaccia bread.  So delicious! 

     And that about covers it.  On behalf of the teachers and staff, I would like to thank all the parents for such a wonderful year and to an even better one to come.  We’ll see everyone at the Temple at 9:30 on Sunday and then off to our special tour at CJM.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Best,

David 

Religious School Update–May 22, 2022

May 27, 2022 by • Beit Midrash •

Hello Everyone!

We had such an exciting time this past Sunday!  I wanted to thank Larry, Jenny, and all the parents who helped make our Lag B’Omer festivities a success!  Just as a reminder, we will be on break next week for Memorial Day but resume our Religious School for the final two sessions on June 5 and June 12.  Also, on June 12 we will have our trip to the Contemporary Jewish Museum.  Please fill in how many members of your family would like to come on the sign up sheet below (it was not working before but I adjusted it so it should work now) so we can arrange transportation and give the museum guide an idea of the size of our group.  For Temple members who are not in religious school right now, we have a limited number of extra spaces so please fill in your family as well if you would like to join us.

And now for the recap.  Larry led our Tefillah Service today with his usual skill as a substitute for Rabbi Dean.  For the first hour of class, each class learned about the history and symbolism of Lag B’Omer.  The kids helped decorate and put together a bow and arrow set, made a wooden bonfire picture frame, and learned about the traditions of Lag B’Omer.  For the second half of class, all the kids got to enjoy s’mores over a fire, roasted baked potatoes, and best of all, practice their archery skills with three different bow and arrow sets.  With plenty of practice, the kids got to be pretty good shots, hitting the target multiple times.  Lag B’Omer is such a wonderful spring holiday!

 And that about covers it for now.  Everyone enjoy the long weekend and we’ll see y’all back in June!

Best,

David

Notes from the Board, May 18, 2022

May 19, 2022 by • board •

  • General Membership Meeting is multi-access on Sunday, June 5 at 11 AM.
  • Approved contract to hire Marney Margules as Cantorial Soloist. Thank you to the search committee.
  • New Interim Office Manager John Maxson is working to bring finances up to date. Most bills have been paid and checks have been deposited.
    We will continue to require medical grade masks, and we encourage social distancing. Visitors will be asked for proof of vaccination. Policies may change based on circumstances, but we expect to continue multi-access services.
  • Marketing Committee is looking for new members.

Religious School Update–May 15, 2022

May 19, 2022 by • Beit Midrash •

Shalom Everyone!
Incredibly, the end of the school year is almost upon us. We have several exciting activities to finish out the year. First of all, next week on May 22 starting at 9:30 a.m. we will restart our annual Lag B’Omer celebration after Tefillah Service. We will be roasting potatoes and making smores so parents and Temple members are all welcome. Also, on June 12 we will have our trip to the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Please fill in how many members of your family would like to come on the sign up sheet below so we can arrange transportation and give the museum guide an idea of the size of our group. For Temple members who are not in religious school right now, we have a limited number of extra spaces so please fill in your family as well if you would like to join us.
And now for the recap. Rabbi Dean led us in our weekly Tefillah Service. The lower grades had a lot of fun with Jenny working on their personal mezuzahs. They also made homemade lemonade, which was delicious! All the kids were also preparing for the Lag B’Omer activities for next week, including setting up for an archery competition. We’ll see who has the straightest shot!
We’ll see everyone next week!

Best,
David

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