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Notes from the Board – Nov. 15, 2021

December 17, 2021 by •

  • The service on Friday, December 17 will be our first in-person/hybrid zoom service.
  • The Board recognizes and thanks Linda Rose for her service to the Board and to the entire Temple Beth Hillel Community.
  • A Cantor candidate has been invited to attend the next two services and to conduct services in January.
  • Food for Thought provided four boxes of food and a turkey or three chickens to 518 families this week.
  • High speed internet is now available in the sanctuary to enable us to transmit services online.
  • The Reopening Committee and the Ritual Committee plan to meet to determine how we can celebrate Purim safely.
  • Lucinda Casson is the new Chair of the Reopening Committee.

Religious School Recap – Dec. 10, 2021

December 10, 2021 by •

Hello Everyone!
Another Hannukah is in the books.  It’s always a little bizarre having it so early in the secular calendar (though fortunately always on the same day in Kislev).  As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to remind everyone that we will have Religious School for the next 2 weeks, on December 12 and December 19, and then have 2 weeks off before reconvening in January.  Also, please remember to bring in peanut butter and other nut butters for our peanut butter drive.
And now for the recap.  Rabbi Dean led our Tefillah Service and guided us through some Hannukah songs.  The younger grades had so much fun baking Hannukah cookies and simulating lighting candles on the Menorah.  They also colored dreidels.  The fact that it was the final night of Hannukah made it all the more tasty and special.
For the Bnai Mitzvah class, we started off by listening to many different Hannukah songs, including Chanukah oh Channukah, the Maccabeats, Puppy for Hannukah (by our own Bay native Daveed Diggs of Hamilton fame) and the Adam Sandler Hannukah Songs.  For the second half of class, we had an epic Dreidel game with myself, Chase and two ghost players.  It lasted for an hour and a half, with Chase emerging as the ultimate winner with a well timed gimmel.  Certainly one of the most exciting dreidel games played in TBH history!
That about covers it for now.  Happy end of Hannukah and we’ll see y’all next week!

Best,
David

Religious School Recap – Dec. 3, 2021

December 3, 2021 by •

Chanukah Sameach!

 Welcome back everyone!  I hope y’all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday filled with good food and family fun.  We have returned for our Hannukah celebrations!  This past week and this upcoming week will be all about Hannukah, with so many fun activities planned.  Our next extravaganza will be this Sunday, December 5, which also happens to be the 8th night of Hannukah.  I also wanted to remind you that our Hannukah Shabbat service will take place this Friday, December 3, at 6:00 p.m.

 And now for the recap.  Larry led our Tefillah service with the skill worthy of a Rabbi.  He does so much for our school, everyone give him a big thank you next week.

 The lower grades learned all about one of the most important parts of Hannukah: the Dreidel game!  Heather helped the kids make their own dreidels, drawing the key letters of gimel, hay, shin, and nun onto wooden dreidels they will use for their games this week.  Jenny led an art project creating a menorah with glue, paper, and fabric.  They can hang the pictures on the wall next to their menorahs at home.

 For the Bnai Mitzvah class, we first learned about the history of Hannukah, especially its origins in the revolt against the Seleucid Greek empire, why it happened, the different factions of Judaism at the time, and Hannukah’s roots in reviving Sukkot.  Next we carved the letters into our wooden dreidel using a screwdriver and hammer (very delicate operation).  Finally, we learned how to set up a proper environment for Hannukah, including having a mezzuzah and menorah by the door to surround the room with holiness and light, setting up the menorah so that the candles are placed right to left but lit left to right, the prayers, how long to let the candles burn, etc.  Parents will enjoy seeing their kids lead the lighting of the menorahs.

Next week we will continue our Hannukah fun with songs and dreidel games.  We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Best,

David

Notes from the Board – Nov. 17, 2021

November 26, 2021 by •

  • Welcome new members Samantha and Jeffrey Golden and their children Cali and Wesley.
  • Our goal is for the service on Friday, December 3..to be our first in-person/hybrid zoom service. We will celebrate Hanukkah with candle lighting at the December 3 service.
  • Thanks to Mercedes Cohen, who is the new Chair of the Caring Community.
  • Thanks to Michael and Mercedes Cohen, Rabbi Dean Kertesz and Louise Snitz for helping the Religious School students make challah.
  • We are awaiting a second estimate to replace the heating and ventilation system. Anyone who knows of a commercial HVAC installation company, please contact Michael Cohen.
  • Please send content for the web site to Wendy Roth.
  • The GRIP Harmony Walk will be virtual between now and November 30. Register here.

Religious School Recap – Nov. 26, 2021

November 26, 2021 by •

Incredibly the year is fast approaching its end and Hannukah is just around the corner!  We also have Thanksgiving coming up soon, so there is so much holiday spirit and family time in our futures.  We will resume Religious School, and our Hannukah theme curriculum, on November 28.  Also remember there will be a special Hannukah Shabbat service on December 3.

And now for the recap.  As always, Rabbi Dean led our Tefillah Service and introduced the families to several Hannukah songs. The lower grades had a great hands-on project this past week.  Jenny taught the kids how to bake Challah and each student got to pick their own toppings.  Sprinkles were the favorite!  The middle grades were also learning about the 10 commandments and what they mean.

For the Bnai Mitzvah class, we are now learning the melodies for the Torah prayers and will soon learn the Torah Service steps as well.  For our second hour we continued our exploration of the Japanese Jewish community by working on our Japanese/Jewish menu.  The class came up with some potentially tasty combinations, including Teriyaki Kugel, Falafel Rice Bowl, Soba Cholent, and Mochi flavored Hamentashens.  Once the menu is complete, we will get it printed up and distributed to the parents, who may be inspired to create some of these dishes.  We may even attempt to make one or two of them in a future class.

Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We’ll see everyone in two weeks!

Best,

David 

P.S. Now that we are restarting in-person services, if you would like your children to attend one of the Shabbat services with you in the coming months, please forward a copy or picture of their vaccination cards, once they are fully vaccinated, to either me or Louise.  Thank you!

Notes from the Board – Oct. 20, 2021

October 26, 2021 by •

Notes from the Board

The Board discussed:

  • Open Sukkah at TBH Sunday, September 26 from 2 – 4:30 PM. No Simchat Torah celebration..
  • Religious School has reopened; there are still openings for more students.
  • GRIP virtual Harmony Walk fund-raiser, October 23.
  • Many thanks to David Brown for taking on chairing the Buildings and Grounds Committee.
  • Montessori School has reopened.

Huge thanks to Marilyn Hertzberg for her many years as Caring Community Chair. A replacement is needed.

Notes from the Board August 18, 2021

August 21, 2021 by •

Welcome New Member

  • Sara Cleveland has been attending our services and participating in Food for Thought for some time.  We welcome her joining our community as a member.

High Holy Days

  • Services will be hybrid, both in person outdoors in the courtyard, and on Zoom. Services will be structured similar to last year’s. Attendees are asked to make reservations with the office, whether planning to attend in-person or online.
  • A packet of information will be sent to each member. For safety, all attendees must be vaccinated and wear masks.  People are encouraged to send their vaccination information to Louise Snitz.  Children under 12 must have  negative Covid test within 72 hours, and parents should contact the office so appropriate measures can be taken.
  • Volunteers are needed for set-up and for greeters.
  • We are hiring the tech people who facilitated our services last year to help again this year.

Events

  • Marketing Committee has publicized High Holy Days and Religious School.
  • Religious School is planned to be outside. If air quality becomes an issue, parents will be notified that classes will be on Zoom.

Food for Thought

  • Food for Thought has received a 501(c)3 number as an independent nonprofit corporation, separate from the Temple, and has started to contact organizations that they could not contact previously as a religious organization.
  • Donations in honor of Mel and Judy Feder’s wedding have reached $4,400. Donations are still going through the Temple, since Food for Thought does not yet have a bank account separate from the Temple.
  • Food for Thought is working on storing program information on a Google Drive.

Building and Grounds

  • We expect the installation of high speed internet in the rest of the building this week.
  • The Montessori School has signed a new contract and expects to reopen in September. The Chinese Church is delaying reopening at this time.
  • Our furnaces are almost 60 years old and may not last much longer. We have one estimate for replacement.  We plan to get additional estimates.
  • Since High Holy Day services will be outside, we do not need HEPA air filters at this time. The replacement furnaces will include advanced filtration.  We will consider air filters for the Religious School classrooms.

Board Issues

  • Board members began the process of sharing information about themselves.

Notes from the Board: July 21,2021

July 23, 2021 by •

Operations

  • Welcome and orientation for new Board members; Discussion of what Board members need to know.
  • Deficit for 2020-21 is approximately $29,000, mostly due to lack of rental income.We expect a deficit for 2021-2022 as well, even if we reopen by September.
  • Reopening plans. Please submit vaccination record to Louise Snitz. Attendees will be asked to wear masks.  Please give advance notice of children attending, so logistics can be arranged. Greeters are being organized.
  • Contract for Rabbi Dean Kertesz approved for 2021-2024.
  • Agreement with Michelle Husby approved to continue as Office Manager.
  • New Special Fund created for designated donations spanning more than one year.

 

Events

  • Marketing Committee is working on publicity for High Holy Days and Religious School.
  • Publicity will refer to web site for more information on schedule and COVID -10 protocols for High Holy Days. Streaming will be availa

 

Social Action

  • Freedom School donation approved.
  • Social Action Committee will discuss changes in role with changes in organization of Food for Thought.

Building and Grounds

  • Chinese Church is working on plans for reopening.
  • High speed internet is installed in the office, but installation needs to be completed and cables run to the rest of the building.
  • Heating and ventilation system in the main building has been inspected. It is the original one installed in the building 60 years ago, and it is not likely to last much longer.  It is OK for COVID-19 safety ventilation with doors and windows open, but will need filtration when there is smoke from fires.  We are pursuing further consultations and estimates, and we are considering getting portable ventilators which can then be moved to the Religious School building when the main heating is replaced.

Notes from the Board – June 16, 2021

June 18, 2021 by •

Welcome New Member

  • Lucinda Casson has joined us as our newest member. She has been attending our Zoom services this year, and we are happy to have her join us.

Issues

  • Plan to create Board member materials for new Board members and schedule Board orientation.
  • Reopening Committee has updated guidelines. We need to follow up on technology needs to enable us to Zoom services, and we need to service our HVAC system and air filters.

Events

Marketing Committee will begin to publicize:

  • High Holy Day services, which hopefully will be both in-person and online.
  • Religious School tentatively planned to start Sunday, September 12, mostly outside to begin with, with regular re-evaluations. A video of the mensch awards has been sent out.

Finances

  • We continue to have a deficit and expect it to increase by the end of the fiscal year, since we have lost significant amounts of rental income.
  • We are likely to have a deficit again in the next fiscal year, since our rental income and other factors are uncertain. We have spent a considerable amount of our assets this year, and if this continues, we will have to re-evaluate the situation.

Food for Thought

  • Food for Thought is planning to apply to be an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, which would make it separate from the Temple. This would give it more control over financial issues and enable increased fund-raising, since it would not be a religious organization.

Building and Grounds

  • We now have high speed internet in the office. We are working to determine what speed we need and to extend it to other areas of the buildings.

Thank you to Jane Kemp for her service on the Board.

Notes from the Board: May 19, 2021

May 20, 2021 by •

Issues

  • The General Membership Meeting will be Sunday, June 13 at 11:30 AM via Zoom. The Board is working on: committee reports; proposed nominations; proposed budget; and the calendar for next year.
  • The Executive Committee has endorsed the recommendations of the Reopening Committee and hopes to reopen as soon as the recommendations can be implemented. The committee will meet again to deal with outstanding issues and questions. The Board decided against a rental on June 12, as it was too soon to have recommendations implemented.

Finances

  • We currently have a deficit, and it is likely to increase by the end of the fiscal year, since we have lost significant amounts of rental income.
  • The budget for next year is uncertain, because of the pandemic and resulting ongoing changes. We are likely to have a deficit again, since we cannot count on our rentals for the entire year, but we are expecting to resume programming.
  • Leases and arrangements with tenants and contracts need to be negotiated.

Building and Grounds

  • Internet has been installed in the building. We are working on extending the LAN from the office to the rest of the building and the school building.
  • The storage shed was broken into, but nothing of significance was taken. A stronger lock has been installed.
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