TEC Times
A monthly calendar for the Temple Etz Chaim community September 2017 / 5777
High Holy Days - New Year, New Approach No Charge for High Holy Days at Temple Etz Chaim This new year will come with a new approach to High Holy Day attendance at Temple Etz Chaim. In the past, as many Temples did, we charged for tickets to worship with us in the Days of Awe. The custom was so widespread that it engendered a wickedly funny parody on the television series Curb Your Enthusiasm; you can see it on YouTube if you are so inclined. However, recently temples have decided that the old model of buying tickets for services no longer reflects where we are as Jews, as generations ago synagogues decided to stop selling honors at the High Holy Days. This year, we are trying an experiment to see if their insight will work for us. We are changing the name of the documents to “invitations,” and we are not only providing them to Temple members; we are making them available free of charge to anyone who asks (and they must ask, or at least have family members ask for them). Some might object, “I pay to be a member so that I can get tickets for High Holy Days.” Respectfully, I disagree. You pay to be a member so that we can have a synagogue and a vibrant Jewish life in the Franklin area. The job of a synagogue is to be, in the words of Isaiah, “a house of prayer for all people,” including those who aren’t members. Of course, it costs money to run a synagogue, and dues can’t cover all the costs. Tickets used to make up some of the Temple’s revenue. Just because we offer the invitations for free does not mean that we don’t need that revenue to provide all the things this Temple makes available. So, if you are going to request additional invitations, please consider giving a gift to the Temple. You won’t be spending money on buying a product (the ticket) for yourself; instead, you will be investing in making a Jewish community thrive. Please go to our website for more information and to request invitations.
A Learner’s Guide to The High Holy Days Sunday, September 17 9:45 - 11:15 am Medway High School 88 Summer St., Medway No time to read "The Guide for the Perplexed"? Join the Rabbi as he guides us through the basics of practice for the High Holy Days. Got questions? There will be answers! This is the first of many such programs, each coming before a major holiday. Contact Rosie Buja.
Community Break Fast Saturday, September 30 Drop off 1:30 - 5:00 pm Franklin Federated Church Each year, we join together as a community to break our Yom Kippur fast, and to welcome the new year. Please help us make this year's celebration delicious! If you are able to help please go to the Sign-Up Genius. If you'd like to donate, but cannot join us for break-fast, please contact Margot Rivelis to make alternate arrangements. Please note, this is a dairy meal, so please, no meat products! Thank you all for your assistance! We look forward to seeing you all!
High Holy Days Schedule 5778 Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20, 2017 7:30 p.m. Erev Rosh Hashanah Service @ FFC Thursday, September 21, 2017 Rosh Hashanah 9:00 a.m. Children’s Service @ FFC 10:15 a.m. Morning Service @ FFC 4:00 p.m. Tashlich @ Choate Park, Medway Friday, September 22, 2017 10:00 a.m. 2nd day Rosh Hashanah Service @ TEC
Yom Kippur Friday, September 29, 2017 7:30 p.m. Kol Nidre @ FFC Saturday, September 30, 2017 9:00 a.m. Children’s Service @ FFC 10:15 a.m. Morning Service @ FFC 1:00 p.m. Afternoon Study Session 2:45 p.m. Musical Interlude @ FFC 4:00 p.m. Afternoon Service, Yizkor Service, and Ne’ilah (Concluding Service) @ FFC approx. 6:30 p.m. Havdalah and Break Fast @FFC Services are held at the Franklin Federated Church (FFC), 171 Main St., except for the 2nd day Rosh Hashanah service, which is held at Temple Etz Chaim (TEC), 900 Washington St., and Tashlich on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, which is held at Choate Park in Medway. High Holy Day invitations are mailed to all adult Temple members in good standing and should be presented at all services being held at FFC other than the Children’s Services. If you are not a member of Temple Etz Chaim, please join us for services: •If you are a member in good standing of another congregation affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), please request an invitation by having your Temple office notify Temple Etz Chaim. •If you are a college student or in active military service, please show a valid student or military ID to the usher. •If you are a prospective member of Temple Etz Chaim, please consider a trial membership that we call “Tishrei Connection.” You will be considered a member of the Temple for the month of Tishrei, including services for the High Holy Days, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. A Tishrei Connection membership is available for $54 per adult. •All others, including family and friends of Temple members as well as those who are unaffiliated, can receive a complimentary invitation to services by notifying the Temple office. A contribution to assist the Temple in offering these services and other activities would be greatly appreciated but is not required. For more information and to request an invitation, please contact the Temple office: 508-528-5337 or email admin@temple-etzchaim.org
High Holy Days Babysitting - 5778 The Early Childhood Committee will once again arrange babysitting for our congregation during the High Holy Days services. Babysitting will be provided during adult services on Rosh Hashanah morning Thursday, September 21,2017 and Yom Kippur morning Saturday, September 30, 2017. We will be able to accommodate children ages 2 through 10. As in past years, we will be following these guidelines to create a safe and creative atmosphere for our children: ● Each child will need to be registered in advance. Children who are not pre-registered will not be able to attend babysitting. ● Babysitting will be available for children from 2 years to 10 years of age. ● Older children will not be accepted or allowed to help. ● A fee of $14 for the first child and $12 for every subsequent child will be charged for each day of babysitting. Your fees are used to offset the cost of food, arts & crafts supplies and to pay the babysitters. ● Please do not bring any food into babysitting (to safeguard those with food allergies). ● Please tell the babysitters where you are sitting in the sanctuary (in case of emergency). ● Babysitters are not responsible for changing diapers, so you will be notified when a change is needed. Please register by sending the form below, along with your payment, to the Temple marked “Attention Babysitting” or by going to our website and registering online.
The registration deadline is: Friday September 8
Babysitting Registration Form Name 1) 2) 3) 4) Total Payment Parent/s name Email address
Age
Days Babysitting Needed □Rosh Hashanah □Yom Kippur □Rosh Hashanah □Yom Kippur □Rosh Hashanah □Yom Kippur □Rosh Hashanah □Yom Kippur
$14 $12 $12 $12 $
Amount $28 $24 $24 $24
Check # OR Credit Card # Expiration Date Security Code Signature
To register online go to www.temple-etzchaim.org/hhd-babysitting
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FROGY Welcome Back BBQ! Sunday, September 10 2:00 - 6:00 pm at the home of Anina Lawrence 6 Blueberry Drive, Mendon Come join us for a welcome back party to kick off the FROGY year! We will play some games, get to know our new FROG’s, and talk about exciting plans for the upcoming year.
S’lichot Service and Movie Saturday, September 16 8:00 - 11:00 pm at Temple Building Join the Rabbi as we watch and then discuss “Denial” the 2016 movie that dramatizes the 2000 libel case brought by a British holocaust denier, David Irving (played by Timothy Spall) against an American academic, Deborah Lipstadt (Rachel Weisz). Unfortunately, “under British law….Prof Lipstadt and her co-defendant were not able to rely solely on truth as a defense.” The movie asks how best to combat liars if truth is off the table. Contact Rosie Buja.
Tot Shabbat in the Sukkah Saturday, October 7 10:00 am at Temple Etz Chaim Please join us for a Tot Shabbat service at Temple Etz Chaim in the Sukkah. For more information contact Kim.
A Nosh of Jewish Genealogy Thursday, October 26 7:30 pm at the Franklin Public Library * How do we fill in the holes of our family trees? Join Judy Izenberg, board member of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Boston as she shares her experiences of researching her family for 10 years, showing us the types of information she found, how she found it, and what she is still seeking. This program is presented in conjunction with the Franklin Library Genealogy Club. * Wherever it is depending on construction: 25 Kenwood Circle (temporary) or 118 Main Street (original).
September 2017 / 5777
High Holiday Greetings for FROGY Alumni Current FROGY members would like to send High Holiday greetings to alumni who are away at college, or who have simply moved away. We would like to compile a list of these alumni and their current addresses. Please share them with us as soon as you can. Please email addresses to Caren Pfeffer by September 10th.
A Learner’s Guide to Sukkot Sunday, October 1 9:45 - 11:15 am at Medway High School 88 Summer St., Medway No time to read "The Guide for the Perplexed"? Join the Rabbi as he guides us through the nuances of practice for Sukkot. Got questions? There will be answers!
Pizza in the Hut Wednesday, October 4 6:00 pm at Temple Building Please join us as we celebrate Sukkot with a pizza, pasta (vegetarian approved) and salad dinner. RSVP by September 29th to Emily Berman.
Torah Study Saturday, October 7, 14, 21, 28 8:30 - 9:30 am at Temple Etz Chaim And it begins again! Join the Rabbi in a study of Torah. No long-term commitment or knowledge of Hebrew is needed. Texts will be provided. Come for the bagels (and coffee); stay for the discussion!
Consecration Service Wednesday, October 11 7:00 pm at the Franklin Federated Church 171 Main St., Franklin Join us when we welcome our youngest students and their families to the TEC Religious School at Consecration which is part of our Simchat Torah celebration. The excitement that young children bring to their participation will make this a special time for all of us.
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Mini Photo Shoot Sunday, October 8 (Rain Date October 22) Fairmount Fruit Farm 887 Lincoln Street, Franklin Morning and afternoon sessions available by contacting Kathy Levine at fundraising@temple-etzchaim.org or by phone at 508-553-0558 To learn more about Sarah go to her website at www.sarahmontaniphotography.com
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Religious School Registration School Registration Is Underway for the 2017-2018 School Year. Registration forms are posted on our members only section of our website. Deposits are as follows: July 16 - August 15: Deposit $450 per child Late Registration after August 15: Deposit $450 plus $50 late fee per child There is no registration the week before school starts. For more information contact Hana Berman, Director of Education.
Haverim Program We are embarking on a new program to meet the needs of today’s teenagers. Called Haverim (Friends), to capture the idea of getting together around a mutual interest, this program will involve 4 modules of 3 sessions each, each module focusing on a different topic. This year our plan is to present the following topics: the Media, Body and Soul, SciTech and The Jewish Palate (Cooking) or Music. Modules will be taught by specialists in each area as much as possible. A student can join the yearlong program and be a Haverim “fellow”, in which case they can participate in a beginning and end of year get together, as well as some holiday gatherings. But they do not need to join the whole program to participate! They are welcome to come to a particular module of interest! Meet-up times will be on scheduled Tuesdays throughout the year from 6:30-8:30. For more information and the cost of participation, please contact Hana Berman.
Consecration Service Wednesday, October 11 7:00 pm at the Franklin Federated Church 171 Main St., Franklin Join us when we welcome our youngest students and their families to the TEC Religious School at Consecration which is part of our Simchat Torah celebration. The excitement that young children bring to their participation will make this a special time for all of us.
September 2017 / 5777
Orientation for Parents New to our School Tuesday, September 5 7:00 - 8:00 pm at Temple Building 900 Washington St., Franklin FOR PARENTS OF INCOMING STUDENTS Find out about the format for the first day of religious school! Learn the important facts about our school; where we meet, your child’s teacher, the school’s pick-up and dismissal process, and a host of other pertinent details to assist you and your child. Please RSVP by emailing Hana or calling 508-528-5337 and let her know you are able to attend.
School Year Starting Dates Sunday, September 10: Pre-K through 7th Grade Tuesday, September 12: Haverim, Confirmation Wednesday, September 13: 3rd through 6th Grade Hebrew
Book Pick-up will once again be on the 1st day of Religious School. TEC Religious School on Sundays and Wednesdays are held at Medway High School, 88 Summer St, Medway. Haverim, Confirmation program is held at TEC building, 900 Washington St., Franklin.
Do You Have Special Talents? Do you have special talents you can share with our students? Seeking Adults with special talents to lead mini-sessions at the religious school or with our teens. Is there a way we can blend your talent with a Jewish connection? Possibilities: Music - SciFi - Art - Sports Technology - Politics - Cooking - Israel - Crafts Plants - Animals - Environment, Science Hana can help you turn your interest into a teachable unit! Please contact Hana Berman, Director of Education.
Religious School Calendar 2017-2018/5778 School is open every date listed, unless otherwise noted Religious School
Hebrew School
Grades 1-7 Sunday- 9:00–11:30 am
Grades 3-6 Wednesday- 4:00–5:30 pm
9/10 – First Day of School
9/13- First Day of School
9/17
9/20 - No School- Rosh Hashanah
9/24
9/27
10/1
10/4 - No School- Sukkot
10/8-No School- Columbus Day wknd
10/11- No School- Simchat Torah
10/15
10/18
10/22
10/25
10/29
11/1
11/5
11/8
11/12
11/15
11/19
11/22- No School-Thanksgiving
11/26- No School-Thanksgiving
11/29
12/3
12/6
12/10- No School- URJ Biennial
12/13
12/17
12/20
12/24- No School (Winter Break)
12/27– No School (Winter Break)
12/31- No School (Winter Break)
1/3
1/7
1/10
1/14-- No School- MLK Day wknd
1/17
1/21
1/24
1/28
1/31
2/4
2/7
2/11
2/14
2/18 – No School (February Break)
2/21– No School (February Break)
2/25– No School (February Break)
2/28 No School (Purim)
3/4
3/7
3/11
3/14
3/18
3/21
3/25
3/28
4/1 - No School (Passover)
4/4 - No School (Passover)
4/8
4/11
4/15 – No School ((Spring Break)
4/18 – No School (Spring Break)
4/22 – No School ((Spring Break)
4/25
4/29
5/2 5/9 - Last day of School
5/6 5/11 - Last day of School Friday night service
Please join us to honor our Confirmation Students Saturday May 19, 2018 Shavuot and Confirmation @ 7:00pm at Temple Etz Chaim
Haverim Program Grades 8-12 2017-8/ 5778 Learning Tuesday- 6:30-8:30 pm
9/12 – Welcome to a new experience and Special Opening Day Program Body and Soul 10/10 10/17 10/24 Media- one date subject to change 11/14 11/28 12/5 12/19 Hanukkah Celebration for Haverim “Fellows” SciTech 1/16 1/23 1/30 The Jewish Palate or Music 3/6 3/13 3/20 3/27 Passover Experience for Haverim “Fellows” Mitzvah Day Project and Last Day Celebration Sunday 4/29
Please join us to honor our Confirmation Students Saturday May 19, 2018 Shavuot and Confirmation @ 7:00pm at Temple Etz Chaim
Notes: 12 sessions in all, 16 for Haverim “Fellows”, students enrolled in the yearlong program The flow of the evening would be something like this unless we work with the presenter for something different: ½ hour Jewish connection to the topic, one hour program, 15 minute Schmooze (snack)
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Meet our Committee Chairs 2017-2018 Standing Committees Adult Education Rosie Buja lives in Medway with her husband Jim. The Bujas have three sons. This is Rosie’s second year chairing the Adult Ed committee, whose purpose is to offer a variety of learning experiences to the temple community. She works closely with Rabbi Alpert in developing a rich assortment of programs.
Budget and Finance Carl Citron lives in Medway with his wife Diane. The Citrons have two adult children. This is Carl’s first year chairing the Budget and Finance committee, though he has considerable past experience with temple finances and is currently serving his first term as treasurer. Carl has been an active member of the congregation for 19 years and is well known for his cooking skills.
Building and Grounds Jim Buja, husband of Adult Ed chair Rosie (see above), is well known throughout the community as the “Fix It” guy. His availability for “urgent” repairs has won him enthusiastic praise from staff and Board members.
Education Jenn Eagerman lives in Franklin with her husband Scott and their children, Samantha and Abe. This is Jenn’s second year chairing the Education committee, which supports the efforts of the Director of Education and Religious School teachers by organizing and providing many of the supplemental activities that enrich the school year.
Development/Fundraising Kathy Levine lives in Franklin with her husband Michael. The Levines have two adult daughters. Now in her second year as chair, Kathy has been energetic in implementing programs that simultaneously raise money for the congregation and encourage the development of strong community ties. The frequent restaurant FUNdraiser has been a real success. Additional fundraising activities include the July Fourth booth, co-chaired by Kathy Levine and Jim Buja and the Temple Gala, chaired by Joanne Valenca.
Leadership Development and Nominating Committee Stacy Bushey lives in Milford with her husband, Michael. The Busheys have two children. This committee has a two-fold purpose: to create a means for developing leaders among the congregation and to identify and connect with potential nominees annually for the Temple Board.
Religious Activities (RAC) Emily Berman lives in Franklin with her husband Scott and daughter Michaela. Working closely with Rabbi Alpert, RAC is responsible for overseeing, planning and coordinating all of the congregation’s holiday observances. Their goal is to provide meaningful spiritual experiences for members of all ages. RAC is additionally responsible for the scheduling of B’nei Mitzvah services. Miriam Goodman has served very successfully as B’nei Mitzvah coordinator for four years. She and her husband Michael live in Franklin with their daughters, Sarah and Jenna.
Service of the Heart Sherene Borr and Cindy Heilweil, have shared the responsibility for this committee for six years. The committee’s purpose is to provide support to temple members in times of need. Among those services, Sherene and Cindy coordinate the provision of meals and visits for sick congregants and organize shiva observances. Sherene lives in Milford with her husband Steve and their children, Gabby and Dylan. Cindy lives in Bellingham with her husband Howard and their children, Sarah and Adam.
Synagogue Life and Membership This committee is responsible for both building/enhancing the community (synagogue life) and recruiting/engaging/retaining members (membership). Connie Shulman chairs the Synagogue Life portion. Connie lives in Franklin with her husband Richard. The Shulmans are founding members of the congregation. They have two adult sons. Sherene Borr (see also service of the Heart) and Deb Rouslin are responsible for the Membership portion of this committee. Deb lives with her husband, Jack Rocha, and their children in Franklin. She and Sherene plan new member social events such as a welcome brunch and Friday night Shabbat dinners.
Social Justice/Tikkun Olam Risa Ceskavich lives in Wrentham with her husband John. The Ceskavichs have two adult children. At this time, the committee’s goal is to involve the temple community in efforts to help immigrants, by partnering with existing organizations that focus on issues relating to immigrants.
Youth Commission Caren Pfeffer and her husband Mike live in Wrentham; they have three daughters. This is Caren’s first year as chair of the Youth Commission, whose purpose is to support the advisors for the junior and senior youth groups.
Ad-Hoc Committees Building Relocation Committee Andrew Rubenstein, his wife, Lynne and their children, David and Craig, live in Franklin. Andrew is currently first Vice President and a real estate lawyer. The committee is responsible for finding a new permanent home for the congregation. Andrew’s extensive knowledge of real estate law will be a considerable asset in achieving this.
Communications and Publicity This committee is responsible for facilitating both internal and external communications. It has no chair but is handled by four congregants who have very specific areas of responsibility. Steven Cohn is the temple’s webmaster. Steve lives in Franklin with his wife Amy and their children, Ben and Max. Steve has been maintaining the website for a number of years and is responsible for managing its content. Margot Rivelis maintains both the weekly TEC Tidbits update and the monthly TEC Times publication. Margot lives in Franklin with her husband Michael; they have two children. Margot is also currently serving as Executive Secretary to the Board. Lisa Lipson is the editor for the temple Facebook page. She has been a significant member of the Comm. Comm. for numerous years, serving previously as TEC Times editor and technical advisor to the committee. She and her husband Stewart live in Franklin with their son Jacob. Sue Cass manages the external publicity, working with area newspaper editors to publish the temple’s worship service schedules and holiday observances, as well as press releases/feature articles about special events. Sue and her husband Colin live in Franklin and have two adult daughters.
Dues Structure Richard and his wife, Connie, live in Franklin. In addition to being a founding member, Richard was the congregation’s first President. The purpose of this committee is to determine how best to finance the mission of the temple. They will investigate whether the current dues structure is the most effective way to support a viable Jewish institution.
Early Childhood Committee Kim Roberts-Schultheis lives in Franklin with her husband Steve and daughter Sophia. She is newly assigned as chair of this committee, whose purpose is to assist in developing and organizing early childhood events designed to foster a sense of community among our youngest members and their families.
Auxiliaries Brotherhood Stewart Lipson has served as “grassroots organizer” for the Brotherhood for 5 years, during which time its membership and activity scheduling have flourished. The committee is responsible for creating an atmosphere in which adult males in the congregation can meet, have a good time and provide a service to the community.
Sisterhood President: Melissa Folsom Melissa Folsom lives in Wrentham with her husband Owen. The Folsoms have two children. Melissa is currently in her second year as Sisterhood president -- for the second time. Sisterhood is a social group for women in the TEC community, as well as an entry into the community for non-TEC members. The Sisterhood members perform community services both within the congregation and in the greater community. It is also one of the temple’s primary fundraising supports.
Senior Youth Group - FROGY FROGY president Anina Lawrence lives in Mendon with her parents, Locke and Lisa, and her brother, Jakob. As president, Anina not only helps develop programing for the senior youth group but also serves as their representative to the Board of Directors. Youth group advisor Carl Shulman has been a temple member since early childhood. As advisor, Carl helps the group plan and execute activities, serves as liaison to other area youth groups and promotes a continued feeling of community among the congregation’s teenagers.
Junior Youth Group Pam Giordano lives in Bellingham with her husband Phil and daughter Jessica. She is responsible for guiding and supervising the junior youth group.
Other Non-Committees Gracious Gifts Susan Hirshfield has chaired this committee (and been its only member for 10+ years.) She has been responsible for making sure that donations to the temple are acknowledged, both publicly in the temple newsletter and in a personal thank you to the donor. She and her husband David live in Franklin and have two adult sons, Jeffrey and Andrew. The Hirshfields are also charter members of the temple.
Java Nagilah David Johnson lives in Cumberland, RI, with his wife, Grace Kooper. They have three children. Dave is responsible for the weekly Java Nagilah, the community’s coffee klatch during religious school.
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Shabbat Service Schedule Friday, September 1 7:30 pm at TEC
Erev Shabbat Service
Friday, September 8 7:30 pm at TEC
Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, September 9 10:00 am at FUSF
Shabbat Service and Bar Mitzvah of Gavin Todtenkopt
Friday, September 15 7:30 pm at TEC
Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, September 16 8:00 pm at TEC
S’lichot Service
High Holy Day Services
See schedule on page 2
Friday, October 6 7:30 pm at TEC
Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, October 7 10:00 am at TEC
Tot Shabbat in the Sukkah
Friday, October 13 7:30 pm at TEC
Erev Shabbat Service and Camp Reunion
Friday, October 20 7:30 pm at TEC
Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, October 21 Shabbat Service and Bar Mitzvah of Ryan Martin 10:00 am at Renaissance Hotel Friday, October 27 7:30 pm at TEC
Erev Shabbat Service
TEC: Temple Etz Chaim, 900 Washington St., Franklin Renaissance Hotel: 28 Patriot Place, Foxborough
FUSF: First Universalist Society of Franklin, 262 Chestnut St., Franklin
B’Nei Mitzvah B’Nei Mitzvah Shabbat Service 10:00 am The congregation is invited to worship as our students are called to the Torah as Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Please join the families for Kiddush following the service. Saturday, September 9 at FUSF: Gavin Todtenkopt becomes a Bar Mitzvah Saturday, October 21 at Renaissance Hotel at Patriot Place, Foxborough, MA Ryan Martin becomes a Bar Mitzvah
Let’s Join 5,000 Reform Leaders at the URJ Biennial 2017 in Boston!
Leadership Development, Networking, Jewish Learning, and How-Tos to Strengthen Our Congregation Will Be Center Stage With the theme of "Reimagining Jewish Life," our congregation will join with hundreds of others from across North America at the URJ Biennial 2017 from December 6-10 in Boston, MA. And you need to be a part of it! What is the Biennial? The URJ Biennial is the largest Jewish gathering in North America. The Biennial will bring together 5,000 Reform leaders, including lay leaders, professionals, clergy, and youth leaders representing 1.5 million North American Reform Jews. Together, we’ll learn, pray, share ideas, network, celebrate, and make decisions about the future of Reform Jewish life. We’ll return to Temple Etz Chaim armed with new resources and ideas, as well as with the enthusiasm and know-how to put them to use to strengthen and enrich our spiritual home. Who should attend? Those who should plan to be with us in Boston include clergy, board members, and lay leaders at all levels, as well as synagogue professionals, youth group leaders, and anyone else interested in learning, praying, and hearing inspiring speakers. What happens at Biennial? Networking, learning, and sharing with other congregational leaders Plenaries and breakout sessions featuring renowned speakers Important discussions and debates about today’s critical issues and the direction of Reform Judaism World-class Jewish music and entertainment Inspiring worship Amazing shopping in the Biennial Exhibit Hall ...and so much more! What’s in it for our congregation? Programming tailored to us: Sessions cover a wide range of topics, offering how-tos and hands-on learning for all facets of congregational life – from membership and outreach to leadership development, from social justice to social media, and everything in between. Five intensive “tracks”: These tracks will focus on the core congregational priorities of Strengthening Congregations, Tikkun Olam (social action), Audacious Hospitality, Youth Engagement, and Transforming Texts. We can customize our Biennial experience based on our specific needs. Leadership development: Biennial is a great, cost-effective way to gain knowledge, skills, and leadership training, and to network with our peers from other congregations. Many synagogues use the Biennial as the perfect opportunity for a leadership/board retreat. Strengthening our relationships: The shared experience of Biennial offers a rare opportunity to strengthen our bonds with each other as members of one temple family. A Jewish pick-me-up: We’ll return home spiritually refreshed, more deeply connected to our Reform Movement, and full of new and creative ideas to try in our congregation. How do we sign up? You can find lots of information and register right now at www.urj.org/biennial. If we register by October 10, we’ll get the best pricing. The larger our delegation, the greater our benefits and discounts - so let's save the dates now and start making our plans. Please contact me as soon as possible if you are interested in attending the Biennial or have any questions. Let’s send a strong delegation to Boston this December, and we will return even stronger! L’shalom, Rabbi Tom Alpert
SISTERHOOD 2017-2018 Annual Sisterhood Membership Form Temple Etz Chaim Sisterhood extends you a warm welcome and invites you to join our vibrant community of women this year. Please complete the information below and return this form with your payment to Temple Etz Chaim Sisterhood. LEVELS OF SUPPORT
Miriam
(Includes Membership Dues)
$72.00
Esther
(Includes Membership Dues)
$54.00
Sarah
(Non-Temple Member)
$45.00
Rebecca
(Temple Member)
$40.00
Rachel
(70 Years Old and Up)
$25.00
Leah
(NEW: First 2 Year’s Temple Members)
FREE
Name: Home Phone:
Cell:
Address:
Email: Mail payment to: Temple Etz Chaim Sisterhood 900 Washington Street Franklin, MA 02038 If you have any questions, please contact our Sisterhood President sisterhood@temple-etzchaim.org Melissa Folsom at Sisterhood@temple-etzchaim.org
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Donations If you’d like to make a donation in memory or honor of somebody or just to support us, please go to our online form.
Cardboard Recycling Program
Brotherhood Cigar and Beer Event
To Learn is to Live Children aren’t the only ones who go back to school; adults do too. But the Adult Ed Committee offers programs with no tests or work sheets. We hope you will enjoy the myriad offerings, not just Torah Study (gotta love bagels and discussion). Keep an eye out for A Learner’s Guide to various holidays, hints on how we as Jews can trace our genealogy, our annual S’lichot service and movie, an evening with visiting scholar Dr. Rachel Korazim, book discussions, and...
TEC has a new recycling program that will earn us $$$. American Paper Recycling is a program that not only helps with our recycling efforts but also earns us money. Drop off your paper/ cardboard in the recycling bin outside our temple building. Go online to learn more. Questions? Contact Adrianne.
Ink/Toner Cartridge Recycling Don’t throw away those empty ink and toner cartridges. Drop them off in the bin at temple or at religious school and let us recycle them. We earn $ for each recycled cartridge.
Amazon Smile Temple Etz Chaim is registered as an AmazonSmile charitable organization. AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support TEC every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to TEC. It's simple to do. When shopping on Amazon, go to smile.amazon.com and choose "Temple Etz Chaim" (of Franklin, MA) as your charitable organization. That's it! Whenever you shop, remember to do with a smile.
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September 2017 / 5777
Temple Etz Chaim Cemetery Temple Etz Chaim has cemetery plots reserved for members and their families at Beit Olam East Cemetery in Wayland. If you would like to purchase a cemetery plot, please contact the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts at (617) 244-6509. Visit us at http://jcam.org.
Ideal Big Brother is energetic and mature , living in proximity to Franklin/Holliston and open to being matched to a non-Jewish child. Do you or does someone you know have a few hours a month to make a huge difference in the life of another person? Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters (JBBBS) is in need of volunteers! JBBBS has 35 children in need of a mentor and 52 adults with disabilities on the waiting list. For more information, contact JBBBS Community Organizer, Lily Siegel: lily@jbbbs.org; 617-558-6549.
Stay Connected Hebrew Rehabilitation Center (HRC) is a skilled nursing facility and licensed hospital that provides long-term care in Boston and Dedham. The Volunteer Services Department at Dedham as well as Boston is always looking for adults and students interested in giving a little of their time to our residents. If you are interested, please contact us at 781-234-9350 (Dedham) or 617-363-8421 (Boston). You can also visit our website, www.hebrewseniorlife.org and go to the Volunteer tab to learn more about our volunteer requirements and some of our volunteer opportunities.
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Contact Us Temple Etz Chaim 900 Washington Street, Franklin, MA, 02038 508-528-5337 Send us a message Rabbi Thomas Alpert Hana Berman, Director of Education
Audrey Venooker, Bookkeeper Adrianne Castro, Office Administrator