Coming Events at Beit Haverim June 2015 Rabbi Alan Berg
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Confirmation Class
4:30PM
BH
Cantorial Soloist Ann Brown
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Family Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Berg and Ann Brown & Birthday Blessings!
7:00PM
BH
Shabbat Services Fridays at 7:00 p.m. at Beit Haverim 1111 Country Club Rd. Lake Oswego, OR 97034
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Torah Study led by Rabbi Berg
10:00AM
BH
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Song of Miriam Brunch Mittleman Jewish Community Center
10:00AM
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Confirmation Class
6:00PM
BH
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 311 Lake Oswego OR 97034
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Confirmation Service led by Rabbi Berg and Ann Brown
7:00PM
BH
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Torah Study led by Rabbi Berg
10:00AM
BH
Rabbi’s Hours: by appointment
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Ladies’ Night Home of Karin Stolz
6:30PM
Phone: 503-568-1241
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Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Berg and Ann Brown
7:00PM
BH
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Zack Friedman Bar Mitzvah
10:00AM
BH
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Board Meeting Home of Barbara Gold
2:30PM
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Shabbat Service led by Gabe HunterBernstein
7:00PM
Email : office@beithav.org Website www.beithav.org
BH
Beit Haverim is an open, inviting, and spiritually alive Jewish community, located just outside of Portland, Oregon in Lake Oswego. We welcome everyone to our Reform congregation of Jews by birth, Jews by choice and Jews at heart.
From Rabbi Alan Berg Confirmation Service Shabbat June 12, 7 PM Mazel Tov Abby Cohen, Juliana Sahni and Matthew Macovsky We all have something unique to celebrate in the achievement of Juliana, Matt and Abby in completing Beit Haverim’s two-year Confirmation program. Looking back on studying with these three excellent students, there are several words that come to mind: joyous, respectful, and committed. From the first class back in the fall of 2013 I knew I was going to learn a lot from you. There is nothing to compare to the interplay between topics that unfolded at each session. Often we started with a discussion of what was going on in school, were they studying anything that had a Jewish theme or connection, were there discussions about Israel and were they comfortable? Were there episodes of anti-Semitism? How were the musicals going? Robotics? I will hear their voices for the rest of my life, as they worked at each session and from week to week, on the journey toward a hoped-for more adult Jewish identity. Each student possesses a solid, personally owned Jewish identity. This is not so much the result of any specific area of study, but rather the accumulation of many experiences; of talking about each festival, of having a clarifying discussion when Israel is in the news, studying the history of Zionism, trying to comprehend the Talmud. For teens making the transition from the Jewish perspective of a bar or bat mitzvah, to that of an adult who can think, feel and act comfortably as Jews, there is no better experience than Confirmation. We will offer a new class in fall of 2016. I hope you can join us on June 12 to honor Matt, Abby and Juliana. b’Shalom,
Rabbi Berg
June, 2015
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Letter From Our President, Sue Greenspan While most people think of June, July, and August, as lay back months – time to unwind, time to vacation and relax, time to deviate from the daily schedule of the school year – these three months are very busy ones for Beit Haverim. During these months, our volunteers and Rabbi are working very hard to plan events for the upcoming year. With all the extra time you have because carpools and team sports are taking a hiatus, now would be a great time to volunteer at Beit Haverim. The High Holy Days are right around the corner. Although each year the services seem to come off effortlessly, hours are spent putting these spiritual services together. Karin Stolz is always looking for help on the ritual committee. This committee coordinates readers for the holidays, sets up/ takes down the sanctuary for each service, plans the selchot service, brings in floral arrangements for the bima, and ushers members and guest in during the services. Contact Karin if you have a few hours to spend on the High Holy Days. If crafting during your free time is more up your alley, Tikkum Olam has an ongoing project that might be of interest to you. Knitzvah collects handmade hats and scarves during the year and then presents them to Urban Lift for their annual holiday program. While sitting around the pool during your child’s swimming lesson, knit a scarf or hat. Remember, winter is always just around the corner. For more information on Knitzvah or other Tikkum Olam projects, please contact Barbara Gold. The Beit Haverim choir uses the summer months to practice those hymns we love hearing during the holidays. If singing is a passion of yours, please contact Judith Kleinstein for the information about our choir. And if you want to volunteer but are not sure what you want to do, you can always call Allison, our office manager. Allison is heading a committee to work on the Beit Haverim Library, now in storage, and can also direct you to other volunteer opportunities that may interest you. May the summer months give you the opportunity to recharge your batteries. B’Shalom Sue June, 2015
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Mazel Tov Recap of Adult B’nai Mitzvah May 2nd was the Adult B’nai Mitzvah service of Sue Greenspan, Karin Stolz, Robin Kay, Suzanne Causer and Hannah Berkowitz. With a sanctuary full of friends and family, these women received their talits, led the service, talked about their journey to this day and read from the torah. It was evident how much care, time and study went into this day. Afterwards, there was a lovely lunch provided by the ladies. The service was so inspiring that in fact, several people contacted Rabbi Berg to sign up for the next Adult B’nai Mitzvah class.
Great Job Religious School! Again this year at the end of the school year, the Beit Haverim Religious School chose to donate their tzedakah to various charities by vote. Each child received a bean to put in a cup adjacent to the name of the charity. This is how they voted: Jewish Family and Child Services—$265.73 Jewish Federation of Portland—$132.86 Anti Defamation League- $101.24 PJ Library-$82.25 Cedar Sinai Park—$50.63 For a total of $632.71. Thanks to our teachers and our parents for helping to instill the meaning of giving to our community.
June, 2015
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June Events Beit Haverim Song of Miriam Honoree Sunday, June 7, 10:00AM Mittleman Community Center Beit Haverim is happy to celebrate this year’s Song of Miriam honoree, Heather Kirkbride. We are grateful to Heather for taking on so many responsibilities and putting in countless volunteer hours to help keep Beit Haverim moving forward. Each year the Jewish Women’s Round Table honors outstanding women volunteers from Jewish organizations and congregations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Click here for the registration form.
Confirmation Shabbat Service Friday, June 12, 7:00PM Join us to celebrate Juliana, Abby and Matthew as they complete confirmation in this Confirmation Shabbat Service.
Abby
Matthew
Juliana
Ladies’ Night Tuesday June 16, 6:30PM On the lovely deck at the home of Karin Stolz. Address will be given when you RSVP. The first of 3 summer Ladies' Nights Out. Relax on the deck, while enjoying the delicious dishes. Make new friends. Reconnect with old friends. Bring a summer potluck dish to share.
June, 2015
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Zack Friedman Bar Mitzvah Bar Mitzvah of Zack Friedman Saturday, June 20, 10:00AM
Greetings, I am Zack Friedman and am in the 8th grade at Rosemont Ridge Middle School in West Linn. If you know me, you’ve probably seen me with a book in my hand. I always like to be reading at least one book (and often as many as 3 or 4 at a time) and I have so many books in my room that I can’t fit them on my shelves. Until this past year, I didn’t know that there are a lot of kids who don’t have any books of their own. In low-income neighborhoods, the ratio of books to kids is 1 book for every 300 children. If that had been true at my primary school, that would have meant that only 2 of us in the whole school would have had a single book, let alone shelves overflowing with them. That seems so odd and sad to me, so I decided that my Mitzvah Project would be to volunteer at the Children’s Book Bank, cleaning and repairing books to be given to kids who need them. I also have organized book drives at Beit Haverim, in my neighborhood and from family friends. If you have any extra children’s books, please put them in the donation box in the lobby of Beit Haverim or bring them to my Bar Mitzvah. Thank you to everyone who has already contributed. I have a variety of interests besides reading. I enjoy science and have competed on my school’s Science Bowl team the last two years. This year I participated in the science fair and was part of a LEGO Robotics team for the first time. I like learning Parkour and I also enjoy blacksmithing. My favorite team sport is lacrosse. I have been a Scout since 1st grade and have been in several leadership positions. Merit Badges, camping and hanging out with my friends in Troop 149 are important to me in Scouts as well. Speaking of friends, one of my favorite things is playing Magic the Gathering with my friends. One highlight of last summer was being in an aviation camp where I got to pilot a plane (a Cessna 152) over Puget Sound. This summer, I am looking forward to a Boy Scout High Adventure trip, helping crew a 90’ sailboat through the San Juan Islands. I’m also looking forward to my Bar Mitzvah. My Torah portion is Numbers 16:1, The Rebellion of Korach. I really appreciate all the help I have gotten from everyone in preparing for my Bar Mitzvah. I especially want to thank Rabbi Berg and Sami Oberlander for all the work they have put into helping me prepare. I hope you can all join me, and my parents Cindy Hoover and Glen Friedman, at my Bar Mitzvah on June 20th. Live long and prosper. June, 2015
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In The Beit Haverim Community Pet Loss Support Our member, Sharon Rose, is certified and offering pet loss support for other members of Beit Haverim at no cost. If you need some help, you can just call or email Sharon and she will be happy to talk with you as you go through your grief process. Email Sharon or call her at (503) 352-5045.
Beit Haverim Cookbook Order your copy of Bubbe and Zayde Cook. All recipes are from members of Beit Haverim. All tested by families and well loved. We are very excited with the results and can’t wait to try all the fabulous recipes. These will make great gifts and wonderful addition to anyone’s cookbook collection. They are $15 each. Please use this link to place your order.
Beit Haverim Children’s Library At one of the Congregational Desserts, parents of young children asked about a Children's Library that could be accessed during services, for restless children, or on Sundays when older siblings are in class. What a great idea! We are asking for "gently loved" Jewish book for children of preschool age through 4/5 grade. (Outgrown books from PJ library are a wonderful source). Also, if you have a small bookcase that you are no longer using, please consider donating it to the library. One with wheels (or wheels could be added) would be most appreciated. A box labeled "Beit Haverim Children Library" will be in the lobby to collect donations. For more information, please contact Sue Greenspan.
June, 2015
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Tikkun Olam Tikkun Olam is working on one big project that will go on from now until the end of summer, and we need YOUR help. We are collecting school supplies that will be given to schools that do not have the means to provide all that the students need. We are hoping to gather the following: Scientific Calculators Spanish-English dictionaries: ISBN 0844279862 Spanish verbs books: ISBN 0764113577 Small paperback dictionaries Small paperback thesauruses Backpacks for middle/ high school students Backpacks for elementary school students Calculator- basic dual power with square root
But any and all school supplies are needed and wanted. Please enlist YOUR children to help find sales that can provide these other items: Fine tipped black Sharpies Dry Erase board markers Fine tip washable markers Pencil top erasers Crayons Colored fine-tipped felt pens White vinyl erasers Black ultra-fine tip Sharpies Pencil sharpeners Pencil box (5” – 9”) Paper/Notebooks College-ruled notebook paper Three-ring binders Binder dividers Spiral notebooks of graph paper: ¼” grid College-ruled spiral notebooks Mead composition books White copy paper Bright colored copy paper Pocket folders without clasps 7-pocket poly expandable letter file with tabs, flaps, and elastic closure Wide-ruled spiral notebooks Wide-ruled notebook paper Plastic two-pocket folder without clasps Mead primary composition book 3-subject spiral notebooks Pocket folders with clasps Composition books: wide-ruled Portfolio folder with pockets and clasps for attaching 3-hole punched paper Reinforcers (for punched holes) Index cards: 3” x 5”- lined Glue sticks Scissors Facial tissues Rulers
As you can see, the list is long, but the items are necessary. There is a bin at the Temple for you to place your items in during the long period from now until August, but you can start by bringing any backpacks that are in good condition to Sweet Repeat. Thank you so much for your help. June, 2015
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Tributes & Memorials In honor of
Thank you to Barbara Gold for your donation in honor of the Adult B’nai Mitzvah
Thank you to Sue Greenspan for your donation to the choir fund in honor of Ann Brown at the Adult B’nai Mitzvah
Thank you to Sue Greenspan for your donation to the Rabbi’s fund in honor of the Adult B’nai Mitzvah
Thank you to Karin Stolz for your donation to the Rabbi’s fund in honor of the Adult B’nai Mitzvah
Thank you to Barbara and Jim Byrd for your donation of 4 siddurim in honor of Matigan Williams’ Bat Mitzvah
Thank you to Esther and Fred Schwartz for your donation to the Rabbi’s fund in honor of the Adult B’nai Mitzvah
Donations At Beit Haverim we are often asked the question, “How much does the Rabbi (Temple) charge for officiating at a life cycle event (baby naming, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, wedding, or funeral)? The answer is, “The Rabbi charges nothing.” The Rabbi officiating at these events is just one of the many privileges of membership at Beit Haverim. However, it is a tradition to make a donation to one of the many funds we have established at Beit Haverim in honor of your event. A congregation does not survive on dues alone. It is through your generous donations that many of our programs are able to function. The next time you are called to the Bima to say an Aliyah, dress the Torah, carry the Torah through the congregation, remember it is an honor. Do a Mitzvah and make a donation to the fund of your choice. Click here to make your online donation! Thank you!
June, 2015
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News and Notables Community News and Notables Mazel Tov to Erin David, who is headed to Portland State University in the fall. Erin is the daughter of Robin Kay and Jeff David and she will be majoring in education with a minor in math. She plans to become an elementary school teacher. Ilana Newman, who is the the daughter of Cathy and Mark Newman, graduates this month from The Northwest Academy and will attend The Fairhaven College at Western Washington University in the fall, where she will be studying photojournalism. And congratulations to Brenner Spear, son of Ione and Don Spear, who graduated in May from Chapman University with a double major in computer information systems and business administration. He is headed to San Francisco, where he will work for Accenture, a management consulting services company.
Erin
Brenner with his grandfather
Mazel Tov to Brenner, Ilana and Erin!
Online Membership Renewal for 2015-2016! Our new membership year begins on July 1st, and for the first time, we are offering membership renewal online! By now, you should have received an email with the link to the online renewal. The process is quick and easy, but if you have any questions, please contact Allison in the office at 503-568-1241 or office@beithav.org. As a reminder, Beit Haverim’s membership year runs from July 1 through June 30, regardless of your join date. Please renew your membership by June 30th. If you choose to pay your dues with a credit card, your card will not be charged until the first week of July. Click the link below, if you’d like to get started on your membership renewal today. Renew online June, 2015
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In the Beit Haverim Community Yarzheits
Birthdays Bethel Aster
June 2
Eliana Lefkowitz
June 2
Robert Peltz
June 5
Kari Lewinsohn
June 6
Hannah Macovsky
June 8
Elizabeth Willet
June 9
Jonathan Blatt
June 10
Matigan Williams
June 10
Eric Kalik
June 11
David Markgraff
June 14
Elizabeth Kalik
June 15
David Sahni
June 16
Adam DiVergilio
June 17
Lily McMullen
June 17
Barry Wiegler
June 17
Zachary Friedman
June 18
Edward Sherman
June 18
Caris Aster
June 20
Amos Diller
June 22
Brittany Rose Moss
June 23
Addie Sokol
June 23
Daniel Beyer
June 24
Simon Reissmann
June 25
Lee Anderson
June 27
Tessa DiVergilio
June 28
Martha Spinhirne
June 28
Eliana Scheele
June 29
Ruth Brilling
June 1 Mother of Karin Stolz
Olive Newman
June 1
Grandmother of Constance Dorreman Joseph Marcoux
June 2
Jeffrey & Michele Beyer Joseph Schuster
June 5
Father of Sharon Rose Ben Tzion Kleinstein
June 10
Father of Judith Kleinstein Virginia Williams
June 13
Grandmother of David & Gabrielle Williams Harry Hull
June 15
Great Uncle of David & Gabrielle Williams Jerry Rittenbaum
June 15
Father of Mark Rittenbaum Louis Lepler
June 18
Father of Nancy Lepler Jack Opper
June 18
Father of Babette Flynn, Grandfather of Liz Cohen Hugo Brilling
June 22
Father of Karin Stolz Grace Kavka
June 22
Mother of Alicia Kavka Eleanor Rittenbaum
June 22
Mother of Mark Rittenbaum Jacob Sondheimer
June 23
Grandfather of Gabe Hunter-Bernstein
Anniversaries
Thea Cohen
Shira Fogel & Marty Lefkowitz
June 12
Gabrielle & David Williams
June 13
Susan Perlstein & Michael Willet
June 21
Allison & Bradford Fowler
June 24
Naomi Angier & David McTeague June 25 Suzanne & Daniel Greenspan August, 2015
June 30
June 26
Mother of Alan Cohen Blanche Rubin
June 29
Aunt of Hannah Berkowitz Jacob Kleinstein
June 30
Paternal Grandfather of Judith Kleinstein Stephen Perry Partner of Brian Olson
June 30 Page 17