Bulletin THE BETH TFILOH
Winter Wonderful Shabbat On the coldest day of the year, January 6, BT members, school families, and guests enjoyed a warm and wonderful morning at BT for Winter Wonderful Shabbat! The day was full of programs to appeal to all ages and stages of our BT members and guests. Highlights included a Meet and Greet for adults, a B’nai Mitzvah family program with Rabbi Wohlberg, a Beth Jacob at Beth Tfiloh Hebrew School program with Rabbi Yoggev, Minyan Meyuchad for our members and guests with special needs, an array of children’s services featuring a special animal show, inspiring davening, and insightful sermons. Following services, everyone joined together for a delicious and sumptuous hot Simcha
Purim @BT February 28-March 1
Kiddush lunch. Winter Wonderful Shabbat was the brainchild of the Synagogue Life Committee, chaired by Vered Taylor, and staffed by Holly Venick, Director of Synagogue Life. The special Shabbat came together through the coordinated efforts of many staff and lay leaders. Much of this programming happens at BT on a regular basis, every Shabbat, including a choice of two regular adult services and six regular children/teen services, but this day was a special opportunity to highlight Shabbat at BT and make it especially Winter Wonderful! Although it was bitterly cold outside, the energy was high and the community was warm and toasty inside Beth Tfiloh.
The 80s are totally gnarly dude!
Get your shoulder pads and MC Hammer pants ready, because on WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 28, Beth Tfiloh Young Professionals (BTYP) is joining B’nai Israel at their 80s themed Purim party! Dude, get your Running Man and Cabbage Patch on in DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE, from 7:30 pm – 12 am (6:30 pm Megillah reading).
OPEN BAR, all night 80s jams, Purim nosh, and plenty of 80s nostalgia. Dress in your 80’s best! BTYP is one of this year’s sponsors, so you’ll totally find us there with our big hair! Tickets are $36 in advance and $40 at the door. PARTY IS 21+ ONLY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, email mhollander@btfiloh.org or visit the Beth Tfiloh Young Professionals Facebook group.
Celebrating the Joy of Judaism, Embracing all Jews. SHEVAT-ADAR 5778 FEBRUARY 2018
Do All Prayers Get Answered? By Rabbi Eli Yoggev
Unfortunately not. I worked this summer as a chaplain and prayed with many patients for continued health, only to see those prayers go unanswered time after time. So, why do we pray? Chasidism teaches that not a single prayer is ever lost; all prayers go up and accumulate in the spiritual realm. Sometimes, they are answered in others’ life circumstances; at other times, they are answered in ours, upon connecting with other prayers offered by us on the same situation. They may not always be answered, but they are received and have an effect. Another approach highlights God as listener to prayer, vkp, gnua. Upon Continued on page 3
Community is Happiness By Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe, Beth Tfiloh Community Educator
Mishenichnas Adar – Marbim B’Simcha (Babylonian Talmud, Ta’anit 29a) When
Adar enters, JOY is increased! Happiness is en vogue – there is a veritable explosion of books that focus on how to bring more joy and happiness into our lives. Here is a short list of bestsellers: • The Happiness Project • Stumbling on Happiness • The Art of Happiness • Authentic Happiness
BT Young Professionals
Each of these books offer insights and suggestions such as: Continued on page 3