TEC Times
A monthly calendar for the Temple Etz Chaim community March 2017 / 5777
Community Erev Shabbat Service Friday, March 10 6:00 pm: Shabbat Dinner 7:30 pm: Erev Shabbat Service at Temple Beth Torah 2162 Washington St., Holliston
RSVP Deadline for Shabbat dinner has been extended until Friday, March 3rd Go online to make your reservation! If you can’t join us for dinner, come to the service (no RSVP needed for service)
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Can Life End Death? March 1, 8, 15, 29, April 5 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Temple Building In this 5-week course, Rabbi Alpert will not lecture on vampire lore. Instead, he will lead a discussion of Neil Gilman's The Death of Death: Resurrection and Immortality in Jewish Thought. The book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Additional copies can be found through the Minuteman Library Network. Don't expect quizzes; expect refreshments. Coming? Contact adulted@temple-etzchaim.org, so we can put out enough chairs.
Purim Cocktail Party and Shake-Off! Saturday, March 4 7:00 pm at the home of Jayme Solomon-Zissu RSVP online at SignUpGenius It’s our Third Annual Cocktail Party and Shake-Off! Come taste a variety of cocktails and vote on your favorite! The winner will take home a special trophy and have bragging rights! Let’s have some fun, food and drinks. Interested in being a participate in the Shake-Off? Contact Margot Rivelis
Purim Carnival Sunday, March 5 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Medway High School Cafeteria 88 Summer St., Medway Games and Face Painting run by FROGY! Food provided by the Education Committee! Buy game tickets and light lunch. FUN FOR ALL AGES!
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FROGY Shul-In Friday, March 3 - Saturday, March 4 This year FROGY is hosting a Shul-in. For those of you who don’t know what a Shul-in is, it literally translates to synagogue, but it’s a sleepover at a temple, and ours is hosting one for several temples in the southern sub-region of NFTY-NE. Our theme for the event is “Dreams, Hopes, and Aspirations” and we’ve created several programs based off of this theme. Teens from FROGY attending the event are expected to show up earlier to help prepare for our guests which will be arriving around 6:00 pm Friday evening, the 3rd of March and leaving Saturday night around 6:30 pm. We will be having Havdalah Saturday night, and our Jr. FROGY members are invited to attend, to get a feel for what NFTY truly is. Jessica Giordano, FROGY MCVP
Passover Candy Fundraiser Deadline: Sunday, March 5 We've started our annual Spring Passover Fundraiser featuring the Miss Chocolate Passover candies. Packets went home with our Religious School children but this is open to the whole community. Go online to Miss Chocolate and insert our School Code: 702938. Questions? Contact Melissa Folsom.
Confronting Antisemitism Program Tuesday, March 7 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Temple Building We are presenting this program for all teens in our temple community in Grades 8-10. The mission of this program is to increase awareness of antisemitism among Jewish youth, family members and communities; provide opportunities to explore and strengthen Jewish identity; and develop skills to effectively respond to acts of antisemitism in schools and communities. This event is sponsored by ADL. Questions? Contact Hana Berman.
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Saturday Morning Torah Study March 11, 18 April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 8:30 - 9:30 am at the Temple Building Join the Rabbi in a study of Torah. No long-term commitment needed. Texts will be provided. Come for the bagels. Stay for the discussion!
Eat, Drink & Raise Money! Thursday, March 16 5:00 - 9:00 pm Mandarin Milford 196 East Main St. (across from Stop & Shop) Milford, MA Come for dinner and drinks all while supporting Temple Etz Chaim! Good for dine-in and take-out! No Coupon Necessary! All sales that night will go to Temple Etz Chaim! Mandarin Milford will donate 20% of your check (including all drinks). *20% of your check’s value, excluding tax and tip, will be donated to Temple Etz Chaim.
Erev Shabbat Service Honoring Women’s History Month Friday, March 24 7:30 pm at Temple Etz Chaim Come welcome Shabbat and celebrate the powerful history of women. Everyone is welcome this Erev Shabbat. This is not just a service "just for Sisterhood " but an annual tradition that Sisterhood members help organize and take part in the service. Anyone who would like to be involved in the service please contact Sisterhood President Melissa Folsom.
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10th Annual Hamentashen Happening Saturday, March 11 10:00 am - 3:00 pm at the home of Pam Giordano TEN years ago I had an impromptu Hamentashen party and we rolled, filled, baked and ate! Ten years later we are still making and baking! This year we are helping prepare hamentashen for our Community Purim Spiel co-sponsored with Temple Beth Torah. Let’s wow the crowd! I am asking if you are able, to bring your favorite dough with you, so that we can make more Hamentashen than ever before!! As always, I will provide the starting batches of dough, fillings and the oven. We will all provide more dough and the muscle!
Bring a favorite filling. In the past we have made: apricot, pineapple, strawberry, lemon, coconut, almond, blueberry, apple, prune, poppy, cherry, chocolate, rainbow, and any combination of flavors. Bring a rolling pin – I only have 2; and if you have a large round cookie cutter that would be helpful too. Bring an apron so you don’t like getting messy! Please bring a lite bite for lunch if Hamentashen is not your idea of a balanced diet! I will provide drinks and snacks. Bring a smile and a laugh – we all need some of that!
Each year we bake and divide the Hamentashen. You will take some home and we will bring the rest to the Universalist Society where we are having our PurimSpiel this year! I hope you can make it! I’m looking forward to baking with you! Please RSVP to Pam Giordano!
Brotherhood Poker Night Saturday, March 25 7:00 pm at the home of Jon Zissu Gentlemen, you are invited to join a non-competitive game of Texas Hold’em poker. All levels of experience are welcome. Cost is $10 for initial buy in and $5 for additional buy in (midway thru the night). Please contact Stewart Lipson with any questions or concerns and please RSVP by March 22nd.
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URJ Shabbaton Saturday, March 25 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Temple Beth-El, Providence, RI Cost: $36, including lunch $10 more for Shabbatini (martinis, sangria, snacks, schmoozing and a spirited Havdalah service: 6:30 - 8:00 pm) Join us for a day of stimulating programs and worship featuring Rabbi David Ellenson, Chancellor Emeritus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and Gila Hadani-Ward, Director of Lay Resources, Union for Reform Judaism plus song with Shira Buchsbaum and a closing mini-concert with David Perolman. Think of this as a foretaste of Biennial (coming to Boston this December). Two sessions and multiple tracks of exciting learning opportunities, lunch, Torah, and a chance to build community. Everyone is welcome! Questions: Contact Chuck Koplik, Eastern MA/RI URJ Chair.
Community Supper Volunteer Sunday, April 2 3:00 - 6:00 pm First Unitarian Universalist Church 23 Pine St. Milford, MA The Milford Community Supper is an offering for the community and sponsored by the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Milford, in cooperation with area churches, temples and community groups. All those who work providing the supper are volunteers. Join other area Jewish groups to help prepare and serve a hot meal to those in need. Interested in helping? Contact Melissa Folsom.
Early Childhood Model Passover Seder Sunday, April 2 2:00 - 3:30 pm at Temple Etz Chaim This Seder is geared for toddlers thru second graders AND their siblings! The whole family will enjoy an age-appropriate Seder with songs, a story, and a Seder full of fun! Members and non-members welcome. See details on page 7 of this newsletter. Questions & RSVP to Laura Waldman and Stephanie Ries.
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2nd Night Community Seder Tuesday, April 11 6:00 pm Franklin Federated Church 171 Main Street, Franklin Early Bird Special: $30 per adult/$15 per child (age 4-10)
Cost after April 2nd: $36 per adult/ $18 per child Everyone is invited to attend this interactive, family oriented traditional Seder. The Rabbi will lead our Seder as we read the haggadah, retell stories of our ancestors and enjoy a wonderful meal prepared special for us by Little White Market caterers.
Dinner: Chopped Liver Chicken Soup with Matzah Balls Brisket Vegetables Roasted Potatoes Dessert A vegetarian meal is also available (by special request) For more information or to RSVP please contact Adrianne AdrianneCastro. Castro
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Women’s Passover Seder Saturday, April 15 6:00 pm at Temple Etz Chaim Temple and Sisterhood Members: $25 Guests: $32 Shake your tambourines as we celebrate Miriam’s role in Jewish history as well as our own! Make your reservation now! Space is limited… Please RSVP online by March 27th For more information contact Margot Rivelis Sponsored by Temple Etz Chaim Sisterhood
Sisterhood Night at the Theater Saturday, April 22 6:00 pm Dean College Performing Arts Studio Stage Tickets: $10 RSVP by March 18th Join us for a different ladies Night Out. We'll meet for dinner and then the play 5 Women Wearing The Same Dress, an off-Broadway tale of a group of bridesmaids sharing memories of friendships with the bride, and maybe a few others. Restaurant still to be decided but the curtain goes up at 7:30. Please note: This theater is not handicap accessible and does have stairs. RSVP by March 18 so we can coordinate a group sale!
Show your support for… TEMPLE ETZ CHAIM Stop into Panera Bread Franklin on April 19 and because of your participation 15-20% of qualifying sales will be donated directly to TEMPLE ETZ CHAIM DATE: Wednesday, April 19 TIME: Open to Close PLACE: Panera Bread Franklin 270 Franklin Village Drive
Click here for coupon!
Remember to present this flyer when ordering. Electronic images of flyer on a phone or tablet are acceptable. Only valid at date, time and location specified above. Gift cards and other retail purchases are excluded from the event. Dine-in, carry-out (taken inside dining room at the counter) orders qualify. No Rapid Pick Up orders. Schedule your next fundraiser online! Visit www.hamraenterprises.com Owned and operated by HAMRA enterprises, a Panera Bread franchisee
Temple Spring Clean-Up Sunday, April 30 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at Temple Building It is time for Spring Cleaning at The Temple and everyone is invited. Also this year we are welcoming volunteers from Dean College Jewish Community Club. So please come and show support for their kind offer. It will be time to pick up, rake up and spruce up the Temple grounds from a hard winter of downed tree branches and plowed up parking. Come for an hour .. or the day. Refreshments will be available -- all we need is you and your rakes, shovels, saws and pruners.
Also we are asking donations of Ornamental Grasses to line the driveways and walkways. Buy one or divide and dig from your home. Those can be dropped off at the Temple any time this spring.
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earlychildhood@temple-etzchaim.org
earlychildhood@temple-etzchaim.org
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B’Nei Mitzvah
March 2017 / 5777
Cardboard Recycling Program
B’Nei Mitzvah Shabbat Service 10:00 am First Universalist Society of Franklin 262 Chestnut St., Franklin Saturday, April 1: Max Cohn becomes a Bar Mitzvah Saturday, April 8: Ilana Cutler becomes a Bat Mitzvah 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.
Service Schedule Friday, March 3 at 7:30 pm at TEC Erev Shabbat Service led by FROGY Friday, March 10 at 7:30 pm at TBT Erev Shabbat Service Friday, March 17 at 7:30 pm at TEC Erev Shabbat Service and Leaf Dedication Friday, March 24 at 7:30 pm at TEC Erev Shabbat Service Honoring Women Friday, March 31 at 7:30 pm at TEC Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, April 1 at 10:00 am at FUSF Shabbat Service and Max Cohn Bar Mitzvah Friday, April 7 at 7:30 pm at TEC Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, April 8 at 10:00 am at FUSF Shabbat Service and Ilana Cutler Bat Mitzvah Friday, April 14 at 7:30 pm at TEC Erev Shabbat Service Sunday, April 16 at 7:00 pm at TEC Passover Yizkor Service Friday, April 21 at 7:30 pm at TEC Erev Shabbat Service Sunday, April 23 at 7:00 pm at TEC Yom HaShoah Service Friday, April 28 at 7:00 pm at TEC Family Shabbat Service TEC: Temple Etz Chaim, 900 Washington St., Franklin FFC: Franklin Federated Church, 171 Main St, Franklin FUSF: First Universalist Society of Franklin, 262 Chestnut St., Franklin TBT: Temple Beth Torah, 2162 Washington St, Holliston
Donations General Fund 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.
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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Religious School Calendar 2017/5777 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
Academy (A); Confirmation (C); Post Confirmation (PC) - Grades 8-12
Wednesday- 4:00–5:30 pm
Tuesday- 6:30-8:30 pm
1/29
2/1
1/31 - A/C
2/5
2/8
2/7– A/C (7th grade)
2/12
2/15
2/14– A/C/PC
2/19 – No School (February Break)
2/22– No School (February Break)
2/21 – No School (February Break)
2/26– No School (February Break)
3/1
2/28 – A/C
3/5
3/8
3/7 – A/C
3/12 – No School (Purim Weekend)
3/15
3/14 – A/C/PC
3/19
3/22
3/21 - A/C
3/26
3/29
3/28– A/C
4/2
4/5
4/4– A/C/PC
4/9
4/12– No School (Passover)
4/11- No School (Passover)
4/16–No School (Passover)
4/19– No School (Spring Break)
4/18 – No School (Spring Break)
4/23– No School ((Spring Break)
4/26
4/25 – A/C
4/30
5/3 5/10 5/17– Last day of School
5/2 – A/C (7th grade)
5/7 5/14 5/21 – Last day of School
5/9– A/C/PC 5/16– A/C – Last day of School
Please join us to honor our Confirmation Students Tuesday May 30, 2017 Shavuot and Confirmation @ 7:00pm at Franklin Federated Church
Kitah Gan Religious School
Grades Pre K-K 2/12
Kefiyada: Museum 3/5 Expo Event
Sunday- 9:00-11:00 am
School followed by 3/26 Purim Celebration
5/7
5/21 Last day of School
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Kefiyada Museum Expo Take a look at this year’s Kefiyada Museum Expo at the religious school in February! It was a day when the students presented interactive projects from their Project Based Learning (PBL) Curriculum to their parents and schoolmates. The word Kefiyada is built from the word Kef, that means fun in Hebrew.
The Pre-K/Kindergarten class presented a book about their experiences with the Shabbat Bear that each child was able to take home and share Shabbat with. The first and second graders decorated the room with drawings about an Act of Loving Kindness that they have done. Each group who visited their classroom was able to participate in making a blanket to give to Project Linus, an organization that makes blankets for critically ill children. so that they could experience an act of loving kindness too! The third and fourth graders created a life sized game board filled with questions and facts about Israel and the Hebrew language. The project for the fifth and sixth graders was a recreation of the early 1900’s in New York at Ellis Island. Each child and adult received a tag that described an identity of someone who actually came through Ellis Island. Participants experienced “deportation” and “immigration” with certificates. A dynamic presentation on video streaming was run by the seventh graders. They showed how one could view and experience a live service from home. They emphasized that although it is better to be present during a service, there are extenuating circumstances that may prevent one from being able to attend, such as illness. In these situations, technology can still allow one to participate!
The Kefiyada Museum Expo has proven to be an incredible learning experience for all students and parents.
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Kefiyada Museum Expo
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Kefiyada Museum Expo
TEC Photo Album
Healthy Eating Workshop at Whole Foods
Taking care of our “home”
New Member Community Brunch
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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 (someone in his 30s-50s would be a good fit for Mark), 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.
Temple Etz Chaim Website Temple Etz Chaim Facebook Temple Etz Chaim Sisterhood Facebook Temple Etz Chaim LinkedIn
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