Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
The newsletter of Temple Etz Chaim of Franklin, MA
Citation preview
www.temple-etzchaim.org
TEC Times January 2014 / 5774 Volume 23, Number 5
From Rabbi Alpert 2
President’s Message, Knitzvah News 3
Holocaust Stamps Project 4
January Events 5
January and Beyond Events 6
Early Childhood Programs 7
Our Temple Community:
Sisterhood News 8
Our Temple Community:
Brotherhood News,
FROGY, Jr. Youth Group
9
Education Corner 10-15
Religious Worship News 16
Community News 17-19
Donation Form 20
Barton’s Passover Candy Order Form 21
SCRIP 22
Our Advertisers 23-25
Temple Contacts 26
To submit items to TEC Times, email
[email protected] Deadlines are:
January 15th for February issue February 15th for March issue
A monthly bulletin for the Temple Etz Chaim community
Visit our website and view our January Calendar
and February Calendar.
Inside this issue:
Shabbat Shirah
Friday, January 10 7:30 pm FUSF (First Universalist Society of Franklin) 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin
Shabbat Shirah is the Shabbat at which we hear the story of the parting of the Red Sea and the Israelites journey from slavery to freedom. We celebrate with music, just as Miriam and the Israelites did. This is a special service featuring our temple choir, musicians as well as Cantor Spenadel. Come and get your song on!
By Rabbi Tom Alpert Audacious Hospitality
Every two years, I find myself surrounded by 5,000 people, give or take a few, who are participants in Re-form Jewish communities in the United States and Canada. This December, that took place in San Diego at the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Biennial Convention. We learned together, ate together, and prayed together. I look forward to these Biennials. Of course, it’s always nice to see old friends. Beyond that, how-
ever, I have the opportunity to find out what other small congregations are doing well that we can adapt, and to find out the same from larger synagogues as well. The seminars are valuable, and the hallway conversations often more so. This year, I learned about the B’nai Mitzvah Revolution (www.bnaimitzvahrevolution.org), about how the language we use has an im-pact on the kind of community we seek to create, and about how all of these and similar issues relate to increasing holiness in the world.
As I tried to get from one event to another, I was reminded of what some of those who enter our doors must often feel. Although as I mentioned, I am a regular Biennial attendee, I still get lost, especially at the start of the convention. I am in an unfamiliar building with a schedule that is not my usual one, surrounded by people whom I typically do not know. Those who are not participants in our community, or who frequent it infrequently, probably have similar experiences at Temple Etz Chaim.
In his address to the Biennial, URJ President Rick Jacobs talked about what all of us need to do to make those who are less familiar feel welcome. The term he used was “audacious hospitality.” Rabbi Jacobs explained the first part of this term thus-ly: “I say ‘audacious,’ from the word ‘audacity,’ which the dictionary equates with boldness, fearlessness, and courage. The Jewish people is here today because those who came before us were audacious, courageous, fearless, and bold.”
As for the hospitality part, this is what Rabbi Jacobs had to say: “Audacious hospitality isn’t just a temporary act of kindness so that people don’t feel left out; it’s an ongoing invitation to be part of a community where we can become all that God wants us to be – and a way to transform ourselves in the process. Audacious hospitality is a two-way street, where syna-gogue and stranger need each other. Hospitality is not just our chance to teach newcomers, but, just as important, an oppor-tunity for them to teach us.”
You can access these remarks in full at http://urj.org/about/union/leadership/rabbijacobs/?syspage=article&item_id=109240
When I heard Rabbi Jacobs’s comments, I thought not only of my trying to find my way around the Biennial and the help that so many volunteers there gave me. I also thought back to the meeting that we held at the Temple just before I left for the Biennial. There, both those who had been part of this community for many years and those who were fairly new to it had an opportunity to express their sense of what we are doing right and what we need to do better. We need more of that. We need to listen to each other, and we need to do so in a mood of audacious hospitality. Our community will be stronger if we can both teach newcomers and let newcomers teach us. We have a unique opportunity in the coming months to prac-tice audacious hospitality. May we use it wisely.
Rabbi Thomas M. Alpert
Page 2 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Friday, January 31, 2014 When you come to services, do you feel as if you know why you are doing what you do? Do you understand the structure of the service? Do you know why we rise and why we sit at certain prayers? If your answer to any of these questions was “No,” do not feel bad. There are many others who would give the same an-swer. But do not let that be your only answer. Because you have a chance to change that “No” into a “Yes.” You have a chance to become an expert worshiper! On Friday night, January 31, we will have a “learner’s service” at the Temple. The Rabbi will walk us through a service, ex-plaining what its structure is and why we pray particular prayers in particular ways. While informative, this service will still be conducted in the normal period of time for a Friday night service. Come join us and find out how!
Learner’s Shabbat Service
Page 3 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
We had a meeting, and many of you came….. The temple meeting on December 5th was by all accounts a success. It was well attended, and a lot of people who were there obviously care a great deal about the temple and its future. There were multiple ideas to address both our immediate budget shortfall, as well as longer term solutions to make sure that
we do not find ourselves in this situation again. We heard about members’ frustrations as well, and my eyes were opened to a lot of things we could do better, to make ALL our members feel more welcome, and part of our community. I plan to continue this dialogue as we move ahead in the coming years.
Yes, I do believe that this temple has many good years ahead of it. We heard about short term ideas ranging from refinanc-ing our mortgage, to asking for outside donations to getting an abatement on our URJ dues. We heard about mid-term so-lutions such as being more involved in the greater Franklin community to attract new members, and looking at our dues structure. We heard about some longer term solutions such as having our property appraised, with the idea of selling our building and moving into a more suitable/affordable place. Some people suggested using our building fund to pay off our mortgage and invest in making our current building a warmer, more welcoming place.
I also heard several people express their frustration with the temple and mention things that we could do better, to make more people feel that the temple was meeting their needs. I heard people frustrated with being asked to fix or chair a com-mittee to fix every problem that they see. I heard others talk of their frustration and ambivalence about the temple.
I was glad to hear all these comments, even the negative ones. Let’s keep the dialogue going, as I would like to have our temple be a community where everyone feels welcome, feels that their needs are met, and everyone feels listened to.
Please feel free to email me at [email protected]. I would be happy to respond by email, talk over the phone, or even meet in person, so that this community can be the home for the reform Jews of the greater Franklin area.
Grace Kooper Temple Etz Chaim President
From the President Grace Kooper
With new energy and sense of purpose, members of the Knit 1, Purl 2 group (along with some non-member knitting friends) spent most of the past two months creating knitzvah blankets for two former temple members who are battling cancer. The brightly-colored lap blankets were knit-ted from our extensive stash of donated yarn. Each blanket consists of 48 squares, knitted indi-vidually and then joined together. The blankets were designed to be easily portable so that they can provide warmth during treatment sessions and support on difficult days. We all agreed that
we were particularly pleased to be contributing in this way to our own community. (We would welcome information about anyone else among our friends and family who might need this support.) As we have said before, we welcome knitters at all levels of skill. Prior knitting experience is not required; we will provide instruction. No RSVP is necessary. New knitters need no materials; we have yarn and needles to share – all you need to bring is you! For questions, contact Sue Cass: [email protected]. Knitzvah Thank You’s Appreciative thanks to temple member Joyce Saret and her sister, who generously donated a stash of yarn and wonderful supply of knitting needles and notions belonging to their mother. Thanks as well to Kate Newton, friend of congregant Miriam Goodman, for her donation of yarn and needles. These additions to our supplies are truly welcome, allowing us to get new knitters started easily and continue our practice of charitable knitting.
Knitzvah News
Page 4 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Temple Etz Chaim Board of Directors is pleased to announce that we have become a sponsor
along with other area Reform synagogues of the
Holocaust Stamps Project for the Foxborough Regional Charter School
For the past four years, Foxborough Regional Charter School has been collecting cancelled postage stamps as part of an ongoing Holocaust Education program.
Their Goal: To collect one postage stamp for each of the
CTIMS of the Holocaust.
They have collected 3,221,136 stamps as of October, 2013.
How can we participate? It’s easy – just cut out the postage stamps from any envelopes you receive in the mail and drop them in the stamp collection box at the Temple or the lobby table at Medway High School.
Why? Each stamp that is collected symbolizes one wasted life,
“thrown away” as having no value, much the same way as an envelope bearing a cancelled stamp is tossed in the trash. The
students are learning about one man’s intolerance and prejudice resulting in the annihilation of so many victims from
21 European countries. Their study of this period in world history has revealed that the dangers of discrimination and bullying are self-evident.
What will be done with the collected stamps? A series of 18 x 24 inch postage stamp collage artworks will eventually total 18 pieces because the number 18 has special significance in our Jewish culture. The Hebrew spelling of the word for “18” is also translated to mean “life.” Together, the unique collection of the students’ artistic creations will serve as a fitting tribute to
the 11,000,000 lives of the people murdered in the Holocaust.
For further information please visit the Holocaust Stamp Project WEBSITE: http://www.foxboroughrcs.org/students-families/student-life/frcs-holocaust-stampproject/
Any questions, please email or call me at [email protected] - 508-528-5337
January Events
Page 5 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Every Saturday Morning Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25 8:30 - 9:30 am Our Temple Building
Do you want to get a better appreciation of Torah and your temple members?
Want to start your Shabbat off right?
Maybe you are just an early riser who doesn’t want to wake anyone?
Join the Rabbi for our new weekly text study. No Hebrew needed. We’ll study text in English. We will start at the beginning and see how far we get. Come when you can or come every Saturday. The door is open to open your mind! Any questions email Melissa Folsom or call 508-446-1510
Saturday Morning Torah Study Shabbat Shirah
Friday, January 10 7:30 pm FUSF (First Universalist Society of Franklin) 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin
Shabbat Shirah is the Shabbat at which we hear the story of the parting of the Red Sea and the Israelites journey from slavery to freedom. We celebrate with music, just as Miri-am and the Israelites did. This is a special service featuring our temple choir, musicians as well as Cantor Spenadel. Come and get your song on!
Friday, January 17 7:30 pm Our Temple Building Our FROGY teens will be leading a very special Friday night Erev Shabbat service… this is one not to miss! Please join us and bring a plated sweet for the oneg.
FROGY Led Erev Shabbat Service
Family PJ Havdalah
Saturday, January 11 6:30 pm Our Temple Building
Bring a stuffed animal and/or blanket and come dressed in your PJ’s! Celebrate Havdalah, sing songs, listen to a bedtime story and recite a Jew-ish bedtime blessing with other young families in our community.
Fridays Jan. 17 thru Feb. 21 8:30 - 9:30 am Our Temple Building 6 week session TEC Members: $40 Non-Members: $50
Enjoy working out to an atmosphere full of Latin and In-ternational music. Forget you're burning calories while having fun doing the Cha Cha, Salsa, Reggaeton, Rumba and more! You need no previous dance experience- just bring water, towel and a great attitude. Contact Connie if interested Space is limited so please reserve your spot.
Zumba at Temple Etz Chaim
Monday, January 27 7:30 pm Pinz Bowling Lanes 110 South Main St., Milford Please join the Brotherhood as we come together as a com-munity and enjoy a little bonding with our fellow congre-gants. All men over 21 years old who are Temple members are invited. The cost is $10 per person for 1 hour of bowl-ing and it does not include shoe rentals, food or beverages. Please contact Stewart Lipson by January 21st to reserve your spot at [email protected]
Brotherhood 4th Annual Bowling Night
January and Beyond Events
Page 6 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Women’s Getaway Weekend
March 21, 22, 23 Lake Morey Inn Fairlee, Vermont
For all those women who need a well-deserved weekend away. This event is open to ALL women, age 21 and older.
Women’s Getaway Two-Night Package Includes:
Overnight Lodging
Dinner & Breakfast Daily
Welcome Reception
In-Room Gift
All Entertainment and Classes
Spa services are available for an additional charge
Rates are per person for the two-night package based on double occupancy. Extra adults in the room would be $85 per night. All rates are subject to an 18% service charge and 9% VT tax. Two-night minimum stay is required.
Contact Jill Simms if you’d like to join us.
Soup, Salad and Soul
Monday, February 24 6:30 pm Our Temple Building
This event is becoming the Sisterhood’s Annual Mitzvah tradition. Watch for your Sisterhood email and check out the February newsletter for more information.
If you’d like to be on the Sisterhood email list contact Jill Simms.
Friday, January 31 7:30 pm Our Temple Building
Do you know why you are doing what you do at services?
Do you understand the structure of Shabbat services? Do you know why we rise and why we sit at certain
prayers?
If you answer no to any of these questions, don’t feel bad. There are many others who give the same answer.
Come to our “Learner’s Shabbat Service”. We’ll walk through the service and explain why we pray in particular ways.
Learner’s Shabbat Service
Thursday, January 30 7:00 pm Whole Foods Bellingham $20.00 per person
Payment needs to be mailed in by January 16th To make your payment contact Jill Simms.
Sisterhood Sushi Night Returns!
SOLD OUT!
American Judaism: A History
Wednesdays, Jan. 22, Jan. 29, Feb.5, 12 7:30 - 9:00 pm Our Temple Building
In roughly 360 years, Jews have made a tremendous impact on the United States, and the United States has made a tremendous impact on Jews and Judaism. Recently, im-portant studies have asked questions about the future of Judaism in America. In order to answer those questions as they relate to each of us, we must know about our past.
Come join Rabbi Alpert as together we learn about what made us the people we are today.
Because the story of Jews and Judaism in America is largely a story of immigrants, participants will have an opportunity to research their own families and share the story of their immigrant past with each other.
There is no required reading in the course, but if you would like, you can read from Jonathan Sarna’s American Judaism (2004), a winner of the National Jewish Book Award.
Interested? RSVP to Rabbi Alpert or call the office at 508-528-5337
Room Types and Rates: Classic — $271.00 Deluxe — $279.00 Terrace — $319.00 Junior Suite — $319.00 Avery Suite — $499.00
Page 7 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Early Childhood Programs
Through a fun-filled, casual service of songs, stories, and a Torah parade, followed by a mini-oneg (Friday nights, Erev Shabbat) or by snacks and a craft (Saturday, Shabbat morning), we bring Shabbat to life for children from toddlers through kindergarten and their families. Tot Shabbat schedule for 2014: 5774
Saturday, Jan. 11 6:30 p.m. (PJ Havdalah) Saturday, Feb. 8 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 12 9:30 a.m. (Passover Seder) Friday, May 23 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14 9:30 a.m.
All Tot Shabbat services are held at 900 Washington Street, Franklin, MA
For more information about Tot Shabbat services contact us at: [email protected]
Tiny Tots, our new playgroup, is designed to help families with children birth through pre-school make Jewish connections. Our gatherings are casual, our connections beco me strong.
Tiny Tots Schedule: Thursday, January 2
Friday, January 10 Thursday, January 16 Friday, January 24 Thursday, January 30 All Tiny Tots programs start at 10:00 am and are held at 900 Washington Street, Franklin, MA For more information about our Tiny Tots group or to be put onto our email list contact Melissa Chartoff at [email protected]
TEC Sisterhood had a fabulous Ha-nukkah party December 8th at Prezo in Milford. Twenty-three wonderful women gathered for a buffet dinner, Yankee swap, and lots of laugh-ter. What a great way to celebrate the holiday season together! If you missed it, please join us next year!
As I write this column, Sisterhood is in the midst of our annual gift wrapping at Barnes and Noble. I want to thank the following women for giving their time to this fundraiser: Fyllis Berg-Elton, Margot Rivelis, Lori Beth Towne, Miriam Goodman, Sue Cass, Lisa Lauterbach, Melissa Folsom, Kathy Levine, Cindy Heilweil, Jodi Rutkowski, Susan St. Amand, Ellen Keith, Emily Harvey, Caren Pfeffer, Rhonda Cohen, Karen Nickel, Lauren Nickel, Melissa Chartoff, Sherene Borr, Jodi Willard, Jill Conroy, Lois Holmes, Barbara Gillmeister, and Nancy Berger. Many of you wrapped during snow storms or wrapped more than once. All of you are fabulous! Sisterhood has several events coming up in the near future. Mark your calendars and rsvp if you haven’t already!
January 30th at 7pm Sushi Night at Whole Foods Bellingham SOLD OUT!!! For those of you who signed up, see you then.
February 24th at 6:30pm TEC building Sisterhood’s “Soup, Salad, and Soul” more info coming soon!
PESACH CANDY SALE- Students in the TEC Religious School will be selling Pesach candy in advance on behalf of TEC Sis-terhood. However, you need not have a student in the school to purchase. Please use the order form on page 21 and submit it with payment to Sisterhood.
Page 8 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Temple Etz Chaim Sisterhood
Sisterhood Membership Information $25.00 for Temple members $36.00 for Non-Temple members All women new to Temple Etz Chaim: 1st year is free. For information feel free to contact us.
2013-2014 Sisterhood Board
President: Jill Simms
Vice President: Fyllis Berg-Elton
Treasurer : Lori Beth Towne
Communications: Lori Beth Towne
Membership: Barbara Gillmeister
Our Temple Community News
Our Temple Community News
Page 9 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Brotherhood News
Hello everyone,
I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season and you are ready for some fun! On January 27th, we will once again have our Annual Bowling Night at Pinz in Milford. We plan to start bowling at 7:30 pm but I ask everyone to get there around 7:10 so we can get our lane assignments (limit of 4 men per lane), shoes and pay. As I use my own money to secure the lanes, please see me for payment. We are scheduled for an hour of bowling in which we squeeze 2 games in. The cost will be around $10 per person, not including shoes. Food and beverages are extra. After the bowling, some of us stay a little longer and kibbitz at the bar over a few more beers. Overall it is a FUN night for everyone and we all make it home by 10pm. If interested in bowling, please contact me via [email protected]. Also, since we need to make a reservation, I can’t postpone or cancel the event if the weather is not cooperating so please contact me directly before the event if you can’t make it.
I am also trying to plan a few events in the next few months that include another poker night and a brunch at Dean College (any volunteers to help?). Please keep looking for Brotherhood news on the Temple’s website or Facebook.
Sincerely Stewart Lipson
What a year FROGY has been having! We started off December with a bang, sending nine FROGY teens (plus two NFTY guests!) to Boston for dinner and a show. We met up with TECSY, a neighboring youth group, for dinner at Fire and Ice and Sheer Madness, a murder mystery/comedy improv show. In December, FROGY also ended it with a bang! We sent EIGHT teens to Great Barrington for five fun-filled days of services, bunk-bonding, and programming, including a program written by FROGY President Sarah Goodman! (Mazel tov, Sarah!) Needless to say, everyone had a blast. As the year wound down, FROGY kept busy with planning for both a program and a service! January 7th FROGY plans on a night of programming with the eighth graders in anticipation of their (hopeful) induction into FROGY next year. And January 17th, the FROGY teens will be leading a very special Friday night service you won’t want to miss! Whew, can you tell we’ve been having a good year so far? There’s still time to sign up! Contact Rachel Pfeffer ([email protected]) or Sarah Goodman ([email protected]) for more information. Rachel Pfeffer - Sarah Goodman FROGY Co-Presidents
FROGY
Temple Etz Chaim’s Jr. Youth Group is back!!!
Open to teens in grades 6, 7, and 8 (TEC members only)
Our activities are all social
No joining fee: the only cost is the price of the actual event
Interested? Contact our Jr. Youth Group Advisor, Jodi Rutkowski
CALLING ALL TEENS ...Have you heard the news?
Shalom from the Education Corner Wendy Bierman
Shalom to all! The month of Tevet flew by and we are on to Shevat----hmmm sounds like something familiar. Yes Tu B’shevat: The New Year for Trees is coming up on Thursday, January 16th. This holiday emphasizes the environment and its relation to the land of Israel. Tu B’Shevat (the 15th of Shevat) is “a festival of na-ture” and is often referred to as the Jewish Earth day. Throughout our texts we can see ways to care for our environment and use our fields to provide the poor.
This is taken from Leviticus 19:23-25 When you come to the land and you plant any tree, you shall treat its fruit as forbidden; for three years it will be forbidden and not eaten. In the fourth year, all of its fruit shall be sanctified to praise the L-RD. In the fifth year, you may eat its fruit. – We honor it by eating fruit from the 7 species. They are wheat, barley, grapes (vines), figs, pomegranates, olives and dates (honey) (Deut. 8:8).
There is a wonderful story that is often told and retold on Tu B’Shevat. The story of the sage named Honi, who comes across an old man planting a carob tree. “When will that tree bear fruit?” Honi asks. “In seventy years,” the old man answers. Honi laughs. “Foolish man,” he says. “Do you expect to live long enough to eat that fruit?” And the old man replies, “I have often eaten the fruit of carob trees planted by those who came before me. Now, by planting trees for those who come after me, I repay a debt.” In much the same way we as educators at Reli-gious School may never see the “fruits of our trees” but we “plant” and know they will “grow” and “bear fruit.” Here is a link to Reform Judaism for more information, games and activities. http://www.reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/tu-bishvat Here are some other activities to enjoy with your children:
Plant parsley seeds in sod pots by a sunny window. Harvest the parsley for your Passover Seder
Plant a flowering bulb kit for a sunny window. In the middle of winter this is a wonderful hint of the spring season to come soon
Make leaf prints for paper placemats
Take photos of beautiful trees and frame them
Make an edible bird/animal feeder with birdseed or plain popped popcorn and leave it in the branches of a tree
Many of us plant trees through JNF- Jewish National Fund to honor the holiday. Take a look at the site: Jewish Na-tional Fund.
Enjoy this special holiday! Looking back, here were some highlights of the month. Our Hanukkah celebration was fun as our teachers provided games and contests during their morning classes. The fun continued as we all proceeded down to the cafeteria where we were greeted with the smells of latkes and excitement about our Hanukkiot contest and art table filled with fun crafts. We are so pleased with all of the entries and wanted to share the names of our winners this year. Gan Aleph and Kitah Bet/PreK-2 1st place - Kelly family 2nd place - Cousin family Kitah Gimmel-Kitah Dalet and Kitah Hey/3-5 1st place - Winiker family 2nd place - Rayner family
Page 10 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Page 11 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Kitah Vav and Kitah Zayin/6-7 1st place - Keith Family 2nd place - Winiker family ------------------------------------- Family - Kuphal/Redwine family Most Unusual - Huff family Most Creative - Cohn family Most Usable - Lawrence family Brightest - Simms/Heilweil family Most Spirit - Bushey family We shared a special morning celebrating together - What could be better! I would like to extend a special thank you to the Education Committee for all of their efforts to make the morning such a success. This hard working group is comprised of: Pam Giordano - Education Committee Chair Michele Brooks Lisa Lawrence Lisa Lipson Deb Rouslin Jodi Rutkowski Heidi Winiker And a special thanks to DJ Jeff Winiker for providing the microphone equipment and Hanukkah music! Here are some pictures from our Hanukkah morning celebration.
Page 12 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Page 13 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Page 14 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
As you can see Thanksgivukkah was a highlight in our Hanukkiah contest entries this year. We won’t be able to experience that for many of thousands of years so seeing this part of the creativity made it an extra special morning. Thank you again for all of our families that participated in the morning.
We also recently had a special opportunity to meet with Rabbi Jeff Salkin the au-thor of “Putting God on Your Guest List”. This was a joint program that Rabbi Alpert coordinated with Temple Beth David in Westwood. We had two of our 7th graders join in on the topic of Bullying for the evening. This was a special evening, though the numbers were few, our two students represented our Religious School with much honor. We appreciate their participation in this most important topic.
We have had exciting mornings with our new Music teacher - Jennifer Antebi. Dawn Doucette-Kaplan was so nice to cap-ture a few pictures of our younger students in Music class this past month.
Page 15 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Last month I spoke about a special learning opportunity for our teachers. I was proud to say that we were well represented at the LimmudBoston conference. Our teachers enjoyed the classes they took and highlighted some of their experiences in our Faculty meeting. I want to thank Scott Halet, Lisa Lawrence, Margot Rivelis and Jodi Willard for participating in this special program. I would like to acknowledge a special thank you, to CJP, for graciously sponsoring us to attend the confer-ence. We will begin our Family Shabbat services and dinners in January. Please review the list below and be sure to attend all of these. This allows many of our children to become familiar with the service and share a Shabbat with friends from their classes. Our 6th and 7th graders have shared in worship during the beginning of the school year.
Dinners for each class, helping to lead the service will begin at 6:00pm. Each of you will be notified before your date of the arrangements for the dinner for your classes.
Please be sure to bring a dessert for Oneg to each service for all to enjoy!!
I welcome comments, suggestions, questions etc., please call me at the Temple at 508-528-5337 or email me at: [email protected] As always, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your family’s journey, as we weave our futures together in search of our Judaism for ourselves, our families and our communities. Wendy
Friday, Jan. 24, 2014 Gan Aleph (PreK-K-1st) 7:00pm @ Temple PreK-K-1st
Friday, Feb. 7, 2014 Kitah Bet (2nd)
7:00pm @ Temple 2nd
Friday, Mar. 21, 2014 Kitah Hey (5th) 7:00pm @ FFC 5th
Friday, Apr. 4, 2014 Kitah Dalet (4th)
7:00pm @ Temple 4th
Friday, May 2, 2014 Kitah Gimmel (3rd)
7:00pm @ Temple 3rd
Friday, May 9, 2014 Teacher Appreciation Shabbat – All Classes!
7:00pm @ FFC ___
Page 16 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
As we start the new year 2014, it is a perfect time to reflect on where we have been and where we want to go. We have had great celebrations as a community in 2013 and now we are looking forward to improve our services. RAC is now looking to make Shabbat services more spiritual and appealing to everyone. It is a perfect way to celebrate as a community, which is one of our major initiatives for this year. To that point, we would love to have your feedback. We have a few ideas, but we want to hear your ideas as well. If you need any kind of inspiration, Shabbat Shirah (coming up on January 10th) is the per-fect catalyst. Come get your song on for Shabbat Shirah as we dance with our timbrels and celebrate the crossing of the Red Sea as our ancestors did. Cantor Spinadel is getting the choir all tuned up for this joyous event. Another way we are changing our Shabbat service, is that we will not be reading off names for Kaddish any longer. In this way, RAC is hoping to make the Kaddish more personal to you, if you stand up and announce the name of your loved one. Then, as a community, we will all stand and say Kaddish. We will still be notifying you 2 weeks before the yarhzeit so you can still plan on coming to services. The Rabbi will still read the names of those on the Shiloshim list (those who have passed within the last 30 days). SAVE THE DATE- We are looking forward to celebrate Purim by having the Purim Spiel at Sunday school on March 16th. We will have all the Sunday School kids and hopefully their parents there to see and celebrate Purim together. It will be a great time, especially the post spiel Purim carnival. So let’s come together as a Temple and celebrate Purim - even if you don’t have kids in Sunday School. A perfect excuse to don a costume. Let us not forget to save the date for a special adult Purim celebration on March 15th organized by the Sisterhood and Brotherhood. Details to follow. As we discussed in our emergency meeting on December 5th, we celebrate with each other, mourn with each other, pray together, and help each other out when needed. By doing this we build a community and help sustain our Temple. Jayme Solomon-Zissu RAC Chair
RAC Report
Religious Worship News
Friday, Jan. 3: Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30 pm at TEC
Friday, Jan. 10: Erev Shabbat Shirah Service, 7:30 pm at FUSF
Saturday, Jan. 11: Tot Shabbat PJ Havdalah Service, 6:30 pm at TEC
Friday, Jan. 17: FROGY led Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30 pm at TEC
Friday, Jan. 24: Erev Family Shabbat Service, 7:00 pm at TEC
Friday, Jan. 31: Erev Shabbat Learners’ Service, 7:30 pm at TEC
TEC: Temple Etz Chaim, 900 Washington St., Franklin FUSF: First Universalist Society of Franklin, 262 Chestnut St., Franklin
Worship Schedule
January 4 Bo Exodus 10:1 - 13:16 January 11 B’shalach Shabbat Shirah Exodus 13:17 - 17:16 January 18 Yitro Exodus 18:1 - 20:23 January 25 Mishpatim Exodus 21:1 - 24:18
January Torah Portions
Page 17 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Come Join Us!
The TEC Choir contributes to our spiritu-al experience at various times throughout the year. We are always looking for a few singers to join our adult choir. If you have some ability to sing, come join the musical
fun, singing with friends and for friends.
No experience is necessary. Playing a musical instrument is welcomed, but not necessary. Reading music is not neces-sary, we will help you.
For more information, please contact Ellen Keith at [email protected] or 508-878-5213.
Ushers Wanted
When you attend Erev Shabbat services on a Friday night you’ll meet two board mem-bers. We call them BMOD (board member on duty). That is part of our responsibility as a board member. For us, it’s a great way to meet congregants, celebrate Shabbat to-gether and help out by being a volunteer.
We’d like to open up this opportunity to ALL our congre-gants. Here is what an Usher would do:
Arrive at temple 30 minutes before services
Help set up for the oneg (food and drinks enjoyed af-ter service)
Enjoy the service with the congregation
After services, help hand out wine for Kiddush
Help clean up after services There will ALWAYS be a board member working with you! If you are interested in being on the Usher list please con-tact our president, Grace Kooper.
Thank you to Dave Johnson and Ellen Keith for continuing to
bring music to our Shabbat services.
Shabbatot Music
Our Temple Community News
Page 18 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Our Temple Community News
You can honor, wish a speedy recovery to, or remember a friend or loved one with a dona-tion to Gracious Gifts. Your donation to the Temple will be truly appreciated.
Here is the list of funds your donation can go to:
Building Fund: Secures land or buildings for the Temple. It may be further used for capital improve-ments to our existing land or structures.
Early Childhood Fund: The purpose of this fund is to support early childhood - birth to age 6 - programs such as Tot Shabbats and Hanukkah events.
Goldwasser Fund: For congregants seeking Jewish learning, worship or social experiences and will be dis-tributed on a confidential basis.
Library Fund: To acquire books and other literature for the Temple’s library to be loaned out to members of the Temple.
Music Fund
Prayer Book Fund: To purchase our movement’s prayer books for use by the entire congregation.
Rabbi’s Education Enrichment Fund: Used at the sole discretion of the rabbi in order to attend confer-ences and purchase study materials.
Rabbi’s Mitzvah Fund: Used to help congregants and others in need and support organizations that are in keeping with Reform Jewish ideals.
Religious School Fund: Used for programs and to provide additional educational resources for the staff & children of the religious school.
Service of the Heart Fund: Used to acknowledge and assist Temple members from delivering meals to spon-soring guest speakers.
Torah Fund: The purpose of this fund is for the pur-chase and repair of Toratot and their adornments.
Yizkor Fund: Purchase of Yom Ha Shoah remem-brances, special services, and other material related to
memorializing is included.
Youth Fund: To supplement the work of the Senior Youth Group in its efforts to reach its goals of reach-ing out to Jewish Youth.
Donations can be made online at www.temple-etzchaim.org/donate or go to page 20 and print the form.
Making a Donation
A Special Way to Honor A Special Day
Temple Etz Chaim is now offering a unique opportunity to recognize B’nei Mitzvah students
Friends and family can make a donation to the Temple in honor of this special occasion. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah stu-dent will receive a commemorative certificate that lets them know a generous donation has been made in their honor. The donations made will go toward the temple fund of your choice. At just a minimum donation of $36 this is a wonderful opportunity to support our community and recognize a special life cycle event for our young mem-bers and their families. See the donation form on the page 20 or go online. Questions? Email Margot Rivelis
It is with great joy that we announce the arrival of the newest member of the Temple Etz Chaim
community. Michelle and Michael Rubin welcomed a new daughter, Lylah Sabina on December 9. She joins big sister Sloane Esther, 3, at home. Mazel tov to the entire Rubin family.
Mazel Tov
General Operating Fund In loving memory of Morton & Adrienne Kiel by Doug & Kelly Kiel
In loving memory of Abraham & Gertrude Kramer by Susan & David Hirshfield
Todah Rabah to those who helped at the shiva of Anne Venooker by Ron & Audrey Venooker
In honor of Jon & Jayme Solomon-Zissu & Becca Solomon by Linda & Jeff Zissu
For love of family and community by The Solomon-Zissu Family
Religious School Fund In honor of my parents, Audrey & Scott Nathan by Samantha Nathan
Recent Donations
Community News
Staying Connected at TEC Find us and every-thing that our com-munity has to offer
at www.jewishboston.com. Participating in Jewish life in Boston just got easier! Share events, resources, and ideas or simply have your voice heard. Find what you need, when you need it.
Temple Etz Chaim is on Facebook! It's another way to get the word out about who we are and what we
do. If you are already on Facebook, become a fan. If you haven't joined Facebook, don’t worry - you can still view our page by clicking on the link. Feel free to upload pictures or leave comments on our wall. If there is something you'd like to see on our page, email our webmaster.
Page 19 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Do you know an older adult living in Metrowest who would feel more comfortable going to the doctor if there were someone s/he trusted to accompany them? JFS Vol-unteer Patient Navigators are trained to work with older adults to prepare for, accompany them to, and support them during their medical appointments. After the visit, the Patient Navigator gives a written report to the older adult or their family member. If you or someone you know would benefit from this enhanced medical escort service, please call JFS in Framingham (508-875-3100 x110). This program is funded by CJP and there is no charge to participate.
JFS Patient Navigator Program for Seniors
A LinkedIn group has been set up for the Temple. The group name is "Temple Etz
Chaim of Franklin, MA" and you can join by clicking this link. It is a great place for temple members to network with each other about job opportunities and business rela-tionships. Bill Gilbert is the administrator of the site and if you want to join, just send a request via LinkedIn and he will approve you.
The URJ offers free Birthright to Israel through its Kesher program. Congregants who are eligible and interested in a URJ Kesher Birthright Trip, should email Rabbi Alpert. He can obtain priority status for anyone interested. The trip is available for any congregant under the age of 26 who has not gone on an organized youth trip to Israel before. More information about Kesher, including application procedure, is available at its website.
Birthright to Israel
In these difficult economic times, the Temple community is here to help all of our members. If you need assistance or want to find out about resources for support within the community, please contact Rabbi Alpert at 508-528-5337. All communication is kept confidential.
Need Assistance from the Temple Community?
TEMPLE ETZ CHAIM DONATION FORM Date: __________________________
$36 ___ $54 ___ $72 ___ $108 ___ Other ___ Tree of Life * Leaf ($180) ___ Rock ($500) ___
(B’nei Mitzvah certificate minimum $36)
Method of payment (check one): Visa ___ MasterCard ___ Check (payable to Temple Etz Chaim) ___ Card number Expiration date Signature: (required for charge orders only)
*Temple Etz Chaim is building its own Tree of Life - a piece of artwork, generously donated y Enid and Gary Gilbert and family. We have included this
beautiful tree in our Temple to commemorate or honor loved ones and special events in our lives. Donors will be notified of the date for leaf’s unveiling. Please choose one of the following funds for which to designate your donation.
Your thoughtful gift will be acknowledged with an appropriate card sent in accordance with your wishes. The amount of your gift will not be disclosed.
Check here if you do NOT want this gift acknowledged in the Temple newsletter and website.
Thank you for your support of Temple Etz Chaim.
Contributor Information
Name:
Address:
Telephone:
Please send card/certificate to:
Name:
Address:
Message or Inscription
Please note: messages for Tree of Life can be up to three lines
(maximum 20 characters per line).
B’nei Mitzvah certificates: please include ceremony date.
Rabbi’s Mitzvah Fund: This fund, at the sole discretion of the Rabbi, is used to help congregants and others in need and support organization that are in keeping with Reform Jewish ideas.
Religious School Fund: This fund, at the discretion of the Director of Education with the consent of the Educa-tion Committee, is used to provide funding for programs and to provide additional educational resources for the staff and children of the religious school. This will allow the Religious School the ability to offer unique opportuni-ties to further the Jewish growth of our children on our community.
Service of the Heart Fund: Service of the Heart Com-mittee acknowledges and assists Temple members from delivering meals to sponsoring guest speakers.
Torah Fund: This fund’s purpose is for the purchase and repair of Toratot and their adornments.
Yizkor Fund: The purpose of this fund is for memorial-izing. Purchase of Yom HaShoah remembrances, special services and other material related to memorializing is included.
Youth Fund: The purpose of this fund is to supplement the work of the Senior Youth Group in its efforts to reach its goals of reaching out to Jewish youth. Recommended use of this fund include scholarship aid to NFTY events, underwriting FROGY events or individual aid based upon the recommendation of the Youth Advisor.
Building Fund: This fund’s purpose is secure land or buildings for the Temple. It may be further used for capital improvements to our existing land or structures.
Early Childhood Fund: The purpose of this fund is to support early childhood (birth to age 6) programming, in-cluding the purchasing of arts and craft supplies for Tot Shabbats and holiday celebrations, books used for PJ Hav-dalah services and materials for Tikkun olam activities.
Goldwasser Fund: This fund, created in honor of Stu-dent Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser (1997-1998) will be over-seen by Rabbi and two congregants. It is solely for congre-gants seeking Jewish learning, worship or social experiences and will be distributed on a confidential basis after a short application process.
Library Fund: This fund’s purpose is to acquire books and other literature for the Temple’s library to be loaned out to members of the temple.
Music Fund
Prayer Book Fund: The purpose of this fund is to pur-chase our movement's prayer books for use by the entire congregation.
Rabbi’s Education Enrichment Fund: To be used at the sole discretion of the Rabbi in order to attend confer-ences and programs and purchase study materials that will support the spiritual and educational needs of the Temple.
MIS
S C
HO
CO
LA
TE
PR
ES
EN
TS
PA
SS
OV
ER
2014
D
ea
r Co
ng
reg
an
t: W
e w
ill be
co
nd
uc
ting
ou
r an
nu
al P
AS
SO
VE
R C
AN
DY
SA
LE
du
ring
the
mo
nth
s o
f Ja
nu
ary
& F
eb
rua
ry. W
e
will b
e s
ellin
g K
os
he
r for P
as
so
ve
r ca
nd
y a
nd
co
nfe
ctio
ns
. Ev
ery
ed
ible
item
will h
av
e a
ce
rtifica
tion
of
Pa
ss
ov
er K
os
he
r Su
pe
rvis
ion
. Ou
r Pe
rso
na
l co
ns
ide
ratio
n w
ill be
giv
en
to a
ll ord
ers
, ho
we
ve
r larg
e o
r sm
all.
Le
t us
tak
e c
are
of y
ou
r Pa
ss
ov
er h
olid
ay
ne
ed
s. If y
ou
are
inte
res
ted
in p
urc
ha
sin
g P
as
so
ve
r ca
nd
y,
ma
ca
roo
ns
, etc
., ple
as
e fill o
ut th
e o
rde
r form
be
low
an
d m
ail it b
ac
k w
ith th
e c
orre
ct p
ay
me
nt. Y
ou
r ch
ec
k
mu
st a
cc
om
pa
ny
yo
ur o
rde
r. Ple
as
e m
ak
e c
he
ck
pa
ya
ble
to o
ur o
rga
niz
atio
n. T
ha
nk
Yo
u!
ITE
M #
P
AS
SO
VE
R IT
EM
DE
SC
RIP
TIO
N
QT
Y.
PR
ICE
T
OT
AL
ITE
M #
P
AS
SO
VE
R IT
EM
DE
SC
RIP
TIO
N
QT
Y.
PR
ICE
T
OT
AL
25
01
C
OC
ON
UT
MA
CA
RO
ON
S (P
)
$9
.00
2
50
8
CA
SH
EW
BU
TT
ER
CR
UN
CH
(D)
$
11
.00
25
29
F
RU
IT S
LIC
ES
(P)
$
14
.00
2
53
1
LO
LL
YC
ON
ES
(D)
$
6.0
0
25
41
S
ED
ER
MIN
TS
(P)
$
11
.00
2
54
2
AL
MO
ND
CA
RA
ME
L C
LU
ST
ER
S (D
)
$1
1.5
0
25
60
A
LM
ON
D B
AR
K (P
)
$1
1.0
0
25
53
C
HO
CO
LA
TE
CA
RA
ME
L D
AIS
IES
(D)
$
10
.50
25
64
C
HO
CO
LA
TE
CO
V. M
AC
AR
OO
NS
(P)
$
12
.00
2
56
2
MIL
K C
HO
CO
LA
TE
MA
TZ
O (D
)
$1
4.0
0
25
91
R
AS
PB
ER
RY
CH
OC
O. J
EL
LIE
S (P
)
$1
2.0
0
25
90
A
LM
ON
D K
ISS
ES
(D)
$
14
.00
26
42
C
HO
CO
. CO
V. M
AT
ZA
H C
RA
CK
ER
S (P
)
$1
4.0
0
25
93
M
ILK
& D
AR
K C
HO
CO
. AS
S’T
. (D)
$
16
.00
35
77
A
LM
ON
D B
UT
TE
R C
RU
NC
H (D
)
$1
4.0
0
T
OT
AL
-B
N
OT
E: A
LL
ITE
MS
CA
N B
E V
IEW
ED
TO
TA
L-A
O
N O
UR
WE
BS
ITE
.
TO
TA
L –A
:
G
RA
ND
T
OT
AL
:
Na
me
: _________________________________________________________________________P
ho
ne
#:_______________
______________________________ A
dd
res
s:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ T
his
is o
ur P
as
so
ve
r pro
mo
tion
. Ple
as
e b
ring
or m
ail in
this
ord
er fo
rm w
ith y
ou
r ch
ec
k p
ay
ab
le to
ou
r org
an
iza
tion
. SU
BM
IT O
UR
SC
HO
OL
CO
DE
:___________________. VIS
IT
T
HE
W
EB
SIT
E A
T
WW
W.M
IS
SC
HO
CO
LA
TE
.C
OM
S
EE
T
HE
O
N-LIN
E O
RD
ER
IN
G S
ER
VIC
E. Feel fre
e to
w
ww
.missc
ho
co
late
.co
m
Page 22 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Name: _______________________________________________ Date:______________________
Phone: _____________________ Check#: ______________________ Amount: ________________
Retailer $ % off Qty Total Retailer $ % off Qty Total Retailer $ % off Qty Total
Clothing & Accessories Sporting Good Retailers Restaurants/Fast Food
Aeropostale 25 7% Bass Pro Shops 25 11% Applebee's 25 8%
100 4% 100 11% 50 8%
American Eagle Outfitters 25 10% Cabela's 25 11% Arby's 10 8%
Babies-R-Us 20 2% 100 11% Burger King 10 4%
Brooks Brothers 25 16% Dick's Sporting Goods 25 8% California Pizza Kitchen 10 4%
Burlington Coat Factory 25 8% 100 8% Cheesecake Factory 25 5%
Children's Place 25 12% Chili's Grill & Bar 25 11%
Claire's 10 9% REI 25 8% Chipotle Mexican Grill 10 10%
Coldwater Creek 25 8% Sports Authority 25 8% Cold Stone Creamery 10 8%
Dressbarn 25 8% 100 8% Denny's 10 7%
DSW 25 9% Domino's Pizza 10 8%
Eddie Bauer 25 10% Home Improvement Dunkin' Donuts 10 3%
Express 25 10% Ace Hardware 25 4% Hard Rock Cafe 25 10%
Foot Locker 25 9% 100 4% Honey Baked Ham 25 12%
Gap 25 16% Home Depot 25 4% KFC 5 8%
100 16% 100 4% Legal Sea Foods 25 13%
J. Crew 25 13% 500 4% Longhorn Steakhouse 25 9%
J. Jill 25 8% 1,000 4% Olive Garden 25 9%
Journeys 25 10% Lowe's 20 4% Outback Steakhouse 25 8%
100 4% 25 4% Panera Bread 10 9%
L.L.Bean 25 16% 100 4% 25 9%
100 16% 500 4% Papa Gino's Pizzeria 10 10%
Lands' End 25 16% 1,000 4% P.F. Chang's China Bistro 25 8%
100 16% Pizzeria Uno 25 12%
Limited 25 9% On-line & Catalogs Rainforest Cafe 25 9%
Men's Wearhouse 25 8% 1-800-Baskets 25 12% 100 9%
Motherhood Maternity 25 8% 1-800-Flowers 25 12% Red Robin 25 9%
Nike 25 12% Amazon.com 25 4% Starbucks 10 7%
Old Navy 25 16% 100 4% 25 7%
100 16% Athleta 25 16% Subway 10 3%
Payless Shoes 20 13% 100 16% TGI Friday's 25 9%
Groupon.com 25 7% Ruth's Chris Steak House 50 10%
Books & Music Harry & David 25 10% Wendy's 10 4%
Barnes & Noble 10 9% Omaha Steaks 25 11%
25 9% Oriental Trading Company 25 9% Grocery
100 9% Overstock.com 25 8% Shaw's Supermarket 25 4%
Guitar Center 25 4% Peapod Online Grocery 25 4% 100 4%
iTunes® 15 5% 50 4% Stop & Shop (NOT TOPS) 25 4%
25 5% 100 4% 50 4%
Popcorn Factory 25 12% 100 4%
Shutterfly 25 9% Whole Foods Market 25 3%
Electronics & Office Zappos.com 25 8% 100 3%
Best Buy 25 3% 100 8%
100 3% Health & Beauty
250 3% Home Décor Bath & Body Works 10 13%
GameStop 25 3% Bed Bath & Beyond 25 7% 25 13%
Office Depot 25 4% 100 7% Bed Bath & Beyond 25 7%
100 4% HomeGoods 25 7% 100 7%
Office Max 25 5% 100 7% CVS/pharmacy 25 6%
100 5% Jo-Ann Fabric 25 6% 100 6%
Overstock.com 25 8% Michaels 25 4% GNC 25 8%
RadioShack 25 4% Pier 1 Imports 25 9% Rite Aid 25 4%
Staples 25 5% 100 8% Sally Beauty Supply 25 12%
100 5% Williams-Sonoma 25 8% Supercuts 25 8%
Temple Etz Chaim Gift Card Order Form
Department Stores Auto & Gas Travel
jcpenney 25 5% Advance Auto Parts 25 7% Avis Car Rental 50 8%
100 5% AutoZone 25 8% Best Western 25 12%
Kohl's 25 4% BP 50 2% 100 12%
100 4% 100 2% Budget Car Rental 50 8%
Macy's 25 10% 250 3% Carnival Cruise Lines 100 8%
100 10% Exxon 50 2% Celebrity Cruise Lines 100 9%
Marshalls 25 7% 250 3% 100 8%
100 7% Jiffy Lube 30 11% 500 8%
Sears 25 4% Mobil 50 2% Disney 25 2%
100 4% 250 3% 100 2%
250 4% Pep Boys 20 4% 1,000 2%
T.J. Maxx 25 7% Shell 25 3% Hyatt Hotels 50 9%
100 7% 50 3% 100 9%
Target 25 2% 100 3% Marriott Hotels & Resorts 50 8%
100 2% Sunoco 50 2% 100 8%
100 8% 250 3% 500 8%
Walmart 25 3% 100 2%
100 3%
250 3%
Specialty Retailers
American Express
(ShopWithScrip.com only) 25 1%
100 1%
200 1%
American Girl 25 9%
AT&T 125 Minute Prepaid Card 9.5 20%
Christmas Tree Shops 25 7%
Dream Dinners 75 8%
Hallmark 25 4%
Merry Maids 50 5%
Scrip Program
If you are interested in purchasing Scrip cards
please contact the Lisa Lipson at
lisalipson @comcast.net
Scr
ip P
rogr
am
Page 23 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
The Printed Page
Custom invitations, announcements and more…
Margot R ive l i s 1 -774 -571 -7663
printedpage18@gmai l . com www.r iv19.wordpress .com
3 Specializes in B’nei Mitzvah Celebrations www.3-restaurant.com
508-528-6333
Please Support Those Who Support Temple Etz Chaim
Page 24 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Please Support Those Who Support Temple Etz Chaim
Page 25 TEC T imes Volume 23, Number 5
Please Support Those Who Support Temple Etz Chaim
Officers President, Grace Kooper, [email protected] First Vice President, Adam Cutler, [email protected] Second Vice President, Margot Rivelis, [email protected] Treasurer, Allen Bast, [email protected] Asst. Treasurer, Michael Levine, [email protected] Exec. Secretary, Kellene Kiel, [email protected] Clerk, Howard Heilweil, [email protected]
Directors Director, Andy Bierman, [email protected] Director, Stacy Bushey, [email protected] Director, Pam Giordano, [email protected] Director, Cindy Heilweil, [email protected]
Past Presidents
Richard Shulman, Founding President
David Hirshfield Andrew Brown
Susan Bershad Barbara Gillmeister
Risa Ceskavich Sue Cass
Bill Gilbert Margot Rivelis
Adult Education Melissa Folsom [email protected]
Brotherhood Eugene Grossguth & Stewart Lipson [email protected]
Budget & Finance Michael Levine [email protected]
Building & Grounds Emily & Scott Berman [email protected]
Building our Community’s Future Bill Gilbert [email protected]
Communications & Publicity Sue Cass [email protected]
Early Childhood [email protected]
Education Pam Giordano [email protected]
FROGY / Senior Youth Group
Liam McSweeney [email protected]
Fundraising Ad Campaign Risa Ceskavich [email protected]
July 4th Booth Jill Simms
[email protected] Stewart Lipson [email protected]
Scrip Lisa Lipson [email protected]
Gracious Gifts Susan Hirshfield [email protected]
Java Nagilah Dave Johnson [email protected]
Junior Youth Group Jodi Rutkowski [email protected]
Leadership Dev. & Nominating Margot Rivelis [email protected] Rabbinic Liaison
Michele Brooks [email protected]
Religious Activities Jayme Solomon-Zissu [email protected]
Service of the Heart Sherene Borr & Cindy Heilweil [email protected]
Sisterhood Jill Simms [email protected]
Synagogue Life & Membership Connie Shulman [email protected]
TEC Facebook Page Lisa Lipson [email protected]
TEC Times Margot Rivelis [email protected]
Tiny Tots [email protected]
Webmaster Steve Cohn John Samolyk [email protected]
Committee and Auxiliary Contacts
Temple Etz Chaim
is a member of the URJ
Contact Us:
Temple Etz Chaim
900 Washington Street
Franklin, MA 02038
Phone: 508-528-5337
Web: www.temple-etzchaim.org
Our Clergy and Staff:
Thomas Alpert, Rabbi
Wendy Bierman
Director of Education
Audrey Venooker, Bookkeeper
Adrianne Castro, Office Administrator
Temple Etz Chaim is a Reform Jewish congregation serving the community of greater Franklin, Massachusetts. Our congregation is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts and the Franklin Interfaith Council.
Temple Etz Cham is affiliated
with the Synagogue Council of
Massachusetts
