Temple Beth Israel

March 2012

Shabbat Service Times:

Friday's at 6:45pm

Saturday Morning 9:30am

Sunday Minyan 9:00am

In a place where there are no mensches, strive to be a mensch! ~Pirkei Avot 2:6

BAM = Be A Mensch!!! In Judaism, community is an essential component for living a vibrant, meaningful, and spiritual life. Time and again, the Torah and our Sages stress the importance of community. When people come together, to share life with one another and to care for one another, then the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Then we have a holy community. BAM is Temple Beth Israel’s New chesed/tikkun olam group. (“Chesed” means loving-kindness. “Tikkun Olam” means repairing the world.) Under the guidance of Rabbi Mishkin and BAM Chair, Louise Cooper, we are moving forward with BAM and reaching out to people in need—within our community and outside the community. While there are many ways to be a part of BAM (including shiva support, Mostly Mitzvahs and Rock and Wrap It Up), we want to bring two of them to your attention.

1) The Bikkur Cholim Team - Bikkur Cholim is the important mitzvah of visiting the sick and those who sign up to be on the Bikkur Cholim Team will visit people in hospitals, their homes, nursing homes, and rehab centers.

There are periodic training sessions for those who would like to learn what Judaism and caregivers say about the best way to fulfill this mitzvah.

If you are interested in being on the Bikkur Cholim Team, please sign up to be on the Bikkur Cholim email list. When we send out Bikkur Cholim Alerts, if you are available and would like to make a visit, you respond to the email. If you are unable to make a visit, simply don’t respond to the email.

2) The Helping Hand - Being part of The Helping Hand means stepping forward and helping people in the community. Some of the mitzvahs The Helping Hand include: dropping off a Shabbat basket, helping someone get to a doctor’s appointment, running an errand, being part of our chicken soup hotline, or delivering a meal. If you are interested in being on The Helping Hand, please sign up to be on The Helping Hand email list. When we send out Helping Hand Alerts, if you are available and would like to help out, you respond to the email. If you are unable to help out, simply don’t respond to the email.

BOTTOM LINE: WANT TO VOLUNTEER: SEND BACK YOUR NAME AND WHICH LIST YOU WANT TO BE ON………………………IT IS JUST THAT EASY.

You can chant the Haftarah!! During July while Rabbi Miskin is away, we especially need volunteers. We are very lucky at Temple Beth Israel to have so large a group of congregants that participate in this mitzvah. We want many more to join us. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the anniversary of a bar/bat mitzvah or other special event in your life or the life of a loved one. It is a great way to participate fully in Shabbat Services bringing satisfaction to yourself and pleasure to the entire congregation. Set an example for your children or encourage them to set an example for you. If you are interested in chanting a haftarah at any time please contact Peter Grabiner through the temple office.

Please!!! Pick a Leaf!!! ANY LEAF....AND CELEBRATE: An engagement or marriage or a new baby. Perhaps your child's graduation from nursery school, high school, grad school or confirmation from Hebrew High. Your husband for father's day, Your wife for mother's day (belated but still....) A birthday or anniversary. Or any event that touches your heart. Buy a leaf on TBI'S Tree of Life and commemorate those wonderful moments. Please call or email the office for more information.

So many more exciting events on the way – please watch this web site and your mailings for details on these and other wonderful moments at TBI.