President’s Shalom Aleichem

At the recent URJ Biennial, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, spoke about Reform Jews and synagogues increasing their Shabbat observances, to find a meaningful way for more Reform Jews to share in the joys and benefits of Shabbat.

To quote from Rabbi Yoffie’s sermon:  "…Reform Jews are considering Shabbat because they need Shabbat. In our 24/7 culture, the boundary between work time and leisure time has been swept away, and the results are devastating. Do we really want to live in a world where we make love in half the time and cook every meal in the microwave? When work expands to fill all our evenings and weekends, everything suffers, including our health. But families take the worst hit. The average parent spends twice as long dealing with email as playing with his children.  For our stressed-out, sleep-deprived families, the Torah’s mandate to rest looks relevant and sensible…We are asked to abstain from the work that we do to earn a living, and instead to reflect, to enjoy and to take a stroll through the neighborhood. We are asked to put aside those Blackberries and stop gathering information, just as the ancient Israelites stopped gathering wood. We are asked to stop running around…And this most of all: In synagogue and at home, we are asked to give our kids, our spouse and our friends the undivided attention that they did not get from us the rest of the week. On Shabbat we speak to our children of their hopes and dreams. We show them that we value them for who they are and not for the grades they get or the prizes they win. During the week we pursue our goals; on Shabbat we learn simply to be..."

Among other things, Rabbi Yoffie spoke about the importance of congregations sharing a strong communal Shabbat experience at Friday evening and Saturday morning services.  At Bet Haverim, we have many members who regularly and gladly attend Shabbat services, and many more who do not.  Our services are enriched by more participants, with more voices to sing and more hearts to share.   Attendees not only gain from being there themselves, they also enhance the experience of others; it is no accident that Jewish communal prayer requires a minyan, ten persons.  We need each other to create special times, and much of Jewish life involves actions that create "the sanctification of time", as described by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, in The Sabbath, Its Meaning for Modern Man.

So – Please consider doing this for yourself, your family and your synagogue friends:  Attend a Friday evening or Saturday morning service at least once a month, for at least six months.  Bring your family, and bring your children to all Shabbat services, not only Family or Tot Shabbat.  If it feels unfamiliar at first, it won’t after you’ve been there awhile.  Try it, you might like it. And you’ll be giving a great gift to your fellow congregants.

L’shalom, Esther

Children's Tzdakah Goes to Israel, Darfur and Local Organizations

Our tzdakah donations for the 06-07 school year went to save animals, to cheer the elderly, to feed the hungry, to protect battered women, to pamper soldiers in Israel, and more. We receive enormous acknowledgement and much appreciation. In her thank-you letter, Margaret Bryan, administrator of Shriners Hospital for children writes: "We appreciate the students' efforts on our patients' behalf. Your generosity and thoughtfulness is truly amazing." "Your hard work and support is truly appreciated and vitally important!" writes Mindy Rosales, administrative assistant for Elderly Nutrition Program in Yolo County. "Your kindness helps us to continue to raise the spirits of those who are homebound and not able to get out." Yolo County SPCA sent us sincerest thanks saying "your donation has had a very real, positive impact on animal welfare. Please know that you have made a difference and helped us help the animals. We thank you for being such an important part of the SPCA family."

Attendance is Critical for Success

Our Sunday School program starts at 9:30 a.m. with a morning service and continues in the classrooms from 10:00 to 12:00 p.m. It is a planned system of learning, one year's learning being the basis for the next.  The effectiveness of our curricular program depends on the complete participation of every student so that they will meaningfully integrate what they are learning.  Please help your child embrace the Joy of Judaism by assuring his/her consistent attendance in the morning service as well as in the classroom. In addition, please let our teachers know in advance if your child will not attend Sunday or Hebrew school. Knowing the size of the class is crucial to lesson planning and to making activity choices. In some cases, when teachers are informed of absent students, they may prepare a different lesson and/or will advise your child to do an assignment to catch up on the material he/she missed. Please communicate! Keeping us informed will better your child's learning experience and will benefit the entire school community.

Record Your Volunteer Time

Your help is needed to track the time you volunteer in our school. Please sign in on the parent volunteer form. This form is attached to a pink clipboard at the entrance of the school office.

Oh Jonah! is meant to be a whale of a good time for both performers and audience as the story of the prophet Jonah is brought to life with music, mime, and merry-making. Oh Jonah! is more than just a story about a whale swallowing a human. It's a story about us. It's a tale involving responsibility, repentance, listening for the word of God in our lives, accepting people who are different from us, and believing that there is mercy and compassion for all who turn to God.  Oh Jonah! is promised to be a meaningful learning experience based on this famous bible story we read every year during the High Holidays.

Who: Grades 2-6
When: Starting Sunday, January 6th from 12:30 to 2:00pm
Where: Davis United Methodist Church (DUMC) 1620 Anderson Road
Cost:   $25 payable to Janie Howard DUMC
Performances: Sunday, March 2nd 2008 at 9:30 a.m. CBH and Sunday, March 9th 2008 at 8:30 and 11:00a.m. at DUMC

Interested? Please contact Malka Sansani at school@bethaverim.org (flyers with additional information are in the school office).

Religious School Snacks are Kosher & Healthy

"Without bread there is no Torah" and in our school we want the "bread" to be kosher and healthy. When it is your turn to provide snack for your child's class, please check the ingredients and avoid baked goods and other foods that have been made with lard, chicken or beef fat. All you need to do is to look for a kosher symbol on the package such as K or U.  Some examples for healthy snacks are: cut-up fruit, cheese crackers, popcorn, low-fat muffins, celery & peanut butter, granola bars, sliced apples, bagels & cream cheese, baked pita chips, whole wheat crackers, pretzels and so forth. Thank you for your cooperation.

Dates to Remember
Tuesday, January 8:  Hebrew school resumes
Sunday, January 13:  Sunday school resumes
Sunday, January 27:  Tu-Bishevat Program
Sunday, February 3:   "Battle of the Books" is happening!
Sundays, March 2nd & 9th Purim pre-sale deals: Game tickets, balloon raffle and Hamentachen orders.
Sunday, March 16th: Purim Carnival

Keshet News
Keshet will sail into 2008 continuing the electives we offered last year, until the end of January. Starting February, a new set of electives will be up for grabs. In our core classes, Evan Mayse will be working with the confirmation class students on Torah texts and midrashim. Our 9th graders who study Tikkun Olam and Social Justice will enjoy four presentations (one on each Wednesday) by four "fixers" who will share their personal experiences in Tikkun Olam. The presenters are Sarah Jaffe (literacy), Stuart Bresnick (Habitat for Humanity), the Biers-Ariel family (Global Warming) and one more TBA. 8th graders will attend some of the presentations as well. Parents are invited to join their children in learning with these amazing mitzvah heroes. More information will go out soon via email.

Keshet will resume on Wednesday January 9.

Highlights from the December Board of Director's Meeting

Our Executive Director has been investigating necessary options for our telephone system, which is failing. The options are to replace the system with one similar, or to purchase an upgraded system. There is also a possibility that a phone system may be donated.  If a system needs to be purchased, the Board approved spending up to $3500 from the following sources:  A $1500 donation made to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund and earmarked for the phone system, and a $2000 donation from the CBH Gift Shop. 
 
Please respond to the survey that will be coming to you in January regarding your preference for printed or electronic newsletter (See below, "Feedback.") This will help to determine the way in which future information goes to congregants.

We are not able to apply for a mortgage refinance as planned for December, as the review of the congregation's books is not yet complete.  It is anticipated that our financial information can be submitted to the bank within the next month.  Once a proposal is received from the bank, a quorum of the board will be called together to consider approval of a refinancing offer.
 
The board approved, with one abstention, the plan to institute panels beginning in January, and revisit this in June to evaluate effectiveness.  Board members will be designated to meet with specific CBH committees that may have questions regarding programming or board policies and procedure.  This method should allow the board to address problem areas more efficiently.
 
Ann Teal, Board Secretary

 It's a mitzvah!  Two EASY ways YOU can help with "Kvell in the County" fundraiser plans:
 
1. Calling all artists! 
Your work can "Kvell in the Country" to benefit CBH...are you artistic or do you know someone who is?  The silent and live auctions at our April 13 fundraiser, "Kvell in the Country," will feature a special focus on art by local artists.  Donate creations to be sold at this auction; you can designate between 40-100% of the proceeds to benefit CBH.  Any portion donated is tax deductible.  See registration form for details, or contact "Kvell" auction coordinator Judy Dresher at 756-8239 or judith.dresher@gmail.com.  
 
2. Your business, talents or other assets also can make the "Kvell" auction a $ucce$$!
Each of us brings gifts to CBH that no one else has.  Do you own a business that provides goods or services of interest to CBH members?  Perhaps you have a skill or a hobby you'd enjoy sharing with or teaching to others?  Or, maybe you have a vacation home or season tickets to the theatre or sports team that you don't get to use as often as you'd like?  Even that offbeat Hanukkah present you forgot to return may be valuable to someone else!   Contact Judy at 756-8239 or judith.dresher@gmail.com and let her know which of your special gifts you can share to help build a truly one-of-a-kind auction for CBH's big night.

Download a form to let us know how you can participate >>

Who: 2.5 to 5 yrs
When: 
  Tu-B’shvat – January 19
  Purim – March 15
  Passover – April 12
Time: Saturdays 10:00 AM -12:00 PM

Questions? Please contact Zohar at 530-757-2623 or, szohar@gmail.com.  

Feb 10 Annette Brodovsky Memorial Benefit Concert

Congregation Bet Haverim will be the site for this concert, honoring the memory of Annette Brodovsky, a talented klezmer violinist, composer and teacher, killed by a drunk driver in April.  The all-klezmer program features The Davis Klezmer Orchestra, The Freilachmakers, and The Red HotChachkas.   The suggested ticket donation price is $20.  For more information, contact Elaine Fingerett, 530-756-7474 or via email, efingerett@pacbell.net. 

January Yahrzeit List