TBH BOARDPRESIDENTLaura Schrager

VICE PRESIDENTAllyson Brooks

TREASURERGary Schneider

SECRETARYHarriet Strasberg

MEMBERS AT LARGEMichael BlumTikva GlantzDavid HanigLisa HoffmanSpencer OrmanErin Syversen

YOUTH ED REPBat-Sheva Stein

CONTACT US(360) 754-8519 (Phone) (360) 528-2046 (Fax)tbh@bethhatfiloh.orgwww.bethhatfiloh.org201 8th Ave. SEOlympia WA 98501

Rabbi Seth Goldsteinrabbi@bethhatfiloh.org

Director of Family Life and LearningCatherine Carmelbeitsefer@bethhatfiloh.org

Community Engagement CoordinatorCaroline Metzgertbh@bethhatfiloh.org

The Short Schrift April 2017NISAN - IYYAR, 5777

One of my favorite memories from my grandparents' seders is when we wouldopen their backdoor for Elijah. Somehow, my Great Uncle Joe was usually amblingup the dark path to the house at just that moment, when we enact the Jewish commitment to hospitality.

With Pesach nearly at the door, let's celebrate all that we're doing here at TBHto welcome the stranger.

Blintzapalooza: Our yearly fundraiser in support of community organizations just raised $10,400. This year we are supporting CIELO, the League of Women Voters, Thurston County Teen Council of Planned Parenthood, and the Nisqually Land TrustIt is particularly fitting that we are giving money this year to CIELO, a local organization that provides services to Spanish-speaking members of our community. Thanks to all who volunteered. It was an amazing day. Yasher koach to Hannah Lidman, who was honored for her years of leadership of this event.

HIAS: Our nation is immersed in a painful controversy around immigration and refugees. In March the Board supported adding TBH's name to the HIAS list of Jewish Congregations affirming the age-old tradition of Jews to welcome refugees.

We have received 17 responses to our member email soliciting comments, unanimously in favor of adding our nameto the nine other Washington congregations that have already signed the HIAS refugee statement. To see this statement click hereor go to: https://www.hias.org/welcome-campaign-congregations.

Pesach: You're invited to our Community Seder on the second night of Pesach, April 11th! To sign up you can e-mail the office or register on-line at http://conta.cc/2no82TW. Also, please call the office at 360-754-8519 if you'd like to join a family for the first night or if you can add a guest to yourseder table.

Shabbaton: On May 5-7, we will welcome Reconstructionist communities to celebrate Shabbat with us at Camp Solomon Schechter. We will get to pray, sing, eat,and enjoy fellowship with Reconstructionists from around the Northwest, learn from two inspiring teachers from the RRC, and meet the great newish Rabbis from Eugene and Seattle, Rabbi Ruhi and Rabbi David. Sign up by April 20th for a guaranteed spot at the Shabbaton: https://www.jewishrecon.org/events/pnw-retreat.

Continuted on the next page >

A Season for Welcoming the Stranger

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FROM PRESIDENT LAURA SCHRAGER:

Greeters and Membership: We are moving forward with a plan to have Greeters at services in order to enhance our openness and improve our security. In February we installed new video cameras. Please contact the Rabbi or the office to volunteer to be a greeter. We also have adopted Membership Guidelines prepared by the Ritual Committee that describe our current minhag (practice) around membership and that urge us to be

more intentional about welcoming people to our community. More on this in next month's Schrift.

I'll be in Brooklyn this year celebrating Pesach with my three children, so I want to take the opportunity now to wish you a Happy Passover --

Chag Pesach Sameach!

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Please take a moment to reflect on the many ways that TBH makes a difference for you and your family. Then imagine our community in the future without TBH. Think about how your family’s spiritual, educational, cultural and social lives—and those of our broader South Sound community—would be diminishedwithout TBH’s presence.

Even an active and vibrant Jewish community such as TBH cannot be complacent about its future. The worldwe live in faces many challenges to perpetuating Jewish Congregations, and TBH is not immune to any of these threats. It is up to each of us, as members of ourcommunity, to steward our future for our children and our children’s children.

The good news is that you have a real opportunityto play a role in ensuring that TBH remains a vitalpart of our community for generations to come!TBH is pleased to have been selected as a participantin the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle’s Life and Legacy Program. This special program helps guideand support a select group of area Congregations in ensuring that future needs are met and that these vital centers of Jewish life can perpetuate values such as TBH’s emphasis on tzedakah and tikkun olam wellinto the future.

TBH’s Life and Legacy campaign is underway, and we’re already meeting with considerable success and enthusiasm. We’d love to talk to you about this important opportunity. The TBH Life and Legacy Committee has received training from the Jewish Federation in helping our members consider makinga difference through a Legacy commitment.A member of the committee would be delighted to meet with you and your family at your home or a location convenient for you to discuss options for participating. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Charles Shelan, chair of theTBH Legacy Committee, at cshelan@comcast.net.

We hope you will consider this valuable opportunityto ensure the future of our community and the vitality of Jewish life in the South Sound region.And your commitment nowwill help TBHqualify forextra fundingthis springthrough ourFederationinvolvement.Thank you for considering joining fellow TBH members and helping to ensure TBH’s future through your Legacy commitment!

Ed Adelson

CREATING A JEWISH LEGACYEnsure the things you value are sustained for future generations

President’s Message, Continued

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APRIL EREV SHABBAT SERVICES

APRIL SHABBAT DAY ACTIVITIESJEWISH WITH MEANING1st Saturday, April 1, 10:30 am - 1:00 pm We will gather for food, ritual, experience, and discussion as we connect with our tradition on a deep level. All are welcome to join us. This month guest facilitators Toby and Jim Shulruff will be leading us in a session on preparing for Passover. We are excited to have them share insights and inspiration as we move into this season of our Liberation. If you are able, please bring something for the potluck brunch, but come whether you bring food or not.

MUSSAR MORNING & SERVICE3rd Saturday, April 15Mussar 9:30 am, Service 10:30 amMussar is the Jewish school of thought which seeks to root personal character development and right behavior in Jewish tradition and text. We meet monthly to share food and learn more about this tradition and how it may benefit our lives.

TORAH STUDY2nd Saturday, April 8, 10:00 amPrayer and study are equally holy activities; and we will do both. We’ll share a snack and study the Torah together. All are invited. No experience is necessary!

TALMUD STUDY4th Saturday, April 22, 9:30 amThe Talmud is a compendium of law and lore that is the basis on which biblical interpretation and contemporary Jewish practice rest. Rabbi Seth will lead us as we dive deep into this complex and fascinating text.

Erev Shabbat services onApril 7th and 28th will be at 7:30 pm.

All other services will be at 6 pm.

April 7 7:30 pm Choir service, Oneg following

April 14 6:00 pm Shabbat Service, Potluck following

April 21 6:00 pm Family service, Potluck following

April 28 7:30 pm Service with “Shabbat at Home”

BAR MITZVAH 5th Saturday, April 29, 10:00 am

All are welcome as Simon Mahoney Trobman, son of Kenny Trobmanand Katherine Mahoney, is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Simon is living up to his Hebrew name Shamir, meaning flint: he is strong, sharp witted, and carries with him a spark of mischief. He loves his trumpet, playing soccer and other sports, hanging out with his dog, and eating Vic’s pizza. He is in 7th grade at Washington Middle School where he excels in all his classes, but especially math and science and band. His research on different materials required to create explosions may have landed his family on various watch lists, but so far his experiments have left all digits and property intact. Simon has been thinking about ways to connect youth with seniors in our community through fun and service.

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APRIL EVENTS

Senior SchmoozeTuesday, April 4, 12:00 pmJoin us for speaker Robert Perretz.Bob will be speaking about the movement to provide sanctuary to undocumented immigrants to our country. Sam and Mellie will be the dessert hosts.

WEEKLY EVENT: Make Your Voice HeardWednesdays at 7:00 pmThis political advocacy group is focused on issue advocacy and communicating with lawmakers. We meet to discuss current events and identify various political actions to take. It is open to members and friends of the Jewish community. Bring your information and your concerns. Kvetching allowed.We also have an e-mail list to help keep you up to date. The sign up list is on the MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD bulletin board outside the TBH admin offices.

FILM SERIES: Havana Curveball (2014)Saturday, April 1, 7:00 pm

Mica is a typical young teen. Enthusiastic. Idealistic. Dreaming baseball. At 13, he is studying for his Bar Mitzvah. An earnest kid, he takes to heart his Rabbi's requirement to help "heal the world." Imagining himself a savior of sorts, he launches a grand plan to send baseballs to Cuba, a country with a mysterious pull. He knows only that Cubans are poor and love baseball -- and that Cuba saved his grandpa's life during the Holocaust. (Documentary, 56 minutes, English) View the PDF flyer for details!

Thurston County Food BankTuesday, April 11, 3:30 pm2260 Mottman Road SW, Tumwater

Join us on the second Tuesday of April as we again fill bags at the Tumwater branch of the Thurston County Food Bank. The FORKids program provides a weekend bag of food to over 2,000 elementary and middle school children in Tumwater, Lacey and Olympia. For information please contact Elie Halpern at (360) 357-8160 or ehalpern@aol.com.

SPEAKER CANCELLEDSHABBAT SALONFriday, April 14, 6:00 pmWe have decided to reschedule this salon due to Passover celebrations. The April 14th Shabbat Service will be at 6:00 pm, followed by a potluck Oneg. Look for information about the May Shabbat Salon in upcoming weekly e-mails.

BOOK GROUP: The Reader – Bernhard SchlinkTuesday, April 18, 7:00 pmHailed for its coiled eroticism and the moral claims it makes upon the reader, this mesmerizing novel is a story of loveand secrets, horror and compassion, unfolding against the haunted landscape of postwar Germany. (218 pp.) Contact Karen Greene at ekgisrael@gmail.com for details.

COMMUNITY SEDERTuesday, Apirl 11, 6:00 pm

Join us as we celebrate the Festival of Freedom together with song and story at the annual Community Seder led by Rabbi Seth Goldstein, with a fully catered meal by Rambling Jacks.Paid reservations are required.To register, e-mail Caroline in the TBH office. You can also sign up and pay on our Community Seder event page!

Advancing In HebrewTuesday, April 25, 7:00 pmThis seminar-type gathering will work on advancing Hebrew knowledge, including grammar and roots. Contact Rabbi Seth at rabbi@bethhatfiloh.org if you want to know if this class is right for you. Held on the 4th Tuesday of the month.

Dying Happens, Let’s TalkSunday April 23, 1:00 pmPlease join us for a second discussionto the explore issues before, during andafter death, including a range of Jewishperspectives related to these topics.The event will be held in the TBH Social Hall.

Immigration, Synagogues,and SanctuaryThursday, April 27, 7:00 pmBoth traditional Jewish teachings and our history cause us as Jews to engage with issues of immigration and refugees. In light of the recent political climate, synagogues and churches are reflecting on the idea of “Sanctuary” and how houses of worship can aid those who are in need of protection and support. Please join Rabbi Seth and others to learn more about the New Sanctuary Movement, Jewish approaches, and what organizing is happening both locally and nationwide.

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MAY EVENTSPREVIEWSenior SchmoozeTuesday, May 2 at 12 pm

PNW ShabbatonMay 5-7 at Camp Solomon SchechterFeaturing fabulous teachers from the RRC, PNW Rabbis, lively services, meals, youth programming, time to learn, hang out with old and new friends, to celebrate Shabbat. It’s the first regional gathering of PNW Reconstructionist communities in almost two decades—right here in Olympia! Sign up by April 20 to guarantee a spot! Register at: http://www.jewishrecon.org/events/pnw-retreat

Book Club: The Golem of HollywoodTuesday, May 16 at 7 pm

Dying Happens, Let’s TalkJewish approaches to death and dyingOur next workshop in our series on death and dying will be Sunday, April 23 at 1:00 pm.The session will be led by Rabbi Seth Goldstein and Sheri Gerson and focus on Jewish approaches to death and dying, both from a traditional and contemporary perspectives. What are the Jewish rituals of death and mourning? What does Judaism say about burial or cremation? What about organ donation and Do Not Resuscitate orders? The aim will be to get a better understanding of how we can honor Jewish teachings as we consider our own decisions around making preparations for death.

We will be sharing experiences and asking ques-tions in this informational and interactive session.

The third workship in the series will be on Wednesday, May 17 at 7 pm and will feature TBH member and attorney Lisa Brodoff talking about the legal aspects of preparing for death.

From TBH CommitteesT I K K U N O L A M C O M M I T T E E On Purim we celebrate Vashti, who stood up to the King, and Esther, who risked her life to save her people. On Passover we celebrate the midwives Shifrah and Puah who defied the Pharaoh’s order and Miriam who led her people to freedom. We celebrate these women by supporting women in need today.

Through April 14th, the TBH Tikkun Olam Committee is holding a Purim to PassoverProduct Drive to support the YWCA Other Bank.Please bring these products to TBHand place them in the blue bins:● menstrual products ● dish soap● laundry soap ● deodorant● shaving cream ● shampoo● conditioner

F O R K i d s U P D AT EA total of 10 volunteers representing TBH were present to bagthe weekly food items given to kids in need in the elementaryand middle schools in North Thurston School District, Olympia School District and Tumwater School District as part of the FORKids Program of the Thurston County Food Bank. Kudos to Joan Aronovitch, Jim Redle, Beth Dubey, Bernie Friedman, Alex Zwolinski, Kay McKenzie, Laura Hurtado-Webb, Erez Goldstein, his friend Nataani Frisina, and Rabbi Seth Goldstein.

A total of 576 bags were filled and the whole process took one hour. There also were five volunteers from St. Andrew Methodist Church present who participated. We welcome any new or returning volunteers in the future. We next will bag on the second Tuesday of the month of April, which is April 11, 2017, at the Tumwater Branch starting at 3:30 pm and lasting a maximumof an hour and a half. Please bring your family and friends!

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FROM CATHERINE CARMEL:FAMILY LIFE AND LEARNING DIRECTOR

Shalom y’all,As I am writing this, I am preparing to be in Israel for two weeks. I will be away from my home, my husband and family, my dogs and chickens.This is unnerving to me, but this journey

comes at great value in that I am traveling alone with my mother for the first time to a place we’ve always talked about going, but never quite managed to get to. She’s traveled to be with us while my children were younger, but actual vacations are not something that has ever been part of my life. I realize also, that this will probably be the only trip of its kind with my mother. While she is aging gracefully, she is planning the trip around the advice of her orthopedist. The weight of that realization pulls on me, as does the struggle of being gone, albeit temporarily, as the matriarch of my own family.

I’m feeling like Abraham in the parsha lech lecha. Abraham needed to leave his home in order to travel to this same holy space. I understand that I can’t yet imagine the spiritual impact of the Holy Land or the appeal of the Western Wall. It’s beyond what I have experienced. Still, I’m leaving my home, the people and places that nurture me. Abraham understood that his journey was meant to change and enrich him, bring him closer to Adonai. Israel was the only physical and spiritual environment where he could fully appreciate this journey.

I will be there on Yom HaShoah. I imagine the day feeling like those when we buried soldiers we lost during Rob’s career, only on a larger scale. Our personal histories, like this experience are created within the communities we find ourselves connected. I have no personal history that ties me to the community that is the country of Israel, but I’m hoping for experiences that bring Israel into the realm of my own personal history.

I need Israel to be the same beneficial environmentfor me as it was for Abraham. I’m afraid that the scope of the human history, the hopes and dreams of thosewho traveled here before us will just make me feelsmall and insignificant. My hope though is that while there, my mother and I are able to make Israel genuinely personal. I’d like us to be able to stand in the footprints of the matriarchs and patriarchs and see ourselves inthe history as well as the future. Sometimes a verylong distance must be travelled in order to realize the greatest treasure.

As Beit Sefer is beginning to wind down, here is apiece from Rochelle Rinn, teacher if the Anafim (3 & 4 grade) group.

As we wrap up the year with Anafim, we are continuing to work on what “holy” means to each of us. We developed kosher meals and menus for the bulletin board, made our own bedside books that remind us of how our interpretations of some of our favorite pictures can also symbolize what holy means to each of us. We have been working hard to find what “holy” means and how there are connections to our world around us. Recently, we decorated our own special pots and planted flower seeds to later attract bees. In addition, we are trying to decipher the differences between special holidays and ordinary days and in every class, we learn and practice tolerance and respect for one another.

Todah rabah,

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Thank You Volunteers!Database: Judith BarnesFriday Night Oneg Hosts: Scott Royer and Dahna BerksonFORKids Volunteers: Joan Aronovitch, Jim Redle, Beth Dubey, Bernie Friedman, Alex Zwolinski, Kay McKenzie, Laura Hurtado-Webb, Erez Goldstein, Nataani Frisina, and Rabbi Seth GoldsteinFacility Maintenance: Ariel AderethKitchen Cleaning: Kenny Trobman and Jessi GoodmanOffice Volunteers: Karen Greene, Kay McKenzie, and Leslie GoldsteinTorah Study Brunch: Laura Hurtado-Webb and Leslie GoldsteinZaslow Event Hosts: Leslie Goldstein and Judith BarnesFilm Series Hosts: Laura Hurtado-Webb and Brad Smith

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

Happy BirthdayYom HuledetSameach1 Juliet Van Eenwyk10 Judith Barnes14 Alan Reichman15 Marilyn Gisser15 Victor Kogan17 Rick O'Neill17 Gail Pollock20 Sally Reichlin20 Anne Wilson22 Ed Adelson23 Stephen Posner27 Myra Paull29 Hannah Lidman30 Jill Rosenkrantz

Sustaining FundSteve and Nan Greenberg and family in memory of his parents Marian and Harold GreenbergLin ZenkiCamille Kettel to the Chevra Kadisha Society for the work of Sheri Gerson, Jeff Trinin, Gary SchneiderNita Posner in memory of Hyman PosnerFrank Herman in memory of his mother Jane and in memory of his father GerardJill Rosenkrantz & Jay Goldstein in memory of Mario Santamaria

Rabbi's Discretionary FundFred TurkheimerRick, Marlee, Kelsey and Jaxon O'Neill in memory of Harold and Marion Greenberg

Shabbat Salon DinnerAnaya Balter

BlintzapaloozaKatherine Davis-Delaney

Memorial PlaquesGladys Roseman

Save Our Star CampaignCraig WallaceJonathon, Jeremy, and Cecilia ReyesAngel RayAlana CarrAleen Caplan YamasakiMichael KrasnokutskyJocelyn WoodNeil and Denise WeinsteinRoger CummingsDanielle RuseCharles ShelanStefan SchaeferKelsey SmithMelanie Bean GalleNancy KoppelmanSheila FayToby & Jim ShulruffLisa OratzTheresa SlusherGerry Alexander

Randi Abrams-CarasAmy HitchcockLeslie GatesGreg CarpenterVerne GibbsKaren BeachamMargaret McPheeLee MeyersRoxane WaldronSean McCainSabra HullMartha WorkIan WerrettPeter KaneJoel PaisnerPatty ImandtKaren GoldsteinSue GoldsteinBernie FriedmanAnthony Vengarick

TODAH RAHAB: A special thanksto all who volunteered for the Purim

Celebration & Blintzapalooza!

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These names will be read from the bimah at Shabbat services before and after the yahrzeit. Bold type denotes those inscribed on a plaque on our Memorial Wall.

APRIL YAHRZEITS1 Ronald Philip Denitz1 Al Levinson1 Joseph Shill2 Dave Alexander2 Belle Goldstein2 Nathan Schwartz3 Jules Bank4 Ruth C. Atkin4 Sue Endres4 Eva Shapiro5 Irving Glickman7 Robert Mann10 Ruth Samsky

11 Irvin Gottfeld11 Morris Halpern13 Morris Rivkin13 William Shlaes14 Gerard Herman15 Evelyn Friedman15 Betty Robinson16 Helen Pollock18 Barbara Jean19 William Mann19 Meyer Winokur21 Ann Okun21 Sylvia Weiner

22 Rose Siegel22 Bella Wirth23 Harold Kaplowitz24 Patricia Greene24 Rose Rome25 Joseph Jenkins26 Rabbi Myron Kinberg27 Mary Godden27 Irving Samsky29 Judah Rosen29 Sam Stein

Blintzapalooza Book Sale Blintzapalooza Chair, Hannah Lidman Rabbi Seth and Laura Schrager in Purim costumes