Hello All!

As I mentioned last week, I am very excited about the work all of our committees are doing and am committed to sharing various highlights about their efforts throughout the year.  This week I want to mention that I met with the Ritual Committee Co-chairs (Ken Wolf and Robert Adler) to discuss their goals for 2016 and attended a Social Committee meeting (Co-chaired by Howard Zeff and Stephanie Coleman) where they identified the events they plan to host this year.  Both meetings were very fruitful and these committee efforts promise to contribute to a fulfilling year for our congregation and friends!

While specifics are still getting settled, some of the upcoming social/special events to look forward to include:

• Friday, June 10 – following an abbreviated service, we will celebrate Erwin Coleman’s 96^th birthday – this will include a wine and cheese social as well as birthday cake.
• Saturday, July 23 – Rabbi Nancy and her husband, Scott Whitehead, will again share their talents during the WC Handy festival event at the Temple. We hope to enhance this event somewhat this year and will share ideas around this soon.
• Saturday, August 20 – Yard/Rummage Sale and Picnic! Yes, here is your opportunity to clean out and redecorate and donate those items you no longer need/want to the Temple Yard/Rummage Sale and fund raiser!  Following the sale, we will have a congregation-and-friends picnic.

More specifics and more events are to come but note these on your calendar now and plan to join us!

Rabbi Nancy’s schedule has been set through June and she will join us to lead services on the following Friday evenings:

• April 8, 22 (Seder) and 29
• May 6 and 13
• June 10 and 17

The Ritual Committee will ensure services are provided April 15 (Robert Adler leading), May 20 and 27, June 3 and 24.  If you would like to participate in any part of our services, please reach out to our Ritual Committee Co-Chairs, Ken Wolf and Robert Adler to let them know.

In addition, the Torah study group meets each Saturday morning at 9:30.

Our next date for providing desserts for the Soup Kitchen is Saturday, April 16.  Please plan to bring homemade (a favorite) or store-bought dessert items to the Temple no later than 9:30 that morning.  If you prefer, you can also make a financial donation that will be used to purchase any additional desserts needed.  (Make all checks payable to Temple B’nai Israel.)

Our community Seder is right around the corner!  It will be held Friday night, April 22, at the Temple.  Forms and payments are due no later than this Friday, April 8 so, if you have not already done so, please send these in right away as it is very important for our committee chairs (Emily Kelley and Jane Zeff) to get a good headcount.  In addition, space is very limited and because we recognize that some of you might like to invite a guest, getting a good headcount of the members that will be attending will provide them with the information they need to determine if additional invitations can be extended.  It promises to be a wonderful celebration!

As always, if you have any announcements you would like for me to share with our membership, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and…

I hope you all have a wonderful week and I look forward to seeing you Friday evening!

Shalom!

Traci Welch

P.S. If you have not yet voted for your choice of logo, please do so this week or plan to do so at services this Friday!