Congregation Etz Chaim  - P.O. Box 477 – Bentonville, AR 72712 December 2007/January 2008 www.etzchaimnwa.org

Congregation Etz Chaim  - P.O. Box 477 – Bentonville, AR 72712 December 2007/January 2008 www.etzchaimnwa.org

 

Dec 2007/Jan 2008

 

Note from the President

Dear Friends,

 “…Look how far we’ve come, look at this community we’ve built together as one…” Rick Recht sings Tomorrow Today on The Hope, his critically acclaimed CD.  This was definitely the case on Sat. Nov. 3rd as we gathered for the Rick Recht concert.  Many thanks to those who helped make our music come alive.  Extra thanks to our B'nai Mitzvah families, especially the Winchester family, for providing the "green room" food for the band and to the Cushman-Brown family for selling Rick's merchandise.  I hope this will be the first of many future "ART'S ALIVE AT ETZ CHAIM!" events.

 

While much lies dormant in the winter, celebration and programming will flourish at Etz Chaim.  Our newsletter is full of information about Chanukah and other events. 

 

Fri. January 18 will be a special Shabbat.  We will welcome, honor and bless our new member families who have joined us in the past calendar year.  If all goes according to plan, Rabbi Jack and Debbye will be leading services from our new "Mishkan T'filah" prayer books.   All are welcome and encouraged to attend.  Thanks in advance to Deb and Steve Friedman who will be hosting the Oneg Shabbat. 

 

B'Shalom,

Betsy

 

Calendar for Congregation Etz Chaim Events

 

Please visit our website at www.etzchaimnwa.org for calendar changes and additions.  If you do not have computer access, please contact Betsy at 271-9630 for updates.

 

Shabbat Services/ Chanukah Celebrations:

 

Fri. December 7 at 6:30 p.m. 

Chanukah menorah lighting on the Bentonville Square followed by Latke and Pot Luck Dinner at the Building. 

 

The Men's Club, led by Mark Levine will coordinate the latke cooking.  Please call Mark at 636-3633 to volunteer.  Families are asked to bring a dairy, (no-meat, no chicken, no pork, no shell-fish), dish to share based on your last name:

 

A-G: Dessert

H-R: Main Courses

S-Z: Salads and Sides

 

Sat. Dec. 8 at 10:00 a.m.

Shabbat Service followed by a Kiddush

 

Fri . January 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Please join us for our annual "New Member" Shabbat.  We will honor all of our families and individuals who have joined in the past year.  All are welcome, see "old friends" and meet new.  Our thanks to Deb and Steve Friedman for sponsoring the Oneg Shabbat.

 

Sat. January 19 at 10:00 a.m. 

Shabbat Service followed by a Kiddush.

 

 Please contact Ida Fineberg if you would like to sponsor an Oneg Shabbat or a Kiddush.  Celebrate your simcha with the congregation!  Celebrate a birthday,  anniversary or special occasion,  honor a visiting relative or friend or just to show your support for Etz Chaim.

 

 

From The Rabbi’s Desk...

 

            Golfers love mulligans.  And when a tennis player misfires on her first serve, instantly having another opportunity, astonishingly makes it possible to score despite the previous error.  For a child, regardless of the endeavor, the ability to insist on a “do-over” has an immediate remedial and calming effect.  This time of year, when the day is short, and winter presents a multitude of challenges, it’s essential to remember that the Jewish faith is all about the redemptive nature of second chances.

            Indeed, its one of the most important themes of Chanukah that oftentimes is overlooked and overshadowed by the blizzard of dreidels, latkes, parties and presents.  When we celebrate Chanukah, we commemorate the taking back, restoration, and re-opening of the Great Temple in Jerusalem.  After destruction and defilement, the Maccabees’ miraculous military victory against a mightier foe was ultimately expressed in general by the ability to freely practice Judaism again, and in particular was manifested by the rededication of G-d’s House on the Temple Mount, symbolized by the lighting of the grand Menorah.  Following physical and spiritual exile, every individual and the people as a whole, were provided with the potential to reconnect to their ancestor’s religion and traditions via the reconstituted portal of the Israelites’ Central Synagogue.  So may it be with our synagogue on Central.

            All of us can be inspired by the events of our collective history that took a small, fragile population from the deep despair of a prolonged nighttime to the flickering golden sunrays of a promising dawn.  Not surprisingly, Chanukah specifically instructs us that the way to reestablish ourselves within the framework of a meaningful life is through this compelling metaphor of light.  In the spirit of Chanukah, let’s all return to a radiant sacred space.  Join your friends and neighbors at the lighting on The Square, come to services Shabbat morning in December and on our Shabbat visit in January, become involved with Etz Chaim, and together we’ll be enlightened by the lessons of the Torah, and perform mitzvot.  For by our deeds of kindness, the brightness we bring to others will clearly illuminate our own paths.  As our sages noted, even a small light can dispel a large amount of darkness.  Let this Chanukah, and the commencement of the new secular year 2008 start with the first candle’s flame lighting up our hearts.  The warmth of our internal fires, our very souls, will then surely be felt by those around us.

            V’niz-keh Chu-la-nu M’hay-rah L’o-ro

            May we all swiftly merit sharing G-d’s light

 

L’Shalom,

 

Rabbi Jack

 

 

Yahrtzeit Reminders

 

            The word “Yahrtzeit” is Yiddish, and is made up of two words:  “Yahr”, which means “year” and “Tzeit” which is defined as time.  The word we use to gently and compassionately mark the anniversary of a loved one’s passing, simply says, “time of the year”.  At Etz Chaim, when we conduct services we remember our relatives and friends who died during that particular month.  We honor their memory in the traditional way by reciting their names and then chanting the Mourners Kaddish.  This ancient prayer, which paradoxically never mentions death, teaches us to focus on the value of the positive legacy of the lives of those that we recall.  Our list of names is generated by your submissions to our Yizkor Memorial Book.  Although generally names are collected at High Holy Day time, you can let us know at any time the name and date of anyone you wish to be included so that they too can be properly acknowledged.  We have tried to request this information from new members at the time they affiliate with Congregation Etz Chaim.

           

For the month of December, due to our annual celebration of Chanukah, we will have but one opportunity to say Kaddish, and that will be Shabbat Morning Services on December 8^th at 10AM.  As an aside, our newest B’nai Mitzvah class will assist in leading services that morning as part of their preparations and studies.  For January service dates and times, check the BARK and/or website.

 

 

           

May the memory of the righteous be forever a blessing. 

Notes from the Cantor...  

 

When we make music together, it’s inspiring and joyous.  It is also a good occasion to give thanks.  The hard work of many in our congregation, especially Betsy, provided the platform for a lot of us to sing Jewishly.  It was so gratifying to have a good number of you on stage with me during the Rick Recht concert, raising our voices and combining our beloved ancient language with modern melodies.  To all behind the scenes, and to the group of children and brave adults who performed, a sincere “Todah Rabah”, for making our soulful event a true success.  I was honored and proud to sing with you.

            Recently, I was asked by one of our congregants to provide sheet music for some Chanukah songs.  The band teacher at school wanted to include Chanukah songs for a seasonal, holiday performance, she was unable to locate any, and so our Etz Chaim student approached me for some help.  My need and ability to be a resource for Jewish music serves as a good reminder about how important and useful music can be as a bridge to understanding another’s faith and culture.  This is a perspective we can build upon as we grow as a Jewish community, fully integrating in the fabric of NWA.

 

Until we sing together again,

 

Debbye

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Religious School News

 

To celebrate a great first half of the year together,

all  students are invited to ice skate at the

Jones Center in Springdale, AR on Sunday, Dec 16 at

2:45pm.   We will meet in the cafeteria for a special

treat and then skate from 3:15-4:45pm.  Please RSVP by

Dec 9 for this event to Wynnie Hoodis, 271-7147 or

wynniehoot@yahoo.com.  I need to ensure that we have

enough tickets.

 

Winter break is Dec 23 & Dec 30, we will resume

January 6.

 

Mazel Tov To Our Members!

 

Congratulations to Gerri, Jeremy and big sister Sylvia Persin on the birth of their son and brother, Jack, on November 13, 2007.

 

Each year the Jewish Federation hosts their annual dinner, including the Jane B. Mendel Tikkun Olam, "Building a Better World"  Award.  Each Arkansas congregation nominates their honoree for recognition.  This year, Etz Chaim is recognizing Tom Douglass for his leadership role at our synagogue.  Tom and Robyn are founding members and Tom has served on the Board from the start.  Tom's dedication to Etz Chaim is evident in so many ways; consistently attending Shabbat services with his family, serving our community through his work with MAZON and working on various aspects of the operation of our building. 

 

Please mark you calendar for Sat. Feb. 2 in Little Rock, AR as we honor Tom's service.  The annual dinner is always a beautiful and fun event including good food, auction and music.  It's a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with other Jews within our state.  Details will be posted on our website, www.etzchaimnwa.org as they become available.   

 

 

Welcome New Members!

 

Eileen and Donald Roufa

Cory Kessler

 

Please contact our Membership Chairs, Ellen and Stan Kessler, at 273-1105 if you have Jewish friends, neighbors or colleagues who are interested in membership. It’s our goal to warmly welcome and involve all Jews in our area.

   

PEDDLER'S CART:

 

Chanukah items will be for sale at the Religious School on Sundays from 10a.m. to Noon.  We have chocolate gelt, wrapping paper, etc.  Also, "Shalom Y'all" t-shirts and Rick Recht CDs.  Thanks to Marcy Winchester for organizing and to Mark Levine for printing the shirts.  Proceeds go to the L'Dor V'Dor Religious School.

 

 

New Mishkan T'Filah Prayer Books

 

The new Mishkan T'Filah prayer books are rolling off the presses.  The word from the New York publishing house is that we should be receiving our shipment by Dec. 31.  We are grateful to the Schusterman Family Foundation in Tulsa, OK.  The Foundation generously granted us the funding for the majority of the prayer books we've ordered.  As we grow as a congregation we want to ensure that everyone who visits our synagogue will have a book to follow along with.  So, please consider donating a prayer book in honor or memory of a friend or loved one.  Dedicate books to celebrate your simcha - a birth, B'nai Mitzvah, wedding, anniversary, etc.  It's a gift that will have a long lasting impact. 

 

To purchase a prayer book for Etz Chaim, please send your donation checks to the Etz Chaim mailbox, P.O. box 477 Bentonville, AR 72712.  Books are $35 each or $45 for large print.  Please enclose a note regarding the wording you would like to be printed on book plate for the inside cover. 

 

Acknowledgements will be sent to those friends and family who you are honoring.  Please contact Ed Gelman at 271-8248 with any questions.

  

 

 

 

 

Please Help Us Fill In The Blanks…

 

 

Please share you news and pictures.

 E-mail your Etz Chaim news and pictures to Sara Bergman at sarabonlake@yahoo.com.  Our next issue will cover February and March.  The deadline for submission is January 15, 2008