BETH CHAIM HAPPENINGS
Monday March 1, 2010 /5770
CHESED UPDATE
Refuah Shelayma – Prayers of Healing for:
· Stuart Becker, son of Jeff and Heidi Becker, brother of Susan, is home recovering from back surgery that he had last week. There are no Chesed needs at this time. Calls and cards of support are encouraged. Please contact them at 1286 Greenbrook Drive, Danville, 94526 or 838-2853.
· Jack Becker, husband of Barbara Becker, father of Leonard and Joanne, Jeff and Heidi, and grandfather of Sara and Emma Patrick, Susan, Stuart, Sid, Samantha and Jake Becker, is undergoing tests and we hold him in our prayers. Calls and cards of support are welcomed. Leonard and Joanne can be reached at P.O. Box 605, Diablo 94528; 820-5353. Jeff and Heidi can be reached at 1286 Greenbrook Drive, Danville 94526; 838-2853.
COMMUNITY UPDATE
· PASSOVER SEDER SWAP: Sunday, March 21, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Come and share Passover seder ideas with Rabbi Dan and your friends. Bring a few of your best ideas for making the seder a memorable experience. Or just come and ask questions, take notes and leave with some sure-fire winner ideas for a great seder! Rabbi Dan will bring a variety of Haggadot to look over and will share ideas from some of his best seder experiences.
· Interfaith Seder, Thursday, March 25, 5:45pm. We are gathering at Peace Lutheran Church 3201 Camino Tassajara
Danville, CA 94506 to celebrate our second interfaith community seder. Click here to RSVP: http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=GXRETRIXKKOMMINQQXBF&li=iq&src=email&trk=aei6
· Purchase Tickets for Rick Recht Now! Saturday, March 27, in concert at Beth Chaim! Get your tickets now before they are sold out! To purchase tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/100067. This is an important fundraiser for us so make plans to enjoy the concert and support Beth Chaim at the same time! Musicians and singers interested in participating contact Larry Adoff at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
· Passover Food Drive: All donations must be “kosher for Passover.” You may donate a whole bag, one or several items. Please drop your donation off at the office. All food donations are due by March 18. Go to www.bethchaim.com for more information. (If you family has a child in the Beit Midrash, please note that each class is asked to provide a specific food item.)
· A Taste of Jewish and Buddhist Practices Working with Difficult Emotions, a day long retreat with Rabbi Chaya Gusfield and Eve Decker, Sunday, March 14, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Kehilla Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave., Piedmont. For more information go to www.bethchaim.com, or contact Rabbi Chaya at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
· Please Support the Contra Costa Jewish Teen Program, Contra Costa Midrasha, on March 14, 2-5p.m. Their annual community event features guest speaker Jan Wahl, yummy food, live music with the Tikvah Tones, and a broad array of auction items. The Sunday afternoon event happens at B’nei Tikvah, 25 Hillcroft Way, Walnut Creek. Tickets can be purchased at www.ccmidrasha.com or at 925-944-4701.
· P’tach Libeynu – “Open Our Hearts,” a mental health project of the Jewish community of Contra Costa County, offers a monthly social sharing support group for family members of adults with mental illness. Beth Chaim is a co-sponsor of this program. The next meeting is Monday, March 22, from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. at Temple Isaiah, 3800 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. For more information/registration contact Karen Cohen at 945-7272 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
· Save the Date; Monday, May 10, 2010 – 12th Annual BCC Open Golf Tournament. Join us at Crow Canyon Country Club for our annual fund raising event. The event is open for golfers (and non-golfers) of all skill level, gender, and age! Take the day off and show your support for Beth Chaim Congregation while enjoying world class golf, friendly competition, good food and drink, and most importantly – good friends! This is one of two involvements and support is the key to a successful event. All volunteers, support, and donations to this fantastic event are major fund raising activities for our community and you’re welcomed! Please contact Andrew Lelchuk at (925) 640-7933 or
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and find out what you can do to support our community!
SERVICES
· Friday, March 5, 7:00 p.m., Tot Shabbat led by Rabbi Dan, regular service at 7:30 p.m. · Saturday, March 6, 9:30 a.m., led by Rabbi Dan. We celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Luke Goldstein. Mazal Tov to Luke and his parents Steve and Teri.
WEEKLY TORAH STUDY Exodus 27:20 – 30:10 Parashah Tetzaveh “You command” This Torah portion contains detailed instructions on what the high priest will wear and how to make the garments. The priestly ordination ceremony is described and again God promises to abide among the Israelites. Much of this portion is taken up with description of the priestly garments. We can see the importance of bodily clothing but our metaphysical clothing is something else all together. Is the clothing of the inner you, the spiritual essence, different in intent than your physical clothing? Why? Go to www.chabad.org and search for” parshah Tetzaveh” for more commentary on this week’s reading.
LIFELONG LEARNING Spiritual Support Group for Caregivers
Next meeting is Wednesday, March 3, 7:30-9:00
Go to bethchaim.com for information on all Lifelong Learning opportunities.
RELIGIOUS
· The Religious School is sponsoring our 10th Annual Passover Food Drive – see details above or go to www.bethchaim.com for more information. · School will not be in session Wednesday, March 17 and Thursday March 18 due to teacher-in-service. · School will not be in session Wednesday, March 31and Thursday, April 1 due to Passover.
BROTHERHOOD · Brotherhood General Meeting; Sunday, March 7, 10:00 a.m. We will supply bagels, coffee etc. Drop your kids off at Sunday school or come early and stay to get an update on upcoming Brotherhood events, eat and schmooze. · Brotherhood Movie Night, Tuesday, March 2. · Dinner Meeting, Wednesday, March, 17, Tower Grill. We had a great group of 15 at the last dinner night at Max's, but are going back to the tried and true. First drink free for new attendees. SISTERHOOD · Movie Night, Tuesday, March 8. contact Ellen Waltrip at
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· Ski Trip, March 13 and 14. RSVP to Linda at
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. · Book Club, Tuesday, March 16, 7:00 p.m. at Lynn Chazin’s, 3895 Cottonwood Drive, Danville. We are reading Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean by Edward Kritzler. · Save the Date; KOLOT NASHIM: East Bay Women Study Torah Here at Beth Chaim, April 22, 7:00 p.m. This is a fantastic opportunity to study Torah with Jewish women leaders from the East Bay; rabbis, cantors, and other distinguished teachers. All women are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP to the office at
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.
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES · Covering Israel: A Jewish Journalist’s Perspective; Tuesday, March 23, 7:30 p.m., Contra Costa JCC. This is the next presentation in Dialogues 2010. The speaker will be Linda Gradstein, Israel Correspondent, NPR · Free 2010 Aleph/Taglit-Birthright Israel Trip for 18-26 Year Olds Join us for a 10-day trip in the Spring-Summer of 2010 starting August 15, designed especially for ALEPH members and friends. This year’s trip will be led by remarkable ALEPH leaders: second generation Jewish Renewalist, aspiring cantor and martial artist Sarah Beck-Berman, and ALEPH Rabbinic Student, chant leader, environmental activist and spiritual storyteller Ilan Glazer. Register directly with Israel Outdoors at www.israeloutdoors.com ASAP for the ALEPH Jewish Renewal trip. Look in the drop down menu on the left. Click on special trips and then scroll down till you find ALEPH! Registration closes early next week so don't delay! · CCJDS “Over the Rainbow” Gala, a benefit for Contra Costa Jewish Day School, March 21, 4:30-8:30 p.m., Temple Isaiah, Lafayette. Gourmet kosher food, dance, auction, music and entertainment. Contact Melinda Gerber at
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or 925-776-3680 for more information.
Ellen Severson, Director of Marketing and Communications
