Congregation Tikkun V'or
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Congregation Tikkun v’Or Ithaca Reform Temple Spirit Community Justice Issue 216 January-February 2020 Kislev- Tevet - Shevat yca - ,cy - ukxf Co-Presidents’ Words thabv hrcs Happy Chanukah and happy new year 2020, dear friends. As we step into an unknown future in our congregation, in our country, and in the world, we are pondering the lessons of this season. In this time when we feel the presence of the darkness in the short days and the hard times, we find ourselves grateful for the teaching that we can trust deeply that the light is there for us – that we carry it in a well of abundance that we can tap into every day. We remember that our grateful, generous, kind, loving hearts are our collective superpower, and that every act of goodness we commit helps to surround the darkness with our extraordinary light even when we can’t see it, even when we don’t know how to find our way to it, even when it feels like the darkness might prevail ... even when we don’t feel like we have one more flicker of light to give ... we reach down into our deepest well of reserves, individually and collectively, and we shine … every time. We are grateful to all of you for being the source of such brilliant, warm, nourishing light all year round. We wish you all the brightest blessings and joy in the miracles of every precious moment. — Lauren and Shira 2 Shabbat and Holidays ohdju ,ca No services on Friday, January 3 Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat) Friday, January 10, 7:30 pm Leader TBA Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, January 17, 7:30 pm Led by Cantor Abbe, with musical assistance by Azameyra. Leeyam Hadar will lead parts of the service. Participatory singing encouraged! This week’s Torah portion, Shemot, begins the story of the Exodus, with God recognizing the suffering of the Israelites and Moses being called to stand up to Pharaoh. Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, January 24, 7:30 pm Led by Michael Margolin Shabbat Morning Service Saturday, January 25, 10 a.m. Parashat (Torah Portion) VaEra Led by Cantor Abbe Lyons Bar Mitzvah: Leeyam Hadar, son of Mirit Hadar and Ilan Hadar 10:00-10:45 Shabbat Morning (Shacharit) service 10:45-11:20 Torah service including Torah and Haftarah readings 11:20-12pm Leeyam’s d’var Torah, community discussion & blessings, concluding prayers and Kaddish 12:15 pm Kiddush/lunch In Parashat VaEra, Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh to say Let My People Go! This Torah portion includes the beginning of the Exodus with the first seven of the ten plagues. Leeyam will look at how these events relate to what is happening in our world today. Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, January 31, 7:30 pm Led by Cantor Abbe, with musical assistance by Azameyra. Alex Elia will lead parts of the service. Participatory singing encouraged! In this week’s Torah portion, in between dramatic events, new perspectives are emerging. Shabbat Morning Service Saturday, February 1, 10 a.m. Parashat (Torah Portion) Bo Led by Cantor Abbe Lyons Bat Mitzvah: Alexandra Elia, daughter of Anthony Elia and Melanie Lefkowitz 10:00-10:45 Shabbat Morning (Shacharit) service 10:45-11:20 Torah service including Torah and Haftarah readings 11:20-12pm Alex’s d’var Torah, community discussion & blessings, concluding prayers and Kaddish 12:15 pm Kiddush/lunch Alex has discovered quite a few elements in this portion, which includes the last three plagues and the Israelites finally being sent away by Pharaoh, which bring up questions about wrestling with ethical issues in complex situations. Haftarah: Greta Thunberg’s speech to the UN. Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, February 7, 7:30 pm Led by Carol and Sam Shama Shabbat Saturday, February 8 at Longview, Time TBA January - February 2020 Tikkun v’Or Newsletter www.tikkunvor.org 3 Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, February 14, 7:30 pm Leader TBA Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, February 21, 7:30 pm Led by Faith Rogow Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, Febraury 28, 7:30 pm Led by Peter Silberman Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, March 5, 6:15 dinner, 7 pm service Led by the students of Bet/Gimel (grades 2/3) and Cantor Abbe Lyons Service leaders and oneg hosts are still needed for many dates! Contact Anne Brous at <[email protected]> about leading a service. Sign up to host an oneg through Each for All, or contact Miranda Phillips <[email protected]> Save the Date: Saturday, February 8 TVO Shabbat at Longview 1 Bella Vista Drive More info coming soon! Please join us as Anthony Elia and Melanie Lefkowitz invite you to join us as our daughter Leeyam Alexandra is called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah is called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah. Saturday, January 25 Saturday February 1, 10 am. 10 am Lunch to follow. Mirit & Brian Ilan & Billee www.tikkunvor.org Tikkun v’Or Newsletter January - February 2020 4 Religious School rutu iueh, rpx ,hc Kitah Gan/Alef id /t v,hf (K/grade 1) continues to work their way through the alef-bet, and built and painted chanukiyot. They love to spin like dreidels! Kitah Bet/Gimel d/c v,hf (grades 2/3) explored the stories of Noah’s ark, the Tower of Babel, and the Maccabees. What does it mean for a story to be “true”? What is a midrash? Kitah Daled / s v,hf (grade 4) wondered what it means to have a moral compass. How do the10 commandments and other mitzvot guide us? Kitah Hey v,hf (grades 5) made their own mezuzot, including words that they find important to keep in their hearts and on their doorposts. Kitah Vav/Zayin z/u v,hf ((grade 6/7) led Shabbat services with Cantor Abbe Lyons, with a wonderful dvar Torah skit, including some Very Important Camels. They wrestled, figuratively within the text, and literally with each other, to try to understand how Jacob wrestled with an angel. If you see a vav or zayin student, ask them who is the champion of JewMo Wrestling, or what it means to be a Jewnicorn! They also sang and entertained residents at Longview. In November, we welcomed special guests for Ha’Asharah vragv (enrichment): Esty Schachter read to us from her book Pickled Watermelon. Rabbi Tziona taught us about the Jewish Ethiopian holiday of Sigd, and then learned Ethiopian dances from Lwam, Teddy, Bethlehem, and Elshaday, students from the Cornell Ethiopian & Eritirean Association. Tobi Feldman and Ahn had us sniffing scents and oils mentioned in the Torah. We didn’t know the Torah was so filled with fragrance! Photos of all these can be found on our Facebook page! In December, Rabbi Brian led a farbrengen (gathering) with singing and Torah study. For Chanukah, Michael Margolin helped us create and exciting and improvisational play involving all classes and students in different aspects of the Chanukah story. We were pleased to see both new and familiar faces at Havdallah under the Stars at the 4H Acres Camp, hosted along with Temple Beth-El, IAUJC, and PJ Our Way. If you are interested in signing up for PJ Our Way (free Jewish books for kids 8-12) see <www.pjourway.com> If you would like information about Jewish summer camps, ask Naomi! We are looking forward to Jewish Stories Around the World, on January 12, when we will join with the Religious School students at Temple Beth-El (corner of Tioga and Court Street). We’ll spend the morning with stories of Jewish life around the world, hearing the music of the Abuyadaya in Uganda, tasting couscous from Morocco, playing futbal from Argentina, and more! This semester we’ll be regularly adding suehr Rikud (dance) Israeli folk dance to our schedule: Mayim Mayim, Tzadik Katamar, Yesh Lanu Tayish, and others. We’ll have a few guests for Ha’Asharah vragv (enrichment), celebrate Tu B’shvat, Purim, and Pesach, and sing and learn with musician Rick Recht on March 8! January - February 2020 Tikkun v’Or Newsletter www.tikkunvor.org 5 Teens v’Or Teens V’Or had a great time making amazing edible Chanukah gingerbread houses! All TVO teens are invited to join in for any events! For more information contact Teens v’Or advisor Tali Abraham <[email protected]> TORAH ON TAP Thursday, February 6 5:30-7 pm at Liquid State Brewery, 620 W. Green Street, Ithaca Like beer and cider? Like discussing deep topics or schmoozing (instead of chatting?) with interesting people over beer and cider? We are holding our first ‘Torah on Tap,” a fun evening of connecting with other TvO adults, exploring topics to discuss, and if we have time, delving into that week’s parasha or other Jewish topics that might present themselves the night. We will have light snacks, and Liquid State has a variety of delicious beverages. You can also bring your own food in to enjoy if you are looking for something more hearty. This is a part of a Welcoming Committee/Jewish Education Committee initiative to offer new ways for adults to connect, both in and out of temple. You can RSVP to [email protected] so we know who to expect, but it’s not required and if you just show up, that’s great! Dinner & a Movie Dinner at 6:30, Films at 7 pm Join us for a veggie/dairy dish to pass dinner, followed by some great films: January 18: Tikkun An ultra-orthodox scholar is revived after dying for 40 minutes. After coming back to life, he suddenly feels a strange awakening in his body and suspects that God is testing him.