Temple Israel of Greenfield

 

Shalom [NAME],

Details for the following events, and more, can be found on our website at www.templeisraelgreenfield.org.

 

Message From  Reb Efraim

As the only Jewish organization in Franklin County I think it is important that we offer a Passover seder to the entire community for a variety of reasons. First, it is a mitzvah to provide a seder for every person who wants one.  Second it is a wonderful outreach tool. Third, it is also an important community building vehicle for us.

 

We floated this idea at the semi-annual meeting and Marsha Stone and Suraya volunteered. In order to make this happen we need at least 5 people to: kasher the kitchen, put the meal together, organize the seder, publicize the event, and cleanup.

 

If you like this idea and are willing to be part of this please let me know.

 

Shalom,

 

Rabbi Efraim

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Friday, February 12 2010, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Family Shabbat service led by Reb Efraim followed by vegetarian potluck.

 

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Saturday, February 20th 6PM-9PM

The Jewish Film Series Continues!

"Arranged"  (2007, 90 minutes)

When Rochel and Nasira- an Orthodox Jew and an observant Muslim, meet as new teachers at a Brooklyn school, co-workers expect friction. But as they experience tension between their traditional cultures and life in America,  Rochel and Nasira form a special bond.

 

Join us for a potluck vegetarian dinner at 6PM

Film screening at 7PM followed by discussion and dessert.

For more information contact Daniel Yalowitz

@ 781 962-4777 or dyalowitz@verizon.net

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February 20  4:00 p.m

We will continue our study of The Path of Blessing by Rabbi Marcia Prager. Come Study and then stay for the movie!  Join Us!  For more info contact Shirin Morris schlang@crocker.com  413 625-9855

 

Message from Joanie Cohen-Mitchell

Hevreh,

 

I am pleased to share with you the analyzed data from our community meeting and announce the follow-up community meeting on Sunday March 14, 2010 from 10am-12pm. The raw data was organized into categories that captured the prevalent themes identified during the small group work. The next meeting will be focused on working in small groups based on the themes presented by the data to identify action-oriented next steps.

 

A few things worth mentioned before you look at the data. Some of the ideas and suggestions mentioned at the November community gathering are happening or are in the works at Temple Israel, including:

 

Community clean–up days. An ambitious crew has been working on the kitchen; painted the two bathrooms and set its sights on the next day of cleaning on February 21^st. Please contact Marc Weinberger or Joanne Calloon if you would like to help.

 

Purim dance/social event.  Jess Rigollaud and Rachel Cronin-Townsend have taken the suggestion they made at our gathering and ran with it to organize a synagogue Purim dance. Kudos to them! Let’s all socialize on this most festive of holidays on Saturday February 27^th.

 

Paid bookkeeper. We have hired a part time bookkeeper, Kelly Jones, who began in January. She is at the temple every other Thursday.

 

Improved communication tools. Our office manager is completing an updated directory and organizing a newsletter for the spring months.

 

Participation in the wider Jewish community via the Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival.  Join the community at Greenfield Garden Cinema for the viewing of A Matter of Size on Saturday March 13^th at 7:30-pm.

 

Longer term planning for the synagogue’s next hundred years.  This second meeting should be seen as one in a series as the synagogue refines its mission and vision and make organizational and programming plans to fit its reality.

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Other Updates:

 

Embezzlement. Last Friday, Terri was indicted in court. I have met with the DA‘s prosecutor once already and will be meeting with her again on Tuesday. So far, our case is proceeding together with the case from the Riverside Water District.  Terri continues to pay restitution weekly to Temple Israel. As I find out more about the next steps on Tuesday I will be sure to share them with you.

 

Billing: You should be receiving a statement current for the end of January 2010 reflecting a two year history of billings and payments in our ongoing efforts to set all our books right.

 

Analyzed and synthesized data from Community Envisioning Workshop November 2009, Governance & Infrastructure

Need a long-term plan

 

Need both paid and lay leadership (mentioned 3 times)

 

Need an Executive Director (mentioned 3 times)

 

Realistic expectations, purpose, mission

Community clean-up days

Need more volunteerism

Clearly delineated job responsibilities with paid staff and lay leadership

Mix social fun with work tasks

Revisit Board /Governance structure

 

Religious Education (across the generations)

With our limited resources and numbers, consolidate our teachers

Need outreach to increase membership

Spiritual leader needs to think beyond Temple, maybe leader at private schools to get more members

Support from the membership (more constructive)

Family programs

Family/community education programs with other shuls

Post bar/bat mitzvah group and functions; continuing contact, education, social

Attract more Hebrew school students; people who move to the area

Consolidate area Hebrew schools (regionalization)

More Youth programs (mentioned 5 times)

More adult education/programming – folks in community can lead them  (mentioned 6 times)

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Save the Date

 

Saturday, February 27, 2010, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Purim celebration and megillah reading