Use of the building during COVID-19 restrictions:
Shabbat Services. For now, we are continuing with virtual services. We are also exploring holding Shabbat Services outdoors, either at TBA or another location, and the possibility of limited attendance in our Sanctuary. Any in-person options pursued would naturally adhere to the most rigorous pandemic-control guidance and standards, and services would continue to be streamed online for those more comfortable taking part from home.
Other in-person use of the TBA Building: We will be using CDC and state guidelines and mandates, and “best practices” for religious institutions. Some limited use has already occurred and is planned, such as allowing immediate family that live with the Bat or Bar Mitzvah into the Sanctuary for a streamed Shabbat service, allowing community members observing a Yahrzeit to attend in person, and members performing volunteer services for TBA. For now, we do not anticipate approving large gatherings. All use of the building will require face masks unless specifically exempted. Please contact Cindy Poust at 610-337-2222 (extension # 3) or cpoust@brithachim.org for any request not being directly coordinated with Rabbi.
This Week's Events
THIS WEEK AT TEMPLE BRITH ACHIM
*FRIDAY, May 14th - THURSDAY, May 20th*
Friday, May 14th
7:30 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service …on Zoom
7:30 p.m. – 7:40 p.m. – Pre-Service Schmooze Time
7:40 p.m. – Approx. 8:30 p.m. – Shabbat Evening Service
Approx. 8:30 p.m. – Zoom Oneg
shabbatevening.tbazoom.info or https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82442501521?pwd=ZmpVYXpUZlYwV1RaeDlGRGI3TFE1UT09
- for Zoom access - no siddur necessary – all relevant materials will be shared on the screen
No separate link necessary for the Zoom Oneg – just stay with us through the service to participate in our Oneg after the service ends!
Saturday, May 15th
9:00 a.m. Shabbat Torah Study
ShabbatTorah.tbazoom.info
On May 15th, we begin our study of Professor Shaye Cohen's "From the Maccabees to the Mishnah". Cohen offers students more than just history, but an understanding of the social and cultural context of Judaism as it developed into the formative period of rabbinic Judaism (164 BCE to 300 CE), including the parting of ways between Jews and Christians in the second century CE.
No need to purchase the book and no homework - we display the book on-screen, and take turns reading.
9:00 Tot Shabbat
totshabbat.tbazoom.info
10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service
shabbatmorning.tbazoom.info or https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85746291160?pwd=Q2p6Z1B3elJJbzVLV3VXVUxjZkdYQT09
– for Zoom access - no siddur necessary – all relevant materials will be shared on the screen
Sunday, May 16th
9AM Religious School – Last Day
9:00am The Hartwigs will be setting up their plant sale outside of the Temple during Religious School. All proceeds benefit the Powel Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning.
For more information, contact Kareen Hartwig (610) 585-2804 or kareen.hartwig@gmail.com
6:30pm Zoom Shavout Evening Service followed by Tikkun Leil Shavuot
Shavuot.tbazoom.info
Monday, May 17th
TBA Offices Closed
9:00AM Shavuot Morning Service w/yizkor
Shavuot.tbazoom.info
Wednesday, May 19th
7:30a.m. Morning Minyan
morningminyan.tbazoom.info - to participate in the Morning Minyan
The siddur will be shared onscreen, for your convenience.
Need to say Kaddish? Want to help make a minyan for someone else to be able to say Kaddish?
Just want to start your day with some meaning and inspiration?
Join us for our weekly Morning Minyan - every Wednesday morning.
7:00PM Annual Congregational Meeting
annualmeeting.tbazoom.info
Thursday, May 20th
12:00 p.m. – Mid-Week Torah Study
midweektorah.tbazoom.info No experience required * No materials required.
Interest in learning – helpful, but also not required. Join us!
7:00PM – SAT Meeting
SAVE THE DATE
Friday, May 21st
High School Senior Recognition Shabbat Evening Service
Friday, June 26th – TBA Backyard BBQ
TO CONTACT THE CARING COMMUNITY TEAM, please call Ann Greenstein at 424-524-3938 or e-mail her at greensteina123@yahoo.com.
The caring community team is available to help members who need assistance with meals and rides and issues associated with illness and bereavement. Or, if you just need to hear a friendly voice during this time of isolation, we have a group of volunteers ready to make contact with you.
Caring Matters, and at Brith Achim, we are here for one another.
Please view Ann Greenstein's fundraiser on Facebook asking for assistance for one of our families.
https://www.facebook.com/donate/474626733690287/4224914014209834/
LET'S CELEBRATE EACH OTHER
It is sometimes difficult to remember during hard times that there are so many wonderful things happening too, such as births, birthdays, wedding anniversaries, bar and bat mitzvahs, and special achievements, There are so many reasons to rejoice even when life is difficult or disappointing. The Caring Community Team is getting ready to focus more on these joyful events, but we need your help.
We are looking forward to starting a column in the monthly bulletin called mentsch-ening (We can give Rabbi Lazar credit for this idea) and we need your help. We do not always know when a happy event has happened to you or your family so we ask that you tell us when there is a birth in your family, a wedding, a move to a new home, an honor or award, or anything else special to you. You can contact Ann at 484-524-3939 (leave message) or at greensteina123@yahoo.com so we can share your joy in the column “Mentsch-ening”.
Once we expand the Caring Community responsibilities, we will need volunteers to send out birthday cards monthly, and to place calls of congratulations or acknowledgment in other ways. So, keep in mind what you would like to do to let our members no that we care as much when things are going well as when we need to provide support.
OTHER:
FROM RABBI LAZAR www.checkinwiththerabbi.info
...where you'll be able to get yourself booked into my calendar for either a 20-minute phone call or a 20-minute video call.
Fill me in on the latest news * I can read a story to your kids *I can read a story to you
Tell me a great joke you heard recently * Ask me for a great joke that I heard recently
I can help your kids with their homework * We can pray together
We simply can feel comforted by seeing each other's face and/or hearing each other's voice.
Of course, if you would like to discuss something that necessitates a longer amount of time, and/or a greater amount of attention, please be in touch with me and/or Cindy directly.
TBA PUZZLE SWAP
TBA Puzzle Swap provides a forum in which members can safely exchange puzzles. There is a table set up in the front (circle door) entrance with puzzles for contactless picking up or dropping off. The front doors are unlocked from 9AM – 3PM each weekday (when the office is open). Please park and use the front circle door entrance, as there is construction at the other entrance. There is hand sanitizer on the table. If you have puzzles to donate, please follow these same contactless steps. If you are unable to drive or otherwise need assistance to pick up or deliver your puzzle, please contact community@brithachim.org.
For Sunshine Donations: You can donate online Directed Giving donations
Please use http://www.goodsearch.com/ for your Internet searching needs.
Choose Temple Brith Achim as your charity of choice.
For all those who shop online via Amazon, you can help TBA raise $$ simply by using their Amazon Smile program. Please click on the following link and sign up via your Amazon account to use AmazonSmile when you shop. Amazon will donate 5% of your purchase to Temple Brith Achim. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-2201830
REMINDER: You can access our TBA Congregational Directory anytime. Just sign into your account on our website: brithachim.org. Top “right hand” corner click on “login”. If you forgot your password or haven’t used your account yet, click on “forgot/need password”. Then follow the directions to set up a password and sign in. Once you are signed in click on “directory” along the task bar under our TBA banner. NOTE: non-congregants cannot access this directory. Our database will only allow members to sign in with the email address registered with TBA.