What's Happening This Week

Week of January 28, 2019

Tot Shabbat

Saturday, February 2, 2019 | 10:00 am

On Shabbat we take a break from the week. We use the time to regroup, rest and spend time with family and friends. Join us for Shabbat songs, dances and crafts—and of course challah and juice!

Adult Learning: The Roman Empire's Influence on Jews and Judaism, Class 2

Sunday, February 3 | 9:45 am | The Ambrose School, 27 High Street, Winchester

The Metamorphosis of Jerusalem, Judaea, and Herod the Great -- In the midst of his rebellion against the Seleucids, Judah Maccabee sent several embassies to cities around the Mediterranean world requesting aid, including Rome. What began as a distant alliance became unequal domination by Rome. And yet, Rome and its empire were partly responsible for creating the framework and supporting the development of perhaps the most vibrant period in ancient Jewish history. How did Judaea transform from a regional backwater into a modern and dynamic pilgrimage site? How did the Roman system enable the creation of a global Jewish network centered on Jerusalem and its high priesthood?

Tikkun Olam Dinner and Panel Discussion: "In Search of Shelter and Financial Security"

Friday, February 8, 2019 | 6:00 pm
Suggested Donation: $10 per person

Our Shir Tikvah member panelists devote their professional lives to breaking the cycle of poverty that keeps people from buying or renting a home and saving for their futures. They work to create affordable housing, strengthen communities, boost access to education, workforce training and jobs, and offer financial literacy and savings programs so that families don't have to live a paycheck away from financial disaster. Learn about their social justice, anti-poverty work, how you can support it, and start to advocate for fairer economic and housing policies in Massachusetts and beyond. Please RSVP by February 3 to reserve a space for vegetarian dinner (crowd favorite Chik Chak Middle Eastern Food Truck).

Connections Movie Night at Shir Tikvah

Sunday, February 10 | 7:00 pm

Join us in the oneg room for a cozy Connections Film Night presenting two films:  a short, 33-minute film entitled “Mah-jongg: Tiles that Bind,” then our feature "Supergirl,” which follows young powerlifter Naomi Kutin’s coming-of-age story as she fights to hold on to her title while navigating the perils of adolescence, and being an Orthodox Jew. (Check out The New York Times feature article about the film.) The Official Selection at many film festivals, it was directed, produced and edited by Jessie Auritt, the niece of temple member Sherry Reisner. Free event with drinks and light snacks.

Connections Day Trip to Amherst with Brunch and a visit to the Yiddish Book Center

Sunday, March 24 | Departing Winchester at 9:00 am
Deadline to register: March 10

This year, our main adventure will be a day trip to Amherst: Brunch at Bistro 63 and visit to the Yiddish Book Center.

A fee of $50 includes, luxury coach, brunch, and admission (with private tour) to the Book Center.  Departing Winchester at 9:00 am and returning around 6:30 pm. Deadline to register is March 10th or until the bus is full. Vegetarian brunch includes gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options. Register at www.shir-tikvah.org/connectionstrip.

Connections is open to any member of Temple Shir Tikvah who is 13 years of age and older who identifies as a woman. For questions, please contact connections@shir-tikvah.org.

Make this the month you read Waking Lions

This award-winning novel by Israeli author Ayelet Gundar-Goshen gets a double boost this month at Temple Shir Tikvah: the Israel committee has chosen it as a temple read, and the morning book group is discussing it on Sunday, February 10. The Shir Tikvah library has one copy and is ordering another. The book is also available at local libraries and in paperback or online. You can read Andy Oram's review of the book in the most recent Shir Tikvah newsletter. Take in this marvelous, gritty piece of fiction and join us.

Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World)

HELP US REPAIR THE WORLD -- If you are interested in getting involved, contact us.

• We're recruiting new volunteers for our ongoing projects. Interested in tutoring a child in an underserved elementary school in Somerville, cooking monthly meals for homeless adults, taking part in a Habitat for Humanity work crew, or learning to head up our Winchester Hospital X-mas Day volunteer effort? Contact us to learn more.
  
  
• The JF&CS Family Table is looking for donations of whole grain crackers and 15oz boxes of raisins for their kosher food pantry serving greater Boston. Please bring your donations to the temple.

Welcoming the Stranger & Shir Tzedek Social Justice

• Jericho Walk, Tuesday, January 29 at 8 am -- ICE Enforcement and Removal Office, 1000 District Ave, Burlington (also comes up as 10 District Ave on maps). This is a peaceful, interfaith witnessing activity that expresses support for the rights of immigrants and the importance of keeping families together. It begins and ends with a short prayer/song. Bring signs with positive messages (nothing about specific politicians, please). Please park near the back of the lot, as far as possible from District Ave, to leave parking spaces for those coming to their ICE appointments and for other building tenants. Learn more.
  
  
• Consultation on Conscience, May 19-21, 2019: Join the Temple Shir Tikvah delegation at the Religious Action Center's Consultation on Conscience in Washington D.C. Reignite your passion for social justice by joining the first ever TST delegation, joining 1,000 Reform social justice activists and leaders from across the country. We will sing, we will learn, we will reenergize and rededicate ourselves. Early Bird registration deadline is January 31. Contact Robin Kutner for more information.

Beyond Shir Tikvah

• The Wicked Pickers - Solidarity, Hope & Music: HIAS Benefit Concert Supporting Refugees and Asylum Seekers. The Wicked Pickers (featuring TST member Paul Green!) are a wicked-good, Boston-based band that crafts an eclectic acoustic mosaic of bluegrass/Americana, jigs to jazz, folk to funk, and soul to samba. Concert to benefit HIAS, which for 130 years has protected refugees and asylum seekers worldwide, helping them build new lives in safety and with dignity. Learn more.
  
  
• Refuah Shleima - Healing Ourselves in a Time of Climate Disruption is an online conversation series for those struggling with despair and seeking resiliency and a way forward into an unknown future. Join together with others who are concerned about the future for inspiration and deep conversation. Each session will begin with a resource from Jewish tradition that suggests a pathway toward resiliency at difficult times and will be followed by a facilitated conversation. Upcoming sessions will be hosted by Rabbi Katy Allen, co-founder and President pro-tem of the Jewish Climate Action Network and spiritual leader of Ma'yan Tikvah - A Wellspring of Hope. Thursday, February 21, 7:30-8:30 PM. Sign-up by emailing Janet at jcan.intern@gmail.com.
  
  
• Keeping Faith: Sisters of Story: With the recent uptick of hateful and vitriolic language in this country, Rohina Malik (Unveiled), a Muslim storyteller, wanted to create a project to demonstrate peace and commonalities between us all. She approached Susan Stone, a Jewish storyteller, and Kim Schultz, who identifies as a Christian storyteller, with an idea: what if they all told stories from their faiths with the goal of bringing people together and showing peace, curiosity, and similarities among the faiths. Each storyteller tells three stories inspired by their respective faith journeys. They are accompanied by Lucia Thomas on violin, oud, and guitar. February 22-24 at Greater Boston Stage Company. Learn more.
  
  
• Lidarti's Oratorio Esther, East Coast Premiere. Commissioned by the Jewish Community of Amsterdam and composed in 1774, Cristiano Giuseppe Lidarti's oratorio tells the biblical story of how Queen Esther rescued the Jews of Persia from King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) and his scheming advisor, Haman. Scored for orchestra, soloists, and chamber choir, and sung entirely in Hebrew, Lidarti's captivating writing brings the story of Esther alive. Mar. 2 Emmanuel Church, Boston) & Mar. 3 (Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley). Produced by Miryam/TST member Alicia DePaolo. Learn More.
  
  
• Honeymoon Israel provides trips to Israel for couples with at least one Jewish partner. Spend nine exhilarating, romantic and memorable days exploring Israel in luxury with the one you love, and 19 other couples from the greater Boston area. You will return home with a new community and friends who feel like family. Learn more.
  
  
• Introduction to Judaism is designed for couples (interfaith or not), congregants who might like a basic Judaism course, and anyone exploring conversion to Judaism. Registrations are being accepted for January 27 (Temple Shir Tikva, Wayland), March 5 (Temple Sinai, Brookline), and April 29 (Beth El Temple Center, Belmont). Learn more.
  
  
• Combined Jewish Philanthropies is excited to launch a year-long, community-wide conversation tour, "The 360Five: One Year, Five Questions, Many Voices," led by CJP President and CEO Rabbi Marc Baker. Through dozens of in-person events around Greater Boston, the tour will introduce diverse audiences to Marc and allow him to hear about critical issues firsthand. Final session Tuesday, Feb. 5. Learn more and Register.