What's Happening This Week

Week of May 20, 2019

Arlington Human Rights Commission Solidarity Gathering
Tonight, Monday May 20 | 6:00 pm | Town Hall, 730 Mass Ave., Arlington

Join to support the Center for Jewish Life Arlington/Belmont. We gather in support and solidarity for the Jewish community and to empower us to take action against all acts of hate, bias and discrimination that so often lead to acts of violence. Learn more.

Learning Corps Registration is Open

It's time to sign up for 2019-20 Learning Corps! Online registration is now available for all ages, EJL through High School. (If you prefer, you can also download a paper application.) We can't wait to see you in the fall for another year of joyful Jewish learning!

Shir Chutzpah's Temple-wide Softball-Wiffleball-Picnic Memorial Day Extravaganza!
Sunday, May 26 | 10:00 am - Noon
Shir Chutzpah's Home Field*, Mullen Field, Lockeland Road and Ridge Street, Winchester (across from Wright-Locke Farm)
*Field naming rights still available!

Shir Tikvah’s Softball Team, Shir Chutzpah, is hosting our 3rd Annual Temple-wide Softball-Wiffleball-Picnic Memorial Day Extravaganza! Everyone's invited! All ages and genders. (Weather permitting) We’ll have softball and wiffle ball equipment available for everyone. Bring a picnic so the whole family can come and play (there’s even a playground for the little ones). We’ll even have a grill if you want to bring something to grill; we’ll also have a cooler or two for you to store your drinks. Players will be available to sign autographs and to give batting and fielding tips—you might even get a chance to play with the stars! And, from what we hear, Rabbi Cari is quite the hitter… Learn more.

Israeli Speaker: Smuggling Jews: The captain of a refugee ship recounts his story
Sunday, May 26 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | Temple Shir Tikvah Sanctuary

Fresh from serving as a US ship's officer during World War II, Arthur Bernstein volunteered for the Haganah to take Jews fleeing Europe to Palestine. The trip from Sweden to the Eastern Mediterranean, 34 days, was the longest taken by any Jewish refugee boat. Arthur's ship did not arrive at their destination, however, being detained by the British. Arthur will also describe the internment camp in Cyprus and his escape. This talk is sponsored by the Israel Committee. Light refreshments will be served.

GBIO Healthcare Assembly
Wed May 29 | 7:30 pm | Temple Beth Zion, Brookline

GBIO (Greater Boston Interfaith Organization) is entering a new phase of action related to healthcare. GBIO was one of the major consumer groups that helped pass the original healthcare reform in Massachusetts and later lobbied for action on healthcare affordability. The healthcare team has now re-activated with two fabulous leaders who are brilliant on issues related to healthcare affordability and who have spent the past year working to get GBIO a seat at the table in discussions about healthcare.  The Massachusetts legislature has also indicated that this is a potentially favorable year for making progress on healthcare with many bills currently pending. Please join with other temple members and attend the GBIO healthcare assembly on May 29 at Temple Beth Zion in Brookline. We will learn about the current GBIO platform for action on healthcare. We will learn what we can do to help and be ready when called on to contact our legislators and speak to our neighbors about why we support GBIOs platform!
Please see the flyer for details and to register for the assembly! 
Please let Anne Emmerich know if you register so we can arrange carpooling.

Red Cross Blood Drive
Thursday, May 30 | 1:00 - 6:00 pm | Temple Shir Tikvah Sanctuary

Tikkun Olam Brunch
Sunday, June 2 | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm | Temple Shir Tikvah Oneg Room

Help Still Needed for Spring Picnic
Sunday, June 2 | 4:00 - 6:00 pm

We're still looking for help publicizing our Spring Picnic open house, as well as a few more hands for setup, breakdown, and leading kids' activities -- sign up here! Remember to come for food & fun in the back yard, and bring a friend who would love Shir Tikvah!

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.​​​​​​​

Welcoming the Stranger & Shir Tzedek Social Justice

• Next Jericho Walk is Tuesday, May 21 at 1:00 pm at the Burlington ICE Center, 10 District Ave., Burlington. This is a peaceful, interfaith witnessing activity that expresses support for the rights of immigrants and the importance of keeping families together.

Beyond Shir Tikvah

• Pursue justice by strengthening democracy — before it’s too late. Justice of all sorts -- social, racial, food, climate -- depends on a functioning democracy. But ours is busted -- including our electoral processes. Are you concerned about what will happen if Howard Schultz runs as an independent? Still mad at Ralph Nader for "splitting the vote" for Gore? Do you think it’s crazy that 61% of Fall River voters ousted the mayor who was then voted back into office with a 35% plurality win in a 5-person race? We can fix this problem with ranked choice voting (RCV) . Momentum for RCV in Massachusetts is heating up. Will you step up to help build undeniable political pressure for RCV? On May 22nd and June 4th from 6:30 to 8:30, come join a call party at Sherry Reisner’s house in Arlington. We’ll get you ready to make calls to known RCV supporters reminding them to contact their legislators about the current RCV bills at the State House. (That’s another thing you can do, too!)  Contact sreisner@me.com for details and to learn what else you can do.
• ​​​​​​​Jewish Singles Mingle Lag B'Omer Cocktail Party, Wednesday, May 22, 6:30pm. Please join us for a Lag B'Omer celebration in a Newton bar for drinks, appetizers, music and socializing. Meet other Jewish singles ages 50-65 and have a lively evening! It's only $36 per person, and space is limited. Prepaid advance reservations are required (unfortunately, we cannot accommodate walk-ins). Sign up today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lag-bomer-cocktail-party-tickets-59895432852. Advance ticket purchase is required. The location and details will be sent to all those with confirmed reservations 2-3 days prior to the event. For more information or to join our mailing list, please contact Marilyn Goldman at marilyn.goldman@comcast.net or (781) 789-7345
• Campus Climate Update, Thursday, May 30, 7:00 pm. Lappin Foundation invites the community to a panel presentation with Jewish college students about experiences dealing with anti-semitism and anti-Israel activities and sentiments on their college campuses. What did they encounter? How did they handle it? What can we do? Learn more and RSVP.
• Jewish Women of Mount Auburn Walking Tour: Join volunteer docent Helen Abrams on a walking tour, as she shares her ongoing research into the lives and contributions of Jewish residents of Mount Auburn – this time focusing on the stories of Jewish women such as Mildred Dresselhaus, the “Queen of Carbon”, MIT professor and researcher; Svetlana Boym, teacher, author and artist; and Gisela Warburg Wyzanski, who saved thousands of refugee children in the 1930’s. Although the other women to be visited are not as well known, this walk will celebrate their lives and compelling stories Mount Auburn has always welcomed people of all religious persuasions and Helen invites participants to share information about their own friends and family. Meet at the Flagpole, Meadow Road. Tickets $12 for non-members, free for members. Saturday, June 15, 1:00 pm. Learn more and RSVP.