4-15-08
Shalom Chaverim from Beth Emek Communications. There's so much going on, it's hard to know where to start. More trivia for the upcoming Israel at 60 birthday party? Hopeful signs of peace in an Arab-Israeli town as the celebration approaches? But we think the one most likely to touch you personally is what the media has identified as the "Great Kosher Cracker Crisis." It seems that many of us will have to do without beloved Tam Tam crackers this Passover, as the Manishcewitz plant in Newark, NJ that makes this delicacy is having trouble with some new baking equipment for the Tam Tam and will not be able to get it corrected before Passover. Oy, what to do? Well, more farfel this year...
Escape From The Holocaust
An Evening With Joe Rosenbaum
Wednesday, Apr 16 | 7:00p
Pleasanton Masonic Center, 3370 Hopyard Rd
Born in Germany in 1931, Joe Rosenbaum tells the incredible story of his survival and eventual rescue from the Holocaust. Relive Joe's amazing journey through Poland, Russia, Siberia, Turkistan, Tehran, and eventually Palestine where he was brought back to health and life as a human being by Hadassah's Youth Aliyah program. Presented by Hadassah Shalom Chapter. This event is free, but donations to Hadassah will be graciously accepted.
More: Cheryl Bigman
925.968.9240
cherylsb63@yahoo.com
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Looking To Infuse Some Holiday Fun Into Your Seder?
A Festive, Learning Seder For Families
Thursday, Apr 17 | 6:30 - 8:30p
Faz Restaurant in Pleasanton
Join Rabbi James Brandt, Executive Director of the Center for Jewish Living and Learning, to learn more about the Passover holiday, and once and for all answer the question "Why is this night different from all other nights?"
Enjoy a delicious Faz meal while learning more about the holiday, including tips for infusing your own Seder with holiday fun. Sponsored by the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay Regional Office, Faz Restaurant, the Center for Jewish Living and Learning, and the Shalom Chapter of Hadassah. $40 for adults, $18 for children ages 4 - 12 and free for those 3 and under.
RSVP: tanya@jfed.org
925.943.5238
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Community Shabbat Dinner
Last Chance For Pasta Before Passover!
Friday, Apr 18 | 6:00p
Join the community in creating a welcoming Shabbat atmosphere by working together and sharing the commitment of our Shabbat Dinner. Join us for singing, blessings and a chance to relax and chat with fellow Beth Emek members. Please feel free to bring a bottle of wine to go with dinner. Thank you to the families of Skylar and Peter Cohen and Terry and Jason Weinstein for hosting the April dinner.
Evite: http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/IEYMSLVFGFKYTRPXAGGC/aprildinner
More: Sharon Cohen
925.931.1055 x11 or
Lizzie Jacobson
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You Can Even Eat The Dishes
Teen "Chocolate" Seder
Friday, Apr 18 | 5:00 - 7:00p
All interested teens are invited to join our high school youth group "EDJY"
at Congregation Beth Emek for a Chocolate Seder. This is a sweet version of the traditional Passover Seder where we'll substitute chocolate for all the foods we usually eat. For example, we'll drink chocolate milk instead of wine and eat bitter-sweet chocolate instead of bitter herbs. Freedom is so sweet! Join us in a night filled with falafel, chocolate, and tons of fun!
After our Seder, stay and join community services starting at 7:30 p.m.
Please RSVP by April 16.
More: Sarah Wolfish, EDJY Membership VP
eeyoremaniac@comcast.net
Deborah Braunstein, Youth Group Advisor
dabraunstein@gmail.com
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Mitzvah Alert!
Passover Meal Delivery For Isolated Older Adults, Holocaust Survivors and People With Disabilities
Friday, Apr 18
Every year the Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay (JFCS/East Bay) delivers fresh kosher Passover meals to people in need in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. If you'd like to help this year, please let us know! Call soon as spaces fill up quickly! Here are some of the ways you can help.
- Volunteer to deliver meals and bags of groceries.
The delivery day is Friday, Apr 18. Pick up is at
2:30 pm at either JFCS/East Bay's Berkeley office
or Walnut Creek office. Deliveries should take
place between 3:00 and 5:00p.
- Sponsor a portion of the program. For example,
donate enough matzoh, gefilte fish or horseradish
for all the deliveries, about 80 households.
- Make a financial contribution to the Holiday Food
Program. In addition to Passover, we deliver meals
for Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah and the last Shabbat
of each month.
- Let us know if you or someone you know could benefit
from the program. This service not only provides a
nutritious meal, it also gives isolated people in
our community the chance to engage with the volunteer
making the delivery.
More: Kathryn Winogura
925.927.2000 x529
www.jfcs-eastbay.org
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The 2008 Temple Beth Torah Community Seder:
Family Friendly, Fun For All
Sunday, Apr 20 | 5:30p
Temple Beth Torah
42000 Paseo Padre Parkway | Fremont
Celebratory, participatory, family-friendly and traditional, the Temple Beth Torah Community Seder has something for everyone. Adult tickets are $23, children 2 - 13 are $11 and children under 2 are free.
RSVP: Friday, April 11
More: Temple Beth Torah Office
510.656.7141
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Holocaust Remembrance Day
Friday, May 2
So that we may never forget, please join the Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay for several events marking Holocaust Remembrance Day. These events include the Legacy Project for Holocaust Remembrance, a ceremony with the California State Assembly on Monday, April 28; An Evening on the Holocaust and Resistance with guest speaker David Akov, Consul General of Israel, on Tuesday, April 29; and Holocaust Remembrance Day with the City of Berkeley, including local survivors, a panel of speakers and Sephardic music, on Friday, May 2.
More: Rita Clancy
510.558.7800 x257
rclancy@jfcs-eastbay.org
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Israel's Turning 60
Clear Your Calendar
Friday - Sunday, May 9 - 11
We know it's nearly a month away, but the festivities will be so big that we wanted you to have as much notice as possible! Clear May 9 through May 11 on your calendars for a weekend of festivities marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. We don't want to ruin all the surprises just yet, but for sure we'll be talking about Israeli wine and chocolate, Israeli dancing, Israeli/Ethiopian hip-hop, an Israel trivia contest and falafel for all as the weekend draws nearer.
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The Only Kosher Ride In The West!
That's Bikes, Not Horses
Sunday, May 18
Join community members from all around the Bay for the Foothill Century: The only kosher ride in the west! Registration is now open for the Annual Foothill Century which offers beautiful scenery and a memorable, healthy day for everyone! This year's ride features our renowned kosher food at all rest stops and improved road markings. Choose from our 100K, 50K and 10K Family Fun routes. Register now at www.sphds.org/foothillcentury. This ride benefits the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School.
More: www.sphds.org/foothillcentury
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Mitzvah Alert II
Project: Backpack
Each year an interfaith group provides backpacks and school supplies to needy children in Livermore. Last year this group delivered more than 900 backpacks. Congregation Beth Emek is donating 40 backpacks filled with supplies for elementary school children as well as supplies to replenish five backpacks of children who received filled packs last year. Every backpack also comes with a discount certificate toward the purchase of school shoes. We need to raise the funds now as the supplies are typically delivered in late June. Each "kit" for an elementary school child costs about $36, double chai. You can contribute by sending a check to Beth Emek with the notation "Backpack Project" in the memo section.
More: Hank Shay
hdshay@comcast.net
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Ready, Set, Draw!
"Israel at 60" Poster Contest
Announcing Beth Emek's "Israel at 60" poster contest! Help Beth Emek celebrate Israel's 60th Birthday in style - all Beth Emek students are invited to create a poster for "Israel at 60", wishing Israel a Happy Birthday, telling us something about Israel or showing what Israel means to them. Posters should be returned to the Beth Emek office or the child's Sunday School teacher by Sunday, May 4 and all posters will be proudly displayed at Beth Emek during our "Israel at 60" weekend, May 9 - 11. Prizes will be awarded by age group: preschool, grades K - 2, grades 3 - 5 and grades 6 -7; each participant should write his or her name, grade and telephone number on the back of the poster.
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Got Haggadot?
The Beth Emek Gift Shop has a variety of Haggadot just in time for your Passover Seder. Check them out in the Beth Emek office.
More: Ellen Kiefer
925.931.1055 x10
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Oneg Hosts Needed for the following dates:
May 30
Jun 13
Jun 20
Jun 27
If you would like to host an oneg on any of these days, please contact Ellen Kiefer at 925.931.1055 x10.
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- - - - - - SCHOOL ZONE - - - - -
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We have our regular schedule on Wednesday, Apr 16. There is no school from Apr 20 - 27 for our Passover break.
