This Coming Week and Shabbat at the UJC
December 3 - 9, 2006 / 12 - 18 Kislev 5767

This coming week and Shabbat:

Sunday, December 3
Rabbi's Sunday Seminar: "The Book of Psalms" 10 a.m.

Monday, December 4
Sisterhood “Wedding” Fundraising Planning Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Adult Choir 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 5
Executive Meeting 6:45 p.m.
Rosh Hodesh Meeting 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 7
Jewish Study Group 10:30 a.m.

Friday, December 8
Torah Study 12:00 noon
Shabbat Tefillah 7:30 p.m.
Tonight’s Oneg is sponsored by SWYC.

Saturday, December 9
Torah Study 8:45 a.m.
Shabbat service 10:00 a.m.

Upcoming Events


Rabbi Librach's Sunday Seminars

Rabbi’s Sunday Seminars will resume in December from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. The topic on Sunday, December 10 will be "Ruth vs Esther".


Chanukah celebration

Come one, come all, to the Ultimate Joyous Chanukah at the UJC on Friday, December 15th.
5:50 – meet at the Haspel Menorah.
6:00 p.m. – Dinner catered by Anat Schneider.
7:30 – Family Shabbat Service.

Please bring: Chanukkiah (menorah) to light at your dinner table plus 2 candles and a pre-plattered dessert for the Oneg.

Cost: $18/adult or $10/child. RSVP to the UJC office by Friday, December 8th.


Our Daily Bread Food Pantry

Next Date: Monday Dec. 18 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
If you would like to volunteer for next time, leave a message for Denise Maleh at 748-3355.


The overflow shelter is looking for volunteers

When the other homeless shelters fill up the overflow are sent to the First Congregational Church. It is truly a mitzvah you can do in your sleep! It may not be the most comfortable night’s sleep you’ve ever had but the gratitude of the clients more than makes up for that.

We have traditionally helped out during Christmas week and we are looking for volunteers again for that week in addition to other nights.

As in the past you will be expected to arrive at the church at 9 p.m. and stay until 6 a.m. On the nights we schedule we will have 2 volunteers, if you are a new volunteer we will make every effort to put you with someone who has done it before.

To volunteer or for more information, please contact Nancy Marcus at 203-748-4163 or Kathy Bardes (1st Cong. Church) at 203-798-1052.


You're invited to a wedding!

The Sisterhood and Brotherhood are proud to announce the wedding of Sheila Matilda Schwartzbergerfieldmanstein to Poindexter Paul Plotka on Saturday, February 24, at 7:00 p.m. Your invitation will be in the December Shofar. If you want to sit closer to the bride's table (or further from it), you can print out your invitation and send it in sooner.


Auction!

The UJC Goods and Services Auction has been postponed until March 3, 2007. If you have goods or services to contribute, contact Bonnie and Alan Wunsch at auction@unitedjewishcenter.org or call (203) 730-8530.


Adult Bar and Bat Mitzvah

“Whenever I am at a 13 year old’s bar or bat mitzvah I feel a little wistful that I never had one. I feel that I have missed out on one of the most gratifying moments of Jewish life. Oh well, what’s past is past—gone forever.”

NOT SO!!!!!

If the above sentiment sounds like you or someone you know, let us give you the good news. Whatever your age or stage in life you now can have that bar or bat mitzvah. You can make up for lost time, enjoy the process and reap the spiritual fulfillment . . . . and maybe a fountain pen as well!

The United Jewish Center knows that many of our Jewish friends and neighbors, non-members too and members of our congregation want to take part in adult classes for bar and bat mitzvah. Rabbi Librach and Cantor Kessler will be convening a group as soon as we hear from you, so together we can determine time, day, etc.

It will not be too difficult to master (if a 13 year old can do it, so can you!) And it will lead to the rite of passage you thought you had missed out on.

START ON SOMETHING YOU HAVE WANTED TO DO FOR AGES…

JUST DO IT!!!!

Call the United Jewish Center at 203-748-3355 or e-mail to Office@Unitedjewishcenter.org and we will get back to you.

Note: Snowbirds will not be excluded — arrangements will be made.

Another gift to the Jewish communitiy from the Robert S. Young Foundation


In the community

Jewish Federation's NEW Website
Visit http://www.thejf.org to see Israel News, Community Calendar, Local Jewish Resources, Worldwide Jewish News, Jewish Life Resource, Jewish Federation news, Federation Campaign e-Giving, registration for the Learning Exchange, reservations for Jewish Federation events AND MORE!!

The news will be an automatic feed with frequent updates. Our goal is for the site to be your destination for all Jewish information including links to many local and worldwide Jewish resources. All area synagogues and local Jewish organizations are encouraged to check the new website's Community Calendar prior to scheduling any events that are open to the community to prevent conflicts. Area synagogues and local Jewish organizations are encouraged to submit upcoming events to be posted on the community calendar and to submit news items, photos and announcements for posting on the website. Please submit your items to info@thejf.org.


Message from Mazon:

MAZON has opened a fund dedicated to disaster relief. To find out more about MAZON's efforts or to donate online, visit us at www.mazon.org, or call us at (310) 442-0020.

Bikur Holim

If you or a loved one is ailing - at home or in the hospital - and you would like a phone call or visit, please call and leave a message on our clergy’s voicemail(s). Danbury Hospital’s security concerns mean that we may not find out in a timely manner.

Taste of Torah: Vayishlach – Genesis 32:4-36:43

This translation was taken from the JPS Tanakh

Genesis 35: 9-15

9 God appeared again to Jacob on his arrival from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him.
10 God said to him, "You whose name is Jacob, you shall be called Jacob no more, But Israel shall be your name." Thus He named him Israel.
11 And God said to him, "I am El Shaddai. Be fertile and increase; A nation, yea an assembly of nations, shall descend from you. Kings shall issue from your loins.
12 The land that I assigned to Abraham and Isaac I assign to you; And to your offspring to come will I assign the land."
13 God parted from him at the spot where He had spoken to him;
14 and Jacob set up a pillar at the site where He had spoken to him, a pillar of stone, and he offered a libation on it and poured oil upon it.
15 Jacob gave the site, where God had spoken to him, the name of Bethel.