As all of you know, this year we presented another Yom Kippur Appeal and asked for your donations. What many of you may not realize is that we fell short, not just of our goal, but we also fell short of what we received in the previous year’s YK Appeal.
At November’s Board meeting it was announced that there is a High Holy Day Challenge. There is an anonymous donor who is willing to match dollar for dollar, up to $10,000 - if we can raise that money. At present, we have only received $2,417.00 in donations since the Board meeting towards this special challenge. We need every congregant to participate and send in their donation, no matter what the amount may be. Even if you have already made a donation, perhaps you can send a second donation. Maybe a family member can’t think of what holiday gift to buy for you….why not ask them to make a donation in your honor….it’s guaranteed to make everyone feel good!
Send your donation to the office today or call with your credit card information! Time is running out!
Michael Marcus
UJC Board President
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.
Sunday, December 10
Rabbi's Sunday Seminar: "Ruth vs Esther" 10 a.m.
Monday, December 11
Adult Choir 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 12
Board of Trustees 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 13
Social Action Meeting 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 14
Jewish Study Group 10:30 a.m.
Friday, December 15
Torah Study 12:00 noon
Chanukkah Celebration beginning at 5:50 p.m.
Shabbat Tefillah 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 16
Torah Study 8:45 a.m.
Shabbat service 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, December 17
Rabbi’s Sunday Seminar 10-11:30 a.m. (Topic: Song of Songs)
Youth Group Chanukah Celebration 11:45 a.m.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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
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.
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.
This translation was taken from the JPS Tanakh
Zechariah 4:1-7
1 The angel who talked with me came back and woke me as a man is wakened from sleep. 2 He said to me, "What do you see?" And I answered, "I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl above it. The lamps on it are seven in number, and the lamps above it have seven pipes; 3 and by it are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and one on its left." 4 I, in turn, asked the angel who talked with me, "What do those things mean, my lord?" 5 "Do you not know what those things mean?" asked the angel who talked with me; and I said, "No, my lord." 6 Then he explained to me as follows:
"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit--said the Lord of Hosts. 7 Whoever you are, O great mountain in the path of Zerubbabel, turn into level ground! For he shall produce that excellent stone; it shall be greeted with shouts of 'Beautiful! Beautiful!'"