Sunday, June 29
50's Ice Cream Social and Raffle 6:30 p.m.
Monday, June 30
UJC Staff volunteers at the St. James Food Pantry 10-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, July 1
Executive Committee Meeting 6:45 p.m.
Thursday, July 3
Jewish Study Group 10:30 a.m.
Friday, July 4
Happy Independence Day!
Office closed.
NO Torah Study today
Shabbat Evening Tefillah 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 5
NO Torah Study today
Shabbat Morning Tefillah 10:00 a.m.
June 19, 2008
United Jewish Communities/the Federations of North America today launched a relief effort for victims of natural disasters, including floods and tornadoes, that have wreaked havoc in the central United States since mid-May. To donate, please click here.
The UJC Central U.S. Disaster Relief Fund -- which will include a mailbox for accepting checks and an online donation form -- will help victims in the Jewish and general populations, with funds going to local communities that have been affected by natural disasters. No administrative costs will be deducted from funds raised.
To date flooding caused by storms and tornadoes has ravaged states including Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Mississippi and Wisconsin. UJC staff is working with federations and the UJC Network of Independent Communities to assess the impact on members of the community and on property. UJC continues to collaborate with federations and their constituent agencies such as Hillel, Jewish Community Relations Councils, Jewish Family Services, Jewish Community Centers and a variety of religious movements to monitor the situation, determine new and emerging needs and the appropriate response. As a member of NVOAD (National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster,) UJC continues to monitor the needs of the general community.
In addition to coordinating this continental relief effort, UJC is also encouraging local federations to open their own emergency mailboxes and raise funds directly in order to more closely track their donors, with the understanding that these funds will be forwarded for distribution by the UJC Emergency Committee.
Fred Zimmerman, of Nashville, chair of the UJC Emergency Committee, said UJC has provided critical relief for a wide range of disasters and tragedies, from September 11 to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves, wildfires and storms -- in addition to its ongoing work on behalf of the Jewish people worldwide.
"We're all heartsick at the devastation, and we want everyone affected to know that just as this part of the country helps sustain us, we're going to help sustain them through these disasters." Zimmerman said.
The UJC/Federation system raised than $10 million in response to the Southeast Asia tsunami, which helped the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee deliver critical assistance. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, UJC/Federation raised more than $28 million to help the Jewish and general communities rebuild.
"Those of us not affected are the lucky ones. All we can do is pray for the victims and serve as a vehicle to convene those individuals who want to help by making contributions. Our expertise has enabled us to be responsive on a continental level on so many such occasions lately. We wish the facts were otherwise." added UJC's President and CEO Howard Rieger.
To support the UJC Central U.S. Relief Fund, please click here. If your federation needs a Web banner or other flood-related images to promote the fund to your community Web site and you are a UJCweb client, you can access the images via the central asset library; the images may also be accessed via UJC interoffice here.
Bring the kids!
Everyone is invited to join us for the Raffle Celebration Party this Sunday, June 29th at 6:30 p.m. in the Heyman Auditorium. "Entertainment provided by Ethan Carey." Let's have a party, give away prizes, eat some ice cream, dance a jitterbug and have some fun! See you there!
Admit it -- you've got a lot of shoes in your closet that you don't wear...give them to someone who needs them! The UJC is partnering with Soles 4 Souls to get much needed new and gently used footwear to those in need. Soles 4 Souls is a non-profit organization with a simple mission: to impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes. To date, they have helped donate millions of pairs of shoes to victims of natural disaster (Hurricane Katrina, tsunamis in Asia) as well as to those in poverty stricken areas or situations. It is estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unworn shoes lying in closets -- each one of these shoes can make a tangible difference in someone's life.
Simply bring your donations (please bind each pair together with a rubber band) and deposit in the collection box located at the bottom of the steps near the classrooms. You'll be helping the needy, effortlessly...not to mention gaining closet space! Any questions, please email wweiss@birkenstockusa.com.
Please remember to register your children prior to the July 1, 2008 deadline date. Children will not be registered until all registration papers are submitted along with a $100 deposit per child.
Additional registration fees ($50 per child) will be applied after the July 1st deadline; no exceptions to this additional assessment, including those receiving special financial consideration.
With the exception of preschool, you must be members in good standing (your account must be current) to register for UJC Religious School.
All completed registration papers are to be submitted with your deposit money to the office upstairs. Paperwork and deposits are not to be left with Daryl Bain or Rita Lukchis, please leave these items for Laura Morris, Office Manager.
Your cooperation is appreciated! Have a fabulous summer!
One of the best preschool programs in the Danbury area can be found on Sunday mornings at the UJC Religious School. This pre-kindergarten class of 3 and 4 year olds enjoys an outstanding Let's Experience Judaism Program. Under the talented direction of Sheryl Abelson, the program uses an experiential approach to the Jewish festivals, the synagogue and the Torah. This exciting program is available to both members and non members so please help us spread the word to all your Jewish friends and family in the greater Danbury area. Additional information is available from Daryl Bain, Director of Education at EdDir@UnitedJewishCenter.org or 203-743-1180.
Buy your Scrip cards today and plan for the upcoming events in your life; Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, Confirmation, etc. Scrip cards make the perfect gift!
Go to www.glscrip.com and send a list of what cards (business name, denomination and how many) along with a check to the UJC. This is a great (and 'painless') way to help the UJC fundraise!
Drop your order off the next time you're at services, Religious School or in the building for any reason. The deadline for our next order is Friday, February 15th.
Any questions, contact Bonnie Wunsch at ujcscrip@aol.com or 313-0578.
The UJC and IGive.com have teamed up to make it easy for you to support the UJC -- and it doesn't cost you a penny!
IGive.com's stated mission is "to enable the economic power of individuals to benefit their chosen communities"; their goal is to have a portion of every online transaction benefit causes close to home. IGive has created a shopping portal that allows you to shop at your favorite online sites and stores as you always do; when you make a purchase through IGive's portal, the store donates a percentage of your transaction to the benefit of your choice. It's simple and easy -- you don't have to do anything special, and donations are made in your name.
The list of vendors on IGive's portal is 700 strong and growing; you'll find that all the most popular shopping sites (Amazon, Zappos, Barnes & Noble) are represented, plus a long list of more specialized sites. Most anywhere you shop now, you can shop through IGive.
The UJC is now a registered cause on IGive's portal; all you need to do is register as a user on IGive (it's free!) and identify the UJC as your chosen cause. Then, go about your normal online activities; IGive provides you a regular tally of the donations that have resulted in your transactions, so you can watch your support grow.
Go to www.igive.com to get started -- it's a fast, simple and zero-cost way to raise money for the UJC.
When you shop for toothpaste, shampoo and soap or have travel size toiletries to share remember those who are needy. Personal care items for The Interfaith AIDS ministry and old cell phones, used only for emergencies at the Women's Center, can be left in the basket by the stairs on the first floor.
Social Action projects are funded by your contributions to the United Jewish Center Tikvah Fund and Mazon.
Remember and honor family and friends with a donation to the Tikvah Fund and contribute 3% of the cost of the food at family and synagogue celebrations to help feed the needy at the Dorothy Day Hospitality House soup kitchen.
Remember those less fortunate!
Please don’t forget to drop off person care items for the Interfaith AIDS Ministry and old cell phones for the Women’s Center on the bin in the synagogue in the downstairs hallway.
The Jewish Federation's 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.
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.
Parashat Chukat (Numbers 19:1 - 22:1) will be read on Saturday, July 5, 2008.
Chapter 19
1 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 2 This is the ritual law that the Lord has commanded: Instruct the Israelite people to bring you a red cow without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which no yoke has been laid. 3 You shall give it to Eleazar the priest. It shall be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. 4 Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting. 5 The cow shall be burned in his sight-its hide, flesh, and blood shall be burned, its dung included-6 and the priest shall take cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson stuff, and throw them into the fire consuming the cow. 7 The priest shall wash his garments and bathe his body in water; after that the priest may reenter the camp, but he shall be unclean until evening. 8 He who performed the burning shall also wash his garments in water, bathe his body in water, and be unclean until evening. 9 A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the cow and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place, to be kept for water of lustration for the Israelite community. It is for cleansing. 10 He who gathers up the ashes of the cow shall also wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. This shall be a permanent law for the Israelites and for the strangers who reside among you.
© 2008 The United Jewish Center of Danbury
141 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810
203-748-3355