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.
Sunday, July 6
Dedication of Herb Garden 10:00 a.m.
Monday, July 7
Rosh Hodesh 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 8
Board of Trustees Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 10
Jewish Study Group 10:30 a.m.
Friday, July 11
Torah Study 12:00 noon
Shabbat Evening Tefillah 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 12
Shabbat Morning Tefillah 10:00 a.m.
Havdalah Service 7:30 p.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.
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 Balak (Numbers 22:2 - 25:9) will be read on Saturday, July 12, 2008.
Chapter 22
21 When he arose in the morning, Balaam saddled his ass and departed with the Moabite dignitaries. 22 But God was incensed at his going; so an angel of the Lord placed himself in his way as an adversary. He was riding on his she-ass, with his two servants alongside, 23 when the ass caught sight of the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. The ass swerved from the road and went into the fields; and Balaam beat the ass to turn her back onto the road. 24 The angel of the Lord then stationed himself in a lane between the vineyards, with a fence on either side. 25 The ass, seeing the angel of the Lord, pressed herself against the wall and squeezed Balaam's foot against the wall; so he beat her again. 26 Once more the angel of the Lord moved forward and stationed himself on a spot so narrow that there was no room to swerve right or left. 27 When the ass now saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam was furious and beat the ass with his stick. 28 Then the Lord opened the ass's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?" 29 Balaam said to the ass, "You have made a mockery of me! If I had a sword with me, I'd kill you." 30 The ass said to Balaam, "Look, I am the ass that you have been riding all along until this day! Have I been in the habit of doing thus to you?" And he answered, "No." 31 Then the Lord uncovered Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, his drawn sword in his hand; thereupon he bowed right down to the ground. 32 The angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you beaten your ass these three times? It is I who came out as an adversary, for the errand is obnoxious to me. 33 And when the ass saw me, she shied away because of me those three times. If she had not shied away from me, you are the one I should have killed, while sparing her." 34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I erred because I did not know that you were standing in my way. If you still disapprove, I will turn back." 35 But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with the men. But you must say nothing except what I tell you." So Balaam went on with Balak's dignitaries.
© 2008 The United Jewish Center of Danbury
141 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810
203-748-3355