The TBI Dream Auction Is Around the Corner!You can RSVP here for this fun-filled and delicious fundraiser! And if you’ve got a business or service, a vacation home, or tickets to a sporting event or theater to donate, click here.
Dues Task Force UpdateWith unanimous approval by all those who attended the congregational meeting, we have adopted a new membership model to better align TBI’s finances with our values and provide more transparency. This new financing model has been adopted by many Reconstructionist and other synagogues throughout the United States in response to changing social and financial realities. The new financing model will go into effect for our new fiscal year, which begins July 2019. At that time, each member household will be asked to determine for itself the annual membership contribution it will make, based on the member household’s circumstances and TBI’s needs. No one is telling you how much you “should” contribute, but you must contribute to be a member. Continue reading here. . .
From the RabbiPlease join me! I know that this is a busy time for all of us, but I want to point out three programs this week that are exciting and dear to my heart. Between them, they speak to the intellect, the activist, and the spirit, and I hope that you’ll consider joining me for at least one, if not more. Tonight, Dr. Joshua Greene, a renowned Harvard psychologist, will speak to us remotely about how we construct morality, our obligations to others, and the decisions about who is “us” (vs. “them”). I’ll be teaching a little, as well. This Friday night Pablo Alvarez, an environmental justice organizer with Beyond Toxics and the NAACP, will be guest speaker for our annual Martin Luther King Jr. weekend Shabbat service. He will share some of his story and vision for the role communities like ours can play in pursuing environmental justice. And Sunday evening is our Intergenerational Tu B’Shevat Seder. Adults and children will be together some of the time and in separate tracks some of the time. We’ll have discussion, chanting, dancing and, of course, much eating of fruit and nuts–all in about an hour. Show your love of trees and community and join us!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat SpeakerPablo Alvarez, Environmental Justice Community Organizer, from Beyond Toxics and the Eugene-Springfield NAACP, will be our guest speaker at Erev Shabbat Services, Friday, January 18, 7:30 pm.
Intergenerational Tu B’Shvat Dessert Seder, Sunday, January 20, 6:30 pm. A little bit of learning, a little bit of singing, a little bit of noshing on fruit to celebrate the transition from winter to spring. Kid activities and adult conversation will both be facilitated.
Understanding Shabbat Services: Mapping the Liturgy and Flow of the Services
with Rabbi Ruhi Sophia
Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30 pm. Next class is January 23rd. FREE. Donations accepted.
This 4-session series will offer a survey of the liturgy and cover the answers to some meta questions: How are Shabbat services different from weekday services? Why are evening services so different from morning services? What is all this liturgy? Come to all of them, or drop in on the ones that interest you most. Click here for details.
Neighborhood Tea Party & Open House, Saturday, January 26th, 4:00 – 5:30 pm. All residents of Amazon neighborhood are invited for Tea at TBI. Come help welcome and get to know our neighbors. Click the invitation for more details.
EXPLORING JUDAISM: Hebrew Reading Crash Course
with Oriana Kahn Hurwit
Thursdays, February 7 – March 7, 7:00-8:30 pm
This 5-week course is designed for those with little or no background in Hebrew and concentrates on teaching the Hebrew alphabet and reading skills. Materials provided. FREE. Pre-registration required by February 1 here.
TBI’s queer community is growing!
We happily welcome LGBTQ+ friends and allies of all ages. Help bridge the friendship gap and build intersectional community across gender, racial, and generational lines. Come join in our first Intergenerational Queer Havdalah, Saturday, February 9, 2019, 6:00 to 8:00 pm at TBI.
Hosted by Queer Chavurah founding member Sally Sheklow and Talmud Torah teacher Ezra Samuels and sponsored by TBI’s Queer Chavurah. We’ll start the evening off with “speed-friending,” do a Havdalah ceremony to close out Shabbat, and then cook and eat a yummy falafel dinner together.
This event is free of charge, so just come and have a good time! Please let us know if you plan to attend so we can be sure to have enough food for everyone. Sign up here.
Mark your calendar for the TBI Dream Auction! Sunday, March 3, at 5:00 pm. And if you’ve got a business or service, a vacation home, sports event, or theater tickets to donate, click here.
TBI is hiring a Director of Community Education. View the job description and application instructions here.
Sign Language Interpretation 
Some services and events have interpreters scheduled. Please notify the office if you would like interpretation at additional upcoming services or events.
Sign up here to host an oneg following Erev Shabbat services! Share the spirit of our community, greet friends, meet new friends. Celebrate a milestone, honor a family member or friend, remember a loved one. Co-host with someone. Life is busy, so keep it simple. Cookies and fruit is all that’s needed! Instructions and reminders provided. Questions? Contact Jody in the office.
You can find the High Holiday services, The Purim Shpiel, This American Jewish Life talks by TBI members, and more. Full HD videos and live streaming where available.
