This is a very exciting time for all of us at Temple Beth Shalom, with the New Year and the start of our Hebrew and Religious School.  It is wonderful to see the families and have children in our Temple, for they are our future and the future of Judaism.  A few of our Religious School parents are starting a Chavurah, if you have children in the school and are interested let me know.

At the Temple open house, I was approached by a new member who is interested in joining a group for couples and I told her that we need to start a new one and if she knows of any other Temple members who are interested, we will start one.  About 10 minutes later another couple who is also new to the Temple approached me wanting to join a group; I introduced both couples and it's a start.  If you are interested in that group, also let me know.

For the last couple years there has been some interest in a group for single women which we have been unsuccessful at forming, so let's try again.  If you are wondering who I am, my name is Sandy Shedroff and I am the Chavurah Chairperson.  You can reach me by phone or by email shshedroff@aol.com.  If you send me an email, please put Chavurah in the subject area.  I usually delete emails with blank subjects especially if I don't know the sender.  Over the course of the year, I have had requests from individuals who want a Chavurah.  Since all of the existing ones are at capacity, it takes time to form new ones, please be patient.

          For those of you who are having trouble hearing the Sabbath Service, we have ear phones that will allow you to hear the Services much better.  Ask for them when you come to the Temple on Friday nights or for any other Temple function.  Ask any of the ushers.

          Don't be bashful.  It can make a world of difference in your enjoyment of anything if you can hear it distinctly.

Call me and I will tell you the next time we will be changing the window so you can share the laughs we have had doing this.

For those of you who have not seen the holiday display, please do so.  Most everything is for sale in the gift shop and Judy will be thrilled to sell it to you and the Temple will benefit from the proceeds.

You all are bright , imaginative people, so share some of that with us.

Call me for more information.

By the time you read this Pesach will almost be here.  On behalf of the Temple Beth Shalom Brotherhood we wish you a Happy Pesach.  In the mail you should have received a small box with a yellow Yom HaShoah candle, lighting instructions and a donation envelope.  Please light the candle according to the enclosed instructions and please return the envelope with your donation to Brotherhood.

May 10th is Mothers Day and again your Brotherhood is planning another great time for all at our annual picnic.  May 24th is our next Sunday morning breakfast.  Our speaker will be economist Wayne Stutzer.

March was another busy month of setting up the social hall and auditorium for the many functions and activities at the Temple.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who helped to complete these functions in a timely manner.

If you are not an active part of your Brotherhood, I invite you to become part of this fine organization.

.All the ladies who joined us for our Paid Up Luncheon had an enjoyable afternoon.  Special thanks to Ruth Oppenheimer for taking the reservations.

Our annual Women's Seder will be held on Monday, April 6 at 12:00.  (See Shofar for further information.)

For your information the following is a list of Officers and Board Members for 2009.

Thank you to Lillie Meth and her committee for all their hard work.

Yolanda Schatz - President

Barbara Moss - V.P. Administration

Irene Smith - VP Membership

Lee Malkin, Sandy Shedroff - Co VP - Program

Betty Pearlman - Treasurer

Shari Young - Recording Secretary

Naomi Swickle - Corr. Secretary

Ruth Oppenheimer - Fin. Secretary

Lillie Meth - Director

Florence Sunkin - Director

Judy Fagen - Temple Planning Calendar

Jan Krauss - Sunshine

Judy Fagen - Judaica Shop

Maxine Daitzman - Bima Flowers and Food Basket

Brenda Bochner and Joni Sherman - Bereavement Assistants

Please mark your calendar for Installation of Officers to be held on Monday, May 18 at 12:00.

I hope you will join us at Sisterhood events.

WEST SIDE FOOD BANK

We have been together since the turn of the century.  We volunteer to help the needy in our community.  We have formed a cohesive group that gives us the satisfaction of knowing we are doing a mitzvah as well as meeting people and making long-lasting friendships.  It is thus a win-win situation and that makes it a real winner.

We meet every Tuesday at noon and work until three.  We have a half hour break when we eat and schmooze.  We sort donated food, package produce, make up boxes of food for people who come directly to the food bank and do any other job that comes up.

I especially like that we work as a team and can see the results of our work in terms of how much we have actually accomplished.  For example, we have bagged tons of potatoes in one three-hour shift.

It makes me proud to be a part of this group of really nice people who work hard without any reward other than the satisfaction that comes from helping your fellow man.

The Food Bank is located on Elm Street east of Dysart Road between Bell Road and Grand Ave.

I would like to invite all congregants who want to get involved in helping their community and meeting new people to give me a call  e-mail me at jackbyp@cox.net for further information.  I extend a special invitation to our newer members.

Respectfully submitted by

For all the details, call Jack Pearlman.

 The Temple book sale gave me another opportunity to find additional books for your enjoyment.

The Detroit Free Press had this to say, "Reading a good thriller is very much like taking a great vacation: half the fun is getting there.  Faye Kellerman is one heck of a tour guide."

3. Shalom, Friend:  The Life and Legacy of Yitzhak Rabin (799 HO) written by the reporters and editors of the Jerusalem Report, and edited by David Horovitz, managing editor of the Report.

This book traces the birth of Yitzhak Rabin in Jerusalem in 1922 to his assassination on November 4, 1995.  It concludes with some fascinating events that happened after the assassination.

4.  A 3rd serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul (LARGE PRINT)  compiled and edited by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.

This group of stories covers eight topics:  love, parenting, teaching and learning, death and dying, a matter of perspective, a matter of attitude, overcoming obstacles, and eclectic wisdom.  Some stories are inspirational, some sad, some funny, but all very interesting - so interesting it is difficult to put the book down.

5.  Adventures In Jewish Cooking (699 ED)  by Rosabelle Edlin and Shushannah Spector.

This cookbook has recipes from all over the world: from Jews who originated in Poland, Russia, Germany, Hungary, Romania, etc., Friday night dinner, the holidays and the festivals.

Enjoy these "new" books in our library.

You can help Temple Beth Shalom by purchasing your next books through this link, also found on the Library page.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Enclosed please find my donation to be applied to the _______________Fund in the amount of $_______

Melvin Levin Operating Fund,  Hackel BeautificationFund, Hy Mandell Biblical GardenFund, Babette Himler EducationFund, Endowment Fund, Edith Mattal Memorial LibraryFund, Choir/Music Fund,  Prayer Book Fund,  Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, Traditional or Torah Fund

In Honor of ____________________________In Memory of _______________________________

 Flowers $30 _______ or  Food Basket $25 _______