PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Greetings to all,
Summer is finally here, and with it comes renewed energy, mission, and spirit in our congregation. As you will read in this newsletter we are making great progress towards our goals. Our affiliation with the Reconstructing Judaism movement has solidified and is already bearing fruit in terms of support for our programs. We have recruited a wonderful new rabbi, Yossi Feintuch who will be leading our High Holiday services this fall. His visit here to lead a Shabbaton this spring was universally acclaimed by all who were fortunate enough to attend. Rabbi Yossi and his wife Judy will then be moving to Bend later this year to assume his ongoing duties as of January. We plan to honor the retirements of Rabbi Jay and Judy Shupack with an event on October 13th at the shul, so please hold the date on your calendars. Details to follow soon.
Your board is growing with enthusiastic, committed, talented new board members volunteering their time and energy to join us. We welcome our new treasurer Mark Katzman. Mark is taking over from long-serving treasurer and board member Steven Foster-Wexler who is retiring from board service to devote more time to work and family. We thank Steven for his tireless efforts. Mark’s prior experience as an attorney and synagogue executive director will be invaluable. We also welcome Cynde Magidson who has graciously offered to chair our membership committee. Cynde, together with able assistance from husband Steve, brings new energy and vision to the board. We are fortunate to have them both on the team. Alice Huskey who previously chaired the membership committee is now freed up to move into the important role of Vice President. Alice’s long history with the congregation, perspective, boundless energy and organizational skills make her an ideal partner for me as we embark on the exciting transition to our community’s next chapter. Also joining the board as an at-large member is Judy Arbetter. Judy has been co-chair of the affiliation and rabbi search committee which did a fantastic job under her leadership together with co-chair David Coutin, MD, and prior to that, Doria Raetz. Welcome Judy! Secretary Delia Kirsch, and at-large members Ellyce Whalen and Lester Friedman continue on in their most appreciated service to the board and community. We thank you all!
The board is in the process of organizing a Security Committee to coordinate the important work of making sure our shul is safe, secure, and peaceful. We encourage any member who has an interest to please contact me or any board member. Experience in this area is helpful but not a requirement to participate. We will be working together with local, state, federal, and private agencies to assess our needs and implement prudent measures scaled to our needs and resources.
Inez Shapiro has been the editor of this newsletter since taking over from Shari Adams who helped us restart this much needed communication. Inez has done a wonderful job collating, editing, and overseeing the publication but now needs to devote more time to her growing family needs. We are all very grateful for her efforts on behalf of all of us. Now we need to find the next editor to continue this important activity. Please consider whether YOU could assume this role for YOUR congregation.
Finally, I want to express my thanks to the community for demonstrating your confidence by electing me to another term as your President. After two years in this role, I thought it was time to step aside and pass the torch to a new leader. So did my wife Liz! The congregation’s annual general meeting held Sunday, June 30th at the shul was a success with good attendance and active participation. Members of the board and the larger community convinced me (us) that it would be better if I continued for another term in order to facilitate the transition to the new rabbi and other ongoing matters. With the able assistance of VP Alice Huskey and the support of you, your board, and most of all Liz, I will do my best to achieve our mutual goals, and still finish my chores at home.
Have a wonderful summer!
Ron
HIGH HOLIDAYS
We are so grateful and happy to share that Rabbi Yossi Feintuch will be officiating our High Holiday services this September and October!
Services will include Erev Rosh Hashanah on Sunday, September 29 and Rosh Hashanah on Monday, September 30th from 10 – 1 and Tashlich later that day.
Kol Nidre will be on Wednesday, October 9th and Yom Kippur on Thursday, October 10th.
More details to follow, but Rabbi Yossi has many parts to be filled for community participation and honors to assign. If you are planning to be at one or more of these services, please let Alice Huskey know if you are willing to be assigned an honor or reading in English or take on preparing a Torah reading—she will be help coordinate the “Parts Department” in honor of her mentor, Monroe Weinberg. ahuskey46@gmail.com or 541-815-4912
SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM RABBI JAY
Dear Community,
The 16-year home of the Tapper Family (Anouk, Jon, Forest and Snow) tragically burned down on July 4th. They want everyone to know they are all well and their insurance is taking care of things so far. They are very grateful that no one was harmed, and many things are replaceable.
Snow plans to begin Summit High School this Fall, and they are seeking to rent an unfurnished home on the West Side of Bend. If you have any leads on an unfurnished home for them, please send them an e-mail at taprider@gmail.com
You can send any correspondence to their address at:
3154 Craftsman Drive, Bend OR 97703
Love, Prayers, cards, notes of encouragement, (perhaps an invitation to Dinner) would all be welcome.
Sent With Blessings,
Rabbi Jay
REFUAH SHLEMA
We wish a speedy and complete recovery to Carol Palmer, Mark Katzman and Delia Kirsch.
MEMBERSHIP
A Basket of Opportunities
by: Steve Magidson
The winds of change are coming to JCCO amidst an air of anticipation. After nearly two decades of thoughtful religious, spiritual, cultural, educational and community leadership, Rabbi Jay is retiring and, along with Judy, is preparing for the next phase of their life together. In the words of the traditional Irish blessing, our wish to Rabbi Jay and Judy; “May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.”
The winds of change, indeed. In addition to our new affiliation with the Reconstructing Judaism movement, we look forward to Rabbi Yossi Feintuch joining JCCO as our new Rabbi. Rabbi Yossi was featured in our April newsletter and I encourage all of you to check that out to learn more about him.
Rabbi Yossi and his wife, Judy, will be here for the High Holy Days, and he will lead us in both the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. Rabbi Yossi and Judy plan to return in January 2020 to take up his new rabbinical role.
So, what about the “Basket of Opportunities”, you ask? With our new affiliation and Rabbi, changes will be coming to JCCO. At our recent, and well-attended, annual meeting, there was a lot of lively and spirited discussion with, as you might expect, lots of great ideas coming from virtually every member in attendance. Opportunities abound. Energy was high. It was great to see and hear.
Towards the end of the meeting, I suddenly realized that what we, as a congregation, have before us is nothing less than an amazing “Basket of Opportunities.” Opportunities such as the ones being presented to us do not come along often, and we should not be so cavalier as to take them lightly. We have opportunities that we can imagine, and opportunities that, until we move further down the road of transition, we cannot yet imagine. But the opportunities exist, nonetheless.
It would be easy to sit back and say, “Wow, now that Rabbi Yossi (and Judy) are coming, he (or they) will take care of everything and all will be good.” I encourage us all to put that thought out of our heads. We are a congregation. We are a community. The key word here is “We”.
“We” can sit back and hope that all of the opportunities we have before us will somehow “magically” come to fruition. “We” can leave it to Rabbi Yosi and Judy to do it all for us. Or, “We” can take it upon ourselves, along with Rabbi Yossi and Judy to act upon these opportunities, to think of and realize even more opportunities, and to make them real. Which path do you think will lead to success?
I encourage each of you reading this (as well as me writing this) to understand that we all have some combination of Time, Talent, and Treasure to offer. Become engaged. Think of how you, even in a small way, can help JCCO grow our congregation and realize our collective dreams.
Don’t sit back. Step forward. The “Basket of Opportunities” is here. What happens to these opportunities is up to each of us. We are, indeed, in an enviable position. Let’s make the most of it.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
Newsletter Editor: Assembles the bimonthly newsletter by collecting, collating, and editing submitted articles. The draft newsletter is then sent on for graphical formatting and publication by an experienced professional. Working knowledge of the English language helpful! Requires only basic computer skills with Word documents and e-mail, and a few flexible hours of your time at home every other month. Keep your community informed and connected!
Security Committee Member: Help organize and participate in our new security committee. Be a part of ensuring the safety and security of our community. Do this for your family, friends, and all our children. You can make a difference!
Education Committee: We still need an education committee chair person (or persons) to participate in the ongoing (and extremely important) Sunday School program. The religious education of our Jewish youth is vital to the growth, strength, and future of the Jewish community.
**Please contact any board member to volunteer for any of these important positions.
AFFILIATION AND RABBI SEARCH
After much work, along with the guidance of the Reconstructionist Movement “Mother Ship”, we’ve made an offer of employment to Rabbi Yossi Feintuch. As you know, Rabbi Yossi and his wife Judy were here for a Shabbaton weekend in May. His warm personality, experience, and knowledge of the Torah won us all over. The search committee received universally positive references with regard to Rabbi Yossi’s service.
Rabbi Yossi is an ordained Reform rabbi with a significant Reconstructionist background. He has been at his current Reconstructionist congregation in Ohio for over 18 years and has extensive experience in academic programming and outreach. He has a PhD in American History from Emory University, and an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the Hebrew Union College. The Search Committee and the Board of Shalom Bayit were very pleased with Rabbi Yossi’s caliber and drive, as well as his mindfulness and deep spirituality.
The business of contract negotiation with Rabbi Yossi is in the process of being completed. We have an agreement regarding the high holidays and are looking forward to having Rabbi Yossi lead Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services this September.
Rabbi Jay and Rebbetzin Judy are beginning their plans of a well-earned retirement and the tributes from our congregation have already begun with a BBQ held in early June attended by many who Rabbi presided over their Bar/Bat Mitvah or married. A second event is planned for October 13. The specific information will be sent out soon.
We are so grateful to Rabbi Jay and Rebbetzin Judy for all their love and guidance which has made possible the ability to attract another warm and knowledgeable Rabbi Yossi and his wife Judy to lead us into the next chapter.
David B. Coutin, MD
EDITOR’S MESSAGE
Dear Friends,
It has been an honor to serve as the newsletter editor for the last eight months. As Ron mentioned, I will be turning this position over to someone who ‘feels the call’ to serve in this capacity. For the sake of transition, I will be available to ‘train’ the next editor and provide the template. I want to personally thank Ron for taking on the challenge of moving our congregation forward, you are so appreciated!
We welcome you to share your news with the Jewish community. You may email the newsletter editor at newsletter@jccobend.com. Any submissions are encouraged; some topics may be submitted to the Board for approval.
B’Shalom, Inez Shapiro
HOME SEARCH FOR RABBI YOSSI AND JUDY
Rabbi Yossi and his wife, Judy, will be making their move to Central Oregon in January 2020. We’re starting a search on their behalf for a rental property that will adequately fit their needs. Please find below their requirements and notify me if you know of something that might work.
Feel free to pass this request on to anyone you think might be able to help.
General Criteria:
· 2-3 bedrooms
· Fenced yard
· Agreeable to 3 well behaved/trained dogs. These are family friendly dogs.
· Does NOT have to be in Bend, will consider opportunities in outlying areas.
Thanks,
Liz Eiting
lizeiting@gmail.com
SUPPORT SHALOM BAYIT/JCCO
How to support Shalom Bayit/JCCO through Amazon smile?
Change Your AmazonSmile Charitable Organization
1. Sign in to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser.
2. From your desktop, go to Your Account from the navigation at the top of any page, and then select the option to Change your Charity. …
3. Select Shalom Bayit/JCCO to support.
And then SHOP, SHOP, SHOP!
If there was ever a “win, win” situation, this is it! …Ellyce
Another opportunity to support Shalom Bayit while you shop!
Link your Fred Meyer rewards card to Shalom Bayit (instructions below) and Fred Meyer will make a donation for every qualified product you purchase. What a convenient way to help your shul…Ellyce
Are you a Fred Meyer Customer?
You are now able to link your Rewards Card to your favorite nonprofit by following the link below. Whenever you use your Rewards Card when shopping at Freddy’s, you will be helping that organization earn a donation from Fred Meyer. If you do not have a Rewards Card, you can sign up for one at the Customer Service Desk of any Fred Meyer store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Link your Rewards Card now
PERSONAL REQUEST from Shari Adams
If anyone is going to SE Portland (Reed College) in a vehicle large enough for an xl-twin (38×80) mattress and/or box spring please let me know. Shari.adams@aol.com
JCCO BOARD
President: Ron Schutz president@jccobend.com
Vice President: Alice Huskey ahuskey46@gmail.com
Treasurer: Mark Katzman finance@jccobend.com
Secretary: Delia Kirsch delkirs@gmail.com
Membership: Cynde & Steve Magidson membership@jccobend.com
Past President: Ben Lindner americanrancher@gmail.com
Members at Large:
Lester Friedman lfriedman@coldwellbanker.com
Doria Raetz rbraetz@gmail.com
Ellyce Whalen ellyce2009@hotmail.com
Judy Arbetter stillpnt@mac.com
Education Committee Chair: vacant