Help CBD Blanket the Community with Warmeth and Love

Since winter is definitely in the air
Please bring a blanket(s) to share
We’ll donate them to the less fortunate
with lots of love and care
Since winters are cold and hard to bear
New or gently used is fine
Please get them to us on time
Bring to the Thanksgiving Service,
the Hazak Chanukah Party, and
through the winter season
For more information, contact
Seema Cicerone at 408-741-5466

Project Isaiah Update from CBD’s Social Action Committee

I wish you could have been with me when I delivered the clothing to an elementary school in downtown San Jose. The staff was thrilled as will be children who literally have no one pair of socks.

Together we donated more then 200 pairs of socks, about 75 girls underpants and 75 boys underpants. The 18 jackets and sweaters, 10 jeans, dresses etc. will be well used.

To Second Harvest Food Bank we donated 2,207 pounds. The food barrel is in the lobby when ever you care to donate.

It is even more useful to send them a check because they have the ability to buy far more food food per dollar then any of us can do.

Dorothy
Congregation Beth David Social Action Committee.

The Trunk in the CBD lobby is still there to take your donations of clothes, along with the Second Harvest barrel and Toy Drive Box.

Help Feed 66,000 Local Children This Summer: Share Your Lunch Campaign 2009

Second Harvest Food Bank

Share Your Lunch Campaign 2009

We know that hunger doesn’t take a holiday. Second Harvest Food Bank needs your help to feed 66,000 local children this summer, while school is out and subsidized meals are unavailable. You can feed children this summer by supporting the Share Your Lunch program. Making a difference is easy and there are many ways you can support children in need:

• Run a Food and Fund Drive at your place of work, study, or faith – see the great resources we have to promote your drive and enroll online.
• Donate food and funds – $10 feeds 20 children!
• Include us on your Social Networking site and share our message with friends & family.

For more information, contact Michelle Wall, Community Relations and Events Coordinator, at mwall@shfoodbank.com or 408.266.8866 ext. 254.

Purim! Purim! Purim! Purim!

DJ D-Doff spinning

The joyful month of Adar has just begun which means that Purim is just around the corner.  Jews’ Next Dor with some help from Congregation Beth David and our favorite holiday party co-sponsors are bringing you a jammed packed weekend of Purim Festivities! You’ll have plenty of opportunities to get use out of your Purim Costume(s). If you haven’t started planning your Purim costume, consider this your personal invitation to get started now.

We’ll kick off the weekend with an the 2nd annual Purim Party and Costume Contest on Saturday night. Sunday is a double header if you can get up after partying with us, come check out or volunteer at CBD’s Purim Carnival. We recommend stopping by to purchase lunch from Queen Esther’s Kitchen (brought you to us by Sisterhood) serving up Kosher meat treats. If you want to volunteer at the Carnival please contact Cheryl at
EencoderM(“cbdpurim”,”gmail”,”com”)
cbdpurim[at]gmail.com. After the carnival join us for some hamentaschen baking fun. Not to mention leave with a couple dozen hamentashchen perfect for eating or giving away in mishloach manot packages on Monday. Space is limited so be sure to RSVP and let us know your favorite filling! If that wasn’t enough Purim festivites we come to the actual holiday on Monday night. Jews’ Next Dor at 6:30 at Beth David to hear the abriged Megillah. Jews’ Next Dor will be helping with the Purim Skits (Spiel) if you have an acting, singing, dancing, writing, comedy, costume designing skill please let us ASAP. We’re looking for a few more volunteers to help with this. Come to the Megillah reading in costume and with a grogger (noise maker). Beth David also offers a full reading of the megillah in a calmer, quieter setting at 8pm that night. All are welcome to attend either reading. We’re offically meeting as a group to sit together at the 6:30pm reading. CBD is also offering a Pizza dinner at 5:30pm before the Megillah reading. RSVP is required for this.

While that end Jews’ Next Dor’s offical Purim celebrations, CBD’s continue. We encourage all Jewish Young Adults to attend these events at CBD as well. They will be doing a short service and megillah reading at 8am on Tuesday, March 10th, we promise you’ll find at least one Young Adult there, so stop by to say hi. Sisterhood invites you to join them for their 21+ Adult Purim Party on March 14.

Here’s the 411 on all the Jews’ Next Dor Purim celebrations.

• Saturday, March 7, 8pm, Purim Party

  Saturday, March 7, 2009
  8pm – midnight
  Stanford Graduate Community Center
  750 Escondido Road, Stanford, Ca
  21+
  DJ D-Doff
  FREE
  Costume Contest with prizes for Best Female, Best Male, Best Couple and Grand Prize awarded to Best Costume Overall.
  Co-sponsored by Hillel at Stanford Grad and Young Adult Group, Beth Am Roots Collective, Jews’ Next Dor, Congregation Beth David, SVYAD, Israeli Student Organization at Stanford, Oshman Family JCC, Kol Emeth Young Adults.

• Sunday, March 8, 11am-2pm, CBD Purim Carnival with Queen Esther’s Kitchen

  CBD invites you to their annual Purim Carnival featuring carnival games with prizes, arts and crafts, Israeli dancing, a silent auction, library book sale, a Magnes Museum presentation: Shushan and Beyond and of course Queen Esther’s Kitchen by Sisterhood. Delicious homemade Cabbage Rolls, Knishes, Hot Dogs, Hamentaschen and other yummy treats will be available for purchase. View the flier online for more information. They are also looking for volunteers to help sell tickets, staff carnival booths, doing arts and crafts, etc. If you’re willing to lend a hand please contact graubart [at] sbcglobal.net.

• Sunday, March 8, 3pm, Nosh Nosh on a Hamantashen: But First You Have To Bake Them

  Join us at Aleeza’s after CBD’s Purim Carnival to bake hamantashen. We all love the traditional triangular pastry of Purim, so join us in making them. We’ll have traditional and fun fillings, from apricot to cherry chocolate chip. Besides noshing on a hamantash, the best part is you won’t be baking alone. You have to help bake in order to help eat. $10 a person. You’ll leave with a bag full of these yummy holiday treats. RSVP to jewsnextdor[at]beth-david.org for the address and with your favorite filling. Pictures from last year.

• Monday, March 9, 6:30pm, Megillah Reading at Beth David

  Join Jews’ Next Dor (in costume, of course) for Beth David’s abridged Megillah reading and purim spiel. For those that prefer the whole gantze mehillah there will be a reading at 8pm. Beth David will also have a reading with weekday morning service at 8am on Tuesday, March 10.
  Come early to enjoy pizza with the congregation.  Pizza Dinner – 5:30 pm: Join us for dinner before services! Cost: $7.00 (free for tots under 3). Click here to RSVP.(http://www.beth-david.org/rsvp_pizza_megillah.htm)

Tips for Conserving Water

Tips for Conserving Water
http://www.wateruseitwisely.com

There are a number of simple ways to save water – and they all start with us becoming conscious and aware. Small changes = huge savings!

• When rinsing dishes to put in dishwasher, do the rinsing in a water filled sink instead of running the water. If washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.

• Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 1000 gallons a month.

• Use the garbage disposal sparingly.

• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you – not the drain.

• Check your water meter and bill to track your water usage.

• Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.

• Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You’ll save up to 1000 gallons a month.

• Designate one glass for your drinking water each day. This will cut down on the number of times you run your dishwasher.

• Don’t use running water to thaw food.

• Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.

• Turn the water off while you shampoo and condition your hair and you can save more than 50 gallons a week.

• Turn off the water while you shave and you can save more than 100 gallons a week. Same with cleaning teeth.

• When you are washing your hands, don’t let the water run while you lather.

– from your Social Action Committee

“Light It Up!” Hanukkah Party Saturday

Light It Up the (not-yet) Hanukkah Party 2008 featuring DJ-Doff

Don’t forget to bring 2 non-perishable items for Feeding America, ( formerly Second Harvest Food Bank ) they are in great need this year, and it gets you discounted admission to this off-the-hook (not-yet) Hanukkah bash.

EcoJews

I got this from IG of EcoJews of the Bay in my message box, thought I’d share it with everyone, since Congregation Beth David is a pilot synagogue for the the Conservative Movements Greening Initiative, and Jews’ Next Dor is CBD’s Young Adult Group. I hope you find something useful in these tips for a “Green Hanukkah”

EcoJews of the Bay Guide to a Green Chanukah

As we celebrate the Festival of Lights, we remember the miracle of the small cruse of oil which lasted eight days. According to Rabbi Arthur Waskow, the rabbis taught that this “‘conservation of oil’ was a Divine miracle. We might translate this to mean that it is a sacred act, carrying out G-d’s will and following G-d’s lead, for us to conserve oil, trees, water, air – all the strands of the earth.” Not only did the Maccabees fight to preserve the Jewish religion against the Greeks’ attempts to Hellenize our people, but they also kept the menorah burning with a small amount of oil. Why not approach Chanukah in modern times with the same spirit of conservation? We hope you find the following information useful and inspirational for your own interpretation of the holiday.

Check out these online resources and the tips below to green your Chanukah this year.
www.coejl.org/Hanukkah (click here or copy – please note the URL is case specific)
http://rac.org/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=1270&destination=ShowItem
http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/events/hanukkah

Gift Giving

Tread lightly on the earth with these waste-free gift ideas:

• Gift certificates for restaurants, concerts, theaters, iTunes, massage or yoga classes
• Museum or nonprofit organization memberships or donations

• Plant a tree in honor of your friend or family member (Visit www.jnf.org to plant a tree in Israel, or find a tree organization in their community.)
• Give of yourself: certificates for babysitting, cooking dinner, home organizing, help a friend set up recycling/composting, etc.

• Create an electronic cookbook of your favorite recipes and email it to friends
• Donate used items to a local charity such as St. Anthony’s or Goodwill

Make your own gifts or find eco-friendly products at natural food stores and other local merchants. Here are some ideas:

• Steel water bottles
• Locally made natural soaps
• Rechargeable batteries with charger; Hand crank flashlights and radios
• Bake cookies
• Package your own spice, tea or potpourri blends from your garden or the bulk foods aisle
• Creative reuse crafts you can make at home: http://www.recycleworks.org/schools/creativereuse.html
• Create a gift basket of fair trade, organic coffees or teas with a steel travel mug

Visit these green gift events on Sunday, December 14th:

• GAIA’s Annual Holiday Party and Craft Sale at the Ecology Center in Berkeley http://www.ecologycenter.org/calendar/event.php?eventID=27621
• Urban Alliance for Sustainability’s new EcoHolidaySF: Local Shopping Experience www.ecoholidaysf.com

Instead of buying wrapping paper made from trees, try these less wasteful options:

• Old paper items such as maps, posters and the Sunday funnies make for amusing gift wrap.
• Save and reuse wrapping paper and gift bags.

• Japanese furoshiki cloths are a reusable alternative to wrapping paper. Almost any size or type of fabric or fleece — from your craft closet or a store’s bargain bin — will work. For detailed directions on how to fold and tie your own furoshiki, visit http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/060403-5.html.

• Give gifts in reusable shopping totes instead of paper gift bags.

Party Hosting & Cooking

Use reusable or compostable cups, plates and utensils. Avoid plastic and Styrofoam. Ask guests to bring their own reusable ware. Host a white elephant gift swap where no one has to buy new gifts to bring- regift or reuse only! Seek out local, organic ingredients, wine, beer and spirits for holiday meals and parties. Why not make your own applesauce for latkes with this easy recipe?

Ingredients
• 4 apples – peeled, cored and chopped (Good cooking apples include Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Jonathan, Mcintosh and Gravenstein.)

• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Optional: 1/8 tsp nutmeg, juice and peel of half a lemon (use a vegetable peeler to strip 4 lengths)

Instructions
Heat apples and water over medium heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon and optional nutmeg and lemon; heat to boiling. Allow to cool, remove lemon peel then mash with a fork or potato masher.

Take Action- Give the gift of a cleaner planet

Join our friends at Sviva Israel for Hannukah Eco Lights 2008 / 5769

Let’s celebrate Hannukah 5769 by
1) cleaning up the world!
2) sharing Jewish environmental teachings!
3) …and lighting the Hannuka candles!

On the 1st day of Hannukah, pick up 1 piece of litter and put it in the trash can / recycling container.
On the 2nd day of Hannukah, pick up 2 pieces of litter and place them in the trash can / recycling container.
On the 3rd day of Hannukah, pick up 3 items of litter and …well, you get the idea.

In the spirit of Limud U’Maaseh, every day of Hannukah, Eco Lights participants will receive a daily Jewish Environmental teaching from incredible guest writers!

If you pick up one more item each day, then by the end of Hannukah’s 8 days, you will have picked up 36 items of litter and helped make our world a better place to live (If you live in Israel, you get extra points for beautifying Israel – Mitzvat Yishuv Eretz Yisrael ) Every 28 people who join the Hannukah Eco Lights will remove over 1000 pieces of litter from our streets! So invite your friends to join in!

** Please do not pick up the garbage while your Hannuka candles are burning. Use this time to reflect on how even a small flame (or act) can light up the darkness.**

To sign up and receive the daily Jewish Environmental teachings via email or Facebook, visit http://www.svivaisrael.org/programs_en.asp?id=100#eco%20form

Same Great Mission New Name: America’s Second Harvest is now Feeding America

America’s Second Harvest Food Bank Network has changed it’s name to Feeding America. They provide emergency food assistance to more than 25 million Americans in need every year. Learn more from their Hunger Fact Sheet.

Here’s there press release on their rebranding:

This new name best conveys our mission-providing food to Americans living with hunger-and will be supported through expansive public outreach campaigns that will raise awareness of domestic hunger and our work.

Despite a 30-year legacy of fighting hunger, America’s Second Harvest has been confronted with low awareness among the general public, and a broader misunderstanding of domestic hunger. Knowing that true, monumental progress can be made when the public is fully engaged in our cause, we have researched how we can best inspire people. We found that the name America’s Second Harvest was limiting and that a new name was needed to quickly and clearly convey our mission.

Our new name, Feeding America, directly conveys that we are providing access to food for people who need it.  It also communicates the positive power of food to be a catalyst in people’s lives.  In essence, “feeding” serves as a double meaning-both providing food and enriching lives. We look forward to continuing our mission and would like to thank all our constituents who support us.

They are in great need of donations, you can donate online now, and if you’re attending Light It Up! bring food donations with you. For every $1 you donate, Feeding America helps provide 20 pounds of food and grocery products to men, women and children facing hunger in our country. Donate Now!

The Candles that Keep on Giving & Judaica Gift Shop 20% Off Sale

Safed Haukkah Candles

Today’s the day, the “double mitzvah” candles are on sale at Congregation Beth David from 9am-2pm. They are candles made in Safed, Israel that are being sold by Congregation Beth David’s Religious School’s Myuhad/Special Needs Program. The program caters to Jewish special needs children around the South Bay. These candles will do a third mitzvah when you use them for Shabbat, Hanukkah, or Havdalah. You can even make their miztvah power go further, by donating them, to JFS for their Hanukkah packages for seniors this Hanukkah. There’s a drop of box right at Beth David for these, so you won’t need to make special trip to drop the donation off. See the details on that Seasonal Mitzvah below. While you’re at Beth David this morning or early afternoon, getting your Mitzvah candles (samples pictured here, others available as well), don’t forget to stop into Sisterhood’s gift shop to enjoy 20% sale, they’s love for everything to go, to clear out inventory. They’ve got various judaica items, from tallits to kiddush cups, and candle holders for your newly purchases candles.  Today’s the day to get up, and do some good. Have a simcha to attend? Get a gift now, at 20% and not have to worry about it. Of course this sale is just in time for Hanukkah too. Refreshments will also be for sale. Open to the community.

Oh one more mitzvah for this morning, make this an even more productive trip to Beth David, by bringing a new toy, game or book, for ages 0-17 for Jews’ Next Dor & SVYAD’s annual Toy Drive which ends on Monday, December 8th at 5pm. Donations of bows and ribbon accepted as well.

Judaica Gift Shop Bazaar / Safed Candle Fundraiser

Sunday, December 7, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga, Ca

Safed Shabbat Candles

As promised here the info on the JFS Hanukkah mitzvah project:

Jewish Family Services of the Silicon Valley

Candles, Dreidels and Gelt for Seniors!!

Hanukkah Mitzvah project:

JFS will be assembling your donated Hanukkah candles, dreidels, and Chocolate Gelt into gift bags for our seniors.

November 24-December 15

Drop of locations can be found at Congregation Beth David, 19700  Prospect Road, Saratoga, Ca or JFS, 14855 Oka Road, Suite 202, Los Gatos, Ca

Questions? Contact Michele 357-7453 or michelem@jfssv.org

Threads of Tradition High Holiday Sheet Drive

Jewish Burrial Garments

One of the highest forms of doing a mitzah is one that the person cannot repay. Participating in CBD’s Threads of Tradition High Holiday Sheet Drive, is a great opportunity for you to partake in this kind of a miztvah. They are collecting 100% all white flat bed sheets, in clean good condition. They will be use by the Threads of Tradition group to make tachrichim (traditional burial garments) for use in our community. Bring your donation of sheets to the Beth David Lobby, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga, Ca any time between now and Yom Kippur. You’ll find a marked box for collecting them. Here’s the official blurb from the congregational announcements.

Threads of Tradition High Holiday Sheet Drive

“Threads of Tradition” needs donations of plain white, 100%-cotton flat (not fitted) sheets, queen or king size. Please bring a sheet, new or clean, in a plastic bag (fully wrapped, separate from the food donations) to the sheet-collection boxes on Yom Kippur. These sheets will be used as fabric for making tachrichim (traditional burial garments) for use in our community. The sheets do not have to be brand new, but must be clean, all-white, and all-cotton. Queen-sized flat sheets are especially needed.