Chanukah Background & Blessings

"Number the Stars" Play at the Nashville Children's Theater

In partnership with our friends at Nashville Children’s Theater, Congregation Micah 5^th-12^th grade families will enjoy a day at the theater!

When: 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 23*

What: Production of Lois Lowry’s Newberry Award-winning  Number the Stars with reception and actor talk-back session following the show

Cost:  $12 per ticket (parents are welcome and encouraged to attend!)

RSVP:  Your payment is your reservation – all orders due to the Micah Office by Friday, December 20

*This program is in lieu of Religious School for 5^th-10^th grades on 2/23

Plot Summary:

Based on the book by Lois Lowry
Adapted by Douglas W. Larche

As the German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johasen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family.

Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, the audience will watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war.

Approximate Runtime: Approx. 70 minutes plus a 10 minute intermission

Come join us for this unique educational outing – we’re saving you a seat!

Scholar in Residence: Professor Paul Liptz - December 6 to 8

Supporting Our Seniors: Schmooze & Views Chanukah Lunch

 

Chanukah Family Dinner - December 4 - $10/adults and $5/child

 

Check out some non-dairy potluck suggestions here: http://congregationmicah.blogspot.com/2013/11/micah-tells-here-is-what-we-are.html

Micah Tells... Here is what we are thankful for!

We at Micah are thankful for:

1. Our rabbis who are constantly checking in with our new and old members. With over 450 families, they have over 1,000 people to connect with.
2. Lisa Silver. Not just her lovely voice at Shabbat service, but also her cheerful disposition throughout the week.
3. Our b’nai mitzvah students who are always working hard and showing us their unique, individual personalities
4. Our religious school teachers who are also our largest group of volunteers - they give of their precious time on Sundays.
5. a) For our other volunteer efforts, we have our Social Action Committee coordinating behind the scenes. Whether it’s Chanukah gifts or toiletry donations for a shelter, we love being able to give back to our community.  b) Long standing volunteers who love Micah -- like Hope!
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud8Uo4rbEY0 
6. Our baking teams! Our freezer is always packed and our onegs are deliciously satisfying. The coordination within that group is impressive and Francine makes sure they are always on top of it.
7. Julie. She’s just one person, but she does the job of a team. Between making lesson plans, getting teachers organized, and prepping each Sunday for success, she also makes time to seek out grants for Micah, plan events for our entire community, and meet with other leaders in our Jewish community.
8. Our Room in the Inn committee! We are thrilled to again be a part of an important service to the Nashville community. The involvement of our members is fantastic and allows us to work together for the greater good.
9. Members who have volunteered their time to help with major mailings - like stuffing and labeling the High Holy Day packets.
10. The Leath family and their team that comes to Micah each year to whip up large batches of delicious latkes for our Chanukah Dinner.
11. Dreidels. It’s Chanukah season and they are fun!
12. Rugelach. Yum.
13. The cheerful sound of the Micah Children’s Academy kids out in the playground. It will bring a smile to your face!
14. Our Mah Jongg players! This group has really grown this year – it’s welcoming and fun to play with. They always have a wave and “hello” for the office workers.
15. Micah Midweek – a great opportunity for our bnai mitzvah prospects to connect with each other and the rabbis as they prepare for a monumental event in their Jewish life.
16. Events that bring the Nashville synagogues together as a community (like the upcoming Hanukah Fest!)
17. The Schmooze & Views group who is eager to discuss controversial and important topics with each other every week.
18. The beautiful architecture we are surrounded with – isn’t our sanctuary stunning?!
19. Our online community! Y’all have some great thankfuls as well!
20.  Todd’s endless work as our Executive Director. From event details to balancing our budget, he keeps Micah going! Our operations would not run smoothly without him.
21. Your trust in us to nourish your souls through services and programs.
22. Our Building and Grounds Committee, as well as our maintenance guy Dave, who worked to have a suitable storage building built.
23. Our Religious School parents that are involved in our family services.
24. 11^th and 12^th grade students who volunteer as our Madrachim – teacher assistants – on Sundays.
25. Prenegs, Onegs, any excuse to get together, socialize, and eat!
26. The opportunity to celebrate life cycles with our congregants, whether it be a bris, a bnai mitzvah, wedding, etc, we love being a part of your life.
27. Ladies and Men’s Night Out – it’s a great time to get out of the house and meet fellow Micah congregants.
28. Our administrative assistants who answer the phones, organize registrations, create flyers, send out our weekly e-newsletter, connect with our families, and so much more.
29. Our High Holy Day Choir that regroups each year to provide us with beautiful and unique music during the holidays.
30. Guest speakers that give of their time and knowledge to Micah, like Professor Paul Liptz who will be with us in December!
31. Trips to Israel! Join us next summer!

#MicahAsks - What are you thankful for?

A loving community whose warmth and support was palpable throughout my 5 years of rabbinical school; rabbis and the board and other leaders who gave me the chance to be a student rabbi at Micah; Lisa, Michael, and Daniel, who continue to inspire and aide my songleading; Julie who never stops giving and sharing her genius; an office that punches above its weight and has for years (thanks Todd!); one of the most beautiful sanctuaries in the world (both hemispheres); services where the names of my grandparents are still read each year, even in my absence, and even though no one at Micah ever knew them; an environment where The Jacob Project and You CAN Help could take flight and flourish; oh...and the place that taught me that the first thing to do upon arrival at Torah study is TURN THE COFFEE ON!! (That hard-learned bit of wisdom still comes in handy).
--Rabbi Roberts

I love the warm and inviting atmosphere at Micah and the fact that Rabbi Flip and Rabbi Laurie are dazzlingly gifted orators! -AVS

The Big Ones: Health, Love, Family, Friends, Well-Being, Judaism, Micah, Seasons, Creativity, Falling Leaves and Budding Flowers (Seasons), Technology (yes), Art...and More. And, especially, the "little" (not so little any more) ones -- our grand-children. -JM

I'm grateful to have found such a wonderful community with which to share my spiritual journey and have lots of fun along the way! -LS 

URJ Jacobs Camp -- New Destination for Micah!

Please note that we have a new URJ regional camp – Jacobs Camp in Utica, MS. If you are already a GUCI family, of course you will not be required to switch camps, but over the course of the next few years our youth group, MiTY, will become based out of Jacobs Camp instead of GUCI. That said, if you are new to considering sleep-away Jewish camping or are ready to explore your options, please visit the Jacobs Camp website to learn more about this amazing community: http://jacobs.urjcamps.org

We are looking forward to hosting Jacobs Camp’s Assistant Director, Gary Brandt, on Sunday, November 24 both during and after our Family Service, so that he can share important information and answer any questions you may have. Please plan to join us at 9:30 AM for the service and then remain for our special parents-only session with Gary at 10:30 AM. Current Jacobs parents Debbie McCormick and Jodi Stout will also be available to discuss their positive experiences.

Jacobs is offering a $1,000 incentive grant to any first-time Jacobs campers. Additionally, families considering a 3.5 week session may be eligible for another $1,000 discount through the OneHappyCamper grants offered here: http://www.jewishcamp.org/one-happy-camper/

The OneHappyCamper grants apply to many other camps, including the URJ’s 6 Points Sports Academy in Greensboro, NC for children entering grades 4 to 11 http://sports.urjcamps.org/index.cfm?. 

The Rabbis and Julie Greenberg are happy to help families navigate the exploration and application processes for whichever camp may be the best fit for your family. Regardless of where your children may attend, we are certain of the long-lasting impact that sleep-away camping has on forming and strengthening positive Jewish identities for students of all ages.

Shabbat Evening of Conversation & Song

October's Big Question -- Your Answers!

We asked and you answered!

I will....

answers coming!

Sunday at the Movies - Fall 2013

During Religious School
10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Join us as we screen a movie with discussion following. Choose just one or come for all three! Light snacks will be served.

October 6 - Live & Become
Shlomo, an Ethiopian boy, is placed by his Christian mother with an Ethiopian Jewish woman whose child has died. This woman, who will become his adoptive mother, is about to be airlifted from a Sudanese refugee camp to Israel during Operation Moses in 1984. His birth mother, who hopes for a better life for him, tells him "Go, live, and become," as he leaves her to board the plane. The film tells of his growing up in Israel and how he deals with the secrets he carries.

October 20- No Place on Earth
Filmmaker Janet Tobias traces the harrowing tale of 38 Ukranian Jews who survived the Holocaust by fleeing into caves for 18 months. Scavenging for food and water while constructing escape routes, the desperate survivors bide their time in the unforgiving environment, awaiting liberation.

November 3 - Half the Kingdom (documentary / special speaker)
Seven women from Canada, Israel, and the US strive to find common ground between religious and cultural tradition and contemporary feminist principles. Focusing on the movement of women from observers to active participants - including when a group of women came together to pray at the Western Wall in 1988 - the film addresses issues of feminism, religious pluralism, civil rights, and the struggle for self-definition.

Big Question September -- Your Answers!

We asked and you answered!

I will....

 

Write

 

Listen

 

Get outdoors

 

Be good to my parents and my sister

 

Be respectful to others

 

Be awesome

 

Practice the piano with a smile!

 

Clean my room

 

Do my singing

 

Be a better listener

 

Eat healthy

 

Be caring

 

Share my toys

 

Be good at school

 

 

 

Get A's and B's on TCAP

 

Save more money!

 

Be there, no matter what happens, with open arms

 

Work hard on MiTY's Youth Board & in NFTY-OV

 

Be kind. Be me.

 

Eat more cookies

 

Make better art

 

 

 

Focus on what's important

 

Be a better sister

 

Learn how to cook

-Agreed

 

Be nicer to my brother / brothers

 

Work hard in school 

 

Be awesome and do good at my Bar Mitzvah

 

Be happier

 

 

Learn more Hebrew and make more friends

 

Be more patient

 

Be nicer to everyone!

 

Not argue with my parents!!

 

Try to be a better person

 

Be nicer to my siblings

 

Dedicate more time to school

 

Make a goal of holistic health

 

Have a forgiving heart

 

Make sure I listen to my parents

 

Be neater

 

Improve my handwriting

 

Stick to my resolutions

 

Be more organized

 

 

 

Non-dairy Potluck

It's a Non-Dairy Potluck!
What do I bring?

Many times, when we host a potluck, our members get stuck on what they should bring and the quickest answer is always a salad. But while a potluck of one main dish and 20 salads will be good, it lacks variety. So we decided to make a list of viable options! Typically, the main dish for a non-dairy potluck is chicken or beef.

What you could bring:
Traditional House Salad
Pasta Salad
Fruit
Fruit Salad
Cucumber Salad
Asian Noodle Salad
Green Beans
Corn
Peas
Blackeyed Peas
Kale Salad
Turnip Greens
Carrots
Brussel Sprouts
Roasted potatoes
Roasted veggies
Steamed veggies
Sweet potato casserole
Dinner rolls
Italian Bread (any bread)
Rice
Coleslaw
Potato Salad
Beans

Dessert Ideas: 
Cookies
Sorbet
Fruit Salad
Carmel Popcorn
Macaroons
Biscotti
Applesauce

Have suggestions to add to our list?? Leave us a comment and we will update it!

Rabbis Rice: We Will Not Forget

“We Jews suffer from many diseases, but amnesia is not one of them.”                                                                                                 – Isaac Bashevis Singer      Today our nation remembers the events of September 11. Those who lost precious members of their family on that fateful day in 2001, do not need such commemorations as we do; their loss is with them every day. And although we are far from New York City, we too recall all those who perished in the World Trade Center, in the four hijacked planes, and in the Pentagon – all victims of fanaticism and hate.      The Jewish people are a people of memory. We deliberately, intentionally, in a formal and structured way, built memory into our tradition. From Yizkor (our memorial prayers for the dead) to yahrzeits (remembering our loved ones by lighting a candle on the anniversary of their death) we recall with reverence those who came before us. The Torah also instructs us to remember an evil that was done to us long ago, when our people wandered in the wilderness: “Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were famished and weary, they met you on your journey and attacked those who were lagging behind… so you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget [Deut. 25: 17-19].”      How is it that we be commanded both to “blot out the name of Amalek” and to “remember” and “not forget”? One interpretation is that we obliterate the names of those who do evil, who commit terrible crimes against humanity. When some Jews pronounce the name of Adolf Hitler, for instance, they often add the phrase “y’mach sh’mo – may his name be erased.” We do not make celebrities out of criminals; we do not give their names to our children; we do nothing to perpetuate their continued remembrance on earth. But we do remember what Amalek did. We remember acts of atrocity and keep alive the recollection of evil. No matter how painful it is, we force ourselves to contemplate such deeds year after year; we set aside ritual moments to bring them back to our consciousness. Why? Because whenever tyrants crush their opponents by force, whenever bullies prey on the weak, whenever bigotry bursts forth in violence, Amalek lives again. It would be nice to pretend otherwise. It would be nice to forget that such dreadful deeds are done. But if we do forget, Amalek will reign supreme.      The boys and girls who are celebrating their B’nai Mitzvah this year were just babies when the September 11 attacks occurred. They have no direct memories of that day. But we will teach them about what Amalek did because that story awakens us to the work we have to do in this world.      We will tell our children that Jews are here to stand up against cruelty and hate. We are here to follow a different way: the way of justice and love. We are here to create a society that protects the vulnerable and cares for the weak and honors the dignity of every person. So we show our children that the purpose of memory is to teach us to live better lives; lives of purpose; lives that matter. We combat evil by devoting ourselves to the good. We resist the darkness by remembering to hold fast to the light. We look forward to seeing you on Kol Nidrei.

Big Questions - September: "What will you do better this year?"

We have Big Questions.

You have the Answers.

This month of September, Tishri 5774, we have officially launched our Big Questions. Follow along with us as we ask a “Big Question” every month. Our first question:

What are Big Questions? 
Big Questions are human questions; they are not Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. They are not Democratic or Republican or for one specific demographic. Big Questions matter to all of us. They are different than “hard questions.” Hard Questions rely on expertise and lead to debates. Big Questions rely on wisdom and experience. They invite participation by everyone because anyone can answer them.

Big Questions aim to help people go deeper within their own traditions and identity, strengthen their interactions with others, and build richer communities. Healthy congregations are places where we
understand one another's stories so that we might further explore what we have in common. Micah’s questions are designed to do just that! The selected questions will be concerned with topics that matter to all of us, regardless of our religious traditions, cultural heritage, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and personal or political beliefs.

It is our hope that together, through the power of conversation, we will all come to better understand ourselves, each other, and our relationships with God, Torah, and Israel.



How can you answer?

• Write it down at Micah - we have a blackboard with markers to collect answer in our Social Hall!
• Mail it in - we'll collect answers and share with everyone!
• Connect with us online! When you answer on social media, add the hashtag #MicahAsks and find other people’s answers on both Facebook and Twitter! 
• Or comment on our blog!

Facebook.com/CongregationMicah
@MicahNashville
CongregationMicah.blogspot.com


The first Ask Big Questions campaign started at a Hillel on a college campus. The campaign continues to strive to make the world a better place and lead people to deeper conversations and
actions.

Shana Tova!

Rosh Hashanah poem by our member - Nanette Avery!

Happy Birthday world!

Your splendid trees sift
cradled breezes and
side- by side- houses
rest together like asters in a flower bed;
while inside
honey dipped apples
make impressions like tiny footprints;
a timeless tradition still just as sweet.
Sweet,
sticky sweet.
The challah round and plump,
a braid of memories in dough.
Everyone is rich with an appetite
of renewal
for it is Rosh Hashanah;
We need no passport
for the shofar guides us,
its calling comforts
and we rejoice.

Happy Birthday world!

MCA Parent Workshop - September 30, 2013

Making the most of “Screen Time”
Principles for selecting digital media for your children

Join us for a parent workshop at Micah Children’s Academy
Monday, September 30
7:00pm

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued strong statements about the importance of limiting young children’s “screen time.” While there are sound reasons for this recommendation, it largely misses the boat by grouping all kinds of “screens” into a single category and providing little
to no guidance to parents to determine which, if any, programs and digital technologies might have benefit.

They also appear to forget that sometimes you just need 15 minutes to chop the vegetables and feed the dog.

How CAN you make the most of screen time? What are some principles for selecting digital media for your children, and ensuring that the time spent interacting with screens don’t cause pangs of guilt?

In this parent workshop, we discuss some of the reasons behind the AAP’s recommendations, and ways to think about selecting and monitoring screen time in your own home. The goal of this workshop is to arm parents with the tools they need to make their own decisions about good selections for your own children—although some recommendations of high quality apps, games, and movies will be shared.

Please RSVP to Melissa Gresalfi

Elul: Preparing For 5774

1 Elul 5773 - August 7, 20 13
Today marks the first day of Elul and the last month in the Hebrew year of 5773. To count down the days until Rosh Hashanah and the new year, we will be sharing a daily thoughts/inspiration with you.
Let us prepare for the coming High Holy Days together!

“The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.”
~ Emily Dickinson

Souls Ajar by Raychel Kubby Adler
http://www.letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1191

2 Elul 5773
Walk on Through by Quincy Jones
"...when we don’t get the welcome we feel we deserve, it’s important to not sit back and wait for it. It likely will never come..."
http://www.letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1201

3 Elul 5773
Gently Unplug: A case for undertaking a weekly digital detox

http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/140869/prepent-5774-day-3-gently-unplug

4 Elul 5773
Accept -- the good and the bad.
http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2013/08/blogelul-4-accept.html

5 Elul 5773
Come In by Angela Buchdahl
Are we truly welcoming, to everyone, Jew and non-Jew?
http://www.letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1229

6 Elul 5773
A Generational Plan for Prosperity by Eric Garcetti
"...I think of the challenges my grandparents faced: coming to a land they didn’t know with a language they didn’t speak. But, along with their grit and determination to do better than their parents had done, they had the strength to look at themselves with introspection, see their flaws and make a plan for improvement...."
http://www.letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1232

7 Elul 5773
“Kiss me from the kisses of your mouth,” she declares in the Song of Songs.
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/141075/prepent-5774-day-6-communicating-with-intention

8 Elul 5773
"It is Elul; time to put out the welcome mat for the improved self by opening wide the doors of demonstrative and spoken affection to the dear ones we encounter every day"
Welcoming Actually by Elka Abrahamson
http://www.letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1270

9 Elul 5773
"I always aspire to listen wholly... All I can do is notice when I'm not wholly listening, and take a deep breath, and strive to do better. I want to really listen when the world speaks."
http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2013/08/blogelul-9-hear.html 

10 Elul 5773
Poems about innocence, family, happiness, joy....
http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2013/08/blogelul-10-see.html
and
http://www.letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1301 

11 Elul 5773
Treat The Stranger That There Be No Stranger by David Saperstein
" In 1978, Rabbi Alexander Schindler vigorously called on us to reach out to “all who enter,” to open our congregations...." How can we continue to be open and welcoming? Who is being left out?
http://www.letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1307

12 Elul 5773
Anger Management -Examining why we get angry, and how to deal with it effectively
"A quiet moment and the soul speaks up. ...it was just important to recognize the depth of my feelings, sit with it and breathe."
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/141604/prepent-5774-day-12-anger-management

13 Elul 5773
Preparing our hearts to forgive and be forgiven
"... In Talmud there is a teaching that one should make teshuvah (repent/return) the night before one's death -- and, of course, since one never knows when one's death may be, one should make teshuvah always....When we come before the One with open hearts, with a genuine yearning for forgiveness, I believe that that God always forgives....."
http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2013/08/blogelul-13-forgive.html

"Asking forgiveness from God is an important part of the prayer, but it cannot be completed earnestly if one has not asked for forgiveness from the people in one’s life."
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/142090/prepent-5774-day-15-asking-for-forgiveness

14 Elul 5773

Store-Bought Happiness

Trying to find lasting happiness—and not just at the check-out counter
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/141769/prepent-5774-day-13-store-bought-happiness

15 Elul 5773
Taking a Break -As the High Holidays approach, finding ways to relax and de-stress
"How do you de-stress?"

 http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/141895/prepent-5774-day-14-taking-a-break

16 Elul 5773

" 'To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven...'
Change is inevitable, change is always unfolding -- but our ability to love one another remains.... This is the month when God walks in the fields with us, yearning to connect with us Friend-to-friend, Beloved-to-beloved."
http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2013/08/blogelul-16-change.html

17 Elul 5773
Grief
"We often choose to let grief knock on our door and only then deal with its tidings, but I invite you to join me today in taking a few minutes to confront sadness and the feeling of farewell, full of gratitude for every gift, no matter how hard the loss."
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/142219/prepent-5774-day-16-confronting-grief

18 Elul 5773
Pray
"My teacher Reb Zalman (Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi) likes to say that our written liturgy is like a cookbook; it's a collection of recipes for spiritual experience. But in order to make the recipes, you have to add ingredients; in order to make the prayers real, you have to add your own heart and soul and being."
http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2013/08/blogelul-18-pray.html

19 Elul 5773
A Home-Made Welcome by Donald Davis
"...we decided that truly welcoming them was not about what we could buy for them, but about what we could do for them."
http://letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1365

20 Elul 5773
Shame and Repentance
Facing our shame is difficult but vital in preparation for the Day of Atonement
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/142401/prepent-5774-day-19-shame-and-repentance

21 Elul 5773
"1. Extend a warm welcome.
2. Anticipate and fulfill stated and unstated needs.
3. Provide a fond farewell.
As you can see from number one, welcoming is our top priority. But, in fact, all three steps are about welcoming. Only if the totality of an experience is authentically meaningful can a person truly feel welcome"

The Business of Welcoming by Herve Humler
http://letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1389

22 Elul 5773
Courage to Dare -
"There is something daring about entering into prayer. About standing before God and offering our praises and our supplications as though we actually believed that the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Source of All Being, were listening to us. More: as though the Source of All Being actually cared what we had to say. That's the audacious claim made by Jewish prayer practice every day: that we can dare to stand before God, expecting God to listen."
http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2013/08/blogelul-20-dare.html

23 Elul
Love --
"God's love for us is unending and infinite... God so overflows with divine love that God brings creation into being in order to have somewhere to direct that love, in order to have conscious beings with whom God can be in loving relationship."
http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2013/08/blogelul-22-love.html

24 Elul
Extending a Hand by Nathanial Helfgot
"Elul, the tradition teaches, is a time when God is more present, ready to listen and care for the human being. The Hebrew letters of the month, we are told, are an acronym for the phrase, “Ani ledodi vedodi li.” I am (devoted) to my beloved (God) and my beloved (God) is (devoted) to me."
http://letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1409

25 Elul
Inside Out by Hayim Herring
"Here is the magic that happens when we embrace our full selves: by working on and with all aspects that comprise who we are, we can more readily embrace the stranger in our community."
http://letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1415 

26 Elul
Hope
http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2013/09/-blogelul-26-hope-.html

27 Elul
Transcending Your Comfort Zone by Simon Jacobson
“Welcoming guests is more powerful than welcoming G-d.”
http://letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?p=1420 

28 Elul
Making a wish!
Shana tova! A verbal wish or handmade card - which do you prefer?
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/143466/prepent-5774-day-27-making-a-wish

29 Elul: Forgive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T35_RgPvONI

Shana Tova!!

August Drives - Soles4Souls and School Supplies!

Through the month of August, we are dedicating one of our collection bins to your shoes! We're donating all collected shoes to local non-profit, Soles4Souls. If you have shoes that don't fit, or shoes you just plain don't wear anymore, we want them. 

Believe it or not, the shoes you don't need could be another person's FIRST PAIR!! In fact, YOUR donated pair might be the pair needed for someone to be allowed to attend school. OR the pair you donate might help to fund a micro-enterprise that brings jobs to a community that otherwise has no way to earn a living. So here's your chance to put your shoes back to work... Just drop them in the bin and we'll do the rest.  

In our other bin....  
We are collecting school supplies for local kids in need. Everyone of us remembers, or is currently reviewing, the long list of school supplies that are demanded for the first day of school. We buy it all. But it's costly.... What would you do if you couldn't afford it? Instead of watching kids go without, we're helping out the best way we can!

Here's a list of items needed:

Pocket folders, 3-ring binders, dividers 

Backpacks, lunch boxes 

Colored pencils/pens, markers, crayons 

Glue sticks

Paper: notebook, graph, construction

Hand sanitizer, tissue 

Highlighters 

Scissors (blunt tips) 

Organizers/planners

Pens/pencils, erasers 

USB flash drives

Calculators

Notebooks 

What to bring to a Dairy Potluck

It's a Dairy Potluck!
What do I bring?

Many times, when we host a potluck, our members get stuck on what they should bring and the quickest answer is always a salad. But while a potluck of one main dish and 20 salads will be good, it lacks variety. So we decided to make a list of viable options! Typically, the main dish for a dairy potluck is some kind of pasta or lasagna.

What you could bring:
Traditional House Salad
Ceasar Salad
Pasta Salad
Fruit
Fruit Salad
Caprese Salad
Cucumber Salad
Asian Noodle Salad
Green Beans
Corn
Corn Souffle
Peas
Carrots
Brussel Sprouts
Roasted potatoes
Roasted veggies
Steamed veggies
Sweet potato casserole
Squash casserole
Dinner rolls
Italian Bread (any bread)

If it's not lasagna, but something else (like fish), here are some other ideas that work:
Rice
Coleslaw
Potato Salad
Beans

Dessert Ideas: 
Brownies
Cake
Cookies
Ice Cream
Sorbet
Gelato
Chocolates
Fruit Salad
Pie


Have suggestions to add to our list?? Leave us a comment and we will update it!

Thanks!

High Holy Days 5774/2013

High Holy Days are fast approaching!! This year, they start on August 31. Be prepared! Below is our HHD Schedule.

Click the photo to download the PDF.

Buy a Rosh Hashanah Greeting for the Messenger!

L’Shana Tova Greeting
Order by Friday, Aug. 2

If you are like most of us here in the office at Micah, you are in a whirlwind of summer activities. School and High Holy Days are a far off thought.... However, High Holy Days are coming early this year!! They will begin at the end of August!

This year we are once again offering the opportunity for you to send Rosh Hashana greetings in the Messenger. Last year it was a hit (you can see the examples here)!

Think of this greeting space as you would the ads you purchased in the back of your yearbook!

Cost / Size Options

Option 1
1) Business Card Size: $36
Design + Choose one of the four “any size” greeting

Option 2 & 3
2) Quarter page: $72
3) Half page : $144
1 image + choose any one of the greetings

*Pick your size/cost option and then choose one greeting*

Greeting Choices

Options 1 - 3

1)     L’Shana Tova Tikatevu

2)     Wishing You a Sweet New Year

3)     Have a Happy New Year

4)     Happy Rosh Hashanah

5)     Happy New Year from the [insert name] Family

Options 2 & 3 Only
(for quarter or half pages)

1.     May the sounds of the Shofar welcome in a new year of health and happiness

2.     Best wishes to you and your family at Rosh Hashanah

All greetings can include either your family’s last name or each name of your family (up to 10 names total)

For Businesses:

Choose a size: business card, quarter page, or half page

Choose a greeting: 5 options available for the business card size; and 7 options available or the quarter and half page sizes

Your greeting can be “from” your business and you can include the web address.

 
Ready to order your ad?? Call us at the office at 615-377-9799 or email office@congregationmicah.org. Don’t forget to have your credit card handy or mail a check (your payment = your greeting).