By JTNews Staff, other
Menachem Mendel annual Dinner
The Menachem Mendel Seattle Cheder will honor Esther Morhaime at its annual dinner on Sun., Dec. 2. Morhaime has given more than 30 years to the community by teaching kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade at MMSC. Speaking will be Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe. For more information, contact Rabbi Sholom Ber Charytan at 206-425-9766.
Honoring the Stiefels
Congregation Beth Shalom’s annual fundraising brunch will feature speakers Doris and Ernie Stiefel The Stiefels were recently honored by the Washington State Jewish Historical Society, of which Doris is a past president. Ernie is a past president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. The Stiefels and their family have been active, involved members of Beth Shalom for almost 40 years.
The brunch will take place on Sun., Dec. 2 from 10:30 a.m.–noon. The brunch is free and there is no obligation to make a gift. RSVPs required by Nov. 27. Please contact the synagogue office at 206-524-0075 or brunch@bethshalomseattle.org to make a reservation.
Six-generation celebration
In the spring, the Washington State Jewish Historical Society will be celebrating Jewish families who have been in Washington State for six generations or more. In preparation, WSJHS will set up family trees for each of these families and make copies of photos and other documents such as immigration papers and ships’ manifests. Those who believe their families qualify to take part in this project should call Leatrice Gutmann at 206-525-5092 or Lilly DeJaen at 206-722-4727. The deadline for inclusion is Dec. 31, 2007 to allow time for preparing the documentation. The celebration will take place Sun., May 4 at Congregation Ezra Bessaroth.
Secular lobbyist
Lori Lipman Brown, lobbyist for the Secular Coalition of America, will offer her take on current issues in Washington D.C. and the protection of First Amendment rights. This event is co-sponsored by the Secular Jewish Circle of Puget Sound. Sat., Dec. 1, 7 p.m. At the Kantvold Room, University Unitarian Church, 6556 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. For more information, contact Susan Levy at 206-524-4326.
Interfaith community worship service
Temple B’nai Torah, along with the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles, Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, and St. Louise Roman Catholic Church, will hold its annual Thanksgiving Eve community worship service on Wed., Nov. 21 at 7:30 pm. This is the 21st annual gathering of the Crossroads Community Interfaith Service. During the service, the choirs from all five congregations will perform together and clergy and lay members from each faith will offer reflections of thanks. The event will take place at Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 NE 4th St., Bellevue. A voluntary offering will be accepted to benefit Hopelink.
Hanukkah celebration at the JCC
The Stroum Jewish Community Center is holding a Hanukkah party for the entire community. The celebration will include a candlelighting ceremony, games, arts and crafts, a Hanukkah gift bazaar and performances by local Jewish bands and the Israeli teen musical group Dor Sheni. Admission is free and lunch and latkes will be available for purchase. The celebration will take place on Sun., Dec. 2 from 12- 3 p.m. at the SJCC’s Mercer Island facility, 3801 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island.
Young composer’s award
The Guild Of Temple Musicians is currently accepting submissions for its 2008 Young Composer’s Award. Submitted works must be a set of three pieces, performable as separate pieces or as a unit, with or without a narrator. Compositions should be 10-12 minutes long and designed for SATB choir and piano (or organ) and should be in Hebrew, using texts from Jewish liturgy, the Bible, Jewish poetry or prose, or a combination thereof. For this year, works must also be accessible to congregational volunteer choirs. The writer of the winning composition will be awarded $1,800 plus performance and publication opportunities. Applicants should be Jewish composers born on or after Jan. 1, 1973. For more information, visit www.guildoftemplemusicians.org.