News from Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation-Emek Shalom

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This Week at FVJC-Emek Shalom:

FVJC-ES Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive

We’ve all read the reports – food pantry shelves are empty, yet demand has increased by 30% from last year. This year, more than ever, we need your donations to help feed the hungry. Our recipient for this year’s Thanksgiving Food Drive will be the Simsbury Food Closet. Children are asked to bring into their classrooms non-perishable food items that needy families will enjoy on Thanksgiving (see food assignments below). Couples and families without children in the religious school are asked to donate toilet paper (yes, toilet paper! – there is a huge need for it at the Simsbury Food Closet).

These contributions can be placed in the box that will be at the top of the stairs by the religious school entrance.

Grade	Food Assignment
Kindergarten	Cranberry Sauce
First Grade	Stuffing Mix
Second Grade	Canned Vegetables
Third Grade	Canned Gravy
Fourth Grade	Canned Vegetables
Fifth Grade	Bread or Cake Mix
Sixth Grade	Boxes of Instant Potatoes
Seventh Grade	Bottle of Apple or Cranberry Juice

Please help your neighbors in need and give generously to this drive. Collection will begin on Sunday, November 8, and will continue through Sunday, November 22. On behalf of the Simsbury Food Closet and the Social Action Committee, thank you for your contribution and for your spirit of Tikkun Olam.

Take a Hike with the Men’s Club

This Sunday, November 8th at 9am, The FVJC Men's Club is sponsoring a family nature hike with a Naturalist. All family members are welcome. We are meeting at the FVJC at 9am for a lox and bagel breakfast and will leave the FVJC for one of the area parks at 9:30. We will return at approximately 11:30am. If we get rained out, the program will be held at the FVJC and the Naturalist will conduct a speaking presentation.

Sisterhood Updates

The Woman Behind the Success of G. Fox

Sisterhood is proud to bring Virginia Hale, author of A Woman in Business: The Life of Beatrice Fox Auerbach on Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 PM (not Friday, November 20 as listed in the Shofar). Get to know the woman behind one of the most successful businesses of all time, right here in Hartford. Virginia Hale was a Professor of English for 33 years, teaching writing and literature. She is now an Emerita at the University of Hartford.

Book Benefit for FVJC

Shop at Barnes & Noble in Canton on Sunday December 6, 7 and 8 and they will contribute a percentage of every sale made to FVJC-Emek Shalom's Religious School. Simply bring this special bookfair voucher to the store and show it while making your purchase. Several school events and programs will be held at the store on Sunday, December 6 from 1:30 - 4:30 pm, but the bookfair will continue on Monday andTuesday, December 7 and 8. Stay tuned for more details.

Greater Hartford Multi-Faith Prayer Breakfast

"I invite all members of the FVJC-Emek Shalom congregation to join me at the 12th annual Greater Hartford Multi-Faith Prayer Breakfast to be held on Thursday November 19, 2009 from 7:30 to 8:45 at The Artists Collective 1200 Albany Avenue, Hartford. I have been attending this event since its inception and have found it to be a wonderful way to start the Thanksgiving Holiday season.

The Prayer Breakfast was started by Bill Farley, a longtime Simsbury resident, as an event to acknowledge that our diverse communities need the prayerful support of all religious faiths if we are to achieve a healthy greater Hartford community. This year's main speaker will be Rabbi Donna Berman. Please join me for this ecumenical spiritually uplifting event. There is no charge although donations are welcome. I may be reached at 860-670-2563 to answer any questions about the Prayer Breakfast." Joel Mandell

Kaddish, Kiddush, AND Kashes

Join us this Saturday morning, November 7, for our new lay-led Shabbat Morning Worship Service, at 9:00am in the multipurpose room. Come to this short service (1 hour), for prayer, discussion, and a close-knit Temple experience. This week's discussion topic is "Alternative Spirituallity". All are welcomed to attend, and B'nai Mitzvah Students attending with a family member can receive a Shabbat Service credit. We are looking forward to seeing you this Saturday.

Upcoming Special Services

Klezmer Kabbalat Shabbat | Friday, November 13 - 6:30 p.m.

Bring your picnic dinner and join us as we welcome Shabbat into our midst with the joyous and rousing sounds of our Klezmer Band. If you haven't experienced this before, you will love the uplifting feeling of singing with our Klezmer Band.

Inter-generational Grandparent Shabbat | Friday, November 20 - 7:30 p.m.

On this Shabbat when we chant Parshat Toldot, recalling the generations of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we will celebrate the generations of our F.V.J.C. - Emek Shalom families. On this Shabbat we will bless the generations of our congregational families as we
read about the generations of our patriarchs and matriarchs. Gather together the generations
of your family and join us.