Sisterhood sets final meeting until March, opens Hanukkah gift shop

By Patty Lewis

November is a changing of the time, a changing of the leaves and definitely a turn to cold weather. It’s also a time for turkeys, pumpkin pie and family gatherings. But everyone doesn’t have a big family that gathers for the holidays, as you see on the Hallmark Channel.

So, if you have a few empty chairs around your table for Thanksgiving and you know someone who will otherwise be alone for the holiday, now is a good time to think about them.

Speaking of holidays, Hanukkah will begin the evening of Sunday, Dec. 2, and Sisterhood has set up the gift shop in the Vestry Room. Contact me or Norma at the Temple and stop by any weekday to shop!

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In wake of Tree of Life Synagogue attack, UHC benefits from outpouring of love

The massacre on October 27 at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh has struck much fear into the entire American Jewish community, including ours in Terre Haute.

In the face of such tragedy, many communities around the nation have expressed support for their Jewish friends and neighbors.

Last Friday night, our own United Hebrew Congregation in Terre Haute experienced an outpouring of love from members of the Wabash Valley Christian and Muslim communities, when some 100 people joined us for our weekly Shabbat service.

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A thriving Jewish community requires more than religious ritual — it needs you!

By Betsy Frank

Isaiah, in Chapter 58, verses 1-14, cautions us that ritual without action is not enough.

We can attend our yearly services, but we need more. We must change and help others make their life journeys in our own Jewish and larger communities.

Jack Wertheimer, professor of American Jewish History at Jewish Theological Seminary, wrote in a recent Wall Street Journal column that many of us come once a year to renew connections with family and friends within the Jewish community.

We renew our personal connection to prayer during the holidays, Wertheimer said, engaging as a “community of seekers” who realize the importance of connecting our daily lives to a higher purpose.

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Sisterhood raffle winner finds happy home for plush afghan

By Patty Lewis

Sisterhood held a brown bag luncheon on September 11, with all eyes on the raffle to award the afghan I made to raise funds for our annual activities.

I asked UHC Secretary Norma Collins to draw the winning ticket.

Sisterhood member Mally Frandzel was the lucky winner, but she had other ideas for her prize. We left the meeting and went straight to Mary Nasser’s home and gave her the 9 x 4-foot afghan, white with teal stripes and made of soft baby yarn.

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