UPCOMING SCHEDULED LOTTE MEYERSON TIKKUN OLAM PROJECTS:

• 1st Friday each month from 1-3 PM @ MANNA– CBHT volunteer team. Contact Sandra Layton to help.
• 3rd Friday each month @ noon – CBHT Vets shelter meal serving. Contact Hilary Paradise to help.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat–
  • at CBHT, Friday, January 11th
  • at St. James AME, Sunday, January 13th
• Monday, February 4th @ 4:30 PM—next L.M. Tikkun Olam meeting.
• Sunday, February 17th – Souper Bowl – Chefs Needed–RSVP: elainebstein@icloud.com.

Hanukkah and the Refugee Crisis Republished from RAC.org https://rac.org/

As Jews across the world celebrate Hanukkah, we commemorate the Maccabees’ victory over the tyrannical King Antiochus.

Prior to his defeat, Antiochus had desecrated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and forbade Jewish religious observance. Thus, the miracle of a meager amount of oil lighting the menorah in the Temple for a full eight days signifies to us the righteousness and wonder of overcoming a regime of persecution and violence.

Today, refugees have fled their homes seeking an opportunity for the hope that lies at the core of our celebration of Hanukkah – to live freely according to one’s own beliefs and conscience. In Central America, gang warfare and weak government institutions have led to a situation in which kidnapping, torture and murder are all too common. Many have embarked on a treacherous northward journey in order to reach a place where they will be free of constant fear.

In the midst of the Hanukkah celebration, we should remember the hardships facing today’s refugees, who unlike the Maccabees do not have the military might to resist the systemic violence inflicted against them both at home and during their travels to safety. As we reflect on the global refugee crisis this week, we can also take action by telling our elected officials that we support a robust refugee resettlement program that places humanitarian assistance and mercy over xenophobia and fear.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION 2019

The weekend of January 11th-13th will kick off a week of community celebrations in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and will be twice as joyous this year. On Friday, January 11th, CBHT will be joined by the St. James African Methodist Church community, with the Reverend Brent L. Edwards as guest preacher, and the St. James Perfecting Praise Choir and the Prophetic Dance Ministry; on Sunday, January 13th, the CBHT community will join the Sunday morning worship at St. James AME Church, with Rabbi Meiri as the guest preacher, and the Kol Simcha Choir.

This will be a Sabbath of unity and friendship between the communities — which we hope will be the beginning of a lasting relationship with our fellow house of prayer.

Please welcome the St. James AME Church Community when they come to celebrate with us and enrich our worship on Friday, January 11th, at 7:30 PM and continue the celebration by supporting their community, the Rabbi and the Kol Simcha Choir by participating at St. James AME Church, Sunday, January 13th, at 11 AM.

“Temple Beth HaTephila holds such a significant place in our family history that we both wanted to help continue the tradition of giving and provide an example to our children. We both felt and continue to feel that it is important for this community to have a beautiful and state-of-the-art center for Jewish worship and education.”   Darren and Marissa Green

Hailing from St Petersburg and Maitland, Florida, Darren and Marissa Green met at a Bar Mitzvah of one of Darren’s cousins in Sarasota, FL in 2000. They were married in 2004 and had their first child Molly in 2007. Moving to Asheville in late 2007. They started a woodworking business called The Old Wood Co., now celebrating its 10th anniversary and joyfully added Judd and Quinn to their family in 2010 and 2013.

“We have been members of CBHT since early 2008. We send all of our children to Sunday school and have contributed to the Capital Campaign as well as participate in family services,” adds Darren.