(954) 567-8599 Voice Mail-Box Link to our 33rd anniversary business partners Weekly Bulletin  Ritual & Education  What's Happening  Worship  Upcoming Events  TTO  Social Outreach  Newsletter YESTERDAY Background Information About Congregation Etz Chaim  Etz Chaim, The Tree of Life, is the name of our congregation and the one unique shelter for Jews of all sexual identities in South Florida . Congregation Etz Chaim has been for 33 years the only place that Gay Jews have been able to worship as Jews without stares, nods, winks, condescension or “tolerance”.    Congregation Etz Chaim has grown to a membership in excess of 200 Jews, with a Torah of its own, a Rabbi, a Cantorial Soloist and an Office Manager.   As we approach our 34th anniversary, we hope to some day have a home of our own. The dream of the original seven has grown into a force of meaning in the South Florida community.   Etz Chaim has become the Tree of Shelter for Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender and all other Jews who need openness and spirituality in a warm and accepting atmosphere.  WE ARE UNIQUE!  About Us  Presidents Message  Rabbi Harold Caminker  Then & Now  Weekly Bulletin  Cantorial Soloist  Join Us  Contact Us  Directions  Groups  Sisterhood  Men's Club  Giving Opportunities  Guest Column  Chai Society  Capital Campaign  Affiliates   GaySouthFlorida  HOME                       Background and History The Congregation was formed in 1974 by seven Gay Jews who had been attending services at the MCC Church in Miami .  At the time the MCC was the only place in South Florida where a Gay person could worship in openness.  Among the seven founders was Howie Sorkin who has continued to be a pillar of the Congregation. The original seven reached out to others and there was a minyan formed for the services that were at first held at members homes.  There was no Rabbi, Cantor, Office nor even a Torah.  There was warmth, love and the desire to pray as Jews regardless of sexual orientation.  Soon the homes proved too small for the growing Congregation and there was movement to larger spaces.  Services were held at a Lutheran Church , at a YMCA, an Art Studio, a Storefront, a chapel in a Funeral Home and at the Unitarian Sanctuary in Oakland Park / Fort Lauderdale. presently being held at our own home, 1881 NE 26 Street, Wilton Manors, FL  33305, 954-564-9232.   TODAY   Cantorial Soloist       Ritual & Education:   Email Ritual/Education Chair   Scott Dolinsky With the arrival of June and July we have entered our summer season and our schedule has slowed down a bit. We will, never-the-less have a number of special events at our Shabbat services during this time period. On the 6th of June, we will observe Shavuot and will have a Yizkor service as is traditional. This service will be at the regular time and the Yizkor service will be at the end of the Shabbat service. Originally an agricultural festival, Shavuot has long been associated with the revelation at Sinai, the giving of the Torah. The Torah reading for Shavuot is the reading of the Ten Commandments.  The entire congregation will be asked to participate in the Torah blessings. With Shavuot we have reached the end of our annual cycle of festivals and Holy Days. We will also celebrate the installation of the new Men’s Club Board at this festive service We will have a very special Shabbat service on July 4th. This year we will have our first joint service with Congregation Bat Yam. Rabbi Caminker and Rabbi Littman will jointly lead the service. We are quite pleased to be hosting this joint service at our sanctuary. The service will be at a special time, 6:00 PM, so that everyone can come to services and then go out to celebrate the 232nd anniversary of our country’s Independence with barbeques and fireworks. We will continue to have our early service at 7:00 PM on the third Friday of each month, in June it will be on the 20th, and in July on the 18th. Dr. Lichtenstein, our Education Director, will continue his monthly Torah discussion group on Monday evenings, June 23rd, and July 21st at 7:30 PM at the Synagogue. At our recent Board meeting the Board decided that we will offer our old red Siddurim to our members as follows: 1. Anyone who paid for a bookplate in these Siddurim may have one copy with their bookplate in it at no charge. 2. The remainder will be sold to anyone who wants one for a donation of $18.00 We also have a very limited number of the new Mishkan T’filah Siddurim available for sale. If you would like to  have one for your use at home they are available for a donation of $54.00. When our current supply of books available for sale runs out we will order more but it may be some time until they are available since the publisher has to do a second printing. For those who would like to do so, we will be placing secondary donation bookplates in the Mishkan T’filah Siddurim at the Synagogue.  The price for these bookplates will be $36.00 each, and they can be for a memorial dedication or to honor someone.         Religious Services Weekly Shabbat Services take place Fridays at 8:30 p.m.   These are lively services full of Music and a wonderful feeling of mishpachah, friendship and family.  Prayers are in English and Hebrew, and our prayer book offers both, as well as transliterations. Services are followed by a motzi and sharing of wine (or grape juice) and challah, and an oneg, an hour or so of socializing over beverages and light fare.   We'd be happy to welcome you. Directions         Our Mission To provide a nurturing environment for gay and lesbian Jews, inclusive of bisexual, transgender and heterosexual in South Florida; ‘Jews of the Rainbow’. We are dedicated to the spiritual, social, educational and emotional support that empowers and enhances the quality of members’ lives and the community as a whole.   WEEKLY BULLETIN   CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM - Weekly Friday Bulletin- July 4, 2008 Except for the once a month special weekend Shabbat services (listed below), services are held every Friday evening at 8:30pm – 1881 NE 26th Street in Wilton Manors   Tonight’s Service is at a Special Time:  6:00pm     Congregation Etz Chaim & Temple Bat Yam Joint Service   Service Leaders: Rabbi Harold F. Caminker, D.D. and Rabbi Lewis C. Littman   Cantorial Soloist: Michael Greenspan   Tonight’s Oneg is sponsored by:               The Women of Temple Bat Yam     Yahrzeit with Plaques – 7/05/08 - 7/11/08    Samuel Becker             J.G. Cesar                   *Beatrice Loewenherz        *Joseph Weinberg *Henry Benowitz            Moe Fine                     *Eugene Zack *LeRoy Borofsky             Philip R. Friedenn         *Stanley Volk               *Temple Bat Yam - Yahrzeit with Plaques   Yahrzeit Plaques are available for purchase.  Congregation Etz Chaim lists the names from our plaques in this bulletin the Shabbat preceding the Yahrzeit.   Upcoming Events:   a. Board Meeting – Tuesday, July 8th  @ 7:30pm - at the synagogue b. Fundraising Committee Meeting - Wednesday, August 6th @ 7:30pm - at the synagogue c. Membership Committee Meeting – t/b/a d. Men’s Club – Sunday, July 13th @ 10:30am – Book Discussion and Brunch (see ad) e. Torah Discussion – Monday, July 21st @ 7:30pm - at the synagogue f. TTO/Bikkur Cholim Committee Mtg – Thursday, July 10th @ the home of Steven Schwabish g. Ritual/Education Meeting – Tuesday, August 5th @ 6:30pm - at the synagogue  Tzedakah:  The Tzedakah  collections for the month of  July 2008 will benefit:  Archways Food Drive Archways provides assistance to needy families in Broward County for mental health/ substance abuse issues.  This was the site of our Third Annual Community-Wide Tikkun Olam Project coordinated by the Jewish Federation of Broward County this past year.  We helped to establish a food pantry at the site, and now wish to follow up by re-stocking it.  This effort will certainly help the clients who depend on Archways for three meals a daily.  Please bring staples to CEC for our collection, such as cereal, pasta, rice, peanut butter, jelly, pasta sauce, canned vegetables, canned fruits, tuna fish, and canned meats.  Thank you.    Sponsor and Oneg - You too, can sponsor an ONEG – either individually at $100 or you may want to share an Oneg with a friend or another member at $50 each.  If you choose to do the shopping yourself a list of suggested items will be provided.  There is a red folder in the Guest Book, find an OPEN date and write your name and the reason for the Oneg, or call Sherry at 954-564-9232.   Food Drive   Congregation Etz Chaim is sponsoring an “On-Going” Food Drive to benefit needy local social service agencies, due to the urgent increased need for food in Broward County.   Food donations should be non-perishable items such as;   cereal, pasta, rice, peanut butter, jelly, pasta sauce, canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned tuna fish and canned meats.     Dinner with Friends   Sunday August 24, 2008   5-8 PM                          Join us for a Dinner Buffet to celebrate the spirit of Congregation Etz Chaim   At the home of Dr. Mark Schweizer   2632 NE 37th Street Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308 954-557-3003   A donation of $36.00 is requested along with a side dish   Attendance is limited to the first 25 paid reservations     Please contact Sherry at 954-564-9232 for reservations         Old Prayer Books, New Prayer Books and Bookplates for sale. Order Form will be in the June/July issue of L’Chaim     CEC Men’s Club     Book Discussion   Sunday, July 13th @10:30am At Congregation Etz Chaim     Book:   Pulitzer Prize Winning Novel The Yiddish Policeman’s Union By Michael Chabon   Paperback readily available at Barnes & Noble, Borders and through Amazon.com     Torah Discussion       Dr. Murray H. Lichtenstein   Monday, July 21, 2008 @ 7:30pm       The Musical Written by Louise Roche   Saturday, August 2, 2008 8:00pm   Parker Playhouse, Ft. Lauderdale   Tickets—$43.00 each   For more information, please call Joyce 954-718-5800 or Make checks payable to: Congregation Etz Chaim   Mail your check along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to:   Congregation Etz Chaim Att: Joyce Edelson 1881 NE 26th Street  Suite 100 Wilton Manors, FL 33305     Theater Tickets   Broadway Series Coming in 2009   Jersey Boys, Dame Edna, Avenue Q, and Chorus Line   Also   LaCage aux folles Sunday, January 11, 2009 2:00pm Stage Door Theater, Coral Springs Tickets—$32 each   Please call Joyce 954-718-5800 to put your name on a list for any of the 2009 shows.     Rabbi Harold Caminker’s    Office Hours   Tuesdays from 12 noon - 2:00pm No appointment necessary   If you wish to speak with Rabbi Harold, please call him at 954-850-8833     Etz Chaim Office Hours   Monday – Thursday 10:00am - 1:00pm then 2:00pm – 6:00pm   Friday 10:00am - 2:00pm   If you wish to speak with Sherry, please call her at 954-564-9232   Etz Chaim Gift Shop   Items may be purchased before or after Friday evening services.   You may also call the office to set up a convenient time during the week. 954-564-9232     Can’t get to services as often as you’d like?   Want to know what’s going on with the Social Committee, Men’s Club, and the Sisterhood?   Log on to our website to get the latest . . . see why we’ve had 42,050 hits!   www.etzchaimfl.org     If you wish to unsubscribe to this bulletin, please send us an email congregation@etz-chaim.com with the words Unsubscribe in the subject box.   Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com!               Condominium & Home Owners  Association Management   back to home page Get Membership Info Sign up for our Newsletter Stay informed about our Congregation