News from Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation-Emek Shalom

Does your family have more than one email address? Don't rely on your spouse to forward the weekly FVJC e-blasts. Add your address to our distribution list by clicking here.

This Week at FVJC-Emek Shalom:

Passover Food Drive

Passover is coming soon! Our 19th annual Passover Food Drive will be from February 28th - March 14th. All of our donations, labeled Kosher for Passover, will go to Jewish Family Services in West Hartford for distribution to needy Jewish families. click here for more details...

Junior Congregation

Please join us on Friday, March 26, at 6:00 pm for our Junior Congregation Service & Pizza Dinner. The cost of the dinner is $5/person. To reserve your spot, please send a check (made payable to "FVJC-ES") to Sue Lerner, 64 Scoville Road, Avon, CT 06001, or drop off your check in the religious school office. Deadline for reservations is Tuesday, March 23. Unfortunately, no late reservations will be accepted. All families are asked to bring a dessert to share. For more information, please contact Sue Lerner at suelerner@sbcglobal.net.

2nd Annual Comedy Night

A Night of Comedy is Good for Whatever Ails You! Three great comics from the stages of Improv Asylum and Improv Boston will have you rolling in the ailes. Click on their names to preview some of the fun from Marty Johnson, Maria Ciampa and Harry Gordon. Click here to reserve your seats with Randi Chin or get more information on the flyer.

Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Remembrance

Take part in our exciting community-based commemoration of Yom Hashoah on Sunday, April 11, 2010. We, and members of other faith communities in Simsbury, will publicly read the names of all those who perished in the Holocaust, over a 24-hour period of time.

We are looking for volunteers of either individuals, families, or groups to take approximately a 15 minute block of time and read aloud the names of those whose lives were stolen from them during the Holocaust. The public reading will take place from Saturday, April 10 at 6:30 pm until Sunday, April 11 at 6:30 pm. This public reading will take place on the steps of Eno Memorial Hall. We will assign times when it is most convenient for you to be there. The public reading of the names will take place outside unless there is inclement weather.

If you are interested in participating in this project, please email Rabbi Herman at rabbi@fvjc.org or call him at 860-651-8576 within the next two weeks and let him know of your interest. Please include your email address and phone number in the email. We would love to include you in this endeavor.

What's Your Vision for FVJC?

All FVJC members are invited to participate in creating a new vision statement and mission. As we move toward our 50th anniversary, this process will help us identify how we:

define becoming a caring, compassionate, and welcoming community,
prepare for and responding to the changing needs of current and future Temple members, and
contribute to the spiritual, religious, social and educational needs of a diverse congregation while serving the Farmington Valley and its surrounding community, the Jewish Federation, the Union of Reform Judaism, and Israel.

We want to create a compelling vision that leads to a Temple culture that is spiritually rewarding, inclusive, dynamic, and thriving in good times and bad times. As difficult as it may be to find time to participate, we value your voice, your thoughts, your feelings and your insights.

We look forward to working with each of you that joins us on April 11, Sunday from 9:15 AM until Noon. Everyone's input will be valued and appreciated. There will be a one hour meeting from Noon to 1 PM for our valued faculty and staff who wish to participate but need to be working during the initial segment. The meetings will take place at the Temple. Please RSVP to Nancy Grandin at admin@fvjc.org.

Used Book Sale

Looking for some fresh reads for April Break? Have some gently used books after spring cleaning? FVJC will be hosting a Used Book Sale on Friday 3/26 and Sunday 3/28 in the Multi-Purpose Room. Hours Friday are 11-3 and Sunday 9-3.