Havurat Ee Shalom

Come share the depth and the beauty of these ancient traditions

Scheduled Events:

• Wednesday, September 28:  Erev Rosh Hashanah-6:30  pm
• Thursday, September 29:  Rosh Hashanah morning services- beginning 9:30 am - (Including Shofar service; followed by Kiddush lunch; then afternoon service)
• Thursday September 29: Tashlich at Liza Beulah Park-3:30 
• Friday September 30:  Rosh Hashanah second day- 9:30 am  
• Friday, October 7:  Kol Nidre- 6 pm Sharp  
• Saturday, October 8:  Morning service beginning 9:30 am
• Saturday, October 8:  Memorial Service (Yizkor) 5:45 pm
• Saturday, October 8:  Closing (Neilah) 6:15 pm
• Havdallah and Break the Fast Potluck:  7:20 pm

Everyone is Welcome regardless of practice, experience, affiliation

Special children’s service and activities will be held prior to Erev Rosh Hashanah services

“Vashon Havurah Presents…” is a new series of notable local speakers.  These free events take place at Havurat Ee Shalom, at 7 pm on the fourth Friday of each month.  The first speaker launching the series in February was Dr. Barry Grosskopf.  Speaking to a crowd that spilled into the foyer, Barry spoke about how trauma changes a person, whether the trauma results from abuse in childhood, rape, war, or disaster, and how to heal from trauma.  Barry believes that the current conceptions of PTSD interfere with a person’s ability to make a life.  A psychiatrist for the past 32 year, he has dedicated almost his entire career to community psychiatry, working with the disenfranchised and with those called “treatment-resistant.” 
This session is available on video tape and available online at the following link.  Thanks go to videographer Mark Corlis, Mobile Media Productions (206-498-8565).  Mark has asked that viewers click on the heart in the upper right corner to indicate that they like the production, and also to please leave comments about the production.

Dr. Barry Grosskopf Video  -- http://vimeo.com/channels/92935

On May 21, Wendy Marcus will return to Vashon with contributors to Drash: Northwest Mosaic and Polyglot:  Stories from the West’s Wet Edge to share original stories.
Wendy Marcus was a reporter for the Seattle Times, Vancouver, Columbian and University of Washington Daily. She co-founded with Rabbi James Mirel, the Northwest’s first Klezmer band - the beloved Mazeltones - in 1983. After a successful run of 16 years, the band spawned many Klezmer ensembles and Marcus went on to build the music program at Temple Beth Am in Seattle’s North End, where she serves as Music Director and editor of Drash: Northwest Mosaic, a literary journal.

How did you get to Vashon?  We came up from Sacramento to visit Jason's aunt & cousin who live here....Jason had been here & kept telling me how much I'd love it.  This was in July or August and of course I did…but first we decided to get married and find jobs.  Fortuitously right around that time Jason's company purchased another company on Vashon!   I limited my job search to 3 blocks from the ferry terminal downtown.  I found the dream job, but needed to start work immediately.  Quit my CA job, a colleague at work offered me her Vashon cabin so I could work for 2 weeks, went back to get married, moved up with Jason...a whirlwind!  It'll be 4 years this June!
My work is for the King County Council.  I'm on the policy staff addressing policy areas from technology issues to energy efficiency to animal control...currently I'm doing a briefing on the census efforts under way ...what we're doing to promote the census in King Co.  Every week is different.

What is important about being Jewish to you?  Family connections. I didn't grow up in an observant family...we did holidays...but never went to temple...I never did bat mitzvah, but Jewish identity is still very much in my family.

What is your favorite Passover food?  Matzah ball soup...I don't make it....but my great aunt Edy's matzah ball soup sets the standard!

What’s your vision or hopes for the Vashon Havurah?   That it continues to be and grow as a place for community & friendship.   Ideas for fostering this?  Activities are important.  I hear some people complaining that the Havurah isn't this or that.  I think people should speak up for what they want and also practice friendly tolerance and acceptance that there’s more than one way to do things.  What’s that old saying?  Three Jews, four opinions!

Describe your best day… being outdoors, hiking in the mountains.  There's a beautiful remote area in the Sierras about 20 miles from the road...being there with Jason & our dog is a pretty good day.  We have a big blue poodle, Riley...8 years old.

The Jewish Girls Gone Bad event you organized last year was such a blast and completely unexpected…what other ideas do you have for events?   I'd like to bring back one or two of the "bad girls" to do a comedy show.  Some group outings to get to know people would be fun...like to see opera, or movies in Seattle or hiking, sharing Jewish recipes & cooking together.

You’re the building manager, anything you’d like readers to know about rentals or building issues?  We have a beautiful building.  I'd encourage the membership to take advantage of using it for special events in their lives...like weddings, baby naming ceremonies, bar/bat mitzvah, etc.    I'd like to remind people that all tables & chairs stay in the building.  The havurah is rented out during the school year to classes that meet regularly several times during the week.  In the summer we're not utilized that much and it's a great place for weddings --the setting is so nice.