Temple Groups

Brotherhood
The North-American Federation of Temple Brotherhoods provides services and programming nationally and locally for the men of our congregation. They also provide programs for the entire congregation and community.

The Jewish Chautauqua Society is a national project to which our local brotherhood contributes financially. JCS reaches out to the wider community by contributing books to colleges and libraries, sponsoring rabbis who teach at colleges and providing funds for local outreach programs. Beth HaTephila Brotherhood's local outreach program is the Isaac Lichtenfels Interfaith Clergy Institute. This late spring event brings in a speaker for a public lecture and a half day clergy workshop on a topic which is scholarly and touches upon interfaith issues.

The Sunday Brunches, held several times yearly, provide food, fellowship, and interesting programs for the congregation and guests. Programs have included speakers on politics, local history, Holocaust survivors, and humor. The annual congregation picnic, put on by Brotherhood with assistance from Sisterhood, is a summer favorite.

For several years, the Brotherhood has sponsored a tutoring program at a nearby school. This involves congregation members in a weekly session with children who need help with schoolwork. Any congregational member may participate.

Sisterhood
The Sisterhood of Congregation Beth HaTephila is affiliated with the Women of Reform Judaism, the woman's movement of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. WRJ has national concerns, speaks out about injustices, financially supports the UAHC seminaries, and founded and supports the National Federation of Temple Youth, or NFTY.

BHT Sisterhood gives the women of the congregation an organization which permits them to develop friendships and leadership abilities and serve the congregation. Locally, the Sisterhood does service projects, fund raising, and programs for the congregation. It deals with good and welfare for the whole congregation, supervises the Onegs, runs and maintains the gift shop for the temple, and outfits the kitchen. it supplies funds for the religious school, funds for equipment replacement and beautification of the building. Every year the Sisterhood prepares and presents a Sisterhood Service.

Its programs, usually open to all, educate on both Jewish and community topics. This year we have started a Women's Study Group with the Rabbi. We have done Torah study, read and discussed Jewish books, learned about health, community services and Jewish history.

Under Sisterhood's sponsorship, books for children are collected from the congregation and other sources every year and donated to community organizations which then give them to young children for their very own. And a neighborhood clean-up is done biannually as part of the city effort.

Youth Groups
We have two youth groups: A post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah group (to age 18), and a Junior group (5th through 7th grade). Youth group programs are organized and conducted jointly with other youth from the Asheville Jewish community.

Friendship Circle
Our Temple's Friendship Circle is a great way to discuss topics relevant to Jewish life while also socializing with fellow congregants. We meet once a month on Saturday mornings where we schmooze with bagels and coffee, followed by a short Shabbat service. After the service, we sit in a circle and discuss the issue of the month.

In the past, we have had give-and-take discussions on such topics as growing up Jewish in the South, ethical and moral issues from a Jewish perspective, and everyday living guided by readings from the Talmud. This year we are using the publication Sh'ma to explore the pros and cons of issues of Jewish importance. Consult the congregational calendar for our meeting dates.

Social Justice Committee
The Social Justice Committee, established in the fall of 2001, supplements the direct social service projects of the Temple with issues of public policy and advocacy.

The mission statement is:

"The Torah's call for justice being paramount to us, the Social Justice Committee of Beth HaTephila will:

• Respond to calls for action from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC)
• Educate ourselves and the congregation on these and related local issues
• Provide avenues for action
• Work in coalition with others where indicated"

The Religious Action Center is the Washington office of the Commission on Social Action, an arm of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Central Conference of American Rabbis. The basis of their work is the resolutions passed at the Biennial Conventions, inspired by Prophetic Judaism, the basis of the Reform Movement. Its website is www.rac.org.

We have identified these areas of major concern: separation of church and state, race relations, environment, economic justice, affordable housing, children's issues, problems of aging.

We have a Message Center in Unger Hall and on the Bima for the transmission of Calls for Action, conduct forums, and work in coalition with others on common concerns