Whether taxpayers are supporting natural disaster recovery, COVID-19 pandemic aid or another cause that’s personally meaningful to them, their charitable donations may be tax deductible. These deductions basically reduce the amount of their taxable income. Here’s how the CARES Act changes deducting charitable contributions made in 2020: Previously, charitable contributions could only be deducted if taxpayers itemized their deductions. However, taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions may take a charitable deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made in 2020 to qualifying organizations. For the purposes of this deduction, qualifying organizations are those that are religious, charitable, educational, scientific or literary in purpose. The law changed in this area due to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The CARES Act also temporarily suspends limits on charitable contributions and temporarily increases limits on contributions of food inventory. More information about these changes is available at www.irs.govBeth Israel – The West Temple would be grateful if every one of our member households would consider making a donation using this one-time opportunity. All funds will go to our General Fund. If you have questions about this program, consult with your tax expert and/or view further information on the IRS website. Thank you.Peter A. SackettPresident, Board of Trustees
Town Hall Discussion – Feeding the Hungry in Northeast Ohio Beth Israel – The West Temple, and Peter Sackett, will host a Town Hall Discussion,with Kristin Warzocha, President and CEO, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, and Lona Gruber, founding director of the SCAN Hunger Center Pantry. Our guests will discuss their paths to leadership, challenges in their positions, goals and needs for the upcoming holiday season and other issues. Questions may be submitted via Chat Room during the live stream. Here is the YouTube link to the livestream https://youtu.be/b2J2jRfQdbM
NEXT Monday, November 23rd, 7:30-9:00 p.m. Join B’nai Jeshurun Congregation as they once again host:THE ARTS OF THANKSGIVINGfeaturing visual and performing artists from a variety of faithsand cultural backgrounds, expressing the beautiful diversity of our city through music,art and dance. This will be our 10th annual Arts of Thanksgiving. This year will be no different as we welcome performing artists from a variety of faiths and cultural backgrounds. The evening will feature pre-recorded performances and will include messages from clergy and organizational leaders across Cleveland. Registration is required.REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE
Also…
This year’s fourth annual West Park Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will take place at 7:00 p.m. NEXT Tuesday, November 24th.Since this event is always quite large, our hope is to keep us all safe by offering this event virtually. Each of our communities will be highlighted* as we worship our God together. Everyone is also invited to offer a donation to the food pantry of your choice, that others might be filled during this season. The event will take place online at https://westparkucc.org/livestream *Rabbi Lader and Charlotte Feldman will be representing our congregation.
We’ll slowly go through the Shabbat services and invite everyone to make comments and ask questions as we go along. We might find that discussions get stuck in a certain area because people really want to think about and discuss the details we can’t contemplate in the short time frame of a service. It’s fine, for example, to dwell on the multiple translations of the same Hebrew text and consider their different implications. Or, to take the time needed to really look at those footnotes and understand why they are there.
It will be helpful if you have picked up a copy of Mishkan T’filah.
Hundreds of Reform Jews gathered November 11 to lift up our civic engagement efforts and accomplishments, hear from our partners about the impact of the election on the most urgent issues of the moment, and commit to pursuing justice in 2021. If you weren’t able to join us, you can watch a recording on the RAC’s Facebook page. But our civic engagement work isn’t over yet: Now, our efforts are focused on ensuring that every vote is counted in the Georgia Senate runoff elections. Here’s how you can get involved in this important work:
In a year with unprecedented turnout and millions of votes cast by mail, it will take time to count all ballots to ensure that every voice is heard. Although there are many uncertainties, there is one thing we know about the election: Vulnerable and oppressed communities remain vulnerable and oppressed. Our role is to work together, to keep building relationships to strengthen each other, and reach out to those who could be susceptible to messages of hate.
Tell your elected officials to support a new relief package to protect the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Town Hall with Shosh Ault and Arnon Chait
Rescheduled
We apologize for Wednesday night’s technical/sound problems during our Town Hall program with Peter Sackett, Shosh Ault, and Arnon Chait… It has been rescheduled for Thursday, December 3rd at 7:00 p.m. Here is the link for this livestream presentation: https://youtu.be/MUOf8T1ehO8
We are so pleased to advise that Shosh Ault and Arnon Chait have agreed to be our guests at our next Town Hall — Our subjects will include the following: their respective journeys/paths to the USA and Cleveland,where they were living before the USA,when they left, why they left, what they left behind,who joined them on their journey,and later, how they found their way to Beth Israel – The West Temple.And, how they have led their blessed lives – their respective family and business adventures. We all have the greatest respect for these special guests. They have been pillars of our temple community for many, many years. These interviews will bring their stories to the forefront. Peter SackettPresident, Board of Trustees
Jewish Wisdom for Stressed-Out Parents in a Pandemic
For Parents, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles…
THIS Sunday, November 8, 7:00 p.m.
our Scholar-in-Residence series continues
“Jewish Wisdom for Stressed Out Parents In a Pandemic” featuring Greg Marcus, the founder of American Mussar As parents, we are constantly challenged by our kids. Sheltering at home during the pandemic only throws gas on this fire. On top of regular parenting challenges, we now have to navigate hybrid or online education, one’s own career, single parenting or spousal relationships, all under one roof. These are fraught and overwhelming times. Come to this highly interactive session to learn how the Jewish Mindfulness practice of Mussar can help you become more present, stress less, and love more.. You’ll walk away knowing that you are not alone, and with a tool or two to help you cope with the current challenges.
Greg Marcus brings an everyday perspective to his teaching, with a broad background including a Ph.D in biology from MIT, a ten year career as a marketer in the genomics industry, and ten years as a stay at home parent. His latest book is The Spiritual Practice of Good Actions:Finding Balance Through the Soul Traits of Mussar, and he is currently a Rabbi in training at the Academy of Jewish Religion, CA.
Greg created Mussar parenting to help him cope with two teen daughters.
Please use the following Zoom Link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82820040865?pwd=S096TUpZN1hYM3ROUkIzbHoycUo1dz09Meeting ID: 828 2004 0865Passcode: 319702 Dial in: 646-876-9923This Scholar-in-Residence program is funded by BI-TWT’s Zaransky Speaker Fund and the Congregational Enrichment Fund of Cleveland’s Jewish Education Center
SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR DECEMBER TOWN HALL MEETING:WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH AT 7:00 P.M. Beth Israel – The West Temple will host a Town Hall Discussion with Kristin Warzocha, President and CEO, Greater Cleveland Food Bank; and Lona Gruber, founding director of the SCAN Hunger Center Pantry. Our guests will discuss their paths to leadership, challenges in their positions, goals and needs for the upcoming holiday season and other issues. Questions may be submitted via Chat Room during the live stream. Here is the YouTube link to the livestream: https://youtu.be/b2J2jRfQdb
. NEXT Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:30 p.m. as we continue planning for our Annual Women’s Seder In preparation, Trisha asked us to think about the following:* if we could choose one item meaningful to us to include on the Seder plate, what would it be? * the afikomen, the four children, the plagues, and… ? If you missed the first session, we hope that you will want to join us for this second one and for our Women’s Seder. We are looking forward to being together again,Barbara Schwartz, Chair, Circle of Friends(Beth Israel’s Rosh Chodesh Group) Join Circle of Friends Meeting by Zoom:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/95683038364?pwd=YWk4WUdhY01aaTlsTHBZdy84SHV1QT09 Meeting ID: 956 8303 8364Passcode: 830638Dial in: 646 876 9923 US (New York)
