Temple+Beth+Shalom,+Long+Beach+CA

=**Temple Beth Shalom of Long Beach, California (Conservative, 180 Households)**=

**The Shabbat Hospitality Initiative** (Updated November 2009 from 2nd Year Renewal Application)
The **Shabbat Hospitality Initiative (SHI)** is a multi-pronged, systemic, and integrated approach to renewing Shabbat at Temple Beth Shalom of Long Beach, California (TBS). The lead effort is an innovative Shabbat outreach initiative on one Friday night a month that encourages members to have Shabbat home dinners with multiple guests. The congregation provides “Shabbat trained ritual and social facilitators, to work with hosts to create an interactive and joyful Shabbat table experience in these homes. The aim of this program, called **Shalom Aleichem**, is to encourage the widespread hosting of Shabbat home meals, an increase of sharing Shabbat (//hachnasat orchim//) with fellow congregants and people in the community, and a dissemination of Shabbat practices and ritual skills throughout the congregation. Paired with Shalom Aleichem is the **Shavua Tov** Shabbat Afternoon initiative, which brings a joyful and engaging monthly communal Shabbat experience to our families. Meeting at the synagogue, Shavua Tov is a family celebration and learning experience centered on the Shabbat traditions of the afternoon. A joyful Third Shabbat meal, Havdallah, and family education sessions build community and familiarity with Shabbat practices and values. This Shabbat experience also generates greater comfort of the families with each other and with the synaogue, as well as fondness for Shabbat ritual, reflection and relaxation. SHI is the combination of these programs and more; the broader aim is to energize the entire congregation, inspire a new generation to assume leadership in the congregation along with our legacy members, and improve the perception of our congregation in the wider community.

Contact: Temple Beth Shalom of Long Beach 3635 Elm Ave Long Beach, CA 90807

Rabbi Dov Gartenberg 562 426-6413 #202 rabbi@tbslb.org

Rabbi Arielle Hanien Director of Educatioon (562 426-6413 #207 education@tbslb.org

**Shabbat Hospitality Initiative Steering Group**
Members: Adrienne Jacobson, Host Coordinator adjin521@gmail.com Karen Weinstein, Temple Co-President krweinstein@mac.com Nora Levy, Marketing John Williams, Evaluation and Shavua Tov Elie Levy, Animator Robyn Hendricks, Animator

**Shabbat Table Animators**
In addition to Rabbis Gartenberg and Hanien Professor Jeff Blutinger

Robyn Hendricks Dr. Elie Levy Joyce Greenspan (added 11/08)



John Williams

Consulting Professionals Consultation: Dr. Ron Wolfson, 2008-2009 rwolfson@ajula.edu

Evaluation: Dr. Sharon Seidman, 2008-2009 sharonseidman@cox.net

Evaluation, Joan Kaye, 2009-10 joankaye@cox.net Phone: (949) 759-0739

=__I.__ **__Publicity and Marketing Material for Shabbat Hospitality Initiative__** = = 2009-2010 = = = ** Narrative: Our approach to publicity this year changed to reflect changes we made to the Shalom Aleichem program. The first change is the institution of early Shabbat Services on Friday evenings (#6 and #7) These services emerged as a result of the first year of the grant. Early services allowed Rabbi Gartenberg to be available earlier to host dinners at home or small dinners in the synagogue. It also allowed us to allow for more flexibility for families to host dinners on other nights than the once a month hosting Shabbat we did during the first year. (See how this explained in the letter and brochure (#1 and #2) The early service format also helped with a new innovatioon this summer of Shabbats in the Park, a monthly outdoor Shabbat at Mother's Beach (near the shore in the Long Beach Marina).

Another key change was to market the Shalom Aleichem Shabbats as "Shabbat Table Experiences" (#1 and #2). By highlighting the experience, hosts could choose based on their needs as opposed to last year's focus on choosing an animator. Look at the Shabbat Table Experience Listing (#3) to see the range of Shabbat Table Experiences (STE) we are offering. At the same time, to encourage the congregation to come together on Shabbat on a regular basis, we started a community Shabbat dinner once a month, adding to the popular Sisterhood Shabbat/Festival dinners (4x a year) with Community Shabbat Celebrations (#8) which included a congregational dinner, a musical service, and participation of Torah School students in those services. This allowed our Friday evenings to breathe with frequent small dinners punctuated by congregation wide large Shabbat dinners integrating all populations.

Despite these changes, we did find that members were slow to host in their homes in the Fall. Instead of waiting for hosts to host, Rabbi Gartenberg began to initiate small Shabbat dinners after services after almost every Friday evening service, first at his home, and later at the synagogue. These small dinners have proved so popular that the steering group decided to make them public (instead of invitation only) and to have Animators lead the gatherings while members had the opportunity to cohost with Rabbi Gartenberg (#10). **​

1. Host Encouragement Letter

2. Shabbat Table Experience Brochure 2009-2010

3.Shabbat Table Experience Listing 2009-2010 4. Shabbat Animator Profiles 2009-2010

5.Sign Up Form for Shabbat Table Experiences

6. Publicity for the New Taste of Shabbat Early Services Summer and Fall 2009

7. Shabbat in the Park Publicity Summer 2009

8. Community Shabbat Celebration Flier 2009-2010

9. Shavua Tov Announcements Fall 2009

10. Shabbat Table Experiences at Beth Shalom Announcements 11/09

11. Shabbat Hospitality Page at the TBS Website with links

= = = 2008-2009 = //Ron Wolfson Scholar in Residence and Launch of Shalom Aleichem Shabbat TBS engaged Ron Wolfson, known nationally for his Shabbat outreach and synagogue innovation work to launch the Shalom Aleichem Shabbat program// on Shabbat Hol Hamoed Sukkot, Oct 17-18.

[|TBSSHI Wolfson Postcard.pdf] Postcard used to publicize Wolfson Scholar in Residence Weekend [|TBSSHI Wolfson Press Release.doc] Press Release for Wolfson Weekend

//Shalom Aleichem Shabbat Brochure// This brochure was designed to introduce the Shalom Aleichem Shabbat Program to the congregation. It was distributed at services and on High Holidays. It is a simple presentation of the program. It is also reprinted on the website and available at the pews at the synagogue. [|TBSSHI SAS Brochure Outside.pdf] [|TBSSHI SAS brochureinside.pdf]

Below is the Guide to Hosts which gives basic information about participating in Shalom Aleichem and about our Animators [|TBSSHI SAS host guide 9-1-08 version.doc]

Several Members were targeted to host and were sent this letter [|TBSSHI 08-09 Invitation to hosts.doc]

Part of the SHI involved revitalizing Shabbat services on the remaining 3 Fridays when there was not Shalom Aleichem Shabbat. See below the brochure used to highlight the new Friday Night Cycle of services at TBS [|TBSSHI FridayNightback.pdf] [|TBSSHI FridayNightfront.pdf]

//Communications, and Writing about the Program to Synagogue Members and Leadership// [|//TBSSHI Shabbat Hospitality Initiative FAQ.doc//] Eary Q and A about SHI [|//TBSSHI 08-08 August Column LH Q and A.doc//] August Newsletter Column [|//TBSSHI 08-09 Rabbi's Column SAS Program.doc//] September Column [|TBSSHI November 2008 Scribe To Shy to Host.doc] November Column addressing encouraging people to host [|TBSSHI November Scribe Article.doc] November Newsletter Artilcle about Shalom Aleichem This piece Rabbi Gartenberg wrote before the LH grant in the local Jewish Press about his origial idea of the Shabbat Animator [|08-01 Chronicle Column Rabbi as a Shabbat Animator.doc]

Local Press Coverage [|LH Press Release 7-30-08.docx] This Press Release sent out in the Fall led to several articles in the local press. The most comprehensive article to date about our project appeared in the Orange County Jewish Life December edition at this link on pages 60-62. More articles are pending. http://flashedition.com/publication/?i=8608&pre=1&p=1 or [|TBSSHI Press-Orange Country Jewish Life 12-08.pdf] Here are other articles in the local press

[|News Enterprise 10-1-08 Shalom Aleichem.tif]

[|Grunion Gazette Shalom Aleichem Article 10-2-08.mht]

= **__II. Educational and Training Materials for the Shabbat Hospitality Initiative __** =

//Rosh Hashannah Sermon by Rabbi Gartenberg on Shabbat and the Introduction to Shalom Aleichem//
[|TBS HH Sermon on Shalom Aleichem.doc]

//Animator Materials and Training//
We have created a new educational role called the Shabbat Table Animator. Below are the materials we are using to recruit, train, and orient members of our synagogue and community to serve as Shabbat Table Animators:

[|TBSSHI Shabbat Animators Roster.doc] This was the initial roster of animators. [|What is a Shabbat Table Animator.doc] A basic description of a Shabbat Animator [|TBSSHI Info on Shalom Aleichem Shabbat for Animators.doc] [|TBSSHI Rabbi Dov Guide for Shabbat Animating.doc] [|TBSSHI Shabbat Seder Leader's Guide.doc] [|Animator's Kol Bo.doc] Comprehensive Animator Training Doc [|TBS Animator Shabbat Seder-10-08.doc] Order of Shabbat Seder for Animator Shabbat on 10/3/08

Texts and Song Resources for Animators and Hosts
[|TBS Animator Shabbat Supplement 10-08.doc] Supplementary texts, prayers for Shabbat seder [|TBS Animators-Texts and Themes.doc] Integrated Themes for Shalom Aleichem and Shavua Tov Programs. A grid for specific themes for animators to share on each Shabbat [|TBS Animator Texts on Shabbat.doc] Texts on the idea of Shabbat to start conversation at the Shabbat table. [|TBSSHI Blessing for hosts 2.pdf] A beautiful Yemenite harahaman blessing for hosts done by animators

On the Second Shalom Aleichem on 12/5/08 we started sending out a resource sheet for animators and hosts. This helps us all be on the same page. [|08-12 Shalom Aleichem Message to Shabbat Animators and to Hosts.doc] We also included two recommend songs on our theme of Taanug for this Shalom Aleichem Shabbat [|TBSSHI Song yismechu bmalchutecha.WMA] [|MahYedidut-Song for 12-5-08.WMA]

**Shavua Tov Materials**
Attached are documents and picture from our "Shavua Tov" Shabbat afternoon program of our Torah School. Shavua Tov meets monthly on Shabbat afternoons and consists of a family education component, a third Shabbat meal and Havdalah. The entire school attends with parents. Below is a grid that shows our efforts to integrate Shavua Tov with the other main element of the Shabbat Hospitality Initiative, Shalom Aleichem Shabbat. [|TBSSHI Themes and Integration.doc] Here are study sheets we have used for Shavua Tov [|TBSSHI Shavua Tov Shabbat quotes - Copy.doc] Pictures from a recent Shavua Tov Celebration [|TBSSHI_09-01_Shavua_Tov_2.JPG][|TBSSHI_09-01_Shavua_Tov_2.JPG][|TBSSHI_09-01_Shavua_Tov_2.JPG] Here is a link to a Picasa gallery of dozens of pictures from January Shavua Tov. See the joy!! []# .

= III. Materials Relating to Systemic Congregational Change = November 2009: Below is an important description of the evolution of the TBS Shalom Aleichem Shabbat at Home Program. This document is stimulating discussion about the role of Shabbat hospitality and Shabbat gatherings at the congregation.

Two pieces used with Lay Leaders to provoke discussion and to understand the thinking behind the Shalom Aleichem Initiative [|Shift the focus from synagogue to home-Boteach piece.doc] This is a very provocative piece which goes directly to the reason for emphasize home practice [|Why Shalom Aleichem Shabbat is good for TBS.doc] Short Thought Piece to promote discussion

Midterm Report Submission 12/18/08 [|TBS SHI LHIP midyear report 08-09.doc] [|TBS SHI LHIP 2009 Objectives Grid.doc] [|TBS SHI LHIP Financial Reporting 12-08.xls]

Surveys and Focus Group Documents Below is the account of our first focus group discussion of synagogue leaders.

Evaluations: We seek evaluations from hosts, animators, and guests to assess the effectiveness of our programs. Below are some examples. We are grateful to Sharon Seidman for refining these surveys. It also appears in our midyear report. [|08-11-23 Focus Group Summary.pdf] Below is the analysis of the pilot survey by our evaluator, Dr. Sharon Seidman [|Evaluator's Report Beth Shalom Mid-Year F08.doc] Below are revised surveys developed in Dec. 2008 The first survey is used for guests who attend Shalom Aleichem Shabbatot [|Feedback Survey for Guests of Shalom Aleichem Shabbat Dinner-revised.doc] This is the new congregational survey we are sending out in early January [|beth shalom survey 2 F08.pdf]

Below are testimonials and direct feedback from Shabbat Animators about their Shabbat table experiences and the Shabbat culture of the congregation. [|TBSSHI Elie Levy Animator Report.txt] [|TBSSHI 09-01 Blutinger feedback on Shalom Aleichem 2-6.][|TBSSHI Levy Annimation at Milman 2-09.txt]

Here is the Shabbat booklet that Elie is using when he animates Shabbat tables. He is a volunteer and has become a much sought after animator. [|TBSSHI Elie Levy-volunteer animator-Shabbat Booklet]

Below is a very successful of an intergerational event that was a direct result of greater engagement of our families and interaction with legacy members of the congregation. This took place at a congregational Tu Bishvat Seder attended by nearly 100 members on 2/8/09. This event had remarkable Ruach and an hugely enthusiastic response. This is visceral evidence of systemic change in the congregation. Some Pictures of the Intergenerational character and the incedible food served at this Seder. [|TBSSHI_09-02_TuBishvat_Intergenerational.JPG][|TBSSHI_09-02_TuBishvat_Intergenerational.JPG][|TBSSHI_09-02_TuBishvat_Intergenerational.JPG][|TBSSHI_09-02_TuBishvat_Intergenerational.JPG]



Original Grant Submission [|TBSSHI LH InnovationGrant SHI Proposal from TBSLB.doc]

Original Planning Grid [|TBSSHI LHIG Master Grid for SHI.doc]

The Shabbat Hospitality Initiative of Temple Beth Shalom of Long Beach, California