Congregations

Cong. Beth Israel, Sun City Center

Membership gala: Enjoy an evening of dining and dancing and live entertainment at the Beth Israel Membership Gala on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza Club, 3932 Upper Creek Drive, Sun City Center. Tickets are $25 per member; $30 per person in the same household or for out of town guests. RSVPs required. For more information, call Eileen West at (813) 634-5603.

The senior years: Visiting

Rabbi Howard Jaffe of Lexington, MA., will speak on “Coming to Grips the Jewish Way: Faith and Caring in Senior Years,” on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 11 a.m., followed by lunch. The event is free but RSVPs required by Jan. 25 to Cyrille Cobe at 633-9078 or bac. cobe@gmail.com. This event will take the place of the monthly meeting of the Men’s Club.

Book club: The book club meets on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at noon. The book this month is My father’s paradise: a son’s search for his Jewish past in Kurdish Iraq by Ariel Sabar. Bring a lunch and $1 for the library.

Fashion show: The Sisterhood and Coldwater Creek invite women in the community to a fashion show and luncheon, chaired by Shelly Grossman, on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 11:30 a.m. at Club Renaissance. There will be prizes, open seating and Sisterhood’s own models at this year’s annual fundraiser. Reservations are $25 per person. For more information call 634-8092.

Men’s Club dinner: The Men’s Club annual dinner will he held at Circles Restaurant of Apollo Beach on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 3:30 p.m. There will be a discussion on finance and investments. RSVP to Arnie Abramson at 643-8863.

Cong. Schaarai Zedek

Yale prof lecture: Prof. Christine Hayes’s last lecture in her four-part course “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible” will be broadcast live from Yale University on Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 7-8 p.m., followed by dessert. Hayes will speak on “Israel in Egypt: Moses and the Beginning of Yahwism.” The lecture will be followed by a discussion by Rabbi Richard Birnholz and Rabbi Joel Simon. RSVP to (813) 876-2377.

Softball showdown: It’s the SchZFTY youth group vs. Brotherhood in a softball game on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 11:30 a.m. at the Swann Avenue ballfield. There will be a lunch along with the game. RSVP to Lindsey at lmorgan@zedek.org.

Tampa tradition & Tu B’Shevat: A Next Dor pre-Tu B’Shevat (and pre-Gasparilla) celebration seder will be held Thursday, Jan. 28 from 7-9 p.m. The event, “Pirates, Pinot, and Preservation,” will be a unique combination of a Jewish holiday and a Tampa tradition. There will be pirate hats and beads for participants in the Tu B’Shevat seder, which will include four cups of wine, fruit, nuts, and other snacks. For information or to RSVP contact Rabbi Simon at jsimon@zedek.org or 876-2377, ext. 229.

Bagels ‘n’ blocks: Parents & Tots (newborn to 4 years) will get together on Friday, Jan. 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. There will be bagels and coffee for adults while tots play. Celebrate Shabbat with songs, crafts and special music with Mr. Mike. For information, contact Sherry Stein, director of Life Long Learning, at 876- 2377, ext. 210.

Cong. Rodeph Sholom

Downtown study group: Meet with Rabbi Marc Sack from noon to 1 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month from now through June on the 27th floor of the Bank of America building in downtown Tampa. The course is open to all people and the discussion is often lively. The group does a “close reading” of the Torah text, seeking to understand the foundations of ancient Judaism and its development through history.

Mitzvah project: The Sisterhood is seeking donations for Everyday Blessings, a child placement agency and residential group care program. Needed are pajamas of all sizes, toilet paper, baby wipes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and gently used or new books for readers of all ages.

Cong. Bais Menachem

Chabad

Leaders remembered: Join Bais Menachem Chabad on the 10th of Shevat, Monday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. for a special gathering, featuring a special video presentation, to commemorate the yahrzeit of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, (1880 - 1950), the Sixth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch. This was also the day his legendary son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, assumed the leadership of the Chabad movement, continuing and expanding his predecessor’s work. The event is at Bais David Chabad, 2001 W. Swann Ave., Tampa.

Women’s night out: A women’s Tu B’Shevat seder, featuring a handson demonstration of fruit decorating, will be held at the home of Francine Levine in Tampa, on Wednesday, Jan 27, from 7-9 p.m. For more information and directions, contact Bais Menachem.

Bubbe’s project: Attend a lesson on making gefilte fish from scratch.

Lilia Kratser, will not only make you into a gefilte fish pro, but also share her personal story growing up in Russia. Children are welcome. Supervised care and snacks will be offered The event is Sunday, Feb 14, from 2-4 p.m. at Chana’s Kitchen, 8913 Eastman Drive, Tampa.

Purim Basket project: Sending food gifts to friends and family for Purim is a Mitzvah. Hadassah & Young Israel of Tampa has teamed up to send gift baskets to family and friends. For a $5 donation - your name will be added to a card, which will be sent along to your family and friends with the gift basket. The deadline to place your Purim basket order is Friday, Feb. 12 at 6p.m. For more information, call Dvorki Rivkin at 983-9770 or email Chana Rivkin at bmchabad@gmail. com.

Mommy and Me: Children up to 5 years old can enjoy song, dance and arts and crafts during Mommy and Me sessions. Moms meet moms in their homes every Thursday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. RSVP to Dvorki Rivkin at 83-9770 or Chana Rivkin at bmchabad@gmail.com.

Cong. Kol Ami

Torah class: Join Rabbi Robert D. Judd, on Wednesday, Jan 27 at 11 a.m. for his presentation on the Torah’s parsha of the week, followed by stimulating discussion.

Hazak meeting: Dan Sultan, marketing director at Weinberg Village senior residence, will give a presentation at the Hazak meeting on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 11 a.m. on “How to save money on medication.”

Monday with Mordy: Rabbi Mordecai Levy’s continuing education series is held on Mondays at 10 a.m.

Brush up: A painting class continues from last semester on Sunday, Jan 24 and 31 at 10 a.m.

Bim Bat Shabbat: Shabbat services for children from pre-kindergarten to second grade and children 2 or 3 who have an accompanying adult will be held on Saturdays, Jan. 23 and Feb. 20 at 10 a.m.

Cong. Beth Am

Travel plans: Come hear about a planned trip to Israel in 2011 and participate in early planning on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 9:45 a.m. Those who cannot attend, but are interested in the trip should contact Rabbi Jason Rosenberg at RabbiRosenberg@ tampabay.rr.com.

Save the date: Dr. Joel Hoffman, a linguist and expert in translation, Hebrew and the Bible will be the scholar in residence from March 26 -28.

Cong. Beth Shalom

Brandon

Wine and cheese: Learn about the different chavurah groups at a wine and cheese party at the temple on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. This is open to anyone who is interested in learning about a chavurah. For information, call Phyllis Newman at 651-3903 or email her at phylnew@ verizon.net.

Bingo: Monthly bingo sessions are held at Congregation Beth Shalom the first Saturday of the month, with the food concession opening at 6:30 p.m. and bingo beginning at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $15 for 20 games. Additional sheets are $1 each/six for $5. For additional information, call the synagogue at (813) 681-6547.

Lanai chat: Join president David Richter and treasurer Jeff Newman for an informal chat, coffee and a nosh at Richter’s home in Valrico, on Sunday, Jan. 31 from 10-11 a.m. RSVP to Richter at drgfi@aol. com or call (813) 690-4367.

Big sale: A giant flea market will be held on Saturday, Jan 30, beginning at 8 a.m. at Winthrop. Donations are needed and can be dropped off at the temple. Large items can be picked up at your home a day or two before the sale. Appliances and furniture will be accepted and volunteers are needed for this event. Contact Carol for more information at monkeyandwife@ yahoo.com or call (813) 829-7227.

Temple Ohev Shalom

New Tampa

Bunco: The Sisterhood of Ohev Shalom invites all women in the community to join in a night of Bunco on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. at Temple Ohev Shalom, 6460 Tampa Palms Blvd, Tampa. Bring friends for refreshments and prizes. A donation of $5 per person is requested. If you do not know how to play, players familiar with the game can teach you in a very short time. RSVP to (813) 385-0578 by Jan. 27.

Temple Beth David

Spring Hill

Movie time: Enjoy a showing of A Stranger Among Us, a thriller about an undercover police officer’s experience with a Chasidic community, at the temple on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. Cost is $5. Refreshments will be served and there will be a discussion following the movie.