Congregation Etz Chayim

Volunteer Opportunities: Feeding Those In Need Looking for an opportunity to help in the community? Etz volunteers participate approximately once a month helping to staffing a free meal with InnVision's Breaking Bread program (www.innvision.org). We are one of five groups sharing the Wednesday dinner rotation at the First Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto (one of Etz's early homes!). Some of us arrive around 3pm and spend an hour or two preparing the food (often mixing and reheating leftovers from area restaurants, donated to InnVision, but sometimes more involved); others arrive in time to help with the 5pm meal serving (cafeteria-style) and subsequent cleanup. If you're interested and can be available on an occasional Wednesday afternoon, email Jeremy Siegel (jasiegel at pacbell.net) with your email and telephone contact info, and we'll send you a list of the scheduled dates, and put you on the email list for reminders about a week in advance of each. In addition to helping the hungry and practicing your cooking (or at least can-opening!) skills, you get to chat with other Etzniks: come with a friend and catch up over the cutting board! [Note: due to new health and safety rules, children must be 14 or older to participate in the main serving line, but there are some limited opportunities for younger ones serving at side tables -- and the minimum age to participate in the kitchen is 16. Unfortunately this may limit participation of families with many young children -- but it's still a great opportunity for high schoolers doing community service!]

A special oneg for young adults will be served in the library after our regular service. A keg of beer and a late light dinner will be available to our guests from the Tribal Council as well as our younger members and our members' young adult kids.

Get in the giving spirit for Purim with Shalom Dubi! Shalom in the Shul is a free, monthly Shabbat program for Jewish preschoolers and their families, open to the community

From Virgin to Powerhouse Join Neshama, Etz Chayim’s spiritual women’s group, for a close reading of Megillat Esther lead by rabbinic intern Ilana Goldhaber-Gordon. We’ll read this Biblical text for what it is – black humor. Like much of the best humor, part of what makes it so funny is the frightening truths that it reveals. We’ll also sing a little and nosh a little. Open to all women, members of Etz Chayim or not. Please bring a non-perishable food donation for the food barrel in the lobby. Let us know you’re coming and if you can bring some food to share, help set up or clean up.