Category: Updates

Purim 2018 & Oneg

Eitz-Chaim Congregation
Purim 2018
Special food for Purim

It is that time of year!

March 3, 2018

Rabbi David Schiller will give a special Drash on

Purim from the book of Esther

Kids will have a Purim skit during the service and there will be a full production Purim Play following Oneg at 2 pm.

You don’t want to miss this fun celebration!


Children are welcome to dress in Biblical Costume for the day,  preferably from the story of Esther.

Service begins at 10:30 am

Seating is limited

Calling all Eitz Chaim
Members and Regulars!

Because this is a
Special Holiday Shabbat
we will have many members and visitors
WE NEED EVERYONE TO

BRING A DISH TO SHARE FOR ONEG!

So you say you’re not a cook, so bring something, anything, there are stores with bakeries, and frozen items that you can heat up, chips, cheese, crackers! Please participate, buy some fruit, candy, cookies but please participate and share! No pork, chicken or meat. Fish or dairy products are fine. Please check baked goods for Kosher Seal.

In addition to a dish for Oneg we need everyone to bring Hamantaschen!

So please also bring your favorite Hamantaschen!
If you don’t bake, Cindy’s Deli or Deli News has them!

See below for recipes

Recipe # 1

Hamantaschen

(From Kosher by Design, Susie Fishbein)
¾ cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
¾ cup cold water
1 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
6 cups all-purpose flour
extra flour for dipping cookie cutter
1 large egg, beaten
cinnamon sugar
Fillings: Use Solo canned fillings or Apricot butter or Prune butter.
Preheat oven to 350°F degrees. Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment or foil sprayed with non-stick spray.
Either by hand or in a mixer, combine the oil, egg, vanilla, water, sugar, baking powder, and flour. Mix and knead until it forms a soft dough. Roll the dough out into a very thin layer.
Dip the rim or a 3 or 4 ” cup or glass or cookie cutter in flour. Use the cup, glass or cookie cutter to cut out circles. Re-roll the scraps of dough and re-use.
In the center of each circle, drop a teaspoon of filling. Shape into a triangle by folding 2 sides of the circle to the center and pinch together at the corners. Fold remaining side up to the center and pinch together at the corners.
Place hamantaschen 1 inch apart on the baking sheet. Brush with beaten egg. Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar. Make sure corners are tightly pinched so they don’t open during baking. Bake 20 minutes. Can be made in advance and frozen.
Yield: 4 dozen

Hamantaschen 2

(The Kosher Palette)

You may use the filling below or use one of the other filling recipes, or use Solo canned fillings
Apricot Filling:
1 16 oz package dried apricots
½ cup water
Dough:
½ cup butter or parve margarine, softened (Fleischman’s Unsalted)
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 egg white, beaten
Cinnamon Sugar
Optional: Walnut or Pecan halves
For Filling: Combine apricots and water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until apricots are soft and water is absorbed. Mash gently with a fork or puree in food processor or blender; set aside.
For Dough: Preheat oven to 350°F
Beat margarine or butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg, orange juice, and vanilla.
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter or margarine mixture; stir into a uniform dough. Shape dough into a flat disk. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 15 minutes (may be made up to 2 days ahead).
Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/8″ thickness. Cut 3 – 4 inch circles with a cookie cutter or glass dipped in flour. Place 1 tsp of apricot mixture or other filling in the center of each circle. Shape into triangle by folding up 2 sides of the circle to the center and pinch together at the sides. Fold remaining side up to the center and pinch together at the sides. Some of the filling should be visible in the center. (Optional: Use ½ tsp filling and top with walnut or pecan half filling)
Place Hamantaschen 1 inch apart on a greased baking sheet. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Bake for 20 to 35 minutes.
Yield: About 4 dozen
Gluten Free Hamantaschen ~ Darcy Morrison
8 oz. organic butter ( room temp)
6 oz. organic coconut oil (soft)
16 oz. cream cheese (room temp)
1/2 c. Organic sugar
1 t. Vanilla extract
1 t. Orange extract
 or Lemon extract
4 cups of gluten free flour blend
Extra flour for handling dough
2 T. Water if needed
Cream together butter, oil and cream cheese with beater
Add in extracts and sugar
Gradually beat in flour, knead together into flat ball, cover in Saran Wrap and refrigerate from one to three hours.
Use flour on surface to roll dough out to 1/8″ thick. For a more doughy texture 1/4″ thick
Use 3″ cookie round cutter
Fill with Filling your choice.
In the center of each circle, drop a teaspoon of filling. Shape into a triangle by folding 2 sides of the circle to the center and pinch together at the corners. Fold remaining side up to the center and pinch together at the corners.
Bake at 350 for 20 min. Or until golden.
Gluten Free Hamantaschen II
7 oz. (200 g) butter
8 oz. (250 g) cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour (use your favorite blend of gluten-free flours)
Apricot, raspberry, poppy seed or prune butter filling
1 egg, beaten (optional)
Sugar or cinnamon sugar for garnish (optional)
Extra flour for handling the dough
     Prep Time: 30 minutes
     Bake Time: 20 minutes in preheated 350°F oven
Total Time: 50 minutes
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese together. Add the sugar and vanilla, and mix until smooth. Let the mixture come to room temperature. Then, add in the flour and mix lightly. Refrigerate the dough for an hour or more.
Preheat the oven to 350° F.
Cover baking sheets with parchment paper and sprinkle the paper with flour.
Coat your hands with flour and break off enough dough to roll between your palms into a ball of about an inch to an inch-and-a-half in diameter. Make sure the ball is coated with flour, and place it on the baking sheet.
Coat the bottom of a drinking glass or custard cup with flour, and flatten the ball of dough to about 1/8 of an inch. (Don’t press too hard or the dough will stick to the glass.) Place about a teaspoon of filling on the circle of dough.
With a flour-coated spatula, gently lift the edges of the circle. Pull up the sides and pinch three corners together to form a triangular cookie, with filling showing. It doesn’t matter if the dough doesn’t look perfect. Use your finger to close any holes in the sides.
Repeat the process until the baking sheet is filled, and bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden.
Some people like to brush their hamantaschen with beaten egg and sugar before baking. Others like to sprinkle them with confectioners’ sugar after they’re baked.
Tips on Making Hamantaschen
The website below has a number of tips on how to make Hamantaschen and different fillings. The video will give you a visual on how to shape them. Looking forward to the many different varieties our ladies can make.  

How to make perfect Hamantaschen

How to Make Homemade Hamantaschen for Purim [HD] | איך לאפות אוזני המן לפורי
Purim, Updates

Eitz Chaim Newsletter – February 17, 2018

Eitz-Chaim is a congregation committed to prayer, discipleship, and service. If you have a need or a prayer request, let us hear from you.

(see contact info at end of newsletter)

Weekly Drash by Rabbi David Schiller
Series: The Parables of Yeshua
The Prodigal Son Revisited – – The Power Of Sonship

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 pm New Members class
2:30 pm Hispanic Ministry

Keep your fire burning during the week. Pray, worship, read the Word! If you’ve lost the fire of God, cry out for more. The more fire you carry the more of God’s glory we experience corporately. The rest of us are counting on you!

We have a number of volunteer positions that are available for those who would like to become more active in the congregation. See Dan Boron

  • Parent helpers for 2 pm – 3 pm for the 6-12 year old age
  • Activities director for our men’s group
  • Live Streaming volunteer helpers
  • Power Point Coordinator

CLASS BEGAN FEBRUARY 10
Continues today ( Seven weeks) 2pm – 3:15

Eitz Chaim New Members Foundations Class
This class is open to everyone, but is required for those seeking membership.

If you have not signed up for this class and downloaded the information please: Click here.

 

Torah Portion of the Week

Terumah ~ Contribution
“Faithful and Worshipful Contributions”

Exodus 25:1-27:19; 1 Kings 5:26-6:13; Matthew 13:1-53

Commentary by Mark Huey Click here

Just a reminder Eitz Chaim does not “pass the plate” we have a tzedakah box at the back of the sanctuary for tithes and donations.

2 Corinthians 8:3-4 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints.
Some early believers suffered persecution that put them in a serious financial hardship. They relied on the help of the rest of the Body of Messiah which was provided with joy. The Body has grown to what it is today and more than ever some believers need the help of others. Supporting the saints financially is a biblical mandate that translates into great blessings for both those who give and those who receive, not to mention those reached with the Gospel and saved as a result. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a biblical win/win/win situation? ~Olivier Melnick

Every Shabbat we are blessed to have MORE VISITORS join us for oneg. Because fellowship is an important part of Eitz Chaim’s ministry, we are asking ALL MEMBERS and REGULAR ATTENDEES TO PARTICIPATE BY BRINGING A DISH, OR TWO, to Shul on Shabbat. Dairy parve only (no meat, chicken or crustaceans) See detailed guidelines on our website.

PLEASE LET OUR VISITORS AND SENIOR CITIZENS GO TO THE HEAD OF THE LINE. ALL CHILDREN SHOULD GO THROUGH THE LINE WITH THEIR PARENTS PLEASE!

EC Youth

Eitz-Chaim Congregation

MEETING ADDRESS: 1651 E. Campbell Road Richardson, TX 75082
MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 832568 Richardson TX 75083
Services: 10:30 AM, Saturday
Phone: 972-231-3884
Updates

YMJA South Central Youth Retreat

Please note
 

Early registration must be received by Friday, February 16. Late registration must be received by Friday, March 3. On-site registration is not permitted unless you make special arrangements with the YMJA by calling the office first. Register by February 16 to avoid the $30 late fee.

Scholarships available on a case by case
basis for EC youth see Dan Boron for information.
Updates

Starting February 3, 2018: New Foundations Spring Class

Starting February 3, 2018

Eitz Chaim New Foundations Class

 

The Eitz Chaim New Foundations-New Members class is held twice a year: once in the Spring, and once in the Fall.

The New Foundations-New Members class is open to everyone, but it is required for those who are interested in becoming a member of Eitz Chaim.

This class is designed to acclimate students to the mission, theology, and spirituality of the Messianic movement, as specifically present in the unique calling of Eitz Chaim Messianic Jewish Congregation of Richardson, TX, and our sphere of influence in the greater Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. This class is open to all in the assembly, but is specifically required for those seeking formal membership.

Our next New Foundations-New Members class will be conducted 03 February-24 March, 2018

EITZ CHAIM NEW FOUNDATIONS

Class Syllabus

Spring 2018
Saturday Afternoon, 2:00-3:15 PM

PDF DOWNLOAD

Instructor:
J.K. McKee
e-mail: jkmmessianic@yahoo.com
facebook.com/JKMMessianic

Course Description and Objectives:
This class is designed to acclimate students to the mission, theology, and spirituality of the Messianic movement, as specifically present in the unique calling of Eitz Chaim Messianic Jewish Congregation of Richardson, TX, and our sphere of influence in the greater Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. This class is open to all in the assembly, but is specifically required for those seeking formal membership. As is stated of our community of Messiah followers,

“Eitz Chaim is called to be a Messiah-centered, Spirit-empowered, disciple-making community that reveals the truth of Yeshua (the Jewish Jesus) to both Israel and the nations. We are committed to making Yeshua the L-rd of our life, faith and ministry. Our community seeks to be like the first Jerusalem congregation where both Jew and non-Jew function as one new man, equal before G-d (Acts 2).”

Required Materials:
Appel, James, Jonathan Bernis, and David Levine. Messianic Judaism Class, Student Book (Copenhagan, NY: Olive Press, 2011).

available for purchase during class

Recommended Materials:
Appel, James, Jonathan Bernis, and David Levine. Messianic Judaism Class, Teacher Book (Copenhagan, NY: Olive Press, 2011).

Messianic Jewish Family Bible—Tree of Life Version (Snellville, GA: Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society, 2014).

Stern, David H. Jewish New Testament Commentary (Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Publications, 1995).

Stern, David H., trans. Complete Jewish Bible (Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Publications, 1998).

Zodhiates, Spiros, ed. Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, NASB (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 1994).

McKee, J.K. Torah In the Balance, Volume I (Richardson, TX: Messianic Apologetics, 2003); Torah In the Balance, Volume II (Richardson, TX: Messianic Apologetics, 2015).

Student Participation:
Regular attendance of the New Foundations Class is required (with no more than two or three excused absences) in order for students to receive a “complete,” and be regarded as candidates for formal membership in the congregation. Each module of the class will involve assigned readings from the Messianic Judaism Class workbook (abbreviated below as MJC), and group discussion during the Saturday morning class.

Course Schedule:

DATE SUBJECT MATTER ASSIGNMENT
Week One

03 February 2018

 

 Introduction to Class

Student Introductions
Week Two

10 February 2018

 The Messianic Vision:

the emergence of Messianic Judaism, the place of Eitz Chaim, and our assembly’s mission in North Dallas/Richardson

 

 read Unit One in MJC, pp 13-18

 
Week Three

17 February 2018

 Shabbat, the Appointed Times, Jewish Holidays

 

 read Unit Two in MJC, pp 22-40

 
Week Four

24 February 2018

 Kosher and Torah-based “Means of Grace”

 

 read Unit Two in MJC, pp 41-51

 
Week Five

03 March 2018

 

 The Contours of Jewish Evangelism

 

 read Unit Three in MJC, pp 53-74

 
Week Six

10 March 2018

 Guest: Marc Chernizer

The Contours of Jewish Evangelism II

 
Week Seven

17 March 2018

 

 Our Place in the Congregation read Unit Four in MJC, pp 77-96

 
Week Eight

24 March 2018

 

 A Survey of Messianic Theology read Unit Five in MJC, pp 99-125

You can sign up and direct all questions regarding the next New Foundations-New Members class using the form below:

New Foundations, Updates
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