K.K. Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple
Bicentennial

Saturday, September 30, 2023
4:00pm – 8:00pm
Tikkun Farm in Mt. Healthy

Please join us on Sukkot afternoon as we begin the celebration of
the 200^th Anniversary of KK Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple!

All are welcome for this casual, joyful, multi-generational opening event!

Registration has closed for this event. 
Details and FAQs below:

The Bicentennial Opening Event & Sukkot Celebration is generously sponsored by
The Women of Rockdale In the Beginning Cookbook Fund
 

Details and FAQs:

Date/Time
Cost
Parking Information
Detailed Schedule
What should I expect?
What if I want to arrive later or leave early?
Will there be restrooms available?
What is being served for dinner?
What should I wear?
What happens if it's raining?
How do I register?
Who do I contact if I have questions or concerns about the event?
Tell me about the Sukkah/Pergola & Tikkun Farm!
 

Date:
Sukkot afternoon - Saturday, September 30, 2023
Time: Event 4:00pm – 8:00pm; Transportation 3:30pm-8:30pm
Location: Tikkun Farm - 7941 Elizabeth St, Mt Healthy, OH 45231
Parking location: Hilltop Shopping Plaza – 8200 Hamilton Ave, Mt Healthy, OH 45231

Register above or call the Temple office at 513-891-9900. Registrations requested by September 18^th.

Cost:

Adults: $20
Children 4-11yrs: $10
Children 0-3yrs: Free
*$60 nuclear family maximum

Parking Information:

Tikkun Farm is an urban farm in a residential neighborhood. There is absolutely no parking at Tikkun Farm or on the surrounding streets.

Parking for this event will be at Hilltop Shopping Plaza (8200 Hamilton Ave). All attendees will be shuttled by accessible bus to and from Tikkun Farm. Transportation will be available throughout the event, beginning at 3:30pm and ending at 8:30pm.

Please make a note in your registration or contact Engagement Professional Elyse Krause at ekrause@rockdaletemple.org or 513.891.9900 if you have any questions or concerns about transportation logistics or accessibility.

Detailed Schedule:

3:30-5:00        Arrival by shuttle to Tikkun Farm
                      arrive anytime (before 5pm preferred)

4:00-5:00        Sukkah Decoration | Farm Tours | Nosh
                       enjoy your choice of activities – there’s something for everyone                 

5:00-6:00        Sukkot Celebration
                       celebrate the Festival of Sukkot with music, prayer, and Torah
                       gather in our sukkah + dedicate pergola for Tikkun Farm

6:00 -7:00       Dinner & Opening Ceremony
                       join in a casual dinner under our tent and kick off our 200^th year

7:00 –8:00      Havdalah & Campfire
                     say goodbye to Shabbat and hello to Rockdale’s Bicentennial
                     sing, tell stories, and relax by the fire

7:00- 8:30       Departure by shuttle 
                      depart anytime – we hope you’ll stay for the Sukkot Celebration & Dinner!

What should I expect?

We’re excited to kick off our Bicentennial as we celebrate 200 years of living Jewish values as KK Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple! The Opening Event will be casual (we’re on a farm!), joyful (music! dinner! celebration!), and multi-generational (community! family! fun for all ages!). As you arrive, join in sukkah decorating, tours of Tikkun Farm, and schmoozing (music and nosh will be on hand) with your Rockdale family. At the heart of our Opening Event is a musical Sukkot Celebration, including a special Torah reading. We will join together under our sukkah, which will continue to exist after our event as a permanent pergola benefiting everyone at Tikkun Farm. We will enjoy dinner together under a big tent and hear from our congregation’s leadership as we begin a year of celebration. After dinner, you’re invited to gather around the campfire for stories, songs, and Havdallah.

What if I want to arrive later or leave early? 

Transportation will be provided to and from Tikkun Farm throughout the event, from 3:30pm until 8:30pm. You may arrive and leave at any time, though we hope you’ll enjoy as much of the event as possible. The heart of the evening is the Sukkot Celebration at 5pm and Dinner & Opening Ceremony at 6pm.

Will there be restrooms available?

Yes – accessible bathrooms are available at Tikkun Farm.

What is being served for dinner?

In addition to drinks, desserts, and hors d’oeuvres, we will enjoy dinner catered by Vonderhaars! Dinner menu includes: 1/3 lb. Angus Beef Patties, Vegetarian Black Bean Patties, Grilled Marinated Chicken Breasts, All Beef Hot Dogs, and Assorted Side Dishes.

*Gluten Free & Vegan options are available -please list any dietary restrictions, food allergies, or other considerations when you register.

What should I wear?

This is a casual event and will proceed in any weather! Please dress accordingly, including shoes that may get muddy or dirty. We have undercover options in case of heavy rain. Bring a jacket as it may be chilly as the sun sets.

What happens if it’s raining?

The event will take place rain or shine. We have a large tent covering the dinner tables, as well as a small indoor area available.

How do I register?

Registrations may be made online (see form above) or by calling the Temple office at 513-891-9900. If you need help registering, please contact the Temple office.

Who do I contact if I have questions or concerns about the event?

Please contact event chair Jane Garfield at jgarfield@apgof.com or 513-608-2684. The Temple staff will be available to help with registration questions.

Tell me about the Sukkah/Pergola!

The sukkah for our Opening Event & Sukkot Celebration will be built on the structure of a brand-new pergola. The pergola was constructed spring/summer 2023 by Rockdale Temple volunteers, led by Bernie & Leslie Reiss and supported by Mary Layman. We are grateful to Rachel & Steven Schild who provided the financial support for the pergola construction. At the event, everyone can participate in the decoration of the sukkah; afterwards, all those who spend time at Tikkun Farm will enjoy the shade of the pergola!

Why Tikkun Farm?

Tikkun Farm (TF) is a nonprofit neighborhood farm in Mt. Healthy, engaged in the sacred work of restoring people, community, and creation by offering visitors, guests and volunteers opportunities to engage in “meaningful work and spiritual practices.”

The owners of Tikkun Farm bought the former dairy farm in 2010. In 2015, they created a non-profit to support their neighbors. Since then they have offered land for Bhutanese refugees to farm, invited local non-profits to meet in the farmhouse, created a fiber arts maker space, and hosted summer camps and an after-school program for underserved neighborhood youth.

Rockdale became connected with TF in 2017 through our connection with Heartfelt Tidbits, a local nonprofit (read more below!) partnering with TF to assist refugees in the area. Over the past six years, Rockdale Temple has sponsored a raised garden bed at TF, our members have helped at TF’s summer camps, and still other Rockdale members have served during TF’s regular Volunteer Days.

During 2020, TF greatly expanded their program to provide healthy food to those in need. Since then, TF has sent out 320 crockpot meal bags every week and distributed food to more than 300 families every weekend. More than 200 weekly volunteers join in the meaningful work of feeding our neighbors, caring for creation, tending to animals, preparing youth for jobs, educating children about the environment, growing food, and healing trauma.

When planning the 200th Anniversary Sukkot celebration, we identified Tikkun Farm as a meaningful location for our event. We approached Mary Laymon, TF’s owner, to ask for use of the space in exchange for a special contribution from Rockdale. Mary proposed the building of a pergola, to be used during our event as a Sukkah, as a permanent, meaningful, needed addition to Tikkun Farm.