Tuesday Symposium, The Books of First & Second Kings, January 27, February 3 & 10, 10:00-11:30am.  Instructor: Rabbi Karyn Kedar

Kol Simcha, BJBE's Junior Choir, performs at the JNF Tu B'Shevat family event, Sunday, February 1, 12:35pm, Chicagoland Jewish High School (across from BJBE).

The Tu B'Shevat Seder, which was scheduled to be held on Tuesday, February 3rd has been cancelled. Our thanks to the Ritual and Green Faith Committees for their work on this.  We look forward to offering this event next year.   

BJBE Sisterhood Interfaith Program, The Rewards and Challenges of Interfaith Families; Wednesday, February 11, 7:30pm. We are honored and excited to have Audrey K. Gordon, PhD, a member of our congregation, as our guest speaker. She will cover how to manage the issues of marriage, raising children and grandchildren, holidays, traditions, cultural issues with food, death, and most importantly, how everyone feels about these issues from BOTH Jewish and Christian perspectives. There will be time for questions. Both men and women invited and welcome! Sue Beslow (847) 272-7359 or Janet Swig (847) 677-5289.  

Come join the BJBE "After Hours" group for a Ladies Night of pampering, drinks and memories. February 19, 7:00 - 9:00pm, MG Nails, 810 Waukegan Rd, Deerfield. Fee: Cost of a nail service. RSVP to Beth Sattler by February 12th. After Hours is a social group for parents of school-age (and younger) kids who are looking for some adult time - to eat, relax, and enjoy meeting other BJBE adults.  

Adults Only Purim Party, February 28, 6:45pm featuring comedian Miriam Plotkin performing Anxiety Tonight (Pigtails are Kosher). Music by Soul Zimra.  Dinner & cocktails. Costumes preferred. $54 in advance, $60 at the door. Click here to register. We are obligated to drink on Purim to the point that we do not know the difference between "cursed is Haman" and "blessed is Mordecai." The Talmud.   

7th Annual Shindig in Shushan, Sunday March 1. Megillah Reading, Purim Shpiel & Jr Choir at 9:30am & Carnival from 10:15am - 1:00pm. 

Please join Rabbi Kedar and Ezra and other BJBE members at the AIPAC Annual Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. March 1-3, 2015. This is an exciting gathering of over 14,000 Pro Israel supporters from across the United States with the express purpose of showing support for the US-Israel Bond. You will enjoy speakers from across the spectrum of politicians and community leaders. You will learn about the accomplishments of Israel. You will have an opportunity to meet with your Congressman and Senators to further discuss the strong bipartisan support for Israel. You can find further information at www.aipac.org or by contacting Howard Schneider.   

Sunday Morning Adult Learning;Dealing with Difficult People, Sundays, March 8, 15 & 22, 9:45 - 10:45am. Everyone of us has to deal with difficult personalities from time to time, whether it's a boss or colleague whose communication style is vastly different from our own, a parent who doesn't respect our space, a critical or unsupportive spouse, an in-law with whom we inevitably clash, or others with whom healthy relationships seem impossible. In this series, which is part of BJBE's ongoing participation in the JCARES Safer Synagogues Initiative, our speakers will offer expert guidance and Jewish wisdom for dealing with the difficult people in our lives.

March 8 - How to Deal with Difficult People - Debbie Gross, LCSW

March15 - Coping Strategies & Personal Care - Margot Andersen, MSW, RYT

March 22 - Spiritual Guidance from Jewish Tradition - Rabbi Brian Stoller

Join Sisterhood on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30pm at BJBE for a Purim and Passover Cooking Class. Chef Ayelet Danino of Bites of Pleasure will wow us with great holiday recipes and tastings. You will come away with new holiday recipes and cooking techniques to dazzle your guests and make your holiday celebrations spectacular!  Registration is required.

Are you interested in our new Adult Confirmation Class? We are determining interest in this class, led by master teacher Phyllis Steiner, that will meet on Wednesdays from 10:00am - 12:00pm starting in late spring. The Adult Confirmation Class will help you become a learned and engaged Jewish adult. Meeting weekly over the course of a year, students will learn to read Hebrew and chant from the Torah, gain a dynamic understanding of the prayers and the prayer book, study the weekly Torah portion together, and explore the Jewish holidays in depth. The course culminates with a group Confirmation service, led by class participants and the clergy, during the Festival of Shavuot on Sunday, June 12, 2016.  The class is open to adults who had a b'nai mitzvah and/or confirmation ceremony when they were teens, as well as to those who did not. If you are interested or have questions, contact Phyllis Steiner. Enrollment is limited to 12 students. Registration fee: TBD. 

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