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This Week at BJBE

December 1, 2014

Dear Friends,

Artists-in-Residence Weekend is here!

Friday and Saturday evening: Dine out to benefit BJBE
Friday: Shabbat service with Beth Schafer at 7:30pm
Saturday: Kol Shabbat & Torah study with Peri Smilow and Julie Silver at 9:30am
Saturday: Rabbi's Table luncheon at 11:30am
Saturday: Concert - Fourtelling: Journeys, Stories and Songs featuring Beth Schafer, Julie Silver, Michelle Citrin and Peri Smilow at 7:30pm
Sunday: Sisterhood Holiday Boutique from 9:00am - 3:00pm

See below for detailed information on these and other programs

L'shalom,

Arlene

Arlene Mayzel

Executive Director

847-940-7575, ext. 118

[email protected]

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Symposium - The Book of Psalms, Tuesdays, December 2, 9 & 16, 10:00 - 11:30am. Instructor Rabbi Yehiel Poupko, Scholar-in-Residence at the JUF Chicago.

Northbrook Lunch and Learn, Wednesday, December 3, 12:00-1:00pm. Take an hour during your workday to enjoy an inspiring and challenging text study session with Rabbi Brian Stoller. Bring your lunch, relax and recharge. The Northbrook group meets at 555 Skokie Blvd, 2nd floor conference room. For information contact Gary Schaffel.

Please join us December 5-6 for an intimate weekend with Julie Silver, Peri Smilow, Beth Schafer, and Michelle Citrin! You've been singing their music - now get to know them and the stories behind their songs. We hope you will join us for the following:

Friday, December 5, 7:30pm - Shabbat Service featuring Beth Schafer and our multi-generational singers (see below to participate).

Saturday, December 6, 9:30am - Kol Shabbat service featuring Peri Smilow and Julie Silver followed by Torah Study and a beautiful Rabbi's Table luncheon.

Saturday, December 6, 7:30pm -- The weekend will culminate with an exciting and lively concert featuring all four of our wonderful Artists in Residence. Join us for a historic moment when four leading ladies of contemporary Jewish music come together for one special night to share their internationally acclaimed music and the stories of their personal Jewish journeys. To purchase tickets for the Saturday evening concert, please visit www.fourtelling.eventbrite.com.

You can help support our Artists-in-Residence weekend by dining out! Four local restaurants are participating in our Artists-in-Residence weekend and have agreed to donate a percentage of your dinner cost to BJBE. Details are noted below; reservations are recommended for all. Click here for the coupon to present when you are dining.

15% donation both Friday and Saturday night:

Ristorante Abruzzo, 483 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield

Boston Blackies, 405 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield

Demetri's, 660 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield

20% donation, Saturday night only:

Carson's Ribs, 200 Waukegan Road, Deerfield

Sisterhood Holiday Boutique, Sunday, December 7, 9:00am - 3:00pm. With over 35 vendors there's something for everyone on your list including Judaica, clothing, jewelry, purses, scarves, home accessories and art. Do all of your shopping and stay for lunch, raffle prizes and a bake sale. You can shop while the children are at Sunday School and bring them over for lunch afterwards. This is one shopping event you won't want to miss! For more information or to volunteer to help email Jenn Kaiz. Click here for event flyer.

December 9 dinner at TeddyFabz to support BJBE's 2015 Youth Trip to Kolin and Israel. Between 5-8 pm, 15% of all dine-in only proceeds will be donated to the trip participants. Please bring in this flyer to receive credit. Contact Laura Winter with questions.

Join us for a "Souper Supper" and Music Minyan Wednesday, December 10 at 6:00pm. There will be homemade soups, and hot crusty bread straight out of the oven. It's perfect for dunking. Bring your family, invite your friends, this is an evening for all ages. There's no better way to spend a frosty December evening than slurping a tasty and nutritious meal of hearty soup and taking time to pray joyously with loved ones from your BJBE family.

6:00 Souper Supper

6:45 Music Minyan

7:15 Dessert, Coffee, and Hot Chocolate Bar

RSVP to Susie Diamond or (847)945-2850. Maybes welcome, last minute walk-ins work for us too!

Life Transitions Series:

Thursday, December 11th, 7:30pm. "Where's My Next Move, and Can I Afford It," presented by Jim Ostach. C.F.A. Raymond James Financial Services and Barbara Sarasin, Geriatric Manager, CJE SeniorLife. Program open to the community. Reservations requested one week prior to each program: RSVP to Carol Berger. We invite you to attend these sessions for older adults in our community.

BJBE Sisterhood presents Mother/Daughter Book Club for girls 8-12 years old and any special lady in their life. Please join us as we discuss fantastic books with Jewish themes. No cost for Sisterhood members and $5 for non-members. Bring a nut-free lunch. RSVP to Marci Cohen. To review the book selection, contact Marci.

December 14, 12:30 - 1:30pm, Looking for Me by Betsy Rosenthal

Are you ready for some football? Please join the BJBE Men's Club for the Bears vs Saints on Monday Night Football, December 15, Kickoff Dinner at 6:30 PM at BJBE. $20/adult and $10/child, which includes appetizers, dinner, dessert, beverages and a fun time. Please RSVP prior to 12/8/14 so we can plan accordingly to Dan Perlin or Todd Cohan. Click here for event and registration information.

Family Kallah 2015, January 30 - February 2. Please join Rabbi Kedar, Cantor Frost and Kelly Goldberg for a weekend of learning and connection at this year's Family Kallah. We'll head to OSRUI to explore Lights, Camera, Action: Gazing Into Our Souls. Children two years old and under are free. To register, please send your $100 deposit to BJBE immediately. Registration deadline has been extended. (Your balance in full is due by Wednesday, January 7.) Click here for registration information. Contact Jennifer Krasnik with questions.

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.

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Torah Study: The Book of Exodus

Instructors Rabbi Karyn Kedar and Rabbi Brian Stoller

Saturdays, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Talmud Study: Tractate Berakhot (Blessings) Wednesdays, 7:45 - 9:00am; Instructor Rabbi Brian Stoller

Visit the Adult Education Archives on our website to view select programs.

For more information about the Center for Adult Learning, contact Karyn Benson.

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YOUTH PROGRAMS

For questions or information about youth programs, please contact

Kelly Goldberg.

SERVICES

Mizmor L'Shabbat, Friday, December 5 with Artist-in-Residence Beth Schafer, 7:30pm

Kol Shabbat and Torah Study, Saturday, December 6 with Artists-in-Residence Peri Smilow and Julie Silver, 9:30am - 11:30am in the Sacred Hall. Rabbi's Table luncheon in the Village Center immediately following.

Wednesday Morning Minyan; Our weekday morning Minyan meets in the BJBE Chapel from 6:45 - 7:15am.

The weekday prayer melodies are available here.

Join us Wednesdays 6:45pm - 7:15pm in the Chapel for Musical Minyan. This is a deeply spiritual way to transition into the evening. Make it part of your weekly worship. Experience beautiful music, pray together in community and be present for fellow congregants who need to say Kaddish for a loved one.

All Wednesday evening Music Minyans are led with creativity and harmony by talented members of our congregation and special guests. The musical group Soul Zimra; Andy Dennen, Marcus Newman, and Gary Schaffel lead on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Susan Diamond leads sing-along style using video and short films on the second and fifth Wednesdays. Fourth Wednesdays are reserved for our younger musical congregants. Every evening Music Minyan is a joy-filled experience you don't want to miss.

Services in both the Sacred Hall and Sanctuary are now streamed.. To view our live or recorded streams, please click here. You may have to watch an initial commercial before the stream begins, but this is a free and open program accessible to anyone. To access: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bjbelive.
Questions? Click here to contact Arlene Mayzel.

MORNINGS AT BJBE

Wednesday Morning Minyan: Our weekday morning Minyan meets in the BJBE Chapel from 6:45 - 7:15am. Contact Rabbi Stoller for an audio CD of the weekday prayer melodies.

Thursday T'ai Chi Ch'uan: We offer a weekly Thursday morning T'ai Chi class led by Dr. Drew Serlin at 7:30am. There is no charge for these classes.

SOCIAL ACTION NETWORK

Help Continue Our Work in New Orleans! Join Rabbi Stoller, Kelly Goldberg, and fellow BJBE congregants in our seventh annual social action mission to New Orleans, March 12-15, 2015. We will continue to strengthen interfaith relationships with Christian and Jewish groups in the Crescent City, form new friendships within our BJBE community, and help rebuild communities in need. Together, we will also explore and enjoy the unique city of New Orleans.For more information, please contact Lara Kirts or Mike Goldberg.

PADS needs:winter coats; hats and gloves (children's, women's, men's);

underwear, bras and socks (children's, women's, men's); kitchen staples - decaf coffee, tea bags, dry lemonade mix, microwave popcorn,

hand sanitizer, plastic gloves for serving. Please drop off donations in the PADS bin in the Tzedakah nook. Looking for groups to prepare dinner for 50 on 1/25, 2/22 and 3/22. Questions? Contact Ruth Miller or by phone at 224-235-4042.

December Tzedakah

PADS - padslakecounty.org

Providing Advocacy, Dignity, and Shelter, PADS Lake County offers a comprehensive approach to combatting homelessness with the compassion and respect we all deserve. "Helping the Homeless Find a Way" is far more than just a tag line. It speaks to the very heart of PADS unwavering commitment to helping people achieve the best lives imaginable.

CARING COMMUNITY

BJBE's Caring Community is a team of volunteers who can act as your extended family when your family needs additional support. Caring Community provides the following services: home delivered meals in times of need, transportation to/from temple or a medical appointment, phone support for people who are ill or lonely, senior education and caregiver support, chicken or vegetable soups (always available in the kitchen!) and a virtual food pantry. To access these services confidentially, please call Gloria Kaiz at 847-945-3741.

BJBE is certified as a Safer Synagogue by Jewish Community Abuse Resources, Education & Solutions (JCARES). Our leadership has been trained in understanding the impact of abuse across the lifespan and improving access to support for congregants experiencing abusive situations. For more information, please contact the clergy at 847-940-7575.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Count Your Blessings (and pass them forward). Sisterhood would like to encourage you to take a minute to reflect on your life and all you have to be thankful for by making a contribution to Sisterhood to support our Temple and our members through the mitzvahs that we do. Click on this link and print the form to mark off your special blessings. Mail the "Count Your Blessings" sheet with your donation check payable to BJBE Sisterhood to:

Lynn Bernstein, 5251 Galitz, #212, Skokie, IL, 60077.

We need your help. WZO (World Zionist Organization) is about to hold elections for delegates to the WZC (World Zionist Congress) from Jan. 15 to April 30, 2015. If you care about a progressive Israel that supports all streams of Judaism, about rights for women, about allowing all Rabbis to do weddings, funerals, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, it is important to vote in this election. In the bags you receive when you leave Temple after Rosh Hashana services, you will find a pledge card. It is not a pledge for money, only a pledge to vote. Please fill it out, add a stamp on the back side and mail it back . It is important that the Reform Movement get the largest percentage of delegates to the Congress so that our influence carries the most weight in decision making. Your vote will help us reach that goal. Questions? Contact Lynn Wax or by phone at 847-965-3801.

Sisterhood helps the ARK! Jewel stamps are back! Please save the stamps you earn when buying groceries at the Jewel, and drop them in the box at BJBE in the Tzedakah nook. Please place the stamps in an envelope. Do not attach them to the cards distributed by the Jewel. The ARK will redeem your stamps for FREE Cuisinart cookware to be distributed to community members in need. Together we can help the ARK reach their goal of distributing 500 pieces of FREE cookware! Stamps must be dropped off by December 15. Together we can make a difference in the lives of the many Chicagoland Jews who receive much needed assistance from the ARK. Thank you for your support! Dolly DeCaro, Social Action Chair.

Book BJBE for your upcoming celebration!! Your spiritual home is also a premier venue with beautiful reception space in the Village Center, Sacred Hall and Courtyard. With completion of the Sanctuary, we have new opportunities available for you to celebrate your special events at BJBE. For information and reservations, contact Event Coordinator Gayle Jan or by phone at 847.940.7575.

JUDAICA (GIFT) SHOP

Gift giving problems solved at your Judaica Shop.

Free gift wrapping always.

Remember to do all of your Chanukah shopping at your Judaica Shop. See all the new merchandise especially purchased for Chanukah -- many lovely teacher gifts. Free gift wrapping with all purchases.

Preserve the memory of your wedding day with the shards of broken glass encased in a lovely and unique mezzuzza, kiddush cup, menorah or candlesticks. Your Judaica Shop can easily and reasonably take care of this for you. Contact Lynne Kleiman at 847-215-1357.

Fall Hours: Sunday 9:00 - 11:30am; Tuesday 4:00-6:30pm; Thursday 4:00-6:30pm; Friday, 6:45-7:30pm and after services. For information,

Lynne Kleiman 847-215-1357

Looking for a fun and easy way to meet other BJBE members? How about helping out in the Judaica Shop? Don't worry -- we will train you. For information, please call Arlene Wineberg- 224-676-1112.