Join us to honor our outgoing president, Alan Hoffman, past president, Chuck Smith, and outgoing executive committee members: Joe Liken, Vikki Silvis, and Jessica Winter. Help us prepare for a great evening by RSVP-ing either online at http://cbt.news/cbtdinner or calling the office. At 6PM in the sanctuary, Beri Schwitzer, Director of Congregational Learning, will have story time for young families or anyone interested. FRIDAY EVENING SERVICES WILL BEGIN AT 8PM INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 6:30 PM.


20 August 2016
16 Av 5776
Vaetchanan
Click here for this week's bulletin

Mazel Tov to Dylan Rose, son of Robyn & Hunter Rose, brother to Ilana, and grandson to Esther & Nat Cohen, who will be called to the Torah to become a Bar Mitzvah.

Friday
6:30 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Joyful Noise
7:48 PM Shabbat Starts

Saturday
Babysitting (Room 1) 
9:30 AM Shabbat Service
10:30 AM Junior Congregation (MPR) 
9:05 PM Shabbat Ends

Weekly Minyans
Sundays, 9AM 
Mondays, 6:45 AM, followed by breakfast & The Talmud with Rabbi Zelony. 
The Talmud is the foundational text upon which all modern forms of Judaism stand. Come explore, spar with, and make meaning of this sacred book. Open to all learners. Hebrew text is provided but class discussions will be based on English translation. Every Monday after minyan (time will vary on holidays).
DO YOU HAVE AN OFFICE CHAIR IN NEED OF A GOOD HOME?
One of the earliest innovators of the modern office chair was Charles Darwin who added wheels to his chair so that he could get to his specimens quicker while in his study. CBT is in need of an office chair on wheels, with arms and adjustable height for a work station / desk, and comfortable. It needs to be in good condition. Please email executive-vp@congregationbethtorah.org if you have this item to donate. Thank you!
TAKE PART IN THE PARADE OF LULAVS & ETROGS!
The tradition of the Lulav and Etrog on Sukkot can be a ceremony of great wonderment to children, as well as a source of profound meaning to adults. It provides a distinct echo of ancient ceremonies conducted in the Temple in Jerusalem and reflects our thanks to God for the bounty of the world. To take part, set orders must be placed by noon, Wednesday, September 14. Payment of $52 for each complete set must accompany the order. Click here for ordering options (online or by printing the form).
 
GAN TOV: GETTING TO OUR JEWISH AGRICULTURAL ROOTS; GROWING AT CBT
We are exploring the possibility of establishing a Gan Tov gardening group at CBT---it would be for all ages and bring together Learning Center, Adult Education, Ritual, Social Action, Youth, volunteer gardeners, etc. Using a special curriculum that incorporates Torah text and digging in the dirt, our hands-on learning allows us to grow as Jews and feed souls! We hope to donate our produce to the JFS food pantry. Want to learn more? Email us at  grow@congregationbethtorah.org.  
Exclamation Mark JOYFUL NOISE
19 August, Friday, 6:30 PM  
If you're in the mood for a Shabbat service that's got a "beat" then come join us in welcoming Shabbat with instruments and singing! Last date of the year is September 16.

CHAI LIGHTS ICE CREAM SOCIAL 
21 August, Sunday, 2PM (Oneg) 
Contact Joy & Herb Weinstein
ChaiLights@congregationbethtorah.org 
Join us for this annual get-together for ice cream and entertainment to blast off into the new year of many activities, excitement, and exploration. Not a Chai Lights member? Sign up today!

BOARD MEETING 
22 August, Monday, 6:30 PM (Oneg)
Contact Board-Secretary@congregationbethtorah.org

LADIES WHO LUNCH
23 August, Tuesday, 12:30 PM
Contact Carol Taper
Go Dutch and nosh with the ladies at a different location around town each month. Must RSVP for location. Sponsored by Sisterhood.

TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER
23 August, Tuesday, 7PM (Oneg)
Contact Neil Burnstein
Come for a night of fun and friendship. $20 members and $25 non-members.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
28 August, Sunday, 8AM-2PM (Oneg)
Contact Ruben Granado
Help save a life today. Donate blood to those in need. No need to sign up.

CANCELED: SANDWICH-MAKING EVENT AUG 28

CALLING ALL CONGREGATIONAL LEARNING CENTER FAMILIES & STUDENTS!
28 August, Sunday, 10AM--Noon
Contact Beri Schwitzer


Come join us for a CLC kick-off. We'll have brunch, play games and learn more about our new school year. Parents are asked to stay and take part; this is not a regular school day! We are excited to introduce the community to our new ISJL fellow, Shira Moskowitz (pictured above). 

JEWISH SPIRITUALITY
The Mystical Tradition and How it Speaks to our Everyday Lives
Begins 28 August, Sunday, 8AM (Room 11)*
Contact Rabbi Zelony
Come explore essays of the Chassidic masters and modern scholars to understand what Judaism has to say about God, inner transformation, spiritual practice, compassion, healing, tshuva, halacha and mitzvot. (*Follows Congregational Learning Center Sundays).

SHALL WE DO TO THE PALESTINIANS AS WE WERE COMMANDED TO DO TO THE CANAANITES?
Begins 28 August, Sunday, 7:30 PM (Sanctuary)
Contact Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger
The Jewish People has returned to its ancient homeland after 2000 years of exile. What does Jewish tradition say about how we should relate to the non-Jewish people in our midst? These issues are fiercely debated today among Israeli Torah scholars. In this nine-part series of classes taught by Rabbi Schlesinger we will study the different opinions and their foundations in the Bible and in traditional Jewish thought and jurisprudence.

LABYRINTH OF LIES 
30 August, Tuesday, 7PM (Offsite)  
Contact Cynthia Rogers / 972.883.2100
The UTD Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies is screening this award-winning film, in which, 15 years after WWII, one young man forces an entire country to face its past. Visit utdallas.edu/ackerman/events for more information.

HIGH HOLIDAY PACKETS ARE IN THE MAIL!
Please note, new for the upcoming 2016-2017 fiscal year, you must have paid at least 20% of your current year obligation by Thursday, September 29, in order to receive high holiday tickets. If you did not receive your form in the mail, contact Marc Machbitz.



TOGETHER.
SHAPING THE FUTURE.
Sunday, September 11

Want to help package 125,000 meals for hungry children with your neighbors of all cultures and faiths? Join Rabbi Zelony and her family for the Feeding Children Everywhere's 2016 Richardson event. It will take place at the Richardson Civic Center. You must sign-up in advance. If you'd like to be there at the same time as Rabbi Z, she signed up for the 1:15 PM shift. 

For more details, to register, or to make a donation, click here.

Key Volunteers Needed...
  • 20 Table Captians who can arrive at 11:30 AM for training and commit to working until 5PM
  • 10 to 15 volunteers to assist set-up from 9AM to 11:30 AM
  • 5 to 10 volunteers to assist with clean-up from 5PM to 6PM
  • 5 to 10 runners who can assist with filling food bins and moving boxes during the shifts


We're starting to prepare for this year's High Holidays and top of the list is how we end Yom Kippur as a spiritual Family. If you would like to help sponsor the Break-the-Fast, contact Esther Cohen (972.985.7105). All sponsors will be listed in the High Holiday booklet unless otherwise requested.
 
We also need flower sponsors. 

MEMBER'S LOUNGE TEMPORARY CLOSURE
For the months of August and September, CBT will be leasing our Education wing to a UTD group who will utilize the classrooms on both floors until their permanent space is ready. While their classes are in session, Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM, the Member's Lounge on the first floor will be closed. For any questions or concerns, please reach out to Cyd Friedman at president@congregationbethtorah.org.

TOT SHABBAT
2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month at 11AM (MPR)
Bring your tot and enjoy singing, dancing, storytelling and a snack. It's a fun-filled ritual to educate, entertain, enthrall, and envelop our youngest members. For questions, contact Tot-Shabbat@congregationbethtorah.org .

GIVE US YOUR HP, YOUR CANON, YOUR EMPTY INK CARTRIDGES YEARNING TO BE RECYCLED... 
Our Congregational Learning Center (CLC) is collecting empty ink cartridges as a fundraiser. Collection boxes are located outside of the CLC office and in the front lobby. Cartridges should be in a Ziploc bag when dropped off.

ISRAELI DANCING
(Usually) Every Wednesday (MPR)
All dancers welcome! Free for members. $5 for non-members. 7:30 PM to 8:15 PM beginners and 8:30 to 10:30 PM for advanced. Check our calendar at http://cbt.news/cbt-calendar to confirm weekly classes. For questions, contact Linda Kahalnik at rikudchik@gmail.com .
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