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Tuesday, March 21, 2017 | 23 Adar 5777
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This past week Beth Emet embarked on a new initiative in our continuing commitment to help the needy in our own community. With the assistance of a cadre of synagogue volunteers, and in conjunction with Interfaith Action of Evanston, we opened our doors for the first time as an overnight shelter for the homeless. I personally had the privilege of being the first Beth Emet member to stay overnight in the Crown Room assisting with our guests.
Interfaith Action of Evanston has, for several years, provided emergency overnight shelter for up to 35 men and women who would otherwise find themselves outside in dangerously cold weather. The shelter rotates among various faith facilities, and this year Beth Emet offered space in the Crown Room during February and March. When the thermometer dipped last week, the Beth Emet site opened for three consecutive nights.
On each of these nights, trained volunteers from Beth Emet and other Evanston faith organizations carefully set up the Crown Room with separate sleeping quarters for men and women; they erected cots, set out fresh linens, brewed coffee and served cookies. Guests in need of emergency housing (between 14-18 each night) arrived beginning at 9:00 p.m., and it was lights out at 10:00 p.m. In the morning, additional volunteers came at 6:00 a.m. to wake the guests and clear the Crown Room by about 7:00 a.m.
The entire undertaking went smoothly, our guests were grateful, and Interfaith Action is thrilled by the ample space in our Crown Room. And my night there reminded me how proud I am to be part of a synagogue that walks the walk.
I encourage any of you with an interest in supporting this critical initiative in our community – volunteers are needed and serve at any of the overnight locations
– to reach out to
Bekki Harris Kaplan to find out how you can help.
David Graham
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Dinner After
Friday, March 24
at Trattoria D.O.C. 706 Main St.
Following Kabbalat Shabbat Services, enjoy Shabbat dinner at a nearby restaurant with fellow Beth Emet congregants! Dinner After offers a wonderful opportunity to dine with old friends, or to make new friends in the Beth Emet community! No need to RSVP!
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with Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
Sunday, March 26, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The work of parenting, and living in connection with others in general, can be glorious and amazing, and frustrating, crazy making, and mind-numbingly boring. We will explore how the riches of Jewish tradition can help us transform difficult moments with our children and the other people in our lives, and illuminate beautiful moments in powerful new ways.
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Pre-Passover Food Collection to Benefit Connections for the Homeless
March 27-April 7
The Tzedakah Fund Committee will be collecting all unopened, non-perishable food items and transporting them to Connections for the Homeless just before Passover begins. Please bring any and all unopened
chametz (leaven, or food made with leaven) you wish to donate.
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Kabbalat Shabbat featuring Hooshir
Friday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m. (5:45 p.m. Shabbat Oneg)
Hooshir is Indiana University's premiere Jewish a cappella group. The group is made up of both Jewish and non-Jewish students and sings a variety of Israeli pop, Jewish sacred music, and American pop music and standards. Hooshir travels around the country each year performing at competitions, synagogues, and both Jewish and secular events. Hooshir is the two-time winner of Kol HaOlam National collegiate a cappella competition.
Beth Emet's own Sarina Elenbogen-Siegel, a Freshman at Indiana University, is a member and will be singing with this group.
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with Rabbi Andrea London
Sunday, April 2, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
“When do we eat?” shouldn’t be the only question asked at your seder. Participants will gather ideas for creating engaging seders for people of all ages.
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with Rabbi Andrea London and Marci Dickman
Sunday, April 2, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Our children often ask us the hardest questions, to which we often do not have an answer. We will explore ways that we can encourage our children to follow their own hearts and nurture their own spiritual development, while we share our own thoughts and doubts honestly.
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Beth Emet’s Annual Meeting to Address Building Renovation & Capital Campaign
Monday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m.; Reception at 7:00 p.m.
Beth Emet is embarking on a campaign to raise at least $6.13 million, of which 65% will allow us to reimagine our facilities; 25% will increase our endowment, and 10% will improve our financial liquidity. This
Capital Campaign is an investment that will strengthen our community, advance our mission today and tomorrow, and build a bridge to the next generation.
This year’s Annual Meeting will focus on this important endeavor. Come to learn more, and find out other updates from this past year at Beth Emet. The Annual Meeting will also include a vote on the slate for the 2017-18 Board of Trustees, to be sent in the very near future.
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Weekday Minyan
Now Every Sunday at 8:45 a.m. (9:00 a.m. in summer)
The Minyan
davens (worships) the weekday
Shacharit (morning) service and offers a more relaxed opportunity to pray with the Beth Emet community. The service concludes by 9:30 a.m. and is followed by a light breakfast of bagels and coffee. Minyan is open to all.
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Click the play button below to watch a video of RebbeSoul's "Let My People Go."
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Saturday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Kol Emet the Jewish Music Project presents American-Israeli singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer RebbeSoul (Bruce Berger) for a one-night only concert! Learn more.
"RebbeSoul Rises to a majestic rock opera cresendo with sizzling guitar licks."
-The San Francisco Examiner
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Women's Seder
Saturday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Emanuel Congregation (5959 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago)
Emanuel’s Women of Reform Judaism invite you to get into the spirit of Passover by joining us for our annual Seder. The evening includes a song-filled service, dinner, and interfaith celebration with women from all over the Chicago area. Learn more.
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Cantor Susan Lewis Friedman and Beth Emet's Adult Choir will be participating in this concert.
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Sunday, April 2 at 3:00 p.m. at KAM Isaiah Israel (1100 E. Hyde Park Blvd.)
After decades of unchecked misconduct in the Chicago Police Department, tensions between communities, police, and politicians have reached a boiling point. As a new presidential administration radically shakes up government agencies like the Department of Justice, our city risks descending further into instability and danger. The time has come to act, and so we must act together. Learn more.
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with the Center for Jewish Mindfulness at Orot
Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at Beth Emet (please note this class will NOT meet: April 4, April 11, April 18, May 30, and July 4)
Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell, Rabbi Sam Feinsmith, or other seasoned teachers co-lead this weekly class that consists of Jewish mindfulness meditation infused with the wisdom of Torah. While all sessions are open to everyone, and will include some instructions, the first session of each month will be a “beginners’ sit”, with an emphasis on learning the fundamentals of meditation practice.
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One Jewish Evanston – Shabbat Afternoon and Evening
Shabbat, April
8 at 5:00 p.m. (the Shabbat immediately preceding Passover, called
Shabbat ha-Gadol), beginning with a
Mincha (afternoon) service at 5:00 p.m., as multiple Evanston communities will again join together under the banner of “One Jewish Evanston”.
The event will feature great learning, good food, and a song-filled farewell to Shabbat.
More information to follow.
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Catch up on past Divrei Torah
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with Alden Solovy
Thursday, March 23, 7:00 p.m.
Author and long-time Beth Emet member Alden Solovy will read from his latest
book, This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. This private reading
and book signing will come only two days after the book is launched at the
Central Conference of American Rabbis convention in Atlanta, Alden's first
reading after the book is released. Books will be for sale at the event.
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with Rabbi Allan Kensky
Fridays, March 24 and 31, 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
This course will study Midrash to answer the questions posed by biblical narrative and to fill in the gaps and add new perspectives to your understanding of the revolutionary event that gave birth to the people Israel.
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with Jesse Rosenberg
Sunday, March 26, 9:30-11:00
a.m.
Next year marks the hundredth birthday of composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Amid the many facets of his career—directing the New York Philharmonic, creating successful musicals on Broadway, lauding the Beatles on television, conducting Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Berlin while the Wall was dismantled—we should not lose sight of Bernstein's powerful self-identification as a Jew throughout his musical life.
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Current Politics
with David Zarefsky
Monday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Sessions are expected to focus on the place of the United States in the world, including relationships with Israel, the nature of the social contract, and the principles of federalism. As these are all in flux, specific topics will be influenced by current developments.
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With Rabbi Andrea London
Shabbat, April 1, 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Once a month on Shabbat afternoon at Rabbi London's home, explore Jewish spiritual practices that combine prayer, meditation, study and discussion, particularly emphasizing the teachings of early Hasidism and the practice of meditation. New participants always welcome.
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with Trisha and Rabbi Fred Margulies
Monday, April 3, 7:30-9:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 21
Pushing the Envelope Farm is a Jewish community educational farm, providing experiences that integrate Jewish outdoor, food, and environmental education. Last year the Tzedakah donation garden donated over 2000 pounds of produce to Chicago area food banks. Hear about Pushing the Envelope Farm on April 3, then tour and have a hands-on experience May 21.
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Purim Spiel: The Social Hall Network
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Purim Celebrations for Families with Young Children
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Junior Choir performs at the Purim Spiel
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Cake Walk at the Purim Carnival
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Social Action Open Meeting
Sunday, April 23, 10:00 - 11:30 am
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Learn about Beth Emet’s new Social Justice Resource web page
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Meet with fellow Beth Emet members who are involved with social action and social justice and those who would like to get involved
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Learn how you can be part of ongoing community social justice efforts with other Beth Emet members
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Develop new directions for Beth Emet’s revived Social Action Committee
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Births
Nava Hadas Leffler
daughter of Naomi and Elliot Leffler
Drew Ethan Spitz
son of Danny and Alisyn Spitz
Proud grandparents are Ron and Mayta Spitz
son of Dana Engel Gerstein and Brad Gerstein
March 30 in Israel
Zach Zagorin
son of Lisa Zagorin and Daniel Zagorin
April 1
Weddings
Melissa Burin and Javas McCall
Melissa is the daughter of Carol and Jerry Burin
Deaths
Betty Kaplan
grandmother of Jessica (Peter) Kaplan, grandmother of Daryn and Asher
Leah Singer
mother of Stacy Singer and grandmother of Marianna and Sophia Singer
In the Beth Emet Family
Emma Milner Gorvine is a recipient of JUF Springboard's 18 under 18 award
Springboard and the Jewish Teen Alliance of Chicago are working together to create 18 Under 18, a celebration of teens in our community. In addition to building their resumes and receiving leadership training, the 18 Under 18 winners will be honored at a community event to take place on April 25, 2017.
Asaf Bar-Tura
Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Asaf Bar-Tura to the Illinois Student Assistance
Commission. Bar-Tura’s experience in education non-profit management and
development will greatly benefit the commission and its success.
Bar-Tura is currently the Director of the Posse Foundation’s Chicago chapter.
Sara Blumenthal was accepted to rabbinical school at Hebrew College.
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Beth Emet The Free Synagogue
1224 Dempster Street
Evanston, IL 60201
847-869-4230
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