Tuesday, November 14 2017 | 25 Chesvan 5778
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Dear Friends,
I’m pleased to report that at the October 30 Board of Trustees meeting,
a resolution was passed, declaring Beth Emet to be a Sanctuary Congregation
. I’m appreciative of the thoughtful work that Abby Backer, our Director of Youth Programs, who coordinated the writing of the resolution, and members of the Sanctuary Sub-committee of Social Action, who worked with her on crafting this resolution. The statement recounts Beth Emet’s history of our being a Sanctuary Congregation in the 1980s when we helped to support two Guatemalan refugee families. It also enumerates the values that compelled us to pass this resolution.
The resolution is a statement of values and intent and does not commit the congregation to specific actions. The Sanctuary Sub-committee only asked the board to approve three actions: 1. To conduct an educational campaign about immigration issues and the plight of undocumented immigrants and refugees who are living in the U.S., 2. To develop a strategy to advocate to pass a DREAM Act that will protect those who received DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status under the Obama administration, and 3. To research other organizations in our area that are working with immigrants and on immigration issues to see how we might partner with them.
There are some in our community who are concerned that our declaring sanctuary means we’re breaking the law. None of the actions we are considering at this time are illegal. There are many actions we can do to stand with vulnerable populations in our community. One of our initial goals is to conduct an educational campaign so we can better understand immigration issues and choose actions that will most effectively support immigrants and fit the skills of our community. The Sanctuary Subcommittee is also aware that comprehensive immigration reform is necessary. Declaring sanctuary is not in lieu of reaching this goal, but a stop gap measure needed in our current political climate when this kind of legislation is not on the horizon. As I said to the congregation on Kol Nidrei, the trip that Abby and I took with teens this past spring to El Paso, Texas to learn about immigration issues, made it crystal clear to me just how broken our immigration system is and why so many people are caught in limbo. Declaring sanctuary is the moral and just step to take now, and I’m proud of our congregation for doing so.
This past Sunday afternoon, Evanston 4ALL, Evanston’s social action arm of the Evanston Clergy Association, organized an interfaith rally to celebrate our community’s accomplishments in making our community a safe haven and to challenge us to continue the work we’ve begun. To date, Lake Street Church and Beth Emet are the two congregations that have declared sanctuary and other congregations announced they are in the process of doing so. I’m very proud that Beth Emet’s sanctuary declaration is being used as the template for the rest of the community.
Our first educational program on immigration issues is already planned. I’d like to invite you to watch the movie,
Indivisible, on December 2 from 4-6 p.m.
Indivisible is a documentary that tells the story of several DREAMers, young adults who were brought to the U.S. as children. We are fortunate that the director will be with us at the screening and we’ll have a chance to engage her in conversation. The screening is open to the public so invite your friends to join you.
Beth Emet continues to be a place that lives out its values and leads our community to do the same. I’m proud of what we have accomplished in passing the Sanctuary Resolution. Now we have to make good on our commitments. Let’s do this together!
L’shalom,
Rabbi London
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Mitzvah Appeal 5778/2017
The Power of Six. Six Events. Six Opportunities. Six Chances to Make a Difference.
The
Mitzvah Appeal campaign helps support essential programs and services that define Beth Emet. This year, working in tandem with our T’RUMAH Capital Campaign, it links those very programs and services with the needs of Beth Emet’s physical space and our spiritual home—our Sanctuary.
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How to Raise a Mensch
Sunday, December 3, 2017 | 9:45-11:45 a.m. in the Weiner Room
How can parents provide their kids with the support and structure they need to be good people? Gail Grossman, PhD, will offer suggestions for how parents can navigate the complex waters of childhood and adolescence while raising healthy, happy kids.
Sunday, December 3, 2017 | 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Weiner Room
Sunday, December 10, 2017 | 9:45-11:45 a.m. in the Weiner Room
Tzedakah is an essential tenet of Jewish life. Regardless of how old you are, or your stage of life, come learn from the experts how to use current IRS rules to take care of your family and contribute to the organizations and causes that matter most to you. Short presentations on estate planning, reducing income tax, importance of beneficiaries, and Beth Emet's Dor L'Dor will be followed by Q&A.
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Author in Residence Weekend
This Friday, November 17 at 6:30 p.m. (5:45 p.m. Shabbat Oneg) Congregational Shabbat Dinner to follow
Beth Emet welcomes preeminent poet, liturgist, painter, and author, Marcia Falk, who will deliver the D’var Torah and engage in discussion during dinner. Her groundbreaking prayer book,
The Book of Blessings: New Jewish Prayers for Daily Life, Sabbath, and the New Moon Festival recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a republished edition. Falk's books will be available to purchase at the Shabbat Oneg -
The Book of Blessings is $19 and
The Days Between $14. Checks for the books should be made payable to Kaplan Center for Jewish Peoplehood.
RSVP for dinner or call 847-869-4230 ext. 301. Dinner is $16 per adult, and $10 per child (age 5-12) by Wednesday, November 15; $20, $14 thereafter. We kindly ask all payments be made prior to Shabbat dinner, and checks that evening can be dropped off in the administrative dropbox, directly north of the elevators on the first floor. All payments should be made in full within 30 days.
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Rosh Chodesh Kislev with One Jewish Evanston
Sunday, November 19 at 10:00 a.m.
at (JRC 303 Dodge, Evanston)
The program will feature both liberal and traditional Rosh Chodesh morning services, some great learning, and a delicious catered kosher brunch. Special guest will be renowned poet and liturgist Dr. Marcia Falk, author of
The Book of Blessings.
Learn more.
No charge, but advance registration is required. For more information or to register, please e-mail
Dan Cedarbaum call him at 847-492-5200.
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Tot Shabbat
Shabbat, November 18 at 9:00 a.m.
This lively 30-minute service is geared toward children under five years old and their parents, grandparents, or caregivers. Together we sing with Cantor Friedman, dance with the Torahs, and enjoy a story from Rabbi London. Afterwards, everyone gathers for a lox and bagel brunch where the children can play and the parents can schmooze.
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Shabbat Morning Kahal Service and Children’s Program
Shabbat, November 18 at 9:45 a.m.
Children ages three to eleven are encouraged to attend to Beth Emet’s Shabbat morning Kahal service with their adult family members to participate in a musical prayer service. During the Torah service and D’var Torah, the children will participate in games, activities, music, and crafts with Marci Dickman, Shelli Patt, and a few of our Kahal teenagers.
All families are welcome. If your family would like to participate in our service to lead a prayer, recite the blessing before Torah reading, or participate in some other way, please contact
Debbie Render.
The service will be followed by a Kiddush and a vegetarian potluck lunch. Please feel free to bring a veggie or dairy, no meat and nut-free dish to share.
Kahal is Beth Emet’s intergenerational Shabbat morning service, which meets in the Weiner Room on the lower level every Saturday morning.
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Indivisible
- a film about the fight to reunite families separated by deportation
Saturday, December 2 at 4:00 p.m.
Indivisible is an award-winning, feature-length documentary film about the real people at the heart of our nation's immigration debate. Renata, Evelyn, and Antonio were young children when their parents brought them to the U.S. in search on a better life; they were teenagers when their mothers, fathers, and siblings were deported. Today, they are known as Dreamers.
Free and open to the community.
RSVP
appreciated or call 847-869-4230 ext. 300.
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Decalogue Society of Lawyers Honoring Rabbi Andrea London with the Light of Righteousness Award
Thursday, December 14 | 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at ISBA (20 S. Clark, Chicago)
The Decalogue Society of Lawyers will honor Rabbi London with the Light of Righteousness Award for her leadership in bringing together communities to work for social and racial justice.
Details and RSVP information.
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Sanctuary 5778 - Seeking Writers & Artists
Have you been enjoying our
new Friday letters exploring the multiple meanings of sanctuary? Consider sharing with the community your words and/or art on what sanctuary means to you.
This weekly e-mail project, curated by David and Ellen Barish, allows congregants to express themselves in any of a variety of media: speechmaking, poetry, essay, story, photography, film, paint, sculpture, printmaking, textile, sound or music. If you'd like to contribute, please email
Ellen
and/or
David
.
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Kol Emet, The Jewish Music Project, supports wonderful musical events at Beth Emet every year––concerts, lectures, worship. Interested? Come to our next meeting
Sunday, January 7 at 1:00 p.m., to learn what we do and how you can become involved.
Next up:
Friday January 26, Shabbat Shira with Steve Chaitman and the Beth Emet Adult Choir.
More to come! Watch for announcements!
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Beth Emet Camp Scholarships Available for Summer 2018
Application Deadline: January 8, 2018
It is with tremendous appreciation that we say thank you to the Samuel Sherwin Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Gerald D. Chiss Memorial Scholarship Fund of the Beth Emet Foundation, the Harvey Rice Youth Fund, and to those who support them. If you are interested in applying for the summer of 2018, please fill out
this form
by Monday, January 8.
Contact Bekki Harris Kaplan
with any questions.
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Volunteer to Become an Usher
We are looking for 15 new, friendly faces to join our valued team of volunteer ushers. As an ambassador of Beth Emet, you will play an important role
greeting worshippers at Kabbalat Shabbat Services. Ushers help distribute Service Sheets, answer general questions, and when needed, assist people to their seats. Please consider volunteering in this important role in our community. A first impression is a lasting impression and may be the deciding factor in making a visitor a regular worshipper, or deepening ones relationship to the congregation. Please contact
Pamela Stauffer
or at 847-869-4230 ext. 301 to sign up!
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Upcoming and recent Divrei Torah
Friday, December 1
Jerry Burin
Friday, December 9 Rabbi Allison Tick Brill
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Travel to Israel with Beth Emet & Second Baptist Church
Go Forth to the Land that I will Show You (Genesis 12): An Interfaith, Dual-Narrative Journey of Discovery and Learning to Israel and the West Bank
November 18-30, 2018
On this unique trip, Second Baptist Church and Beth Emet Synagogue will travel together to Israel and the West Bank with Palestinian and Jewish guides who will introduce us to the complex narratives and present-day realities of a land that is a home to each of our faith traditions.We will visit sites holy to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, learn about the modern history of the region, and spend time with Palestinians and Jews to gain greater understanding of the complex realities of the region and greater empathy for all its people.
The tour leaders are Rabbi Andrea London and Pastor Michael Nabors, Second Baptist Church. You need to register online with our tour company MEJDI tours. There are twenty spots for Beth Emet members and twenty spots for Second Baptist members. Please note, flight prices are not included in the price and travelers will have to make their own flight reservations.
See more details.
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Beth Emet Soup Kitchen Coat Drive
Through December 10
Consider helping our Soup Kitchen guests stay warm this winter by donating your gently used coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and boots. Please make sure pockets are emptied and all donations are in good repair. We especially need larger sizes for women and men. No children's wear please.
If you would like more information or to volunteer for coat sorting on Monday, December 11, or for distributing coats to soup kitchen guests on Wednesday, December 13, please contact
Leslie Levin Shulruff
.
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Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Wednesday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m. at JRC (303 Dodge Ave, Evanston)
Sponsored by the Interfaith Action of Evanston,
representatives of a broad cross section of communities of faith and spirit will present reflections, invocations, and blessings from their individual traditions. They will share the commonality of thanksgiving and community that ties each of us and those we serve.
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Tzedakah Committee Grant to YWCA Evanston/North Shore
Thank you to generous members who recently turned in their tzedakah cans, the Tzedakah Committee granted the YWCA $494 in support of YWCA's Racial Justice Program. These funds will help purchase 20 copies of Michael Eric Dyson’s book,
Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America, and 13 copies of Debby Irving’s book,
Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race, to enhance discussions of race throughout the Evanston, North Shore community.
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Donate an Electric Menorah to Orchard Village
Orchard Village is in need of 5 electric or battery operated menorahs for their group homes. Your gifts will be greatly appreciated and donations are tax deductible.
Orchard Village, founded in Skokie, Illinois in 1972, is a fully licensed nonprofit organization that annually provides support to nearly 300 individuals (all ages) with developmental disabilities in north and northwest Chicagoland. Their objective is to empower clients to live a fulfilling life in which each individual controls his or her own destiny.
If you have a menorah you would like to donate, please contact:
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Adult Education Registration is Now Open!
Thinking about learning something new? Seeking a bit more in your life? Try an offering in our new Fall/Winter Adult Education brochure.
with Samuel Fleischacker
Thursday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m.
with Rabbi Herbert Bronstein
Fridays, November 17 and December 1 at 10:45 a.m.
with David Zarefsky
Thursdays, November 30 and December 7 at 7:30 p.m.
You can register by
clicking here
and you will be directed to a form. Please fill in your birth date (including the slashes between the numbers i.e. 01/01/2017) and your zip code. This will open up a pre-filled form specifically for you to register on. If we do not have your birth date and zip code on file, please contact
Eric
or 847-869-4230 ext. 308.
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Jewish Mindfulness Meditation with OROT
Tuesday Evenings at 7:30 p.m. at Beth Emet
Join Orot for evenings of Torah and meditation. Each session begins with a brief teaching, followed by mindfulness mediation and discussion. All sessions are open to everyone. No RSVP’s required, just show up!
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Beth Emet's Soup Kitchen celebrated its 15th anniversary last Wednesday evening serving cake to guests. Soup Kitchen co-founders Jessie Mcdonald and Nancy Bashook pose with a cake that said "Cooking with (heart) for 15 years."
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This past Sunday, the Mitzvah Appeal Campaign held its first event Lox, Bagels, and Leaders. The candid conversation and forthright Q & A was moderated by Mark Caro and participants included
U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, IL Senator Daniel Biss, IL Representative Laura Fine, IL Representative Robyn Gabel and Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty (all pictured above left with event co-chairs Steve and Becky Galler).
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B'nei Mitzvah
son of Amie Denlow and Josh Denlow
November 18
Deaths
Gladys Field
aunt of Rich (Gabrielle) Berger
Eliezer Solomon
father of Aharon (Dana) Solomon
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This marks the third time we are listing contributions in Emet Mail. We are starting this new tradition of including a list, rather than in the bi-annual Chadashon, to ensure that contributions are acknowledged in a more timely manner. This list includes all donations to funds (whether Foundation, General or Discretionary) but not special campaigns (e.g. Annual Mitzvah, Capital Campaign) which will be formally acknowledged separately.
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Beth Emet The Free Synagogue
1224 Dempster Street
Evanston, IL 60202
847-869-4230
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