Congregation Beth Torah E-News
February 8, 2019 - February 21, 2019
3 Adair - 16 Adair 5779
6100 West 127th Street • Overland Park, Kansas 66209
 Phone: 913-498-2212
WORSHIP
Erev Shabbat, Friday, February 8th
Nosh 6:00 p.m.
Worship 6:30 p.m.
Shabbat celebrating scouting.

Shabbat, Saturday, February 9th
Sichat Shabbat Group 9  :00 a.m
Shabbat Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, February 10th
Family T'filah 9:30 a.m.
Mourner's Kaddish 10:00 a.m.

Erev Shabbat - Beit T'filah , Friday, February 15th
Nosh 6:00 p.m.
Worship 6:30 p.m.
We welcome Rabbi Sam Joseph and the Beit T'filah Chorus.
Congregational Shabbat Dinner featuring Chinese food from Fortune Wok.

Shabbat, Saturday, February 16th
Sichat Shabbat Group 9  :00 a.m
Shabbat Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, February 17th
Family T'filah 9:30 a.m.
Mourner's Kaddish 10:00 a.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Panim el Panim - Celebrating 30 years of Social Action at CBT!
What do you know about the history of 30 years of Social Action at Congregation Beth Torah? Did you know …..
  • BTTY used to entertain the children at the SaveHome Women's Domestic Violence Shelter every Thursday night so the women could attend therapy?
  • Although it has become a habit for you to bring food to our Annual High Holiday Food Drive, Beth Torah was the first (and only for MANY years) congregation to do this. Even after other congregations began food drives, Beth Torah has continued to contribute more than ½ of the total donations from ALL congregations?
  • CBT donated turkeys for BOTH Thanksgiving and Christmas to the Pleasant Green Baptist Church to be delivered to Meals on Wheels participants in Jackson and Wyandotte counties?
  • Our Confirmation class had a retreat at the reStart Shelter (when they had room for us). They learned about homelessness during the day and the next morning they went to the City Market to shop for food to prepare for lunch at the Shelter?

Join us on Sunday, February 10th to learn more fun facts, take a trip down memory lane with a slide show and have a chance to sign up for new projects that will not only help others, but will help you to form stronger relationships with others in the congregation.

12:00 p.m.        Lunch (No Charge! No RSVP needed!)
12:30 p.m.       Slide Show & Interactive Trivia
1:00 p.m.         Learn about and sign up for NEW/Relational Social Action Projects

For questions or more details about this program, please contact Marcia Rittmaster at mrittmaster@gmail.com .
Lunch and Learn
Come have lunch with Rabbi Cattapan and share a thought or two at the November Lunch and Learn held in our Library on Thursday, February 14th at 12:00 p.m. You can either call the office on Wednesday the 13 th to order a sandwich or bring your own lunch.
Beit T’filah With Rabbi Sam Joseph
On Friday night, February 15th at our first Beit T’filah , Rabbi Joseph will discuss how T’filah (prayer) can bring us together as a community. He founded the liberal congregation in Hong Kong, and utilized the power of relationship-building to ensure the community’s success. While we may enjoy different styles of prayer, we will explore how Jewish worship can bring us together (and share some Chinese food from Fortune Wok for dinner!) It will be a very special night as our Beit T'filah Chorus will also be part of worship. On Saturday morning, February 16th Rabbi Joseph will lead our Sichat Shabbat session at 9:00 am. Please join him for an intimate study opportunity.

Rabbi Samuel K. Joseph, Ph.D. is Eleanor Sinsheimer Distinguished Service Professor of Jewish Education and Leadership Development at HUC-JIR/Cincinnati, where he teaches in the rabbinical school. His special interest is how Jewish institutions and organizations, from schools to synagogues to national groups, can be most excellent as they seek to fulfill their mission and vision.
Consultation on Conscience 2019
There has never been a better time to repair the world.
There has never been a better time to strengthen our congregation and community.
There has never been a better time to invest in your ability to lead.
There has never been a better time for you to be part of a life changing experience at the URJ Consultation on Conscience. 

Contact Rabbi Cattapan at jcattapan@beth-torah.org to find out how 4 days in May can change social justice work in your life, and the life of Beth Torah.
Harry Potter Purim
Are you interested in being a part of a HARRY POTTER PURIM? Our spiel this year will include our favorite witches and wizards as they embark on an age-old quest to save the Jewish people. Rehearsals will be before TAG (5:15-6:00) on February 20, February 27, and March 6, with Erev Purim March 20 th  during TAG. We are looking for adults and teens who want to be a part of this magical adventure! Please let me or Lezlie Zucker ( singerofbeauty@gmail.com ) know you would like to participate.
Coordinator of Music Engagement
The Congregation Beth Torah is now accepting applications for the Coordinator of Music Engagement position. The search committee is overseeing the posting via several vehicles, but please feel free to share it with any individuals who may be interested in applying. The job posting can be viewed here .
 
We are asking applicants to complete applications by March 1, 2019 so the search committee can continue with its focused process.
100 Days of Giving - OT
This is the third year of the FUNdraiser that CBT enjoys so much. There is so much to celebrate. We invite you to join our 100 Days of Giving campaign to raise $10,000 that supports excellence in programming: our music program, adult education, weekly nosh,
oneg, Sunday breakfast and more. In the spirit of being a great sports town, we hereby declare a 100 Days OVERTIME!!

Get in the March Madness spirit as we extend this slam dunk campaign until the NCAA Championship on April 8th! So grab your calendar and your bracket and choose a day to support your favorite team, or for a spring birthday, or for Spring Session, which is April 7th. Pick a day and email Sharon Altman, at saltman@beth-torah.org or call the office at 913-498-2212 and hear the roar of the crowd as your day comes and everyone admires your decorated day on our giant foyer calendar and “likes, loves and shares” the Facebook post that appears on the Beth Torah Facebook page in your honor.

So, let’s close this campaign out with a full court press. You can be the key as you alley-oop us toward our $10,000 goal for this campaign.
Did You Miss Our Initial Pick-a-Party Sign-Ups?
The variety of activities and creativity of our members who are hosting the Pick-a-Party events are amazing. You won’t want to MISS OUT! So, go to the following link:  https://beth-torah.org/30th-anniversary-pickaparty to sign up TODAY. You’ll enjoy meeting congregational members, involving a fun activity and FOOD, and have the opportunity to donate to Congregation Beth Torah. All parties are underwritten by our fabulous hosts. As a party participant, a portion of your ticket price will be considered a donation to CBT.
 
Here are some upcoming parties that you won’t want to miss
March 23 rd - Enjoy Lunch and Learn to Play Mahjong; or Refresh your Skills; or Play like a pro!
March 30 th - For kids 6-12, it is a Harry Potter party! They will have a chance to sample a few classes and make your own butterbeer.
Beth Torah Bash: April 13, 2019!
Our yearlong 30th Anniversary celebration will be drawing to a close, but not without one last party.

How better to conclude this 30th year of celebration than with an ADULT ONLY evening of FUN! FUN! FUN!

Please Join Us For:
  • Havdalah
  • Great Appetizers & Adult Beverages
  • A Silent Auction
  • Entertainment and Dance Music by the Jewbie Brother, with both a Special Guest and a Surprise Guest
  • And, a parody written by our own, Estelle Edelbaum and Vic Finkelstein. 

Mark your calendars now and join us at CBT on April 13, 2019 for this celebration!

Tickets go on sale February 13th.
ARJE WEINER RELIGIOUS SCHOOL & YOUTH NEWS
Keep up with the latest WRS news on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/CBTWRS/
Reminder - There is no school on February 17 th due
to Presidents’ Day weekend.
NFTY678 Laser Tag- This Saturday!
Looking for something to do on Saturday night? Please join Zach and 6th, 7th, and 8th graders from our synagogue, and other KC Reform synagogues, on Saturday (2/9/19) from 6pm to 8pm for a few rousing games of laser tag! A few times a year NFTY678 offers opportunities for all the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to get together and have fun as a Jewish community. Register for the event here: https://missourivalley.nfty.org/event/nfty-mv-nfty678-laser-tag/?event_date=2019-02-09 and sign the laser tag waiver here: https://advancedlasertag.com/ See this flyer for more info!
JYG Chavurah – Don’t Miss It!
Wondering why your 7 th or 8 th grader should attend JYG? Check out a fantastic article here: ( https://missourivalley.nfty.org/2019/01/28/why-should-i-attend-jyg/) Registration for JYG Chavurah is open! If you have a 7 th or 8 th grader, please do not miss this great event! I’ve attached a flyer with more information, and you can always contact me or Zach Zwibelman to answer any other questions you may have. This event is right in our backyard and is too good to pass up! ( https://missourivalley.nfty.org/event/nfty-mv-junior-youth-group-chavurah-3/?event_date=2019-03-08

WRS Sponsored Breakfast
Have a simcha to share with the community? Birthday, anniversary, amazing accomplishment? Please consider sponsoring an "upgrade" in someone's honor for a future Sunday morning! Visit https;//tinyurl.com/WRSBREAKFAST to access the Signup Genius!
Educating Our Future: A Campaign to Sustain Chai (Life) at CBT and in Our
Jewish Community through Education:
 Three Years Strong and Running
WE need your dedication and your dollars again for the 2018/2019 school year.
 
Our Accomplishments so far:
Thanks to a challenge grant and some generous donors, we came very close to our $53,000.00 goal for the 2017-2018 school year and are already well on our way to our 2018-2019 goal. Religious School is considered a benefit of membership to CBT members. 

The future of our children and the community depends on you.

The ABCDs to keep the momentum strong!
  • Advocate the school to people you know are looking for a religious school
  • Become a volunteer to help with a fundraising event
  • Call the office at 913-498-2212 or go to the website to donate to Educating Our Future
  • Donate your time and expertise to secure grant funds

You will be performing a Mitzvah that can help a lot of children. Donate Today! 
 
Special thanks to Molly Levinson, a sterling result of the religious school and confirmation student at CBT, for designing the beautiful logo for the Educating our Future campaign.
 
Feel free to contact the Beth Torah office for any questions you may have about Educating Our Future.
GETTING INVOLVED, ONGOING EVENTS & CONNECTIONS
Shalom Squad
Your welcoming face is needed on Friday nights. Sign up to be part of our Shalom Squad and personify the warm and welcoming feel that Beth Torah creates. Since two people are needed every week, why not sign up with a friend? Thank you to our member Jeff Antoniewicz for saying "Yes" to CBT and coordinating the Squad. You can choose your dates by clicking  here  or heading to our web site and clicking on the Shalom Squad link. 

Do You Want to Get Involved?
Visit our website to view all volunteer opportunities at Beth Torah.

 Ray Davidson Yiddish Group
Come study Yiddish! This group meets at Beth Torah at noon on Fridays and all are welcome.

Beth Torah is on YouTube 
Have you heard music performed at Beth Torah that has stirred your emotions? Do you wish you could listen to it again? There is a way to do that! Beth Torah has a YouTube channel at where videos are available to view over and over again. Music from Hanukkah Program, Shabbat Shirah, Spring Session, Purim, Beth Torah's Got Talent, and more!

Sichat Shabbat Group 
Join the community in discussion ( sicha ) on Shabbat morning, 9:00 to 10:15 am in the library.

Mi Shebeirach List
Prayers for loved ones in need of healing are beneficial for those who are ill and those who love them. If you have someone in your family who is currently ill, whose name you would like to appear on our Mi Shebeirach list, please send an email to Alyssa  and put in the message line:
Mi Shebeirach list, or call the Beth Torah office and let us know. Thank you.
GREATER KANSAS CITY JEWISH COMMUNITY
The Mitzvah Garden
The Kansas City Mitzvah Garden has opportunities blooming for volunteering by any groups/chavurahs or individuals. The garden provides produce to local food pantries. Volunteers are needed for planting, weeding, harvesting, and deliveries. Our usual work day is Sunday, but volunteers are needed Monday–Friday as well. For teens looking to accumulate community service hours, the garden is perfect. Email the Mitzvah Garden Volunteer Coordinator, Gabrielle Rhodes Handler or call 913-345-1118.

February is Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month:
 Save the date – February 26th (7 pm at the Jewish Community Campus) – for a special educational program about supporting individuals with disabilities both in Israel and in the local Jewish community. The featured speaker is Gidi Zur, CEO of  Kivunim , an organization serving young people with disabilities in Israel. Israel Emissary Daniel Rivin worked as a counselor with this organization prior to coming to Kansas City.

Community Second Night of Passover Seder
A community second night of Passover Seder will be offered on Saturday, April 20th and hosted by Congregation Ohev Sholom. The Seder is an opportunity for family and friends to come together as a community for the telling of the Passover story – to reflect on our past and look forward to a future of freedom and liberation for all people throughout the world. Through engaging stories, song and discussion, we will retell the story of the Exodus, Crossing the Sea, the story of our people’s journey from slavery to freedom and remember those around the world who struggle with injustice every day.
 
A traditional kosher-for-Passover Seder meal will be prepared under supervision of the Vaad Hakashrut of Kansas City and served under the supervision of the participating rabbis. The community Seder is sponsored by the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City, funded in part by the Community Legacy Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City and supported by Congregations.
  
Registration forms will be available the end of February on line at www.kcrabbis.org or forms can be picked up at area congregations. For information or to inquire about confidential financial assistance, contact Annette Fish, Administrator/Program Director, Rabbinical Association by email, afprogram@aol.com or call 913-327-4622. 

JFS Volunteer Opportunities
Looking for ways to get involved in the community? When you volunteer at JFS, you are helping strengthen and improve the lives of thousands of people throughout Kansas City. Volunteers play a vital role in our programs, providing a helping hand, compassionate smile or meaningful connection. There are many ways to use your time and talents as a volunteer with JFS: Click here to check out the opportunities .

Community-wide Purim Day Seudah Jewish community members of all ages will join together on Thursday, March 21st for a Purim “Seudah” (a festive meal on Purim day) beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Village Shalom. The Purim celebration will include a Purim-sing-along, Purim BINGO, an engaging and interactive reading of the megillah, light festival lunch meal, assembling Shalach Manot gift bags and an optional traditional Megillah reading after lunch.

There is no charge to attend the program but attendees are encouraged to bring a canned good for the JFS Food Pantry. Participants are welcome to wear a costume! The Purim Seudah is sponsored by the Rabbinical Association in collaboration with Village Shalom and generously supported by the Flo Harris Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City. Advance reservations are required by Wednesday, March 13. Space is limited and reservations will be accepted on a first come basis. If planning to attend, please register online at https://kcpurim.eventbrite.com or please send email afprogram@aol.com or call 913-327-4622 no later than March 13th. Indicate the number of people attending, including number and ages of children and the name of each person. For additional information, visit kcrabbis.org .

Raising Charitable Children
At this special event for adults who have children up to age 18, Jenny Friedman, an
authority on family philanthropy and founder/executive director of Doing Good
Together, will share creative and practical tips for making empathy and "giving back"
a natural part of your child's life. Stay tuned - registration will be open soon!
This event will take place on Sunday, March 24, 2019 at 10:00 am in the Jewish Community Campus MAC Room. This event is complimentary and includes babysitting and a Vaad-supervised brunch. If you have any questions, please contact Brooke Hardy at 913-327-8122 or by email .

Passover Food Drive
Hunger never takes a holiday. As we approach the season of Passover, there will be hundreds among us who will struggle to put food on the table let alone those special items to celebrate a Seder. Our congregation has chosen to collect do nations of Matzah meal and/or grape juice  ; packaged items should be labeled “kosher for Passover”. Donations may be dropped off at CBT through early April.

Monetary donations are also being accepted by check or online through the JFS site http://www.jfskc.org/ ; funds are used to purchase food items to include in the holiday food packages. By participating in the Passover Food Drive you are putting into action the traditional words of the Haggadah, ‘let all who are hungry come and eat”. For more information about the Food Pantry, please contact Jo Hickey, JFS Food Pantry Director at (913) 327-8257 or email her at jhickey@jfskc.org .