Congregation Beth Torah E-News
January 11, 2019 - January 24, 2019
5 Sh'vat - 18 Sh'vat 5779
|
|
6100 West 127th Street • Overland Park, Kansas 66209
Phone: 913-498-2212
|
|
Erev Shabbat, Friday, January 11th
Nosh 6:00 p.m.
Worship 6:30 p.m.
Shabbat, Saturday, January 12th
Sichat Shabbat Group
9
:00 a.m
Shabbat Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, January 13th
Family T'filah 9:30 a.m.
Mourner's Kaddish 10:00 a.m.
|
|
Erev Shabbat , Friday, January 18th
Nosh 6:00 p.m.
Worship 6:30 p.m.
Shabbat, Saturday, January 19th
Sichat Shabbat Group 9
:00 a.m
Shabbat Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.
Bar Mitzvah of Noah Tarjan
Sunday, January 20th
Family T'filah 9:30 a.m.
Mourner's Kaddish 10:00 a.m.
|
|
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.
|
|
Israeli Literature as a Window to Israeli Society
MeltonKC is offering this unique course. Participants encounter an Israeli society that is original, contemporary, honest and proud. Reflections of the mythical Israel are matched by poetry and prose that is challenging and self-critical, and both offer profound insight into the Israeli national psyche.
Day: Thursdays beginning on January 24, 2019 for 10 weeks
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Faculty: Rabbi Javier Cattapan and Rabbi Monica Kleinman
Location: Congregation Beth Torah
The cost per student $250 plus materials (price may vary slightly).
MeltonKC may be able to provide subsides on an "as needed" basis.
Questions? Contact Megan Pener, MeltonKC Director,
mpener@hbha.edu
or 913.327.8161.
|
|
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.
|
|
Have some fun while you give back to the Beth Torah community. Join this year’s 100 Days of Giving campaign to raise $10,000. This campaign supports Excellence in Programming: our music program, membership events, adult education, weekly nosh, oneg, Sunday breakfast and more.
Buy a day for $100 and let us know what you are celebrating, or commemorating. Once the day is purchased, it’s gone. You’ll have to look for another date. The campaign opens this year on November 23, 2018, the day after Thanksgiving (affectionately known as Black Friday), and runs for 100 days, with the last day on March 2, 2019. Take a look at your calendars, and see what personal or family milestones you’d like to celebrate during those days. Or why not pick a random, fun day:
February 3rd - National Women Physicians Day
|
|
reStart Sign-up
CBT members can sign-up for “January at reStart”
here
or by contacting Scott Franklin at sfranklin8@att.net to participate in this social justice project. For 30 consecutive years, the congregation has prepared and served meals for the month of January at this shelter. There are lunch and dinner shifts still available with six volunteers working each meal. A shift must have at least three adult volunteers, with children over the age of 10 welcome to join their families. Visit the
SignUp Genius website
to find times and dates that fit your schedule.
|
|
CBT welcomes the Kansas City Interfaith Youth Alliance
At Shabbat morning services on January 12
th
, we will welcome a city-wide interfaith youth group to join us for
T’filah
and share a Q&A session over lunch with our teens. Rabbi Kleinman is looking for help on the
bima
for those who have become B’nai Mitzvah already. If you know of a young person with the talent and time to help, please let her know! Those ages 12-18 are invited to join in lunch afterwards-
RSVP to Rabbi Kleinman
so she can ensure there is enough food for everyone.
|
|
JVS 2019 Refugee Birthday Party Volunteer Sign Up
Many refugees arrive in the United States with only a vague idea of when they were born and how old they might be. Upon entry refugees are usually given January 1st as their birth date. Additionally, many have never celebrated a birthday or received a gift.
All that changes on
Sunday, January 20th
, when Congregations Beth Shalom, Beth Torah and Ohev Sholom partner with JVS to host the 2019 Refugee Birthday Party. The Refugee Birthday Party celebrates the children and their families, and helps ease their transition by providing an example of what happens during an American birthday party.
Volunteers make this event happen with fun birthday party games, activities, food and gifts. Sign up solo, with a friend, or with your whole family! Children must be at least 12 years of age and accompanied by an adult.
Your help is needed.To learn more or sign-up,
click here
.
|
|
Happy Tu BiShvat
The Ethical Food Committee is excited to join our Sunday school students on
January 20th
to celebrate the “New Year of Trees.” The students will hear stories about and discuss the Jewish people’s connection to the natural world and our obligation to preserve it, focusing on how what we eat and what utensils we use affects the environment. The students will play fun games and make cool art projects (using recycled material) to emphasize how we can care for our trees and the fruits they produce.
Adults can join Don Goldman in the Library at 10:15 am to discuss the ethics of what we eat, covering the environment, waste and sustainability and animal welfare.
|
|
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
January 20
th
- Join Laura & Boyd Bolter as they celebrate the holiday of Tu BiShvat with a festive seder right here at Beth Torah.
March 23
rd
- Enjoy Lunch and Learn to Play Mahjong; or Refresh your Skills; or Play like a pro!
|
|
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.
|
|
Camp Scholarship Deadline
February 1st is the deadline to apply for scholarship assistance for your camper. If you are a first time camper and attending an overnight Jewish camp, we have financial help for you regardless of need. There are other need based funds available. Email Laura Intfen at
lintfen@beth-torah.org
or
click here
to get the scholarship forms. All forms must be complete and returned to Laura by the deadline.
|
|
Congregation Forum
Tired of Sunday mornings with no coffee or bagels?
Tired of reading these announcements and the emails you get from us?
Then come to the next CBT Forum!! So you can know what is nu!
Sunday morning, February 3
rd
at 10:30 am, we will be in the library sharing budget news, program news, and other goings on. Grab a bagel and join us.
|
|
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 prepared by Ellen Merrill 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
.
|
|
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!)
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.
|
|
Save the Date: 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
Mark your calendars now and join us at CBT on
April 13, 2019
for this celebration!
|
|
ARJE WEINER RELIGIOUS SCHOOL & YOUTH NEWS
|
|
4
th
Grade Family School
On January 13
th
make sure to join the other grownups for breakfast after
T’filah
and then our class for a great Israel experience!
Tu BiShvat Learning Program
On January 20
th
we will have a school-wide
Tu BiShvat
learning program with members of our Ethical Food team. Learners will engage with them during the day, and adults are invited to join Don Goldman for an adult-level discussion after
T’filah
at 10:15 am in the library. Check out this month’s
Tekiah
for more information!
Jewish Toy Box
Are you cleaning out to make room for new Hanukkah presents? Miss June is looking to create a “Jewish Toy Box” and would love items from all the Jewish holidays, including Shabbat, that children could play with. This would include candle holders, menorahs, Shabbat plates, challah covers, kippot, tallit, Havdalah sets, seder plates, Kiddush cups, Jewish jewelry, etc. All items would need to be metal or plastic (no sharp edges), not glass or ceramic. This could also include Jewish toys or games that your children have outgrown. If you are willing to part with any of these items, bring them to Beth Torah with a note for June!
|
|
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.
|
|
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?
|
|
ONGOING EVENTS & CONNECTIONS
|
|
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 a.m. 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.
call 913-345-1118.
Learn to Read Hebrew
Discover how to read Hebrew in a fun and creative way. Learn to read and write the Hebrew alphabet and vowels system. By the conclusion you will be able to read any word in Hebrew, have a vocabulary of about 50 words, and be able to use simple sentences and common phrases. No previous knowledge of Hebrew is needed.
SevenDays Make a Ripple, Change the World Essay Scholarship Application
Kindness is contagious! Calling all High School seniors. What are you doing to make the world a better place through kindness? Do a project, then tell us about it. SevenDays® is giving five scholarships each in the amount of $1,000 each!
February is Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month:
Save the date – February 26 (7 p.m. 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.
|
|
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:
Driving Risk Awareness Program
For Parents & Teens
Do you have a teen-age driver in your
house or are about to have one? Did you know that each year, 6.5 million accidents take place involving teen drivers? Statistics indicate that a teen’s risk of being in a car accident is at its highest within the first 12 to 24 months of driving.
This free workshop, which is open to 9th
and 10th grade students and their parents, takes place Sunday, February 3, 2019, from 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m. at the Jewish Community Campus. The workshop will be facilitated by Susie Hurst, Adolescent Specialist at Jewish Family Services, and police officer Captain Mark Terman (retired). This workshop is free, reservations are required. To make a reservation, please contact Susie Hurst at 913-327-8259 or email her at
Susieh@jfskc.org.
Protecting Houses of Worship Forum
The Kansas City Division of the FBI is hosting a community wide program on topics such as active shooter, civil rights and hate crimes protection for houses of worship. The program will take place at the KCPD Regional Police Academy at 6885 NE Pleasant Valley Road, Kansas City, MO on January 31, from 5:30-8:15 pm (check in from 5:00-5:30). You must RSVP by January 29
th
to
rsvp-kc@fbi.gov.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
