Tuesday, April 16 | 11 Nisan 5779
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Greetings!
Two weeks ago, I visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. I was attending the CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) Convention and participating in a workshop entitled, “Opening Your Mind: Understanding Implicit Bias.” The workshop leader and
learning lab specialist,
Ryan Wynett, spoke about freedom in the context of what are our developed biases and what actions we might choose to take based on our biases. He shared with us a quote that he remembered from when he was young, “a person’s freedom is measured by the number of things a person can walk away from.” This quote made me think more deeply about the notion of freedom.
As we draw near to our Festival of Passover,
Z’man Cheiruteinu
, the Time of Our Freedom, we can think about Egyptian and modern slavery from this lens of leaving. When our ancestors were enslaved in Egypt, what could they walk away from? They did not have the freedom to walk away easily from their bondage—certainly not physically. They also needed to be intellectually and spiritually ready to leave Egypt. We often discuss how the purpose of the plagues was not only to afflict Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The plagues also served as signs for the Hebrew slaves to acknowledge God so that in their minds and hearts they were prepared to leave Egypt.
Similarly, today there are people who feel they do not have the freedom to walk away from their relationships, their jobs, their neighborhoods, their war-torn countries, etc. for any number of reasons. The reasons might be physical, spiritual or intellectual. For example, some individuals feel they do not have the freedom to leave an unhealthy job situation for fear of not getting another job, and that would result in financial hardship.
As we celebrate Passover this year, whether we find ourselves around a seder table, praying in synagogue, or simply going about our week, let us share in discussion with others and reflect in our hearts about, “Who are the people whose freedom is limited, because they cannot physically, intellectually and/or spiritually walk away?” and “What can we do to help ourselves/others reach the freedom to which we/they might aspire?” We tell the Exodus story again and again each year, not only to celebrate the freedoms we now have, but also to inspire us to take action that will aid those still enslaved today to reach a place of freedom.
Chag Pesach Sameach!
Rabbi Amy L. Memis-Foler
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Thursday, April 18
No Beit Sefer
Friday, April 19
12:00 p.m. Beth Emet building closes early for first seder of Passover at sundown. No services at Beth Emet this evening. A link to a prerecorded Shabbat service is below.
Saturday, April 20
9:30 a.m. Congregational Passover Morning Service with Cantor Richard Cohn (Please note there will be no Tot Shabbat, Shabbat Minyan, or Kahal.)
Sunday, April 21
Beth Emet Building Closed (No Beit Sefer or Adult Education courses.)
9:00 a.m. Weekday Minyan at the home of Nisan and Sarah Chavkin
Wednesday, April 24
Thursday, April 25
3:00 p.m. Building closes early for
chag (holiday).
Friday, April 26
Beth Emet Offices Closed
10:00 a.m. Passover Morning Services (Last Day) including
Yizkor (Memorial) Service
5:45 p.m. Oneg Shabbat
6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Services with Cantor Richard Cohn
Saturday, April 27
12:00 p.m. Community Potluck Lunch
Sunday, April 28
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Passover Worship
Please note, there will be no Kabbalat Shabbat Services on Friday, April 19.
Names for Kaddish will be read Shabbat morning, April 20 at 9:30 a.m. If you prefer the name to read Friday, April 26, please
contact the office or call 847-869-4230 ext. 301.
Congregational Passover Morning Service (First Day)
Saturday, April 20 at 9:30 a.m. (Please note, there will be one service. No Tot Shabbat, Minyan, or Kahal)
Passover Festival Morning Services including
Yizkor
(Memorial) Service (Last Day)
Friday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m.
Cantor Richard Cohn leads us in song for both Passover Services.
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Passover Resources
Looking for a new Haggadah and/or fun ideas for children or inspirational writings to add to your seder? Look no further - we compiled a list of resources for you.
Take a look.
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Passover Food Drive
Sunday, April 7 - Friday, May 3
Pre-Passover Food Collection to benefit Connections for the Homeless
The Tzedakah Fund Committee will be collecting all unopened, non-perishable food items that will be donated to Connections for the Homeless. A perfect way to get rid of (leaven) before the holiday!
Post-Passover Food Collection to Benefit The ARK
The Tzedakah Fund Committee will be collecting all unopened, non-perishable, kosher, Passover food items and/or any other kosher food products or personal items (toothpaste, diapers, soap, etc.) for The ARK’s food pantry.
Separately, we are also collecting items for A Just Harvest and the Beth Emet Soup Kitchens. Filling each Soup Kitchen's pantry with staples is always helpful to both organizations to defray the costs of serving meals.
See a list of items needed.
Items for all collections can be placed in the wooden donation box in the school entrance hallway.
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Introducing First Fridays - a New, Monthly Shabbat Experience
Shabbat at Beth Emet offers an opportunity for us to come together as a community and make space in our busy lives to rest, reflect, pray, and study.
At Beth Emet we are always trying to find ways to make Shabbat meaningful and engaging for the whole community. We have a myriad of Shabbat worship, study, and communal meal opportunities for all ages, as described
in this brochure. One way we hope to make Friday night services an option for more people is to
change the start time of Kabbalat Shabbat Services on the first Friday of each month to 7:30 p.m. “First Fridays” will begin on May 3. That evening, we will host a Shabbat Dinner starting at 6:15 p.m. (details below). On subsequent First Fridays, an Oneg Shabbat with sweets and fruit will follow the service.
Also note that, other than First Fridays, all Kabbalat Shabbat services will continue to start at 6:30 p.m., with an Oneg Shabbat prior to services beginning at 5:45 p.m.
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Congregational Shabbat Dinner - Inaugurating First Fridays with a Fiesta! (Tacos, tacos, tacos!)
Friday, May 3 at 6:15 p.m. (Kabbalat Shabbat Services
at 7:30 p.m.)
To celebrate the launch of First Fridays, we're having a fiesta! Enjoy a delicious taco bar with all the fixings!
Dinner is $16 per adult and $10 per child (age 5-12) by Wednesday, May 1, $20 and $14 thereafter.
RSVP by online form
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Listen to Past Divrei Torah
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Avodah to honor Rabbi Andrea London as Partner in Justice 2019
Thursday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Cafe Brauer
(2021 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago)
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Mindful Parenting
with Rabbi Andrea London and Marci Dickman
Sunday, April 28 at 9:30 a.m.
Anyone who is a parent knows that parenting is simultaneously stressful and fulfilling, exhausting and invigorating, frustrating and rewarding. Parents also find that life with children is so busy that it’s hard to find the time and energy to parent our children the way we’d like. In these two sessions, we will explore together the technique of
Tikkun Middot—working on our character traits -- as a way to help us parent in a more intentional and mindful way so that we might develop the relationships we’d like to have with our children and instill the values we’d like to impart to them.
RSVP.
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Shop for Yourself. Earn for Beth Emet
It’s just that easy. By paying with gift cards through Scrip, a rebate percentage is donated to Beth Emet. From Mariano’s (think Passover shopping), to Home Depot (think spring cleaning and garden prep), to Lettuce Entertain You restaurants (think
chameitz
overload before Passover), purchase a gift card before you go and use your phone app to pay. To do this, go to
Scrip Online
, create an account, select “get started,” “For families” (but it’s really for everyone), and enter Beth Emet’s code (9C27822263639), and off you go. All it takes is 5 minutes to register, and you’re all set to support Beth Emet.
See full list of gift cards available.
For questions, please contact
Marla Topp
at ext. 325. THANK YOU!
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Do you love to sing? Let your voice be heard!
Join the Beth Emet choir for Kol Emet Shabbat services on Friday, May 17 with Conductor Klaus Georg and Cantor Richard Cohn. Singing with the choir is a fun and spiritually satisfying way to participate in communal prayer! Tenors particularly welcome. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, May 2. For more information, please contact
Klaus Georg
.
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Office Hours with Karen Isaacson
Sunday, May 12 | 11:00 a.m. to noon
Karen Isaacson, President of the Board of Trustees at Beth Emet, will be holding "office hours" in our Lobby each month. Please stop to say hello, share your perspective on what's going on, and/or any ideas you may have.
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October 24 - November 3, 2019
Take an
interfaith, dual narrative (Palestinian and Jewish guide) to Israel and the West Bank. Travel with Rabbi London and Pastors Nabors and Ruen, see ancient and modern sites and gain a deeper understanding of the issues facing the region and its people. You don't want to miss this unique and special trip!
Full itinerary and registration info.
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Beth Emet Early Childhood Program Registration Now Open for 2019-2020 School Year
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with Claire Sufrin
Fridays, May 3 and 10, 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Beginning with the biblical story of the Binding of Isaac, we'll consider how the way the story is told affects our understanding of Abraham’s actions. Other discussions will consider examples taken from contemporary authors who use narrative to explore the religious experience and/or theological concerns.
New course just added!
with Eli Rosenblatt, PhD
Tuesday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m.
How have Jews interacted with and responded to the color line? How did Jewish radicals, reformers, rabbis, and laypeople think about racial concepts and racist ideas? While the role that scientific racism has played in the history of European antisemitism is well known, we will explore lesser known moments in which the Jewish and racial culture converged in unexpected and imaginative ways.
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Wednesday, April 25 at 1:30 p.m. followed by a Discussion at 2:00 p.m. at UCE
As civil and human rights continue to be eroded for immigrant communities and people of color, we stand united in solidarity with all immigrants and communities of color facing the very real threat of racist and xenophobic attacks. That’s why this year’s Stand Against Racism theme — No Hate. No Fear. — is focused on supporting racial and immigrant justice.
We'll gather along Ridge Avenue from 1:30-1:50 pm to take our place as we stand along the corner of Dempster and Ridge. Bring a sign or poster confirming Beth Emet’s stand against racism. Following the stand, there will be a discussion at the Unitarian Church of Evanston led by Eileen Heineman, YWCA Equity Institute Manager, Community Outreach). This get-together is co-sponsored by members of Beth Emet and the UCE REAL team (Racial Equity Action and Leadership).
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Tzedakah Can Collection
Sunday, May 5 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Support the Tzedakah Committee's mission to grant funding towards organizations that support justice, equality, and community. Tzedakah Committee members will be collecting cans in the Lobby during Sunday morning Beit Sefer. Don't have a can? The Committee will be distributing those as well!
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The Evanston Emergency Overnight Shelter Cocktail Reception Fundraiser
May 6 at 7:00 p.m. at Found (1631 Chicago Avenue, Evanston)
Each winter, Interfaith Action of Evanston hosts an overnight shelter for those in need of shelter at different religious organizations around town, including Beth Emet. Help keep the doors open!
More information.
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Our Early Childhood students collected food for Beth Emet's Soup Kitchen, fulfilling the Purim mitzvah of giving gifts to the poor. The children then helped put the items in the cupboards with help from Soup Kitchen co-chairs Donna Wolf and Leslie Shulruff.
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Birth
Dara Carolina
daughter of Alex Lavin and Leslee Cohen-Lavin and granddaughter of Robin and Jonathan Lavin
B'nai Mitzvah
son of Aimee and Brian King
April 27
Marriage
Adam Cherlin and Sofie Huber
Adam is the son of
Stewart and Marilyn Cherlin
Death
Rhonda Wolff
partner of Joel Lipsky
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