Shabbat Shalom. I hope that your Passover thus far has been good. We masked up, hopped on a plane, and spent it with Andrew’s Great Aunt June who will be 90 at the end of the month, giving new meaning to “have a seder plate will travel”. It was the first of many wonderful reunions this month, our first with family since COVID began, but not our last. As luck would have it my in-laws arrive today and my parents on April 22nd. It has been more than a year since we have all seen each other. Not only are Andrew and I excited, but Nora is over the moon! I am still trying to figure out how to cram Thanksgiving, Rosh Ha Shana, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Hannukah, birthdays, anniversaries, AND a tour of Birmingham into everyone’s visits – wish me luck.
At this moment Jews across the world are counting the Omer. For 49 days ancient Jews offered a sheaf of ripe grain until Shavuot arrived. Growing up I went to Hebrew School Monday, Wednesday, and Sundays with Jr. Congregation on Saturdays. Although I feel like I had an excellent Jewish education, the counting of the Omer was always lost on me and it’s not because I didn’t have wonderful teachers at the United Talmud Torah of Omaha! Maybe I wasn’t paying attention because I already knew the end of the story – the Jews received the Torah on Mount Sinai!
This Wednesday evening in Israel commemorates Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Growing up I had always believed that my family had made it out of Poland before the atrocities of World War II then I found Ancestry.com. I learned that my great grandfather, Zalman Katz, had left his parents and three siblings in Poland to start a life with two of his brothers here in America. His family that was left behind in Poland all perished in Auschwitz. My grandmother never spoke of it, maybe because she never knew or maybe because it was too painful. As we commemorate the lives lost, let us all celebrate that we are here in a thriving Jewish community, and may all those who perished memories be a blessing. Another reminder of what we as Jews must do – stand up not only for ourselves, but those around us who need our voice as well. Please be sure to check out all the Yom HaSHoa offerings in the programming sections below.
Last week I spoke to you of Tikkun Olam and wanted to share this quote with you from the Talmud –
“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”
Wishing you a restful Shabbat and a week of peace.
B’Shalom,
Danny
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See your Federation dollars at work! |
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Yom HaShoah Commemoration
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On April 7 from 1-2 PM CT, we will be bringing together over 100 survivors for an hour-long ceremony, we invite you and your top leaders to join this intimate and meaningful program. In partnership with the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies and JFNA, the program will be powered by UNIPER, the Israeli innovation keeping Holocaust survivors connected during this difficult time. Registration information can be found here.
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The Levite Jewish Community Center is bringing the Birmingham community four ways to celebrate Israel's 73rd birthday. There is no need to leave the comfort of your home to celebrate Yom Ha'Atzmaut in 2021 - we are bringing Israel to you! For more information on any of the below programs visit their website. These programs are brought to you in part by the Birmingham Jewish Federation and Birmingham Jewish Foundation.
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Israel To-Go Bags
April 11 - April 15
Our Israel To-Go Bags are stuffed full of family fun to help you celebrate Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel). Bags include snacks, party favors, a special craft, Israeli flags, and even an Ahava face mask.
Bags are limited so be sure to reserve yours today.
Reserved bags will be available for pick up at the LJCC Welcome Center beginning Sunday, April 11 through Thursday, April 15 during operating hours.
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Virtual Tour of Israel
with Julian Resnick
Sunday, April 11 at 12PM
Discover Israel from the comfort of your living room. Julian Resnick has been guiding tours through Israel since the late 1980s. He has lead many Birmingham groups and can’t wait to share some new sites with our community.
Julian will be sharing a video that is being specially created for our group, and will then host a live question and answer session from his home in Israel. Don’t miss your chance to experience Julian Resnick who is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Israel’s history, culture, and sites.
*This program is generously supported by The Unrestricted Fund of the Birmingham Jewish Foundation.
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Virtual Sip & Stroke with Sari Menaker
April 14 at 7PM
Art is a large part of Israeli culture so grab a glass of wine and your creativity and join Sari Menaker for a Sip & Stroke night. Sari will share the work of some of her favorite Israeli artists while leading us through a free-form painting session. Her guidance and encouragement will have you painting like Menashe Kadishman in no time.
*The LJCC will be providing a canvas and paints for those who register in advance. Information on supply pick-up times will be provided soon.
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"Israeli History Through Comedy" with Benji Lovitt
Thursday, April 15 at 8PM
Comedian Benji Lovitt leads our audience through an entertaining historical journey, using field and TV clips to track some of the paradigmatic periods and transformative events in Israeli history – all through the lens of humor. His unique observations about Israel are absolutely hilarious.
No matter your knowledge of Israeli, Benji will have you cracking up from your living room as he shares his experiences through jokes.
*This program is brought to you by the Goldring Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life and is generously supported by the Sirote Jewish Education Fund of The Birmingham Jewish Foundation.
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A Global Celebration of Israel’s 73rd Independence Day
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-- Special Farewell Address by His Excellency Reuven Rivlin, President of Israel --
On Thursday, April 15 at 7 PM ET The Jewish Federations of North America, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Hayesod and additional partners will host a one-hour virtual event to mark Israel’s 73rd Independence Day. The event will begin with a farewell address by His Excellency Reuven Rivlin, President of Israel, and include a look back on his legacy as the Jewish State’s 10thPresident. It will also feature special appearances by Israeli Olympic-gold-medal-hopefuls who are on their way to Tokyo this summer, Jewish athletes from around the world and more.
9 Reasons to Register for this Global Celebration of Israel
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His Excellency Reuven Rivlin, President of Israel will deliver his final farewell to the Diaspora community and viewers will look back on his legacy.
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Mark Wilf, Minnesota Vikings Owner and Chair of JFNA Board of Trustees will give welcoming remarks and discuss how his passions for sports, Israel and the Jewish community connect.
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Amar’e Stoudemire, six-time NBA All-Star and player development assistant for the New York Knicks will join the virtual 73-hoops challenge with the students of the National Hillel Basketball Tournament to celebrate Israel’s 73rd birthday.
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Meet Linoy Ashram, 2021 Olympic rhythmic gymnast sensation, gold medalist at the 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup, and first Israeli to win the gold medal in the Individual All-Around Event at the 2020 European Championships, and
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Marhu Teferi, 2021 Olympic marathon runner and holder of Israeli records in both the half-marathon and marathon.
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Noa Tishby, Israeli actress and producer of the Emmy-winning drama “In Treatment” on HBO will offer greetings and invite you to a talk discussion about her new book.
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Yonina, the Israeli-American husband and wife musical duo will perform.
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Learn the story of Agnes Keleti, a 100-year-old Hungarian-Israeli gymnast and Holocaust survivor with ten Olympic medals, and
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a gang of motorcyclists, who recruited Jewish athletes and brought them to Tel Aviv to compete during the perilous time before World War II.
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"The New Jewish Canon”:
A Conversation about Contemporary Judaism
April 6 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Temple Beth-El
The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have been a period of mass production and proliferation of Jewish ideas, and have witnessed major changes in Jewish life and stimulated major debates. Join this class to talk about the book, “The New Jewish Canon,” which came out this year in July. This book offers a conceptual roadmap to make sense of some of this rapid change. The New Jewish Canon is an entry point for the Jewish intellectual and communal zeitgeist of the contemporary period and the recent past, canonizing our most important ideas and debates of the past two generations; and just as importantly, stimulating debate and scholarship about what is yet to come. Join Rebbetzin Bethany with your lunch on zoom to talk about some of these debates. Register here for the zoom link.
Introduction to Judaism with
Rabbi Adam Wright
April 6 @ 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Temple Emanu-El
Join us for an engaging 12-session course for anyone interested in exploring Jewish life. Open to all, this course is perfect for interfaith couples, those rearing Jewish children, spiritual seekers, individuals considering a “return” – (conversion), and Jews who want a meaningful adult Jewish learning experience. Our programs welcome people from all backgrounds. Topics include holidays, life cycle celebrations, theology and core beliefs, prayer, Torah, history, antisemitism, and the Holocaust, Zionism, and Israel, the North American Jewish experience, and the tapestry of the Jewish people today. Register here.
JewCurious?
April 7 @ 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Temple Beth-El
Are you JewCurious? Have you heard that Judaism is about asking questions? Questions are the start of a great conversation. I would say, Judaism is about a great conversation. Come learn more about what that conversation sounds like by joining this JewCurious Class. This class is for everyone looking to get a broad overview of Judaism. This 101 class lasts for 20 weeks and is open to anyone who is curious. We’ll explore the major narratives, history, practices, theology and values of Judaism. You can expect that the learning will happen with curiosity and open-mindedness and respect for one another’s boundaries and beliefs. Taught by Bethany Slater from Temple Beth El. To register: Click here to register!
Inter-everything Virtual Meet Up
April 8 @ 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Temple Beth-El
In February we met as an “inter-everything” group to share recipes, swap stories and “cook-a-long.” In April, on the heels of the Passover/Easter week, we’ll have a chance to gather around cutting-edge interfaith content for stimulating discussion and meaningful socializing. This workshop is planned with busy parents and individuals in mind; no pre-work required, just come ready to watch a short, interesting video, and to listen and share.
This group is open to those who identify as inter-anything. Individuals of inter-anything heritage/background, as well as those in multi-faith, multi-cultural and beyond relationships are welcome to join. Questions? Not sure if this group is for you? Reach out to mnorman@templebeth-el.net to learn more. Register here!
Yom HaAtzmaut: Virtual Tour of Israel
April 11 @ 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
LJCC
The LJCC invites the community to travel with us to Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel). Julian Resnick will be our guide as we virtually tour a few of Israel’s most popular sites and secret gems. After the virtual tour, Julian will host a live question and answer session from his home in Israel. This special program is part of our week-long Israel To-GO Yom HaAtzmaut celebration.
Julian is a highly respected Israeli tour guide who has guided many trips for Birmingham groups in the past. Don’t miss your chance to learn about Israel from one of the best tour guides in the business. Register here!
Jserve Run4Friendship Color Run
April 11 @ 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
J-Serve and The Birmingham Jewish Federation
Since 2005, J-Serve has provided teens with a unique opportunity to band together through service as a united global network committed to fulfilling the Jewish values of gemilut chasidim, acts of loving kindness, tzedakah, just and charitable giving, and tikkun olam, the responsibility to repair the world. This year we are teaming up with Friendship Circle of Alabama for a Color4Friendship Color Run.
The Color4Friendship Run is a 1 mile, un-timed event in which “Color Runners”, are doused from head to toe in different colors at different points throughout the mile. We are running to proclaim love, inclusion, and friendship for all people, regardless of any disability, emotional or physical, one may have. Sign up here to join us!
Alabama Holocaust Day of Remembrance
April 11 @ 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
& Alabama Holocaust Commission
The Holocaust Days of Remembrance (Yom HaShoah) solemnly observes the memory of the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust and honors our Alabama survivors and their families. This year’s meaningful program will feature various speakers including Governor Kay Ivey, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, and Pastor Chris Edmonds, son of World War II hero Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, whose fearless bravery saved the lived of Jewish American soldiers in a prisoner of war camp in Germany. Edmonds recently received the designation of Righteous among the Nations from Yad Vashem.
The program will feature the rededication of a newly planted Anne Frank Tree in Birmingham’s Kelly Ingram Park. Anne Frank, a young Jewish victim of the Holocaust who is famous for keeping a diary of her experiences, often looked out upon a large horse chestnut tree in the garden as she and her family hid from Nazi capture. For her, the tree symbolized freedom as well as nature, which she longed to enjoy once again. In this spirit, we will hold the Anne Frank Tree Rededication at Kelly Ingram Park. The new tree, an American beech, will replace the horse chestnut tree planted 11 years ago. Learn more!
Financial Assistance Available
for Jewish Community Members
Thanks to a grant from the Greatest Needs Fund of the Birmingham Jewish Federation’s COVID Relief Campaign, Collat Jewish Family Services is offering financial assistance to Jewish community members who are facing financial insecurity because of job loss, caring for family or other issues. Confidential assistance is available to members of the Birmingham Jewish community who need help with rent or mortgage payments, utilities, prescription costs or other needs. To learn more, please email CJFS Clinical Director Marcy Morgenbesser LICSW, marcy@cjfsbham.org or call 205.879.3438.
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The Birmingham Jewish Federation
@jewishbirmingham
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