Tuesday, November 13 | 5 Kislev 5779
Greetings!

As the Director of Lifelong Learning, I am guilty of being a learner. The truth is that I love to learn. I seek out programs that include cohorts of learners so that I can be a part of learning community, meet new people, and can be challenged by thoughts that are different than mine. Four years ago, I began to study and work in the area of t ikkun middot , balancing and re-balancing my soul-qualities, my character traits. This has been transformative.

This weekend, November 16 - 18, each of us has the opportunity to step into tikkun middot work during our Scholar-in-Residence weekend. The Tikkun Middot project allows us to cultivate moral traits, such as patience, trust, compassion and mindful speech. On Friday night, Rabbi Marc Margolius, from the Institute of Jewish Spirituality, will lead a meditation, give the D’var Torah and teach at a congregational Shabbat dinner. That night, Cantor Richard Cohn and our Beth Emet Adult Choir will be leading us in worship. This promises to be a very inspirational evening. Rabbi Margolius and Cantor Cohn will also lead worship on Shabbat morning. Then, on Sunday morning, Rabbi Margolius will give us insights on mindful parenting. Details are below and please note reservations are required for Shabbat dinner.

To date, 35 Beth Emet congregants have begun work in tikkun middot . Here are a few reflections from these participants:

I think of tikkun middot as nothing less than a life changer for me. The focus on mindfulness with compassion has allowed me to embody my Jewish values while accepting my flawed attempts along the way with kindness rather than judgment. I believe I am becoming a person who is often more gentle to myself and others. -- Barbara Stock

Participating in the Tikkun Middot study group has provided me with a safe space to grapple with issues that I am currently struggling with. I am confronting my own aging and the task of living in a world that does not always reflect my own values. Studying values from the Jewish perspective has helped me to think about my relationships with God, Judaism, my community, my family, and myself. The sessions have helped to guide my thinking and my actions, and helped me to be more appreciative of life with all of its complexity. -- Sheri Fox

We may not be able to make changes in the behavior of others, but if we begin with ourselves, we will impact our families and communities. In this way, we can bring a little more chesed , kindness, into the world. We will increase the sacredness of our relationships with each other and infuse middot practice throughout many facets of our Beth Emet community culture.   

Marci Dickman
Director of Lifelong Learner
Coming Up at Beth Emet
Friday, November 16 at 8:00 a.m. Talmud and Bagels with Rabbi Peter Knobel
at 9:30 a.m. A Close Look at Torah with Rabbi Andrea London
at 10:45 a.m. What is Holiness? with Sam Fleischacker
at 6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi Marc Margolius followed by Congregational Shabbat Dinner
Saturday, November 17 at 9:00 a.m. Tot Shabbat
at 9:45 a.m. Kahal Shabbat with D'var Torah by Rabbi Marc Margolius and Shabbat Morning Program for Children
Sunday, November 18 at 9:30 a.m. Mindful Jewish Parenting Through Middot with Rabbi Marc Margolius
1:00 p.m. Wise Aging: Living with Joy, Resilience, and Spirit with Sue Nadel, Jane Weintraub, & Clark Ellinthrope
3:00 p.m. Poor Peoples Campaign Rally
Wednesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Thursday, November 22 Building closed for Thanksgiving
Friday, November 23 at 6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Services (offices closed during the day)
Sunday, November 25 No Beit Sefer
Poor People’s Campaign Rally: A National Call for Moral Revival
Sunday, November 18 | 3:00 p.m. at Beth Emet
Learn about this powerful movement and join with others who are rising up to change the moral narrative of this country for an afternoon of inspiration, music, and education. 

A re-igniting of Dr. Martin Luther King’s 1968 call to unite people across
the country to challenge the evils of systemic racism, poverty, the war
economy, ecological devastation and the nation’s distorted morality. Learn more about the movement: National and North Cook/ Lake County Cluste r.
For more information: Email jenmueller57@gmail.com or call 530-417-2860
Mitzvah Appeal Campaign 2018
It’s a mitzvah to support our synagogue! More information will arrive in your mailboxes soon! Save the date for our first event Bagels, Lox, and Leaders: A conversation about the current state of politics and society and the future role of the media on Sunday, December 9 at 9:45 a.m. This year's brunch features Jan Schakowsk y, United States Congresswoman serving Illinois 9th Congressional District since 1999, and a Beth Emet member. Peter Slevin , Northwestern University Journalism Professor, former Chicago Bureau Chief of the Washington Post and author of Michelle Obama – A Life . Moderated by: Cam Davis , recently elected to the Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District who previously served as the Great Lakes Water Czar for President Barack Obama. Your valuable donation this year in any amount, is your opportunity to make a significant difference. RSVP now or call 847-869-4230 ext. 301.

Mark your calendar for future Mitzvah Appeal events:
Current Politics: Insight and Discussion featuring David Zarefsky at the office of Jenner & Block, LLP (353 N. Clark, Chicago) on Thursday, January 10 at 12:00 p.m.
Got Beer? An Evening of Making and Tasting at Temperance Brewery on Saturday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Sommelier Soiree at the home of Neal Moglin and Mark Tendam (2448 Lincolnwood Drive, Evanston) Saturday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. ($360 min. donation for this event)
Saturday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Rabbi London, a nationally recognized Jewish leader, has led Beth Emet since 2000. We are lucky to call her our own beloved rabbi. We celebrate this important milestone—18 years!—by bringing Maureen Nehedar, Rabbi London’s favorite Israeli singer, to Beth Emet. A creator and composer, Nehedar is known for her revival of Persian-Jewish tradition poetry (Piyutim). Tickets: $36 for adults, $10 for 18 and younger and students with a valid student ID. Purchase tickets.
Community News & Events
Upcoming Events
Tot Shabbat
Saturday, November 17 at 9:00 a.m.
Come for the singing, the dancing, the friends, the shmoozing, the food--and mostly to enjoy Shabbat!
November 16, 17, & 18
Middot: Nurturing the 'Better Angels of our Nature' in Challenging Times
Rabbi Marc Margolius, of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, joins Beth Emet for the weekend to explore how we can grow in awareness, develop greater wisdom, and bring our best selves to the challenges of our day by integrating Jewish mindfulness practice and attention to middot (spiritual/ethical qualities).

Friday, November 16, 6:30 p.m. (Oneg begins at 5:45 p.m.)
Kabbalat Shabbat Service and congregational Shabbat dinner with Rabbi Margolius. Cantor Richard Cohn and the Adult Choir will also be participating at this Service. Dinner is $16 per adult, and $10 per child (age 5-12) by Wednesday, November 14; $20 | $14 thereafter.  RSVP  or call 847-869-4230 ext. 301.

Saturday, November 17, 9:30 a.m.
Rabbi Margolius will give the D’var Torah at Shabbat morning service. There will be a Kahal Shabbat Children's Program this morning as well, and a vegetarian potluck lunch following the Service.

Sunday, November 18, 9:30 a.m.
In an interactive workshop, Rabbi Margolius will explore how we (and our children) can grow spiritually and ethically by parenting more mindfully and cultivating our inner quality of Emet/Truth.
Sundays, November 18, December 16, January 6 & 27, February 10, March 10 | 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Led by congregants Sue Nadel, Clark Ellithorpe, and Jane Weintraub, Wise Aging is about facing the challenges of this period in our lives and examining our thinking and doing – turning the notion of decline into opportunity. Each class involves text study and discussion, mindfulness meditation, gentle movement, traditional religious practices and Tikkun Middot – the cultivation of spiritual qualities. 
Chasamba (grades 6 - 8) Iron Chef Challenge
November 18 | 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Come join us for an afternoon of team building and fun! We will be splitting into groups to compete in the ultimate Iron Chef Cooking challenge, you won't want to miss this one! We will get to eat our amazing creations, but everyone should bring a lunch to eat as well.
You can find more information here. Cost is $5. Please RSVP.
November 29, December 6, and 13 | 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Are you curious about Judaism? This engaging class on Jewish spirituality, ethics, and community is open to all and designed for the curious beginner. You don’t have to be Jewish to be curious. Individuals from all faith backgrounds are welcome. We ask you to register so we can save you a seat!  Register.
Learn More About Beth Emet's Post Detention Accompaniment Team (P-DAT)
Friday, November 30 at 6:30 p.m. during Kabbalat Shabbat Services (Shabbat Oneg at 5:45 p.m.)
Phil Bashook and Lizzie Graham will deliver the D'var Torah discussing Beth Emet Social Action Committee’s latest initiative, helping strangers who are newly released asylum seekers. This work is done in partnership with the Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants (ICDI). Since June, Beth Emet's Post Detention Accompaniment Team (P-DAT) has helped 42 people. Two team members receive a call from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to meet the new immigrant upon release from the ICE center in downtown Chicago. As commanded by Torah, they welcome the stranger, provide a meal, supply clothing and essentials, and arrange bus transportation to the individual's future home in the US or take them to the ICDI sanctuary house. If you are interested in joining the team, contact Phil or Lizzie. You can also help by contributing to the Beth Emet P-DAT Fund, set up to support this important social action initiative.
Adult B'not Mitzvah at Kahal Shabbat Morning Service
Saturday, December 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Join in a special Shabbat service as four of our congregants become b’not mitzvah; Jackie Berman, Nancy Grabowsky, Anne Rimkus, and Shari Rogers. They have studied hard for several years and we wish them a hearty Mazal Tov.
Parents & Kids Night Out at Beth Emet
Saturday, December 1 at 5:30 p.m.
Join in the fun for family night out at Beth Emet. Together we will do Havdalah from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. followed by heavy appetizers, drinks, and mingling (for the adults), and dinner and a movie for school-age kids. Cost: $36 for two adults plus kid(s); $18 for one adult plus kid(s). RSVP by November 16.
This is a Beth Emet Families Connect (BEFC) program, fostering connections to each other, community, and Judaism.
Beth Emet Community
Shabbat Connections – Volunteers Needed!
Did you know that almost every Friday, a Beth Emet family receives a home-made Shabbat dinner through Shabbat Connections? For over 10 years, we’ve had volunteer cooks and volunteer drivers prepare and deliver Shabbat dinner to a family in our community. It might be brought to someone who has recently moved, or had a new baby, or an illness or death, or any number of other situations. It all works beautifully IF we have enough volunteers. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Kathy Kaberon.  
Beth Emet Camp Scholarships Available for Summer 2019
Application Deadline: January 18, 2019
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 2019, please fill out this form or contact Bekki Harris Kaplan with any questions.
Beth Emet Soup Kitchen Coat Drive
Through Monday, November 26
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. No children's wear please.
 
If you would like more information or to volunteer for coat sorting, or for distributing coats to soup kitchen guests on Wednesday, November 28, please contact
Diaper Collection for Bundled Blessings
During November, we will be collecting diapers for the only diaper pantry in Evanston. They particularly need pull-up diapers or the larger size diapers (4,5,or 6). though they will take any sizes including opened packages. Please place items in the big red barrel in our school hallway.
Adult Education
with Hyma Levin 
Wednesday, November 28 and December 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Here is your opportunity to grapple with some of the stories about David--his morality, "sweet singer of Israel," and more.

with Rabbi Michael Balinsky
Fridays, November 30 and December 7 at 10:45 a.m.
Although the Reform movement is steeped in ritual/mitzvah expressions, it does not define itself as a halachic movement. However, halacha (Jewish lawy) can help us gain insight into Shabbat and enrich our religious/spiritual lives.
To learn more about each class, including full details, fee, and registration information, click on the class title link. View more upcoming Adult Education classes!
Social Justice
Wednesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Evanston (1445 Hinman Ave., Evanston)
Interfaith Action of Evanston celebrates the 20th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service with keynote speaker is Dino Robinson, Founder of the Shorefont Legacy Center. The Interfaith Community Choir led by David Lorson, Music Director of First Congregational Church of Evanston, UCC will also participate in the Service.
Interfaith Action of Evanston Emergency Overnight Shelter Volunteer Training
Sunday, December 2 at 11:30 a.m. following the Social Justice Committee Meeting
Interfaith Action of Evanston will staff an emergency shelter December 2018 and January and February 2019. The shelter will only operate when the temperature is 20 degrees or below or there is significant moisture.  It will rotate among six different faith communities, and Beth Emet will host February 10-23. 

Take action with the RAC
Photos of the Week
Chasamba (grades 6-8) youth having a blast at Kroll’s Fall Harvest Farm for our first event of the year.
Life Cycle
Births
Lily Maya
daughter of Amy and Eli Cutler, and granddaughter of Bob and Sandy Cutler

Milo Springer
son of Shira and Brad Springer and grandson of Seymour Lipton

B'nei Mitzvah
son of Amy and Joshua Yulish
November 17

Deaths
Beatrice Miller
wife of Harold Miller, and mother of Robert Miller
General Community
If you do not wish to receive this email, please contact us . If you use the unsubscribe button, you will no longer receive any emails from Beth Emet.