This Week at BJBE - December 10, 2018

This Week at BJBE

December 10, 2018

A Note from Sally Sachar, Executive Director

Greetings Congregants,

We hope you enjoyed a lovely Chanukah! It was a delightful weekend here -- a celebration of music and light featuring Elana Arian. We were enriched, inspired by, and grateful for our time with Elana. Please take a look at some photos from Shabbat here.

We also celebrated with a latke eating contest at JLC on Sunday where Rabbi Fenster emerged victorious!

A few important notes:

Starting in January, as BJBE makes efforts to GO GREEN, MidMonth will be exclusively an online product (sent by email) UNLESS you let us know that you want to receive it in the regular US postal mail. Please contact Caryn Blomquist if you wish to receive a hard copy of MidMonth.
We have made a shift in office roles in the front office at BJBE. Caryn Blomquist will now be a part of our clergy support team, working with Leslie to support our four clergy. She will, in particular, be supporting Rabbi Fenster and Cantor Green, but will have broader clergy support responsibilities as well. Caryn will be working closely in partnership with Leslie. Dani is taking over the membership, communications and development support role. We will be sending a detailed breakdown of who does what but for now please note that you should communicate with Caryn about any Yahrzeit related matters as well as matters that relate specifically to Rabbi Fenster and Cantor Green. Please contact Dani about communication and membership matters, copying Anne. If you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to me! As always, I am very grateful to our team for their flexibility as we adjust our staffing, and to you all for understanding as we make shifts.
We hope you will join Rabbi Kedar at the Sisterhood & Social Action committee movie discussion on the film Reversing Roe at 7 pm on Wednesday, December 12 in the Sacred Hall. Learn more about the film here.
BJBE will be closed Sunday, December 23 to Tuesday, December 25 and Monday, December 31 to Tuesday, January 1.

Have a wonderful week!

Sally

We look forward to celebrating the B'not Mitzvah of Nora Skiest and Emily Willens at the morning service this Saturday. Mazel Tov to Nora, Emily, and their families!

We are pleased to announce the birth of Rae Emmy Silverman, daughter of Marisa Lenger and Philip Silverman, granddaughter of our members Barbara and Richard Silverman, born D ecember 3, 2108. Mazel Tov to the Lenger & Silverman families!

If you would like to make a donation in honor of one of these simchas, please visit www.bjbe.org/giving or call the BJBE office at 847.940.7575.

125th Anniversary Quiz

Test your knowledge about our congregation with our fun quiz series questions . Answer at the end of this email.

Who conducted religious services for Beth Elohim before they merged with B'nai Jehoshua?

A. Rabbi David Cederbaum

B. Rabbi Abraham Heschel

C. Rabbi Mark Shapiro

D. Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf

UPCOMING PROGRAMS & ADULT EDUCATION

Symposium: Religion in the 21st Century

We are welcoming clergy and leaders from other faith traditions and other Jewish denominations to learn about their history, their inspirational texts, the major tenets of their theology, and what teachings their tradition can bring to bear on the most important questions and challenges of religious life in 21st Century America. For a full listing of topics and instructors (and our archive of past sessions), click here .

Catholicism

December 11, 10:00-11:30am

Instructor: Rev. Vincent Costello, Holy Cross Catholic Church

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BJBE Movie Club: Reversing Roe

Wednesday, December 12, 7:00pm

Please bring your friends for what will surely be a lively and passionate discussion from a Jewish point of view. Our guest speaker for the evening is Rabbi Karyn Kedar. Please watch the movie ahead of time on Netflix. This event is hosted by BJBE Sisterhood and BJBE Social Action Committee.

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Please note: The December Torah on Tap has been rescheduled to January 23.

Mishkan Shalom

Fridays, 9:00-10:00am (Please note: we will NOT meet on 12/29 or 1/5)

Please join us each week for Torah study through a mindfulness and contemporary lens with Margot Andersen, JMMT. Jewish Spirituality helps us access our inner wisdom so we can transform to our highest, wisest self. What does Torah teach us about our life today? This year we will use our session to help us prepare to welcome in Shabbat weekly, learn to rest, relax and de-stress.

Shabbat Torah Study

Saturdays, 11:00am-12:00pm

Talmud Study

Wednesdays, 8:00-9:00am

Canasta & Mahjong, hosted by Sisterhood

Mondays, 12:00pm (Please note: we will NOT meet on 12/24 or 12/31)

All are welcome to join in the fun! To participate, RSVP to Sharon Krivitzky.

CHAVA CENTER, JEWISH LEARNING CENTER, & YOUTH

KYG Donut Wars

Sunday, December 16, 2:00-4:00pm

Come to BJBE and have some culinary fun with donuts and some friendly competition. $5 per child.

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My Israel Journey: BJBE Family Trip To Israel

December 21,2019- January 1, 2020

Join us on an amazing trip to Israel with Rabbi Kedar, Cantor Frost, and Missy Bell. For more information or to register, click here

Looking for Adult Volunteer Tutors for JLC AfterSchool!

We are looking for adult volunteers to help out our JLC AfterSchool students in need of extra individual attention on Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoons, 4:30-6:30pm. Knowledge of prayers used in BJBE services is needed. If you're interested in helping out, please contact Missy Bell.

SERVICES

Shabbat Service

Friday, December 14, 7:30pm

Kol Shabbat Service

Saturdays, 9:30am

Torah Study

Saturdays, 11:00am

Talmud Study

Wednesdays, 8:00am

Morning Minyan

Wednesdays, 7:00am

SOCIAL ACTION NETWORK

December Tzedakah - American Friends of Magen David Adom

Magen David Adom is Israel's national ambulance, blood-services, and disaster-relief organization, serving as emergency medical first-responders for the state's 8.8 million people. MDA is the only organization mandated by the Israeli government to serve in this role, but it's not a government agency, so it relies on people like you for funding.

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We are still collecting gift cards for those affected by the California Fires and tzedakah for JUF's collection for Pittsburgh. For more information, contact the BJBE office at 847.940.7575

CARING COMMUNITY

BJBE's Caring Community is a team of volunteers who can act as your extended family when your family needs additional support. Caring Community provides the following services: home delivered meals in times of need, transportation to/from BJBE or a medical appointment, phone support for people who are ill or lonely, senior education and caregiver support, and a virtual food pantry. Learn more >>

BJBE is certified as a Safer Synagogue by Jewish Community Abuse Resources, Education & Solutions (JCARES). Our leadership has been trained in understanding the impact of abuse across the lifespan and improving access to support for congregants experiencing abusive situations. For more information, please contact the clergy at 847.940.7575.

THIS AND THAT ANNOUNCEMENTS

BJBE Lost & Found

Missing your favorite left glove? Where is your pink fuzzy vest? That cardigan your aunt bought you? It might be in the BJBE Lost & Found. Stop by the office and claim your left behind items! All items still remaining in the Lost & Found after January 8 will be donated to a local shelter.

Support BJBE through AmazonSmile

Click here and follow the instructions. It will ask you to login and designate Congregation B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim as your charity. This is "free money" for BJBE, so we hope you will participate. If you have any questions, contact Larisa

Midmonth is going GREEN!

Starting with the January 2019 edition, Midmonth will be sent digitally to all congregants. If you would like to continue to receive a paper copy as well, email Caryn.

JUDAICA (GIFT) SHOP

Stop by the gift shop! Don't forget, we carry wedding gifts, mezuzot, Kiddush cups, candle holders, candles from Israel, yahrzeit lights and much more! If you need a Tallit for you or your B'nai Mitzvah child, we have a large selection from Israel. We also stock yads and kipot (for one or many).

The shop is open 1/2 hour before and after services on Friday evenings, Sundays when JLC is in session, and weekdays by appointment. Please contact Sue or Marilyn for more information or to make an appointment.

Learn more >>

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Cantor's World: A Concert Sampling of Music Sung by the 21st Century Cantor

Sunday, December 16th, 3:00 pm, at Temple Jeremiah, Northfield

Cantor Susie Lewis Friedman will be joined by special guests Hazzan Alberto Mizrahi, Cantor David Goldstein, Cantor Rayna Green, Cantor Amy Zussman, Cantor Pavel Roytman, along with the Kol Zimrah Community Singers, and the Temple Jeremiah Choir! There is no charge for this event, everyone is welcome.

Join Nefesh B'Nefesh for the NBN Aliyah Talks and Fair in Chicago on Tuesday, December 18 from 6:30-10:00pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago North Shore - Skokie, 9599 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie. This is your chance to have all your Aliyah questions answered under one roof! For more information and to register please visit WWW.NBN.ORG.IL/Chicago