Weekly Round Up

July 23, 2021

14 Av 5781

Dear Friends–

Shabbat Shalom!

As you all know, but it bears repeating, our community survey has made its way to your inboxes multiple times over the past weeks. A very talented community member suggested that perhaps there was a way to encourage you to take the survey and boost our responses into the thousands instead of just asking you to take the survey. I am including her plea to you now in hopes that you are as entertained as I am. My sincere thanks to our Marketing Committee member Linda Verin for this prose.

DO YOU CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO GRANDMA??

HOW IMPORTANT IS PRESCHOOL??

AND WHAT ABOUT ICE CREAM AT EVERY JEWISH EVENT??

MAYBE DAIRY DOESN’T AGREE WITH YOU.

IF YOU DON’T ANSWER THIS SURVEY HOW WILL WE KNOW IF WE NEED TO SERVE SORBET OR MATZO BALL SOUP???

SERIOUSLY, BE A MENSCH. ANSWER THE SURVEY. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING. DON’T BE MESHUGANAH.

YOU COULD WIN $1,000 & THAT’S NOT CHOPPED LIVER.

THANKS. WE LOVE YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY.

I don’t know about y’all, but the High Holidays are seriously sneaking up on me. Erev Rosh HaShanah is Monday, September 6th which also happens to be Labor Day. As a guy who enjoys both his secular and Jewish holidays, I am trying to figure out the best way to create a new tradition when the holidays fall on the same date.

A few years back Thanksgiving and Hanukah occurred on the same night and was coined Thanksgivingakkah. That year we took part in several activities the popular news site, Buzz Feed, offered. They also provided some pretty awesome menu options to boot. This year I am trying to channel my inner Grandma Rose and figure out how to creatively use one of her holiday Jell-O molds and a potato salad recipe to blend the care-free Labor Day picnics of the past while honoring the sanctity of the New Year. It’s a fun challenge! If you have any ideas, please feel free to send them to me and I will share them with the rest of our readers.

I hope everyone is enjoying these last few weeks of summer. It’s hard to believe school is starting in just three short weeks. In August I look forward to sharing programs with you that will occur after the High Holidays.

We have the matriarch of Andrew’s family joining us from Chicago this weekend. At 90, this will be Aunt June’s first trip to Birmingham. We are so fortunate that she is willing and able to hop on a flight and we look forward to showing her why we love to call this beautiful place home.

In the meantime, enjoy your weekend.

Wishing you a restful Shabbat and a week of peace.

B’Shalom,

Danny

Upcoming Programming

A Program of the BJF's Israel Connections Committee

Monday, July 26th from 11 AM - 12 PM

Please join the Birmingham, Greater New Orleans, and Lehigh Valley Jewish Federations for a pop-up lunch & learn program as we hear from Iris Posklinksy, Head of Partnership in the North Region of the Jewish Agency for Israel, – on Monday, July 26th, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. CDT.

Iris will lead us through a discussion of the Complexities & Trends in the Jewish Nation including:

Demographic data and what it means – what is the future of the Jewish Nation
Changes and Challenges in Israel - Diaspora relations.
Israel as common denominator to a partisan issue.
Trends in Jewish Philanthropy.
Historic and contemporary perspectives.

This event is jointly hosted by the Rosh Ha'ayin Partnership2Gether Steering Committee, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, the Birmingham Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Federation of Lehigh Valley, in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel's Partnership2Gether program.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Help Welcome The Stranger:

Train to Become a Volunteer with ALIRP

Wednesday, August 4th from 6 PM - 8 PM

Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership (ALIRP) is an interfaith group of religious leaders and laypersons, as well as representatives of other community groups who have come together for the purpose of helping refugees and asylum-seekers, in light of the current migration crisis that has displaced millions of people.

The Jewish Community Relations Council and the LJCC, with help from TBE and TEE’s Social Action Committees, are hosting a community-wide volunteer training session for Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership (ALIRP), at the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, Wednesday, August 4th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, (dinner will be provided starting at 5:30 pm). Training will also be offered virtually that evening.

There is more than one way to be an active volunteer for ALIRP:

Committee Volunteer – Committees include Advocacy, Communications, Direct Support, Education, Finance, and Fundraising and Outreach.
Be a part of a CARE Team - CARE teams provide direct support for each family. CARE team volunteers must complete a background check. Volunteers will be responsible for the cost of their background check ($40.00).
Responder for Immediate Needs- At times ALIRP has situations or needs arise that need to be dealt with immediately. You will be added to a JCRC contact list to help meet them quickly.

You must RSVP to Joyce Shevin for the in-person option-

Please note that for the health and safety of all, we respectfully request that only those who are fully vaccinated attend in person.

To register for virtual participation, click below:

Share Your Opinion,

Shape the Future – in 15 minutes!

We want to hear from YOU!

The Birmingham Jewish Federation wants to understand YOU through an online survey. What changes do you want to see in our community? What services and programs should our Jewish community provide? We want to hear from you. However, you identify Jewishly, please take the survey! Your feedback will help all of our community organizations work together to build a more dynamic and meaningful Greater Birmingham Jewish community for you!

Take the survey today, HERE!

Kochavim Registration is Open!

September 18-19, 2021

We are so excited to gather our 2020-2021 Kindergarteners and 1st Graders for an in-person, one night sleepover program called Kochavim at camp in Utica, MS September 18-19, 2021!

Registration is OPEN, click here!

The Kochavim program gives our youngest Jacobs Campers a taste of the Jacobs Camp magic and gives them the opportunity to try out our best activities, make new friends, and gain confidence for a full session at camp in Summer 2022!

A Jacobs Camp alumna and current camp mom wrote this blog post and it perfectly encapsulates why Kochavim works!

Tell your friends with Kindergarten and 1st Graders about this awesome opportunity so they can register too!

Community Programs

Lunchtime Torah Study

Wednesday, July 28 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Temple Emanu-El

This Torah study meets via Zoom and will cover that week’s Torah portion. All levels welcome.

Summer Beit Midrash: This is Real and

You Are Completely Unprepared

Thursday, July 22 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Temple Beth-El

Our Thursday Beit Midrash is planning to continue meeting through the summer, on Mondays and Thursdays from 12-1PM. In preparation for the High Holidays they will be reading This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared by Alan Lew.

Join using the link below and the password “Learning”

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89875890682

Summer Beit Midrash: This is Real and

You Are Completely Unprepared

Thursday, July 29 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Temple Beth-El

Join using the link below and the password “Learning”

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89875890682

Lunchtime Torah Study

Wednesday, August 4 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Temple Emanu-El

This Torah study meets via Zoom and will cover that week’s Torah portion. All levels welcome.

Community Wide Volunteer Training and Orientation for Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership (ALIRP)

Wednesday, August 4 @ 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

JCRC

The JCRC is spearheading a community wide initiative to support the work of ALIRP. Community members will be oriented and trained to qualify to volunteer as CARE Team and Committee members with the ALIRP. Dinner will be provided staring at 5:30 and training will begin promptly at 6:00 pm. The Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership, is a 501C-3 charitable organization based in Birmingham, Alabama, dedicated to supporting refugees and asylum-seekers locally and globally through direct assistance, education, and advocacy.

You must RSVP to Joyce Shevin for the in-person option-

Please note that for the health and safety of all, we respectfully request that only those who are fully vaccinated attend in person. Register for virtual participation here.

Summer Beit Midrash: This is Real and

You Are Completely Unprepared

Thursday, August 5 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Temple Beth-El

Join using the link below and the password “Learning”

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89875890682

In the News: The Holocaust Revealed in Birmingham Newspapers

Thursday, August 5 @ 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Birmingham Holocaust Education Center

BHEC interns and UAB students, Chris Bertolini and Emma Herr, have enriched the BHEC with their year-long research into how Birmingham newspapers reported the unfolding events in Nazi Germany. Join us as we explore “What We Knew?” and "When?” REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Click here to register.

Lunchtime Torah Study

Wednesday, August 11 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Temple Emanu-El

This Torah study meets via Zoom and will cover that week’s Torah portion. All levels welcome.

Summer Beit Midrash: This is Real and

You Are Completely Unprepared

Thursday, August 12 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Temple Beth-El

Join using the link below and the password “Learning”

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89875890682

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.