Tuesday, June 23, 2020 | 1 Tamuz 5780
|
|
Greetings!
A number of years ago, Hannah Rosenthal, who served as the head of the Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism during the Obama administration, spoke at Beth Emet about the problem of anti-Semitism in the world. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) had just released a study that showed an uptick in anti-Semitic incidents worldwide, and that number has only gone up in recent years. Something she said that evening made a deep impression on me. She said that while it’s true that anti-Semitic incidents were increasing, hate crimes against other groups were also rising. In other words, anti-Semitism and other prejudices are often closely connected; if we want to combat anti-Semitism, we need to work on decreasing bigotry and hate more generally.
Our responsibility as a religious community is to bring healing and increase love and compassion in the world. And we must do it deliberately and consistently by educating ourselves about systems of oppression and standing up for what is right and compassionate.
I’ve always been proud that Beth Emet has been a leader in standing up against hate, bigotry, and violence wherever it rears its ugly head, and that the religious community in our area has been committed to standing shoulder to shoulder when any group in our society is persecuted. Most recently, we’ve been engaged in activism in support of the Black community as we confront the racism in our criminal justice system. When a shooter shot Muslims at prayer in a mosque in New Zealand last year, we stood in solidarity with the Muslim community at the Muslim Community Center in Morton Grove. When Jews were killed at prayer in a synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018, our extended community rallied around us. The day after that shooting, over 1000 people, more non-Jews than Jews, filled the Beth Emet sanctuary, and speakers from different faiths and ethnic and racial backgrounds mourned with us and decried the violence against our community. All who were present will never forget how comforting it was to have our community embrace us in our time of need. And these are just a few examples of the many times we have prayed and advocated for justice and compassion in our community.
June is Pride Month when we learn about the oppression faced by the LGBTQ community and commit to eliminating it. On Friday night during Kabbalat Shabbat services, Nathan Render, who grew up at Beth Emet will give the dvar torah in honor of Pride Month and on Saturday night Beth Emet will be participating in a
Pride Havdalah
event where Rabbi Memis-Foler and our Youth Director, Maia Volk, will be speaking.
Let’s stand together and work towards creating a kind and loving world for all people.
As our Beth Emet yard sign so aptly reads,
Olam Hesed Yibaneh
—Let us build a world of love. To order our lawn sign, see below.
L’shalom,
Rabbi London
|
|
Stay Connected to Justice in the Weeks to Come
To stay connected to other Beth Emet members as we are attending community events, fill out this
form.
|
|
Israel Committee Meeting
Tuesday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m.
The Israel Committee meeting will focus on upcoming and future programming about Israel, including cultural aspects and events, as well as increasing congregant participation. We invite you to attend even if you have not participated before, and to explore whether you find that the discussion and programs are of interest to you. Please email
mark.schoenfield@gmail.com
if you would like to receive a copy of the agenda.
|
|
Fridays with Cantor Cotler
Friday, June 26 at 3:00 p.m.
This is geared for families with kids under 6.
|
|
|
Family Shabbat Service
Friday, June 26 at 5:15 p.m.
Come to see friends and hear familiar tunes or to learn a new one. Cantor Cotler will lead an engaging family service to welcome in Shabbat and Marci Dickman will share a story with a mystery guest. Designed for Beit Sefer families however all are welcome!
Kabbalat Shabbat Services in celebration of Pride Month
Friday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Nathan Render will be giving the D’var Torah in honor of Pride Month.
|
|
Chicago Pride Havdalah
Saturday, June 27 at 8:45 p.m.
In the spirit of pride and community, Jewish congregations and Chicago’s Keshet for LGBTQ Equality in Jewish Life are coming together to host a Zoom virtual pride program on Saturday, June 27. Beginning at 8:45 p.m., participants may gather virtually for optional schmooze time and at 9:20 p.m. everyone will participate in a Havdalah service. Following the service, a pride-themed program of engaging talks, music and other performing arts will be presented. Beth Emet’s Youth Director, Maia Volk and Rabbi Memis-Foler are among the presenters. Keynote addresses will be offered by Rabbi Rachel Weiss of the Jewish Reconstructionist Synagogue and Rabbi D’ror Chankin-Gould of Anshe Emet. To register
click here
and you will receive the Zoom link.
|
|
Beit Sefer registration is open now for 2020-2021 school year.
|
|
Beth Emet Early Childhood Celebration Project
Thank you
to everyone who has submitted memories, photos, and videos to the Beth Emet Early Childhood Celebration Project. It has been wonderful to see all of the pictures of kids, parents, and teachers over the past 5 decades. We have expanded our outreach to
over 300 households
which includes student alums ranging in
age from 3 to 53
! But we know there are even more of you out there so please continue to forward this message to people in your network.
If you are hearing about this project for the first time, continue reading below for more background. If this is a reminder for you, please note that we have extended the
deadline for submissions to June 29, 2020
.
After
over 50 years
of outstanding education for young children and their families, the
Beth Emet Early Childhood Program
is coming to an end. Beginning this fall, the Jewish Community Center will offer a full child-care program at Beth Emet.
In lieu of an in-person celebration and commemoration, we are gathering memories that span the decades and include perspectives of former students, teachers, parents, and grandparents.
This is NOT a fundraiser
. The only objective is to honor and celebrate our Early Childhood program and its impact on participants over the years.
So whether it was taking Shabbat Bear home, slurping a popsicle on the playground during Camp Kayitz, reading a special book in the G'dolim loft, or romping in the Crown Room,
we want to hear about your favorite memories
. Using the link above, please submit photos, videos, or brief narratives. These submissions will be assembled into an online scrapbook/slideshow (and perhaps a printed version as well).
Please submit your responses by JUNE 29, 2020
. These submissions will be assembled into a publicly accessible online scrapbook/slideshow and perhaps a printed version as well. By submitting photos or material, you agree to its public use.
Questions? Please reach out to Kathy Kaberon or any of the committee members working on this project.
Brooke Freed
, EC Family '15-'20 (Ben Freed was an EC Student in the 80s)
|
|
Office Closure
Week of June 29 – July 3
During these times of virtual Beth Emet, the staff has been working very hard to ensure that we continue to fully operate and then some. As self-care is so very important these days, we will be closing the office next week through the holiday weekend. We will continue to send the congregational emails including BE Connected (listing the schedule for the week), Tuesday’s EmetMail (happenings and updates) and Friday’s Shabbat email. Should you need to contact someone at Beth Emet during this time, please call the main number (847-869-4230), and press 4. We look forward to connecting with you when the offices reopen on Monday, July 6.
|
|
Looking for some exciting new opportunities for this summer?
RJ on the Go
launches this summer with two tracks: Jewish Life in Your Family Life, designed for families of school-age children to participate in together, and the URJ Camps’ Virtual Experiences, where camp-age young people can participate in programs run by URJ camps. These
programs from Union for Reform Judaism are open to our entire Beth Emet community and Camp OSRUI families.
|
|
Let Us Build a World of Love
Get Your Beth Emet Lawn Sign Today
Whether you live in a house or an apartment dweller who can possibly display the sign from your window,
order yours today online
for an $18 donation. There will be 3 locations in which to pick up or we have volunteers who will deliver (and even install).
|
|
|
|
|
And once you install your sign,
we would love for you to post a picture on social media with the hashtag
#BethEmetWorldofLove
.
And if you can’t get a sign, drive by Beth Emet and take a picture of yourself in front of the banners (both ends of Dempster), and post your picture online!
|
|
For a list of next week's events and recordings from previous programs, check out the
website
!
|
|
How to Access Adult Education Courses
At the start of class you can click on the Zoom link below, on the calendar on our homepage, or on the programs description page on the web (and hyperlinked below).
If you're having issues, please see
Zoom directions.
While you may not have signed up for these Adult Education classes, now that they are online, feel free to join the learning.
If you anticipate you might need some technology help connecting electronically
prior to the class
, please email
Rabbi Memis-Foler
or call Beth Emet at 847-869-4230 and leave a message with your phone number.
Israel- Facing Reality: the impact of the WZO and Israel elections and the Reform Movement
with Rabbi Josh Weinberg
Wednesday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Zoom Link
or 312-626-6799 /
Meeting ID: 842 8881 7874
Rabbi Weinberg, the Executive Director of ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America, will share the results of the World Zionist Organization and the State of Israel elections this past spring as well as implications for moving forward. He will also address the threat of potential annexation after July 1st.
with Rabbi Andrea London
Friday, July 10, 17, and 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Zoom Link
or 312-626-6799 / Meeting ID: 657 819 679
New participants always welcome!
Not So Current Politics: The Origins of the States’ Rights Argument
with David Zarefsky
Tuesday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Zoom Link
or 312-626-6799 / Meeting ID:
825 0061 3527
Periodically our political controversies turn on whether some action of the federal government infringes on the rights of the states, or vice versa – most recently, whether it is the job of governors or the president to order and retract shutdowns in response to COVID-19. This dispute has a long standing history in its own right and also serves as a proxy for other issues. We’ll see where it came from.
with Tamar Selch
Wednesdays, July 15 and July 22 at 7:30 p.m.
The Land of Israel was never home to a great empire such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, or Rome. However, because of the land’s strategic location between these different powers, a fascinating material culture developed with traces of foreign influences. We will examine the archaeology of Israel from the Biblical Period to the Talmudic Period. We will discuss the influence of neighboring peoples on Israelite and Jewish culture, as well as the remains of the great empires. We will look at the art, monuments, and physical evidence of life during the periods that shaped Judaism. We will build an understanding of how different people lived and interacted in the region, and how different religions and artistic heritages blended and evolved over the millennia, gaining a new perspective on the history of the land of Israel and the Middle East.)
|
|
Beth Emet Porch Photography Project
Benefiting Connections for The Homeless and Interfaith Action of Evanston, photo sittings have begun and end July 1. Spots are still available. Read more about it
here. Sign up to schedule a sitting
here
.
|
|
|
Shabbat Connections in Need of Volunteer Cooks/Drivers for July and August
We’re excited to announce that we’ve resumed Shabbat Connections, with some minor adjustments for everyone’s safety.
Every week, Beth Emet provides a Shabbat Connection dinner for four to a congregant family who is in need of some additional kindness and support. The dinner can be home made by a healthy Beth Emet member, who chooses the menu, purchases the food, cooks a meal, packages it in disposable containers, and delivers it Friday to the recipient. OR, the dinner can be purchased from a restaurant by a Beth Emet member, and then delivered directly to the recipient. This is a wonderful way for Beth Emet families to safely support one another, and the meals are so greatly appreciated by the recipients.
We are looking for cooks/drivers for July and August. Questions? Please let us know. We are fortunate that Beth Emet has a limited fund to subsidize the cost of ingredients, if you’d like to prepare or purchase a dinner but feel it may be too expensive.
|
|
Resources Matter: Doing More to Waste Less
with Mary Allen
Tuesday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m.
Zoom Link
or 312-626-6799 / Meeting ID:
849 4846 1690
brought to you by Beth Emet’s Environment and Climate Action Committee (ECAC)
|
|
Swamped by Take-out Containers? What to Do?
Are take-out containers spilling out of every kitchen cabinet?
Has your support for local restaurants during the pandemic brought you mounting stacks? Unfortunately, most of these single-use containers are not recyclable or compostable, according to Mary Allen, Education Director of Solid Waste of Northern Cook County (SWANCC). Allen will speak to us about recycling on June 30 at 7:00 p.m via
Zoom
In the meantime, you might use these containers to store:
- art & craft supplies
- game and puzzle pieces
- snack containers
- memorabilia (ticket stubs, etc.)
- gardening scoop and seed trays
- organizing junk drawers
- office supplies
- small household supplies
Let
us
know if you find any other interesting ways to reuse your take-out containers!
|
|
Beth Emet’s Environment and Climate Action Committee (ECAC)
Beth Emet members attended two climate change programs earlier this year. One, held at the Skokie Valley Synagogue, featured Dr. Mirele Goldsmith, activist and environmental psychologist. Mirele founded the Jewish Earth Alliance (a coalition mobilizing Jews to raise a moral voice for action on climate change to Congress). She discussed current initiatives, including wind farm and solar technology. In Chicago to speak at “Responses To Climate Change: Resources and Recommendations” (https://www.spertus.edu/programs-events/CriticalConversations-2020), she was one of four panelists that included author and activist Bill McKibben (whose 1989 book The End of Nature is often cited as the first book on global warming), journalist Karenna Gore, Vice President, Rare, Kevin Green, Vice President, Center for Behavior & the Environment, and behavioral economist Katherine Milkman, Wharton Professor of Operations, Information & Decisions, narrated by environmental journalist David Wallace Wells, “The Uninhabitable Earth.” The take-away, we can still save the planet, but there is not much time; a foreboding, yet optimistic message. We must educate the masses and follow real science. Our earth is forgiving; it has endured much from its inhabitants. Scientific predictions today are dire. The time to act is now. Your Environment and Climate Action Committee is Beth Emet’s response to help change practices, reduce waste through composting, reusing and recycling, create a natural habitat and improve the environment so generations after us will not be in the same position. If you are interested in working with us, please contact our Chair,
Jessie McDonald
.
Submitted by: Marc Blumenthal
|
|
Connections For The Homeless
Direct Donations
Ongoing, closed-top collection bin on Lisa Levine’s porch (1574 Dewey Ave); drop offs are made weekly. Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated!!
PANTRY ITEMS
: Chef Boyardee microwaveable meals, noodles in a cup, ramen noodles, granola and protein bars, individual bags of chips, fruit snacks, fruit cups, meat (hot dogs, chicken breast, deli meat, etc.),
NEW CLOTHING NEEDED:
ponchos, men and women's underwear
ACTIVITY ITEMS FOR KIDS:
new/gently used toys and books for little ones (babies- grade school). Nearly all the board books, picture books and early readers have been selected by the families, games and activity kits for young makers
ACTIVITY ITEMS FOR ADULTS:
adult activities (games, art kits, cards, puzzles; both jigsaw and crossword/ sudoku type) and books
Connections for the Homeless Virtual Donations
Give the Gift of Home
When the shelter-in-place order began, Connections quickly responded by launching hotel operations to temporarily shelter more than 200 individuals. Now, the agency is focused on locating and securing housing for every individual in our care. With 5 new Housing Specialists and a new Housing Program Manager on staff, participants are moving every week and Connections needs your help to furnish their apartments. You can support participants’ transitions from hotel to home by purchasing items from the
“Feels Like Home” Amazon Wish List
. Your donations will help warm new homes while also supporting a new chapter of stability and independence for these neighbors. The top needs include Chairs, Loveseats, Microwaves, Pots & Pans, and Bedframes. Please note only new donations from the Amazon Wish List will be accepted.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
