This Week at BJBE - April 20, 2020

This Week at BJBE

April 20, 2020

Yom HaShoah Begins Tonight

Beginning today at sundown through Tuesday, Jewish communities across the globe will commemorate Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. We offer you five ways in which you can mark this moment in history.

Meet a Survivor. We are honored to have survivor Ida Paluch Kersz joining us on Tuesday at 3pm on Zoom to share her compelling story of surviving the Holocaust. Learn more about her here.
Make a moment in your home. Light a yahrtzeit and read this prayer from Israeli poet Hannah Senesh who perished in the Holocaust.
Attend a virtual Memorial. The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center commemoration will have a commemoration at 6:30 PM at this link.
Watch, Learn, Read. Find a movie, an article, or a book, and make personal time for reflection.
Bring more light and more love. Participate in BJBE Sisterhood’s Acts of Kindness Day.

Featured News

Counting the Omer with Rabbi Karyn Kedar and Rabbi Lisa Silverstein

This year, Rabbi Karyn Kedar has partnered with Rabbi Lisa Silverstein to offer a unique way in which to practice the counting of the Omer. Rabbi Lisa Silverstein is an artist and teacher who combines deep spirituality, refined musicality, and a holistic approach to emotional and physical well-being. She is the Executive Director of Positive Jewish Living. The counting of the Omer last Thursday, April 9. Please check our BJBE Community Facebook page for daily posts. We will not be sending daily emails as we have done in previous years.

BJBE Caring Committee Seeks Volunteer Shoppers

The BJBE Caring Committee is in need of shoppers to help those who are unable to shop for themselves currently. Please contact Michael Erdman if you are able to help.

BJBE Curates Resources for Covid 19

During this unprecedented time, BJBE is here for our community! Click here to access the listing of resources both for enjoyment as well as opportunities to help one another which will be updated and available on the BJBE website. You will find resources, including those that are Jewish focused, content that can be streamed online, DIY mask information, and many other sources

Home Town Hero: A Spotlight

BJBE member Mark Brodson of Resource Commercial Advisors has teamed up with North Shore Helpers to launch Food for the Frontlines to support frontline healthcare workers and North Shore restaurants simultaneously. Their goal is to support the North Shore restaurant community by purchasing meals in bulk and delivering them to frontline healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients. They are working with local food providers such as North Shore Catering, Josh’s Hot Dogs, Greek Feast, Gail’s Brownies and several others to provide individually wrapped, wholesome meals and desserts. Each delivery includes between 30 and 50 meals. The team’s volunteers safely deliver the meals to designated recipients at each facility. Healthcare workers have so much on their minds these days that not having to think about meals while they are on duty makes a huge difference. Click here to read more.

Project Nourish Update | Message from Rachel Tzinberg

During these unprecedented times, Project Nourish is still committed to delivering lunches to the underserved people that need us. We have a plan in place to assemble individually wrapped items, ensuring the least amount of contact with the food or with other people. Unfortunately, this will cost about three times more than usual since we are maintaining the standard of providing 5 oz. of protein in each lunch. Thank you to Sid Siegel for going the extra mile to procure beef sticks and Jorie DiCoco (GoGo Squeez) for donating apple sauce to replace our usual piece of fruit.

This is a difficult time for all of us. If you feel it would be possible for you to donate to the Bob Terry Project Nourish Fund we would appreciate it.

We would love it if you want to bake cookies for Project Nourish! Homemade cookies add a special touch to the lunches provided by BJBE. If you bake and don’t have room in your freezer at home, we can store them in the BJBE freezer. Keep in mind that baking for PN always includes nut free cookies, packaged in a zip lock bag. Please mark the bag “Project Nourish” so we know for certain that the cookies are for us. (Friendly reminder to take sanitary precautions and wash hands and/or wear gloves when preparing cookies!)

Drop off procedure: If you have baked goods to drop off, please let Erica or Sally know one day in advance that you are coming (including a precise time), so we can alert our maintenance team to be on the lookout. We ca receive deliveries most weedays, bewtween noon and 2, but do need advance notice. Then please come to the back door, leave the baked goods right outside the door, and our maintenance staff will retrieve the item (wearing gloves), and put it in the freezer for future use. THANK YOU!!

Virtual Programming

Have You Joined One of Our Virtual Villages?

Virtual Villages launched a few weeks ago and provide opportunities to stay connected with your BJBE family. It's not too late to sign up and take part. Click the button below if you have not yet signed up but want to participate.

We will email out the Zoom link to each group's participants. Please be sure you sign up in advance so that you are able to connect. Contact Anne Robbin with any questions. We look forward to maintaining our connections and building new relationships - from a safe and social distance!

Virtual Villages Sign Up

This Week's Featured Villages

S urviving E-Learning with Lisa Berghoff

Thursdays, 4:00pm

Now that Virtual Learning is here to stay for the remainder of the school year, do you have questions and concerns about helping your child navigate E-Learning successfully? Join Virtual Village Surviving E-Learning with Lisa Berghoff . As the Director of Instructional Technology at Highland Park High School, she can help you navigate the "new normal" of online learning.

NEW THIS WEEK>>> Midweek Mispacha with Caryn Blomquist and Dani Glass

Wednesdays, 8:30pm

Join Caryn and Dani for upbeat interaction with your favorite drink. Stop in to say "hello" and catch up with your BJBE family.

* Please note: Villages are listed in order of day of the week/time of day. Each Village meets weekly. If you have already signed up, you do not need to re-register.

Dis and Dat Chat with Sandee Holleb

Mondays, 10:00am

A chance to get together and talk about a potpourri of topics of no depth!

MENSches Making Meaning with Rabbi Jason Fenster

Mondays, 8:00pm

Join Rabbi Fenster for conversation about how we are coping with changing roles and changing realities.

Tall Tree Pilates with Tabitha Green

Tuesdays, 10:00am

Tabitha Green teaches functional Pilates for a healthy lifestyle. This is an intro to Pilates, designed for a home setting, with a focus on mobility training.

Podcast Club with Aaron Robbin

Tuesdays at 12:00pm

Similar to a book club, listen to a podcast each week in advance of our meeting and we will discuss it as a group. We will rotate podcasts with a unique episode each week. This week’s topic: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1337886873&i=1000425487566

Quarantini Virtual Happy Hour for Parents with Missy Bell & Anne Robbin

Tuesdays, 7:00pm

Join Missy, Anne, and parents of JLC/Chava Center children for a virtual Happy Hour - we all could use a little break for some adult time!

Rise Up Singing with Cantor Rayna Green

Tuesdays at 8:00pm

Gather around the virtual campfire with Cantor Green. Learn, sing, and share your favorite folk songs with the community. BYOS (Bring your own s’mores)!

Containing the Kiddo Crazies with Susie Wexler

Wednesdays, 8:00 pm

Bedtime routines out the window? What’s too much screen time? Put your kids to bed, grab a drink and join Susie Wexler, BJBE Early Childhood Director, as we discuss strategies for keeping our sanity as parents with young children.

NEW >>> Midweek Mishpacha with Caryn Blomquist and Dani Glass

Wednesdays, 8:30pm

Join Caryn and Dani for upbeat interaction with your favorite drink. Stop in to say "hello" and catch up with your BJBE family.

Politics & Policy Posse with Sally Sachar

Thursdays, 12:00pm

Join Sally for a discussion about policy and politics.

Surviving E-Learning, with Lisa Berghoff

Thursdays, 4:00pm

Learn effective strategies for e-learning at home with Lisa Berghoff, Director of Instructional Technology at Highland Park High School.

Family Song Session with Alek Kopulsky

Thursdays, 5:00pm

Join Alek Kopulsky, BJBE's Coordinator of Youth Learning and Engagement for a Family Song Session.

Politics & Policy Posse with Sally Sachar

Thursdays, 7:30pm

Join Sally for a discussion about policy and politics

Supporting Your Kids Without Their Normal School Supports with Diana Slatopolsky

Thursdays 9:00pm

Looking for ways to help your child while they are without their usual school supports? Diana Slatopolsky, BJBE’s Inclusion Specialist, will help parents navigate this stressful situation.

Mindfulness with Margot Andersen

Fridays, 9:00am

Whether this is your first time trying mindfulness and meditation techniques or you are a veteran, please join Margot Andersen as she teaches and guides you through a mindfulness practice. We will start with poetry, reading, or a bit of Torah to ground us before we enter into stillness to find calm within the chaos of our times.

Teacher's Lounge

Fridays, 4:00pm

Educators are facing new challenges as we continue to provide meaningful connection and content to our students! Come share successes of your week and connect with other teachers and education professionals.

Is there a group you’d like to see offered? Is there a group you’d like to lead? Please email your idea to Anne Robbin . New groups will be added as facilitators become available.

Virtual Villages Sign Up

Adult Education

Learn the Liturgy with Rabbi Fenster

Wednesdays, 2:00pm, next session April 22

Each week will we explore a different prayer together. Join Rabbi Fenster on Zoom to be part of a conversation about how our tradition offers us opportunities to make meaning out of all of life’s moments. No previous knowledge or experience of prayer or Hebrew required. Learners of all ages are welcome. You don’t even need a prayerbook (we’ll be sharing handouts virtually)! Use this link each week to be a part of the conversation: https://zoom.us/j/8711115843 .

Upcoming Services

*Please note: all services at BJBE are now held "virtually." Please tune in via Facebook Live or using the links below at the times listed.

Shabbat Service

Friday, April 24, 6:00pm | Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/95208087896

Kol Shabbat Service

Saturday, April 25, 9:30am | Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99085773837

Having difficulty connecting? Contact Anne Robbin.

Social Action/Social Justice Network

April Tzedakah Recipient - Families Helping Families Chicagoland

Families Helping Families Chicagoland support families and foster children in need and/or in crisis in Lake and Cook Counties. They accomplish this by holding monthly donation drives, collecting birthday gifts for children living in foster care, holding hands-on events, such as serving meals to local families and wrapping holiday gifts for local children, gift sponsorship for children in foster homes, and hosting birthday parties for children residing at A Safe Place emergency shelters.

Around the Community

The Tikkun Olam Volunteer (TOV) Network is JUF's connection point for people who want to donate their time to help others in need; they are now maintaining a COVID-19 Volunteer Response Database. The database provides a chance for people to give back to our community and lend a hand during these unprecedented times. The TOV team is in active communication with all of JUF partner agencies as they work together to address community needs in the face of the pandemic. You can sign up here.

Update From NorthShore University HealthSystem

NorthShore University HealthSystem reports that, as expected, the hospitals in the system are seeing a steady rise in COVID-19 testing and in confirmed cases. They are working with faith-based, service and civic organizations to reach out to community members to check in on their health and provide information on when and how to seek testing and care. Those who have symptoms should be screened for testing. The following are symptoms of COVID-19:

Loss or decrease in the sense of smell
Loss or decrease of the sense of taste
Fever (temperature of 100 or higher)
Cough
Congestion
Runny nose
Sore throat
Shortness of breath
Flu-like body aches

If you or anyone in your household is experiencing even one of those symptoms, you are urged to be screened immediately to determine if you need testing. You can:

Call 847-HEALTH9 (847-432-5849) and talk to a NorthShore clinical expert; or

Log onto NorthShoreConnect through the app on your mobile device or on the website ( www.northshoreconnect.org/immediatecare) . NorthShore reports that their supply of PPE is currently sufficient and staff members, who are trained in proper PPE use, feel protected. The hospitals continue to accept financial, critical supply and other donations. Visit their website for information.

Community Needs

The Northfield Township Food Pantry is seeing a rise in residents needing support. If you live in Northfield Township and need assistance with rent, food or other financial strains, contact the township office at 847-724-8300. Remember, the Food Pantry is accepting donations and volunteers age 16 and up to help them keep up with this increasing demand.

Reminders

Zoom Primer:

You can use Zoom on your phone, tablet, or computer. In BJBE communications, you will see hyperlinks to let you join these virtual events.

When you click on the meet link, it will open Zoom in your browser.
You will be asked to download the application in order for it to function. Please agree to this.
After it has downloaded you will see a pop-up window asking if you would like to join zoom.us. Please say yes again.
The next window that opens is where you can view the service or join a group or meeting.

You can also go to this 53 second YouTube video for a tutorial.

Help BJBE while you shop! AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support BJBE every time you shop, at no cost to you! Once you've selected Congregation B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim , every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.

Stay Connected

Use the buttons below to stay connected to your BJBE family and learn about updates and upcoming virtual programming and services. Please make sure your contact information is correct in ShulCloud so you continue to receive notifications from BJBE. Not sure how to use Zoom? Scroll down on this email to view instructions towards the bottom.

BJBE Website

BJBE Facebook Page

Chava Center Facebook Page

BJBE Community Facebook Group