Wednesday, October 15, 2019 | 17 Tishrei 5780
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Greetings!
As I write this note, my heart is full of gratitude. We’ve just finished celebrating the first days of Sukkot, and the power and majesty of our Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur celebrations together are still fresh in my mind. I’m also preparing to leave for my sabbatical next week, and I’m grateful that the congregation is giving me this opportunity for learning and refreshment.
I want to thank everyone who worked hard to make the High Holidays so uplifting and wonderful. I’m grateful to my clergy team, Rabbi Amy Memis-Foler and Cantor Kyle Cotler for leading the services so beautifully. I’m blessed to work with such talented and hard-working partners and collaborators. I also want to thank the rest of the Klei Kodesh—Bekki Kaplan and Marla Topp for coordinating all of the logistics, and Marci Dickman, Kathy Kaberon, and Maia Volk for organizing and running the programming for kids of all ages. The dedication, caring, energy, and creativity of this whole team is truly amazing.
The choir under the direction of the talented Klaus Georg, our conductor, and Barb Wertico, our stupendous pianist, sounded incredible. What a gift to have such rich and powerful music to accompany our worship.
A big thank you also to our usher team for the care and diligence they displayed in making sure everything flowed smoothly and safely throughout all the services. I was moved at many moments during the holidays when I would look up and see a member of our usher team help someone find their seat or bring them a walker.
Then there’s the maintenance and support staff who have been working for months organizing everything behind the scenes so that we could walk into the building and simply enjoy worshiping and being together.
I’m also grateful to the many talented Beth Emet members who read Torah or took on other honors during the service. I’m always amazed at the depth of commitment and Judaic knowledge we have in our community.
As soon as the holidays are over next week, I leave for Israel on October 22. For the first ten days, I will be leading a group of Beth Emet members with my colleagues, Pastors Michael Nabors and Daniel Ruen. At the conclusion of that trip, I will move into an apartment in Jaffa where I will be studying Arabic, and volunteering for organizations that are engaged in peace and coexistence work, including JStreet and Standing Together. I’m also looking forward to spending time with the three Beth Emet students who are in rabbinic school in Jerusalem this year—Max Antman, Emily Dana, and Sara Blumenthal. I plan to blog about my experiences. A link to my blog will be sent bi-weekly in EmetMail if you are interested in following my adventures.
I will be returning to Evanston for the weekend of January 10 to celebrate Beth Emet’s 70
th anniversary and Rabbi Knobel’s 50 years in the rabbinate. Then I will return to Israel to complete the last month of my sabbatical.
I am grateful to the congregation for giving me this opportunity to deepen my passion for peace and coexistence work between Palestinians and Jews and to be able to spend an extended period of time in Israel. I look forward to this time to rejuvenate and return to Beth Emet with new perspectives and new knowledge to impart.
The congregation will be in excellent hands with Rabbi Memis-Foler at the helm and all of the Klei Kodesh who will be there for the community. I thank them for taking on extra work so that I can have this time away.
Finally, as I said on Kol Nidre, I’m sharing a link for the
Poor People’s Campaign so you can receive updates about what’s happening and how you can get involved. Put in your calendar that the Washington D.C. rally I spoke about will be June 20, 2020. I hope you can come with me.
With blessing for good health and happiness in 5780.
Moadim L’simcha (may these intermediate days of Sukkot be joyful),
Rabbi London
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Thursday, October 17
4:15 p.m. Beit Sefer
6:15 p.m. Pizza in the Hut for All Families
Friday, October 18
6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Sukkot with a D'var Torah by Daniel Epstein and a travel blessing for Israel trip participants
Saturday, October 19
9:00 a.m Tot Shabbat and Kiddush
9:45 a.m. Kahal Shabbat Morning Service
5:30 p.m. BESSY Goes to Second City
Sunday, October 20
9:00 a.m. Weekday Minyan
at the home of
Leonard & Tina Nelson
10:00 a.m. Beit Sefer Sukkah Visits
10:00 a.m. Social Action Committee Meeting
11:00 a.m. Hebrew 3
with Dorit Flatt
6:00 p.m. Garinim (Grades 4 & 5) Family Dinner
7:00 p.m. Erev Simchat Torah Service
Monday, October 21
9:15 a.m. Tot Simchat Torah Service
10:00 a.m. Simchat Torah Service (includes
Yizkor)
Friday, October 25
9:45 a.m.
The Goals of Talmudic Storytelling
with Barry Scott Wimpfheimer
6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Saturday, October 26
9:30 a.m. Kahal Shabbat Morning Service including Children's Program
12:00 p.m. Shabbat Potluck Lunch
Sunday, October 27
12:15 p.m. Blessing of the Animals
Wednesday, October 30
7:30 p.m. Drumming for Self-Renewal with Linda Schneider
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Pizza in the Hut for All Families
Thursday, October 17 at 6:15 p.m. (Immediately following Beit Sefer)
Children and parents are invited to make sukkah decorations, enjoy a pizza dinner in our sukkah, and hang out with friends!
RSVP
$5/person or $20/family by October 16, or $7/$30 at the door thereafter.
Kabbalat Shabbat Sukkot
Friday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. (5:45 p.m. Shabbat Oneg)
Erev Simchat Torah
Sunday, October 20
6:00 p.m.
Garinim (Grades 4 and 5) Family Dinner
Garinim participants and families are invited to our
special dinner to
share a meal together in our sukkah and enjoy Simchat Torah services and dancing together. The cost is $6 per person or $20 for a family of four. Please
RSVP
with the number attending from your family and any dietary restrictions by October 13.
7:00 p.m. Erev Simchat Torah Service
Celebrate the completion of the annual reading of Torah! Services including the seven
hakafot—the festive processions with the Torah throughout the Sanctuary.
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Tot Simchat Torah
(for families with children up to age five)
Monday, October 21 at 9:15 a.m.
Enjoy story, song and dance, and see the Torah unrolled!
Simchat Torah Morning Service
(includes
Yizkor
)
Monday, October 21 at 10:00 a.m.
At this service, we celebrate the completion of the Torah cycle and start anew! We will unroll the Torah scroll around the perimeter of the Sanctuary—this is an experience not to be missed! (Babysitting available with advance registration.
RSVP)
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Kabbalat Shabbat Sukkot
with a D'var Torah by Daniel Epstein and a travel blessing for Israel trip participants
Friday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. (5:45 p.m. Shabbat Oneg)
Evanston native and congregant, Daniel Epstein, is current
ly
running for Illinois Supreme Court to eliminate ethical loopholes, bad incentives, bias, and barriers to access by reforming the Court’s rules and utilizing its authority over court infrastructure. His D'var Torah is titled:
Institutional Bias in Our Courts and How to Fix It.
Wish Rabbi London and congregants who are going on the Interfaith Israel Trip with Second Baptist Church and Grace Lutheran Church, a safe trip with a travel blessing.
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Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 27 at 12:15 p.m.
Each year, on the Sunday before the weekend of
parshat Noach,
Temple Judea Mizpah had an annual tradition to gather with their pets for a blessing for the animals. The tradition continues at Beth Emet! Meet in the grassy area just west of the parking lot with your pet. Animals should be on leashes or in appropriate carriers. Treats for animals (and humans) will be provided.
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Mitzvah Appeal Event
Saturday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Beth Emet's talented members, The Players, have been rehearsing to present
When It All Began...
a look back at Beth Emet's 70-year history through song, dance, and commentary.
The evening will feature a dessert reception, silent auction, Havdalah, and the show.
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New
Tikkun Middot Va’adot
(groups) Forming
Thinking about keeping your slate clean after Yom Kippur? Want a Jewish way to deepen your focus on your speech, behavior and ideas? Looking to connect to people in meaningful ways? You may be looking for
tikkun middot.
Beth Emet will expand its program on
tikkun middot this year, establishing new
va’adot (small groups).
Middot are character traits expressed in our behavior that can enrich or tangle relationships. The dates and times of the new groups will be set soon. If you are interested, please contact
Marci Dickman.
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Beth Emet Book Club
facilitated by Judith Pittel
Wednesday, November 20 at 1:00 p.m.
We will be joined by author Caroline Goldberg Igra to discuss her book,
Count to a Thousand: Negotiating Life as an American in Modern-day Israel. No fee or registration. Contact
Marla with any questions.
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Did you miss a recent Kabbalat Shabbat Service?
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with Dorit Flatt
Sunday, October 20 at 11:00 a.m.
Explore the grammar and vocabulary of modern Hebrew through a variety of reading, writing, and speaking activities.
Begins Thursday, October 24
Participants study as a small group of adults to become b’nei mitzvah together at Beth Emet. Requirements for Adult B’nei Mitzvah at Beth Emet include Beth Emet membership, Hebrew 1 and Hebrew 2 or an equivalent, Torah and haftarah cantillation, and a basic Judaism course.
with Barry Scott Wimpfheimer
Friday, October 25 at 9:45 a.m.
Examine why the rabbis choose to tell stories, and what that says about the rabbis, and about human beings and storytelling in general.
with Linda Schneider
Wednesday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Treat your mind, body, and spirit to an uplifting break from your regular routine and join our rhythm circle, where we’ll make unique music-in-the-moment.
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If you did not pick up a copy of this year's Memorial Book on Yom Kippur, please
contact the office
. This year's book not only includes the names of loved ones, but also readings and information on how to observe a
yahrzeit
, Beth Emet's funeral plan, and living wills.
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Did you pick up the Fall 2019
Chadashon (Bulletin) during the High Holidays? If not, you can view it online to read messages from clergy and leadership, and mark your calendar for upcoming worship, events, and courses! If you would like one sent to you, please
contact the office.
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Staffing Change
It is with both much gratitude and sadness that we wish Pierre Desrosiers all the very best as he sets forth on a new adventure. Pierre has been such a part of the fabric of Beth Emet and has served as a member of our building staff for 17 years. All those who have connected with Pierre are always greeted with a warm smile, a friendly laugh, and a willingness to always be helpful. Pierre’s last day will be this Shabbat morning, and you will continue to see him at the Whole Foods on Chicago Avenue.
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Social Justice Lobby Monitor
Keep up to date with all the news, events, and volunteer opportunities with the new Beth Emet Social Justice monitor on the donor wall in our Lobby.
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Social Action Committee Meeting
Sunday, October 20 at 10:00 a.m.
The Social Action Committee focuses on activities that involve a direct person-to-person connection and that exemplify
gemilut chasadim, acts of loving kindness. New committee members are welcome at any time during the year! This is a great venue to find out about existing volunteer opportunities and share new ideas- we want to hear from you! Reach out to
Jessie Macdonald or
Lisa Levine with any questions.
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Thank you to everyone who donated to the Yom Kippur Food Drive benefiting The ARK. We also greatly appreciate all of the volunteers who helped with this endeavor, we could not do it with out you!
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Stained glass from Temple Judea Mizpah was installed at Beth Emet last week. The stained glass was donated in honor of Rabbi Karl Weiner, founding Rabbi of Temple Judea Mizpah. Look for it in the stairwell to the right of the Sanctuary entrance, that leads down to the Weiner Room (no relation!)
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Beth Emet Clergy and members celebrated Sukkot on Monday with a lunch in the
sukkah following worship services.
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Birth
Gil Bailey
son of Maya Jacob and Frizell Bailey, and grandson of Shelly and Gary Bowyer
B'nei Mitzvah
son of Eric and Susan Bederman
October 19
son of Alison Toback and Al Hofeld
October 26
Deaths
Florence Lavan
mother of David (Kelly Carney) Lavan and Ethan (Lisa Gurr) Lavan
Elaine Biederman Kohn
mother-in-law of Janice Lupu Kohn
Sydelle Nelson
mother of Leonard (Tina) Nelson
Mildred Werth Spector
aunt of Mimi Spivek
Barbara Lee Tendam
mother of Mark Tendam (Neal Moglin)
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