August 13, 2021

5 Elul 5781

A Message from our CEO

Dear Friends–

Shabbat Shalom: We have moved into the month of Elul on the Jewish calendar. Elul is the last month before Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year) and it is a period where we assess our actions and behaviors during the past year and hope for blessings in the coming year. With this focus, Elul is regarded as a month of Teshuva (forgiveness) or returning to a path of righteousness. During Elul and leading up to Yom Kippur, it is customary for Jews to ask for forgiveness from God and from one’s fellow human beings. Growing up I knew nothing about Elul and just assumed that Yom Kippur was the only time we asked for forgiveness and a clean slate. But this year, with my new-found knowledge I am getting an early start.  To you, my community, if there has been any action I have taken over the last year that has hurt or offended any of you, please accept my deepest and sincere apology. Before we came to Birmingham it was our greatest wish to bring another child into our family. When those efforts failed I decided that the Birmingham Jewish Community would be like my second child…one that I would love as much as my first. It is my hope, that from any mistakes and misdoings made, we will grow stronger together and form a deeper and richer relationship in 5782. There are other traditions in Elul such as the blowing of the shofar, which I experienced this week at the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School. How wonderful to see close to 50 students gather each morning as the shofar is sounded, awaking us to search our souls and repent! This is truly a powerful experience. It is also a tradition during Elul to visit the graves of loved ones to remember and honor those people in our past who inspire us to live more fully in the future. This is difficult for me to do as my loved ones are not buried here, but I know that the ones who have brought me to this place in my life are with me, and know I am thinking of them not only during this month but throughout the year. In light of this, I will continue to look up from my desk at the painting of Dora Roth that hangs on my wall and honor her for beginning the organization that is now known as The Birmingham Jewish Federation.   A quick PSA this week. The Birmingham Jewish Federation has extended the community survey deadline to August 18th. Many families were out of town for summer vacation and now that school is back in session we wanted to give everyone one last chance to participate. I cannot underscore the importance of your participation. Many community decisions will be made on this data. If you want to effect change this is the easiest way to make sure that happens. You may take the survey by clicking here. As the saying goes “You can’t complain if you don’t participate.” Many thanks in advance. We look forward to sharing the results with the community after the high holidays. Last, but not certainly not least, I also want to make everyone aware that this year’s Birmingham Holocaust Education Center’s L’Chaim has been moved to a virtual event – no tickets needed. Please visit their website to learn more on how to access this program virtually. Wishing you a restful Shabbat and a peaceful week. With gratitude, Danny

In The News

White House Appoints Chanan Weissman as Jewish Liaison

JFNA welcomes The White House’s appointment of Chanan Weissman to serve as its Jewish liaison. At a time when the Jewish community is facing a surge of antisemitism online, on college campuses, and especially as our children return to school in the coming weeks, there is a pressing need to safeguard the American Jewish community’s security and freedoms. JFNA looks forward to working closely with Weissman on an all-government approach to confronting hatred and violent extremism.

Upcoming Programming

Share Your Opinion, Shape the Future – in 15 minutes! Deadline extended to August 18th!

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!

The Louisiana Jewish Coalition & August Speaker Series on Israel

Stories From the Negotiating Table Sunday, August 15, 2021 at 9:30 AM

Inter-Everything Family Friendly Hike! Sunday, August 22, 2021 from 9 - 11 AM

This program is part of Beth El’s new programming series especially for our inter-everything families. Why inter-everything? Because in conversations with our community it’s become clear that interfaith doesn’t cover it. Our community is interfaith, intercultural, inter-denominational and everything beyond and in between. Rather than get caught up on labels we’re looking for chances to connect, and if you and/or your family identify as inter-anything we want to connect with you! Get in touch with Margaret at mnorman@templebeth-el.net with questions or to share your programming ideas!

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!

Register Here!

Kesher: A Jewish Teen Experience! Thursdays from October - April from 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Community Programs

Lunchtime Torah Study Wednesday, August 18 @ 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 19 @ 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 Inter-Everything Family Friendly Hike at Red Mountain Park Sunday, August 22 @ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Temple Beth-El Join us for our third inter-everything group event; a family-friendly hike at Red Mountain Park! This is a chance to gather in community with other families and individuals who identify as interfaith/intercultural/interdenominational—inter-anything—while enjoying an outdoor activity at one of our city’s best greenspaces. We’ll meet at the entrance to the park at 9AM and end with a chance to picnic together. Along the way, we’ll even learn a little bit about the Park’s history as a former site of iron and ore mining! Bring a bagged lunch, if you’d like, and we’ll provide some additional snacks and goodies. RSVP to Margaret at mnorman@templebeth-el.net Birmingham Hadassah Book Club: Code Name Helaine, by Ariel Lawhon Sunday, August 22 @ 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Birmingham Chapter of Hadassah Please contact Tammi Caldwell-Horn (tamarmichal67@gmail.com) for Zoom link. New participants warmly invited! L’Chaim Sunday, August 22 @ 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Birmingham Holocaust Education Center Join us live here! L’Chaim, Birmingham Holocaust Education Center’s annual fundraising event is honoring Phyllis G. Weinstein, BHEC founder. Presented by the BHEC in collaboration with Red Mountain Theatre, the L’Chaim event will be a combination of entertainment, education, and remembrance. Red Mountain Performing Ensemble students will perform musical selections. The event will be hosted by Birmingham native Alison Lebovitz, a motivational speaker, podcaster, author & TV host of “The A List with Alison Lebovitz” for WTCI-PBS, Chattanooga. L’Chaim will also feature a conversational one-on-one interview with Wolf Blitzer, host of CNN’s “The Situation Room” whose parents were Holocaust Survivors. You can purchase tickets here! UPDATE: L’Chaim will no longer be an in-person event. L'Chaim will now be live-streamed from the Red Mountain Theatre due to this unpredictable time with COVID cases on the rise again. The event will go on!!! Sunday, August 22, 3pm. Link will follow soon. Lunchtime Torah Study Wednesday, August 25 @ 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 25 @ 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 The Holocaust and the Victims of Nazi Persecution Thursday, August 26 @ 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Birmingham Holocaust Education Center This program will focus on the basic tenants of Nazi antisemitic and racial ideology and explain how this warped view of the world impacted the victims of the Holocaust era: Roma (Gypsies), disabled persons, persons of African descent, Poles, Soviet prisoners of war, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and political opponents of the Nazi regime. Guest Speaker: Dr. William F. Meinecke, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum REGISTRATION REQUIRED ShulHouse Rock Kick Off: First Family Shabbat Friday, August 28 @ 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM Temple Beth-El Join us for our first Family Shabbat of the year and ShulHouse Rock Kick off! ShulHouse Rock is this year’s umbrella for youth education, which is focused on engaged learning, collaborative programming, and meaningful holiday and Shabbat Conservative Experiences. Family Shabbat programs are geared for children of all ages, from birth-12th grade, and will include service participation opportunities for the older children, a whole family Shir Ha’dash (“New Song”) service, Tot Shabbat, and breakout activities with Hebrew learning and educational content. Don’t forget to stay after services for a special Kiddush Luncheon with kid-friendly foods. 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.

Visit the community calendar for more details!

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The Federation and Foundation have been having issues with our post office box. Please send all correspondence to our physical address at  3966 Montclair Road, Birmingham, AL 35213

The Birmingham Jewish Federation federation@bjf.org  (205)879-0416 bjf.org

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