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Creating Beth Emet Community Together
Tuesday, September 6 | 10 Elul 5782
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This year we honor Matt Feldman for leading Beth Emet's working group on reparations and Alison Finkel who was instrumental in leading efforts to sponsor the arrival of a refugee family from Afghanistan and continues to coordinate a crew of volunteers. Read more not only about their leadership but Beth Emet's work with reparations and refugee support.
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Proceeds from the Vision Keepers Dinner support Interfaith Action’s programs at the Hospitality Center for the Homeless, local soup kitchens, Producemobile, winter overnight shelter (which Beth Emet hosts for three weeks each winter), and winter warming centers. RSVP by Monday, September 12 by sending your check to Beth Emet ($75 / person).
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BE Connected
Weekly Calendar
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Thursday, September 8
Qigong with Netiva Caftori
10:00 am | Virtual on Zoom
Our very own Netiva Caftori invites us to experience the healing practice of Qigong with her. Qigong is a millennia-old system of coordinated body posture and movement, breathing, and meditation used for health and spirituality.
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Tuesday, September 13
Jamberry for Young Families
9:45 am | In-Person
Join us for joyful, collaborative music-making with Nicole Jaworski and Jamberry Music! Class is geared to kids 6 months to 2.5 years old and siblings are welcome to join! Jamberry continues on Sept. 20
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Elul
High Holy Day's Preparation
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Elul is the month on the Hebrew calendar that precedes Rosh Hashanah. It brings with it customs that help us to pause, reflect on our behavior and speech before the new year begins. This year there are communal offerings to assist us with this individual process. | |
Sundays, September 11 and 18 | 10:15 am | In-Person
As we prepare for the New Year, here’s the opportunity to practice your Hebrew reading skills and review some of the major texts and vocabulary of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. These two classes, the first from the Rosh HaShanah Machzor and the second from the Yom Kippur Machzor, require basic Hebrew reading skills.
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Tikkun Middot and Elul - Stepping Stones to Inner Growth
Thursday, September 15 | 7:15 pm |Virtual on Zoom
Facilitated by: Marci Dickman, Kathy Kaberon, Barbara Stock, and Dan Kaplan
The High Holy Days tend to take on a different meaning when we are intentionally reflective on our behavior throughout the year. We invite those who have engaged in Tikkun Middot practice currently or in the past to explore this topic together.
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S’lichot Film Screening and Conversation: Dying Doesn’t Feel Like What I’m Doing
Saturday, September 17| 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm
In-Person and Virtual
S’lichot, which takes place on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah, provides an entry into the High Holy Days through reflection on the major themes of the season—renewal, repair, and growth. This year, we will begin with a screening of “Dying Doesn’t Feel Like What I’m Doing” followed by a discussion on what we can learn about these themes as we welcome the new year.
The film is about Rabbi Rachel Cowan, a beloved and influential mindfulness teacher, who is diagnosed with aggressive cancer. She uses her spiritual practice to navigate her death while looking back on her full life. Rabbi Cowan z’l, was a civil rights activist who taught people how to “sit” with themselves and stand up for others. The first female convert to become a rabbi, she and her late husband were instrumental in encouraging support of intermarried couples. Widowed at forty-eight, she had a powerful second act, transforming Jewish philanthropy, and transforming Jewish life by bringing mindfulness and meditation into the mainstream. After she was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer, she used her terminal illness to teach others how to contemplate the meaning and purpose of their lives at every stage.
Please note, for those who have already seen this film, we expect to begin the discussion on the film at about 10:15 pm. Following the film screening and discussion, we will continue with Havdallah and our S’lichot Service.
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Barbara Brown Turns 100!
This past Friday marked longtime member, Barbara Brown’s 100th birthday! She and her husband, Jack (who died in 2013) joined Beth Emet in 1957, and have lived in Wilmette for just as long.
Barb was a musician with a career entertaining in Chicago and then teaching music to middle school students at Nichols Middle School (in Evanston) until retiring in 1988. She continued to write music and perform with the Senior Music group through Oakton called "Acting Up" and finally retired from that around age 96! At Beth Emet, you would often find Barb involved with many of the musical programs, including playing piano and was involved with programming for Network.
She still lives in her original home in Wilmette and attributes her long life to her love of music and her family. For her 100th birthday, family friends organized a "birthday parade" past her home, dropping off cards, flowers, and balloons.
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Register for the High Holy Days 5783/2022
There is nothing quite like Beth Emet during the High Holy Days, in this important time of reflection, introspection, and renewal, whether in person or virtually. If you have not yet registered, please do so today! Every member household must register to ensure you receive your name badges (tickets) and/or links for live streaming. For questions, contact Bekki Kaplan.
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BE Involved
Volunteer Opportunities
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Social Justice Fair – Everything You Want to Know About Getting Involved with Social Justice Work at Beth Emet
Sunday, September 18 | 11:00 am | In-Person
Social justice work is at the core of so much of what we do as Reform Jews and as individuals living in the greater community. Check out the Social Justice Fair on Sunday, September 18 at Beth Emet’s West Plaza (we promise good weather!) during Beit Sefer. Learn how your own interests intersect with the work of the Social Justice Coalition and get inspired to get more involved. For more information and/or questions, contact Lisa Levine.
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Thanks to you, the toiletry giveaway with SNAPGap was a huge success!
This was Beth Emet’s first time coordinating the monthly collection. 262 households were served in August—the highest number this year—with approximately 1,150 items.
The September Collection has started!
Items Needed: Toothpaste, toothbrushes and deodorant (all full size)
Items can be purchased online
If you purchase these items locally for donation, you can drop them at:
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Trinity Lutheran Church
3637 Golf Road
Skokie, IL 60204
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Drop-off Hours at Trinity:
Monday-Thursday, 9am-5pm
Please go to the back door of the church for drop-offs.
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Items need to be delivered by September 12 at 5:00 pm
Interfaith Action Evanston (IAE) operates the monthly Producemobile, which distributes fresh produce to Evanston’s families experiencing food insecurity. For more than a year, Interfaith has added SNAPGap, collecting and distributing items that most of us consider necessary—toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergent, etc.—but are not eligible for purchase with federal benefits.
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Looking for Shabbat Connections Cooks/Drivers
Would you like to share your delicious cooking with others? Are you better behind the wheel? Every Friday, one volunteer for Shabbat Connections cooks, and another delivers a home-cooked meal to someone in our Beth Emet family who may need support in times of need or transition. Whether you would like to regularly participate or lend a hand once or twice a year, help perform this mitzvah. Contact Kathy Kaberon.
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Congregational Announcements | |
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New Racial Justice and Reparations Resources!
Our Racial Justice Resources have been revised, updated, and expanded. We have organized the material by categories and added material on reparations and Jews of Color. Come check it out.
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Annual Membership Commitment for 2022-23
If you have not yet completed the annual membership form, please contact Debbie Gilbert who is happy to assist. For questions regarding membership or if you wish to make payment arrangements, please contact Bekki Kaplan.
If you are not yet a member and would like to be, Bekki can help you with that as well!
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Fiddler on the Roof - A Sneak Preview at our Adult Education Programming and an Opportunity at the Lyric Opera House
In November, Dr. Amanda Stein will be presenting a class on Fiddler on the Roof. It so happens that the Lyric Opera is running this show from September 17 to October 7, and a number of our Beth Emet congregants plan to attend the matinee on September 18. Plan with a friend, buy a ticket and mark your calendar for a presentation and discussion on Thursday evening November 3. Full details here.
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Friday, September 9 | 9:30 am | In-Person
Sign up now for some fun with your little one, taught by Karen Achtman. Co-sponsored by JBaby. This class meets for 6 weeks.
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Sunday, September 18 | 9:30 am | In-Person
Gan Yom Rishon is an interactive class for children ages 3-5, with a parent/caregiver, that meets on Sunday mornings in-person at Beth Emet. Each week we’ll experience Judaism through music, art, cooking, and stories. Gan Yom Rishon is also open to non-members.
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Inclusion Committee Meeting
Monday, September 19 | 5:00 pm | Virtual on Zoom
Join the Beth Emet Inclusion Committee as we examine our current practices and explore ways to create a culture of belonging and inclusivity for Beth Emet members of all abilities. We know that all individuals can contribute to our community.
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Israeli Government and NGOs Assist Marginalized US Communities with Assaf Grumberg
Wednesday, September 21 | 7:30 pm
Across the United States, Israeli NGOs and government agencies are impacting the lives of marginalized communities. Whether it is through disaster relief, post-trauma support, or everyday necessities unavailable to those communities, Israel is changing lives. We will explore some examples and learn what it is that makes these Israeli organizations leaders in their fields.
This program is co-sponsored by the Israel Committee and the Social Justice Committee.
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