Parshat Ki Tissa| March 13, 2020
CONGREGATION UPDATE

BTBJ is committed to providing our families with a safe and healthy environment.  We are following the guidelines of  the PA Office of Public Health and our local health officials and are relying on their guidance and suggestions. W e thank you for your cooperation as we navigate these complicated and unsettling times. 

As per the directive from Governor Wolf concerning all school closures, please note the following directives effective immediately:

The Religious School will be closed Saturday, March 14th through Saturday, March 28th.

At this time we are planning to reopen our Religious School on Sunday, March 29th. Please stay tuned as this is subject to change based on state and county mandates.

We are looking into options for virtual junior congregation on March 21st, but this may need to be rescheduled.

Please see below for details regarding specific trips and programs that were scheduled over the next few weeks.

Rabbi Roni is working with Religious School faculty to transition our learning to a virtual community over the next few weeks. We will be in touch early next week with instructions.
For now:
  • Please be sure you are caught up on any Homework that had been assigned by your child's teacher.
  • Please continue reviewing at home prayers that your child has been working on in class. 

THE CONGREGATION WILL BE SENDING ANOTHER NOTICE OUT LATER TODAY WITH FURTHER CONGREGATIONAL DETAILS ON CLOSURES FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER, RELIGIOUS SCHOOL AND SYNAGOGUE SERVICES. THE DURATION OF THE CLOSURES WILL BE UPDATED PURSUANT TO ANY FURTHER DIRECTIVES OF GOVERNOR WOLF AND THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

If you are aware that you and/or a family member have been in an environment such as work, school, travel, etc. that is being investigated for COVID-19, please do not enter our building until it is deemed safe to enter. Notify us immediately if you and/or a family member has been exposed or has been tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.  

We will continue to take proactive measures to minimize the potential for exposure in our building. Our facilities are cleaned and sanitized thoroughly on a daily basis. Our building will undergo a complete deep cleaning. Our staff continues to take all necessary precautions to keep our building safe and sound. We are prepared to respond appropriately and further postpone or modify programs as deemed necessary. On behalf of the BTBJ Board of Directors and Staff, we thank you for your cooperation and welcome your comments and/or suggestions.       
MAZEL TOV!
Mazel tov Dorey Levinton on becoming Bar Mitzvah Saturday, March 14th!

May you go from
strength to strength!
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PURIM!!!
Hamantaschen cookies or Haman s ears noisemaker and carnival masks for Purim celebration  jewish holiday . Copy space background.
Thank you to all of the teachers, volunteers and students who helped to make our Purim Carnival and Megillah Reading a HUGE success!

And a special thank you to all those who wrote lyrics or performed an 80s song at our Megillah Reading!

Would you like to learn to read
Megillah before next year?
Contact Cantor Benjamin !
MECHINAH CLASS SERVICE
Mechinah Class Service

POSTPONED

We hope to reschedule this service for later on this year.
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HAY CLASS PROGRAMS
HAY CLASS TRIP

US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Sunday, March 15th
CANCELLED

Hay Class Trip to New York
Sunday, April 19th
CANCELLED
We will likely not be able to reschedule these trips for this year.
However, students will be invited to join these trips next year!
BET CLASS TRIP TO HOUSE OF KOSHER
Bet Class trip to House of Kosher
Sunday, March 15th

POSTPONED

We are not entirely sure that we will be able to find an alternate date, but the folks at House of Kosher have been very accommodating and we will attempt to reschedule this trip for later on in the Spring.
KESHER TEENS TRIP IN PHILLY
Philadelphia_ Pennsylvania_ USA downtown at city hall.
Kesher Teen trip to
National Liberty Museum
Sunday, March 22nd

POSTPONED

If we are not able to reschedule for this year then teens will be invited to join the Kesher Teen trip next year.
BETTER TOGETHER PROGRAM
Better Together Program scheduled for
Wednesday, March 18th

CANCELLED

We will either reschedule or find another way for our Talmidim and Amudim to interact! Stay tuned!
BTBJ RELIGIOUS SCHOOL PARENT HANDBOOK
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Please be sure to look through the UPDATED BTBJ Religious School Parent Handbook i n order to review information about our mission, goals, objectives by class, as well as dismissal and arrival information. An updated version of the Handbook is coming soon! Questions? Contact Rabbi Roni .
BTBJ TALENT SHOW!
CANCELLED
We hope to plan another talent show next year!
BTBJ YOUTH CORALE
CURIOUS? COME CHECK IT OUT!
B'NAI MITZVAH PROJECTS
see below to learn how you can help!
Evan Spector is raising money to help rescue animals. His family adopted their dog Pippi a few years ago, and she is a very big part of his life. He is baking and selling Homemade Doggie Cookies that your best friends will go CRAZY for!!! All $$$ raised will be donated to Mulligan Animal Rescue , in Mt. Royal, New Jersey. The four women who run the rescue out of their homes, believe all animals deserve a mulligan - a second chance. They rescue abandoned, abused, injured, and homeless animals, help them get healthy, and find a permanent home for them. 
The cookies are Vegan, made with fresh pumpkin, peanut butter, and whole wheat flour.  3 cookies for $5, and 8 cookies for $10.  And that includes delivery!
 
Please consider supporting Evan and Mulligan Animal Rescue, while making your pups really happy. Please contact Evan's parents if you’d like to order. If you don’t have a dog, feel free to donate on http://mulligananimalrescue.com/ ) in honor of his Bar Mitzvah.
FROM PHILLY FEDERATION
Thinking about Jewish summer camp for your child? There areTWO great ways to save on the price of camp this summer — and applications are open now!

ONE HAPPY CAMPER GRANTS
If your child is ready to try Jewish overnight camp for the very first time, you may be eligible for a One Happy Camper incentive grant.
  • First-time campers who attend overnight camp for 12 to 18 consecutive days can receive a $700 grant
  • First-time campers who attend overnight camp lasting 19 or more consecutive days can receive a $1,000 grant!
Just register your child for camp ( click here to see all eligible overnight camps ), then  apply for your grant here .
 
NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS
Is your child a day camper or returning to Jewish overnight camp? Then you may be eligible for a needs-based scholarship.
  • For campers ages 5 to 19 (by June 1, 2020)
  • Campers must live in one of our Jewish Federation’s five counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia) and identify as Jewish
  • Eligible campers may receive between 10% and 30% off the cost of camp!
Just register your child for one of  these eligible overnight camps  or one of  these eligible day camps , then  apply here  before January 31 st  (for overnight camp) and March 6 th  (for day camp). And voilá! Best summer ever — and an experience that can light up a kid’s Jewish identity for a lifetime.

For more information about Jewish summer camp, One Happy Camper grants or Needs-Based Scholarships,  click here . Questions? Contact Abby Weinberg, Associate Director of Jewish Life and Learning, at  aweinberg@jewishphilly.org  or 215.832.0570.
Check out the BTBJ Calendar for a complete listing of all of our upcoming events!