Dear Friends
Shabbat Shalom!
As I write this, it is hard for me to believe that this is my last Shabbat Greeting of 2020. This year has been full of surprises for all of us, some good, some not so good. I want to take this opportunity to dedicate this last greeting of 2020 to a “C” word that has impacted all of us through 2020, and no, it’s not Covid! The dedication goes to the word Community.
Community brought me here in March of 2020.
Community raised $150,000 for COVID relief.
Community embarked on collaboration and creation of new programs and pivoted their services, so that we as a Community could flourish in spite of what 2020 had dealt us.
Community made us aware of the distinct and different values we have, yet more importantly, how much we share in common and the importance of working together to accomplish our goals.
Community brought groups to the table that had never even been set and now are overflowing with ideas and meaningful relationships.
Community has given us new friends and renewed old acquaintances.
And most importantly, THIS Community, has shown to itself and others that anything is possible and our future looks bright.
And speaking of brightness– I am beyond elated to report that The Birmingham Jewish Federation has surpassed its $2 million goal for our 2020 campaign because of our Community and our amazing chairs Jack and Barbara Aland and their valiant team of solicitors.
I close wishing you all a Happy and Healthy 2021 and a quote from Hellen Keller.
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.”
Looking forward to doing SO MUCH with you all next year and beyond.
B’Shalom,
Danny
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From the little ones, "thank you PJ Library!"
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So Proud that that the Foundation’s Andrew David Abroms Fund
provides funding for PJ Library. Love these little ones and the smiles that
PJ Library brings!
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From Matzo to Gumbo:
Exploring Jewish Life in U.S. South
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Image from https://msje.org
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"A new museum under construction in New Orleans will explore the journey of immigrant Jews and subsequent generations to the American South who brought with them a religious way of life they struggled to maintain while seeking acceptance in the home of the Bible Belt.
With multimedia interactive exhibits and a collection of more than 7,000 artifacts, the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience will illustrate the ways Southern and Jewish cultures influenced each another’s families, businesses, religions, politics and food habits as Jewish staples like potato latkes and matzo ball soup were met with Southern grits and gumbo.
There will be also be exhibits on harder-hitting issues, such as race relations, Jewish slave ownership and anti-Semitism.
A museum highlight is a colorful patchwork quilt that a group of Jewish women in Canton, Mississippi, made in 1885 to raise funds to build a synagogue there. The gallery with the quilt will have an interactive station where visitors can sit down at a table and use a touchscreen to create, electronically, their own quilt square and add it to a quilt of other digital squares made by fellow visitors.
“It speaks to the coming together of many different pieces, many different colors, many different fabrics to create something brand new and beautiful,” museum's executive director Kenneth Hoffman said."
Originally scheduled to open in fall 2020, construction was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the museum is on track to open within the first quarter of 2021, Hoffman said. An exact date has not been set.
Read the full article here! The Times of Israel
By Stacey Plaisance December 20, 2020
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Check out the website for
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The Lions are Coming This January!
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The 2021 International Lions of Judah takes place this January 24th-25th, and brings together women to meet, engage and envision the future of philanthropy. This year, the event is not just virtual, it’s #VirtuallyLimitless. Together we’ll envision change. Then change the world.
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“The New Jewish Canon”:
A Conversation about Contemporary Judaism
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The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have been a period of mass production and proliferation of Jewish ideas, and have witnessed major changes in Jewish life and stimulated major debates. Join this class to talk about the book, “The New Jewish Canon,” which came out this year in July. This book offers a conceptual roadmap to make sense of some of this rapid change. The New Jewish Canon is an entry point for the Jewish intellectual and communal zeitgeist of the contemporary period and the recent past, canonizing our most important ideas and debates of the past two generations; and just as importantly, stimulating debate and scholarship about what is yet to come. Join Rebbetzin Bethany with your lunch on zoom to talk about some of these debates.
Join Temple Beth-El on Tuesdays from 12- 1 PM for discussions on contemporary Judaism.
Register here for the zoom link.
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Women's Fall and Winter Clothing Donation!
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The Friendship Circle is getting ready to launch our upscale resale clothing store! Our young adults have painted the room and begun sorting out the donations! Our new store will give employment and skill building opportunities to adults with special needs!
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We still need more donations of gently used, clean women’s clothing.
Right now we are looking for fall and winter clothing and accessories.You can drop off your donations at Chabad at 3040 Overton Road Birmingham, AL or we can send someone to your house to pick up!
to set up a pickup!
Follow the journey on Instagram @friendshipcircleal and Facebook @FriendshipCircleofAlabama
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PJ Library's
Parenting: Its in the Bag!
There is still time to register!
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“The New Jewish Canon”:
A Conversation about Contemporary Judaism
December 29 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have been a period of mass production and proliferation of Jewish ideas, and have witnessed major changes in Jewish life and stimulated major debates. Join this class to talk about the book, “The New Jewish Canon,” which came out this year in July. This book offers a conceptual roadmap to make sense of some of this rapid change. The New Jewish Canon is an entry point for the Jewish intellectual and communal zeitgeist of the contemporary period and the recent past, canonizing our most important ideas and debates of the past two generations; and just as importantly, stimulating debate and scholarship about what is yet to come. Join Rebbetzin Bethany with your lunch on zoom to talk about some of these debates. Register here for the zoom link.
JewCurious?
December 30 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Are you JewCurious? Have you heard that Judaism is about asking questions? Questions are the start of a great conversation. I would say, Judaism is about a great conversation. Come learn more about what that conversation sounds like by joining this JewCurious Class. This class is for everyone looking to get a broad overview of Judaism. This 101 class lasts for 20 weeks and is open to anyone who is curious. We’ll explore the major narratives, history, practices, theology and values of Judaism. You can expect that the learning will happen with curiosity and open-mindedness and respect for one another’s boundaries and beliefs. Taught by Bethany Slater from Temple Beth El. To register: click here!
Introduction to Judaism
with Rabbi Adam Wright
January 5, 2021 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join us for an engaging 12-session course for anyone interested in exploring Jewish life. Open to all, this course is perfect for interfaith couples, those rearing Jewish children, spiritual seekers, individuals considering a “return” – (conversion), and Jews who want a meaningful adult Jewish learning experience. Our programs welcome people from all backgrounds. Topics include holidays, life cycle celebrations, theology and core beliefs, prayer, Torah, history, antisemitism, and the Holocaust, Zionism, and Israel, the North American Jewish experience, and the tapestry of the Jewish people today. Register here!
PJ Library: Parenting, it's in the bag!
January 11, 2021 @ 8:00 pm
Join us for wine and treats as you Zoom in for a special conscious parenting class with Miriam Friedman, Director of JAHM Chai Tots Pre-School. RSVP to Florina at florinan@bjf.org by January 5th!
Collat Jewish Family Services Bereavement Group
The meetings will be led by Gail Schuster, and the group will determine the frequency and meeting times.
For more information and to register for the Zoom meeting, please contact Gail Schuster at gail@cjfsbham.org or at 205-879-3438.
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.
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The Birmingham Jewish Federation
@jewishbirmingham
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