September 16, 2020 | 27 Elul 5780 |
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Join us for the High Holy Days-Register Today!
When the shofar sounds this year, it will usher in a time unlike anything else we have experienced. As 5781 begins, we unite with the loving and creative spirit of our Beth Emet. Our clergy, Klei Kodesh, and lay leadership are developing a dynamic mix of online services and in-person celebrations. This year, all the familiar sights and sounds of the High Holy Days will be made available through online streaming.
Invite Your Friends and Family! All are Welcome!
All are invited to join Beth Emet for the High Holy Days this year. Rather than charging, we are asking guests to register and if they are so inclined, make a donation to support the High Holy Days. Pass along the registration link to anyone who you think would be interested or share this promotional video to spread the word!
Be Ready for the High Holy Day Viewing!
As we celebrate the High Holy Days and usher in 5781, we will pray the same prayers and hear many familiar melodies from years past. This year, of course, the holidays will also be quite different as we experience our worship with the assistance of online technologies. Our worship experience will be a hybrid of pre-recorded services on the Vimeo video platform and live services on the Zoom videoconferencing platform. All of the services will also have a phone dial-in option.
To view the pre-recorded services on Vimeo, you will have two options: Watch on your computer via a link that will be posted on the Beth Emet website or via the Vimeo app available with any streaming device (e.g. Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, or most iOS or Android phones or tablets). We highly recommend that if you plan to use a streaming device, you download the Vimeo app in advance and test by searching “BE2HDEMO.” For questions, contact the office and someone will be able to assist. More instructions/details will be included in the High Holy Day Guide that was mailed and sent by email.
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High Holy Days for Families with Young Children
Do you have a child ages 0-5 in your family? Plan to join us for High Holy Day Services and activities for young families at Beth Emet. As always, membership at Beth Emet Synagogue is not required, so please share with your friends and family. There are many opportunities here—some in person, some on Zoom. I hope you’ll join us.
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Share Some Challah and Dinner with Beth Emet Friends on the High Holy Days… Virtually!
Erev Rosh Hashanah Festive Dinner – Friday, September 18 at 7:15 p.m.
Break Fast – Monday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m.
With the magic of Zoom anyone can come together and share a festive dinner and/or break the fast on Yom Kippur. Expand your circle (or square as the case may be) and sign up today to be with friends, new and old, as part of your holiday celebrations. Registering is suggested, but not required. If you’ve always wanted to be that person who shows up last minute, here’s your chance! We have a seat for you in one of our “virtual” dining rooms! You can find the Zoom link here or on the service schedule. For more information, please contact the office.
Support the ARK through the High Holy Day Food Drive
Sunday and Monday, September 20 and 21 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Drop off in the Beth Emet parking lot
Now more than ever, it is important to support the ARK, a local Jewish agency, which serves more than 4,000 people a year by providing support, shelter, and food through its pantry. Synagogue High Holy Day Food Drives provide the ARK with enough food to last through the winter. Drop off your donation on Sunday and Monday, September 20 and 21 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm in the Beth Emet parking lot. Please place your items in your trunk, and volunteers will safely take your items from your trunk to the bins. Should you need to leave your vehicle, we require that you wear a face mask and maintain a distance of at least 6’ apart to ensure everyone’s safety. Below is a list of requested items.
*Please note all food donations must be certified kosher and have an expiration date at least six months from now (Feb 2021). The ARK does not accept Del Monte or Kirkland canned vegetables.*
FOOD DONATION REQUESTED ITEMS
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Canned vegetables
Canned fruit
Canned beans
Vegetarian baked beans
Creamy peanut butter
Jelly or jam
Sugar
Honey
Tuna
Applesauce
Crackers
Cereal
Oatmeal
Boxed dairy or non-dairy milk
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Pasta
Rice
Couscous
Tomato sauce
Canola oil
Dish liquid
Laundry detergent
Sponges
Paper towel
Toilet paper
Facial tissue
Bar soap
Liquid hand soap
Diapers sizes 4, 5, 6
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Mishkan HaNefesh-Special Deal
If you do not yet have your Machzor (prayer book) for the High Holy Days, the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) is now offering a special rate of $44 per set. Go to the CCAR website, and enter the code MHN2020. Discounted Kindle ebooks are also available.
Opportunities (Safely) for In-Person High Holy Day Observances at Designated Locations Throughout the Area.
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Tashlich (Atonement Ritual)
Saturday, September 19 at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Tashlich is an act of T’shuva that offers a way to express our desire to be free from sin and our hope that we will be forgiven for misdeeds. It is customary to perform this ritual at a natural body of water, and often people throw pieces of bread to represent sins. If you have registered for High Holy Days, you can find the final locations and times are with the Rosh Hashanah service listings. Not yet registered? You can find the form online.
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Teen Tashlich
Saturday, September 19 at 2:30 p.m.
In addition to a ritual for all congregants, BESSY (Beth Emet Senior Synagogue Youth) will be hosting a special Teen Tashlich for all high schoolers at 2:30 p.m. on Dempster and Lake Shore Blvd. RSVP is required, please e-mail Maia.
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Shofar Live!
Sunday, September 20 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
In addition to the pre-recorded shofar service, we offer an opportunity to hear the shofar live in a neighborhood near you. If you have registered for High Holy Days, you can find the final locations and times are with the Rosh Hashanah service listings. Not yet registered? You can find the form online. All are welcome! We ask that everyone wear masks and maintain at least 6’ distance between everyone else.
Shofar Across America
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"Cry out. Do not hold back. Raise your voice like a shofar."
- Isaiah 58:1
Every year during Rosh Hashanah, Jews blow the shofar. Each shofar blast is meant to draw our attention to the suffering and injustice around us while encouraging us to recommit ourselves to repairing our world. As we close out the Jewish year of 5780, we find ourselves surrounded by intolerance and inequity.
This year, we must also contend with the global COVID-19 pandemic. Because of social distancing, many of us will not hear the shofar in our houses of worship. But despite our physical isolation, we can still sound our own clarion calls of accountability and rededicate ourselves to fighting for change.
Here's how you can participate:
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Send us your video. In a short video clip (90 seconds max), share your reason for sounding the shofar. Which form of adversity, intolerance or suffering are you committed to battling this year? This recording will serve both as a way to connect with other Jewish advocates and as a resolution to yourself. Be sure to begin your recording by saying, "I sound the shofar for..." (Click here to load your video and to see other examples.)
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Blow the shofar with other Jews across the country. Join J Street -- along with our partners at Ameinu, Habonim Dror North America, the New Israel Fund, Partners for Progressive Israel and T'ruah -- on Sunday, September 20 at 4pm Eastern (the second day of Rosh Hashanah) for a virtual shofar blowing. You can sign up through this Zoom link.
May 5781 be a year of transformation, justice and love -- for our community and for our world.
Stump the Rabbis for Yom Kippur Chavurah Services
During the Yom Kippur Chavurah services the Beth Emet rabbis will be answering your questions. In the spirit of our theme this year: open hearts, open arms, open minds, we want to know what Jewish questions are on your mind. Please submit your questions in writing or via a 30 second video (landscape format) by 4:00 pm on Monday, September 21 to [email protected]. The rabbis will answer as many of them as possible at the Yom Kippur Chavurah services, going live at 9:00 am on Monday, September 28.
Open Ark
In the spirit of open hearts, open arms and open minds, we are also offering time for people to come before an “Open Ark.” As the High Holy Days approach, many people are feeling a sense of loss in not being able to come into the Beth Emet building and Sanctuary to pray. So, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we are creating an opportunity for you (with others in your household, if you wish) to come into the Beth Emet Sanctuary for up to 15 minutes to privately offer your prayers before the open Ark. Individuals who wish to do so must sign up in advance, which is on a first come basis. Of course, COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed, including filling out a health form prior to arrival. To reserve your place, please contact Wendy Yablon letting her know the date and time range that you are available.
Open Ark Times
Monday, September 21, 1:00-6:00 pm
Wednesday, September 23, 1:00-6:00 pm
Thursday, September 24, 1:00-3:00 pm
Friday, September 25, 10:00 am-3:00 pm
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Adult Study with Rabbi Andrea London and Rabbi Joseph Edelheit
Yom Kippur- Monday, September 28 at 3:30 p.m.
Rabbi Joseph Edelheit will be teaching with Rabbi London during the afternoon on Yom Kippur. Rabbi Joseph Edelheit, Professor Emeritus of Religious and Jewish Studies at St. Cloud State University (St. Cloud, MN), lives in Rio De Janeiro. He was selected by the Divinity School of the University of Chicago as Alumnus of the Year 2021. His most recent book, "What am I missing? Questions about Being Human", was published in February 2020 and focuses on the difficult life lesson that we are all missing something in our lives. We welcome him back to the Chicago area, as he was the Senior Rabbi at Emanuel Congregation from 1984-1992.
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Make a difference by ordering Honey
To wish your loved ones a sweet new year, send them the gift of honey from Sweet Beginnings
Why from Sweet Beginnings?
Sweet Beginnings, LLC, the social enterprise of North Lawndale Employment Network, was created to serve formerly incarcerated men and women by providing them with an opportunity to establish or re-establish a work history through transitional work for 90 days. Sweet Beginnings introduces its transitional workers to beekeeping and teaches marketable job skills through the end-to-end production of its honey and honey-infused skincare line, known as beelove®. Since 2008, the social enterprise has provided over 500 transitional job opportunities for North Lawndale Employment Network clients, reduced recidivism, and assisted in the attainment of permanent employment.
Much like the significance of honey during Rosh Hashanah signifying a new and sweet beginning, every beelove® product provides just that for its clients.
A High Holiday Greeting from Consul General Aviv Ezra
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During this month of Elul, there are many offerings to help us prepare our homes, our minds and our hearts for the High Holy Days.
Shofar Workshop
Tonight! Wednesday, September 16 from 6-7 p.m.
Come prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at our Shofar Workshop.
Open to the very young and young-at-heart, we will be learning about the ritual of the Sounding of the Shofar, featuring several of our in-house Shofar blowers.
Don't have your own Shofar? Just bring your positive attitude (or even a kazoo)!
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Playlist to Prepare for High Holy Days
Looking for some musical inspiration to prepare you for the High Holy Days? Our Beth Emet Spotify playlist is just the thing for you! An eclectic assortment of songs relating to the themes of the Holy Days, including liner notes to stimulate your thinking.
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Congregational Opportunities |
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Going Virtual has Never Been Easier-Sign Up for Automatic Monthly Payments
Starting in August, all monthly statements are being sent by email, unless requested by snail mail. Beth Emet’s Automatic Debit program allows you to pay monthly without incurring any additional fees. No need to write checks and it saves on postage! All you need to sign up is your bank’s accounting and routing information. Register online today. And, consistent with our mission to be eco-friendly and given the complexities during the times of coronavirus, we are strongly encouraging that members receive monthly statements by email. If you wish to continue to receive statements by mail, please contact
Watch the Recording from last week's Slichot Study Session
An Israeli perspective for the new year led by Rabbis Gabby Dagan and Na’ama Dafni-Kellen of Congregation Ohel Avraham in Haifa, Israel. While Danny and I were in Israel during my sabbatical, we had the pleasure of joining Rabbis Dagan and Dafni-Kellen for worship at Ohel Avraham in Haifa and touring Jordan with them and their community. Rabbi Dagan has visited Beth Emet, and we enjoyed his warmth, humor and wisdom. During our time together in Israel, I learned a great deal from both of these amazing rabbis, and I’m delighted that all of us have the opportunity to prepare for the High Holy Days together. - Rabbi London
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For a list of next week's events and recordings from previous programs, check out the website! |
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Advocacy
Civic Engagement
This November’s election is the most important many of us have ever faced. Because we value equality, the unity of humankind,, and peace, many of us feel we must act to assure that every vote counts. Beth Emet is participating in the Every Voice, Every Vote campaign of the Religious Action Coalition (RAC). The campaign has three components:
(1) combatting voter suppression (2) making sure all members of our congregation vote; and (3) encouraging young people to vote.
To combat voter suppression in Wisconsin, we are working with WISDOM, an organization that works for racial justice there. Because of the state’s efforts to remove voters from the rolls, we will be calling members of minority groups to help them confirm or restore their registration and vote absentee. Free training is available via Zoom. There will be many sessions available between now and the election. We need whatever time you can spare.
We also will be working with Common Ground, RAC’S partner, to send postcards to minority voters in seven other swing states encouraging them to vote. Watch the training video (required). Then, request postcards using RAC’s online form. You will be asked to make an $18 donation to cover the cost of the cards and shipping. The donation is optional.
We can make a difference in Wisconsin and elsewhere. If you need help voting (or know someone who does), would like to help with any part of this effort, or would just like to know more, contact Michelle Oxman at 847-328-0609 or 847-558-9797, or email her.
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Noar News
Open Noar News for details on Teen High Holy Day opportunities, including Teen Tashlich and our Yom Kippur Reflection & Hangout.
Adult Education
Why is divorce a stickier issue than marriage when it comes to the Orthodox authority in Israel? For an up to date snapshot of the Reform community in Israel, watch this presentation by Rabbi Gilad Kariv, the President of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism. He presented a hopeful picture of a complex Israeli population and the contributions that the Reform Movement in Israel is making to enhance lifecycle moments for many Israeli Jews and to emphasize the importance of Jewish values in Israel.
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Death:
David Aaron Van Dusen, husband of Diana Van Dusen, father of Anthony and Zoe, son of Mayor George and Susan Van Dusen, and brother of Daniel
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How to Get Ready for Rosh Hashanah 🍎 with Reformjudaism.org
It's almost time to celebrate the start of the new Jewish year, 5781! ReformJudaism.org has recipes, activities, how-to videos, and more to help you start a sweet new year at home.
Resources from Reformjudaism.org
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