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Tuesday, September 5, 2017 | 14 Elul 5777
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Dear Friends,
We do love to learn and for many children, teens, and adults, September brings a new round of learning. Here at Beth Emet, our Early Childhood program, our Beit Sefer, and our adult classes begin this week. The preparations each summer are immense and exhausting, but the rewards are great.
For many of us, children and adults, our learning is at its best, when we sense the integration into ourselves and the meaning into our lives. Each of our programs tries to make the learning relevant and engaging to the learners – of course in age appropriate ways.
For youngest students, the integration of home and school is paramount. We begin with home visits for each child, and even pre-verbal children sense the delight and good vibes when their parents open the front door to greet the teachers Throughout the year, our teachers build strong and warm relationships with the parents, and work with great thoughtfulness on the home-school partnership. Whether parents join the class as Shabbat guests, or serve Israeli food at our ‘Café’ on Yom HaAtzma-ut, or help organize the back-to-school picnics, the collaboration is vital and so appreciated!
For our older kids and teens, the integration of formal and informal education and activities helps them blend knowledge with enjoyment and friends. We are grateful for our partnership and support from our parents who plan and implement family programs and assist in many of our youth group activities. For adults, classes are often opportunities to build connections and warm communities in which to explore ideas, emotions, and practices.
For us, we continue to learn in programs that strengthen our own growth, challenge us to be better people, and provide kernels for next steps in learning and teaching. Marci is beginning a two-year program in Spiritual Development at the Hebrew Union College in New York and continues to study
midot, spiritual character traits each month. Kathy is also studying
midot and looking forward to broadening this work.
We look forward to seeing you and learning with you in 5778.
Marci Dickman
Director of Lifelong Learning
Kathy Kaberon
Director of Young Family Programs
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The month of Elul encourages reflection, rejuvenation, and renewal, offering us opportunities to prepare ourselves for the High Holidays. Prepare by attending one (or all!) of our special Elul programs. Click on the program titles below to
learn more.
Shabbat mornings through September 23
| 9:00 a.m.-9:25 a.m.
Led by Rabbi London, Ellen Rosen Kaplan, and Dr. Roberta Glick, these sessions will include a contemplative teaching and silent meditation to help participants do the internal work necessary to prepare for the new year. No RSVP necessary.
with Nisan Chavkin and Ben Nidenberg
Wednesday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Congregants of all ages are invited to this workshop to learn how to offer the "call to worship" at the beginning of the Chavurah and Traditional Service on the first day of Rosh HaShanah. (Workshop offered twice, only have to attend once.)
RSVP or 847-869-4230 ext. 301
with Bluma Stoller
Tuesday, September 12 | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 pm
Familiarize yourself with the
Machzor in this introduction to the holiday where the structure and traditions of Rosh HaShanah prayer will be reviewed.
with Bluma Stoller
Tuesday, September 26 | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Explore the prayers and rituals of the holiday and why Yom Kippur is a time for self-reflection within communal prayer.
Family Programs
Saturday, September 9 |3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Join Beth Emet families (geared for those five and over) as they bake honey cakes for Beth Emet Soup Kitchen guests. This social action project will be followed by pizza and Havdallah. $20 per family.
Saturday, September 16 at 9:00 a.m.
Come to our monthly Tot Shabbat, led by Rabbi London and Cantor Friedman, with songs, story, dancing and Kiddush brunch. Following Tot Shabbat and Kiddush, families with children five and are invited to bake honey cakes to take home or for Beth Emet Soup Kitchen guests. No RSVP required.
Unless otherwise noted, please
RSVP
to Elul Programs or call 847-869-4230 ext. 308.
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with Rabbi Steven Bob
Saturday, September 16 at 9:00 p.m. | S'lichot Service at
11:15 p.m.
In
Pirke Avot 5:26 Ben Bag Bag famously teaches, “Turn it Turn it for it contains everything.” While most people take these words to describe the Torah, for Rabbi Steven Bob they describe the Book of Jonah. This short book of the Bible along with the explanations of the classic commentators provides answers to the most important questions which people ask about their lives: Who am I? Why am I here? What provides meaning to my life?
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URJ Update on Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts
The URJ Greene Family Camp is available to those in need a place to stay. If you are able, consider making a donation to support this special effort.
Learn more.
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Preserve DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
If the Trump administration decides to terminate DACA protections for over 800,000 undocumented immigrant youth, it will undermine our nation’s identity as a haven for those fleeing persecution and seeking a better life. We call upon Congress to pass the Dream Act – meaningful legislation that will provide a more permanent foundation to individuals who know no other home than the United States.
See a list of local officials to contact.
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For more than 50 years, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (or "the RAC") has been the hub of Jewish social justice and legislative activity in Washington, D.C.
The need for
tikkun olam, world repair, at this moment in history is palpable and enormous. See latest press statements below:
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Bakbouk Mayim - Purchase a water bottle and help repair the world
Start the school year off with a new water bottle! As part of his bar mitzvah project to help repair the world (
tikkun olam
), Justin Davis is spearheading an effort to sell water bottles so we will reduce our dependence on disposable plastic. All profits go to Beth Emet and will be used to pay for water filling stations within the new renovation. These attractive bottles will be available for sale on the first day of Beit Sefer, Sunday, September 10, or thereafter through the Beth Emet office. Price is $10 for one or $18 for two, cash only. Refill. Save the world!
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If you or a member of your family requires accommodations or special services in order to participate in our high holiday worship services and programs, please indicate on your Conformation Form or call the office at 847-869-4230.
We would like to open our doors so all can participate in the beauty of the high holiday worship, traditions and customs.
Each member household should have received a High Holiday Confirmation Form in the mail. Name badges (tickets) are required for all High Holiday Services except for the Family Services, Youth Programs, the Second Day of Rosh HaShanah, and the Concluding Service of Yom Kippur. Should you have guests who will be joining you and/or wish to make any special arrangements (e.g. babysitting, special needs parking passes, seating and/or prayer books, and volunteer opportunities), please do so on the form. There is no need to return the form if you do not require any additional name badge inserts or arrangements. Please send back the form you received in the mail, or use the
Online Confirmation Form
. Please see the following High Holiday resources on our website (links on the right).
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High Holiday Ushers
Ushers are needed for High Holiday Services; duties are to meet and greet our worshipers, hand out Service cards, assist with seating, etc. We ask that ushers arrive 45 minutes prior to service time. If you are able to assist in this wonderful mitzvah, please
sign up using this form
.
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Beit Sefer Opening Day Brunch & Tailgate Party
Donuts and caffeinated beverages will be available in the Weiner Room from 9:30-11:00 a.m. for parents who want to meet other Beth Emet parents or just hang out until the assembly. Come check out the renderings of the upcoming renovation to get a sense of what the ‘new’ Beth Emet will look like. After the assembly, the Beit Sefer community is invited to a tailgate lunch sponsored by the Capital Campaign Committee and staffed by members of the Beth Emet Board of Trustees. Marci has ordered sunny skies for the lunch, which will be held in the parking lot next to the school.
Recently every household in the congregation was mailed a letter from Ross Bricker, President of Beth Emet. The letter includes important information about the renovation plans as well as an update about the Capital Campaign. You can read the letter
here
.
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Weekday Minyan
Sundays at 8:45 a.m. (Beth Emet's Chapel)
The Weekday Minyan service explores our ritual, liturgical, and musical traditions in a welcoming setting for people new to weekday prayer, while providing a deeper level of sophistication for people with more experience.The service is followed by a light breakfast of bagels and coffee.
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Remember Your Loved Ones This High Holiday Season by Including Their Names in Beth Emet’s Yizkor Memorial Book
This special booklet, published for Yom Kippur, includes end of life resources, Yartzeit information, and meaningful meditations and reflections.
Deadline for submissions extended to Monday, September 11.
Please fill out the online form or call 847-869-4230.
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Beth Emet Travels to Germany
Rabbi Peter and Elaine (Goodie) Knobel invite you to join them April 22-30, 2018 on a Beth Emet trip to Germany where we will explore the history of German Jewry, the effects of the Shoah and the rebirth of this historic Jewish Community especially the progressive Jewish community. We will begin in Frankfurt, continue to Nuremberg and conclude in Berlin. The cost is $2845 pp double occupancy land only. The single supplement is $560. If the group is larger than 24 the price will drop by $280 pp. For the itinerary, other details and registration go to
www.arzaworld.com. Traveling together will make this a very special journey. If you have questions or need help with airline tickets please contact Elaine (Goodie) at 847-982-9559.
Limited space still available!
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Divrei Torah
Hear Rabbi Peter Knobel deliver the D'var Torah on Friday, September 15.
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Catch up on past Divrei Torah
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Donate Your Eclipse Glasses
Astronomers Without Borders and Explore Scientific collect eclipse glasses to be sent to schools in South American and Asia when eclipses cross those continents in 2019. A collection box will be located in office until Monday, September 25.
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Jewish Mindfulness Meditation with OROT
Tuesday Evenings at 7:30 p.m. at Beth Emet
Join Orot for evenings of Torah and meditation. Each session begins with a brief teaching, followed by mindfulness mediation and discussion. All sessions are open to everyone. No RSVP’s required, just show up!
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Contributions Moving to EmetMail
This marks the first time we are listing contributions in Emet Mail. We are starting this new tradition of including a list, rather than in the bi-annual
Chadashon
, to ensure that contributions are acknowledged in a more timely manner. This list includes all donations to funds (whether Foundation, General or Discretionary) but not special campaigns (e.g. Annual Mitzvah, Capital Campaign) which will be formally acknowledged separately. Contributions for May 1, 2016-May1, 2017 will appear in the Summer
Chadashon
, arriving in mailboxes soon.
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B'nei Mitzvah
son of Michael and Amy Robke
September 9
Deaths
Cameron Hendershot
husband of Marilyn Hendershot
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The Orot Compassion Project
- an 8-week training on mindfulness and self-care for Chicagoland Jewish social service agency social workers, clinicians, case workers, etc.
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Beth Emet The Free Synagogue
1224 Dempster Street
Evanston, IL 60202
847-869-4230
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