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Creating Beth Emet Community Together
Tuesday, December 13 |19 Kislev 5783
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For more information, click on the headline of a particular program or info-blurb. Or check out the Beth Emet website. | |
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10th Annual Interfaith Vigil for Victims of Gun Violence
This past Sunday, Beth Emet hosted an interfaith vigil for victims of gun violence, organized by People for a Safer Society, a gun violence prevention advocacy organization, and was co-sponsored by several other organizations including the National Council for Jewish Women (NCJW). Throughout this weekend, there is also a memorial outside Beth Emet on the corner of Asbury and Dempster to honor those in our area who died this year due to gun violence.
Unable to attend Sunday's Vigil? Watch the recording here.
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Chanukah at Beth Emet
First candle lighting, Sunday, December 18
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Annual Beit Sefer Chanukah Concert
Sunday, December 18 | 11:30 am - 12:00 pm | In-Person
Our Beit Sefer students will participate in a Chanukah concert featuring Cantor Cotler and Storyteller Marilyn Price. All Beit Sefer parents are encouraged to attend.
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Annual Chanukah Concert for Young Families
Sunday, December 18 | 4:00 pm
In-Person and Virtual
Our favorite Chanukah concert is back! Once again, featuring Cantor Cotler and Aimee Leigh. This year, we have a special guest: Storyteller Marilyn Price. This is perfect for families with children in Kindergarten and younger. Grandparents are encouraged to attend! Advanced registration requested. $10/household
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Social Justice Opportunity for Beit Sefer Families
Here is How You Can Participate
Thursday, December 22 | 5:15 pm | In-Person
On the 5th night of Chanukah Beit Sefer families will be doing a special social justice project by creating festive gift bags for our guests at the Emergency Shelter, now being hosted by Beth Emet. Even if you’re not involved with Beit Sefer, you can participate!
Check out the wishlist. Please note: All gifts need to be received by Wednesday, December 21.
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Shabbat Chanukah: Friday, December 23
Dedication of the Temple Menorah Lobby and TJM Courtyard
6:00 pm | in-Person
With the mergers of Temple Menorah and Temple Judea Mizpah with Beth Emet in 2018, we will dedicate the Temple Menorah Lobby and the TJM Courtyard, in keeping with the theme of dedication for Chanukah. Celebrate this important moment in the life of the Congregation.
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Chanukah Shabbat Dinner: Latke/Tater Tot- Who Has the Most Creative Topping?
Prize for the most creative topping: Spicy, Sweet or Savory
7:30 pm | In-Person
After services, we’ll have dinner including latkes and tater tots. This is where you come in – bring the most creative topping you can get your hands on for the latkes. Judging will be based on three categories: spicy, sweet or savory. And, you get to play judge too! Prize to the most creative topping! $8 per person, plus a side dish.
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The Green Maven: 8 Greening Tips for the 8 Nights of Chanukah
Just in time for Chanukah, Beth Emet's Dayenu Circle presents another post edited by members Chris Wynn and Sharon Smaller. As we enter into the gathering and gifting time of year, we wanted to give you some tips about ways to “live a little more green and save a little green” while you celebrate.
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Support This Year's Mitzvah Appeal Campaign | |
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Our Goal is $280,000; No Gift is Too Small or Too Big
Pledge Today & Sign Up for One or Both Events
We are back! Our calendar is full, and we continue to be creative, flexible, and innovative, embracing technology so that everyone can join for prayer, learning, social justice work, and socializing together. We have so much to offer, and we need your support of the Mitzvah Appeal, our primary fundraising effort of voluntary giving, which provides the single greatest source of non-membership revenue necessary to ensure the financial health of our community.
In appreciation of your gift, we will be holding two events:
State of the World Got Your Goat? Rise Above It! Come Party with Beth Emet
Saturday, January 14 | 7:00 pm |In-Person Only (Downtown Chicago)
Minimum Contribution: $360
Celebrate in person, eat, drink and spend a special evening with new and old friends! Food prepared by the celebrated restaurant Girl and the Goat, catered by BOKA executive Chef Giuseppe Tentori.
D.C. 2023 Spotlight: Brunch with U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky
Sunday, January 29 | 9:45 am |In-Person at Beth Emet and Virtual
Suggested Minimum Pledge: $36 per person
With a change in the House leadership, there will be much to discuss as the 118th U.S. Congress convenes in January. Brunch will be served in-person or grab your favorite breakfast food and cozy up to the Zoom screen.
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BE Connected
Weekly Calendar
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Thursday, December 15
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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Conversations to Nourish Our Souls with Marci Dickman
7:15 pm | Virtual on Zoom
Not sure how to connect to the Mystery or the Divine in the world? Perhaps you are seeking an honest conversation about making meaning in life and what really matters. Maybe you know what you do not believe but are still hungry or wanting something more spiritual.
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A Close Look at Torah with Rabbi Andrea London
9:30 am | In-Person and Virtual on Zoom
There are many ways to interpret Torah and its nuances of meaning that are often overlooked. We will continue our learning, reading and interpreting the text of the Book of Deuteronomy line by line. New learners are always welcome.
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Sunday Morning Moves with Nichola Goss
9:30 am | In-Person
Looking for motivation to move your body and soul as well as connection to community? This combo cardio/ stretch class is offered while kids are in Beit Sefer. All bodies and mindsets are welcome.
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Dayenu Circle Meeting
7:30 pm | Virtual on Zoom
Calling on all those concerned about climate change. Come to the next Dayenu Circle zoom meeting. We are fine-tuning our sustainability priorities for the coming year.
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Anya and Teo’s Mitzvah Project: Self-Care Packages for Planned Parenthood
Anya and Teo Siegel-Acevedo have completed their Gemilut Chasadim project, and it could not have happened without support! Dropping off 60 self-care packages for patients who had, and especially those who traveled for, abortions, along with 60 thank you notes to Planned Parenthood of Illinois providers and health care staff for all of their care and hard work. They raised $3,300 from the community to buy the supplies and rallied 15 friends to help them assemble the packages in the Crown Room! Anya and Teo would like to give an extra shout-out to Sam Rose who was instrumental in facilitating the ideation of and execution of this project.
Stay tuned for a Beth Emet wide follow-up project coming in March! To learn more and get involved in the planning, email Kathy Kaberon.
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Beth Emet Teens Participate in L'Taken in Washington DC
This past weekend eleven of our teens, accompanied by Gabriella Cooper and Emma Milner-Gorvine, put their stamp on Washington DC at the L’Taken Social Justice Seminar, in partnership with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC). After learning, great reflection and preparing, they visited our representatives on the Hill.
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We Want to Hear From You!
Whether it's good news to share or you would like to be featured or know someone who should be featured "In The BE Family," let us know or contact Bekki Kaplan
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One Book, One Congregation | |
Highlighting: Seth Krantz’s One Book, One Congregation Book Circle | |
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Missed Rabbi London's D'var Torah on chapter 3 of Here All Along?
Watch it Today
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Books and audiobooks are still available in the office.
The One Book, One Congregation programs are generously sponsored by the Judith F. Krug Fund, David and Florence Fingeret Fund, Solomon and Lillian Krug Fund, and the JELLO (Jewish Education: Lifelong Learning Opportunities) Funds in the Beth Emet Foundation.
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BE Involved
Volunteer Opportunities
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Interfaith Action Evanston (IAE) Needs Volunteers for Hospitality Center and for the Overnight Shelter
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Door Greeters for Hospitality Center - Monday-Friday - 7:00 am - 11:00 am (two-hour shifts) at St. Mark’s, 1509 Ridge, Evanston. Sign Up Here
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Overnight Shelter - At Beth Emet from December 5- December 25, there are three shift options (Set up 8:30-10 pm, overnight 9:30 am - 1:99 am, clean up 6:00 -7:00 am) Sign-Up Here
Questions: Contact Sue Murphy Berube.
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The Beth Emet Soup Kitchen Coat Drive was a Success!
79 guests were able to choose a coat, hat, gloves, scarf, and a few other extras. The event went smoothly due to the support of many volunteers. The guests were served a favorite meal of chicken stir-fry, rice, Asian salad, Caroline's legendary homemade challah and desserts. It was a meal had not had in almost 3 years! Special thanks to Lisa and Chris for the meal! We especially want to thank Soul Stitchers, Connections for the Homeless, and the entire congregation for the donations!
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Congregational Announcements | |
For more information and/or to register, check out the website. Please contact Aviva with any questions with registration. | | |
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Missed a Program?
When possible, we record our programs for those who were unable to participate. When recordings are available for adult programming, you can find them on the calendar event and on the website.
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Additional Congregational Opportunities | |
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URJ Introduction to Judaism Online- Taught by Marci Dickman
Tuesday evenings, beginning in January
This 21-session class- live on Zoom, with closed captioning available by request- is for adults seeking a deeper understanding of Jewish life through a reform lens. People from all backgrounds are welcome, including interfaith couples, Jews who want a meaningful adult learning experience, adults raising Jewish children, spiritual seekers, and individuals considering conversion.
A limited number of stipends are available to Beth Emet congregants this year. Interested? Contact Marci Dickman
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Wise Aging Through the Lens of Tikkun Middot facilitated by Jane Weintraub and Sue Nadel
Monthly on Sunday afternoons, January- June
Are you facing age-related challenges or moving from one phase of life to another? We will address this and other situations through a wide range of Tikkun Middot practices to focus on our personal characteristics, and investigate our internal and external reactions to situations. Through this lens, we will look at issues of aging and consider how choice points can help us create openings for personal and spiritual growth and turn away from reactive behaviors.
Interested? Contact Marci Dickman
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New Tikkun Middot Va’ad (small group) Facilitated by Marci Dickman
Monthly, January- June; Specific days and times to be determined by the participants
The Va’ad focuses on a particular character trait each month, and each session includes meditation, mindfulness practice, study of Jewish and secular texts, and self-reflection. Between sessions, participants work with a chevruta (partner) to explore the internal and external obstacles and opportunities present in each moment in order to access more wholesome choices. The group is open to congregants of all ages and interests.
Interested? Contact Marci Dickman
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Competing Narratives of the 1948 War with Dr. Maayan Hilel
Fridays, January 6 and 13 | 11:00 am
In-Person and Virtual on Zoom
We will discuss the major events that led to the outbreak of the war of 1948, its main stages, and the different, even contrasting, narratives Israelis and Palestinians created about it. We will examine the diverse voices of those who participated in or experienced the war to shed new light on this constitutive and complex event.
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Current Politics with Dr. David Zarefsky
Tuesday, January 10 | 7:30 pm
In-Person and Virtual
A continuing lecture-discussion class on contemporary public issues of interest to Jews as citizens. Special attention will be given to the policy and political issues facing the Biden administration.
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Murder on a Kibbutz: A Book Discussion led by Lisa Lieberman
Wednesday, January 18| 7:30 pm | Virtual on Zoom
The daughter of Polish Holocaust Survivors, the late Israeli author Batya Gur had a special interest in how kibbutznikim who came from the death camps found solace in the rhythms of communal life. Murder on a Kibbutz (1991), explores the tensions within a northern Negev desert kibbutz as the ideals of the founding generation are challenged by the next generation.
This program is sponsored by the Israel Committee
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Healing Through The Seasons: An Evening of Support in Winter with JCFS
Thursday, December 15 | 7:00 pm| Virtual on Zoom
The evening will include music and poems for healing, reflections on the impact of this season on our grieving processes and a personal grief journey illuminating paths to healing.
Gift of Recovery with JCFS
Tuesday, December 20 | 7:00 pm | Virtual on Zoom
Let’s celebrate Hanukkah together through the lens of addiction recovery.
Rabbi Joseph Shamash from Beit Tshuvah in Los Angeles will teach on gratitude in Judaism, how the practice of gratitude supports addiction recovery, and share specific Jewish gratitude practices. All who identify as being in recovery, loved ones, and allies are welcomed. We look forward to sharing the evening with you!
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