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Creating Beth Emet Community Together
Tuesday, May 23 | 3 Sivan 5783
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Offices are Closed for Shavuot and Memorial Day Weekend
Friday, May 26, and Monday, May 29
Beth Emet Offices will close at 3:00 pm on Thursday, May 25.
Should you need to contact someone at Beth Emet during this time, please call the main number (847-869-4230), and press 4. We look forward to connecting with you when the offices reopen on Tuesday, May 30. Due to the holiday weekend, we will not be sending out a Shabbat Newsletter on Thursday. Next week's EmetMail will be sent on Wednesday, May 31.
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What does it mean to integrate guidance from outside sources and make them your own? This is a question I ask myself at this time of year – just before Shavuot, the holiday we celebrate receiving the Torah. I take in guidance from many places – people, books, laws, etc. Torah is different for me. I think about Torah broadly, expanding to include many Jewish sources and texts, our customs and rituals, and our community. Torah is different for me because inherent in our Tradition’s understanding of Torah is that our texts and traditions are given to us so that we interact with them to make them our own. In this way, revelation did not only happen at Mt. Sinai; revelation can happen any time we make meaning of Judaism.
The blessings we say before and after reading the Torah contain the idea that our Torah has divine origins. One intriguing tradition is that these ancient prayers say that God gave us Torah (natan haTorah) and God gives us Torah (notein haTorah). This continued revelation can only happen when we pull out Torah’s teachings, read them with our hearts and our minds, imagine what meanings might be inside, and allow new interpretations and revelations to emerge from us. At Beth Emet, we keep Torah alive for us through our learning, our questioning, our debating and our celebrating.
In some ways – we become Torah.
Oh – did I mention that we do not need to do this work alone? We learn with and from each other. We are coming together on Shavuot, this Thursday, for an evening of learning and community. We will be joined by participants in JRC, Lomdim, Shirat HaAgam, Northwestern Hillel and our local Orthodox community.
6:30 pm on Thursday, May 25 Beth Emet is the place to be with ice cream at 7:30 pm!
May this time of year be one of learning and growing for all of us.
Warmly,
Marci Dickman
Director of Lifelong Learning
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Leil Shavuot: One Jewish Evanston
This Thursday, May 25 | 6:30 pm | In-Person and Virtual Options
All are welcome as multiple Evanston Jewish communities come together under the banner of “One Jewish Evanston” to celebrate the beginning of Shavuot. Join us for all or part of the program. There is no cost to participate, and advanced registration is required. Children's programming and simultaneous adult learning begin at 6:30 pm and ice cream for all at 7:30 pm. Adult learning, worship and a light meal continue from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Details and registration here.
This event is sponsored by Mordecai M. Kaplan Center for Jewish Peoplehood, Fiedler Hillel at Northwestern University, Lomdim, Shirat HaAgam, Evanston’s Orthodox Community, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation and Beth Emet Synagogue.
Shavuot continues with Festival Morning Services (including Yizkor) on Friday, May 26 at 10:00 am
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Mazal Tov To Our 2022 Kabbalat Torah Graduates and Their Families! | |
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Ines Visa
Parents: Johanna and Olivier Visa
Listen to Ines' D'var Tora
Plans: Attending Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota - majoring in Neuroscience.
Daniel Durango-Cohen
Parents: Pablo and Elizabeth Durango-Cohen
Read Daniel's D'var Torah
Plans: Attending Brown University to Major in Biomedical Engineering
Jonah Pfeifer
Parents: Jeremy and Danielle Crown
Read Jonah's D'var Torah
Plans: Attending the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana to Major in Philosophy
Owen Levens
Parents: Nathan and Lisa Levens
Read Owen's D'var Torah
Plans: Attending De Paul University
Sophia Milner-Gorvine
Parents: Ben Gorvine and Amy Milner-Gorvine
Read Sophia's D'var Torah
Plans: Attending American University for Political Science and Spanish
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BE Connected
Weekly Calendar
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Dayenu Circle Monthly Meeting
7:30 pm | Virtual
Calling on all those concerned about climate change. At this month's meeting, we will look at prioritizing goals for the fall.
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Thursday, May 25
Erev Shavuot
Beth Emet Offices will close at 3:00 pm today in preparation for the Shavuot holiday.
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Monday, May 29
Memorial Day- Building Closed
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New 6-Week Session
Jamberry Music with Nicole Jaworski! Co-sponsored by JBaby
9:30 am | In-Person
Join us for joyful, collaborative music-making! You and your little one will bond with each other and make new friends while we sing, dance, play, pretend, and experiment with instruments. Class is geared to kids 6 months to 2.5 years old and siblings are welcome! Every Tuesday through June 27. Register here.
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Want to receive lifecycle notices for all births, weddings & death announcements?
You can sign up for the mailing list through MyBethEmet (our member portal) on your individual page or contact Miriam.
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Death
On this Shabbat, we observe the first yahrzeit of:
Stuart Fogel, father of Louis Fogel
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Beth Emet relies on fundraising to support nearly 20% of our operating budget: Consider making a donation to Beth Emet in honor of someone special or to honor the memory of a loved one on their yahrzeit. A notification will be sent. Questions? Contact the office. | |
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BE Involved
Volunteer Opportunities
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BE an Usher and Make Shabbat Extra Special
Add to your celebration of Shabbat by being an usher for Kabbalat Shabbat Services. We are looking for volunteers to greet, wish everyone a Shabbat Shalom who comes for services, and offer a siddur (prayerbook) to those who are interested. It’s a great way to get to know people and a wonderful way in which to make your Shabbat a bit more joyful. Interested? Want to learn more? Contact Bekki Kaplan.
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Upcoming Congregational Opportunities | |
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Inclusion Committee Meeting
Thursday, June 1 | 5:00 pm | In-Person and Virtual
Join the Beth Emet Inclusion Committee as we examine our current practices and explore ways to create a culture of belonging and inclusivity for Beth Emet members of all abilities. We know that all individuals can contribute to our community.
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Pride Shabbat Sing-Along , Crafts, Story and Yummy Snacks
Saturday, June 3 | 9:15 am | In-Person
Celebrate Pride at Beth Emet! Young Families are invited to Shabbat Sing-Along with Cantor Cotler, followed by playground fun. Perfect for families with kids 5 and under. No registration needed–just come!
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Kabbalat Shabbat Honoring Cantor Kyle Cotler
Friday, June 9 | 6:30 pm | In-Person and Virtual
5:45 pm Festive Oneg
On this Shabbat, we will honor and thank Cantor Cotler as he sets forth on his new journey at Congregation Or Ami in Calabasas, CA. Prior to services, we will have a Festive Oneg starting at 5:45 pm.
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Every Conceivable Way – Family Building LGBTQ+ Community
Wednesday, June 07| 7:30 pm | Virtual
A free webinar for Jewish couples and individuals seeking support to build their families. Presentation and Q&A featuring: Rabbi David Chapman, Congregation Beth Shalom, Dr. Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Specialist at Fertility Centers of Illinois, and Dena Levy, Attorney, Levy Law Solutions.
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21st Annual Community Mental Health Conference: Untying the Human Knot: Managing Stress and Anxiety in Today's World
Saturday, June 10 | 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
In-Person at Evanston Township High School
Explore the stress response and the impact it can have on our physical and mental health, as well as when everyday anxiety becomes an anxiety disorder, one of the most common mental health challenges in the US. You’ll also learn what you can do to manage stress, and about local community resources. Sponsored by the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education.
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Kol Zimrah Sings!
Sunday, June 11 | 3:00 pm | In-Person at Makom Solel Lakeside Congregation and Virtual
Kol Zimrah, Chicago’s premier Jewish community choir, is proud to announce its first in-person benefit concert since 2019: Kol Zimrah Sings! Kol Zimrah Sings! will celebrate the choir by honoring its past while looking ahead to its continued growth and evolution.
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Kol Or 6th Annual Juneteenth Havdalah
Saturday, June 17 | 6:00 pm | In-Person
Join us at KAM Isaiah Israel as we joyfully celebrate Juneteenth Havdalah presented by the Kol Or Jews of Color Caucus of JCUA. The theme is Liberation: Can you feel it? Come celebrate our diverse identities with our community.
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Current COVID Protocols: Masks are recommended, but not required. We ask that whenever you are in the building, we each continue to respect one another’s personal space and comfort levels. Everyone must still have the most recent booster shot they are eligible for. | | | | | | |
