WELCOME TO THE NEW JCVT NEWSLETTER!!! |
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From the Director
As the new Executive Director of JCVT, I see many possibilities for us to better support, inspire and celebrate the diversity of Jewish experience in Vermont.
Communications seems key to anything we do to connect JCVT to Vermonters and to help you connect to each other and the Jewish community here and beyond our borders.
We will be instituting several changes that we hope enhance our communications. One of the first is the creation of this bi-weekly newsletter to complement the events calendar (previously called the JCVT newsletter) which will be published on alternate weeks.
The newsletter will include news from JCVT and our affiliated programs such as PJ Library and teen programs.
We also hope to have a (short) introductory writing sourced from members of the Jewish communities in Vermont that reflect on Jewish life in Vermont. Please contact me if you would like to contribute something.
Finally, the newsletter will link to selected posts from the JCVT webpage blog or Facebook page, probably including a featured event of the week.
I'm sure this will evolve over time.
We're aiming to be the "Goldilocks" of Jewish content--just the right amount of content to connect to a diverse audience. We need your help in creating and identifying the best content.
There will be more ideas coming on how we will organize our blog and facebook posts. Ultimately, we want to crowdsource our content to represent and interest all those in our Vermont Jewish community. We look forward to partnering with you to provide valued communication to our Jewish communities.
Thanks for your support,
Rick Gordon, Executive Director
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Thoughts from our Community
From Yoram Samets, JCVT Board
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JCVT’s Rabbi
This is the B’nai Mitzvah year for PJ Library in Vermont. And who better to lead us through this year-long celebration than Rabbi Tobie, the founder of PJ in Vermont and inspiration for many of us who are part of the “paying forward” generation. Rabbi Tobie identified the need that young Jewish families have in many parts of Vermont to be more Jewishly connected to themselves and their families.
While the primary benefit of PJ is the distribution of children’s books to families, Rabbi Tobie has gone beyond this to support young and often Jewishly isolated families. Her dedication to sharing her love of Judaism and her understanding of the impact that Jewish connection can have for our children has led her to visit many parts of our state and help young families connect to each other and to connect to their Jewish soul. Whether working one-on-one with a family, or organizing parent gatherings, or guiding parent connectors, she has quietly been a powerful force, influencing many lives.
When I look at Vermont, I see the opportunity for One Jewish Vermont, an opportunity for us to come together, to drop the internal-silo labeling we Jews carry, and be one community with a higher purpose of taking care of our Jewish community and our Vermont community. Rabbi Tobie has stood from this platform and led this effort for 13 years.
Along with celebrating this B’nai Mitzvah for PJ, we honor Rabbi Tobie and her never ending energy for good. Her humbleness hides the power and impact that she has given to 1000’s of Vermont’s children. She is a gift to young families. And she is a gift to us.
Mazel Tov. And now on to the next 13 years.
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PJ Library in Vermont Celebrating our B'nai Mitzvah |
In May of 2021, PJ Library in Vermont will turn 13! This is a huge cause for celebration! PJ Library in Vermont is a program of Jewish Communities of Vermont. We partner with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to send a gift of monthly books to children ages 0-12 throughout the state. We're part of PJ Library worldwide that is in almost 30 different countries around the world.
PJ Library books are not only for children. “For parents, PJ Library serves as an entry point to engage in conversations about Jewish values or concepts with their kids. Through guides on book flaps, online resources, and local engagement programming, PJ Library empowers parents to create their own Jewish practices that are meaningful and resonant.” (PJ Library website)
Any family raising Jewish children in Vermont is eligible to enroll. In addition to receiving high-quality, beautiful, engaging books, families are invited to join in with family programs around the state including Shabbat and holiday programs, parenting classes and informal activities and get togethers. Right now many of our programs are on Zoom, but we are planning our second year of gardening in Montpelier and Burlington. You can sign up by going to https://jewishcommunitiesofvermont.org/pj-library/.
We are always here to help in any way we can.
Rabbi Tobie Weisman, PJ Library in Vermont, Founding Director
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Join us for our Tribute to honor Susan Leff on her retirement.
February 11, 7:00 pm
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Join us (virtually) February 11 at 7:00 for our tribute to Susan Leff. There will be several guests that will honor Susan, humor from Rabbi Bob Alper, and limited time for attendees to share their wishes for Susan.
Contribute to the Legacy Book we will create for Susan: Buy a page, a portion of a page (or multiple pages!) to share your thoughts for Susan--tell a notable story, offer wisdom, express gratitude. Email Rick if you want to contribute here.
Help us celebrate Susan for her vital work founding and building JCVT in its early years. In the spirit of L’dor v’dor, help her legacy thrive by donating to JCVT in her honor.
More information coming soon.
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Tu B'Shvat Family Concert Jan.26 |
On Tuesday, January 26 at 5:30 PM, JCVT is offering a free Tu B’Shvat Concert (for the Tree New Year) with top of the line Jewish musicians on Zoom. To register Click Here!
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Summer Camp Fair February 9 |
JCVT, with support from Ohavi Zedek, is offering a free Virtual Summer Camp Fair for students ages 5-18 statewide.
10-12 different Jewish related camps will be available to introduce their program foci and connect with you in zoom breakout rooms. February 9, 7 pm. Mark your calendars--More info to come.
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Featured Event
Holocaust Remembrance Day Author Talk: January 24, 5:30 pm
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Join local author and award winning war reporter, Jack Fairweather, for a book talk on his highly acclaimed book,"The Volunteer," which follows one man, an underground army, and the secret mission to destroy Auschwitz.
Winner of the biggest non-fiction prize in the UK and a Sunday Times #1 bestseller.
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www.jcvt.org
P.O.Box 4472
Burlington, VT 05406
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