Last Friday, I attended Kabbalat Shabbat services in the Sanctuary for the first time in 15 months - and it was overwhelming and wonderful to be back in our Sanctuary! This first service was a small pilot with our Board of Trustees - a chance for us to test-drive the COVID-safe logistics, communications, and the experience of a “fusion” service. I am absolutely delighted to announce that we will offer in-person Kabbalat Shabbat every other week through August 6.
A few important notes:
At this time, only fully vaccinated members may attend in person, and masks are required.
Reservations are required to ensure capacity limits.
Simply fill out this form to indicate your preferences, and our staff will confirm which service(s) you can attend.
We're asking everyone attending in person to complete a brit [covenant] as part of the registration process to confirm our mutual responsibilities at this stage of the reopening.
Of course, we will continue to live stream the services - and you will see significant technology upgrades in July, supported by Beth Emet Foundation’s Assuring our Future fund, and a generous bequest made possible through our Dor L’Dor program.
The next phases of our reopening plans include piloting Kahal Shabbat service in person in July, planning for the High Holy Days (you'll receive all the details in mid-July), designing Beit Sefer options, and reopening our offices. We are working thoughtfully and carefully to return in-person and, as you would imagine, we are monitoring the guidance from the CDC, State of Illinois, City of Evanston, and Union of Reform Judaism, and will adjust the safety protocols as conditions change. For the most current information and frequently asked questions, please check out the BE Open section on our website.
I am deeply grateful for the collaboration and teamwork and patience that have helped us through the complexity and challenges - we are blessed with amazing staff, world-class clergy, diligent leaders, and spectacular members! I am looking forward to seeing you in person soon!
Shabbat Shalom!
Karen Isaacson
Last Week's Challah Midrash
Terri Michaels made a wonderful challah midrash with cute props for parshat Korach showing the earth opening up and swallowing Korach and some of his followers.Find out more on our Challah Midrash instagram.
Save the Date for Next Shabbat!
Friday, June 25 at 6:30 pm
Pride Shabbat with D'var Torah by
Kelly Whitehead
We are so grateful to have a guest speaker, Kelly Whitehead, a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College joining us during our Kabbalat Shabbat Services. Kelly Whitehead (she/they) is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion ('24). Kelly grew up in New York City before moving to Washington DC, where she worked as the Youth Engagement Specialist at Temple Sinai DC and URJ Camp Harlam. Kelly participated in the Reform Movement's Jew V'Nation Jew of Color Fellowship, where they learned to create and facilitate Anti-Racial Bias training for Jewish Professionals. They serve on the board of T'ruah: the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.
Worship Schedule
Today, June 18
6:15 pm
Z'Oneg - Oneg via Zoom
Login to services a few minutes early to wish everyone a Shabbat Shalom. As we continue to find new ways to connect, stay a few minutes after services to say hello – just like we would do in the lobby following services!
Guest D'var Torah: Barbara Stock "Stay Calm, Transition On"
Barbara Stock is a psychotherapist in private practice in Evanston. She has been a member of Beth Emet for more than forty years, and a facilitator of several of our Tikkun Middot va'adot. She is the very proud mother of three sons and eight grandchildren. Barbara has made innumerable transitions through her life and is happy to share her ideas on transitioning.
During these times when the office has been operating virtually, the staff has been working very hard to ensure that we continue to fully operate and then some. As self-care is so very important these days, we are closing the office for a week over the July 4th holiday. We will continue to send the congregational emails including the Shabbat email on July 2nd with worship information. 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 Wednesday, July 7.
Receive Yahrzeit Notifications by Email
With a change in our database systems, we would like to take this opportunity to find out if you wish to receive notifications by email. Please contact Wendyand let us know. Notices are sent two weeks prior to the yahrzeit. And if you wish to be notified on the Hebrew date, please let us know that as well.
Worship Support
To access Virtual Beth Emet via Zoom, please check the latest info/links on the online calendar (with hyperlink). You can also find online the Zoom instructions (with hyperlink). Please note that worship services are also posted onFacebook Live(Please note that when on Zoom, your face, voice and username will appear on other platforms, including Facebook Live and replays of the recording. If you wish to preserve your privacy, please take this into consideration.) If you don’t have a copy of Mishkan T’filah at home, you can get afree online flip book, a discounted Kindle ebook version of Mishkan T’filah, or a full Mishkan T’filah. It’s also just fine to listen in!