This Week at BJBE - April 13, 2020

This Week at BJBE

April 13, 2020

Passover at BJBE

Let All Who Are Hungry Come and Zoom | Recapping BJBE's Community Seder

Last Thursday, almost 100 families came together via Zoom (and even more on Facebook Live) to celebrate the Second Seder with BJBE. Prior to the Seder, several of our "youngest" members helped create a video of the Four Questions which was shown during the Seder. Click here to watch the video. During our congregational seder, we invited participants to share their reflections on how each of us is affected by this season. We responded to the prompts: The Plague of... // I am Grateful for... // My Hope is... Alek Kopulsky , Missy Bell , and Caryn Blomquist collected those responses and turned them into the beautiful word clouds below. The more times a word appeared in the responses, the larger it is in the word cloud. Click on each picture to enlarge.

Passover "Office Hours"

The BJBE "Office" will be closed on Tuesday, April 14 at noon, and all day on Wednesday, April 15 in observance of the end of Passover.

Passover Festival Service and Yizkor

Wednesday, April 15, 9:30am

Passover is the holiday of remembering, of storytelling, of hope, and of redemption. It is traditional therefore, on the last day of Passover, to participate in a Yizkor (memorial) service for a loved one. We are saddened that we cannot meet in person, yet wanted you to know that BJBE clergy will be observing this ritual on Wednesday, April 15 at 9:30am where we will have a festival service, along with a memorial service via Zoom Video Conference and on our Facebook page .

Counting the Omer with Rabbi Karyn Kedar and Rabbi Lisa Silverstein

This year, Rabbi Karyn Kedar has partnered with Rabbi Lisa Silverstein to offer a unique way in which to practice the counting of the Omer. Rabbi Lisa Silverstein is an artist and teacher who combines deep spirituality, refined musicality, and a holistic approach to emotional and physical well-being. She is the Executive Director of Positive Jewish Living. The counting of the Omer last Thursday, April 9. Please check our BJBE Community Facebook page for daily posts. We will not be sending daily emails as we have done in previous years.

Featured News

Zoom and BJBE

We appreciate so many of you forwarding us information about the challenges that some Zoom users (fortunately not at BJBE) have encountered with unwelcome people “crashing” into Zoom meetings, either as a prank or to be more destructive with anti-semitic or other offensive behavior. We want you to know that we at BJBE are following these developments and have incorporated several protocols to minimize the chances of these occurring on BJBE sponsored Zooms. For example, for BJBE Zooms [such as services, school-based (ECC and JLC], and other large programs, we automatically mute all Zoom attendees until/unless the host unmutes them and further we disable screen sharing and sometimes the chat function. The purpose of these actions (and others we are taking) is to minimize the chance that a person with nefarious or otherwise disruptive intent will be able to interfere with the meeting. It’s also important to note that with Zoom usage going from 10 million users to 100 million users nearly overnight, the company continues to incorporate new security features.

BJBE Caring Committee |

Message from Co-Chairs, Dale Busch and Michael Erdman

Dear BJBE Community,

Since social distancing continues to remain in place for the rest of April, your BJBE Caring Community is not far away, in either thought or deed. Click here for more >>>

BJBE Caring Committee Seeks Volunteer Shoppers

The BJBE Caring Committee is in need of shoppers to help those who are unable to shop for themselves currently. Please contact Michael Erdman if you are able to help.

BJBE Curates Resources for Covid 19

During this unprecedented time, BJBE is here for our community! Click here to access the listing of resources both for enjoyment as well as opportunities to help one another which will be updated and available on the BJBE website. In today's launch section you will find resources on DIY masks, as well as opportunities to be entertained through virtual content of all types, from symphonies to national parks to shows of many stripes.

Mazel Tov Moments

Mazel tov to Rabbi Karyn Kedar, whose book Amen: Seeking Presence with Prayer, Poetry, and Mindfulness Practice is featured in JUF News this month . Click here to read the article.

Virtual Programming

Have You Joined One of Our Virtual Villages?

Virtual Villages launched two weeks ago. It's not too late to sign up and take part. Click the button below if you have not yet signed up but want to participate.

Due to Passover, some of the Virtual Villages will not meet during the early party of this week. Please see below for the schedule to see if your Village is convening. We will email out the Zoom link to each group's participants. Please be sure you sign up in advance so that you are able to connect. Contact Anne Robbin with any questions. We look forward to maintaining our connections and building new relationships - from a safe and social distance!

Virtual Villages Sign Up

* Please note: Villages are listed in order of day of the week/time of day.

Dis and Dat Chat with Sandee Holleb

Mondays, 10:00am, next session April 20

A chance to get together and talk about a potpourri of topics of no depth!

MENSches Making Meaning with Rabbi Jason Fenster

Mondays, 8:00pm*, next session April 13 at 8:30pm

Join Rabbi Fenster for conversation about how we are coping with changing roles and changing realities.

*8:30pm start time applicable for April 13 session ONLY

Tall Tree Pilates with Tabitha Green

Tuesdays, 10:00am, next session April 14

Tabitha Green teaches functional Pilates for a healthy lifestyle. This is an intro to Pilates, designed for a home setting, with a focus on mobility training.

Podcast Club with Aaron Robbin

Tuesdays at 12:00pm, next session April 14

Similar to a book club, listen to a podcast each week in advance of our meeting and we will discuss it as a group. We will rotate podcasts with a unique episode each week. This week’s topic: https://www.oneyoufeed.net/peter-singer/

Quarantini Virtual Happy Hour for Parents with Missy Bell & Anne Robbin

Tuesdays, 7:00pm, next session April 21

Join Missy, Anne, and parents of JLC/Chava Center children for a virtual Happy Hour - we all could use a little break for some adult time!

Rise Up Singing with Cantor Rayna Green

Tuesdays at 8:00pm, next session April 21

Gather around the virtual campfire with Cantor Green. Learn, sing, and share your favorite folk songs with the community. BYOS (Bring your own s’mores)!

Containing the Kiddo Crazies with Susie Wexler

Wednesdays, 8:00 pm, next session April 15

Bedtime routines out the window? What’s too much screen time? Put your kids to bed, grab a drink and join Susie Wexler, BJBE Early Childhood Director, as we discuss strategies for keeping our sanity as parents with young children.

Politics & Policy Posse with Sally Sachar

Thursdays, 12:00pm, next session April 16

Join Sally for a discussion about policy and politics.

Surviving E-Learning, with Lisa Berghoff

Thursdays, 4:00pm, next session April 16

Learn effective strategies for e-learning at home with Lisa Berghoff, Director of Instructional Technology at Highland Park High School.

Family Song Session with Alek Kopulsky

STARTS THIS WEEK >>> Thursdays, 5:00pm, first session April 16

Join Alek Kopulsky, BJBE's Coordinator of Youth Learning and Engagement for a Family Song Session.

Politics & Policy Posse with Sally Sachar

Thursdays, 7:30pm, next session April 16

Join Sally for a discussion about policy and politics

Supporting Your Kids Without Their Normal School Supports with Diana Slatopolsky

Thursdays 9:00pm, next session April 16

Looking for ways to help your child while they are without their usual school supports? Diana Slatopolsky, BJBE’s Inclusion Specialist, will help parents navigate this stressful situation.

Mindfulness with Margot Andersen

Fridays, 9:00am, next session April 17

Whether this is your first time trying mindfulness and meditation techniques or you are a veteran, please join Margot Andersen as she teaches and guides you through a mindfulness practice. We will start with poetry, reading, or a bit of Torah to ground us before we enter into stillness to find calm within the chaos of our times.

Teacher's Lounge

Fridays, 4:00pm, next session April 17

Educators are facing new challenges as we continue to provide meaningful connection and content to our students! Come share successes of your week and connect with other teachers and education professionals.

Is there a group you’d like to see offered? Is there a group you’d like to lead? Please email your idea to Anne Robbin . New groups will be added as facilitators become available.

Virtual Villages Sign Up

Adult Education

Learn the Liturgy with Rabbi Fenster

Wednesdays, 2:00pm, next session April 22

Each week will we explore a different prayer together. Join Rabbi Fenster on Zoom to be part of a conversation about how our tradition offers us opportunities to make meaning out of all of life’s moments. No previous knowledge or experience of prayer or Hebrew required. Learners of all ages are welcome. You don’t even need a prayerbook (we’ll be sharing handouts virtually)! Use this link each week to be a part of the conversation: https://zoom.us/j/8711115843 .

Upcoming Services

*Please note: all services at BJBE are now held "virtually." Please tune in via Facebook Live or using the links below at the times listed.

Shabbat Service

Friday, April 17, 6:00pm | Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94864266466

Kol Shabbat Service

Saturday, April 18, 9:30am | Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/95929418727

Having difficulty connecting? Contact Anne Robbin.

Morning Minyan | CANCELLED

Passover Festival Service and Yizkor

Wednesday, April 15, 9:30am | Z oom link: https://zoom.us/j/578750916

Social Action/Social Justice Network

April Tzedakah Recipient - Families Helping Families Chicagoland

Families Helping Families Chicagoland support families and foster children in need and/or in crisis in Lake and Cook Counties. They accomplish this by holding monthly donation drives, collecting birthday gifts for children living in foster care, holding hands-on events, such as serving meals to local families and wrapping holiday gifts for local children, gift sponsorship for children in foster homes, and hosting birthday parties for children residing at A Safe Place emergency shelters.

Project Nourish Needs Your Help

During these unprecedented times Project Nourish is committed to delivering lunches to the underserved people that need us. We have a plan in place to assemble individually wrapped items with the least amount of contact with the food or with other people. Unfortunately, this will cost about three times more than usual.

This is a difficult time for all of us. If you feel it would be possible for you to donate to the Bob Terry Project Nourish Fund we would appreciate it.

Attention Sewers

We have been asked to help provide nurses at a local hospital with home-sewn masks. We are looking for double-fold bias tape and cotton quilting fabric. If you have material to donate or would like to help sew, please contact Lisa Howard .

Schedule Updates

Sensational Simchas

New Date:

Sunday, October 25, 2020

BJBE Gala 2020

New Date:

Sa turday, November 21, 2020

Stay Connected:

Use the buttons below to stay connected to your BJBE family and learn about updates and upcoming virtual programming and services. Please make sure your contact information is correct in ShulCloud so you continue to receive notifications from BJBE. Not sure how to use Zoom? Scroll down on this email to view instructions towards the bottom.

BJBE Website

BJBE Facebook Page

Chava Center Facebook Page

BJBE Community Facebook Group

Reminders

Zoom Primer:

You can use Zoom on your phone, tablet, or computer. In BJBE communications, you will see hyperlinks to let you join these virtual events.

When you click on the meet link, it will open Zoom in your browser.
You will be asked to download the application in order for it to function. Please agree to this.
After it has downloaded you will see a pop-up window asking if you would like to join zoom.us. Please say yes again.
The next window that opens is where you can view the service or join a group or meeting.

You can also go to this 53 second YouTube video for a tutorial.

Help BJBE while you shop! AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support BJBE every time you shop, at no cost to you! Once you've selected Congregation B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim , every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.

Around the Community

Update From NorthShore University HealthSystem

NorthShore University HealthSystem reports that, as expected, the hospitals in the system are seeing a steady rise in COVID-19 testing and in confirmed cases. They are working with faith-based, service and civic organizations to reach out to community members to check in on their health and provide information on when and how to seek testing and care. Those who have symptoms should be screened for testing. The following are symptoms of COVID-19:

Loss or decrease in the sense of smell
Loss or decrease of the sense of taste
Fever (temperature of 100 or higher)
Cough
Congestion
Runny nose
Sore throat
Shortness of breath
Flu-like body aches

If you or anyone in your household is experiencing even one of those symptoms, you are urged to be screened immediately to determine if you need testing. You can:

Call 847-HEALTH9 (847-432-5849) and talk to a NorthShore clinical expert; or

Log onto NorthShoreConnect through the app on your mobile device or on the website ( www.northshoreconnect.org/immediatecare) . NorthShore reports that their supply of PPE is currently sufficient and staff members, who are trained in proper PPE use, feel protected. The hospitals continue to accept financial, critical supply and other donations. Visit their website for information .

Community Needs

The Northfield Township Food Pantry is seeing a rise in residents needing support. If you live in Northfield Township and need assistance with rent, food or other financial strains, contact the township office at 847-724-8300. Remember, the Food Pantry is accepting donations and volunteers age 16 and up to help them keep up with this increasing demand.