Shabbat Shalom!
In the aftermath of the recent Colleyville incident, I want to reiterate The Birmingham Jewish Federation’s commitment to keeping our community safe and secure. For those of you who missed my email on Monday, I am pleased to report that the Federation has made the investment towards hiring a full-time Community Security director in partnership with the Secure Community Network (SCN). Under the leadership of Jon Kimerling, a Community Security Committee with representation from each agency and religious institution, has been assembled to ensure transparency, collaboration, and participation in this new endeavor. It is our hope to have the position filled in the next 90 days. The job is open for applications and the committee, along with SCN, will be conducting a nationwide search.
This Sunday at 1:00 p.m. is The Birmingham Federation’s Annual Meeting. You may view the meeting virtually on our Facebook or YouTube pages. It will be a chance for our community to review the past year, as well as, hear what is in store for our collective future. Additionally, we will be installing our new board and honoring Rhonda Z”l and Eric Siegel with The Birmingham Jewish Foundation’s N.E. Miles Lifetime Achievement Award, David Sher with the Susan J. Goldberg Distinguished Volunteer Award, and Carlie Stein Somerville with the Joanie Plous Bayer Young Leadership Award. I hope you all will tune in and that next year we can celebrate our accomplishments in person!
Thursday, January 27th is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Jewish Community Relations Council has partnered with the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center (BHEC) to have proclamations read Monday evening, January 24th at Vestavia City Hall and Tuesday morning, January 25th at the Birmingham City Council meeting to commemorate the day. Additionally, BHEC will be hosting an event on Thursday evening via Zoom. More information can be found at bhecinfo.org
Since you will hear from me at length on Sunday, I will keep this week’s message short and close with a prayer for our country. With last week’s attack and the rise in Antisemitism, I know each of us are looking forward to better days ahead.
“Our G-d and G-d of our ancestors: We ask for your blessings for our country, for its government, for its leaders and advisors, and for all who exercise just and rightful authority. Teach them insights from Your Torah that they administer all affairs of state fairly, that peace and security, happiness and prosperity, justice and freedom may forever abide in our midst. This Shabbat, we reaffirm our commitment to work to heal the brokenness in our beloved country and continue to pledge to build a safe and secure Jewish community.”
Wishing you a restful Shabbat and a week of peace.
B’Shalom,
Danny
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Spotlight On Our Future:
Hillel Connections
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Hillel Connections is a program designed to attract Jewish college students to Birmingham, allowing them opportunities to develop personal, mentoring, and professional relationships with our community at large. An eight-week immersive summer internship program enables them to envision living in Birmingham as a young professional, and to consider looking for employment opportunities here after graduation; BJF feels this is a cornerstone of ensuring our Jewish future.
We are grateful to the Birmingham Jewish Federation, Birmingham Jewish Foundation, The Grafman Endowment Fund of Temple-Emanu-El, the Levite Jewish Community Center, and several visionary individual donors who have invested in our future by previous and current support of this program. Of the 20 students that have completed the program, 4 continued to work during the following school year, seven currently live in Birmingham, and seven are still in school or in post-grad programs and have expressed interest in returning (with the potential to bring at least 3 Jewish significant others with them).
Each week, we will “showcase” student(s) interested in joining our HC 2022 summer program; EMPLOYERS are needed to offer summer internships. Please review and reach out if you can help NETWORK on behalf of these talented students. They are bright, efficient, and willing to work!
If you know of a potential employer for these students, please have them reach out to us at hillel.connections@gmail.com or text Roxanne at (205) 907-2531. A detailed resume and further information can be provided if that would be helpful before you make the contact.
Prospective Intern Information
Alanna G. is a Junior at the University of Alabama from Atlanta, GA. She is majoring in Marketing with a minor in International Business. She is a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, and Delta Sigma Pi, a co-ed business fraternity. She is also actively involved with Bama Hillel and serves on the student board as secretary. This past summer she lived and worked in Tel Aviv with a start-up travel company. She is interested in a marketing position related to the travel industry.
Clay S. is a UA Junior from Princeton, NJ with a GPA of 3.99. He is a Finance and Marketing Major with a minor in Global and Cultural Perspectives, and he is finishing his first year in the Accelerated Master’s Program in Marketing. He has managed payroll for >2000 graders of AP exams plus met time and budget expectations. He is an Ambassador for UA Honors College, the treasurer of Delta Chi, and a Hillel Intern. Marketing and/or Finance opportunities are desired
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Small Federations and the Ethiopian Israeli Community
Monday, January 24, 11 AM CT!
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As The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum states, “The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.”
The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center will honor International Holocaust Remembrance Day by holding an educational event at the Vestavia Hills City Hall.
Esther Levy will be sharing her family’s experience during the Holocaust followed by a Q & A.
We hope all will attend to remember and honor the victims of the Holocaust.
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Combating Antisemitism in Socia Media
Thursday, January 27, 2022, 12 PM
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Mardi Gras in Jewish New Orleans
Sunday, January 30, 2022, 12 PM
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Full Circle Grand Opening
and Ribbon Cutting
Thursday, February 3, 2022, 12 PM
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Join us for the grand opening and ribbon cutting at Full Circle's brand new storefront! Full Circle is an upscale resale women's boutique that employs
young adults with developmental disabilities.
Thursday, Feb 3 at 12:00 PM
2902 Linden Ave, 35209
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Temple Emanu-El Junior Choir
Sunday, January 23 @ 9:30 AM - 9:55 AM
Temple Emanu-El
Join Cantor Wittner every Sunday for this fun musical experience. We will learn music and prayers to prepare our Jr. Choir to sing at our monthly family services. Best for students in kindergarten through 4th Grade. (Choir will dismiss at 9:55 to allow students to go to class.)
Birmingham Hadassah Book Club
Sunday, January 23 @ 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Birmingham Chapter of Hadassah
Beautiful Souls: The Courage and Conscience of Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times
by Eyal Press, facilitator Nancy Berland
New attendees are warmly invited to participate in the discussion!
Siddur Master Class
Tuesday, January 25 @ 6:30 PM- 7:30 PM
Temple Beth-El
Are you interested in getting to know the Siddur better? Join Rabbi Norry for this “master class” on the Siddur and sharpen your ability to lead and participate in prayer services! Each class will cover its own topic, from the meaning to mechanics and music of the Siddur, so join for one session and for all. No RSVP is required.
Lunchtime Torah Study
Wednesday, January 26 @ 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Temple Emanu-El
This Torah study meets via Zoom and will cover that week’s Torah portion. All levels are welcome.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration
Thursday, January 27 @ 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Birmingham Holocaust Education Center
As The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum states, “The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.”
The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center will honor International Holocaust Remembrance Day by holding an educational event via zoom. Visit bhecinfo.org for more information. Esther Levy will be sharing her family’s experience during the Holocaust followed by a Q & A.
We hope all will attend to remember and honor the victims of the Holocaust. Register here!
JCRC Lunch and Learn
Thursday, January 27 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
JCRC
Combating Hate in Social Media. Lunch and Learn will feature Daniel Kelley, Associate Director of ADL’s Center for Technology and Society. Register HERE.
Temple Circles Spring Session Registration Launch!
Friday, January 28 @ 7:00 PM
Temple Emanu-El
Taste of Temple Circles video immediately following the Shabbat service with registration going LIVE!
ShulHouse Rock Family Shabbat
Saturday, January 29 @ 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Temple Beth-El
Save the date for ShulHouse Rock Family Shabbat! This edition of Family Shabbat will also be an opportunity to meet our visiting Rabbinic candidate for the weekend.
The KidZone is currently open and live-streamed services will be available. Read our COVID policy here.
RSVP to Margaret mnorman@templebeth-el.net by January 24th so that we can get an accurate count for our kid-friendly Kiddush luncheon
Levite Jewish Community Center Annual meeting
Sunday, January 30 @ 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LJCC
Annual meeting of the Levite Jewish Community Center
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The Federation and Foundation have been having issues with our post office box. Please send all correspondence to our physical address at
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The Birmingham Jewish Federation
@jewishbirmingham
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