Weekly Round Up

September 10, 2021

4 Tishrei, 5782

Dear Friends–

Shabbat Shalom:

I hope you all had a wonderful Rosh Hashana. Andrew, Nora, and I participated in services on the soccer fields at the Levite Jewish Community Center. It was wonderful to be surrounded by friends, enjoying the bright sunshine and fresh air, while welcoming the New Year. A Yasher Koach to Temple Emanu-El and Temple Beth- El for providing such a meaningful and safe experience and thank you to The Birmingham Jewish Foundation for providing financial support.

Next Tuesday evening is Kol Nidre and it is my favorite night of the year. To me, the Kol Nidre service has been, and will continue to be, the most beautiful part of our liturgy. At my synagogue in Omaha, when Cantor Berkovitz, of blessed memory, chanted Kol Nidre, his voice lifted me up and made me feel closer to G-d. Each of the three recitations of the prayer raised me higher and higher until I felt I could actually touch the hand of G-d. As I mentioned last year, I had the honor of chanting Kol Nidre at Hillel when I was in college at the University of Kansas. This experience, along with submerging in the Mikvah in Tzfat, Israel, is one of the holiest experiences of my life.

Rabbi Eric Solomon has suggested that the truth of Kol Nidre is not intellectual, but emotional. The words are in Aramaic - a language few understand. The music is solemn and heart-wrenching. It is one of the few tunes in the year where the cantor is encouraged to embellish for the greatest emotional impact. Rabbi Solomon writes that the purpose of Kol Nidre is not so much the annulment of vows, as the opening of hearts and souls to the vulnerability required for Yom Kippur. It sets the tone for the day – an explanation that I think comes as close as any to explain the fierce affection for this prayer that is evident in every synagogue.

Kol Nidre translated means “All Vows”. “All vows we are likely to make, all oaths and pledges we are likely to vow, or swear, or consecrate, or prohibit upon ourselves between this Yom Kippur and the next Yom Kippur, we publicly renounce. Let them all be relinquished and abandoned, null and void, neither firm nor established. Our vows are no longer vows, our prohibitions are no longer prohibitions, and our oaths are no longer oaths”.

As we approach Wednesday evening, let us think of the vows, oaths, and pledges we made last year that were not fulfilled and the ones we will make this year that will not be kept. Have compassion for yourself for not keeping your promises and strive to do better in the year to come.

As I close, I would be remiss in not acknowledging the 20th anniversary of 9/11. So many of us were affected in profound ways that changed our lives forever. May the memories of those who were lost on that horrific day be a blessing.

Shabbat Shalom,

Danny

Agency Spotlight

We are accepting nominations for the Susan J. Goldberg Distinguished Volunteer Award!

Does someone you know embody significant leadership ability and a high level of volunteer involvement? Do they strive to make a broad and lasting impact on the Jewish community?

If yes, nominate them for this incredible honor!

Nominations must be made by October 1st and can be sent to Sarah Weinberger at sarahw@bjf.org!

Nominate Someone!

Upcoming Programming

Art in the Sukkah:

A Family Sukkot Event

September 19, 2021 at 9 AM - 12 PM

RSVP here!

Sukkot Bar Crawl

September 25 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 PM

BHAM BBYO Kick-Off

September 26 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 PM

It's time for Kick-Off! What better way to kick off the new year than Bubble Soccer? All 9-12 graders in the Birmingham Jewish Community are invited to join in on the LJCC soccer field - September 26th from 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm.

The General Assembly

October 3, 2021 at 1 PM CT

The last year has seen dramatic events with far-reaching consequences for the Jewish community, from the pandemic to thousands of rockets falling across Israel. And we have shown, once again, that when we work together we can tackle anything. Assembling together, even virtually, is a powerful way to inspire, recognize, and support one another as we prepare for the year ahead.

On October 3rd at 1 PM (CT), we will gather for our 2021 General Assembly to reflect, learn, and explore several important areas of Jewish life that are on our communal agenda at this critical time.

We hope you will join us.

Registration is free and open to all Federation stakeholders, partners and the broader Jewish community.

Kesher: A Jewish Teen Experience!

Thursdays from October - April

from 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Community Programs

CJFS Senior Grocery Delivery

Sunday, September 12 @ 12:30 pm - 1:30 PM

Collat Jewish Family Services

Senior grocery delivery 12:45-1:30

Lunchtime Torah Study

Wednesday, September 15 @ 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 welcome.

Family Sukkot Program and Pancake Breakfast, featuring World Wide Wrap with Men’s Club

Sunday, September 19 @ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Temple Beth-El

Get ready for Sukkot with a fun and educational program for the whole family! We’ll have arts and crafts activities so that we can all decorate the Temple Beth El Sukkah together, and will enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast hosted by Men’s Club. In addition, Men’s Club will be hosting World Wide Wrap for those students that missed it this last year.

RSVP to mnorman@templebeth-el.net.

Birmingham Hadassah Book Club: The Third Daughter by Talia Carner, facilitator

– Suzanne Bearman

Sunday, September 19 @ 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Birmingham Chapter of Hadassah

New participants welcome! Contact Linda Goldstein- ljrg13@gmail.com for more information.

Lunchtime Torah Study

Wednesday, September 22 @ 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 welcome.

“Hecture Lecture” with TBE

Social Action Committee

Wednesday, September 22 @ 3:30 PM -5:00 PM

Temple Beth-El

Help Beth-el complete the filling of Birmingham’s Food Pantries! We will meet in the Sukkah for an after school snack and then we will sort all the bags we have received from the holiday food drive. CJFS will get the kosher items and GCM will get the other items. We will learn to recognize Kosher symbols on packaging and spend the afternoons being detectives and sorting.

Sukkot Bar Crawl

Saturday, September 25 @ 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Temple Beth-El, Temple Emanu-El, and YBIB

Join Temple Beth-el, Temple Emanu-el, and You Belong In Birmingham for a Sukkot Bar Crawl on Highland Ave! We will meet at the Temple Beth-el sukkah at 7:00 pm, then move to the Temple Emanu-El sukkah, then end at The Hive.

Pizza in the Hut

Sunday, September 26 @ 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Chabad of Alabama

Join us for a family friendly pizza party in the Sukkah!

Lunchtime Torah Study

Wednesday, September 29 @ 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 welcome.

Financial Assistance Available

for Jewish Community Members

Thanks to a grant from the Greatest Needs Fund of the Birmingham Jewish Federation’s COVID Relief Campaign, Collat Jewish Family Services is offering financial assistance to Jewish community members who are facing financial insecurity because of job loss, caring for family or other issues. Confidential assistance is available to members of the Birmingham Jewish community who need help with rent or mortgage payments, utilities, prescription costs or other needs. To learn more, please email CJFS Clinical Director Marcy Morgenbesser LICSW, marcy@cjfsbham.org or call 205.879.3438.