Weekly Round Up

August 6, 2021

28 Av 5781

Dear Friends–

Shabbat Shalom!

It doesn’t seem possible that this is the last Shabbat before school starts. I’m in denial about so many things-- that Nora is starting first grade; that the Delta variant is so strong it is ripping through the unvaccinated and even causing breakthrough cases in people who have been vaccinated; that schools may have to make some adaptations during the first few months due to this new outbreak; that the Jewish Federation of North American’s General Assembly has been changed from live to virtual; and that for the time being, the Birmingham Jewish Federation offices are once again requiring employees and visitors to be fully masked and will cease in-person activities at least until mid-September. But with all that denial there are so many positive things to report!

Registration for Kesher, the new Jewish Teen Experience is open! Parents can register their 8th through 12th graders on Temple Beth-El and Temple Emanu-El websites. The program will take place at the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School on Thursday evenings from October through April. More information is available in the programs section below. Yasher Koach to all those involved in bringing this innovative and inclusive educational program to our youth.

More exciting information on the education front to report! Gili Weintraub, daughter of Alan and Danielle, was one of our local high schoolers to attend the summer program at Alexander Muss High School in Israel. While there, her team won the school's “Shark Tank” competition. Here is an excerpt from the school’s newsletter - “We gathered again for our much-anticipated Shark Tank competition for the participants in the Entrepreneurship program. Five groups presented, giving pitches on ideas ranging from new methods of selling sports cards, to a social media app dedicated to keeping families connected, to a medication management company designed to decrease prescription drug abuse. Each group told the story of their product and presented their business model to our panel of judges, which included Jillian Goldberg from GuardKnox, Mendy Berrebi from Lightchain Finance, and AMHSI's COO, Orit Rome. The judges peppered the contestants with tough questions, pulling no punches at all! In the end, the winner was a medical device start-up created by students Gili Weintraub and Emily Huang. Both will receive scholarships for a future JNF-USA program.” Mazel tov to Gili and Emily on their creative idea!

Ending on the theme of education, I want to share with you a project that the Jewish Community Relations Council staff has been working on. A five-year Jewish holiday calendar has been compiled and sent to area schools to help them plan school programs, tests and other events so that they don’t occur on Jewish holidays. A special thank you to Joyce Shevin who spearheaded this effort. A PDF of the calendar can be accessed here.

Wishing you all a restful Shabbat and a week of peace.

B’Shalom,

Danny

Agency Spotlight

The Holocaust and the Victims

of Nazi Persecution

Thursday, August 26 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Facilitator: Dr. William F. Meinecke Jr., Historian, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

This program will focus on the basic tenants of Nazi antisemitic and racial ideology and explain how this warped view of the world impacted the victims of the Holocaust era: Roma (Gypsies), disabled persons, persons of African descent, Poles, Soviet prisoners of war, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and political opponents of the Nazi regime.

Upcoming Programming

Share Your Opinion,

Shape the Future – in 15 minutes!

We want to hear from YOU!

The Birmingham Jewish Federation wants to understand YOU through an online survey. What changes do you want to see in our community? What services and programs should our Jewish community provide? We want to hear from you. However, you identify Jewishly, please take the survey! Your feedback will help all of our community organizations work together to build a more dynamic and meaningful Greater Birmingham Jewish community for you!

Take the survey today, HERE!

The Louisiana Jewish Coalition & August Speaker Series on Israel

Inter-Everything Family Friendly Hike!

Sunday, August 22, 2021 from 9 - 11 AM

This program is part of Beth El’s new programming series especially for our inter-everything families. Why inter-everything? Because in conversations with our community it’s become clear that interfaith doesn’t cover it. Our community is interfaith, intercultural, inter-denominational and everything beyond and in between. Rather than get caught up on labels we’re looking for chances to connect, and if you and/or your family identify as inter-anything we want to connect with you! Get in touch with Margaret at mnorman@templebeth-el.net with questions or to share your programming ideas!

Kochavim Registration is Open!

September 18-19, 2021

We are so excited to gather our 2020-2021 Kindergarteners and 1st Graders for an in-person, one night sleepover program called Kochavim at camp in Utica, MS September 18-19, 2021!

Registration is OPEN, click here!

The Kochavim program gives our youngest Jacobs Campers a taste of the Jacobs Camp magic and gives them the opportunity to try out our best activities, make new friends, and gain confidence for a full session at camp in Summer 2022!

A Jacobs Camp alumna and current camp mom wrote this blog post and it perfectly encapsulates why Kochavim works!

Tell your friends with Kindergarten and 1st Graders about this awesome opportunity so they can register too!

Kesher: A Jewish Teen Experience!

Thursdays from October - April

from 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Community Programs

World Games Community Prayer Call with Rabbi Norry

August 7 @ 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

Temple Beth-El

On the 7th of every month at 7AM, a local faith leader leads the community prayer to prepare for the World Games — one of the Southeast’s largest events. Rabbi Norry will be leading this edition of the Community Prayer Call.

Call in by dialing 205.851.2330 and using the PIN 2330.

Lunchtime Torah Study

Wednesday, August 11 @ 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.

Summer Beit Midrash: This is Real and

You Are Completely Unprepared

Thursday, August 12 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Temple Beth-El

Our Thursday Beit Midrash is planning to continue meeting through the summer, on Mondays and Thursdays from 12-1PM. In preparation for the High Holidays they will be reading This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared by Alan Lew.

Join using the link below and the password “Learning”

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89875890682

Lunchtime Torah Study

Wednesday, August 18 @ 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.

Summer Beit Midrash: This is Real and

You Are Completely Unprepared

Thursday, August 19 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Temple Beth-El

Join using the link below and the password “Learning”

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89875890682

Inter-Everything Family Friendly Hike

at Red Mountain Park

Sunday, August 22 @ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Temple Beth-El

Join us for our third inter-everything group event; a family-friendly hike at Red Mountain Park! This is a chance to gather in community with other families and individuals who identify as interfaith/intercultural/interdenominational—inter-anything—while enjoying an outdoor activity at one of our city’s best greenspaces. We’ll meet at the entrance to the park at 9AM and end with a chance to picnic together. Along the way, we’ll even learn a little bit about the Park’s history as a former site of iron and ore mining! Bring a bagged lunch, if you’d like, and we’ll provide some additional snacks and goodies. RSVP to Margaret at mnorman@templebeth-el.net

Birmingham Hadassah Book Club:

Code Name Helaine, by Ariel Lawhon

Sunday, August 22 @ 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Birmingham Chapter of Hadassah

Please contact Tammi Caldwell-Horn (tamarmichal67@gmail.com) for Zoom link.

New participants warmly invited!

L’Chaim

Sunday, August 22 @ 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Birmingham Holocaust Education Center

Cost: $50

L’Chaim, Birmingham Holocaust Education Center’s annual fundraising event is honoring Phyllis G. Weinstein, BHEC founder. Presented by the BHEC in collaboration with Red Mountain Theatre, the L’Chaim event will be a combination of entertainment, education, and remembrance. Red Mountain Performing Ensemble students will perform musical selections. The event will be hosted by Birmingham native Alison Lebovitz, a motivational speaker, podcaster, author & TV host of “The A List with Alison Lebovitz” for WTCI-PBS, Chattanooga. L’Chaim will also feature a conversational one-on-one interview with Wolf Blitzer, host of CNN’s “The Situation Room” whose parents were Holocaust Survivors. You can purchase tickets here!

UPDATE: L’Chaim will no longer be an in-person event. L'Chaim will now be live-streamed from the Red Mountain Theatre due to this unpredictable time with COVID cases on the rise again. The event will go on!!! Sunday, August 22, 3pm. Link will follow soon.

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.