Weekly Round Up

September 24, 2021

18 Tishrei, 5782

Dear Friends–

Shabbat Shalom:

I hope everyone has been enjoying Sukkot. We have been dining in our Sukkah each evening and the cooler weather has made our evenings so delightful! We’ve had a lot of practice dining outside for the last 16 months and it is wonderful to do it in times of celebration, not just for health reasons.

With fall approaching, I’m concerned that there will be a mad dash to the end of the year and before we know it Hanukah will be approaching. With that being said, I am going to try to live in the moment and enjoy the beautiful Alabama autumn and some football - #ROLLTIDE.

Next week Sukkot will end with Shemini Atzeret and then we’ll celebrate Simchat Torah. Simchas Torah, which means rejoicing in the Torah, is a holiday to celebrate our history and laws and to express the joy that we feel in observing the words of the Torah. Isn’t it a blessing that we are all here in 5782 to celebrate our shared history? And while many of us have our own interpretations of the laws – the fact that we follow the commandments in our own way more than five centuries later is a testament to our faith and our ancestors.

Growing up on Simchat Torah, our shul would have a klezmer band and I distinctly remember dancing the hora in the main sanctuary holding the heavy scrolls. I was remarking to someone last month that I was in deep need of a Hora-something wonderful to celebrate after the last 16 months of the pandemic! While unfortunately, it didn’t happen this year, I’m hopeful that I will be dancing with you in the near future. For now, I share a Hava Nagilah – an old recording from the Barry Sisters with an English verse that I think is befitting of Sukkot.

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

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!

The Birmingham Jewish Federation's

Young Leadership Program

February 2022-March 2023

Click here for more information!

PEACE Birmingham

Do you know an engaged high schooler that might like to participate in

a wonderful program?

PEACE Birmingham is a group of teens from different religions, races, gender/sexual identities and ethnicities that get together one Sunday a month in the metro area to create doors through which they can learn about each other's communities to nurture and sustain a Birmingham that values and welcomes all people. They become allies, talk about how to deal with prejudice, learn other life skills + it looks good on a college app.

If you have a high schooler, know a high schooler, know HS teachers or counselors, have friends or colleagues with teens, please recommend PEACE.

APPLY NOW. The program is about to begin.

Apply Today!

Upcoming Programming

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

Jewish Journeys:

A JDC Ambassadors Event Series

October 7th, 14th, and 21st

We are pleased to invite you to a very special JDC Ambassadors event series:

“Jewish Journeys: An Inside Look at Several Unique Global Jewish Communities”.

Travel with us to India, China, and other exciting places where vibrant Jewish communities have thrived for generations. Meet JDC professionals and clients, and hear firsthand from Jewish leaders, historians, and disaster relief experts devoted to lifting Jewish lives and strengthening global Jewish communities. You will also learn about JDC’s life-saving humanitarian work and explore our emergency response during India’s COVID-19 surge.

As the Talmud states, “Whoever saves one life is considered to have saved the world.” JDC is committed to saving as many lives as possible.

Questions?

Please contact Tarang Jagota at tarangja@JDC.org.

PJ Library- It's in the bag!

Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 11:15 AM

RSVP Here!

Community Programs

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.

YJP/Mench Adventures @ Tom Brown Village

Sunday, September 26 @ 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Young Jewish Philanthropy

Attention all 6th-7th graders in the Birmingham Jewish community! On September 26th from 1:00 pm-3:30 pm YJP/Mench Adventures will partner with Offenders Alumni Association’s Heroes in the Hood, Jewish Community Relations Council, and Tom Brown Village. We will come together outside for an afternoon of service, celebration, and of course lunch (which will be provided)! Drop-off and Pick-up will be at Tom Brown Village. We welcome families to join the program at 3:00 pm for a social at Tom Brown Village. Sign up here!

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.

Beit Midrash with Rabbi Norry: Five Remarkable Objects in the Bible

Thursday, September 30 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Temple Beth-El

This Fall, Rabbi Norry will lead the Beit Midrash through a class on “Five Remarkable Objects in the Bible.” Discover a new way to read Torah by looking at remarkable objects that appear in the story line. While most people focus on the characters in the stories, we often overlook an object – a thing – that plays an important role and drives the story forward. We will adopt an artistic, or curatorial approach, and ask “what is it,” “what is it made of,” “where is it,” and “when does it appear in the story?” “Is it a singular object or are there a lot of them?” “What became of it?” “Where is it now?”

The Beit Midrash meets every week from 12-1PM via Zoom.

Join here!

Falafel Sunday

Sunday, October 3 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 PM

Chabad of Alabama

All you can eat Falafel buffet! Family friendly event.

Location: 3040 Overton Road

Birmingham, AL35223

Lunchtime Torah Study

Wednesday, October 6 @ 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.

Beit Midrash with Rabbi Norry: Five Remarkable Objects in the Bible

Thursday, October 7 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Temple Beth-El

The Beit Midrash meets every week from 12-1PM via Zoom.

Join here!

Kesher: A Community Teen Program

Thursday, October 7 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 PM

N.E Miles Jewish Day School , The Birmingham Jewish Federation, Temple Beth-El, Temple Emanu-El

More details coming soon!

From Sephard to Savannah and Beyond: Southern Jewish Cooking and Culture

Sunday, October 10 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 PM

Temple Beth-El, Temple Emanu-El

Join us for a virtual educational cooking series with University of Minnesota PhD student Sara Gardner! This three week series covers the following topics:

October 10th – Sephardic Savannah

October 17th – Ashkenazi Delta

October 24th – Jewish Soul Food

Recipes will be provided upon registration. Don’t miss this chance to cook, learn, and meet participants from congregations across the country.

This program is hosted by the Southern Alliance for Jewish Education (SAJE).

*We ask that you consider making a donation of $18 to your host institution for participation in this program!