Congregation Beth Israel Weekly News & Updates

Wednesday, April 9 @ 4:30 pm

Hebrew School

Thursday, April 10 @ 9:00 am

First Born Passover Service

Friday, April 11 @ 6:30 pm

Temple Emanuel Shabbat Service

Saturday, April 12 @ 9:00 am

Torah Study

Saturday, April 12 @ 10:30 am

Beth Israel Shabbat Service

Sunday, April 13 @ 5:00 pm

Intergenerational Community Seder

Tuesday, April 15 @ 7:00 pm

Center Board Meeting

Wednesday, April 16 @ Noon

Lunch & Learn

Wednesday, April 16 @ 6:00 pm

Temple Emanuel Sisterhood Seder

Rabbi's Message

Friends, Passover is almost upon us! If there’s any part of preparing your house for Passover that you don’t quite remember (because, after all, Passover is only once per year!) feel free to call on me anytime for answers. If you still don’t have matzah, there is now plenty at the Jewel Osco on First in Moline. (And if they had only brought in matzah, dayeinu. But they also brought in at least three kinds of macaroons!)

One of the ways we prepare for Passover here in our Beit Shalom community is with a special service and study session to exempt first born people who would otherwise take on the obligation of the fast of the firstborn. Usually this fast occurs on the eve of Passover, but since Passover begins this year on Saturday night, and we can’t fast on Shabbat, and se don’t create an intrusions into the beginning of Shabbat by fasting on Friday, the fast occurs on a Thursday this year – tomorrow! It is a lovely community moment to gather for a little prayer, do a little study session from rabbinic literature, then celebrate the completion of the study with some breakfast which them exempts us all from fasting. Our observance is not limited to first born people -- at Beit Shalom, all our prayer and study activities are open to all. I hope to see you tomorrow morning!

I also hope to see many of you at one or both of our community Seders. I equally hope that many of you are able to gather with family for this essential holiday. I wish you all a zissen Pesach (sweet Passover)! And remember, Passover celebrates not only our redemption from Egypt so long ago, but also God’s call to us to be partners in redemption throughout history. If you still have not yet registered and voted in the World Zionist Congress election, that would be a wonderful thing to do during Passover – your vote helps Israel to be the best possible partner in redemption it can be, and we all know how much redemption is needed: here, there and everywhere!

L'shalom,

Rabbi Linda