Congregation B nai Israel. Kehila

Transcription

1 Congregation B nai Israel March 2013 Kehila Adar/Nissan 5773 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: WORDS Rabbi David President Education Directors Senior Educator Gan Keshet Notes SAVE THE DATES CLUBS & CHAI MITZVAH Chag Pesach Sameach Celebrate Passover PASSOVER SHABBAT FAMILY SERVICES SISTERHOOD UPCOMMING SRS. AND ADULT ED CALENDAR AROUND THE VALLEY GALA EVENT WRITERS CORNER COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES BOARD MINUTES 30 DONATIONS YAHRZEITS For the Rabbinical Assembly s Complete Guide to Passover 2013, visit 1

2 STAFF Contact Information COMMITTEE CHAIRS/COORDINATORS Rabbi Executive Director Office Manager Justin David Ben Cuperman Nanci Martine Acting Co-Education Directors Amy Wolpin & Alan Singer Senior Educator Rabbi Jacob Fine Preschool Director Wendy Stein Building Manager CBI/LGA Joe Niedzwiecki Kehila Designers/Editors Custodians CBI/LGA President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Alan Berkenwald David Berkman Peggy Besht David Cohen Joel Feldman Hanneli de Vries Kevin Hale Brianna Maier Nanci Martine Ellen Kaufman Mark Shannahan Tim Ladouceur BOARD OF DIRECTORS Norbert Goldfield Lauren Weinsier Jim Sagalyn Ellen Kaufman David Marlin Max Page Amy Siege Bill Sweet Amy Wolpin Stephan Wurmbrand Nisa Zalta The CBI newsletter is published 11 times per year, monthly except in July. The next KEHILA is the MARCH 2013 issue. FIRM DEADLINE: MARCH 8, 2013 PLEASE NOTE THIS EARLIER DEADLINE. HELP US HELP YOU PLEASE MAKE SUBMISSIONS BY THE DEADLINE Submit entries in person or via Pictures and ads should be submitted in.jpeg format Adult Education Barbara Lerner Bikkur Holim Norbert Goldfield Cemetery Edward Allen Chevra Kadisha Cleo Gorman Edward Allen Dues & Assessments Ben Cuperman Education Amy Siege Eve Weinbaum Endowment Management Bruce Bromberg-Seltzer Financial Oversight Mark Brumberg Fund Raising Norbert Goldfield Gan Keshet Governing Comm. Leah Nestelbaum Garden Committee Emmett Leader Governance Bill Jolly Hevrei Mitzvot (Men s Club) David Goldstone davegoldstone@gmail.com House & Properties/Aesthetics Stephan Wurmbrand stephan.wurmbrand@tcsgp.com Israel Committee Peggy Besht pjbhepburn@comcast.net Ben Cuperman cbidirector@verison.net Kitchen Committee Shelley Steuer ss@noholaw.com L DOR V DOR (Planned Giving) Dorothy Nemetz djnemetz@aol.com Landscape Mark Brumberg markbrumberg@comcast.net Library Adele Steinberg adelestein@verizon.net Nancy Felton nancyfelton@verizon.net Membership Lisa Newman lisanewman4@hotmail.com Tamara Taitz-Fields columbusgang@verion.net Nominating Hanneli de Vries hanneli@childtrauma.com Personnel Carol Katz carolckatz@gmail.com Ritual Amelia Ender ameliaender@yahoo.com Sisterhood Lori Cohen Janis Levy cbisisters@gmail.com Valley Jewish Seniors Peggy Besht pjbhephurn@comcast.net Ben Cuperman Congregation B nai Israel 253 Prospect Street, Northampton MA bnai.israel@verizon.net 2

3 From Our Rabbi Having spent hours and hours over the past couple of days digging out of the snow, it s hard to believe I m turning my thoughts of Pesach, the holiday of rebirth!! Perhaps that is the point of Passover: for most of our Rabbi Justin David lives, liberation (political, social, spiritual) appears remote; but Pesach reminds us that liberation is quite close. What can we do to place ourselves in the mindset to which this season invites us? I have some thoughts that flow from our tradition, and some that just work for me. Drop a bit of tzedakah into a box each day, to be donated just before Passover. Pesach is a time during which we strive to satisfy all those who are without. As the Haggadah says, Let all who are hungry come and eat. And so, our tradition enjoins us to give ma ot hittin, literally wheat money to stock communal food pantries. Read the Haggadah. It s actually an amazing book, a program really, showing us how we can embody the experience of the Exodus through song, ritual, storytelling. Try to see it not as a book, but really of community performance art. Along the way you can ask yourself how you might want to take each step of the seder. Buy matzah and kosher wine/grape juice. Enough said. Invite guests off the cuff particularly those with whom you would not normally spend time. Pesach is a time to engage in the mitzvah of hachnassat orchim, of inviting guests, which is really about cultivating a spirit of generosity and creating a community in the private space of our own home. Consider letting the office know you would like to host guests, or reach out to the 5 Colleges or a local senior living complex. Read up on playing at your seder. Our Sages 2000 years ago fashioned toy rattles and arranged the table so as to hold the interest of children. Don t let your seder be a dry, formal reading of the Haggadah tap into the playful spirit and have fun! The book, Keeping Passover, by Ira Steingroot, is a wellspring of ideas, but keep the following in mind: bags of plagues, wine tasting, green onion for flogging, dramatic recreations of the Exodus. Come to synagogue for the month leading up to Pesach. I know that s what I m supposed to say. But there will be some special teachings and community conversations exploring the themes of Passover on many levels. Assemble a seder play list. Much of a seder can be sung; and most of the easy, favorite tunes are available online. But also consider bringing some of your favorite freedom songs to sing. In my home, Redemption Song and gospel tunes are among our favorites. Feel free to mine the catalogs of your favorite song writers. Kasher your home. It s not as hard as you think. At minimum, hide all chametz (leaven products and feel free to sell them as well), fill pots with boiling water for 30 minutes, drop metal utensils in said boiling water, let your oven run a full blast for 30 minutes, wash your glasses, clean your floors and fridge, and you re basically good to go. Yes, it s a healthy afternoon; but the preparation makes the seder and the holiday that much more meaningful. As I think of all the things we can do to prepare, the list just generates itself. The important thing to remember is that all of these external preparations bring about an internal experience, the liberation of the heart, so that we can be more generous and compassionate, and hopefully more engaged in bringing healing to the world. Wishing everyone a joyous and meaningful Passover, Rabbi Justin David 3

4 From Our President Politics in the Hebrew Bible. and at CBI President Politics (from the Greek politikos, "of, for, or relating to citizens") is the art or science of influencing people on a civic or individual level when there are more than two people involved (reference: Norbert Goldfield en.wikipedia.org/wiki/politics). Politics in the Hebrew Bible is the subtitle of the new book by Michael Walzer, professor emeritus at Princeton University. I read the book recently while I was on an island almost entirely by myself no running water, roads, or electricity no one to get politically involved with, and a lot of time to contemplate the politics present in my regular life. As president of CBI and chair-person of the Board, I am pleased to say that we are at an exciting political (using the above definition) cross-roads in our synagogue s history as we are about to enter into a strategic planning process. This is an endeavor that I hope all of you get involved in, which is to say that the future of our synagogue depends on the (political and otherwise) engagement of as many of you as possible -- providing the Board with input and being involved in determining the future direction of CBI. This will take some time. You may recall that in my Kol Nidre talk I emphasized that CBI needs to provide value to each and every member. And now it is time to examine: How can CBI provide value and Jewish religious and/or community services to as many members as possible? But, first, Politics in the Hebrew Bible. In this book, which I highly recommend, Professor Walzer states that while the Bible is above all a religious book, it is also a political book. Regime change occurs with Pharaoh's leadership giving way to that of Moses and Joshua, after which there is the period of rule by Judges. This is followed by a demand from the elders and the people to be ruled by Kings, which kings are then overthrown by the Babylonians. Moreover, the Bible includes legal codes, rules for warfare, ideas about justice and obligation, social criticism, visions of the good society, accounts of exile, and dispossession. Israel s almostdemocracy (Walzer s words) has three characteristics. First, individuals are bound to the covenant with God by their own agreement. Secondly, while everyone receives and accepts God s laws, the Bible contains significant interpretation and revision. Lastly, the interpreters of the divine law - the prophets - publicly spoke to ordinary men and women. The religious culture had no political counterpart because God, at that time, was an active sovereign or king. The two realms were one, and the people consented, but they did not rule. While God rules the world, people have to make choices between good and bad. But these choices are conditioned by human frailty and this now brings us to the politics of CBI. Whether secular or religious, CBI members will make active or passive choices as we enter a strategic planning process for our future. For example, we already host several types of religious services including but not limited to conservative, orthodox, meditative, Lev Chadash renewal, Shabbat Sing, Tot and Shabbat. Are these sufficient? Are people satisfied with the offerings in other areas such as the Israel Committee, CBI Seniors, and Tikkun Olam? What about other aspects of Jewish life? By the time this monthly column is printed, the CBI Board will have decided whether or not to hire a Director of Jewish Life, and this development (whichever way it goes) will have an impact on the future strategic path for the shul. In an effort to demonstrate value to all our members and to new potential members, the CBI Board and you the members will hopefully actively engage in determining the content of the continuum between Jewish community life and Jewish religious life. As part of the strategic planning process, we, the CBI community, look forward to engaging with other Pioneer Valley institutions - the Lander-Grinspoon K-6 school (on our campus), the reform Congregation Beit Ahavah located in Northampton, and Alison Morse s Circles of Jewish Living also in Northampton. This is a truly exciting time for CBI. With all our human frailties we can and will have a successful strategic process and implementation if we communicate with each other frequently, transparently, and with generosity. At the end of Walzer s book, he writes that in contrast to the prophets, post-biblical sages affirmed the principle on which politics necessarily rests: it is not in heaven." I am confident that we, the members of CBI, will-here on earth-wisely guide our synagogue s future. Together. 4

5 Interim Co-Education Directors Amy Wolpin & Alan Singer Shalom from CBI Education, We ve just experienced a rolling and rollicking good time celebrating Purim! By the end of March we will celebrate Passover having recently read and studied the stories from Exodus. We will honor the learning of the religious school students on the March 2 Shabbat with a Siddurim presentation. The students in the Bet/Gimel class and all the new students in grades Dalet-Zayin will each receive their own copy of Siddur Sim Shalom with a bookplate inscribed from their parents. All families are invited to the regular Shabbat service and should arrive by 10:15 in time for the Torah service. The parents with their children will be invited to the bima for an aliyah and after the haftorah the children will receive their personal prayer books. The students will participate in other parts of the service. The CBI Community is invited to honor our students. March 2 is also the date of the next Tot Shabbat led by Felicia Sloin from 11-11:45 in the CBI Library. Families with young children are invited to participate in a spirited program of songs, movement, and stories. On the following Shabbat March 9, the Ruach service is planned for students in grades 4-7 and will be held in the LGA multi-purpose room. We ask that younger students attending Ruach who are in grade 3 or lower be accompanied by a parent. Education Programs for March 2013 Note some Shabbat programs have new dates: March 2 Siddurim Presentation 10:15-noon, CBI Sanctuary Tot Shabbat led by Felicia Sloin 11:00am-11:45am, CBI Library March 3 Purim Carnival cancelled (replaced by the Purim Justice Fair February 24) March 9 Ruach (Jr. Congregation) leader TBA, 11am-12pm, LGA Multipurpose Room March 16 Gan-Gimel Shabbat Experience 10am-11pm, CBI classroom Parent Discussion: Cultivating a Grateful Family: The Practice of Daily Brachot led by Rabbi Fine -10am-11pm, CBI classroom Family Minyan for children ages 5-9 y.o. led by Marlene Rachelle - 11am-12pm, CBI Classroom March 17 - No Sunday classes for Gan/Aleph and Bet/Gimel. There will be classes for Dalet/Hey and Vav/Zayin. March 23 No Shabbat program March 24 Sunday Religious School for ALL classes March NO classes CBI Education News from the Co-Education Directors Desk March 30 Shabbat Sing in the CBI Library March 31 - Sunday Religious School for ALL classes The Vav Shabbaton originally scheduled March will be planned for a later date. We hope to see you and your family at many of these programs, Amy Wolpin and Alan Singer, CBI Acting Education Co-Directors Help Wanted beginning July 2013 Volunteer Coordinator/s needed for: Shabbat Child Care and High Holiday Child Care Please contact the Education Committee Co-Chairs for more info. Eve Weinbaum weinbaum@lrrc.umass.edu Amy Siege amy.siege@gmail.com 5

6 Senior Educator Sacred Eating on Seder Night The act of eating in the Jewish tradition is never simply the Rabbi Jacob Fine consumption of food. Food is respected as fuel for sure; but food as a source of physical nourishment cannot be separated from its other central roles as symbol, ritual object and identity builder. From Eve s first bite in the Garden of Eden, food has assumed a unique place in our people s collective meaning making project. The role of food at the Pesach Seder is an example par excellence. The Seder is, at one level, the gastronomic event of the year. We cook for days in advance, and relish having our taste buds become reacquainted with the familiar dishes of years and generations past. On another level, the Seder is clearly much more than a feast. We come together to tell our people s story; we teach our children and remind ourselves who we are, where we came from, and where we are seeking to go. And, fundamentally, the eating and the storytelling are inextricably intertwined. A Seder without food would not be a Seder. (Try to imagine sitting down to a Seder and talking about the meaning of karpas, maror and matzah without actually consuming them!) And a multi-course meal on Pesach night without the haggadah would simply be a fancy dinner. On Seder night, food is not peripheral to some other aspect of the evening. Rather, our intentional eating of specific foods is how we achieve the Seder s primary aim to experience for ourselves the movement from slavery to freedom, from degradation to exaltation. On Seder night the haroset, the Hillel sandwich, the afikoman, and the rest, all serve as texts in the form of food. While eating them in the context of their role in the haggadah, our minds, hearts and bellies are all three simultaneously engaged. The pungent power of horseradish and the parched, bland taste of matzah help make all the talk of slavery more than a cerebral exercise. And Pesach aside, food is never simply food. Every piece of food has its own story that speaks of land and water, of workers and animals, of history and science, of politics and commerce. Morever, sadly, our food often also tells the story of exploitation and disease, of inequity and abuse. But of course, by the time that our food arrives at our plate it becomes exceedingly difficult to read these stories. As we sit down to our Seder tables this year, let us take full advantage of the traditional Seder foods to help us have the fully intended experience of degradation and exaltation, of slavery and freedom. And let us rededicate ourselves to reading the stories of our food every day of the year in the service of eating food that is not itself a product of injustice and oppression. A zissen, liberating Pesach, Rabbi Jacob Fine CBI Education From Our Senior Educator 6

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8 Shira Chadasha Kabbalat Shabbat Evening Service Friday, March 8 at 6:00 PM Please join us for this monthly experience of bringing in Shabbat as we bring out our voices with guitar and other instruments. For the 6 th year in a row, Rabbi Justin David and David Weidenfeld on guitar collaborate to draw out the celebratory and meditative moments of the Friday night service to welcome Shabbat. This year, we invite anyone who plays an instrument to meet with us beforehand to collaborate. Come join us for this experience of singing a new song All are welcome Torah Poetry With Rabbi Rachel Barenblat Saturday, March 9 Reading Following Services Sunday, March 10 Workshop: 9:45-11:15 am Part of our Adult Education Programming Series Awe & Stewardship: A Jewish Response to Nature For future dates see page 17 Join Rabbi Rachel Barenblat (70 faces, Phoenicia 2011) for a reading of Torah poems after Shabbat morning services and a Torah poetry workshop on Sunday morning. Meet the natural world through Torah's lens; meet Torah through the lens of poetry; bring a love of Torah and of nature to bear on your own poems. Rabbi Rachel Barenblat was ordained in 2011 by ALEPH: the Alliance for Jewish Renewal. Her first book-length collection of poems, 70 faces: Torah poems, was published in 2011 by Phoenicia Publishing (Montreal.) She is also author of four chapbooks of poetry. Since 2003 she has blogged as The Velveteen Rabbi. She serves Congregation Beth Israel (North Adams, MA) and lives in the Berkshires with her 8

9 Kehila Shabbat Prepare for Passover with Kehila Shabbat Friday, March 15 at 6:00 pm Prep for Passover After a beautiful Friday night service and dinner, please join us for singing our favorite Passover songs with Rabbi David and Jane Kaufman. What is Kehila Shabbat? Kehila means community, and with these Friday night gatherings we give ourselves the opportunity to connect through a warm and inclusive service followed by dinner. The dinner, prepared by volunteers at a nominal cost of $5.00 per person, gives us the opportunity to nurture friendships old and new. The service will also have moments when we can get to know each other through moments of dialogue and reflection. All are welcome! Volunteer: Jane Kaufman will be preparing the dinner and she will need help in the kitchen on Friday, March 15 from 1:00pm on. If you can help please contact Jane Kaufman at janeskaufman@gmail.com. Please RSVP by March 11 Contact CBI or bnai.israel@verizon.net to register. You may send your checks to CBI, 253 Prospect St., Northampton, MA Please make checks payable to CBI with Shabbat Dinner in the memo line. Thank you! 9

10 Kol Shabbat: A Shabbat of Voices With Felicia Sloin & her ensemble of inspiring singers Friday March 22 at 6:00 pm Held in the CBI Library Please join us as we weave new musical offerings with traditional prayers and Psalms for a unique Shabbat experience. Felicia Sloin has developed a reputation as someone who invites us to join together in stirring and soulful melodies. These services will be designed to engage those of us who are new to Jewish prayer and Hebrew as well as those of us for whom Jewish prayer is a familiar practice. ALL ARE WELCOME Spiritual Preparation For Passover A d var Torah by Rabbi Ed Feld on March 23 What should we remember when we remember the exodus from Egypt? Join us during Shabbat morning services as our friend, Rabbi Ed Feld, shares a special d var Torah that will prompt us to think deeply about our upcoming Celebration of Passover HEBREW CLASS New Sessions Taught by Henny Lewin Six Monday and Tuesday evenings classes. Monday classes begin on February 25 at 6:30 pm. The text is "Beginning Prayer Book Hebrew, the Easy Way," by Joseph Anderson - classes are held from 6:30-7:30 pm on Feb. 25, Mar. 4, 11, 18, Apr. 8 & 15. Please note there are no classes on Mar. 25 and Apr. 1 (Passover). The Tuesday class is "Modern Conversational Hebrew" (Intermediate) - come practice speaking Hebrew with us from 7:00-8:00 pm, six classes on February 26, Mar. 5, 12, 19, Apr. 9, & 16. Please note there are no classes on Mar. 26 and Apr. 2 (Passover). You may pick up a registration form at CBI or contact Henny Lewin at hennylewin@yahoo.com 10

11 Clubs & Community Valley Jewish Seniors WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, AT 12:30 PM Please join us for a wonderful luncheon prepared by Diane Todrin & Esta Busi, along with their marvelous associates. Our speaker this month will be Rabbi Justin David. The topic will be Passover. We look forward to seeing you. Reservations are suggested. Please contact the CBI office at for more information or to make a reservation. March Meeting Book: In the Garden of Beasts by Eric Larsen Date: Monday, March 18, 7:30pm Place: home of Doris Cohen 92 Marian St., Northampton Sisterhood Book Club April Meeting Book: Caleb s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks Date: Monday, April 22, 7:30pm The books and dates for the rest of the year are: May 20 What is the What by Dave Eggers. Sisterhood Chai Mitzvah Program Are you interested in growing your Judaism in a personally meaningful way? Join us and participate in the new SISTERHOOD CHAI MITZVAH program. As a CHAI MITZVAH participant you will: Learn about your heritage Participate in a new ritual of your choosing Engage in a social action of your choosing Join a Sisterhood community discussion about Jewish values (and chat on the website with other students in this national curriculum.) Celebrate your achievement. You choose what you want to study, what new ritual you want to learn or take on, and the social action with which you want to engage. Award-winning local educator, Shoshana Zonderman, will be the mentor of our Sisterhood group. We will meet once a month on the second Thursday of the month (7:30-9:00pm in the CBI library) to study important, relevant Jewish values and to follow up on your choice of study, ritual and social action. We will meet on March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13, and also October 10, November 14, December 12, January 9 (2014) and February 13 (2014.) A graduation ceremony concludes the course of study. You can check out the national CHAI MITZVAH program at To watch a short video about the program s funder, philanthropist Scott Shay, go to Enrollment checks must be made out to Chai Mitzvah, an unaffiliated, non-profit independent 501(c)3 corporation, and mailed to Sisterhood at CBI, 253 Prospect Street, Northampton, MA For more information contact cbisisters@gmail.com. 11

12 Passover Dates & Services At-A-Glance Passover Seder Need one? Have space? Let us know!! MONDAY, MARCH 25 EREV PESACH First Seder 6:00 PM: Pesach Evening Service TUESDAY, MARCH 26 FIRST DAY OF PESACH 9:30 AM: Pesach Morning Services 11:00 AM: Pesach Tot Shabbat Program 6:00 PM: Pesach Evening Service 6:30 PM: CBI Community Seder WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 SECOND DAY OF PESACH 9:30 AM: Pesach Morning Services MARCH HOL HAMOED MONDAY, APRIL 1 SEVENTH DAY OF PESACH 9:30 AM: Pesach Morning Services 6:00 PM: Pesach Evening Services TUESDAY, APRIL 2 LAST DAY OF PESACH 9:30 AM: Pesach Morning Service Do you need a place for seder on the 1 st night of Passover? Would you be able to host more people around your table? Please let the office know so that we can help create a welcoming sense of community around Passover. For those of us offering a place, know that the mitzvah of welcoming guests (hachnassat orchim) is a great act of kindness. For those of us seeking a place, please know that your guests will be delighted to have you. Eliyahu ha-navi (Elijah the Prophet) does not have to be the only surprise guest. Contact the CBI office at or bnai.israel@verizon.net Note: If possible, all hametz food not acceptable during Pesah (Passover), or materials containing such unacceptable food should be destroyed or given away before the holiday begins. If this is not possible, the hametz may be stored in such a way that we are sure not to use it during the holiday and its actual ownership is transferred to a non-jew until the holiday ends. Please complete the form below and return it to the synagogue office no later than March 24. I,, fully empower and permit Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer to act on my behalf to sell all hametz possessed by me, either knowingly or unknowingly, as defined by the Torah and Rabbinic Law, and to lease all place wherein hametz owned may be found (at my home, at my place of business, or elsewhere). This transaction will be in effect for the duration of Pesah, which this year begins with sundown of and runs through Thursday April 16th, Signature Date Please list all addresses included above: Selling Hametz Address Address HAMETZ FORMS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE SHELF OUTSIDE THE CBI SANCTUARY 12

13 CBI s Community Seder will be held on Tuesday, March 26 Register today! Services will begin at 6:00 pm Seder begins at 6:30 pm If you plan to attend, help out, or make a donation, please complete the registration form below. Bring a bottle of Kosher wine (or soda water) for your table if you would like to, as there will only be ceremonial Manischevitz wine provided. Registration Deadline: SUNDAY, MARCH17 We will not be able to accommodate late registrations. Please sign up today! Name(s): Phone: Members: Non-Members: $45 = $50 = Children 3-12 $25 = Children (3-12 $25 = (children younger than 3 years - no charge) How many Vegetarian Meals? How many Chicken Meals? How many Brisket Meals? Please check any that apply: I (we) can help set up. I (we) can help clean up. I (we) are donating $ to assist those who might otherwise be unable to attend. TOTAL ENCLOSED: $ (please make check payable to CBI with Seder in memo line) PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM WITH PAYMENT BY SUNDAY, MARCH 17. CONGREGATION B NAI ISRAEL, 253 PROSPECT STREET, NORTHAMPTON, MA FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE CBI OFFICE AT (413)

14 TOT SHABBAT Shabbat Family Services Come join us for a lively Saturday morning program for young children (ages 3-5) and their families, celebrating the beautiful aspects of Shabbat through songs, stories, dance and creative movement led by Felicia Sloin in the CBI Library. SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 11:00 11:45am UPCOMING DATES: APRIL 6 RUACH (formerly Junior Congregation) SHABBAT SING SHABBAT SING SHABBAT FAMILY MINYAN LEV CHADASH NEW HEART MINYAN WITH RABBI NANCY FLAM LIMUD MINYAN An opportunity for children in grades 4 to 7 to celebrate Shabbat through prayer, songs, and stories in an age-appropriate context with other friends. This service is led by Rabbi Jacob Fine at LGA. SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 11:00AM-NOON UPCOMING DATES: APRIL 13 A celebration of Shabbat through song for children and adults. All are welcome to join in singing a wide array of Jewish songs, from childfriendly melodies to complicated rounds. Held in the CBI Library. Led by Joel Feldman & Pam Schwartz in the CBI Library. MARCH 30, 11:00 AM-NOON UPCOMING DATES: APRIL 20 All families with children ages 5-9 are invited to join us for a monthly Family Minyan celebration. At this highly participatory gathering, we will use music, tefilah, stories, parasha-play and discussions to create an atmosphere in which both children and parents feel welcomed and engaged. Led by Marlene Rachelle in classroom #3. SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 11:00 AM-NOON UPCOMING DATES: APRIL 27 Join us for a monthly alternative Shabbat service that will follow the deep structure of the Siddur, inviting us through song and silence, conversation and meditation - to cultivate our rich Jewish tradition. We will experience the entire flow of a morning Shabbat service (including Torah reading and teaching/discussion), but with scaled-down liturgy. Come with the hope of renewing your heart and your connection to the Source of Life. Held in the CBI Library. MARCH 16, 2013, 9:45 AM NOON. UPCOMING DATES: RABBI NANCY FLAM: MAY 11 RABBI ANDREA COHEN-KIENER: JUNE 15 Please join us for this time of prayer and learning designed to gain a deeper knowledge of and appreciation for the Shabbat morning service. The Limud Minyan is designed for people of all levels, and particularly for those just gaining familiarity with Jewish prayer. Led by Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer in classroom #2. SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 9:30 11:00 AM 14

15 EARLY MORNING TEXT STUDY WITH RABBI NANCY FLAM Join us for a one hour study on Tuesday mornings, 8-9 am in the CBI Library. We will be focusing on the relatively modern parashah commentary of R. Avraham Weinberg (d. 1981), the Birkat Avraham, of the Slonim lineage of Hasidism. TUESDAY TEXT STUDY WITH RABBI DAVID Tuesdays at 12:15 pm Join us weekly, or as often as you can, for informal study of Jewish texts and lively discussion. Held in the CBI library every Tuesday. Registration is not required and there is no charge. Contact Rabbi Justin David for more information at cbirabbi@verizon.net or call ext. 208 Save the Date! New Member Shabbat Saturday, April 13 Join us for services and a special Israeli Kiddush in celebration of new members and of Yom Ha Alzmaut (Israeli Independence Day). Co-sponsored by the Membership Committee and the Israel Committee. After Kiddush we will have a discussion by Rabbi Justin David about Israel s Independence. This event will occur in the Library. More information coming in the April edition of Kehila All are welcome Yom Ha Atzmaut! Join us! Share Your Thoughts The Personnel Committee always welcomes your input regarding our valued CBI staff. If you have comments or suggestions, please put them in writing and send them to Carol Katz, the personnel committee chair. You may contact her at: carolckatz@gmail.com. Kiddush Update We are please to announce that Bianca Cuperman has accepted the part time position of Kiddush preparer for the weeks when there is not a sponsored Kiddush. Bianca continues to serve on the Kiddush Corps on a volunteer basis, and members sponsoring a Kiddush (whether for a Bar/ Bat Mitzvah or other event) may hire Bianca to create their Kiddush. Since our non sponsored Kiddushim are funded exclusively from the Kiddush Fund, non-sponsored Kiddushim will by necessity be quite basic and modest. Please consider donations to the Kiddush Fund so that we may continue to offer even modest Kiddush lunches. Sponsoring a Kiddush is also a wonderful way to mark a special birthday or other Simcha, or to honor a loved one on their Yarzheit. 15

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17 Friday Family Jams with Felicia FRIDAY, APRIL 26 Friday Night Family Jams with songstress-extraordinaire, Felicia Sloin 6:00-6:30 pm at CBI with potlucks to follow at LGA Our Friday Night Shabbat Family Jam Sessions are geared toward families with young kids, with a minute service and potluck to follow at LGA. All are welcome! Be there, or be square ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING Awe and Stewardship: A Jewish Response to Nature Saturday, April 27, After Shabbat Services The Singing Earth: Reclaiming a Jewish Theology of a Sacred and Animated Earth Led by Rabbi Jacob Fine after Shabbat services on April 27 There are those who criticize Judaism as having laid the theological foundation for destroying the earth by virtue of taking God out of nature. Is this an accurate characterization of Jewish theology? In this class we will explore a neglected stream of Jewish thought that perceives the material world as alive and imbued with Divinity. All are welcome 17

18 Month of March (Adar/Nissan) SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 3 4 5:30 PM CONTINUING PRAYER BOOK HEBREW 6:30 PM: BEGINNING PRAYER BOOK HEBREW CLASS (see page 10 for more info) 5 8:00 AM: TEXT STUDY WITH RABBI NANCY FLAM 12:15 PM: TEXT STUDY GROUP WITH RABBI DAVID 5:45 PM INTERMEDIATE PRAYER BOOK HEBREW 7:00 PM: INTERMEDIATE MODERN HEBREW (see page 10 for more info) 6 10 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS- SPRING FORWARD! 2:00 AM: SET CLOCKS AHEAD ONE HOUR 9:45 AM: TORAH POETRY: Adult Ed Program Cont. (see page 8 for more info) 11 5:30 PM CONTINUING PRAYER BOOK HEBREW 6:30 PM: BEGINNING PRAYERBOOK HEBREW CLASS (see page 10 for more info) 7:30 PM ISRAEL COMMIT- TEE MEETING 12 8:00 AM: TEXT STUDY WITH RABBI NANCY FLAM 12:15 PM: TEXT STUDY GROUP WITH RABBI DAVID 5:45 PM INTERMEDIATE PRAYER BOOK HEBREW 7:00 PM: INTERMEDIATE MODERN HEBREW (see page 10 for more info) :30 PM CONTINUING PRAYER BOOK HEBREW 6:30 PM: BEGINNING PRAYERBOOK HEBREW CLASS (see page 10 for more info) 7:30 PM: SISTERHOOD BOOK CLUB (see page 11 for more info) 19 8:00 AM: TEXT STUDY WITH RABBI NANCY FLAM 12:15 PM: TEXT STUDY GROUP WITH RABBI DAVID 5:45 PM INTERMEDIATE PRAYER BOOK HEBREW 7:00 PM: INTERMEDIAT MODERN HEBREW (see page 10 for more info) 20 12:30 NOON: VALLEY JEWISH SENIORS LUNCHEON (SEE PAGE 11 FOR MORE INFO.) EREV PESACH First Seder Tonight 6:00 PM: PESACH EVENING SERVICE 31 6:50 PM: CANDLE LIGHT- ING CBI/GK CLOSED PESACH SECOND SEDER TONIGHT 9:30 AM: PESACH MORNING SERVICE 11:00 AM: PESACH TOT SERVICE 6:00 PM: PESACH EVENING SERVICE & COMMUNITY SEDER (See page for info) 7:51 PM: CANDLE LIGHTING 27 CBI/GK CLOSED PESACH 9:30 AM: PESACH MORNING SERVICE

19 Month of March (Adar/Nissan) THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 7 8:00 AM: LECHA DUMIYAH TEHILLA MEDITATION 1 5:22 PM: SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING 6:00 PM: KABBALAT SHABBAT EVENING SERVICE 8 5:30 PM: SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING 6:00 PM: SHIRA CHADASHA KABBALAT SHABBAT EVENING SERVICE LED BY RABBI DAVID WITH DAVID WEIDENFELD ON GUITAR (see page 8 for more info) 2 9:30 AM: SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES IN THE SANCTUARY Parashat Ki Tisa 11:00 AM: TOT SHABBAT with Felicia Sloin 6:23 PM: SHABBAT ENDS 9 9:30 AM: SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES IN THE SANCTUARY Parashat Vayak hel-pekudei Following Services: TORAH POETRY: Adult Ed Program With Rabbi Rachel Barenblat See page 8 for more info 11:00 AM: RUACH (for Grades 4-7) 6:31 PM: SHABBAT ENDS 14 8:00 AM: LECHA DUMIYAH TEHILLA MEDITATION 7:30 PM CHAI MITZVAH PROGRAM (see page 11 for more info) 15 6:38 PM: SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING 6:00 PM: KEHILA SHABBAT & DINNER (see page 9 for more info) 16 9:30 AM: SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES IN THE SANCTUARY Parashat Vayikra 9:30 AM: LIMUD MINYAN 9:45 AM: LEV CHADASH NEW HEART MINYAN WITH RABBI NANCY FLAM 11:00 AM: SHABBAT FAMILY MINYAN 7:39 PM: SHABBAT ENDS 21 8:00 AM: LECHA DUMIYAH TEHILLA MEDITATION 22 6:46 PM: SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING 6:00 PM: KOL SHABBAT EVENING SERVICE WITH FELICIA SLOIN (see page 10 for more info) 23 9:30 AM: SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES IN THE SANCTUARY Parashat Tzav A d var Torah by Rabbi Ed Feld will be shared during services (see page 10 for more info) 7:47 PM: SHABBAT ENDS 28 PESACH 8:00 AM: LECHA DUMIYAH TEHILLA MEDITATION 7:30 PM: CBI BOARD MEETING 29 PESACH 6:54 PM: SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING 6:00 PM: KABBALAT SHABBAT EVENING SERVICE 30 PESACH 9:30 AM: SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES IN THE SANCTUARY Parashat Tetzaveh 11:00 AM: SHABBAT SING 7:55 PM: SHABBAT ENDS 19

20 Unsung Hero Awards Nomination Deadline: March 15 B nai Tzedek WKend Retreat March Let My People Go: Songs of Freedom Mak hela & vocalist, Evelyn Harris Sunday, March 24 th 4:00 Academy of Music, Northampton, MA Hadassah Spring Donor Event Saturday, April 27 7:30 CBI Around the Valley Who is Your Hero? The Harold Grinspoon Foundation seeks nominations for the Unsung Hero Awards, honoring the ongoing efforts of volunteer, professional, and teen leaders in Jewish schools and organizations throughout Pioneer Valley, the Berkshires, and southern VT. Winners will receive $250-$500 cash awards, a $250-$500 contribution to the Jewish organization of their choice, and be publicly recognized. NOMINATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 15, Full guidelines and nomination forms available at Jewish teens in 9-12 th grade! Repair the World at the 7th Annual B'nai Tzedek Weekend Retreat, March 15-17, 2013 at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village CT. Learn about philanthropy andtzedakah; meet teens from all over the area; talk about ideas and causes you care about; discover Jewish organizations doing important work; participate in teen-led workshops; experience creative Shabbat activities; enjoy great food and down-time for socializing. $54 includes transportation, housing, and kosher vegetarian meals. Scholarships available; space limited. REGISTER BY MARCH 4 at Sunday, March 24, :00 PM. Held at The Academy of Music, 274 Main Street, Northampton, MA. Mak'hela: The Jewish Chorus of Western Massachusetts, along with acclaimed vocalist Evelyn Harris, presentlet My People Go: Songs of Freedom from the Jewish and African-American traditions. Timed to coincide with the arrival of Pesach (Passover), as well as the vernal equinox, the concert will feature traditional and contemporary selections from the classical, folk, pop, and gospel songbooks, mining secular as well as liturgical expressions of yearning for freedom and redemption. Singing in Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, Italian, and English, Mak'hela will perform works by a diverse group of composers including opera master Giuseppe Verdi, contemporary Israeli composer Michael Wolpe, the Iberian legend Flory Jagoda, and noted Valley songmeister Clifton J. Noble, Jr. With the added attraction of the Valley's own Evelyn Harris, who brings her unique blend of jazz, pop, rock 'n' roll, gospel, and blues to the Academy, Let My People Go: Songs of Freedom promises to be an inspirational and lifeaffirming event. Supported in part by a grant from the Jewish Arts & Culture Initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Tickets ($15 general admission, $10 seniors & students) are available at the Academy of Music Box Office and at For more information, contact Bonnie Mikesh at bpmikesh@comcast.net or or visit PLEASE SAVE THE DATE: Northampton-Amherst and Greenfield Chapters of Hadassah Spring Donor Event, Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 PM, at Congregation B'nai Israel, 253 Prospect Street, Northampton. Following a wine and dessert reception and a brief Havdalah service, we will have a very special program: a dramatic reading of a new play, "The Grain in the Wood," about the life of Justine Wise Polier, the first woman judge in New York State, and a lifelong advocate for children and social justice. The daughter of Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, she worked closely with her friend Eleanor Roosevelt to try to rescue 20,000 German-Jewish refugee children desperate to escape Hitler. The award-winning playwright is Ellen W. Kaplan, Chair of Theatre and Professor of Acting and Directing at Smith College, in collaboration with Debra Bradley Ruder, a freelance writer, former Northampton resident, and a granddaughter of Polier's. ALL ARE INVITED to attend this evening of fun and culture, in support of Hadassah's philanthropic projects. Look for information in the mail, or Henny Lewin at HennyLewin@yahoo.com or Barbara Goldstein at bhgoldstein@comcast.net Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival April 4-18th The 2013 Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival returns April 4-18 th for its 8th season with 20 films in 8 towns! This year s crop of award-winning, independent and international films include a premiere showing of Hava Naglia, a family program with last year s favorite, David, and two showings each of three outstanding dramas sure to be audience favorites; The Other Son, A Bottle in the Gaza Sea, and My Best Enemy, showing variously in Greenfield, Northampton, Springfield, and Longmeadow. Check out the full schedule and more films at and follow the fun on the PVJFF Facebook page ( 20

21 Gala Event May 19, 4:00 6:00 pm Join us as we honor our Elders and our Values Our Honorees are: Sandford Bloomberg Edith Allen Robert Cohen Morris Gould Greta Kessler Sari Merrill Henry Oppenheim Roslyn Nitkin and Esther Plotkin There will be food, drink and music! An official invitation will follow Please Save the Date May 19, 4:00 6:00 pm 21

22 February 12, 2013 Dear Fellow Synagogue Members We are excited to write to you to announce our annual celebratory fund-raising event for CBI which will take place on May 19 th. Our fund-raising goal for this year s spring giving is $50,000. The theme for this year s fundraising event is Honoring our Elders and our Values. We will honor older members who have been engaged with CBI in a variety of ways. This year our honorees are: Sanford Bloomberg Edith Allen Robert Cohen Morris Gould Greta Kessler Sari Merrill Henry Oppenheim Roz Nitkin We plan to celebrate this occasion with a gala afternoon of food, drink, and music on Sunday May 19 th from 4-6 pm. An official invitation will be forthcoming but please mark your calendars now. We want to also take a moment to look at the impact that these honorees have had on our community. Some have been active for decades and served in leadership roles as presidents; many have been active in other ways in the synagogue or regular attendees at synagogue services. Now turning to the CBI community in general: over this past year, we have increased both services and programs to provide for greater community engagement and Jewish learning. Some highlights are: We hosted a simply amazing set of holiday gatherings this year at the synagogue with hundreds of people coming for Hanukah, Sukkot and T bshevat services (please see pictures on our facebook page at BEN FILL IN). We have increased our collaboration with other local Jewish groups and are co-sponsoring events such as the Purim celebration with Cong Beit-Ahavah. Such efforts with all local Jewish groups and organizations will only increase as we both create an increased sense of community and seek efficiencies. We have had a variety of adult education events which began the year with a bonfire, which now includes salons with combined teachings and efforts to learn about what members want; a lecture series of Judaism and the environment, an overflow attendance at a Tu B Shvat Seder led by Rabbi David Seidenberg with more programs to come. We reinvigorated the Tikkun Olam (or Repair the World) Committee. This committee is actively engaged in a number of social justice issues including food justice, engagement with the Northampton Cot Shelter and Manna Soup Kitchen and support of the Northampton Survival Center We reformed/reinvigorated the Israel committee at a time when conversations between synagogue members are so hard on this issue, We are fostering both communication and action. The Israel Committee is supporting the Women of the Wall ( Our organic garden has grown food for a large number of kiddushim and food has been also donated to the Survival Center. It has involved community members of all ages and has been a source of beauty and strength. High holiday services were enhanced with the addition of new chazzanit. Felicia Sloin will be joining us once again coming season New members are welcomed with a number of activities including a new member havdalah service. Many different types of religious services in addition to the traditional service such as meditative, Lev Chadash, orthodox, Shabbat Sing, Tot Shabbat, Ruach Shabbat and others. Our board is totally engaged with the many decisions impacting the future of our synagogue While CBI dues covers the basic costs, fund-raising is critical to sustain and grow our programs. This year, there is a way for you to contribute to honor these wonderful senior honorees and their families who have helped build this community and CBI. As part of the bi-annual phone directory, we are going to include ads that you can purchase to honor either those who donate and/or the senior members of our community that have contributed so much to our synagogue. Enclosed is information about how to purchase an advertisement for a phone directory that will come out in mid-may. 22

23 Continued from Previous Page Please take a moment to reflect on what our honorees and our synagogue means to you. In doing so we ask that you consider not only how many times you attended services, or whether your children attend the Religious School; we are asking for a much broader reflection: how has your community the CBI membership, the greater Northampton community, and the world beyond been touched by the programs, spirituality, chesed and tikkun olam that define our shul. Together, we are improving how we welcome and engage our fellow congregants, how we promote healing within the Northampton Jewish community and beyond. CBI is one of the key places I ve chosen to engage with and financially contribute to. I hope you will continue to join me with your engagement and financial support. With my best regards, Norbert Goldfield, President and Chair of the Fund-Raising Committee. Ad Rates Full page $500 (5 x 8) 1/2 page $250 (5 x 3.75) 2/5 page $150 (5 x 2.75) 1/5 page $125 (5x1.5 or 2.5x3) 1/10 page $75 (2.5x1.5 or 1.5 x 2.5) 1 line listing $36 Back Inside cover $2500 (5 x 8) Inside pages (3 full size available including inside front cover $2000 (5 x 8) IMPORTANT information Format: PDF or JPG (300 dpi or higher) Business cards can be scanned in JPG Send to: cbi.2013directory@gmail.com Put 2013 Directory in subject line Deadlines: April 8, 2013 (for best placement) April 12, 2013 (final date-no exceptions) Ad Order Form send to: CBI 2013 Directory, 253 Prospect St., Northampton, MA Contact Name: Business Name: Address: Phone # Select Ad size (see above) Check box: Ad copy enclosed Ad copy sent to Please call us Payment Method: Check Enclosed (Payable to CBI) Credit Card: Payment must be made in the CBI Office for $300 or more. No phone payments available. 23

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25 כתבים וכתיבה Writer s Corner Everyone has a story. This is a community writing corner for all ages from young children to adults. Everyone who knows their letters can create words. These words create sentences. Out of these sentences a story is born. If you would like to tell your story, please submit copy (no more than 700 words) to Peggy Besht at pjbhepburn@comcast.net. Submissions are needed by the 2nd Friday of each month to be printed in Kehila. Reflections on Israel Post Elections A Continuation by Julius Menn The recently concluded elections, introduced a new power broker in Israeli politics. Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party garnering 19 seats in 120 member Knesset. The large vote for this new secular party was the result of the hopes of young Israelis for a better and safer life. These Israelis are striving to make a better or new safe home for their young families and hope the new government will help them. They were the Rothschild tent dwellers of last fall, who demand greater economic attention and action from the government. The voters for Yesh Atid see economic and political difficulties in the awarding of generous subsidies to the ultra-religious minority; to maintain their Yeshivas, and to the generous housing subsidies to enable attendance at Yeshivas and not secular work. Politically, this young secular block of the population, view the current government as impoverishing the country and its inability to help them economically due to diversion of funds to the west bank settlements, and the protection afforded to these settlers who often occupy Arab lands. Most Israelis are secular including the large Yesh Atid party. They wish to live in peace with the neighboring Arabs and forego the fear of missiles falling on their heads. We at CBI love Israel, but it has to be on occasions, tough love. Our love for Israel should transcend what we recite in our prayers. Remember the legacy that the founding father of modern Israel left for the new nation as he was settling in kibbutz Sde Bokker after finishing his creation of Medinat Israel ; we won our small country in 1948, let s build it in peace and live in peace with our neighbors. GAN KESHET Rainbow Garden Jewish Community Preschool of the Pioneer Valley GAN KESHET Is looking for donations! Play-based & Discovery Oriented Part & Full Day Options Extended Day Until 5:15 pm Gardening Summer Program Share the News: We have space available next school year in our Chamaniot Class (4/5 yr old). Ask about HGF PIP and the HGF Right Start Grant. Your family could be eligible to receive $500-$1000 towards your child s tuition. 253 Prospect St., Northampton (413) , ext. 204 director.gankeshet@verizon.net We are in search of: Either a CD & Cassette Player or just a CD player for use in our classrooms Your old, functioning laptop We thank you in advance for thinking of us!! The GK Staff & Kids Todah Rabah! 25

26 Northampton Homeless Shelter An Opportunity To Get Involved! Within our Northampton Community there are men and women who are homeless. The Cot Shelter is a place where the homeless have a place to eat and sleep from November through April. CBI is responsible for one meal a month at the Cot Shelter. Our new system of signing up is interactive and very easy to use! CBI needs volunteers on the fourth Wednesday of the month from November through April. Volunteers will cook part of a meal, and serve, and clean up. One person is needed from 7:00-9:00pm to stay at the shelter to help support the staff. Please note the following instructions to sign up and volunteer: - Get onto the internet. In the address bar type in - Click on the sign in button which is on the far right. - When you see the sign in window enter cbicotshelter@gmail.com and the password is signupsheet. Click on the sign in button. - Click on the file CBI Cot Shelter Sign up Sheet. This will take you into the sign up spreadsheet. - Select the month you wish to sign up for. Put your name and along side the item you wish to cook and/or if you wish to serve put your name and in the Server section. -When you are finished please sign out. Go to the far right and you will see a sign out button. Click on the downward arrow and then click on the words sign out. That s all there is to it. If you need help please contact Peggy Jo Besht at pjbhepburn@comcast.net or Nanci Martine in the CBI office at bnai.israel@verizon.net or call ext. 0 Thank you for helping us to make this very important meal happen! 26

27 MINUTES OF THE CBI COMMUNITY MEETING - January 13, 2013 NORBERT GOLDFIELD presiding, call to order 7:00pm - 25 members present Norbert presented the ground rules for discussion be generous, don t cut people off, don t talk more than two minutes. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Peggy Walker has a malignancy; Tikkun Olam has established a fund for her; information can be obtained from Ben. Lisa Newman announced new member Havdalah potluck Saturday January 26 at 5:00pm-7:00pm, Social Hall at LGA. Norbert announced a CBI salon the same evening at 6:00pm at Dave Marlin s home at which he will be inviting input from congregants. DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION: Eve Weinbaum and Amy Siege Norbert turned meeting over to Eve Weinbaum and Amy Siege, Co-Chairs of the Education Committee. He stated that the education committee is taking the lead in defining the new position of Education Director. He feels that resolving this issue of our Education Director is the most important issue that he s dealing with as President of CBI. Ideas will be vetted with the congregation, the Board, and the Personnel Committee. Eve Weinbaum: The Religious School has been in transition last few years mostly reflecting national trends. The concept of supplementary school isn t doing well. We have a great staff and great teachers, but many of us are looking for a new model. Last year a subcommittee of Ed Committee started looking at new models including the concept of a Shabbat School and also a big tent concept bringing in new people. At same time we were doing search for an Education Director. We found that it was hard to find a person to hold this vision at the salary we were offering. Amy and Alan offered to oversee the school this year and have done a tremendous amount of work keeping school running. Our group is now redefining the position as Director of Jewish Life not just religious school but adults as well. This includes family education, adult education, and teen programming, We also want to bring in the garden, food justice, and environmental programming all of which has generated a lot of enthusiasm. This won t be a substitute for a traditional Jewish education, but rather a different vehicle. So we want to think about how to fund this newly conceived position; and we re looking for grants. We also want to talk with families about what you would like to see. We also want to introduce Rabbi Jacob Fine who is our senior educator this year; and we have been talking a lot with him about envisioning this position. Q: my understanding is that for a conservative synagogue, there are a certain number of hours required for a Jewish education. Are we abandoning that? A: No we re not abandoning a conservative Jewish education, but redefining how we use the hours. Shabbat school will count as hours as will field trips. We want to be more creative about how we use the hours. Eve then turned program over to Rabbi Fine. Rabbi Jacob Fine: I was asked to share who I am, and I d like to introduce myself to you as a Jewish educator and share thoughts about an inspired program here at CBI. I d like to share a MLK story told to me by Peter Geffen, who was an activist along with Rabbi Theodore Heschel, who gave a eulogy at MLK s funeral. Peter related walking with MLK following JFK s assassination. Peter asked Heschel We teach our children a Judaism which will remake the world. Some 44 years later we re in a similarly critical place. We have to believe that what we re doing with our children is of the upmost importance. So how do we do that and we need to have a conversation. To me, the keys are: #1 literacy. We need to give ourselves the tools with which to unlock this tradition. They need to become Jewishly literate #2 we need teachers who are passionate about Yiddushkite and they must think that Judaism is really important. They need to be a model of that fiery passionate people. #3 We need innovation. The Jewish world in which our children are being raised is SO different from our youth. I was most recently a Hillel rabbi. There s no longer a strong thread of parents commitment to raise their children to a Jewish life. We have to offer something that effectively competes with all the other offerings that parents see for their children. Q: Will this position include adult education? I have an 18yo and a 20yo, and want to know how they can engage in the community. 27

28 A (Eve): we re not sure about adult education. This does include family education. Amy Siege: At the Chanukah program we had a huge turnout people of all ages lining up out the door. Congregant I have a teenager more engaged now with CBI because of the garden. Both Sukkot and Chanukah celebrations involved people of all ages. Amy Siege we had a vibrant community here including people of all ages in the kitchen. Q: I still don t understand adult education which is different from all this. Norbert: There were three young adults at services yesterday who were impressed by such an involved synagogue. I asked them what they would like to see here. There are different market segments of adults. I hope that among the different committees there will be something to capture peoples imagination. Thinking of Jewish learning with kayak trips. Q: How are you going to engage kids for whom farming isn t an interest? Just as different adults have different interests, so kids have different interests as well. Rabbi David: The era of one size fits all is over. Over the years the responsive classroom model assumes that each child is an individual learner. With each year I envision that we ll come closer to that. Rabbi Fine: Another model is where you use specialists. The model now is to use a generalist teacher who teaches everything. Instead, we hope to find an athlete in residence, a farmer in residence, an actor in residence, etc. We can t have endless examples but we can have a variety hoping that our children will find one that speaks to them. Q: Can you speak more to the Shabbat school? To me this seems a key to making Shabbat more vibrant having the parent celebrate Shabbat with their child. A: Amy Siege we ve had several Shabbat programs so far this year and we re planning more the children are working with Rabbi Fine. That s our goal is to get families in the building celebrating Shabbat together we re working toward that. Congregant: We did that at my shul bagels and coffee there at 9:00am with discussion about current events, or something unrelated to Shabbat while children were in school, then all gathered together in time for the Torah service. It was very successful. Eve W: Rabbi David did some family education talking about how we think about G-d. Many adults were very excited by that. This is community-building to get as many people into the building on Shabbat as possible. Audience: Temple Beth El is experimenting with this model on Sundays. Rabbi Katz is leading it; the slogan is just show up. Program runs from 9-2 show up for whatever you want to, even just the food. Carol Katz Chair of Personnel I have great respect for the idea. I m concerned about the process. The community needs to keep in mind that changes in the job description are being developed; and we need to follow a purposeful process. The Personnel Committee is developing a process for how to proceed. Norbert: Carol has been a true blessing and we appreciate her work. The Education Committee in charge of setting policy. Actual hires need input from Personnel and FOC and the Board. But there needs to be at least the perception of a fair process. One aspect of that is engaging with the community. WORK OF THE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY TASK FORCE JOAN TABACHNICK Talking about this issue is not easy. You may have come here to talk about education, but I appreciate your not leaving. I ve been working in the field of sexual abuse for about 20 years. Most recently I worked with teaching adults about controlling behavior with Stop it Now. I ve learned that I want to become a national leader on this. I was invited by the CDC about 8 years ago to work with this issue; it s called Balancing Act. After doing this a number of years, I asked myself why I m not doing this with my own community. We re lucky to have Ricki Greenwald, Ros Torrey, Beth Lev to work on a policy. Sandusky sensitized people to this issue. It happens everywhere. One in 4-5 girls, one in 8-10 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18. We as a community need to be prepared for what to do when this happens statistically it s inevitable that it will happen here at some time. It s better to have a plan for how we ll respond. We ve worked about 9 months to arrive at the policy. The first step is to look at the basics: #1 everyone in our community needs to be educated, especially those working with kids #2 we must screen people who are hired to deal with children. We must check references and ask specifically about certain behaviors. #3 if an allegation is made, how do we respond, and how do we report it? Making a report is the beginning of the process, not the end. -we must make sure children are safe -we don t want to demonize people. So it s a balancing act how do we hold the issue? Silence is a perpetrator there needs to be openness. Rabbi: This represents not just protection for children and families but also for the larger community as well. Can you speak to that? Joan T: related an interview with a sexual abuser who abused in 2 settings but not in a third. When asked about that, it was because there were policies in place in the third place regarding sexual abuse and questionable behavior was called out. She s only found only 2 synagogues who have child sexual abuse policies, so we ll be ahead of the curve. It shows that we care about 28

29 Joan T: related an interview with a sexual abuser who abused in 2 settings but not in a third. When asked about that, it was because there were policies in place in the third place regarding sexual abuse and questionable behavior was called out. She s only found only 2 synagogues who have child sexual abuse policies, so we ll be ahead of the curve. It shows that we care about our children and our families. We want policy to clearly state that children need to be safe. If an allegation s made about someone in our community, we don t demonize that person but the priority is to ensure that children are safe. We remove that person from contact with children until investigated. Amy Siege: It would be great to have a talk like this for parents in the community, not just for the employees. Joan T passed out booklets that she authored about how, as a bystander, one can intervene in a situation. Q: does this address a perpetrator who s both a congregant and a staff member? A: How do we allow that person to be here? The person would need to meet with a task force for a safety plan. Example: if you come to shul, you have to come with a buddy initially someone from the committee. That person can t come to an event for children. It protects both perpetrator and community if someone s watching and supporting the suspect. This is the concept of Circles of support, a model from Canada. Joan invited people to call her with questions. COMMITTEE UPDATES Tikkun Olam: Randi Klein explained that emphasis of the committee is on tzedakah, social action, and social justice. This fall the committee sponsored a Reverse Hunger Shabbat at which over 125 attended services and about half stayed for the discussion group. The committee will meet in January with Rachel s Table in Spfld. In Jan there was a Shabbat program around ending gun violence. On April 6 there will be a Shabbat program with Bend the Arc Jewish Action. Fri, Feb 15 there will be a legistative luncheon at 12:30 in the Social Hall. Tikkun Olam recently made a grant to the Manna program to replace their freezer. The committee makes a few grants per year and supports the interfaith fund. The committee welcomes new members. Norbert: He s delighted that Beit Ahavah has also chosen food justice as an issue, and we re trying to figure out how to work together on this. He s spoken with Ben Weiner and Meredith Dragon from Federation also about collaborating. ISRAEL COMMITTEE: Peggy Bescht. Thanks Ben for co-chairing. We re trying to learn to listen to one another. We re doing that by having an agenda. Rabbi Ricki s been involved as well. We have a speaker from Amherst in Feb. It s a challenge, a challenge that Ben and I are meeting. ADULT EDUCATION Rabbi David. Committee s been very active this year we ve had two Friday night programs already and have one coming up on Tu B shvat with Rabbi Seidenfeld. Another upcoming program is with Rabbi Jacob Fine. MEMBERSHIP: Norbert Goldfield. Membership s about 350. Q: We should use more social media to get the word out what wonderful things are going on here which will help our membership. A: Norbert. For food justice, there were articles in the Gazette. Q: we should have a marketing plan. A: Norbert I totally agree. If someone would like to help Ben with this, we would welcome your participation. Randi: We re on a Jewish environmental web site thanks to Jacob Fine. Rabbi Fine: everyone should join CBI facebook page. Q: Will there be a discussion about Ron Wolfson s recommendations about a welcoming shul? A: at next community meeting we ll talk about it. MEDIATION WITH ALISON MORSE: JANE FLEISHMAN, RABBI DAVID Norbert: Alison has continued to be part of CBI by choice. We re (Norbert, Rabbi David, Alison Morse, Jane Fleischman) using Restorative Justice, a Greenfield mediation group. We ve just had conversation, no action. No action will be taken without going to the appropriate bodies at CBI. Jane T: It s not just individual that s harmed through conflict or the organization, but also the community. Eventually we want to get more people involved in the healing process. There s three circles involved. It feels weird to go back in time, but it also feels healing. This process can be restorative and can positively impact future decisions here at CBI. Rabbi: Right now we re just talking. When Norbert and I started talking about this last June, the prospect of healing was attractive to me, but I had no idea how time consuming it would be. It will be good for us on many levels. There were several comments from the group commending the group for doing this. Meeting adjourned at 8:35pm. Respectfully submitted, Ellen Kaufman, Secretary of the Board 29

30 MINUTES OF THE CBI BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING December, 2012 Minutes from December 2012 CBI Board Meeting Rescheduled to January 3, 2013 Present: Norbert Goldfield, President, Lauren Weinsier, Vice President, Jim Sagalyn, Treasurer, Max Page, David Cohen, Alan Berkenwald, Hanneli Devries, Joel Feldman, Kevin Hale, Amy Siege, Kevin Hale, Stephan Wurmbrand, Peggy Besht, Bill Sweet Guests: Ben Cuperman, Rabbi Justin David, Joan Tabachnick Norbert Goldfield called the meeting to order at 7:34pm a. Review & Vote to Accept Minutes; Discussion of Minutes Format. This will be an agenda item for next month s meeting as well. Motion made by Lauren Weinsier to accept the shorter minutes attached to the December Agenda as the Official Minutes and the lengthier minutes submitted by Ellen Kaufman to be preserved in the office as unofficial Secretary s Notes. Motion passed. b. D'var Torah - Rabbi David (ceded his time) c. Executive Director's Report - Ben Cuperman 356 Members as of today. 6 Resignations. Motion passed to Accept New Members: Laura Vogel; Sandy Dennis and Martha Kniereim d. Treasurer's Report - Jim Sagalyn e. Discussion of CBI Community support action for Peggy Walker. The Gan Keshet leadership is seeking assistance from the CBI community and beyond to help support Peggy Walker, a GK teacher and for many years the leader of CBI s and often Beit Ahava s Tot Shabbat programs. She has touched many, many lives. Currently Felicia Sloin is volunteering to provide Tot Shabbat programming at CBI and with an anonymous gift the Education Committee will be giving Peggy her Tot Shabbat salary as an honorarium with our deepest thanks for 17 years of her Shabbat services for our youngest children. Discussion about the best way to provide support to Peggy. Peggy Besht volunteered to be the point person for the synagogue along with Lauren Weinsier. Two options for giving - online via Fundrazr and in the CBI Office with Peggy Fund checks. Re establishing the Peggy Fund - To recognize Peggy s gifts to the community we are establishing a fund so that people can give and it s tax deductible. There would be no liability; we are a 501 c 3 and people can make the checks to CBI and then we funnel them to Peggy, some bookkeeping involved but it s all traceable and legal. Same as when a bank sets up a fund when there is a tragedy to assist. Motion made by Jim Sagalyn to establish a Peggy Walker fund (as subset of the Tikkun Olam fund) all proceeds from which will go to Peggy Walker. Motion passed. f. Update and discussion on Religious School and Director of Jewish Life - Rabbi Justin David, Amy Siege. Revised Job Description, shared with Rabbi Jacob Fine, and presenting the basis for an annual salary of around 70K + benefits. Discussion included: 30

31 ~This will be a full time position. ~No answer right now as to salary increases, but Jacob is aware of how far we are stretching to provide his salary. The Ed Committee is presenting to FOC and Carol Katz/personnel committee. ~Discussion about playing on the strengths of the campus, as opposed to trying to go it alone, and to increase synergy between the LGA families and the CBI Religious School families. ~Recommendation for open application process ~Discussion of potential red flags. ~Discussion as to whether this position should be for an Assistant Rabbi. ~Discussion of the pace for this process. ~Discussion as to whether the position will require an administrative assistant. ~This is the beginning of a conversation and there has been a lot of input. The Ed Committee will meet with Personnel and FOC. There will be an update for the next board meeting and an opportunity for questions. There will be a proposal for a search. Ideally, we would want the hire to begin working on July 1. g. Discussion of Sexual Abuse Policy with Joan Tabachnick. We will hope to take a vote on this at the next Board Meeting. Task Force including new participants from the Board will meet before the next Board Meeting. h. Reminder of the 1/13 (7pm) Community Meeting. Meeting adjourned 9:07pm Respectfully submitted, Lauren Weinsier, Vice President of the Board Documents passed out available for viewing in the CBI Office: Executive Director s Report Salary for DJL Proposal Director of Jewish Life Job Description 31

32 ANNUAL FUND To David & Doris Cohen, in memory of your mother, Rose. From Sheron Rupp ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of Rose Cohen. From Gail & Mike Perlman GARDEN FUND David Berkman Jeff Schrenzel Eve Weinbaum Joan Schaffer Iris Berkman KOL NIDRE Aron Futter KURIAN KIDDUSH FUND Shelia Morris Julius Menn Marla Estela Harretche Ricki Ellen Kantrowitz Shelley Steuer David & Rebecca Serlin Robert Fishman Henny Lewin Randi A. Stein To Rob Dorit, Gillian, Gabe & Sasha, with condolences for the loss of your father/ grandfather, Murray Dorit. May his memory be for a blessing. From Ellen Kaufman LIBRARY FUND To Rob Dorit, in memory of an extraordinary, generous and loving man Murrary M. Dorit. From Callie Kendall Orszak & Tom Orszak PEGGY WALKER FUND Deborah Jacobson Ricki Ellen Kantrowitz Henny Lewin & Len Kamins Alan Berkenwald David & Doris Cohen Jori Ross Peter & Dara Fishman Ron Ackerman & Cleo Gorman Wayne Schweitzer Dmitri & Rebecca M. Robbins Linda Dell & Robert D. Shycon Alison Morse dba Circles For Jewish Living Dearest Peggy, you are in our thoughts and prayers constantly. Wishing you healing, peace and comfort. Much Love, Frances, Bob, Jessica & Ethan, the Hack-Chabot family To Peggy Walker, wishing you love, comfort & healing. Love, Virginia & Rob Rechtschaffen To Peggy Walker, we send a prayer to you for your recovery. Carol & Bill Jolly PRESCHOOL EDUCATION FUND To Rob Dorit & Family, my condolences to you & your family on the passing of your father, Murray Dorit. From Nanci Martine Donations RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND To Sherry Hyman on the death of your beloved mother Felice Beigelmcher. From Henry Rosenberg & Katie Hicks To Rabbi David, in gratitude for your comfort & support, Sherry & Arthur Hyman RABBI S PRAYER FUND Jeffrey L. Asbell & Raquel Pines To Rabbi Nancy Flam, with gratitude for your generous offering of the Thursday meditation group. From Ellen Kaufman SISTERHOOD ALL OCCASION FUND To Sherry Hyman, sincere condolences on your mother s death. May time ease your sorrows. With sympathy Carol & Bill Jolly To Sherry Hyman, our condolences on the death of your beloved mother. With heartfelt concern Cleo and Ron TIKKUN OLAM FUND In memory of Sherry Hyman s mother. From Sara Weinberger & Mordechal Kamel In memory of my parents and my brother. From Susan Adelson TZEDAKAH FUND In loving memory of Nathan Gutmann. From Leslie Steven and Carole May VALLEY JEWISH SENIORS To Sheron Rupp, Mazal Tov on your special birthday (they re all special) and many, many more. From Doris & David Cohen 32

33 Yahrzeits, March 2013 MARCH 1 / ADAR 19 Shirley August* Reuben Coleman* Cecilia Courtright Aaron Geschwind Isidore Goldsmith Louis Goldstein Sol May Samuel Rost MARCH 2 / ADAR 20 Leah Bond Henry Levin Rose Reinshreiber Levy Eleanor Passager Robert Shapiro MARCH 3 / ADAR 21 Sol Kreisler* MARCH 4 / ADAR 22 Leonard Budgar* Harry Herman Jerome Kaskey Eleanor Nurnberg Herman Weinberger MARCH 5 / ADAR 23 Robert Delamater Nathan Goldstein Sylvia Goldstein Louis Kramer (Morris) Monte Mendelson Ann Rosenthal Sonya Warshawsky MARCH 6 / ADAR 24 Carol Schwartz Abraham Seaver MARCH 7 / ADAR 25 Getrude F. Botkin Anna Marks* Betty Schoen Yona Wisgardisky MARCH 8 / ADAR 26 Benjamin R. Balin* Roberta Saul Black Sol Blau Jacob Elinsky* Felix R. Licwinko Albert Roth* MARCH 9 / ADAR 27 Idyla Gould Etelman Judith Raymond* MARCH 10 / ADAR 28 James Allen* Abraham Smith* Thomas Soss MARCH 11 / ADAR 29 Harry M. Cohen Ralph Mendel Karpas Allen Kudler Mary Milgrim* MARCH 12 / NISSAN 1 Louis Hott Freida Wyner MARCH 13 / NISSAN 2 Ethel Bloom Hyman Kamen Kate Piermont MARCH 14 / NISSAN 3 Elliot Hyman* Virginia LaChance Ezra Nasser Carole Newman Rachel Lessler Winkler* MARCH 15 / NISSAN 4 Stanley Simkin MARCH 17 / NISSAN 6 Sarah Bloomberg Yetta Katoff Libby Smith* Ruth Tallan MARCH 18 / NISSAN 7 Ruth Arbeitman Emanuel Reshes* MARCH 19 / NISSAN 8 Miriam Feder Matids Gruszecki Louis Zirinsky MARCH 20 / NISSAN 9 Annette Trenner Arons MARCH 21 / NISSAN 10 Robert August Nelson Baker Fran Weisman MARCH 22 / NISSAN 11 David Klein Jacob Michelman* Sylvia Steinberg* Judy Yoss MARCH 23 / NISSAN 12 Jacob H. Michelman* MARCH 24 / NISSAN 13 Morris August* Louis Cohen MARCH 25 / NISSAN 14 Samuel Hutter Abel Ross MARCH 26 / NISSAN 15 Daniel Nathan Goldstein Julius Stark MARCH 27 / NISSAN 16 Leon Arons Jennifer Fraidstern Jules Hecht MARCH 28 / NISSAN 17 Alexander August* Esther Bloomberg Emma Caplovich MARCH 29 / NISSAN 18 Louis P. Kleinman* Samuel Rudolph Doris K. Wolfe* MARCH 30 / NISSAN 19 Irene Frankel* Vivian Plaskow Muriel Raphaelson Leonard Schonbach Freda Wineberg Midenberg MARCH 31 / NISSAN 20 Bess Black* Ann Drew 33

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