January/February 2008 Happy New Year! Tevet/Sh vat/adar 5768 RESOLUTIONS

THE NEWSLETTER OF CONGREGATION BETH JACOB "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!" January/February 2008 Happy New Year! Tevet/Sh vat/adar 5768 RESOLUTIONS Well, it s that time of year again the New Year. You know what that means. RESOLUTIONS! What will you resolve to do this year? The usual suspects? Lose weight, go to the gym, work harder, be a better mother/ father/wife/husband, stop smoking/drinking, learn a craft and on and on. I have a deeper resolution this year. I resolve to be a part of the future. Not just the future I m already a part of which is life moving by at warp speed. But actually engaging in the future, my future. I want to have a say in my future, don t you? And we do! Every day. We have a say in whether or not to get up and go to work, to go on that date, to see friends, to either play with our children or just passively watch them grow. Most importantly we have a say in whether to be involved. Our involvement at CBJ is a choice. We have a choice on whether or not to go to an event, to have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah here, to participate in an organization, to go to Shabbat services, to be a part of the community. I am consistently grateful for my CBJ community. So with that I resolve to be a part of the CBJ future. It is up to us! There is no future without our continued involvement. And this year, I resolve to be more involved because I don t want to wake up one day and find that there isn t a community to be involved in. It is so important to not sit idly by and let those who graciously participate and hold our community together be the only ones responsible. I resolve to not take the CBJ community and activities and family for granted. I resolve to be a part of the future. Are you with me? Happy New Year and I hope you follow through, whatever your resolution is. But if you have room for one more resolution, or have not resolved to do anything just yet. I suggest resolving to be a part of something. And what better to be a part of than a community that breeds knowledge, spirituality, friendship, and love. Stefanie Zeitz Editor Save the date! Friday evening, January 11th we will be celebrating our New Member's Shabbat service recognizing New, Chai, Double Chai and Triple Chai members. We hope you will join us to celebrate! 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS Adult Education Page 5 Beit Sefer Page 6 Brotherhood Page 11 CBJ News and Info Page 8-9 Calendar Page 18-19 Friends of CBJ Page 16--17 Fundraising Page 12 Holiday Page Page 15 President s Page Page 14 Rabbi s Report Page 3-4 Ritual Committee Page 9 Sisterhood Page 10-11 Youth Group Page 6-7 Submission Information: Stefanie Zeitz 98 Early Red Circle Plymouth, MA 02360 508-224-4786 stefaniezeitz@aol.com WHERE ARE YOU? Have you changed your telephone number or email address? Have you switched from Adelphia to Comcast? Please send an email to cbjpresident@yahoo.com to update your information in the new CBJ directory. YAHRZEIT Yahrzeit Observance begins the evening before the date shown "May the Memory of each one abide as a Blessing" [Some customs associated with Yahrzeit observance are: lighting a memorial candle at home in the evening at the beginning of the Yahrzeit period; saying Kaddish during a Shabbat service close to the Yahrzeit; donating to a charity or one of CBJ's special funds in memory of the one whose Yahrzeit is being observed.] January Isadore Albert Jan. 1 Edith Eagan John Jacob Marcus Jan. 3 Bessie Skulsky Jan. 4 Shirley Lubin Hyman Aranowitz Jan. 5 Mendel Aranowitz Jan. 8 Rebecca Shriber Jan. 9 Ruth Bornstein Strauss Jan. 10 Emil N. Winkler Louis Policow Jan. 11 Joseph Rains Jan. 12 Philip Aranowitz Jan. 13 Charles Ginsburg Jan. 14 Fred Greenbaum Michel Toabe Seymore Horenstein Jan. 15 Annie Mankoff Shirley Greenbaum Jan.16 Manuel Kalaminsky Jan. 18 Angy Moore Morris Rodman Jan. 20 Sadie Stein Jan. 22 Kay Levenson-Meltzer Jan. 24 Abraham Toabe Jan. 29 Cecille Rosen Jan 30 Ethel Berger Jan. 31 Roberta Lipetz Rina Shamir (nee Strumsky) February Hilda Keil Toabe Feb. 1 Harry Dorph Feb. 4 Adele Pevzner Arthur Rosenblum Feb. 5 Ida Penn Feb. 6 Jeanne Gurwitch Feb. 7 Robert Arons Feb. 12 Hyman Sherman Isadore Jack Rothstein Feb. 17 Betty Balton Feb. 22 Joseph Harris Feb. 23 2

As I write these words, winter snows are coming our way. It is the day after Chanukah; and though it is still autumn, according to the astronomical calendar, the days and nights of winter are upon us and, with their arrival, the lights, songs, and excitement of this year's Chanukah recede into the past. In just a few weeks, the Jewish calendar gives us Tu Bishvat, a kind of mid-winter's day, which this year falls on January 22. Tu Bishvat is the New Year of the Trees, reminding us of the poet Shelley's words that, when winter comes, spring cannot be far behind. In honor of the coming of Tu Bishvat, it's time for another story, this one drawn from a historic encounter. In the year 1902, Theodore Herzl, the founder of the modern Zionist movement, and Kaiser Wilhelm II, of Germany, met on the road to Jerusalem. The Land of Israel Palestine, as it was then called was ruled at the time by the Turkish Sultan, a friend and ally of the Kaiser, who was there on a state visit. When the Kaiser caught sight of Herzl, the German ruler greeted the Zionist leader; and Herzl asked: "Your Majesty, has the land of our dreams found grace in your eyes?" Fatigued by the heat of the unshaded sky, the Kaiser wiped the sweat from his brow and replied: "It is impossible to dream here, Doctor. The heat does not allow it!" "Nothing can be done about it," smiled Herzl. "The land is barren." "Then why don't you plant trees," the Kaiser asked. Herzl responded: "We are not allowed to. The land is not ours." "It will belong to the people who plant trees on it," said Kaiser Wilhelm. So it has come to pass. Rabbi Silverman Anonymous In Memory of MARK LELYVELD By Harriette Minsky and Muriel Swartz A Special Gift in Memory of MARK LELYVELD By Addie Lelyveld and Family RABBI S TELEPHONE CALLING INFORMATION Rabbi Silverman is generally reachable directly during the following hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10 am 12 pm Additional hours: Thursday 7-9 pm The special number is 508-322-0514 In Honor of the Birth of Our First Granddaughter, ISABEL NAN JEZIERSKI (October 12, 2007) By Frimma and David Buckman In Memory of My Parents, MILDRED GOLDBERG and EDWIN GOLDBERG, at this Season of Their Yahrzeits By Pamela Sechoka In Honor of Our Daughters, GIAVANNA SOPHIA and SAMANTHA ALEXIS, on the Occasion of Their Naming Ceremonies By Julie and Edward Benedetto The Rabbi s Mitzvah Fund supports special educational and charitable projects for the Congregation and in its name. Gifts in any amount are always welcome, and are acknowledged to the donor 3 and/or to the honoree or to the family of one who has been remembered. Please direct gifts and instructions to Rabbi Silverman. (Checks payable to CBJ-Rabbi s Mitzvah Fund) Your support is always appreciated.

Many questions have been asked about the various funds of CBJ. It seemed an appropriate time to publish them for a refresher. CBJ FUNDS: Contributions are welcome in any amount. Please direct your gifts, together with dedication instructions, to the appropriate fund. All gifts will be acknowledged by personal letter to the honoree or to the family of the person in whose memory a gift is made. Mail to: Congregation Beth Jacob PO Box 3284 Plymouth, MA 02361 Please indicate to which fund you are donating on both your check and on the envelope Donation questions contact CBJ Treasurer Arnold Gladstein 508-209-0744 Congregation Beth Jacob General Fund Donations to the General Fund are vital to help defray the operating expenses of CBJ Beth Jacob Trust Fund Interest from the Trust Fund helps defray the expenses of running CBJ Rabbi s Mitzvah Fund - Rabbi s discretionary fund to support special educational and charitable projects for our congregation and in its name Resnick Fund Building Fund for the preservation of the Beth Jacob Community Center building Tree of Life a leaf may be purchased on our Tree of Life which is in our Community Center. Each leaf is $318, and anything within reason may be printed on it. The money is placed in our Tree of Life account and used for CBJ Ray and Milly Russo Cultural Heritage and Arts Fund To sponsor an annual presentation or performance of the arts Adeline and Reubin Winokur American Jewish History Prize Fund Award given annually to two deserving students of our religious school for excellence in American Jewish History Study Jacob and Minnie Kaplan NEFTY Institute Fund to encourage participation in NEFTY Institutes by offering a scholarship to eligible members of our Temple Youth Group who are applying to attend their first regional institute Brotherhood Landscaping fund for the beautification of the Synagogue grounds Seth Teles 508-746-5607 Yahrzeit Memorial Plaques located in our Synagogue sanctuary, each plaque commemorates a loved one who has died. A plaque may be purchased by a CBJ member for $200 or by a non-member for $300 and the money is placed in the Beth Jacob Trust Fund We thank the following people for responding quickly and generously donating to the Rabbi's Mitzvah Fund in order to have the name of Congregation Beth Jacob included among the donors to The National Yiddish Book Center, which plans to expand its facility in the near future. Judge and Mrs. Gregory R. Baler Dr. Arthur and Harriet Goodman Robin Hunter and Family Dr. Harry and Adeline Keller Melvin and Lois Klasky The Lelyveld Family Harriette Minsky Paul and Pamela Sechoka Rabbi Lawrence Silverman and Meredith Hoffman Muriel Swartz Dr. Arnold and Evelyn Wolfe We acknowledge these contributors to the Rabbi's Mitzvah Fund who have placed new Likrat Shabbat prayer books in the Synagogue. In Honor of Sam Gorfinkle on the Occasion of His Special Birthday (4 Books) By Carl and Sheila Finer Arnold and Alyce Gladstein Dan and Ronnie Hirschhorn Alan and Pam Koplan In Honor of Our Granddaughter, Maggie Paige Kusmin, on the Occasion of Her Second Birthday By Dan and Ronnie Hirschhorn DONATIONS From Ray and Millie Russo to the Russo Fund in memory of Mark Lelyveld. From Nancy Golden and David Cohen donated to the General Fund the proceeds from their yard sale. From Adeline and Harry Keller in memory of Mark Lelyveld From Bernard Resnick to the Resnick Fund 4

CBJ ADULT EDUCATION NEWS A TASTE OF JUDAISM Chances are you ve heard the buzz.but what s it all about? (Hint: nothing whatsoever related to food) A Taste of Judaism: Are You Curious is a short, free course on Jewish spirituality, ethics and community sponsored by the URJ (Union for Reform Judaism, our congregation s national umbrella organization) scheduled to be offered by CBJ this winter. Rabbi Silverman will teach three classes on Feb 28, March 6 and March 13. However, Taste is not for CBJ members. Rather, it is an outreach program designed for non-affiliated Jews, non-jews, intermarried couples and others seeking to learn about Jewish life. Thus, an opportunity to make new friends in the South Shore communities and for area people to become acquainted with CBJ. if you know someone who might be interested in the program you can suggest they apply - a designated Taste telephone number will be announced soon. Also, we ll be looking for a some volunteers to help set up, greet visitors, etc. on the three class evenings. Questions? Call Vicki Fitzgerald, 781 585 3424. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU D LIKE TO LEARN!! CBJ Adult Ed is open for suggestions. Please tell us the topics with a Jewish context you want to learn about and if possible we ll use your ideas in future programs. For example, how do other parents teach Judaism in the home? was one member s suggestion. I d like to know more about kabbalah, was another. Drop a line to v.b.fitzgerald@comcast.net or call 781-585-3424, weekdays before 10 p.m. 5

Beit Sefer will be studying "THE KINGS" for the next several weeks. Part of this study will include three plays put on by the students, that will relate to this study of "The Kings". This next month we will be participating in a Simcha Shabbat. We encourage all students and their families to join us in this joyous celebration. The music program is progressing nicely with our Beit Sefer participating in learning Shabbat music and songs. The students will also be involved with a Tu Bishvat Seder. Beit Sefer will be learning about a traditional Jewish Wedding culminating in a reenactment of a Jewish Wedding ceremony. UPCOMING EVENTS January 25 6 pm PARTY hosts their Annual Spaghetti dinner fundraiser and youth service February 1 to February 3 WINTER WONDERLAND Manty s ever popular event in Manchester, NH with tubing, skiing and snowboarding combined with a Saturday night dance along with Friday and Saturday services February 9-10 SHUL-IN 7th and 8th graders invited too! DON T FORGET TO CHECK CBJPLYMOUTH.ORG WEBSITE AND CLICK ON PARTY FOR UPDATES REVOLUTION PREP a NFTY sponsored SAT and ACT prep course program, has been successful in locating a site at the Hanover High School and has a program that coincides with the May SAT. They continue to negotiate with the Plymouth schools for a room rental. This is great news since it is central to ALL of our families. 6 NFTY members receive a discount. Contact: matt@revolutionprep.com

SPAGHETTI DINNER & YOUTH SERVICE REMEMBER THE FUN JAN 25TH, FRI 6:00pm CC ADULTS: $7.00 CHILDREN (12 and under): $3.00 Family Name: Adults : X $7.00 $ Children : X $3.00 $ TOTAL : $ Please send check made out to PARTY & form to: Robin Hunter, youth advisor 100 Keene Street Duxbury, MA 02332 Questions? 781 367-4960 or 781-585-8937 Forgot to send check? COME and bring MONEY in an envelope! 7

Our Mahjongg group is looking for another member to join us. We meet on Mondays from 12-3pm. Please contact Muriel Swartz at 508-746-1674 for more details! CBJ is seeking a few volunteers to join Harry Shamir in a committee to prepare a Yard Sale and Flea Market this coming spring 2008. The sale will take place on the lawn across the street from the Community Center. Participation would be extended to the entire Plymouth Community, individual families and local businesses. We plan to use the tables from Weishaupt Hall (about 20-25 of them) and all of the unsold items will be the responsibility of the owners. Please contact Harry at harryshamir@juno.com if you are interested. SIMCHA BLESSINGS The first Shabbat service of every month we will be bestowing a special blessing for your Simchas during the service. Birthdays, Anniversaries, get wells, great report cards, new job, retirement ~ whatever you wish to celebrate for that month. This is for adults and children. Be called to the Bimah with others celebrating that month and share with the congregation. NEEDED! A volunteer to chair Shabbat Across America. The event will be Friday, March 7, 2008, and will be comprised of the special Shabbat service and formal dessert for the Oneg. This is a congregation event. Please contact Sheila Finer at cbjpresident@yahoo.com if you are interested. ONEG SHABBAT Please select a special Friday to host Oneg Shabbat! It is a joyous opportunity for CBJ members to get together after Friday night services. It minimal cost with a spiritual reward. Thank you to all who volunteered to run the train at Independence Mall. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. And thanks to Robin Hunter who coordinated the entire scheduling to make this successful. Contact information: Harriet Weiner 508-746-0420 Harriet_Weiner@comcast.net 8

CBJ MEMBER RECOGNITION EVENING Friday, January 11, 2008 We will be recognizing CBJ s newest members as well as our Chai, Double Chai, and Triple Chai members. New CBJ Members Lisa & Justin Feingold and family Ellen Nelson Michelle Altman-Massie and son Linda & Richard Rothstein Candace & Roy Stillerman Lois & Arnold Weiss Triple Chai Members (at least 54 years) Lucille Arons Rose Geller Lois & Mel Klasky Harriette Minsky Muriel Swartz Morris Bloom Adeline & Harry Keller Milly & Ray Russo Double Chai Members (at least 36 years) Barbara & Joel Baron Ruth Horenstein Fay & Barry Meltzer Harriet & Arthur Goodman Susan & Larry Winokur Chai Members (at least 18 years) Barbara Aharoni Brenda & Gregory Baler Marcia & Al Baum Frimma & David Buckman Roberta Cowan Robin & Bryan Efron Sheila & Carl Finer Ann & Steve Fried Anne Geller Sherman Geller Dorian & Donald Greenbaum Bob Gurwich Rhonda & Jay John Annelise Katz Paula & Joe Keller Pam & Alan Koplan Rosa LaRosa Susanne Lelyveld-Wittenberg Addie Lelyveld Nancy & Richard Pecorella Hazel & Steve Minsky Sandy & Jack Rosen Suzanne & Dick Rubin Irene & Fred Sarke Pamela & Paul Sechoka Francine & Jeff Shelly Kim & Bill Sims Martin Starr Rose Stone Cindy & Seth Teles Merlie Vidette Terri & Fred Wax Jackie & Steve Winokur 9

Below is a list of women who were, or presently are, members of Beth Jacob Sisterhood. They all have something important in common. When you figure out what that is and want to become one of them please sign your name at the bottom of this list and send it to me as soon as possible!! (The Answer appears on Page 11 of the Tent) Sincerely, Barbara Aharoni-Shamir President Sisterhood Estelle Sherman Barbara Aharoni Anne Geller Linda Arons Sheila Finer Ruth Horenstein Eva Adler Hazel Minsky Robin Kirby Paula Keller Myra Glansberg Diana Stillman I want to add my name to this list: Send to Barbara Aharoni-Shamir, 37 Dwight Avenue, Plymouth, MA 02360 Pound Auction and Supper Mark your calendars! The Ever Popular annual Sisterhood Pound Auction weighs in on Saturday evening March 1st at 6:30 pm beginning with a Pot Luck Supper. Bring a dairy soup, salad or main dish to share along with a pound of something concealed in a bag. Bring your loose change and dollar bills too. After sharing supper with your Temple friends the frenetic bidding will commence! Be clever and use your imagination! Some past auctions have seen a pound of yarn, nails, pasta, wine, chocolate, beach sand, books, cosmetics, note paper, candles, matzo farfel, sexy or silly whatzit stuff. You can bring several one pound items, you are not limited to just one wrapped pound. the more items, the longer the evening, the more money we make for our Sisterhood! Beverages and dessert will be provided. Pot Luck suggestions include corn chowder, veggie soups, green salads, waldorf salad, veggie lasagna, eggplant parm, mac and cheese, veggie quiche and creamy kugels. So chase a cold wintry night away with us! Bring your friends too. It s Pounds of Fun! Chocolate Auction January 27th at 12 pm, directly following Beit Sefer at the Community Center All members of the Congregation, both children and adults, are invited to attend the first Chocolate Auction in recognition of Tu B shvat. Cocoa is derived from a plant and is what makes chocolate sooooo good. So, please join us in celebrating and have some fun. We are asking members to make/buy their favorite chocolate dish/item to be auctioned off. Please contact Melissa Goldbach at 508-830-1988 if you are able to provide an item to be auctioned off. Sheila Finer has offered to lend her chocolate fountain during the event to make yummy treats to eat while we are there celebrating. We look forward to seeing you there! 10

SISTERHOOD CON T OUR THANKS TO ALL WHO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AT CBJ Thank you to Cindy Teles, Alan Koplan, Paula Keller and their homemade latkes. Kitchen Team Workers for their efforts on behalf of Sisterhood s Latke Dinner and Yankee Swap on the first night of Chanukah, it was Yummo!! Thank you to Lisa Forman, Roxy Simpson and Nancy Golden for such a colorful and delicious CBJ Community Chanukah Party. Thanks to PTO bakers and to Betsy Wallace and Ann Maddeford for their cookie decorating station. Also, thanks to Jeff Issacson for handling the Book Fair sales. 85 adults and children attended this annual event. Thank you to everyone who got their reservations in on time. Thank you to all the people who joyfully volunteered to stand on their feet, for hours and hours wrapping gifts during December at our big Gift Wrap Fundraiser at the Independence Mall. Proceeds not only benefited our Sisterhood but also the Hadassah Medical Organization. Answer to question on page 9, see below: The Answer: They were all Sisterhood Presidents within the last 36 years BROTHERHOOD Funny Hats Optional Tuesday Jan 8th 7 PM Kingston Ten Pin! Email Brotherhood@cbjplymouth.org with your intentions. All are invited. Best Regards John and Bruce NEWS "Turn Down the Heat, Winter Tallit" Brotherhood is requesting feedback on offering Winter Scarves with a CBJ themed design for $20. We are also be looking into a class so you can learn how to tie Tzitzit on them to make them kosher 11

Yiddish Translation Project CBJ is undergoing an exciting project right now. In anticipation of our 100 th anniversary coming up in 2009, we decided to have our original 1909 board meeting notes translated from Yiddish to English. Thanks to Susan Stone, a descendant of one of our founding families, we hired Coraid O Brien, a Yiddish scholar, to take on this task. Coraid has corresponded with me several times telling me about some funny things she is uncovering in these notes. As much as things change, the more they stay the same. The board meetings back then encountered many of the same challenges we still do to this day. I ve heard some funny anecdotes that I know many of you will appreciate. We have been offered an opportunity through a matching fund to underwrite this task. You will be receiving more details shortly as to how you can participate and even have a copy of your own to add to your CBJ memorabilia. What a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the beginnings of CBJ and what better way than through the founder s own words. -Sheila Finer ONGOING PROJECTS NEEDED! A volunteer to chair Shabbat Across America. The event will be Friday, March 7, 2008, and will be comprised of the special Shabbat service and formal dessert for the Oneg. This is a congregation event. Please contact Sheila Finer at: cbjpresident@comcast.net if you are interested. FUNDRAISING GREAT LAKES SCRIP Check out the website www.glscrip.com and print out a work sheet of all the retailers who are part of this fantastic program! Call Carl at 508-224-6461 or email him at carlfiner@comcast.net to place an order. Reminder that the freight charge of $7.00 is equally divided by the number of subscribers Help meet the CBJ operating costs and not impact your budget! Super market cards (Stop & Shop and Shaw s) are available in $50.00 denominations and CBJ earns 5% commission. The Stop & Shop card can be used to purchase gasoline. Additionally, when you make a purchase of $100.00 or more at Stop & Shop, you receive an instant coupon good for ten cents a gallon discount. 12

Rev. Dr. Kirk Jones to be Guest Speaker at the 14th Annual Greater Plymouth Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast The 14th Annual Greater Plymouth Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast will be held at 7:00 am on Monday, January 21, 2008 at the Plymouth South High School on Long Pond Road in Plymouth, MA. The guest speaker will be the Reverend Dr. Kirk Jones of Randolph, MA. A pastor for twenty years, Dr. Jones was the founding minister of Beacon Light Baptist Church in New Orleans, and has been the Senior Minister at Calvary Baptist Church, Chester, PA; the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Boston; and First Baptist Church of Randolph. Throughout his pastoral ministry, Rev. Jones has served on various religious and civic committees at the local and national level. Currently a member of the adjunct faculty at Andover Newton Theological School, Dr. Jones serves as guest preacher and teacher at churches, schools and conferences throughout the United States. His writings have been published in various journals, including The Christian Century, Leadership, Gospel Today, Pulpit Digest, and The African American Pulpit. Dr. Jones is the author of several best-selling books including Rest in the Storm: Self-Care Strategies for Clergy and Other Caregivers and Addicted to Hurry: Spiritual Strategies for Slowing Down, and The Jazz of Preaching: How to Preach With Great Freedom and Joy. Dr. Jones newest book, Holy Play: The Joyful Adventure of Unleashing Your Divine Purpose was published this year. This community breakfast celebrating the life and work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is organized by the Greater Plymouth Interfaith Clergy Association. A major sponsor is the Plymouth No Place for Hate Committee. A continental breakfast will be prepared by the students of the Plymouth South High School Culinary Arts Program. Tickets will be available for purchase from churches affiliated with the Plymouth Area Interfaith Clergy Association and other locations. Tickets cost $8.00 for students and seniors, $10 for adults, and family tickets (for up to two adults and two children) can be purchased for $25.00. As part of the celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, and to commemorate the life and message of Dr. King, Plymouth grade school students will participate in a Poster contest, and high school students will participate in an essay contest. Winners of the contests will be invited to attend the breakfast, and all artwork and essays will be available for viewing during the event. For more information about the breakfast, or if you wish to volunteer to help organize this event, contact the Reverend Bob Stott at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Plymouth, 508-746-3041. 13

RESIDENT S PAGE The Biennial Experience I recently arrived home from an incredible trip to San Diego where Bruce Schulman and I attended the Reform Judaism s 69 th Biennial Convention. It was more than five days filled with worship, study, celebrations, music, and much more. It didn t matter that little time was left for either food or sleep because our thirst for knowledge and networking was quickly satisfied. A few of the highlights were: Early morning services using the new Mishkan T Filah siddur Introduction of the new Women s Torah Commentary Participating in the daily plenary sessions to discuss and vote on resolutions Over 150 workshops ~ wish we could have attended them all! A few that I attended were Congregation Self-Evaluation: Where Are We and How Do We Get to Where We want to Be?; How Welcoming Are You: Effective Congregational Communications; Building Commitment Through Committees; Volunteers: The Foundation of a Small Congregation; To Have and To Hold: Engaging and Retaining Your Members; Membership Recruitment: Finding, Welcoming, and Connecting. A few Bruce attended were It s That Time! Starting a Capital/Endowment Campaign; Modeling Success: Membership and Outreach Programs Your Congregation Can t Do Without; Best Practices From Award Winning Social Action Programs; How to Create and Implement a Realistic Long-Range Plan; Speakers: Rev. Rick Warren, Pastor of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA; Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa; Ron Wolfson, co-founder of Synagogue 3000; Dr. Ingrid Mattson, President of the Islamic Society of North America Awards presented to Professor Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute; Michael J. Fox, actor and founder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation; Debbie Friedman including a musical salute to her. Shabbat: A 24 hour experience of joy, holiness, rest, and worship ~ imagine praying, celebrating, and singing with 5500 of your closest friends! Evening musical programs including Debbie Friedman, Peri Smilow, Joshua Nelson, Rabbi Joe Black, Doug Cotler, and Julie Silver. Google any one of these to enjoy a small representation of their music. Joshua Nelson will be performing his Jewish Gospel music at Temple Sinai in Sharon in March and I plan to arrange a CBJ trip there. He is not to be missed. 200 vendors and exhibitors from all over the world ~ a shopping extravaganza. Networking, networking, networking! Bruce and I will be sharing the new found knowledge we returned home with and how best CBJ can partake of and benefit from this. The next biennial will be held in November 2009 and I urge you to seriously consider attending. It was an experience I will never forget! Thank you for allowing us to attend and represent Congregation Beth Jacob. - Sheila Finer 14

Celebrate the NEW YEAR OF THE TREES!!! What to do on Tu B Shvat? It is customary to increase in the amount of fruits one eats on Tu B Shvat in order to praise G-d, who created all these species of fruits. In particular, one should include among the fruits one eats on this day the species of fruit which the land of Israel is praised for: grapes, olives, dates, figs and pomegranates. The blessing recited on the fruit is: Hebrew transliteration: Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha Olam borei pri ha-aitz Meaning: Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree P B G H J Q S E E R T Q O F G Y E L R A B J W K M F K R P S X O W E S D E E W I D C L H R E R S G I F F V I E T R A A L R U G S V A DON T FORGET TO PLANT YOUR TREE THIS TU B SHVAT! Y A T D E E A H E E T M J N A O Y Y N T S H U K A S U R W J A K G I O L X Y T T E D T F S E P A R G R K N P E TREES POMEGRANATE FIGS NEW YEAR DATES PLANT MAASER WHEAT OLIVES BARLEY BOKSER GRAPES All of the above words have to do with tu B Shvat. Can you find and circle them? They will appear forwards, backwards, angled.. 15

FRIENDS OF CBJ KUSMIN FAMILY NEW HOMES*RENOVATIONS*RESTORATION BUILDERS Plymouth, MA kusmine@hotmail.com 617-201-2714 16

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January 2008 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 Shabbat Services 7:30 pm (Syn) Simcha Blessings 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Brotherhood Bowling Night 7 pm (pg 11) NEW MEMBER S SHABBAT SERVICES (SYN) 7:30pm Sisterhood 7pm Syn 13 14 15 16 17 18 Shabbat Services 7:30 pm (Syn) 19 10 am Shabbat Service (syn) 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Martin Luther King Breakfast 7:30am (pg 12) TU B SHVAT Cantor Applicant Kim Singer assisting Rabbi with Shabbat Service (syn) 7:30 pm PARTY Annual Spaghetti Dinner 6 pm (Pg 6) 27 28 29 30 31 CHOCOLATE AUCTION 12 PM CBJ 18

February 2008 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THRUSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 PARTY Wonderland Trip (pg 6) PARTY Wonderland Trip (pg 6) Shabbat Services 7:30 pm (Syn) 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 PARTY Wonderland Trip (Pg 6) SISTERHOOD 7 PM Shabbat Services 7:30 pm (Syn) PARTY S SHUL-IN (pg 6) 10 PARTY S SHUL-IN (pg 6) 11 12 13 14 15 Shabbat Services 7:30 pm (Syn) 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NO BEIT SEFER PRESIDENT S DAY Shabbat Services 7:30 pm (Syn) Ayllon Chalif Bar Mitzvah 24 NO BEIT SEFER 25 26 27 28 7:30 pm A Taste Of Judaism Outreach Program 29 Shabbat Services 7:30 pm (Syn) 19

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ANNUAL BREAKFAST IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER READ ALL ABOUT IT ON PAGE 13 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Plymouth, MA Permit No. 176 Congregation Beth Jacob P.O. Box 3284, Plymouth, MA 02361 CBJ Web Page: www.cbjplymouth.org Community Center (CC): 508-747-3466 Court Street at the corner of Brewster Street (across Court Street from the Court House) WISHING ALL CBJ MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR! Synagogue (Syn): 508-746-1575 Summer Street at the corner of Pleasant Street (Next door to Friendly s) Rabbi Lawrence Silverman: 508-746-1575 RabbiLawrence@gmail.com President: Sheila Finer cbjpresident@yahoo.com Sisterhood President: Barbara Aharoni ahaba@juno.com Brotherhood President: John Bridgewater jbridge450@aol.com Newsletter Editor: Stefanie Zeitz stefaniezeitz@aol.com Next Newsletter Deadline: February 9, 2008 The next newsletter will encompass March and April 2008. If you would like to contribute, please send your items to Stefanie Zeitz. Late submissions are accepted but will not appear in this edition. Any late submissions will be kept for the following edition. Thank you for your understanding. 20