Deadline to register has been
extended to February 2nd!
Synaplex™ Tu B'Shevat Celebration Sunday, February 8th Tu B’shevat is a day to plant trees and appreciate the environment in which we live. Lets do it together!
Join us for many fun activities:
• Urban hiking into the Berkeley Hills
• Planting and Gardening
• Blessing Walk for Families with Children
• Preparing Fruit from Trees - Come bake apple pies!
• Presentation on Environmental Initiatives and
Realities in Israel
• Symbolic Foods Tu B’Shevat Seder
led by Rabbi Yoel Kahn
• Youth Group Kick Off and much more!
To reserve your space for the Apple Pie Baking,
Symbolic Foods Seder or Nursery School childcare,
please click here.
Shabbat Shira - The Shabbat of Song Friday, February 6 • 6:15 pm Our newly revitalized Adult Choir will enhance our Shabbat evening service on Friday, February 6, in honor of Shabbat Shira, the Shabbat of Song. The Shabbat when we read Miriam's Song of the Sea from the Torah is called "The Shabbat of Song" and our choir, under the leadership of Cantorial Soloist Bon Singer, will add beauty and spirituality to our service.
The chorus will perform:
Hinei Ma Tov, Shalom Aleichem, Ahavat Olam, Echad - a Shema interpretation, Pitchu li, Ufros Aleinu
The Structure of the Liturgy
with Rabbi Yoel Kahn
Sunday morning, February 1, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Saturday afternoon, February 7, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
To launch our adult b’nai mitzvah learning, Rabbi Kahn will be offering two classes on “The Structure of the Liturgy.” This class is open to everyone. It is especially recommended for adult b’nai mitzvah students, parents of upcoming b’nai mitzvah and anyone else who would like a fuller understanding of the structure and meanings of the Shabbat morning service.
Shabbat This Week:
January 30 & 31, 2009
5 Shevat 5769
Parashat Bo Exodus 10:1-13:16
Friday, January 30 -Shabbat Evening Service 6:15pm
led by Rabbi Yoel Kahn
Saturday, January 31 -Minyan Service 8:30am
-Torah Study, 9:15am
led by Joshua Bar Lev -Shabbat Morning Service 10:15am
led by Rabbi Yoel Kahn and
Cantorial Soloist Bon Singer
Bar Mitzvah of Benjamin Yasemsky
Shabbat Next Week:
Friday, February 6 -Shabbat Evening Service 6:15pm
led by Rabbi Yoel Kahn
Saturday, February 7 -Minyan Service 8:30am
-Torah Study, 9:15am
led by Stan Schiffman -Shabbat Morning Service 10:15am
led by Rabbi Yoel Kahn and
Cantorial Soloist Bon Singer
Bar Mitzvah of Benjamin Preneta
Greeter, Gabbai and Bimah
Representatives Needed To sign up or for more information, including what each of these positions entails, please click here.
When prompted for your password, please enter: shabbat
An Interfaith Project
Lecture with Brian Walt of Rabbis for Human Rights
Thursday, February 12 • 7:30 pm at Beth El
The Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, in collaboration with Congregation Beth El, other universities, centers, faith communities, and social organizations will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with a program entitled Faith in Human Rights: Promoting Human Dignity, working for Justice, Building Peace.
Rabbi Brian Walt is the founding executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights-North America and Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Mishkan Shalom, a synagogue in Philadelphia PA. dedicated to the integration of spiritual life and social justice. For many years Rabbi Walt has promoted open discussion in the Jewish community of human rights issues faced by Palestinians living under Israeli control. He is a member of the board of the National Religious Campaign against Torture. He speaks nationally on issues of human rights and Judaism.
Looking for a Volunteer Coordinator Have you been wondering how you can get involved in building community at Beth El? Here's an opportunity to use your excellent people and organizational skills and at the same time get to know many of our incredibly talented members. Beth El is looking for a volunteer Volunteer Coordinator to match congregational and program needs with members' skills. Please click here to view the job description and if you feel this position is for you, please email Beth El Vice President, Joanne Backman as soon as possible. We are looking to find the right person in the next few weeks, so please don't hesitate to let Joanne know you're interested.
Calling All Gardeners Tu B'Shevat (the holiday of the trees) is approaching. To prepare the ground for our Tu B'Shevat festivities on February 8th, we are holding a garden work party at Beth El on Sunday, February 1st from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. We will prune, weed, and feed our trees and plants. Bring your garden tools and get to know other gardeners in the congregation. We could use your help! For more information email Ruth Ehrenkrantzor just show up.
Jewish Life in the Former Soviet Union Friday, February 6 • 12:00pm Chai, our Beth El Elders group, extends an invitation to the entire congregation to attend lunch and meet representatives ofLiberal Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union. Nursery school parents are especially invited; you are welcome to come for lunch and leave for Shabbat in the classrooms.Lunch is available by advance registration; free to Elders (you decide if you are eligible), $5.00 to everyone else.Please email Lenora O'Keith to RSVP. Save the Date!
Beth El Retreat Friday, May 1 - Sunday, May 3, 2009 at Walker Creek Ranch in Petaluma More information will be available shortly.
The community is invited... 2009 BPWA Special Winter Presentation Thursday, February 19, 2009 • 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Redwood Gardens Habitat Rehab: Restoring Bay Area Nature from Mountains to your Downspout
For more information, please click here
Jewish Family and Children's Services Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay offers a number of helpful community workshops on subjects ranging from living with the stigma of mental illness to finding work in these tough economic times. For more information, please click here.
