Celebrate Pesach with Congregation Beth El

Pesach Synaplex™ -
"Get into the
Spirit of Pesach"
Friday, April 3 • 6:15 pm

Join us for our Pesach Synaplex Event as we welcome the
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir for a Freedom Concert.  
       • Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:15 pm
       • Potluck Dinner with Charoset Tasting at 7:15 pm
       • Gospel Concert at 8:15 pm
       • Shabbat Oneg at 9:00 pm

Childcare is available during services for $5/family.
Please RSVP in advance for childcare to Rebecca DePalma

Making the Most of your Passover Celebration
A workshop with Rabbi Yoel Kahn
Saturday April 4, 2009 • 1:00 - 2:30 pm
What is Pesach all about? Whether you've attended a 100 seders, or this will be your first, bring your questions and creative ideas to a workshop with Rabbi Yoel Kahn at Congregation Beth El. We will look at seders throughout history and discuss ways to create a meaningful seder for yourself and your family this year, with specific ideas tailored to the participants at your table.

Free and open to everyone; advance reservation requested;
please email Charlie Radin.

Second Night Community Seder: A Beth El Tradition
Thursday evening, April 9 • 5:45 pm
Join Rabbi Yoel Kahn, Cantoral Soloist Bon Singer and Beth El friends old and new for a festive celebration and delicious catered kosher Pesach meal. We are never too old nor too young to learn and retell the story of our own and other people's liberation from oppression. With song, ritual and discussion, we will reenact this ancient tale, making connections to our own lives and our world.

Members: Adults $36 Children $18
Guests: Adults $45 Children $22
Childcare provided for children 5 and under.
To register, please click here.

Yizkor Circle and Service  
Wednesday evening, April 15 • Yizkor Circle 6:15 pm 
Yizkor Service 6:45 pm
At each of our major festivals, we remember our loved ones who have died at a Yizkor memorial service. Whether your loss is recent or more distant, you are invited to join with others in our community to commemorate your loss and honor the memory of those we have lost. The Yizkor service is preceded by a Yizkor circle, a facilitated discussion about loss, grief, love and memory. All are welcome.

These programs are co-sponsored by Congregation Beth El, Congregation Beth Israel and Congregation Netivot Shalom with the assistance of the Jewish Community Federation of the East Bay.

Save the Date!
7th Annual
Lichvod Hatzibur Dinners
For the Honor of the Community
Saturday, May 16, 2009 • 6:00 pm
Come enjoy a lovely dinner cooked especially for you in the company of fellow Beth El members.
Look for your invite in the mail and online registration details shortly!

Help Usher in Shabbat
with your Smile!
Come join your rabbi on the bima or volunteer to help greet at a Friday night or Saturday morning service. Help us create a warm atmosphere by clicking on this link, entering SHABBAT as your password and volunteering! Any questions?
Please email Robinn Magid.
Hope to see you in shul!

Visit our  Israel trip blog!

Our intrepid travelers are back from a memorable and transformative, eye-opening journey. Everyone on the trip came back with new insights and new questions. We invite you to share the journey by visiting our updated trip blog by clicking here for pictures, information and reflections. Thanks to Bob Epstein, our blog-master and to all the trip photographers and writers.  The trip participants are working on a “report back” to the Congregation - details in next week’s e-update.

Another Gathering
of the Tribe
Beth El Retreat
at Walker Creek Ranch
Friday, May 1 - Sunday, May 3, 2009
at Walker Creek Ranch in Petaluma
Registration deadline has been extended to Wednesday, April 15!
This is an opportunity for all members of our community to gather for a weekend of Shabbat celebration, learning, community and relaxation.

The weekend schedule offers separate activities for adults and kids as well as activities for families. People of all ages will enjoy organized activities, find their own adventures or kick back and relax, getting to spend time with other Beth El folks.

Walker Creek Ranch is a beautiful camp setting, one hour and 15 minutes north of Berkeley in West Marin.  Located on 1700 acres of rolling hills, the land is blessed with 20 miles of hiking trails, bay laurel forests, open grassland and clear water flowing in Walker Creek all year long.

Introduction to The Classic Texts of Judaism
Sunday mornings, April 12, 19 and 26 • 10:30 am - 12:15 pm
Join Rabbi Yoel Kahn for a short survey of the classic texts of Judaism – Torah, Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash and others. We will explore where and when they were composed, how to find a reference in them, and how to appreciate what they can teach us. The last class will include attending a special presentation with guest scholar Avivah Zornberg. 

NEW! 
Baby Playgroup for Infants and Parents
Monday mornings, beginning April 13 • 9:30-11:00 am
Start your week off right on Monday mornings at Beth El from 9:30-11am. Newborns through 2.5 year olds are invited to meet us in the Children's Library for music, stories, Havdalah and an opportunity to share advice about parenting. This playgroup is free to all Beth El members, $5 for non-members. This is a drop-in group, so there is no need to sign up in advance. Please tell your friends!  For more information, Debra Sagan Massey at 510-848-2122 x213 or click here to email Debra.

Family Shabbat Service
Friday, April 17 • 6:15 pm
Join us for a family-focused Shabbat evening together. Our service will be geared towards families in our religious school, with many of the lively tunes we use in our services.  Families are encouraged to join us for Shabbat services followed by a festive oneg. Music will be led by songleader Josh Miller, and services will be held outside (weather permitting). This is a fantastic way to strengthen the friendships that are made in Religious School and to celebrate Shabbat as a community.

The Israel Relations Committee and Beth El's first trip to Israel invite you to an informative and celebratory dinner!

Report Back from Israel
Friday, April 24 • 7:30 pm (after Shabbat Services)
Beth El's first trip to Israel has returned with pictures and stories to share. We went from talking to Palestinians on the West Bank, to doing water ballet in the Dead Sea. We went to Reform services in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. We climbed Masada (well some of us did anyway - there is a tram you know) and walked through Roman ruins in the rain. The trip was very meaningful and we want to share our experiences with you. Please be our guest for a delicious Shabbat falafel/Middle Easter vegetarian dinner after services on April 24.

Services are at 6:15 pm and dinner is at 7:30 pm. There will be a slide show from the trip, discussion and questions. RSVP to Amy Oppenheimer by Monday, April 20 if you will be having dinner.
We hope to see you there!

Dr. Avivah Zornberg
Saturday evening,  April 25 - 5:30 pm • Congregation Beth Israel, Berkeley
Sunday morning, April 26 • Congregation Beth El, Berkeley

       • Brunch at 10:15 am
       • Presentation at 11:15 am

Dr. Zornberg will speak on Shabbat, Saturday April 25th, at Congregation Beth Israel at 5:30 pm. The topic for her lecture will be Letter from an Unknown Woman: Joseph’s Dream. Sunday, April 26th at 10:15 am, Dr. Zornberg will join Congregation Beth El for brunch followed by a presentation titled, From Another Shore: Moses and Korach.

A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Avivah Zornberg holds a PhD from Cambridge University. She began her teaching career in 1969 at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, specializing in English Literature.  Since 1980, she has taught Torah and lectured in distinguished academic centers throughout the world. She published Genesis: the Beginning of Desire in 1995, and followed in 2001 with The Particulars of Rapture: Reflections on Exodus.  Her new book, The Murmuring: Deep Reflections on the Biblical Unconscious will be published by Schocken in March 2009. 

Please lend a helping hand for Sukkot in April. This year we are associating with the Berkeley Ecology Action Center to upgrade its model Eco-house at Hopkins & Peralta Sts. in Berkeley. Lunch will be provided between morning and afternoon work times. The majority of the “work” will be to paint the inside of the house. We will also be doing planting and weeding in its yards.  As usual, we will provide sustenance and entertainment for all participants. Because we feel that this is an ideal event for families, we hope to organize activities in which children can participate. Click here to register now!

Each year, the Men's Club honors a member of the congregation who has performed dedicated and outstanding service to the Congregation. Past honorees include Odette Blachman and Ernie Alexander. We hope the entire congregation will come to this Shabbat Service to honor Albert. Everyone is welcome! For more information, please contact Bob Goldstein at 510-548-0720.

The community is invited...
Birkat HaChammah - Blessing of the Sun
Once every 28 years
Wednesday at Dawn • April 8, 2009
For more information, please click here.

The community is invited...
Marriage Equality Freedom Seder
April 14, 2009 • 6:30 pm at the SF JCC - 3200 California Street
For more information, please click here.

The community is invited... 
Dance Performance at JCCSF:  Liz Lerman Dance Exchange
Saturday, April 18 & Sunday, April 19
For more information, please click here.