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.

Congregation Beth El,
Congregation Beth Israel and
Congregation Netivot Shalom
invite you to a
weekend of study with
Dr. Avivah Zornberg

Saturday evening, April 25 • Congregation Beth Israel, Berkeley

5:30 pm Presentation: Letter from an Unknown Woman:
  Joseph’s Dream

6:30 pm Seudah Shelishit reception

Sunday morning, April 26 • Congregation Beth El, Berkeley

10:00 am Brunch

11:00 am Presentation: From Another Shore: Moses and Korach

Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg is the author of Genesis: The Beginning of Desire (for which she won the National Jewish Book Award) andThe Particulars of Rapture: Reflections on Exodus. Her new book, The Murmuring Deep: Reflections on the Biblical Unconscious was just released by  Schocken in March, 2009.  She was born in London and grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, where her father was a Rabbi and the head of the Rabbinical Court.  She holds a BA and PhD in English Literature from Cambridge University. After teaching English literature at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, she turned to teaching Torah. For the past twenty-five years, she has taught Torah in Jerusalem at Matan, Pardes and the Jerusalem College for Adults. Dr. Zornberg also holds a Visiting Lectureship at the London School of Jewish Studies. She travels widely, lecturing in Jewish, academic and psychoanalytic settings.

Programs are free and open to the entire community. A donation is requested for the Kosher brunch.

Books will be available for purchase on Sunday morning.

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 invitation in the mail and for 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.

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. 

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.

Everyone is invited...
Gardening Chug
Sunday, April 19 • 10:00 am
Please join us in the Beth El landscape
to weed and tend...

We will plan to meet once a month, on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Please join us from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm or so. (Rain Cancels!)
Bring gloves and tools. We will mostly be weeding, also some pruning and trimming back. 

RSVP preferred, but not required by emailing Susan Frankel.
Please invite your friends and forward this on to others that might be interested. No experience necessary.

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!

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...
Marriage Equality Freedom Seder
Tuesday, 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.

The community is invited...
Over 50? Get Job Search Savvy!
Thursday, April 23, 2009 • 7:00 pm at Temple Sinai
For more information, please click here.