Everyone is invited!
Confirmation 5769
Friday, May 29 • 6:15 pm
Join us for Kabbalat Shabbat and catered supper on Friday evening, May 29, as we welcome this year's Beth El Confirmation class.
Please click here to view e-vite and RSVP.

21st annual
Tikkun Leyl Shavuot
Thursday, May 28 - Friday, May 29 • 6:30 pm through dawn 
JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street • Berkeley
A unique community-wide celebration and night of Torah study, a spiritual journey bringing together Jews with varied perspectives and affiliations. Stay for an hour--or stay until dawn. We will be led in study by teachers from our diverse Jewish community. Celebrate Shavuot! For more information, please email Robin Braverman
or call 925-979-1998.

Shavuot Yizkor Service

Saturday morning, May 30 • 11:30 am
Yizkor, our tradition’s semi-annual Memorial Service, is observed at each of the major festivals. This year, the Shavuot Yizkor service will be held as part of the Shabbat morning service this Saturday morning, May 30. The Shabbat service begins at 10:15 am and the Yizkor section will be at about 11:30 am. Names of loved ones who have died during the past twelve months will be read during the service.

2009 Annual Meeting
June 7 • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
(Brunch/lunch included). The revised by-laws, based on the feedback we received at the meetings held last November, were approved by the Board on April 28th. Each member of the congregation will have access to the new by-laws in time to facilitate discussion and familiarity before a vote is taken at the meeting. We will have a new slate of candidates for your approval, and of course, we are also planning to have a financial report, including a discussion and presentation about our debt and budget followed by Q&A. Mark your calendars and plan to come and be a part of the action!

*The annual meeting is open to all congregants, however our Bylaws stipulate that "Each membership unit in good standing shall have the right to vote ..." and all such members will receive a ballot in the mail within ten days of the June 7th annual meeting. If you have any doubt as to your membership status for 2008/9, please email Suzanne Alexander right away, as you have until May 15, 2009 to renew your membership if needed. Please call or email Suzanne if you'd like to discuss any aspect of your membership at Congregation Beth El. No one will be denied membership because of their inability to pay full dues.

All 5th - 8th Graders
are invited!
Sababa Youth Group
Outdoor Party & Election
June 7 • 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Cordonices Park - meet at playground
Come eat and play outside to celebrate summer with your friends from Beth El! Please bring a snack to share. We will play sports and games. We will also be having youth group elections to elect the Sababa President, Programming Vice-President, Social Action Vice-President, Religious & Cultural Vice-President and Membership Vice-President for the 2009-10 year!

RSVP by emailing Rebecca DePalma or calling 510-848-2122 x214. You may also contact Rebecca to put your name on the ballot or if you want to help plan this event for you and your friends.

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!

Mazel Tov to
Beth El Member
Rabbi Jim Brandt
Rabbi Brandt has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of both the Jewish Community Federation and the Jewish Community Foundation of the Greater East Bay. Click here to read the full article.

Camp Kee Tov - Registration Information for Summer 2009
Six hundred happy campers have registered for Camp Kee Tov already!! Is your family among them? Some programs are almost full and will be on wait list status soon.
Register today --and invite your friends to join you.

Families who are interested in Camp Kee Tov  are invited to our annual Parent Information Night:
Sunday, May 31 • 5:00-7:00 pm
* Information about Camp Kee Tov programs
* Director on hand to answer your specific questions
* Getting to know you games for the kids
* Help completing financial assistance forms

Kids are welcome! RSVP to Charlie Radin by clicking here.

Hope and Justice in the Middle East
Lecture with Rabbi Arik Ascherman
Director of Rabbis for Human Rights
Sunday, May 31 • 5:00 pm • Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Avenue
Co-sponsored by Congregation Beth El, Congregation Netivot Shalom, Kehilla Community Synagogue, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, Trees of Hope.

The community is invited...
Changing Lives in the Holy Land
TONIGHT! Wednesday, May 27 • 7:00-9:30 pm
A conversation with two Israelis and two Palestinians
Sponsored by the Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue
For more information, please click here.

The community is invited... 
Tehiyah Parents Organization
Barnes & Noble Bookfair
Monday, June 15 • 7:00 pm at Barnes & Noble - 6050 El Cerrito Plaza
Michael Pollan discussion and book signing - In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
For more information, please click here.

The community is invited...
Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay
91st Annual Meeting
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 • 7:00 pm • Temple Isaiah, 3800 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette
Please join the JCF as they honor their leadership and install a new Board of Directors. This will be an evening focused on building a stronger, more inclusive and collaborative East Bay community and a celebration of our many donors, volunteers and communal partners. Admission is free. RSVP by Friday, June 5. For more information and to register, please click here.