May 17, 2012   Congregation Beth Israel, West Hartford, CT Mazel tov Maggie Pidto! Saturday, May 19, 11am Maggie will lead our Shabbat service as she becomes a Bat Mitzvah. Everyone is invited to join her and her family at the service as we welcome the newest adult member of Am Israel, our Jewish people! Thank you to the Pidto Family for sponsoring our Oneg Shabbat in honor of Maggie. Young Families & Friends Friday, May 18, 6pm  Take this opportunity to make friends with other young families! Your children will receive Shabbat blessings and we will share stories and songs. Birthright Israel / Simcha Shabbat Friday, May 18, 7:30pm Nearly 300,000 Jewish young adults have experienced the gift of Birthright Israel. We are going to join synagogues across the country and share in the joy of this accomplishment. We will also share each other’s simchas! Read more. Project Joshua – Long Range Plan Sunday, May 20, 9:15am Focus Group Open to All The future of our synagogue community is at stake. Everyone’s thoughts are important. Come to our focus groups or visit our website. Let’s Party! Sunday, May 20, 11:30am Let’s celebrate, as a community, another wonderful year of learning at our End-of-the-Year Religious School picnic. Brotherhood is grilling! (Do you have a small charcoal grill we could use? We need some more!) Please note: there is no parking in our back parking lot on Sunday morning! Sunday, May 20, 4pm We are going to honor our volunteers who enable this community to thrive. We will also have a special presentation from Mitzvah Musicale! Read more. Golf Tournament! Monday, May 21 It’s here! If you don’t play golf or tennis, please join us for dinner. Thank you for your support. Read more. Confirmation Friday, May 25, 6:30pm  Together we join our teen confirmands in the commitment we make, in a hectic and distracting society, to the roots of our heritage and our vision for a better world. Our confirmands will lead the service. A community dinner will follow. Cost for each dinner is $15/adult, $12/student & senior, and there is a $54 cap for families. RSVP Sarah Beck, gro.tcibcnull@kcebs, 860-233-8215 x223 by Tuesday, May 22. Tikkun Leil Shavuot Saturday, May 26, 7pm  What do cheesecake, late nights, and the Ten Commandments have in common? Find out at our Tikkun Leil Shavuot. Read more. Israel, Here We Come! Let’s discover Israel together, as a Beth Israel community. Our trip is tentatively planned for March, 2013. Can you join us? All the details so far are posted to our website. Active Jewish Singles, ages 55-70 We are playing Miniature Golf and having lunch together, Sunday, May 20, 11am (offsite) RSVP gro.ccjllednamnull@grebztlohs, (860) 214-8148  Read more. Our upcoming events are also listed on our website,www.cbict.org or visit our calendar. We are on FACEBOOK and TWITTER. You received this email because you are either a member of Congregation Beth Israel or you asked to be on our mailing list. You can opt out if you wish. Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, CT 06119 860-233-8215     www.cbict.org    gro.tcibcnull@learsihteb

Friday, May 18
6pm Young Families & Friends
7:30pm Birthright / Simcha Shabbat Service  Sanc.

Saturday, May 19
9:30amTorah Study - Behar-Bechukotai
11am Shabbat Service and the Bat Mitzvah of Maggie Pidto  Sanc.
7:30pm Baroque in May - Natasha Ulyanovsky to play harpsichord at theCongregational Church of South Glastonbury 

Sunday, May 20
There is NO parking in the back parking lot in the morning.
9am Religious School
9:15am Long Term Planning Discussion
10:45am Services in sanctuary for Religious School. All are welcome.
11:30am Religious School picnic
4pm Volunteer Tea

Monday, May 21
Golf and Tennis Tournament 
5:30pm Minyan

Tuesday, May 22
10:15am SAGE -Jane Zande will speak on “What Shall I Read” at 1pm
3:30pm Religious School in Farmington
5:30pm Minyan
5:45pm Klezmer Band

Wednesday, May 23
4:30pm Religious School
5:30pm Minyan
6:30pm Confirmation class

Thursday, May 24
5:30pm Minyan
See our complete calendar. ]]> http://www.cbict.org/chai-lights/chai-lights-of-the-week-may-17-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.cbict.org/blog/rabbi-pincus-is-a-published-author/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rabbi-pincus-is-a-published-author http://www.cbict.org/blog/rabbi-pincus-is-a-published-author/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 15:39:49 +0000 Jane Zande http://www.cbict.org/?p=6110   Rabbi Pincus had a great idea…how about Torah Commentary specifically written for teens?
Jewish Lights Publishing thought it was a great idea, and they followed through on it! They commissioned Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin to compile a collection of messages on each Torah portion. In this book, you will read commentaries specifically with the young adult in mind, written by Rabbi Pincus and other  rabbis, cantors, educators, authors and cultural personalities.

The publisher also commissioned teens to edit the commentaries.  Jadin James and Remony Perlman were chosen to be teen editors!
Mazel tov to all involved with this important new work.
The Learning Center will have a copy as soon as it is published, but if you want your own copy, click here. 

Jim (center) with his family and Rabbi Pincus

Our Social Justice Shabbat was an evening to rejoice and honor. Mazel tov to the Namerow/Tilden family on the Bat Mitzvah of Annie (another wonderful service, by the way), and mazel tov to Alex Benthien, who reread his Torah portion, Emor. What outstanding teens we have at Beth Israel!

Jim Friedman was honored, among other things, for his 25 years as a leader of our Social Justice Committee. Rabbi Pincus thought the best gift we as a community could give Jim was the chance to speak! So Jim spoke eloquently about the influences in his long life – his mother, who worked in a thrift shop deep in the slums of Cincinatti; his father, who in 1942, at age 44,  volunteered to serve in the US Air Force because “it was the right thing to do”; his many teachers and mentors, including Leonard Fein (our guest for the evening), Al Vorspan, and Rabbi David Saperstein; how his involvement in various professions led him to understand that social justice has its roots in Judaism; and how each week, as he tutors children on how to read, he looks in their eyes and sees the face of God.

Jim is an amazing person, who spends his days repairing the world. If you or your family has been involved in any social justice activity here at Beth Israel, it is likely because Jim made it possible. (Mitzvah Day? Jim. Our relationship with Bethel A.M.E. Church? Jim.  Day of Service? Jim. Yom Kippur Food Truck? Jim.)

We also recognized Dianne, his wife, for her many contributions to Beth Israel.  And we said thanks to Susan Myers and Roberta Tansman, who are stepping down as our Social Justice Committee co-chairs. Our new co-chairs are Dr. Susan Levine and Dr. Andy Packer. Our Literacy Volunteers were also acknowledged for their hard work and dedication.

Leonard Fein listens to a congregant

Jim also invited his friend and mentor Leonard Fein to share the evening with us. Leonard is a pillar in Reform Judaism. He founded Moment magazine, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy.  He is also an ardent Zionist, a liberal ardent Zionist. After our service, he spoke about his views on Israel, and the current condition of Israel. He wrote an article for the Forward, Still a Proud, Disappointed Zionist: Don’t Give Up Fight for Ideals of Israel’s Founders, that includes some of the points he spoke about at Beth Israel.

Read the article and then you will understand why there was some push back from members of the audience. (From his article: “Israel’s incumbent government energetically pursues a settlement policy that will, before long, render a two-state solution impossible.”)

We engaged in respectful dialogue, although there was not enough time. But leave it to Jim Friedman to give us an opportunity to hear a knowledgeable, legendary, and articulate speaker, and to get us thinking, and talking.

Jim is a strong leader among us here at Beth Israel, and we are enriched by his presence.

WonderWalk was Wonderful!

Our WonderWalk for the March of Dimes was indeed a wonderful event.  We came together as a community to “help sick babies,” as the Noah’s Ark children have been learning as they prepared this past week for WonderWalk day.

Our WonderWalk was much more than a fundraiser (although we were VERY successful with that—we raised more than $1300—the final count is not yet in).  Through WonderWalk, we shared with Noah’s Ark children the importance of tzedakah— helping others in need and contributing and reaching out to the community.  Participating in events like WonderWalk is an essential aspect of Noah’s Ark’s program.  In fact, it’s part of our curriculum as children learn social and emotional skills such as social responsibility and self-confidence.  When children took part in our joyful outdoor Shabbat with Rabbi Pincus and Rabbi Shaffer, which started off WonderWalk morning, they (and their families) could feel they were part of the Congregation Beth Israel community and the community beyond.  Giving to March of Dimes and walking around our neighborhood together with friends, teachers, parents, and grandparents teaches children about cooperation and community—and gives them the knowledge and confidence that they can make a difference.

Our WonderWalk morning was truly a festival.  There were crafts for children, teachers and parents to create together, fun outdoor play, balloons, socializing and delicious refreshments donated by community businesses including Big Y, Whole Foods, Lox, Stock & Bagels, and others.

It was an amazing morning, and we thank you for your generous support for the March of Dimes and for joining us to support your children to become confident, capable, and generous contributors to their community.

A special thank you goes to Penguin Room parent Natalee Martin, who works for March of Dimes (and without whom this event would not have been possible) and to Yelena Pasternak, our Penguin Room teacher, who was the prime mover and skilled and talented organizer for our WonderWalk.  Yelena is also the mother of Monkey Room student Jonathan, who was born prematurely in December, 2009.  Here’s Yelena’s message of appreciation to you:

 If someone told me 2-1/2 years ago that today I would be surrounded by my loving family, my two awesome boys and browsing back to all of my memories of December 2009 when none of us knew what to expect of the upcoming day, hour, minute. . .I would not believe a single word. . .I just could not. . .2009 was one of the toughest year of our lives.  I never dreamt that this day, today, would come. My Noah’s Ark family has been very supportive of us from day one. Since we left the NICU, I always wanted to help out other parents to try to find some hope for a future, to raise money for hospitals where the sick babies are. For me there is nothing more rewarding than being a mama. I believe together we can give out much-needed support and provide comfort to families with sick or premature babies in our community.

Today was one of the best days of my life to see children, parents and teachers together raising money and walking for an excellent cause—for Healthy Babies!

Just think that one day all babies will be born healthy–how much happiness and joy that will bring to the world.

From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank each and every one of you for your understanding and support.

  “You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one; each day brings a miracle of its own. It is just a matter of paying attention to this miracle”. (Paulo Coelho)

Sincerely,

Yelena Pasternak

Free Trip to Israel in High Demand by Jewish Young Adults
Congregation Beth Israel to Celebrate Birthright Israel Program, Which Gives Youth New Perspective on Judaism, Israel
Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, will recognize the 13th year of Birthright Israel, a program that has sent more than 300,000 Jewish young adults, ages 18-26, on a free ten-day trip to Israel as a way to discover their heritage. The program will be on Friday, May 18, 2012, with a Shabbat service at 7:30pm. The congregation is extending an invitation to the more than 350 participants in the Greater Hartford area who have been on Birthright in the past five years.
Those who are lucky enough to participate express a profound impact the trip has made on their lives.

“Birthright was an incredible experience that will stay with me for my lifetime,” said congregant Laura Rothman, who went on Birthright right after college. “The chance to discover Israel and learn about my heritage with peers was amazing and I would wholeheartedly recommend the program.”

Aaron Smith, a congregant who lives in Manhattan, went on Birthright in 2007. “Birthright Israel is an extraordinary trip. You meet lifelong friends. You learn about Israeli culture and history. You explore beautiful terrain. You discover, in your own way, what it means to be Jewish. It’s just an amazing journey in every way. I look forward to reconnecting with others my age who have gone on this program,” he said.

Senior Rabbi Michael Pincus chose to participate in celebrating the program with other synagogues across the country because it is a way for Jewish youth to keep connected to their Judaism as they leave home and their synagogue community. “Birthright Israel gives our younger generation a unique opportunity to connect to their past as well as with their present,” said Senior Rabbi Michael Pincus. “At our Shabbat celebration, we would like to give these young adults an opportunity to get together and reflect on their common memories.”

Young adults who would like to attend the dinner should contact Cheryl Goldberg, 860-233-8215 x224, gro.tcibcnull@grebdlogc, or register online, www.cbict.org. Cost for the dinner is $12.
Congregation Beth Israel is a Reform synagogue whose mission is to serve the lifelong spiritual and educational needs of its congregants, within a welcoming and caring, contemporary Reform Jewish community.

Congregation Beth Israel Welcomes Leonard Fein to Speak on His Liberal Position on Israel and Will also Recognize Veteran Leader Who Has Inspired the Congregation’s Commitment to Social Justice Activities in the Greater Hartford Area

The right-wing “solution” to the chronic conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is no solution at all, says Leonard Fein, a longtime Zionist and social activist who will be the guest of Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, on Friday evening, May 11, 7:30 pm. He will be honored during Shabbat Services in its historic Sanctuary. Immediately afterwards the audience will reconvene in the social hall and he will discuss the complex issues surrounding the future of Israel from his liberal point of view.  Refreshments will be served.

The evening will also recognize the accomplishments of Jim Friedman of West Hartford, a member of Congregation Beth Israel who is stepping down as chairman of the Congregation’s Social Justice Committee after twenty-five years.

“Both Leonard Fein and Jim Friedman are dedicated supporters of Israel, teachers, and social justice activists who have inspired our congregation for years,” said Senior Rabbi Michael Pincus. “We are honored to welcome Mr. Fein back to the Hartford area and to have the opportunity to recognize Jim’s outstanding contributions to the Greater Hartford community.”

Mr. Fein is the founder of Moment magazine; MAZON, A Jewish Response to Hunger; and the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy. Mr. Fein has also authored several books, including Against the Dying of the Light: A Father’s Journey Through Loss. His more than 800 articles and essays have appeared in dozens of newspapers, magazines, and journals.

Mr. Friedman has been an urban planner, has headed employment agencies in inner-city Hartford, and has held a variety of professional positions in local synagogues. In addition to chairing the synagogue’s Social Justice Committee, he served as a National Board member of MAZON, was Vice-President of the Northeast Council of the Union for Reform Judaism, co-chair of the Connecticut Council on Interreligious Understanding, and a team leader for the Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy since its inception 14 years ago.

“Jim brings his love of Judaism to the world of interfaith relations and the larger community. However,  his true passion has always been expressing Judaism’s prophetic call for Justice,” said Rabbi Pincus.

The entire community is invited to the service and/or discussion. For more information, contact gro.tcibcnull@learsihteb, 860-233-8215, or visit www.cbict.org.

Congregation Beth Israel is a Reform synagogue whose mission is to serve the lifelong spiritual and educational needs of its congregants, within a welcoming and caring contemporary Reform Jewish community.

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If you wouldl ike more information about this topic, please call Rabbi Michael Pincus, 860-233-8215 x228, gro.tcibcnull@sucnipibbar.

Bring your little ones for stories, songs, and blessings…
and there will be plenty of play time!

Friday, May 18, 6pm

A Kid-Friendly Dinner and Shabbat Service!

The evening includes a Young Children’s Service with songs, stories, and prayers, followed by a sit-down, age-appropriate Shabbat dinner, complete with Shabbat blessings. The cost for the dinner is $8 for adults and $5 for children.  RSVP Sharon Mogel, ten.labolgcbsnull@legomnorahs.

Sign Interpreter available at Congregation Beth Israel

Congregation Beth Israel is joining synagogues across the country in recognizing Jewish Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Awareness Shabbat on Friday, May 4, 2012, 6:30pm, at a Shabbat service at the synagogue, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. This initiative was begun by the Jewish Deaf Resource Center (JDRC), an organization which helps build bridges between Jewish individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing and the organizations which serve the Jewish community.

Senior Rabbi Michael Pincus explains, “This particular Shabbat was chosen because on that day our Torah reading includes Parshat Kedoshim, which says “Do not insult the deaf…”  Our synagogue community welcomes the Jewish Deaf community. We are participating in this program to raise awareness among our congregants and the community about the need for individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing to have access to our Jewish communal life.”

President Jeffrey Winnick said he is proud of Beth Israel’s efforts to reach out to the deaf community. “We have special funding that will pay for a state-certified sign interpreter whenever we are aware of deaf or hard-of hearing individuals who want to attend our services. We try to open our hearts and doors to those with special needs.”

Congregation Beth Israel is a Reform synagogue whose mission is to serve the lifelong spiritual and educational needs of its congregants, within a welcoming and caring contemporary Reform Jewish community. The service will be sign-interpreted and the public is invited, deaf and hearing. RSVP gro.tcibcnull@learsihteb, 860-233-8215, or visitwww.cbict.org for more information.