January 2026 | Tevet / Shevat 5786
With the start of the new secular year of 2026 and the second half of CBI’s year, we are looking both forward and back.
Entries by Natalie Matus
November 2025 | Cheshvan / Kislev 5786
We hope you enjoyed a beautiful high holiday observance. We were delighted to welcome many of you into our overflowing sanctuary to worship together, share special holiday treats on Rosh Hashana, break-the-fast on Yom Kippur, and enjoy a community potluck in our beautiful sukkah.
October 2025 | Tishrei / Cheshvan 5786
This month’s column is a reprint of this year’s Days of Awe co-presidential speeches that were delivered on Rosh Hashanah I & Yom Kippur.
September 2025 | Elul 5785 / Tishrei 5786
We send warm greetings to the CBI community as we enter this sacred season of the High Holy Days. Our devoted rabbis and choir have been working with care to ensure that our services are both meaningful and uplifting, and we look forward to gathering with you to worship and for our community Break-the-Fast.
August 2025 | Av 5785
The summer is zipping by, as it always seems to do. We hope you are enjoying all that the Berkshires have to offer. Our rabbis and lay leaders have been busy planning for the upcoming year and have some exciting ideas for the coming year.
July 2025 | Tammuz 5785
Here we are-happy summer! I write to you for the first time in my new role as CBI co-President with Natalie Matus who has served our community so beautifully for 5 years. I have witnessed firsthand her dedication, commitment, hard work, and passionate support for our community and we are beyond blessed that she found us! I am honored to work alongside her, and our wonderful board members this year, at a time when the need for community, and in particular Jewish community, is so evident.
June 2025 | Sivan 5785
I am delighted to welcome Wendy Penner as co-president of CBI for the coming year! Wendy has been a true partner over the past year, taking on numerous responsibilities and acting as a valued thought partner. I am so pleased that she has decided to take on the official role of co-president. Together, we look forward to serving the CBI community in the year to come.
May 2025 | Iyar 5785
Roger and I had the wonderful opportunity a week ago to attend a reception at the Yiddish Book Center for the installation of the 25 foot long House of Israel mural at the main entrance to the Center. This mural is deeply connected with CBI’s history – it was painted by artist Noah Levin above the ark at our predecessor synagogue on Francis Street in North Adams.
April 2025 | Nissan 5785
It is almost time for Passover, a time when we prepare our homes for the holiday, look forward to gathering with family and friends, and celebrating together as we tell the story of Passover. I am writing to you from Hong Kong, where I am visiting with my family. It is very interesting to celebrate in a country so different in many ways from our own.
March 2025 | Adar 5785
After a month away, it is good to be back in the Berkshires. I’d like to share some highlights of the past month and some of the many things we are looking forward to in the next few months.
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