As we approach the High Holy Days, we’ve entered a period of reflection and assessment. In addition to my own personal reflections, I am also very aware of the passing of one year and the beginning of the next in the communal life of Congregation Beth Israel. With a year under my belt as president, it is a time when I reflect both on what has gone well and what more we need to or can do.
As the summer flies by, I hope you are getting some rest & relaxation and enjoying all that the Berkshires offer this time of year. I have been blessed to have been able to finally see my daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons who live in Hong Kong. I hope many of you have also experienced sweet reunions with family and friends.
I am pleased to share that Rabbi Rachel is recovering from her recent heart attack and has resumed her schedule, with the understanding that she is to take the time she needs to rest and to see medical specialists. The Board is working to lighten her load where we can.
Our congregation is growing and now exceeds 100 families. I think that it is due to our warm, welcoming community as well as our growing list of events and activities. Young families won’t want to miss the “Family Walk in the Woods” coming in late June. Everyone is welcome at our outdoor summer Shabbat services where we can join prayer and nature.
It’s truly spring now and CBI is blooming, both literally and figuratively. Everything is greening up, the grass is growing, perennials and spring bulbs are popping up, and our pollinator garden is coming alive. We have opened our doors to in-person worship services and programs, while maintaining a Zoom option for those who are far away or are more comfortable participating that way. It is delightful to see people again in-person after two long years of isolation.
Our family programs continue to expand and our newly launched Adult Programming Committee met and began planning for a busy spring and summer. As spring takes hold here in the Berkshires, exciting things are happening at CBI! Thanks for your input via our recent survey, which has guided us in our planning.
Good news — we are opening our doors to in-person worship and programs once again! The decreasing COVID-19 numbers in our community and the fact that the local risk level has moved from high to low means that we can once again meet in person. To ensure the safety of our most vulnerable, we will continue to require masks for everyone ages 2 and up. We will also keep seating spaced apart for those who wish to continue to practice social distancing. For those who are not able to attend in person for whatever reason, most services will continue to include a Zoom option.
I hope that you are all well and enjoying this season, no matter where you are spending your time. Though our synagogue building was closed last month due to the pandemic, our Rabbi, the Board, and Oliver Jones, our synagogue administrator, have been very busy. Our Hebrew School continued to meet in-person and by Zoom. Services have continued by Zoom on their regular schedule.
We are excited to welcome two new members to our CBI community this month: Elizabeth Sands, a retired social worker who lives in Brookline and has long family connections in North Adams, and Shira Wohlberg, who lives in Williamstown and has been helping to beautify our landscaping, making it more friendly to bees, butterflies and other species. In early spring, we will be planting fruit trees around our property, sponsored by our B’nai Mitzvah families in honor of their children and by other generous families.
