This June, We’re Moving to Multi-Access!

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This June, We’re Moving to Multi-Access Services

In June, assuming that our primary constituent towns remain “green” or “grey” in the state chart, we’re going to shift our Shabbat services from entirely online to multi-access (sometimes called “hybrid”) services.

Multi-access means that you can participate fully either online (in the shul Zoom room) or onsite (under the willow tree behind the shul.)

How Will This Work?

Every Thursday, the weekly state COVID report comes out. Ollie will check the report, and if North Adams, Adams, and Williamstown are all color-coded as green or grey, we’ll send out an email on Friday letting you know that there will be a multi-access service. 

If There Is A Multi-Access Service

The service will take place beside the patio behind the shul, in the shade of the willow tree. We’ll use Mishkan T’filah, our bound siddur. (Those joining digitally are invited to get a digital copy of the siddur, available as a free flipbook at the publisher’s website, or as a Kindle download for your Kindle, phone, tablet, or computer.)

Pursuant to the latest CDC guidelines, singing will be allowed! Because we will be singing, we ask those attending onsite to please wear a mask. We will also ask those present onsite to fill out an attendance sheet, so that if (God forbid) a case of COVID does arise we can do appropriate contact tracing.

If Not

If the weather forecast calls for inclement weather, or if our local rates of infection rise such that one or more of our primary constituent towns is yellow or red, we will revert to digital-only services.

Either Way

Keep an eye on your email; a message will go out each Friday to let you know how Shabbat services will be held!

Kabbalat Shabbat services are scheduled for June 18, July 16, and August 20 at 7:30pm. On weekends when we celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat, there is usually no Shabbat morning service. (August 21 will be an exception.)
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Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat, to a bat mitzvah, and to Shavuot

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Shabbat Services This Week

Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 10:30am on Saturday morning (note the different time) for Shabbat morning services led by Rabbi Rachel, where we will call Sadie Lentzner to Torah as a bat mitzvah!

Torah Portion and Commentaries

This week we’re reading from parashat Bamidbar. If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s parsha, here are a few:

And here’s commentary from the URJ:

Shavuot Is Almost Here!

And save the date for our Tikkun Leyl Shavuot — on Sunday May 16 starting at 7:30pm, we’ll celebrate the revelation of Torah with learning, song, poetry, and more! As we did at Tu BiShvat and Pesach, we’ll join together with Temple Beth El of City Island and Rabbi David Markus for a joint festival celebration, with special guest Rabbi Cyn Hoffman in addition to our own Rabbi Rachel and Rabbi Pam.

We’ll begin at 7:30pm with Festival Maariv (Evening Prayer) — featuring some beautiful melodies we don’t usually hear, and the joyful psalms of Hallel, and also the memorial prayers of Yizkor recited four times a year. We’ll continue at 9pm with Late Night Learning, featuring teachings from members of CBI and members of TBE, the four rabbis in attendance, and even Morgan Freeman, culminating at midnight with a teaching from the Zohar about midnight in the garden of Eden and opening to divine flow.

Things to have on hand for Shavuot

If you need a Yizkor candle for Shavuot, please reach out to the office. We have a box of them on hand, and will gladly share them with you — just connect with Ollie to confirm a time to pick one up.

We hope to see you soon at CBI.

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Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat and to Shavuot

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Shabbat Dinner This Week

Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 7:30pm on Friday night for Zoom Shabbat Dinner. Bring your own candles, wine or juice, bread to bless, and meal to eat!

Shabbat Services This Week

Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 9:30am on Saturday morning for Shabbat morning services led by Rabbi Jarah Greenfield.

Torah Portion and Commentaries

This week we’re reading from parashat Behar-Bechukotai. If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s parsha, here are a few:

And here’s commentary from the URJ:

Save the Dates

Join us for Shabbat morning services at 10:30am (note the unusual time!) on Saturday May 15 as we call Sadie Lentzner to Torah as a bat mitzvah.

And save the date for our Tikkun Leyl Shavuot — on Sunday May 16 starting at 7:30pm, we’ll celebrate the revelation of Torah with learning, song, poetry, and more! As we did at Tu BiShvat and Pesach, we’ll join together with Temple Beth El of City Island and Rabbi David Markus for a joint festival celebration, with special guest Rabbi Cyn Hoffman in addition to our own Rabbi Rachel and Rabbi Pam.

We’ll begin at 7:30pm with Festival Maariv (Evening Prayer) — featuring some beautiful melodies we don’t usually hear, and the joyful psalms of Hallel, and also the memorial prayers of Yizkor recited four times a year. We’ll continue at 9pm with Late Night Learning, featuring teachings from members of CBI and members of TBE, the four rabbis in attendance, and even Morgan Freeman, culminating at midnight with a teaching from the Zohar about midnight in the garden of Eden and opening to divine flow.

We hope to see you soon at CBI.

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Shavua tov! Looking forward to Lag Ba’Omer and Shabbat Emor

Shabbat Services This Week

Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 9:30am on Saturday morning for Shabbat morning services led by Rabbi Pam Wax!

Torah Portion and Commentaries

This week we’re reading from parashat Emor. If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s parsha, here are a few:

And here’s commentary from the URJ:

Happy Lag Ba’Omer!

Lag Ba’Omer is this week. Tradition teaches that on this date, a plague that had afflicted Rabbi Akiva’s students finally ended. It’s marked with bonfires, haircuts (many Jews refrain from haircuts during the first 32 days of the Omer, as we also do during the month of shloshim after a death), and celebratory study. Here are new poems and illustrations from the Liturgical Arts Working Group at Bayit: Building Jewish, which we hope will bring meaning to our second pandemic Lag Ba’Omer: Yearning For Our Plague to End.

Save the Dates

Our next First Friday Zoom Shabbat Dinner will be at 7:30pm on May 7 in the CBI Zoom Room.

Join us for Shabbat morning services at 10:30am (note the unusual time!) on Saturday May 15 as we call Sadie Lentzner to Torah as a bat mitzvah.

And save the date for our Tikkun Leyl Shavuot — on Sunday May 16 starting at 7:30pm, we’ll celebrate the revelation of Torah with learning, song, poetry, and more! As we did at Tu BiShvat and Pesach, we’ll join together with Temple Beth El of City Island and Rabbi David Markus for a joint festival celebration, with special guests Rabbi Bella Bogart and Rabbi Cyn Hoffman in addition to our own Rabbi Rachel and Rabbi Pam.

We’ll begin at 7:30pm with Festival Maariv (Evening Prayer) — featuring some beautiful melodies we don’t usually hear, and the joyful psalms of Hallel, and also the memorial prayers of Yizkor recited four times a year. We’ll continue at 9pm with Late Night Learning, culminating at midnight with a teaching from the Zohar about midnight in the garden of Eden and opening to divine flow.

Plan to join us; more information is coming soon.

We hope to see you soon at CBI.

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Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Tazria-Metzora!

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Kabbalat Shabbat Services This Week

Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 7:30pm on Friday evening for Kabbalat Shabbat services led by Rabbi Rachel! We’ll welcome Shabbat with song, poetry, and joy.

Torah Portion and Commentaries

This week we’re reading from parashat Tazria-Metzora. If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s parsha, here are a few:

And here’s commentary from the URJ:

Save the Dates

Our next First Friday Zoom Shabbat Dinner will be at 7:30pm on May 7 in the CBI Zoom Room.

And save the date for our Tikkun Leyl Shavuot — on Sunday May 16 starting at 7:30pm, we’ll celebrate the revelation of Torah with learning, song, poetry, and more! As we did at Tu BiShvat and Pesach, we’ll join together with Temple Beth El of City Island and Rabbi David Markus for a joint festival celebration, with special guests Rabbi Bella Bogart and Rabbi Cyn Hoffman in addition to our own Rabbi Rachel and Rabbi Pam.

We’ll begin at 7:30pm with Festival Maariv (Evening Prayer) — featuring some beautiful melodies we don’t usually hear, and the joyful psalms of Hallel, and also the memorial prayers of Yizkor recited four times a year. We’ll continue at 9pm with Late Night Learning, culminating at midnight with a teaching from the Zohar about midnight in the garden of Eden and opening to divine flow.

Plan to join us; more information is coming soon.

We hope to see you soon at CBI.

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Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Shmini

Shabbat Services This Week

Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 9:30am on Saturday morning for Shabbat morning services led by Rabbi Jarah.

Torah Portion and Commentaries

This week we’re reading from parashat Shmini. If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s parsha, here are a few:

And here’s commentary from the URJ:

Save the Dates

Our next Kabbalat Shabbat will be at 7:30pm on April 16 in the CBI Zoom Room.

Our next First Friday Zoom Shabbat Dinner will be at 7:30pm on May 7 in the CBI Zoom Room.

And save the date for our Tikkun Leyl Shavuot — on Sunday May 16 in the evening, we’ll celebrate the revelation of Torah with learning, song, poetry, yoga, and more! We’re partnering with other small communities for a joint celebration and it’s going to be grand. Plan to join us; more information is coming soon.

We hope to see you soon at CBI.

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Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat… and Pesach!

Shavua tov — and chodesh tov; a happy new month of Nissan to all. Passover is coming!

Kabbalat Shabbat!

Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 7pm on Friday evening for Kabbalat Shabbat services led by Rabbi Rachel! Together we’ll welcome the presence of Shabbat with song, prayer, poetry, and sweetness.

Shabbat Afternoon: Passover Play!

Kids of all ages (and their families) are invited to join us at CBI at 1pm on Saturday, March 20, to re-enact the Passover story. We’ll meet (masked) on the patio behind the shul. Jane Shiyah will provide her boxes of costumes and props. Together we’ll re-enact the story of our liberation as we usually do during the Second Night Community Seder, and we’ll make a video to share with members of our community. Please RSVP to the rabbi so we know you’re coming!

Torah Portion and Commentaries

This week we’re reading from parashat Vayikra. If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s parsha, here are a few:

And here’s commentary from the URJ:

Second Night Community Seder – Save the Date and RSVP now!

Join us for a lively, musical, meaningful, heart-filled second night community Zoom seder. Like last year, the seder will be co-led by Rabbi Rachel and Rabbi David Markus and will be open to members of our two shul communities, CBI and Temple Beth El of City Island. Expect music, meaning, tradition balanced with innovation, and most of all connectedness as we rejoice in our festival of liberation even in these constricted times. Please RSVP to the synagogue office by no later than Wednesday, March 24; a secure Zoom link will be sent to everyone who registers, but it will not be posted online anywhere to prevent zoom-bombing.

We hope to see you soon at CBI.

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Shavua tov! Looking forward to Purim and Shabbat

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Shavua tov!

Thanks to all who joined us for our masked and costumed Purim Parade yesterday, and especially to our storyteller and family educator Jane Shiyah. That was our first taste of Purim this year. Our next taste will come on Thursday evening (when Purim begins — except in ancient walled cities like Jerusalem, which celebrate Purim one day later.) Join us on Zoom for our annual Purim play.

Thursday, February 25, 6:30pm: Purim Puppet Spiel In The CBI Zoom Room

Join us for our annual Purim play — this year, on Zoom, featuring glorious papier-mache puppets made by David Lane and kids in our community. The play will be performed by CBI members of many ages. We’ll re-tell the Purim story with laughter and merriment. BYO hamentaschen!

Shabbat and Torah

Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 9:30am on Saturday morning for Shabbat morning services led by Rabbi Pam Wax.

Torah Portion and Commentaries

This week we’re reading from parashat Tetzaveh. If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s parsha, here are a few:

And here’s commentary from the URJ:

We hope to see you soon at CBI.

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Shavua tov! Looking forward to Repro Shabbat and more

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Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 9:30am on Saturday morning for Shabbat morning services led by Rabbi Rachel. This week has been designated as Reproductive Justice Shabbat by the National Council of Jewish Women. There will be special poems and readings in our Shabbat service relating to that theme, and Rabbi Pam Wax will offer a d’var Torah about reproductive justice and Jewish values.

Torah Portion and Commentaries

This week we’re reading from parashat Mishpatim. If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s parsha, here are a few:

And here’s commentary from the URJ:

Havdalah and Concert

There’s also a special event happening on Saturday evening — havdalah (led by Rabbi Rachel) and a concert by acclaimed Jewish musician Neshama Carlebach!

Join community members from across the Berkshires for a special evening of inspiration and light featuring Neshama Carlebach. Complimentary Havdalah candles and spice kit are available for contactless pick up at the Jewish Federation while supplies last. Register here. Co-sponsors: Congregation Beth Israel, Congregation Ahavath Sholom, Hevreh of Southern Berkshire, Knesset Israel, Temple Anshe Amunim, Hadassah, and the Berkshire Minyan.

Save the Dates

There are two opportunities to celebrate Purim at CBI this year:

Sunday, February 21, 11am: Masked Costume Parade

Join us for a masked costume parade — from the CBI parking lot, down the street and over to the suspension bridge, across the bridge, and back again. All kinds of costumes are welcome! And even if you’re not inclined to wear a costume, show up and applaud for our kids who are excited about an opportunity to dress up as someone else and shine.

And…

Thursday, February 28, 6:30pm: Purim Puppet Spiel In The CBI Zoom Room

Join us for our annual Purim play — this year, on Zoom, featuring glorious papier-mache puppets made by David Lane and kids in our community. The play will be performed by CBI members of many ages. We’ll re-tell the Purim story with laughter and merriment. BYO hamentaschen!

We hope to see you soon at CBI.

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Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Sh’mot at CBI – and, some dates to save!

Shavua tov: a good new week to all. And happy 2021!

Happening This Week

Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 7:30pm on Friday night for our first Friday Night Zoom Shabbat Dinner (At Home):

Many of us are feeling disconnected or lonely during this pandemic winter. So we’re starting a monthly Shabbat dinner gathering over Zoom, intended to connect us with each other and with our community. Whether you’re brand-new to CBI or your family’s been here for generations, join us, meet each other, chat and schmooze, and enjoy Shabbat dinner together from all the places where we are!

Read more about it here on Facebook. All are welcome! Have your own meal on hand. And if you can rustle up candles, juice or wine, and bread or challah, we’ll begin by blessing them together.

join us also in the CBI Zoom Room also on Saturday morning at 9:30am for Shabbat morning services, led by R’ Jarah Greenfield.

Torah Portion and Commentaries

This week we’re reading from parashat Shemot. If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s parsha, here are a few:

And here’s commentary from the URJ:

Save the Dates

Don’t miss a special Zoom speaker event with Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan at 8pm on January 13 on The Infinity Inside:

Join us on Zoom for a conversation with Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan. Rabbi Laura is a spiritual teacher, professor, and writer. Her studies of world traditions have helped her understand what is both unique and universal about Judaism. As a teacher, she brings big concepts to life with personal experience. Rabbi Laura lives in Vancouver, Canada, where she is Director of Inter-religious Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology and Rabbi Emerita of Or Shalom Synagogue. She shares a home with her husband and musical partner Charles, their young adult children, and a changing array of companion animals. She blogs at www.sophiastreet.com.

And save the date also for two Tu BiShvat celebrations the weekend of January 30 — an outdoors and socially distanced Tu BiShvat walk at Stone Hill at 10am on Saturday January 30, and a Tu BiShvat seder on Zoom with two other small communities at 4pm on Sunday January 31:

We’ll meet at 10am on Saturday, January 30, in the parking lot at the Clark Art Institute. We’ll take a (masked, socially distanced) gentle contemplative walk up Stone Hill — learning a bit about local trees as we go — and at the top of the hill, we’ll toast to the health of the trees, with etrog spirits or citrus fizzy water!

JOur Zoom seder at 4pm on Sunday, January 31, will take us through the four seasons and the Four Worlds, experienced through the theme of hitkashrut, interconnection — enlivening our connections with each other, with our traditions, and our source. A joint offering between Congregation Beth Israel and Temple Beth-El of City Island. Zoom login information will not be publicly posted but will be available in each congregation’s e-newsletter.

Hope to see you soon on Zoom at CBI.

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