From The Co-Presidents

Dear CBI Community,

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. Our second semester of Jewish Journeys begins today, and we welcome back our teachers, students and other families and friends with an engaging Torah improv group – the Bible Players, followed by an informal potluck supper. We are delighted that Heidi Katz, a new teacher who joined us mid-semester a few months ago, will be returning to teach Hebrew alongside Rabbi Rachel and Adam Green, allowing us to provide Hebrew language instruction tailored to the varied skill levels of our students. We are offering 2 electives this semester – a class on Jewish “magic” and folklore taught by Rabbi Rachel, and a class on the Jewish lifecycle taught by Heidi Katz.

Rabbi Rachel is preparing several new offerings for the upcoming holidays, including a Tu BiShvat seder of fruits and wine and two special Purim programs – one for adults and the other for families / all ages. We’ve held a Tu BiShvat seder for many years but this will be our first time interweaving the seder with wine and cheese pairings (non-alcoholic options will also be provided). And our Purim programs will include a spirited discussion of a part of the megillah we typically don’t read, as well as a play / potluck / party the following evening. Please look for details in upcoming announcements and join us if you are able.

Looking back on a very busy December, our Jewish Journeys students, led by Rabbi Jarah Greenfield, shared some of their learning and projects at a special Shabbat morning service. And our talented CBI choir, led by music director Adam Green, presented a beautiful Chanukah concert, followed by a delicious pot luck reception. It was a wonderful way to celebrate Chanukah together.

We have some exciting news to share: we have raised over $30,000 (towards our goal of $100,000) for our “Bring the Heat” Campaign to replace CBI’s aging HVAC system. Thank you so much to all of you who have already donated! And, if you have not yet participated, we hope you will make a gift to help us keep the heat on (and the AC in the summer). All gifts, of every size, matter.

You can make a pledge and fulfill it over time – you don’t need to write a check immediately but it is enormously helpful for us to know it is coming. Also remember that you can make a tax-advantaged gift from your retirement fund or by using your RMD (required minimum distribution if you are past the age of 73). You can also donate stocks, which may give you tax advantages as well. Michael Smith, our treasurer, will be happy to talk to you about these ways of giving.

We also want to let you know that we have signed a 5 year Torah maintenance contract with Sofer On Site to maintain two of our Torahs, as we promised last year when we ran the Torah Fund Campaign. Thank you to the many members of our community who contributed to this fund and made this important and ongoing work possible.

Finally, we want to encourage you to become more involved with the operations and leadership of CBI. There are so many ways to participate – as members of committees, joining the Board, being ushers and greeters, lending at hand planning and implementing specific programs, helping with programming, volunteering at Jewish Journeys, bringing food for kiddushes and potlucks, washing tablecloths, helping keep the kitchen organized, and so much else. We are a volunteer-driven synagogue and are able to operate only because of our volunteers. Please contact either of us to discuss what might fit with your interests, skills and available time.

As the days start to become lighter, we hope that you will join us, in-person and online, for the many wonderful services and programs in the year ahead.

B’Shalom,

— Natalie Matus & Wendy Penner