From The President

Dear Congregants and Friends,

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.

On February 10 & 11, Rabbi Moshe Druin from Sofer on Site International visited CBI to repair our two main Torah scrolls. By the end of his visit, both scrolls were made kosher and can now be used in services. He met with our students, parents and other adults in our community to give an engaging educational presentation about his work. Thank you to all the donors to our Torah Fund, who made this sacred work possible.

We just received word that Jewish Federation of the Berkshires has awarded us a generous grant for our education program, including a significant increase that will allow us to open a branch of Jewish Journeys in Bennington, to serve members of the CBI / NEFESH community in southern Vermont who are not able to travel to North Adams for our school. We are grateful to the Federation for their ongoing support of our school and family programs, as well as all they do for the entire Jewish community in the Berkshires.

I hope you’ll join us Friday night, March 14 at 7pm for a very special Kabbalat Shabbat / Purim service. We will celebrate Purim with a spirited re-enactment of the Purim story — come in costume, or pick up a few items from our synagogue costume box upon arrival! With a nod back to the silent film era, title cards will walk us through the journeys of Esther and Mordechai. After we re-enact the story and shake our groggers and noisemakers at the mention of Haman, we’ll enjoy hamantaschen and other potluck desserts. Let us know you are coming and if you can bring some treats to share. All are welcome to this family-friendly service. It’s always a lot of fun!

Looking ahead, please join us on Sunday, April 13 at 6pm for our Second Night Community Passover Seder! More details are in the newsletter.

We need you! Though winter can feel long, spring is rapidly approaching, and with it, our Annual Meeting and vote on the new Board slate. Please consider becoming part of the lay leadership of CBI by joining the board. We will have several openings this year and hope you will consider how you can participate. Whether you are a new or long-time member, young or old or anything in-between, and live in the Berkshires or further away, there is a place for you. Our Board meetings are on Zoom, enabling members who live far away during most of the year to serve alongside those of us who call the Berkshires our full-time home.

We also have many different opportunities to get involved on various committees. Right now we are looking for additional members for the Cemetery Committee and we would also like to reestablish our Chesed Committee, to be able to respond to our community’s needs for help with things such as bringing a meal when someone is recovering from illness or a hospitalization, providing an occasional ride to a medical appointment, or even making a friendly visit or call to someone in our community. The CBI Board extends its thanks to Jane & Bob Miller for their many years of service on the Cemetery Committee, and to Joe Apkin, who has agreed to head this committee going forward. We also thank Jane Shiyah for her many years stewarding the Chesed committee.

Please contact me to discuss the various ways you can get involved to help our CBI community — thanks in advance.

B’shalom,

— Natalie Matus