From The Co-Presidents

Dear CBI Community,

As we move into spring and the days lengthen, our thoughts turn to the spring festival of Passover and, not too long after, the end of Jewish Journeys school year and the CBI Annual Meeting on May 27. We are thrilled to be celebrating with three Jewish Journeys students – Eli, Lily, and Zachary – and their families, as they become b-mitzvah between March and June of this year. And we express our thanks to Rabbi Rachel and Rabbi Jarah, who are guiding them on this journey as they become Jewish adults.

As we look at the coming year, we ask each of you to think about how you can help sustain and strengthen our CBI community. The work of being a responsive, welcoming, and spiritual community belongs to all of us, not only to those few who take on leadership roles. We are looking to add additional members to our Board this year, and to broaden our circle of leadership and participation. Whether you have recently joined CBI, rejoined after some time away, or are a long-time member, we need you! There are many roles to play – joining the Board, becoming an usher, helping with events, bringing food for events or onegs, welcoming new members, serving on the Finance, Building & Grounds, Security, or Membership Committees, and joining the Chevra Kadisha Committee, to name just a few. We would be happy to have a conversation with you to see how your unique interests and talents could help the CBI community. Please contact either of us to begin this discussion.

Thank you to all those who have so generously given to the “Bring the Heat” HVAC Campaign. We have now raised over $54,000 and are well on the way to funding our much needed system. It’s not too late to participate – every gift helps us reach our $100,000 goal! The new HVAC system is on order and will be installed later this spring. We have sent out individual thank you letters to donors and also listed their names in our newsletters. If you have already given and haven’t received a letter &/or seen your name, please contact the office.

We hope to see you at our upcoming Second Night Community Passover Seder, and at other CBI services and events.

B’Shalom,

— Natalie Matus & Wendy Penner