From The Co-President
Dear CBI Community,
We hope you enjoyed a beautiful high holiday observance. We were delighted to welcome many of you into our overflowing sanctuary to worship together, share special holiday treats on Rosh Hashana, break-the-fast on Yom Kippur, and enjoy a community potluck in our beautiful sukkah.
On Yom Kippur morning, Rabbi Rachel experienced a series of TIAs and had to take a few weeks off to recover. We are pleased to report that Rabbi Rachel is now resuming her rabbinic responsibilities. She reports to us: “I am continuing to pursue a diagnosis with the support of a team of doctors in various specialties, and I’m working on some life changes to make sure my calling to serve as a rabbi is physically sustainable and can be part of my life for many years to come.” We cannot imagine life at CBI without Rabbi Rachel and are so thankful for her care and commitment to her recovery, and to everyone who stepped up during this challenging time.
The Board of CBI has made building community a priority this year. As we enter the dark days of winter, this feels even more important. Please join us at the upcoming community events listed below, and we hope also to see you at Shabbat services. These events are a time to socialize together, as many of you have requested, and also an opportunity to share our hopes and dreams for CBI. We can’t do it without YOU!
We will gather for social time together at CBI on Sunday, November 9 from 10am–11:30am. We will provide coffee, tea, lox and bagels, and more in our social hall. Stop by and join us for bagels and some shmoozing!
On Friday, November 21 ay 6pm, join us, the rabbi, and members of the Israel-Palestine Learning Committee for a (vegetarian / dairy / pescatarian) potluck Shabbat dinner followed by a documentary screening and discussion of The Path Forward (2024). No matter what your politics are around Israel and Palestine, we think this film offers both realism and hope. We hope you’ll join us – and bring a friend. We’ll meet each other with open hearts over a Shabbat meal, and then learn about bridge-builders charting a new path for the land they all love. Please join us in this holy work.
We also welcome all to our Community Chanukah Concert on Sunday, December 14 at 2pm! Join us to hear our choir, enjoy a rousing sing along, followed by a potluck reception and children’s Chanukah activities.
We want to extend our appreciation to everyone who pitched in to make our High Holiday observances so meaningful, in spite of the challenges – our service leaders, Rabbi Rachel and Rabbi Jarah (who stepped in to lead the remainder of our Yom Kippur services), choir, and ushers. And a special thanks goes to Jen Burt and her family, who provided delicious treats for our Rosh Hashanah oneg, the break-the-fast meal, and set up our sukkah with the help of many dedicated volunteers.
With gratitude,
— Natalie Matus & Wendy Penner
