From The Rabbi

Help Us Care For Our Torahs

From The President, Jewish values, spiritual life, video

We are writing to share news of our progress on raising funds for CBI’s Torah Restoration & Maintenance Fund as of January 2025.

For the Good: Vayehi 5785 / 2025

divrei Torah

A circular diagram divided into eight segments, each colored in a light tone of beige, pale green, and taupe. The central section of the diagram has the word "GRATITUDE." The labels on the segments are: Work; Family; Personal work / Spirituality; Fun / Joy / Creativity; Friends / Community; Home space(s); Activism / Giving back; FREE SPACE.

From the Rabbi – January 2025

From The Rabbi, Jewish values, music, Newsletter, spiritual life, tikkun olam, Tu BiShvat

A few days ago, I told my son that I was trying to figure out what to write about in my January newsletter column. Now that we’re done with Chanukah, there aren’t any Jewish holidays until next month. I know what I want to write about for February, but what is the wisdom we need now, as we begin a secular new year at a time when Jewishly life is just… going on?

January 2025 | Tevet 5785

Chanukah, community, From The President, Newsletter, Tu BiShvat, Volunteering

As we enter a new secular year, I am still glowing with the joy of celebrating Chanukah, first at CBI where we held a spirited songfest and dreidel spinning contest, and enjoyed delicious homemade pizza and sufganiyot. Later in the month, we lit our hanukkiahs and enjoyed latkes at a Chanukah party in southern Vermont, part of our program for families with the NEFESH community.

God* With Us: Vayeshev 5785 / 2024

divrei Torah, Resilience

"...I noticed this year that Torah only begins to say God is with him once he’s in tough circumstances. Was God “not there” before, or was he just not aware of God until then? Did something change within him him that enabled him to live with awareness of the holy? ..."

Where We Are: Vayetzei 5785 / 2024

divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Inclusion & Diversity, lgbt rights, tikkun olam

A mock filmstrip with four photos of Rabbi Rachel and other community members at the celebration of her 13th year at CBI.

From the Rabbi – December 2024

Chanukah, community, education, From The Rabbi, Jewish values, music, Newsletter

As we enter December I’m still feeling the reverberations of the Shabbat in November when we celebrated my thirteen years (so far) of serving the CBI community.

December 2024 | Kislev 5785

Chanukah, community, D'vrei Torah, events, From The President, Newsletter

Several weeks ago, the CBI community came together for a joyous celebration of our beloved Rabbi Rachel Barenblat and her 13 years of service as spiritual leader of CBI. During the Shabbat service, co-led by Rabbi Rachel and her dear friend and colleague Rabbi David Markus, Rabbi Rachel was called to the Torah in recognition of her service, and various groups of members, friends, and family were called up for aliyot.

Covenant: Vayera 5785 / 2024

divrei Torah

"...The work of spiritual life is never done. The work of becoming is never done. As long as we’re here, we’re growing and changing – or we can be. My covenant with each of you is a promise to accompany you in whatever life brings your way..."

The Call: Lekh-lekha 5785 / 2024

divrei Torah, Resilience

"Possibility lives in us. Hope lives in us. Kindness lives in us. Truth and justice live in us. No amount of cruelty or coercion, bullying or gaslighting, can take these away. They are our birthright, and they are eternal."

After the Storm: Noah 5785 / 2024

divrei Torah

A venn diagram: the left circle says "To-Do List;" the right circle says "Election 2024;" the intersection of both circles says "Anxiety, So Much Anxiety."

From the Rabbi – November 2024

community, From The Rabbi, Jewish values, Newsletter, social action

As I write these words, the election is a scant week away. I’ve heard from many of you that it’s hard to think about much else right now. This election feels momentous and maybe even frightening in a way we’ve never experienced before.

November 2024 | Cheshvan 5785

days of awe, events, From The President, Newsletter, spiritual life

Greetings from Hong Kong, where I am spending a few weeks visiting with my daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons. It’s been so much fun celebrating Sukkot and Simchat Torah with our grandsons on the other side of the world.

More Love (Simhat Torah 5785)

divrei Torah

"...Love is the point of Torah. It’s what Torah most deeply comes to teach us, year after year..."

The Book of Resilience: Yom Kippur Morning 5785

Yom Kippur Morning 5785 | The Book of Resilience

D'vrei Torah, days of awe, divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Resilience, sermons, spiritual life, Teshuvah, Yom Kippur

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From The Rabbi

Categories

Help Us Care For Our Torahs

For the Good: Vayehi 5785 / 2025

From the Rabbi – January 2025

January 2025 | Tevet 5785

God* With Us: Vayeshev 5785 / 2024

Where We Are: Vayetzei 5785 / 2024

From the Rabbi – December 2024

December 2024 | Kislev 5785

Covenant: Vayera 5785 / 2024

The Call: Lekh-lekha 5785 / 2024

After the Storm: Noah 5785 / 2024

From the Rabbi – November 2024

November 2024 | Cheshvan 5785

More Love (Simhat Torah 5785)

Yom Kippur Morning 5785 | The Book of Resilience

Congregation Beth Israel

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