From The Rabbi

Shabbat HaGadol: From Where We Are

A slide from Bayit's Pesach offerings this year. Many of you have heard me say that on Shabbat HaGadol, the Shabbat before Pesach, it's customary for the rabbi to give a sermon about how to prepare for Pesach. Traditionally speaking,…

On policing and recent news

tikkun olam

Dear CBI community, The last year has been challenging in many ways. The global pandemic, of course, has impacted all of us in ways too numerous to list. We have had difficult conversations across our nation about the racism in America’s…

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat… and Pesach!

Shabbat

Shavua tov -- and chodesh tov; a happy new month of Nissan to all. Passover is coming! Kabbalat Shabbat! Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 7pm on Friday evening for Kabbalat Shabbat services led by Rabbi Rachel! Together we'll welcome…

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Purim and Shabbat

Purim, Shabbat

Shavua tov! Thanks to all who joined us for our masked and costumed Purim Parade yesterday, and especially to our storyteller and family educator Jane Shiyah. That was our first taste of Purim this year. Our next taste will come on Thursday…

Perseverance and the portable ark

community, D'vrei Torah, pandemic

"וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ / Let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell within them." (Ex. 25:8 - in this week's Torah portion, T'rumah.) The word mishkan…

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Repro Shabbat and more

Purim, Shabbat

Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 9:30am on Saturday morning for Shabbat morning services led by Rabbi Rachel. This week has been designated as Reproductive Justice Shabbat by the National Council of Jewish Women. There will be…

I Will Sing

divrei Torah, pandemic

In this week's Torah portion, Beshalach, we read the Song at the Sea. "I will sing to God..." Our commentators note that this verse is in future tense: not "I sing," but "I will sing." Hold on to that; we'll come back to it. The rabbi…

Connecting into spring

events, Tu BiShvat

Dear Congregation Beth Israel of the northern Berkshires, Temple Beth-El of City Island, and Hebrew Congregation of Somers, This year our three communities will join together to celebrate Tu BiShvat, the first step on the journey toward…

Not the end of the story

divrei Torah, pandemic

In this week's Torah portion, Va'era, God hears the cries of the Israelites and promises to free us from bondage. But when Moshe comes to the children of Israel to tell them that, Torah says: וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה…

A message from Rabbi Rachel

community, Jewish values

Dear Congregation Beth Israel members and friends, It is rare to know that we are living through a moment of genuine historical significance. To recognize that something unfolding around us will be chronicled in books as a turning point…

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Sh’mot at CBI – and, some dates to save!

Shabbat

Shavua tov: a good new week to all. And happy 2021! Happening This Week Join us in the CBI Zoom room at 7:30pm on Friday night for our first Friday Night Zoom Shabbat Dinner (At Home): Many of us are feeling disconnected or lonely…

A solstice message from Rabbi Rachel

pandemic, video

Hello all! Here's a short video message from Rabbi Rachel - a story from Talmud, a reflection on where we are in the solar year, and a blessing for hope and comfort and light in the darkness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW9ftp0oV84 If…

Rededication: a poem for this pandemic Chanukah

Chanukah, pandemic

First candle... It's not like the Temple, sulliedby improper use and then washed cleanand restored to former glory.This house is tarnished by familiarity.Month after pandemic month I've circledfrom bed to table to sofa to bed again.I no…

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Vayeshev and to Chanukah!

Chanukah, Shabbat

Shavua tov: a good new week to all. Happening This Week Light the first candle of Chanukah on Thursday night. And celebrate online: the City of North Adams Menorah Lighting will be virtual / remote this year. Join us via livestreaming…

Stop and let goodness catch us

divrei Torah

At the start of this week's Torah portion, we read that Jacob was afraid, and his fear was constricting. He was afraid that Esau would come after him, that the mistakes he made in that relationship earlier in life would come back to harm…

From The Rabbi

Categories

Shabbat HaGadol: From Where We Are

On policing and recent news

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat… and Pesach!

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Purim and Shabbat

Perseverance and the portable ark

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Repro Shabbat and more

I Will Sing

Connecting into spring

Not the end of the story

A message from Rabbi Rachel

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Sh’mot at CBI – and, some dates to save!

A solstice message from Rabbi Rachel

Rededication: a poem for this pandemic Chanukah

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Vayeshev and to Chanukah!

Stop and let goodness catch us

Congregation Beth Israel

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