From The Rabbi

After the deaths, holiness

This week we're reading Acharei Mot-Kedoshim. Acharei mot means after the deaths. After the deaths of Aaron's two sons, we read, vayidom Aharon: and Aaron was silent. That's resonating with me in a new way this year. After the deaths that…

This Week’s Zoom Offerings at CBI

Shabbat

Shavua tov - a good new week to you! This week our Zoom offerings include Rabbinic Drop-In Hour (1pm Mondays), Omer Discussion Group with Jen Burt (5pm Tuesdays - in Jen's Zoom room), Pirkei Avot (2pm Thursdays with Rabbi David Markus,…

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Tazria-Mtzora… on Zoom

Shabbat

Shavua tov — a good new week to you! Apologies for the fact that we haven't sent out these emails since Purim. The last six weeks have been a bit overwhelming, in ways I trust y'all understand. I'll do my best to return to this practice now. Join…

A Video Message from Rabbi Rachel

community, divrei Torah, pandemic, spiritual life

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-ZFNaIsiSY] This short video begins with a check-in for the CBI community, and then moves to a teaching from the rabbi of the Warsaw Ghetto for this week's parsha that feels especially meaningful to…

In the wilderness

divrei Torah, Omer, pandemic

A d'varling for the end of week five of covid-19 sheltering-in-place. As we leave Pesach behind we set out into the wilderness, trusting that somehow we're moving toward Sinai, toward revelation, toward connection. The spiritual practice of…

This week’s digital offerings

classes, Omer, pandemic, Shabbat

This week's digital offerings have just been emailed out to our mailing list: login info and password for today's Rabbinic Drop-In Hour, tomorrow's Omer discussion with Jen Burt, Wednesday's Yizkor service, Thursday's Pirkei Avot class with…

Looking Ahead to Pesach

Pesach

Dear CBI Community, Pesach is coming soon. In this email you'll find resources for holding a first-night seder at home, information about a second-night Zoom seder, and a ritual for ending Pesach, too. Second Things First: Our Second…

CBI Digital Offerings

classes, community, education

Dear CBI Community, I'm writing today with updates on CBI's digital offerings this week and in weeks to come. In this time of quarantine and sheltering-in-place, community connections can be especially sustaining -- even if we can "only"…

We are not alone

community, pandemic

Dear CBI Community, What a week it has been. Unlike any other we have known. And we know that many more unprecedented weeks are ahead of us. In this moment we may feel more isolated than ever before. And yet the virus and its spread are…

Like a fiddler on the roof

community

Dear Congregation Beth Israel members and friends, Not long ago I was preparing to take my son to see the national touring production of Fiddler on the Roof, in which my niece Noa Luz Barenblat plays Chava. My son asked me, "what does the…

Update: CBI in this time of pandemic

community

See also: Like a fiddler on the roof, March 13, 2020. Dear CBI community, I am writing with an update on what we are doing at CBI about the covid-19 pandemic. Assuming that the U.S. is following the trajectory set in Italy, it seems…

Engraved on our hearts

divrei Torah

One artist's rendering of the stones for Aaron's shoulders, engraved with the names of the 12 tribes. In this week's Torah portion we read about the instructions for making special garments for Aaron, brother of Moses: the first High Priest.…

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Tetzaveh and to Purim

Shabbat

Shavua tov — a good new week to you! Join us for Shabbat services at 9:30am on Saturday morning led by Rabbi Rachel. This week we’re reading from parashat Tetzaveh. If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s parsha,…

Coronavirus preparedness and CBI

From The Rabbi

Update as of 3/13: we are taking several concrete steps to slow the spread of the virus. Read about them here: Update: CBI in this time of pandemic. Also see: Like a fiddler on the roof, my message to the community before Shabbat on 3/13. Dear…

Whose heart so moves

community, divrei Torah

Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart so moves him.... And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. (Ex. 25:2, 8) I recently gathered a bunch of paperwork…

From The Rabbi

Categories

After the deaths, holiness

This Week’s Zoom Offerings at CBI

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Tazria-Mtzora… on Zoom

A Video Message from Rabbi Rachel

In the wilderness

This week’s digital offerings

Looking Ahead to Pesach

CBI Digital Offerings

We are not alone

Like a fiddler on the roof

Update: CBI in this time of pandemic

Engraved on our hearts

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Tetzaveh and to Purim

Coronavirus preparedness and CBI

Whose heart so moves

Congregation Beth Israel

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