From The Rabbi

The Journeys: Matot-Masei 5783 / 2023

divrei Torah, Jewish values, tikkun olam

"...Torah's list of stops along our journey is a metaphor for the journey of an individual soul. The forty-two stops evoke the twists and turns of every human life: leaving Mitzrayim / places of constriction, seeking sustenance and purpose and our hopes fulfilled. And for us as for our ancient ancestors, the trajectory of the journey probably won't be linear..."

Runway to the Days of Awe 5784: Tisha b'Av; 7 Weeks / Limbering Up; Rosh Hashanah; 10 Days of Teshuvah; Yom Kippur; Sukkot.

From the Rabbi – July 2023

days of awe, From The Rabbi, Newsletter, Runway to the Days of Awe, Teshuvah, Tisha bAv

July is upon us. All winter long I anticipate summer’s long daylight: the luscious green curves of our hillsides, how the pollinator garden behind the synagogue becomes a riot of color and leaf. And we’re here! We made it! This place where we are blessed to live is beautiful in all seasons, but this is the season I love the most. And… spiritual life never stands still. The wheel is always already turning toward the holidays to come.

CBI Labyrinth

July 2023 | Tammuz & Av 5783

community, From The President, Newsletter

As we begin the summer and a new fiscal year at CBI, the Board and CBI staff are focused on planning a spiritually fulfilling, interesting and productive year for adults, families and children in our community. There will be opportunities to study and learn, worship and have fun together. We are excited about new collaborations both within and external to CBI.

Congregation Beth Israel & New Hope United Methodist Church

Announcing a New Interfaith Collaboration

community, From The President, From The Rabbi, Jewish values, spiritual life

We’re writing with delight to share news of a new interfaith collaboration happening at CBI.

"Taking Turns Holding Hope: Shlach 5783" with images of a hand reaching out to another, someone helping another up a hill, and two people carrying a giant bunch of grapes.

Taking Turns Holding Hope: Shlach 5783

"...When we despair we need someone to walk with us, to feel with us, and to remind us that when we feel most stuck, change can be waiting in the wings – even (or especially) if we can’t see it...."

The Congregation Beth Israel choir sings to honor Yom HaShoah.

Photo courtesy of Len Radin

From the Rabbi – June 2023

community, From The Rabbi, music, Newsletter, Shabbat, spiritual life, Yom HaShoah

“We have fallen into the place where everything is music.” These are words from the Sufi mystic poet Rumi, whose work I love. In the translations I’ve seen, he is one of the most profound spiritual poets there is. For another version of those lines, here’s how western-Mass-based folksinger Kris Delmhorst sings them: “Now we’ve come to the place where everything is music — everything is music, (so) let it play!”

CBI Labyrinth

June 2023 | Sivan & Tammuz 5783

community, From The President, Newsletter

As summer approaches and we look back at the year, it has been a very busy and exciting time at CBI. We are pleased that we’ve been able to bring back many in-person activities, including kiddushes after services, an in-person Community Seder, and much more.

Ready to Receive: Bamidbar 2023 / 5783

divrei Torah, Shavuot

"'And God spoke to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai,' -- the place of revelation; 'in the ohel mo'ed,' -- both the tent of community meeting, and a sacred fixed point in time. That's where this verse places us: in the wilderness, in the middle of nowhere -- which is where God speaks (or maybe where we hear), where we're receptive as satellite dishes, at the nexus of holy space and holy time..."

“Love the stranger…”

From The Rabbi, tikkun olam

"...A northern Berkshire host team of volunteers has come together to support a young family fleeing from Haiti, a married couple with two young children under the age of three..."

Touching Eternity: Emor 5783. An image of Torah parchment, plus planet Earth, plus a Jewish calendar.

Touching Eternity: Emor 5783 / 2023

"This week's Torah portion, Emor, gives us a roadmap for the spiritual flow of the Jewish year...."

Art by Sefira Lightstone

https://www.sefiracreative.com/

From the Rabbi – May 2023

community, From The Rabbi, Newsletter, Shavuot

Late this month we’ll reach the festival of Shavuot. When the Temple stood Shavuot was one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three big pilgrimage-festivals when we would travel en masse to Jerusalem to make offerings at the Temple. Shavuot is the culmination of the seven weeks of counting the Omer, and was once a harvest festival. (It still is, among Jews who farm.) But today Shavuot is best known as the holiday when we celebrate receiving Torah at Sinai.

Caring for Our Earth

From The President, From The Rabbi, pollinator garden, tikkun olam

"...Wise and compassionate stewardship of our land has been a Jewish value ever since the Garden of Eden. In this era of climate crisis, it’s important to care not only for our grounds, but also for the local ecosystem of which we are a part. Here at CBI we’re doing a few different things to live out this Jewish value..."

Guest Post: Finding Freedom and Hope in a Time of New Beginnings

divrei Torah, Pesach

This guest post is the D’var Torah that CBI member and cantorial soloist Ziva Larson offered at Shabbat and Pesach Morning Services on Saturday, April 8, 2023.

Counting the Omer: 49 days of reflection & growth

From the Rabbi – April 2023

From The Rabbi, Newsletter, Omer, Pesach, spiritual life

This year the month of April opens with Pesach. I love all of the shining moments around the wheel of the Jewish year, but ever since I was a kid, Pesach has been one of my favorites. (And it still is.) Studies have shown that the Passover seder is the one Jewish ritual most commonly celebrated in this country — from Jews who aspire to experience Shabbat each week, to Jews who may only engage in one avowedly Jewish celebration per year, this one is always on the list.

CBI Labyrinth

April 2023 | Nissan 5783

From The President, Newsletter, Pesach

I am writing to you from Hong Kong, where Roger and I are spending a delightful month visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and young grandsons. After a 4 year pause in being able to travel here, it is wonderful to spend time with them and to celebrate Passover together. We look forward to being part of their synagogue’s Community Seder at the same time as we will miss being with you at the CBI Seder. Happily, our enduring Jewish traditions bind us all together, wherever we may be across the globe.