We have been scattered to the winds – Natalie & Roger to Hong Kong to visit their daughter and family, and Wendy to Florida for her mom’s milestone birthday. Together we are now anchored back in the Berkshires where everything is springing to life – and where our CBI community is blossoming with new energy.
There’s a song we learned in the choir earlier this spring – written for the festival of Shavuot when we celebrate the revelation of Torah at Sinai – that’s been in my head in recent weeks.
Spring is upon us! We hope you are enjoying the longer days, and growing warmth, and all the other signs of spring.
Passover was early this year on the secular calendar. I was a bit worried that I would miss one of my favorite seasonal experiences of the spring: opening the door for Elijah the Prophet at our second night community seder, and being serenaded by spring peepers. But even though the holiday was early, the little frogs obliged and sang to us.
“…I thought I’d try something new this year: giving us a way to remember loved ones with a short Yizkor remembrance at home. Although traditionally Yizkor is communal, this communal ritual clearly isn’t speaking to our community as we are now. But maybe a ‘DIY’ version to do at home might speak to some of us….”
This guest post is by cantorial soloist and CBI member Ziva Larson, who led Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, March 13, 2026.
As we look at the coming year, we ask each of you to think about how you can help sustain and strengthen our CBI community.
Passover has always been my favorite holiday, ever since I was a kid excited to travel to Dallas for seder at my Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Bill’s house. I love the prayers and the songs, I love the story of liberation from Egypt, I love the foods (even more now that I have my own favorite recipes for preparing them myself.)
As the Rabbi writes, the beautiful full moon of this holiday marks a path toward spring. It feels so wonderful to be gaining more light during these frigid days, where more warmth and light feels so needed on both a physical and a spiritual level. We hope you are all finding that light and that you share it with us at CBI.
The weather outside may still be wintery, but spiritually speaking we’re on the path toward spring!
Torah tells us 36 times that we must “love the stranger, for we were strangers in the land of Mitzrayim.” We have been in narrow straits before, and because of our people’s suffering both historical and present we must stand up for those who are oppressed today. Not “may,” not “might decide to” – if we take Torah values seriously, caring for the stranger is an obligation.
This guest post is by cantorial soloist and CBI member Ziva Larson, who led Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, January 23, 2026.
This week we’re beginning the book of Exodus – in Hebrew, called Shemot, “Names.” We open this book with the names of those who came down to Egypt with Yosef. And then we read that a new Pharaoh arises who did not know Yosef, and in his eyes the children of Israel are teeming multitudes, like vermin, the “enemy within.”
Happy secular new year! I love having two opportunities each year to turn the page and feel the hope that comes with new beginnings. 2026 is a book as-yet unwritten. With what will we fill its pages?
With the start of the new secular year of 2026 and the second half of CBI’s year, we are looking both forward and back.
May 2026 | Iyar / Sivan 5786
Community, Events, From The President, NewsletterWe have been scattered to the winds – Natalie & Roger to Hong Kong to visit their daughter and family, and Wendy to Florida for her mom’s milestone birthday. Together we are now anchored back in the Berkshires where everything is springing to life – and where our CBI community is blossoming with new energy.
From the Rabbi – May 2026
From The Rabbi, Jewish Holidays, Music, Newsletter, ShavuotThere’s a song we learned in the choir earlier this spring – written for the festival of Shavuot when we celebrate the revelation of Torah at Sinai – that’s been in my head in recent weeks.
April 2026 | Nissan / Iyar 5786
Community, Events, From The President, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Pesach, VolunteeringSpring is upon us! We hope you are enjoying the longer days, and growing warmth, and all the other signs of spring.
From the Rabbi – April 2026
From The Rabbi, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, PesachPassover was early this year on the secular calendar. I was a bit worried that I would miss one of my favorite seasonal experiences of the spring: opening the door for Elijah the Prophet at our second night community seder, and being serenaded by spring peepers. But even though the holiday was early, the little frogs obliged and sang to us.
Yizkor at Home
From The Rabbi, Yizkor“…I thought I’d try something new this year: giving us a way to remember loved ones with a short Yizkor remembrance at home. Although traditionally Yizkor is communal, this communal ritual clearly isn’t speaking to our community as we are now. But maybe a ‘DIY’ version to do at home might speak to some of us….”
Guest Post | Reclaiming Our Lives with Radical Rest: Parashiyot Vayak’heil & P’kudei
Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Guest Posts, Resilience, ShabbatThis guest post is by cantorial soloist and CBI member Ziva Larson, who led Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, March 13, 2026.
March 2026 | Adar / Nissan 5786
Community, Events, From The President, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Pesach, VolunteeringAs we look at the coming year, we ask each of you to think about how you can help sustain and strengthen our CBI community.
From the Rabbi – March 2026
Events, From The Rabbi, Israel, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Pesach, Purim, Response to Tragedy, Spiritual Life, World NewsPassover has always been my favorite holiday, ever since I was a kid excited to travel to Dallas for seder at my Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Bill’s house. I love the prayers and the songs, I love the story of liberation from Egypt, I love the foods (even more now that I have my own favorite recipes for preparing them myself.)
February 2026 | Shevat / Adar 5786
Events, From The President, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Pesach, VolunteeringAs the Rabbi writes, the beautiful full moon of this holiday marks a path toward spring. It feels so wonderful to be gaining more light during these frigid days, where more warmth and light feels so needed on both a physical and a spiritual level. We hope you are all finding that light and that you share it with us at CBI.
From the Rabbi – February 2026
Events, From The Rabbi, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Purim, Tu BiShvatThe weather outside may still be wintery, but spiritually speaking we’re on the path toward spring!
What Torah Asks Of Us: Shabbat Yitro 5786
Community, Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Jewish Values, Response to Tragedy, Social ActionTorah tells us 36 times that we must “love the stranger, for we were strangers in the land of Mitzrayim.” We have been in narrow straits before, and because of our people’s suffering both historical and present we must stand up for those who are oppressed today. Not “may,” not “might decide to” – if we take Torah values seriously, caring for the stranger is an obligation.
Guest Post | The Mixed Multitude: A Reflection on Privilege and Power
Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Guest Posts, Inclusion & Diversity, Jewish Values, Pesach, Social ActionThis guest post is by cantorial soloist and CBI member Ziva Larson, who led Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, January 23, 2026.
Holy Fire: Shabbat Shemot 5786
Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Jewish Values, Response to Tragedy, Social Action, Tikkun OlamThis week we’re beginning the book of Exodus – in Hebrew, called Shemot, “Names.” We open this book with the names of those who came down to Egypt with Yosef. And then we read that a new Pharaoh arises who did not know Yosef, and in his eyes the children of Israel are teeming multitudes, like vermin, the “enemy within.”
From the Rabbi – January 2026
Events, From The Rabbi, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Pesach, Shevat, Tu BiShvatHappy secular new year! I love having two opportunities each year to turn the page and feel the hope that comes with new beginnings. 2026 is a book as-yet unwritten. With what will we fill its pages?
January 2026 | Tevet / Shevat 5786
Community, Events, From The President, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Purim, Tu BiShvat, VolunteeringWith the start of the new secular year of 2026 and the second half of CBI’s year, we are looking both forward and back.