Many Faces, Many Voices

"Mark didn't grow up in this area or in Judaism, but at Beth Emet he found the rabbis and cantor welcoming, inspiring, and motivating, and we both felt very comfortable."

- Linda Harvey, with husband Mark and children Ethan and Anna

For more than 50 years, Beth Emet has worked hard to balance innovation and tradition in all aspects of communal life. Always willing to experiment, we seek creative ways to integrate the new with the old in worship, education, and community-strengthening, often initiating meaningful change. We welcome you to explore everything our website,and our community, has to offer.

Events & Notices for the Next Few Weeks

URGENT INFORMATION

To: Rabbis and Synagogue Lay Leaders
From: Harvey J Barnett and Steven B Nasatir
Re: Jewish Federation Myanmar Cyclone Relief Fund
We wanted to update you on what our Jewish Federation has been doing to offer support to those affected by the cyclone in Myanmar:
We have established the “Jewish Federation Myanmar Cyclone Relief Fund.”
This will serve as a vehicle for members of our community to provide humanitarian aid to people affected by this disaster. Federation will not deduct any administrative costs; 100% of proceeds will go directly to aid the victims. This is a major story on our website and in Thursday’s e-alert to18,000 community members, both of which include a link for donors to contribute online. We have established a secured Hotline (312-444-2869) where people can call in to donate by leaving their name, address, donation amount, and credit card information. Media alerts have been widely distributed to the general and Jewish media about the fund, with instructions on how community members can contribute. We will not be sending direct solicitation letters regarding this need. We will continue to keep you informed.  

A WEEKEND WITH RABBIS OFER AND RACHEL SABATH BEIT-HALACHMI

Supported in part by the Rabbi David & Aviva Polish Memorial Lecture Fund of the Beth Emet Foundation

Friday – Sunday, May 16-18

We will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel with two special guests: Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit-Halachmi and Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi.  Ofer is the rabbi of our sister congregation in Tzur Hadassah Israel and Rachel is a scholar at the Shalom Hartmann Institute in Jerusalem. On Friday evening, after Shabbat dinner, Rachel will give the Rabbi David & Aviva Polish Memorial Lecture entitled, "Two Hearts - One Soul? The Significance of Israel for American Jews Today;” on Shabbat Morning the subject of Ofer’s D’var Torah is "Israeli Spirituality Today: Prayer and Rituals for a New Generation"; and on Sunday at 9:45 am Rachel will address "Ethics and the Land of Israel in Jewish Thought”; come for discussion and bagels.  On Sunday morning, Ofer will spend time with our religious school children. We invite you to join in the celebration.

KAHAL SHABBAT TO HONOR OUR TEACHERS - ADULT CHOIR PARTICIPATING

Friday, May 16 - 5:45 pm: Reception - 6:30 pm: Service - 7:30 pm: Catered Dinner

On this Kabbalat Shabbat we will celebrate Kavod L'Moreh. It's not easy being a Beit Sefer teacher and our faculty deserves your kudos and thanks for the hard work they do. Please join us as we honor our Beit Sefer teachers for their dedication.  Our Adult Choir will add their voices to this special Shabbat.  Join us after services for our Catered Shabbat Dinner ($12/per person; please make your reservations by email or ext. 301) followed by a presentation by Rabbi Rachel Ofer Sabath Beit-Halachmi (see above).

CHASSAMBA’S END OF YEAR LOCK-IN

Saturday, May 17 to Sunday, May 18

Summer’s almost here so don’t miss your last chance to hang out with all of your Chassamba friends in one place. That’s right it’s our final event of the 2007-2008 school year. For one night only we will have all of Beth Emet to ourselves. So join us for fun, friendship, and flashlight capture the flag. Dust off your DDR chops, Sing along with your Youth Director, or just chill. We’ll meet for dinner in the Perlman Room at 7:30 pm and go until Sunday School starts the next morning. Fifth Graders, if you want a taste of our Junior Youth Group we inivte you to attend the first few hours of the evening. We’ll see you there at 7:30 pm until Sun up on Sunday. Cost is $10 for members or $15 for non-members. Please RSVP to Aaron Gunning by May 15 at ext. 314 or by email.

HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM: Info-Session and Brunch

Sunday, May 18 from 11:00 am to noon

If you or your child are interested in learning about education options for teens next year please drop in for the last day of Sunday School. Have some bagels and coffee and hear from Youth Programming Director Aaron Gunning and Rabbi Andrea London about what’s in store with our new teen education program launching next fall. RSVP to Aaron Gunning if you plan on attending. RSVP to Aaron Gunning (at ext. 314 or by email. ) if you or your child plans on attending.  

SPERTUS TOUR AND EXHIBIT

Sunday, May 18 from 11:15 am to 1:45 pm

Don’t miss this great opportunity to see the fabulous new Spertus Museum and “Imaginary Coordinates” Exhibit! Join us for a group tour of the beautiful and exciting new Spertus Museum! The tour will include exploring the wondrous architecture, the Spertus expanded collection on display and “Imaginary Coordinates”, an exhibit that is a part of the City of Chicago’s Festival of Maps. This exhibit will feature the contemporary work of Israeli and Palestinian artists along side antique and modern maps of the Holy Land that explore religious, colonial and national ambitions. (The tour is appropriate for those over 16.) The Museum even has wheel chairs. With a registration of 25 participants who wish to ride together we will be able to charter a coach bus. The cost for the entire trip (chartered bus and the group tour) will be only $20; for the Group Tour alone, $10. To register call Mayta at ext. 306 or email her.  

NETWORK IS GOING OUT TO THE BALLGAME ON MEMORIAL DAY!

Monday, May 26

A sure sign of spring is Network's Annual Cubs game. This year it is a 1:20 pm game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The ticket price is $34.00, plus $11.00 which covers bus transportation. This is always a popular event so make your plans now. For information and reservations, call Jack Brown at 847-251-6116.  

TORAH YOGA FOR SHAVUOT

Tuesday, May 27 at 7:00 pm

When God revealed the Torah to the Israelites on Mt. Sinai, they declared, "We will do and we will harken." From this we learn that the physical act of doing God's bidding opened the Israelites up to understanding God's will for them. To prepare ourselves to receive Torah into our lives on the holiday of Shavuot, we will engage in a physical practice that will help us achieve greater mental clarity so that Torah's wisdom will permeate every cell of our being. Come join us on May 27 at 7:00 pm where "We will do" a yoga practice that will better prepare us to "harken," to the teachings of Torah on Shavuot (June 8-9).  

A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE ON GRIEF

Tuesday, May 27 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the JCFS office at 5150 Golf Road in Skokie

This valuable program is presented by Healing Network of Chicago. Join Rabbi Joseph Ozarowski and Robyn Kaplan Seidman to learn the Jewish perspective on death and grieving and the normal stages of grief during the first year. For more information: Rabbi Joseph Ozarowski, JHNC Chaplain 847-568-5264 or Robyn Kaplan Seidman, LCSW 773-866-5035.  

HELP REINVIGORATE THE INTERFAITH PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE

Thursday, May 29

The mission of Beth Emet's Interfaith Partnership Committee is to --strengthen personal and institutional relationships between Jews and members of other faiths; --expand understanding, appreciation and respect for different religious beliefs and practices; --unite people of faith communities in a collective effort to hear the words of God's various prophets and then translate those messages into a more just and compassionate society. We want to expand and renew the membership of this stimulating committee and invite you to join us as we begin to plan for the upcoming year. Please RSVP to chairperson Bruce Ente  for more details and to say you will be part of this effort.

General Notices

MAKE DONATIONS TO BETH EMET ONLINE

It doesn’t get any easier than this! The newest feature of our online membership directory offers you the opportunity to make donations online and have acknowledgements sent to the recipient the next business day. Contribute to any of Beth Emet’s funds, and have your account billed automatically. To access, go the member only section of the Beth Emet website, and if you need a user id and password, contact Jill in the office. Watch this space for new exciting features that will be added shortly!  

NURSERY SCHOOL REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Do you know someone who is looking for a warm, nurturing, Jewish nursery school? Look no further! The Beth Emet Early Childhood Program offers classes for children 18 mos.- 4 years old, for the 2008-09 school year. We'd love to show you our school and answer your questions. For more information, look online, call Kathy or Fran at ext. 305 or email them.

WILL YOU USHER FOR EREV SHABBAT?

We are so appreciative of those who usher at our Erev Shabbat services and welcome others to participate in this mitzvah. For information or to offer your help, call ext. 301 or email us.  We would be delighted to have you assist.