The Fundraising Committee invites you to a Passover Wine Tasting on Sunday March 3! 4 pm in the Community Room (for those who have challenges going downstairs) and 5 pm in the Banquet Hall.
Join the B’ShERT community in Brooklyn for a weekend of celebration to kick off Hanukkah, with a lineup of family events that’ll leave you saying, “Hey, Gimel more!”
Friday, December 8
10 am: Tot Shabbat
For kids ages 0 to 5: a great a chance to meet other kids, caregivers, and parents in the neighborhood. (And a nice inside activity as the days get colder.)
6 pm: Potluck dinner with dreidel games and jelly donuts
Get your annual latke fix without filling your apartment with frying oil!
7:15 pm: Service with bring-your-own-menorah lighting
A music-filled service to welcome the holiday and Shabbat
Saturday, December 9
9:45 am: Religious School open house with Hanukkah activities
An opportunity for kids ages 5 to 12 to check out our religious school for a day. There are going to be art activities like t-shirt making and gelt-making, and Hannukah trivia games. Then during the Shabbat service, we’ll sing all your favorite Hannukah songs.
5 pm: A Hannukah evening outside
We’ll brighten the dusk outside with more candle lighting and donuts, plus hot chocolate, Havdalah, and stargazing through a telescope!
Can’t wait to see you to celebrate the start of Hanukkah!
This Saturday, October 21, spend the morning at B’ShERT for two special events:
A conversation on The Jewish Deli, 9:45 am
Join Ben Nadler, the author and illustrator of The Jewish Deli: An Illustrated Guide to the Chosen Food for a conversation on “A delightful celebration of Jewish delicatessens in an accessible comics format, full of history and humor, and guaranteed to make you hungry.” Taylor & Co. Books will be on hand selling copies.
Religious School Open House, 9:45 am
While some folks are envisioning pastrami and rye, kids ages 5 to 12 are invited to try out our religious school. They’ll join a class of their age group to explore a classic Genesis story—Noah and the ark!
Our K-2 class will learn about kindness to animals and make a rainbow craft, while our 3rd-5th graders will explore a short midrash about Noah before they venture into the Jewish practice of baby namings. And our 6th-8th graders will study a modern interpretation of the Noah story in which we ask: What was Noah’s wife thinking(!) and how can we understand the flood better from her perspective?
Then, at 11 am, all are welcome to join our family-friendly Shabbat services in our historic sanctuary.
Since the news broke on Saturday morning, shortly before our Sh’mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Festival Morning and Shabbat service, that a massive terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas had been launched from Gaza, I have been feeling horrified, helpless, and worried. I know that many of you have too.
This attack on Israel is unprecedented. On Simchat Torah/Sh’mini Atzeret and Shabbat, terrorists invaded kibbutzim and cities in the south of Israel, going from house to house slaughtering and kidnapping people of all genders and ages—from small children to elderly grandparents. In its suddenness and violence, many are comparing its impact on people in Israel to the impact of 9/11 on us.
I know that we have a range of opinions about Israel and its policies in our community—what our relationship as practitioners of Judaism in the US is or should be with Israel; what we think of the Israeli government and its various policies; where we stand on Zionism. I certainly have many criticisms of the Israeli government.
According to yesterday’s news, more than 700 hundred Israelis have been killed, hundreds kidnapped, and thousands wounded, and over 400 Palestinians have been killed. In this time of crisis, I urge us all to stand together with Israel against the attackers and put aside the differences among us for now, as we did in the US in the wake of 9/11.
Many in our community have relatives and loved ones in Israel, including active soldiers in the army and soldiers who have been called up in the reserves. We fear for the safety of all of these family members and loved ones, and we grieve for those whose lives have already been taken, or who are missing.
UJA-Federation has set up an emergency fund for Israel. If you choose, the donation link is here:
I’d like to offer an opportunity for us to gather for a vigil for Israel. Tonight, on Monday, October 9 at 7:00 pm, I invite you to join me in person in the B’ShERT sanctuary or on Zoom to sing, pray, and share our feelings about what is happening. Our strength lies in our community— let us strengthen each other.
There is also a vigil co-hosted by URJ at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (2nd Ave at 43rd St) on Tuesday at 5 pm. Information is here — note that for security reasons, no backpacks will be allowed into the event.
We are invited by our shaliach, Elad Bar-Ilan, to attend a webinar about the current crisis at noon tomorrow, Tuesday, October 10:
This zoom seminar will be led by renowned speaker Neil Lazarus from Awesome Seminars, and will delve deep into the complexities of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. This seminar promises to offer a unique and comprehensive understanding of the events unfolding in this volatile region.
In this seminar, you can expect to gain invaluable insights into the historical context, the current state of affairs, and the future implications of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Neil Lazarus will provide a balanced perspective that encourages critical thinking and fosters open dialogue.
To get into the mood of Simchat Torah, and prepare for the festivities, join us for some creative, messy, tasty fun this Friday evening, October 6 at 6:30 pm.
All families are invited to come early for Simchat Torah services on Friday evening for two activities: caramel-apple making (we provide the ingredients, you make the mess), and t-shirt making. For the t-shirts, we’ll provide the plain t-shirts, fabric paints, and stencils; and every kid will have a chance to make their own B’Shert t-shirts (B’Shirts!) to wear at events in the future.
Then we’ll head to the Simchat Torah service, where we get to dance around with the torah and see the entire scroll unrolled, filling almost our entire sanctuary. This is a rare chance to see the full torah text all at once and is not to be missed!
Time: Friday October 6 at 6:30 pm (activities), 7:15 pm (service)
Place: 83 Marlborough Road
Nothing says “Happy Sukkot” like decorating the sukkah and a pizza dinner, right? Join us on Sunday October 1 for decorating fun and a community dinner in the B’ShERT sukkah.
Starting at 5 pm you can let your artistic side run wild. We have a new, extra-big sukkah this year, which means we need extra inspiration and extra decorating.
Once you’ve had your creative fill, get your belly full as well with pizza dinner in the sukkah followed by a short service to welcome the holiday. What a wonderful way to end the weekend!
Following on the heels of our Rosh Hashanah festivities and Yom Kippur… fastivities(?), this is another great way for families—members and prospective members alike—to get to know each other in a low-key, social setting.
What: Sukkah decorating followed by dinner in the B’ShERT Sukkah
Second Night Community Seder at B’ShERT — Tuesday, April 23, 2024
April 12, 2024 by miketrose • Features Tags: community-seder, dinner, passover, pesach, seder •
Please join us for a welcoming and fun Community 2nd Night Seder on April 23!
Please choose chicken or fish meal for each guest.
(Temple will provide a full kosher-style Seder meal with either chicken or fish, salad, vegetable, etc.)
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, SOUP & GEFILTE FISH WILL BE SERVED WITH OUR SEDER MEAL
Indicate who you would like to sit with. There is assigned seating.
Potluck Passover Dessert Table. Bring your favorite non-dairy Passover dessert.
(Temple will provide macaroons)
Adults $54 – Children 13 & under $30 (children under 2 no charge). Checks made payable to B’ShERT please.
Your payment holds your reservation. If you cannot attend in person and would like a Zoom link, please let us know.
Call or email the office to RSVP by April 15th