Sept. 10—Opening Day! Open house, registration, breakfast Other Notable Dates: September 17: Selichot September 18: Flatbush Frolic September 25: Erev Rosh Hashanah September 26 and 27: Rosh Hashanah
October 1, 15, 22, 29
(Confirmation: 10/12, 19, 26)
No RS: October 8: Indigenous People’s Day/Columbus Day Weekend Other Notable Dates: October 1: Shabbat Shuvah October 4-5: Yom Kippur (No Confirmation) October 9: Erev Sukkot October 10: Indigenous People’s Day/Columbus Day Brit Mitzvah: Oct 22 – Lila Behrman
November 5, 12, 19 (Confirmation: 11/2, 9, 16, 30 — no confirmation class the day before Thanksgiving)
No RS: November 23–26: Thanksgiving Break Other Notable Dates: November 11: Veterans Day November 24-25: DOE Thanksgiving Recess
December 3, 10, 17
(Confirmation 12/7, 14, 21)
No RS/Confirmation: December 24, 28, 31: Winter Break Other Notable Dates: December 18 – 26: Hanukkah December 26–Jan 2: DOE Winter Recess Brit Mitzvah: Dec 3 – Sydney McGee
January 7, 21, 28
(Confirmation: 1/4, 1/11, 1/18, 1/25)
No RS: January 14: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Other Notable Dates: January 16: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 4, 11 (Confirmation: 2/1, 2/8, 2/15)
No RS: February 18, 22, 25: Midwinter Recess Other Notable Dates: February 4: B’ShERT Tu b’Shvat celebration February 6: Tu b’Shvat February 20–24: DOE Midwinter Recess
Other Notable Dates: March 4: RS Purim Celebration March 6-7: Purim
April 1, 22, 29
(Confirmation: 4/19, 4/26)
No RS: April 5–16: Passover (Chol ha’moed)/Spring Break April 15: Spring Break Other Notable Dates: April 5–12: Passover April 17-18: Yom haShoah April 24-25: Yom haZikaron April 25-26: Yom haAtzmaut
On July 10th, documentary film producers David Padrusch and Jeffrey Nosanov will be coming to the B’ShERT Community Room to premiere 30 minutes of their documentary-in-progress entitled Article 116: Beyond Citizenship.
The documentary, a work currently still in progress, explores the meaning of German citizenship stolen by the Nazis from 1933-1945, and the stories behind the current process that descendants are undergoing to reclaim that citizenship today.
The filmmakers’ families are personally impacted by this quest to reclaim citizenship, as are several of our congregants and likely so many people in our extended Jewish communities.
The 90-minute event on the afternoon of July 10th will be an in-person screening and concurrent Zoom screening, followed by a Q & A with the filmmakers, facilitated by congregant Emma Tattenbaum-Fine. We will discuss the themes presented in the short cut of the upcoming documentary; we will ask questions of the filmmakers and learn about the goals and obstacles they are currently embracing as they seek to finish the project, as well as their plans for the film once it’s finished.
This is a unique opportunity for the B’ShERT community to support Jewish filmmakers as they endeavor to tell an important historical story, while it is unfolding before us in real time.
This distinctive 8-ounce jar of kosher honey will arrive in time for Rosh Hashanah, decorated with a festive label, and will include a personalized card reading “Shana Tova—Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year.” This card also lets the recipients know that a donation has been made in their honor to B’ShERT’s Accessibility Fund. Your cost is $14.00 per jar which includes domestic shipping in time for the holidays (for orders after August 1, shipping is $6.50). We will gladly mail orders outside the US for an additional fee ($25 for Canada, $35 global, $6.50 for APO/FPO).
Saturday morning is not only Shabbat & a bat mitzvah, it is also the Brooklyn Half-Marathon. Street closures will include Parkside Ave and Ocean Parkway — please plan ahead and leave extra travel time, or take the subway if you can.
Your payment holds your reservation — RSVP by April 13th
The Women of B’ShERT, A Sisterhood Organization invites you to their annual “Women’s 7th Night Passover Seder” which will take place on Thursday, April 21 at 7:30 pm.
This event will occur virtually and is open to EVERYONE. Further information and zoom details will be provided closer to the date.
We hope you will join us for this special evening as we read along together and honor Jewish women from past and present.
At the March Board of Trustees meeting, the Board voted to amend the temple’s mask policy. Masks will now be optional in our building. This is a personal choice and if you wish to continue wearing a mask, please feel free to do so.
We are continuing to require full vaccination in order to attend activities in our building. Children younger than 5 are exempt from this requirement.
This change in policy follows extensive discussion among the Reopening Committee, Executive Board, Board of Trustees and Rabbi Hoover and Rabbi Pinsky. Most public venues and businesses across the city have relaxed their COVID protocols in response to declining infection rates. While the BA.2 subvariant has been gaining ground in the U.S., transmission in most New York City communities remains very low. And for those who do test positive for COVID, serious illness is rare among vaccinated people. As of March 29th, the most recent date for which statistics are available, only four people in Brooklyn were hospitalized for COVID.
Please note that we will continue to monitor the recommendations of city, state, and federal agencies and will revisit the temple’s COVID policies if necessary.
We will continue to offer a virtual option for those who cannot or would prefer not to attend temple activities in person. We are happy to have you in whatever manner you choose to join us, and we appreciate your presence and support.
If you have any questions or concerns about the amended policy, feel free to reach out to me at president@bshert.org or to Phyllis Schweiger, Reopening Committee Chair, at ps1003@aol.com.
Best,
Adrienne Knoll
President, B’ShERT
Phyllis Schweiger
Chair, Reopening Committee
——– March update below ——–
Dear B’ShERT Family,
We are pleased and excited to be able to resume in-person Shabbat Services beginning Friday, March 4th at 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 5th at 11:45 a.m. All services will continue to be multi-access for those who prefer to participate via Zoom or YouTube.
In-person Religious School will resume on Saturday, March 5th at 9 45 a.m.
For those who have been missing their Entenmann’s fix, we will begin to use the Community Room again for our post-Shabbat services onegs.
Additionally, we will begin making the banquet hall available in April for use by our congregation and for rentals by temple members only. We are opting to reopen the banquet hall because of the sharp decline in COVID infections citywide. No ventilation upgrades have been made.
Please note that while we are resuming some pre-Omicron activities, all COVID guidelines will continue to be observed.
Proof of vaccination (including boosters, if eligible) is required for anyone entering the temple building. That includes members and all guests. For those who have not been inside our temple since before the pandemic, make sure to bring your proof of vaccination with you or send a copy to the office where it can be logged prior to your attendance.
Masks (KN95 or N95 suggested) must be worn at all times when in the building, except while eating or drinking.
Changes may be made to this scheduling as needed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Phyllis Schweiger, our Reopening Committee Chair, at ps1003@aol.com, or Adrienne Knoll, temple president, at president@bshert.org.
We look forward to seeing you.
Best,
Phyllis Schweiger
Chair, Reopening Committee
Adrienne Knoll
President, B’ShERT
original post below:
We hope you all are well and staying safe. As we approach the secular new year, we wanted to make sure that you’re aware of the following temporary adjustments to how we worship and learn together:
All Friday night services, including this Friday (December 31st), will take place on Zoom only at 8 p.m. This change will continue through the first week in March, coinciding with Rabbi Hoover’s return from sabbatical. (Please note that poetry study will be held this Friday at 7 p.m. but will then be suspended until March.)
All Saturday services through the end of January will take place at 11 a.m. on Zoom.
Rabbi Pinsky will be leading Friday and Saturday services during Rabbi Hoover’s sabbatical.
When Religious School returns from break on January 4th, classes will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Zoom through at least the end of January.
In mid-January, the Reopening Committee will re-evaluate the COVID data and decide whether Religious School and Saturday services can safely resume in-person in February.
B’Yachad will continue to take place on Zoom every Saturday at 10 a.m.
In addition to these changes, we have formalized a number of COVID protocols and notification procedures for anyone who enters our building, including members, guests, and staff. Some of these protocols, such as mandatory mask-wearing and required proof of vaccination, have been in place in our temple for some time. Others are common-sense protocols that most of us have encountered in our workplace, in medical offices and in other venues.
Face coverings must be worn in the building at all times.
Proof of full vaccination is required.That includes a booster for all who are eligible.
Stay home if you are not well.
Notify the temple office by phone AND email if you or your child have been in the building and then test positive for COVID. (We are requiring both phone and email to ensure that we receive the message promptly even when the Temple office is closed.) The date of the positive COVID test must be provided when reporting the case to the office.
We will notify the congregation when a positive case is reported. A decision regarding logistical changes to Shabbat Services or Religious School will be made following consultation with the rabbis and temple leadership.
Anyone who has tested positive for COVID must supply proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than one day before returning to the synagogue.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work together to keep our community safe. Here’s to a healthy, safe and less perilous 2022 for all of us.
What better gift could there be for Rosh Hashanah than some 
2022-23 Religious School Calendar
July 31, 2022 by miketrose • Features, Religious School Tags: calendar • 0 Comments
Religious School for Fall 2022 begins September 10! Fill out our interest form for more info.
B’ShERT 2022–2023 Religious School Calendar
(Confirmation: 9/14, 21, 28)
Sept. 10—Opening Day! Open house, registration, breakfast
Other Notable Dates:
September 17: Selichot
September 18: Flatbush Frolic
September 25: Erev Rosh Hashanah
September 26 and 27: Rosh Hashanah
October 1, 15, 22, 29
(Confirmation: 10/12, 19, 26)
No RS: October 8: Indigenous People’s Day/Columbus Day Weekend
Other Notable Dates:
October 1: Shabbat Shuvah
October 4-5: Yom Kippur (No Confirmation)
October 9: Erev Sukkot
October 10: Indigenous People’s Day/Columbus Day
Brit Mitzvah: Oct 22 – Lila Behrman
November 5, 12, 19
(Confirmation: 11/2, 9, 16, 30 — no confirmation class the day before Thanksgiving)
No RS: November 23–26: Thanksgiving Break
Other Notable Dates:
November 11: Veterans Day
November 24-25: DOE Thanksgiving Recess
December 3, 10, 17
(Confirmation 12/7, 14, 21)
No RS/Confirmation: December 24, 28, 31: Winter Break
Other Notable Dates:
December 18 – 26: Hanukkah
December 26–Jan 2: DOE Winter Recess
Brit Mitzvah: Dec 3 – Sydney McGee
January 7, 21, 28
(Confirmation: 1/4, 1/11, 1/18, 1/25)
No RS: January 14: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend
Other Notable Dates:
January 16: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 4, 11
(Confirmation: 2/1, 2/8, 2/15)
No RS: February 18, 22, 25: Midwinter Recess
Other Notable Dates:
February 4: B’ShERT Tu b’Shvat celebration
February 6: Tu b’Shvat
February 20–24: DOE Midwinter Recess
March 4, 11, 18, 25
(Confirmation: 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22. 3/29)
Other Notable Dates:
March 4: RS Purim Celebration
March 6-7: Purim
April 1, 22, 29
(Confirmation: 4/19, 4/26)
No RS: April 5–16: Passover (Chol ha’moed)/Spring Break
April 15: Spring Break
Other Notable Dates:
April 5–12: Passover
April 17-18: Yom haShoah
April 24-25: Yom haZikaron
April 25-26: Yom haAtzmaut
May 6, 13, 20
(Confirmation: 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24 + 5/27 Service)
Other Notable Dates:
May 25-26: Shavuot
May 27: Confirmation
May 29: Memorial Day
June 3–Closing Day of Religious School–Honoring Teachers