Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Vayekhel

Shavua tov – a  good week to you! Join us this coming Shabbat morning for services led by Rabbi Rachel.

This week we’re reading parashat Vayekhel. (Most years this is part of a joint portion with next week’s Torah portion, Pekudei, but since this is a leap year and we have an extra month, some of our double Torah portions get split into two weeks — including this one.)

If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s Torah portion, some links follow:

• 2006: Perceiving God
• 2007: A home for God among us
• 2008: Collaboration [Torah poem]

And here’s the URJ’s compilation of commentaries on this week’s Torah portion: Vayekhel at the URJ.

Many thanks to our shamashim, the members who host our Shabbat services each week. If you would like to join that group, please contact Pattie Lipman.

Announcing an adult education class this spring

Death, mourning, and transformation

This three-session class, taught by Rabbi Rachel, will explore Jewish ideas, teachings, and rituals around death and mourning. We’ll explore texts both ancient and modern which will offer us different Jewish ideas about death and afterlife, taharah and burial, and kaddish and mourning customs. The class will meet at 10am on Sundays April 3, May 15, and June 5.

Price: $18 for CBI members, $36 for non-members. Register by emailing rabbibarenblat at gmail dot com.

Save the date: second-night community seder on April 23!

If you already know that you can join us, please RSVP now so that we can get an early head count and an early sense of how many people to prepare for. Thank you!

Shavua tov! Looking forward to a very special Shabbat.

Shavua tov – a  good week to you! The coming Shabbat is going to be special in several ways.

A MUSICAL SHABBAT WITH RABBI RACHEL & RABBI DAVID

Rabbi David Evan Markus, my ALEPH co-chair, will be co-leading Shabbat services with me over the February 27 weekend. Those of y’all who were with us at the end of August last time he visited may remember the beauty and sweetness he brings to the bimah. Expect music, harmony, teachings, and an extra helping of joy. Please join us for Friday night services at 7:30pm on Friday February 26, and Saturday morning services at 9:30am on Saturday February 27.

On Friday night we will begin with a potluck Shabbat dinner at 6:30pm — we are still seeking a host who can organize cleanup and lock the building at the end of the evening, so if that’s you, please let me know!

This week we’re reading parashat Ki Tisa.
If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s Torah portion, some links follow:

• 2006: A mishkan in time
• 2008: The people, the calf, and Moshe
• 2009: Re-entry [Torah poem]
• 2011: God’s afterimage, and letting our light shine
• 2011: The other side of the story [Torah poem]
• 2013: Cloud of glory: a d’var Torah for chol ha-moed Sukkot (we read this same Torah portion during Sukkot as well)
• 2014: Shabbat, the Golden Calf, and Rest
• 2015: Inspiration

And here’s the URJ’s compilation of commentaries on this week’s Torah portion: Ki Tisa at the URJ.

Even once Shabbat draws to its close, there will be other exciting happenings in our community next weekend.

A TALK BY RABBI JILL HAMMER, AUTHOR OF THE HEBREW PRIESTESS

CBI is joining with Rimon and Temple Anshe Amunim to present a visit to the Berkshires fromRabbi Jill Hammer, co-author of The Hebrew Priestess, a groundbreaking book about women’s spiritual leadership from antiquity to today. Rabbi Jill will speak at 7pm on Saturday February 27 at Temple Anshe Amunim, 26 Broad Street in Pittsfield. She’ll read from the book, talk about how it came to be, answer questions, and sign copies of the book. Don’t miss this!

WRITE SONGS OF LOVE WITH BERNICE LEWIS

Local resident (and nationally known singer / songwriter) Bernice Lewis will present a workshop on “How to Write a Jewish Love Song,” co-presented by Jewish Federation of the Berkshires.  11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday February 28, $10.00, includes a kosher style buffet lunch. Bring your instrument or just your voice. Bring a smart cell phone to record your song, and a notebook and writing tool! Bring your sweetie! RSVP’s requested by February 24to office@cbiweb.org or by calling (413) 822-5267.

We hope you’ll join us for one or all of these special events!

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Tetzaveh.

Shavua tov – a  good week to you!

Please join us for Shabbat morning services this coming Saturday morning at 9:30am led by Rabbi Lori Shaller.

If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s Torah portion, some links follow:

• 2006: Holy garments
• 2007: Eternal light
• 2008: Vestments of beauty
• 2009: High priest [Torah poem]
• 2011: A sweet scent before God
• 2011: Kedushat Levi on Aaron’s clothes

And here’s the URJ’s compilation of commentaries on this week’s Torah portion: Tetzaveh.

Many thanks to our shamashim, the members who host our Shabbat services each week. If you would like to join that group, please contact Pattie Lipman.

Save the Date: A Very Harry Potter Purim!

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And while we have your attention… mark your calendar for the second-night community seder at CBI on Saturday, April 23 —

and for the amazing Shavuot retreat at Hazon, June 10-13, at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in northern Connecticut!

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Terumah

Shavua tov – a  good week to you!

Please join us for Shabbat morning services this coming Saturday morning at 9:30am led by Rabbi Pam Wax. 

If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s Torah portion, some links follow:

• 2006: Weaving parashat Terumah into our lives
• 2007: The place we build for God
• 2009: The gifts [Torah poem]
• 2011: Home [Torah poem]
• 2012: On gifts, sanctuaries, & hearts
• 2013: God Dwelling in Us
• 2015: The Torah of 40

And here’s the URJ’s compilation of commentaries on this week’s Torah portion: T’rumah.

Many thanks to our shamashim, the members who host our Shabbat services each week. If you would like to join that group, please contact Pattie Lipman.