Shavua tov! Looking forward to Purim and to Shabbat Tzav.

Shavua tov! Please join us on Wednesday from 5-8pm for our Star Wars Purim (see below), and on Saturday at 9:30am for Shabbat morning services led by our Spiritual Life chair Steven Green. This week we’re reading from parashat Tzav.

If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s parsha, here are a few:

• 2006: Priestly ordination: hearing, doing, walking (originally published at Radical Torah) 
• 2008: Tzav, “Command” [Torah poem]
• 2009: Red [Torah poem]
• 2014: Giving thanks in the present moment
• 2014: Torah-Talk with Shmuel Rosner (video chat about the parsha)
• 2016: A nation of priests
• 2018: Hametz, fire, and miracles: a d’var Torah for Shabbat HaGadol

And here are commentaries from the URJ on this week’s parsha:

• Tzav

Also, please join us this Wednesday evening at 5pm for our Purim extravaganza!

All are welcome for Purim. Come in costume if you can (especially Star Wars costume). Bring a vegetarian / dairy dish to share. We’ll begin with general merriment and exploring the space at 5pm, have a vegetarian / dairy potluck dinner shortly before 6, and enjoy the Purim spiel at 6:30.

Hope to see you soon at CBI!

Blessings,

Rabbi Rachel

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Purim – and Shabbat Ki Tisa!

Shavua tov — a good new week to you.

Join us on Weds evening at 5pm for our Flintstones Purim: Yabba Dabba Do!

Join us also on Shabbat morning at 9:30am. We’ll be reading from the Torah portion known as Ki Tisa.

If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s Torah portion, here are a few:

• 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
• 2014: Shabbat, the Golden Calf, and Rest
• 2014: A ruba’i with bonus Torah commentary
• 2015: Inspiration

• And here are commentaries from the Union for Reform Judaism: Ki Tisa.

Wishing you blessings,

Rabbi Rachel

Shavua tov! Looking forward to Shabbat Tetzaveh – and Purim!

Dear all,

Shavua tov — a good new week to you.

Join us on  Shabbat morning at 9:30am for Shabbat morning services led by Rabbi Pam Wax.

This week we’re reading Tetzaveh. If you’d like to read some commentaries on this week’s Torah portion, here are a few:

• 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 are commentaries from the URJ: Tetzaveh at the URJ.

On Saturday evening at 5pm, join us at CBI for our Addams Family Purim!

Come at 5pm to enjoy the building transformed by Jen Burt into a locale fit for the Addams Family. Bring a vegetarian / dairy potluck dish for our dinner at 6pm, with Purim Spiel to follow around 7pm. Come in costume… or put on costume elements when you get here; we’ll have some on hand!

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

Blessings to all,

Rabbi Rachel

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!

Are you coming for Purim? Let us know!

Dear Congregation Beth Israel members and friends,

February may be the shortest month on the calendar, but it always feels longest — thanks to the snow and the cold, of which we have had more than our share this year! But spring is on the way, and one of the ways we know that is that Purim is in just a few days.

Please RSVP to Jack (663-5830 or office at cbiweb dot org) to let us know whether you are joining us for our Alice-In-Wonderland-themed Purim celebration next Wednesday evening! In your RSVP, please let us know:

1) How many are in your party (adults and children)

2) Whether you’ll be joining us for pizza at 5:30 before the Spiel

3) What you can contribute to the nibbly-foods buffet for after the Spiel

(We’re hoping for a Middle Eastern buffet this year — you might bring olives, cheeses, roasted vegetables, hummus / pita…) And of course you’re always welcome to bring hamentaschen and/or other desserts, too.

If you don’t have a costume, never fear — we’ll have boxes of costume items available for anyone who wants to augment their ordinary attire.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear a few verses of the Megillah, enjoy your fellow CBI members’ acting abilities, and ring in the approaching springtime! I look forward to seeing y’all at Purim.

Blessings to all,

Rabbi Rachel

The Mad Hatter Invites You… To Celebrate Purim!

Don’t be late, don’t be late
for this very important date!

The Mad Hatter invites you
to a Purim “tea party”
Wednesday, March 4 at CBI
pizza at 5:30; the celebration proper begins at 6

• explore the topsy-turvy Wonderland of our building!
• play flamingo croquet!
• enjoy the childrens’ costume parade!
• savor our Alice In Wonderland-themed Purim Spiel!
• hear some of the megillah read aloud!
• play a variety of games (for all ages!)
• enjoy a tasty beverage in celebration!
• all are welcome to bring hamentaschen or other desserts to share — AND/OR contributions to our savory nosh buffet, which will be Middle Eastern / Persian themed (think: cheeses, olives, grape leaves, hummus and pita, etc)

Please RSVP to the synagogue office by February 25! Let us know:

1) How many are in your party
2) Whether you want to partake in pizza at 5:30
3) What you’re bringing to the sweet-and-savory buffet. (If everyone’s bringing hummus, we’ll get in touch to try to diversify our offerings.)

Don’t Miss Purim at CBI!

Join us for a night of Purim revelry on  Saturday, March 15:

6pm pizza dinner (RSVP to the office by midweek so we know how much pizza to order)

6:30pm 
Costume Parade 
(prizes for kids in costumes!)

followed by our PURIM SPIEL

featuring intrigue! disguises! passion! revenge!
ably acted by a cast of CBI congregants

refreshments to follow — please bring something to share
(we’ll have cookies for all ages, and a little bit of schnapps for adults)

Our sages teach: “When Adar enters, joy increases.” The new month of Adar 2 (the month containing Purim) begins on Saturday night. Here’s to increasing our joy!