Next Year’s Kallah: Save the Date

Chevre,

Please save this date for next year’s Kallah, as we return to the beautiful grounds of OSRUI for another weekend of joy and growth:

February 14-16, 2014

While it’s not likely to be balmy weather, we might get lucky enough to go sledding down Bayit Hill.  Who’s game?  Anybody willing to go face-first?

L’shalom,
Marc

Shavuot Gratitude

Chevre,

Many thanks go to Rachel and Anita for presenting such a thoughtful and engaging Shavuot program on Tuesday night.  Anita used the story of Ruth to remind us of spiritual journeys and then Rachel cleverly asked us to summarize where we are in our journey  – in six words or less.  For a normally loquacious group, this might have been an insurmountable challenge.  However, it turned out not to be as hard as it might sound and gave us an opportunity to focus in on some essentials.  Additionally, Anita’s chanting of Aseret Ha-Dibrot (The Ten Utterances) brought us to Sinai in another way, in keeping with the tradition of Shavuot.

Many thanks, too, to Karen and Andy Jacobs for hosting us.  The setting that their home provided was a beautiful one for the evening and, as always, there was great food – and plenty of it.

Unfortunately, we forgot to collect donations towards our UPAJ membership commitment.  We’re planning to send our check to UPAJ next week.  If you would like to contribute, please send a check (made out to B’Chavana) right away to:
Rabbi Belgrad
PO Box 7608
Buffalo Grove, IL  60089

L’shalom,
Marc

Hello Everyone!

Please join Rabbi Belgrad at Chicago Sinai Congregation this Sunday, the 19^th of May from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. for the quarterly UPAJ collective leadership meeting.  Unfortunately Karen, Pam and Maureen are not available. If you can join Rabbi Belgrad and bring back inspiration and energy, we would truly appreciate it! 

This meeting is a really great one to attend if at all possible! There will be representatives from most of the 40 churches, synagogues and mosques that are member organizations of UPAJ.  In discussion will be an update from the Health Care Team and Reclaim Southwest Chicago, followed by an in-depth look at the progress on the gun violence issue “Do Not Stand Idly By.”  It is a great way for you to hear from and talk with the very spirited and engaging ‘team leaders’ of all current projects and think for yourselves about what may strike you and where you want to focus your own personal efforts in the coming year.  You WILL be given next step opportunities.

If you are able to attend, you will surely come away with a better understanding of all that UPAJ is working on and real next steps for yourselves and for B’Chavana.

Please contact Rabbi Belgrad (ravmarc@aol.com) ASAP if you can attend.  You can discuss carpooling.

 Your UPAJ Team,

Rabbi Marc Belgrad
Karen Gleicher
Pam DeMar
Maureen Shayman

B’Chavana Does Broadway: “The Invasion of Skokie”

Chevre,

There’s  a new play coming to town and we thought you might be interested in seeing this together!  The play is called, “The Invasion of Skokie” and it’s being produced by a new Jewish identity theater company called “ShPIeL”.  The play revolves around a Holocaust survivor, his wife, their daughter, and her new, non-Jewish fiancee.  The family drama plays out against the backdrop of the proposed Nazi march in Skokie, in 1977.  The play captures the identity issues that are raised in the family dynamics.

“The Invasion of Skokie” is playing at the Meyer Kaplan JCC in Skokie, 5050 Church St.  We have decided on the Sunday, June 23, 2:00 matinee performance for our group.  If you can make it and would like to see the play, please go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/360136 and enter the code word “bchavanah” for the discounted price of $18 per ticket.

“The Invasion of Skokie” opens May 22 and runs through late June.  You can go to the same site to buy regularly priced tickets for another date, if the June 23 date isn’t convenient.  This is an excellent play that will spark lots of reflection and discussion about legacy, identity, and family harmony.

After the play, we’ll continue with dinner and discussion for those interested, the place t.b.a.

We hope to see you on the 23rd!
Anita and Susan

A Spirited Shabbat

Chevre,

Many thanks to Rachel Levin and her children – Becca, Jacob and Sarah – for their usual enthusiastic welcome this Shabbat.  While the weather wasn’t warm enough for us to davven out of doors, the spirited warmth that we generated inside provided a lift to us all.  Thanks as well to Rachel for an exceptionally touching, thoughtful and revealing sharing of her spiritual journey.  Our learning and conversation of the middah (ethical virtue) of equanimity was likewise interesting and challenging.

We meet this Tuesday night for our Shavuot celebration.  If you haven’t responded yet, please contact Karen Jacobs:  kbagel@mac.com; (847) 644-6655.  For program details, scroll down this page to the post immediately prior to this one.

Hope to see you there.  Have a good week.

Shavua tov,
Marc

Next Tuesday Night: Shavuot Celebration

Chevre,

We’ll gather next Tuesday night for our annual Shavuot celebration of Torah and the joy of learning.

The program is so top-secret that Rachel and Anita won’t tell me what it is – but I’ve learned through my spies that we’ll focus on Aseret Ha-Dibrot – the Ten Commandments – and the book of Ruth, both traditionally read on Shavuot.  The evening will be filled with learning, fun and . . . food.  Prepare to bring an appetite for something dairy – and your favorite dairy dessert.

Our hosts are Karen and Andy Jacobs: 3405 Lake Knoll Drive, Northbrook (for directions, see below).  Please respond to Karen so that she can coordinate our “dairy dessert bar” and other refreshments: kbagel@mac.com; (847) 644-6655.
7:30     Program
9:15     Dessert

Another request: collecting for tzedakah has become our holiday custom.  Recently, B’Chavana joined United Power for Action and Justice as a venue for fulfilling our social justice mission.  Part of our commitment is financial: $300 towards the operating expenses that keep UPAJ independent and viable.  We’ve already begun collecting contributions and welcome more during Shavuot.  Please bring a check in any amount – made out to B’Chavana – to support this commitment.

I’m looking forward to celebrating with you.

L’shalom,
Marc

Directions to the Jacobs’ Home
NOTE TO ALL:  Older GPS systems may take you to (slightly) the wrong location in my neighbourhood, so pay close attention to the “starred directions” below describing the house.

From parts west (north or south):  Take Tri-State 294 to Willow Road exit.  Get off heading east on Willow Road.  At FIRST light, turn LEFT (north) onto Landwehr Road.  Go to next light and turn LEFT (west) onto Techny Road.  From Techny, take SECOND LEFT onto Sleepy Hollow, which is a very short street.
***** At the end of Sleepy Hollow, turn RIGHT onto Lake Knoll, and then our house is the first on the left hand side, brown/gray brick and taupe siding, big “For Sale” sign in the front yard, number is on the
mailbox.  You can come to side door or front door.  Warning:  we
have a very friendly golden retriever, bark-y when you first arrive but then calms down and may try to climb into your lap.  The operative command is, “OFF, Rosie.” *******

From parts due north:  Take Pfingsten Road south to Techny, turn RIGHT onto Techny  then SECOND LEFT onto Sleepy Hollow, then see starred
directions above…

From parts east – south:  Take Edens 94 to Willow Road WEST exit.
Stay on Willow Road, heading west, for about 5 miles until Landwehr Road.
Turn RIGHT (north) onto Landwehr.  At next light turn LEFT (west) onto
Techny Road.  From Techny take SECOND LEFT onto Sleepy Hollow, then see
starred directions above…

From parts east – north:  Take Edens south to Lake Cook Road exit.
Get off Lake Cook heading WEST, follow to Pfingsten Road.  Turn LEFT
(south) onto Pfingsten Road.  Go to Techny Road, turn RIGHT, then SECOND
LEFT from Techny onto Sleepy Hollow.  Then see starred directions above…

Should you choose to accept your mission, Mr. Phelps…

Upcoming Shabbat: What’s Equanimity?

Chevre,

Many thanks to Nancy and Steve Feinberg for hosting our Friday night gathering – I heard that it was a typical B’Chavana gathering filled with music and laughter.  I want to offer my special thanks to Anita Silvert for leading our davvening and teaching so that I could be away for a family wedding.  What a joy it is for me to know that B’Chavana flourishes while I’m gone by drawing on the talents and skills of our members.

This coming Shabbat morning:

Building on the foundation that we laid during the Kallah, we’ll explore the middah (ethical virtue) of “equanimity” amidst our usual Shabbat celebration.   Not a term that we use much in everyday life, huh?  Come and explore together the ways in which we can improve our lives by virtue of this virtue.

We’ll meet at the home of Rachel Levin: 3613 Radcliffe Dr., Northbrook.  If the weather allows, we’ll meet outside in her backyard.  Please contact Rachel right away so that she can coordinate the potluck lunch: rklevinmd@hotmail.com; (847) 602-1549.

9:45   Schmooze
10:00  Shabbat Tefilot & Learning
12:15   Potluck Lunch

L’shalom,
Marc

 

Welcome New Member

Chevre,

I’m happy to let you know that Larry Heisler has joined B’Chavana.  Larry has quickly become part of our community, especially during our kallah weekend.

We are building our community – at thirty-seven members now and continuing to grow.  Our guiding principles are simple: we believe that our communal practices will enrich the lives of people who join us; we know that our communal practices will be enriched by the experiences and insights that new people will bring.  We learn both of those lessons every time that we gather.

We need to make B’Chavana sustainable.  Here are things that you can do to build the community:

• Share your B’Chavana experiences with people you know.
• Invite your friends with you to our Shabbat and holiday gatherings, our book discussions and our tikkun projects.
• Host an informational coffee with Rabbi Belgrad and people that you know.
• Connect your friends with Rabbi Belgrad for a personal, one-on-one conversation.

For those interested, click here: Membership Information – 2013-14.

Our goal is to ensure that B’Chavana flourishes as a community for many years to come.  Let’s accomplish that together.

Save the Dates

Chevre,

We have two outstanding opportunities approaching:

• Tuesday night, May 14, we’ll celebrate Shavuot.  The program is so top-secret that Rachel and Anita won’t tell me what it is.  The evening will be filled with learning, fun and . . . food.  Prepare to bring an appetite for something dairy – and perhaps your favorite dairy dessert.  More details to follow soon.
• Sunday afternoon, June 23, 2:00 pm at the Skokie JCC: we’ll attend a production of the play “The Invasion of Skokie.”  The drama focuses on a survivor family in Skokie in the mid 1970s.  Against the backdrop of the proposed Nazi march in Skokie, the family struggles with Jewish identity and memory, as a survivor’s only daughter brings home a non-Jewish fiancee.  Again, more details will follow soon.

Hope you’ll be there!
Marc

Last Chance To Serve

Chevre,

Robin Campbell is organizing another visit to the JUF Cafe, a restaurant-type setting serving meals to people who cannot always afford to eat.  The visit will be this Sunday, May 5, from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, on the north side of the city.

There are only 3 openings left.  If you would like to participate, contact Robin right away: robin@cowspot.net.

L’shalom,
Marc