B'nai Israel Congregation

$50 for members; $60 for nonmembers Sharpen your Hebrew reading skills and develop your Hebrew vocabulary. Basic knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet is recommended, but all are welcome to participate in this class

This class is limited to 20 people. Please register online.

Join us for a festive program celebrating our volunteers! “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart.” – Elizabeth Andrew

Each year, our Lunch and Learn group explores a compelling Biblical text—not only unpacking the more obvious meaning of the words and ideas but also how they interface with our own personal concerns and challenges. During 2022–2023, we will study excerpts from the Book of Samuel. How did our ancestors move from being a loose federation of tribes—the hallmark of the period of Joshua and the Judges—to a monarchy? What was the role of Samuel, the first prophet after Moses, in that process? How did Saul emerge as the first king of Israel? What caused the line of the monarchy to shift from Saul to David? The Book of Samuel is a treasure-trove of family intrigue, politics, religion and national hopes and tensions. It is a significant backdrop to the development of a people in its land—an ever-timeless text that speaks to our own era and reflects a gamut of human emotions and experiences. As our Lunch and Learn regulars will attest, our class is participatory and our conversations are lively. Newcomers are always welcome, as together we discover once again the power of the Bible.

This class will cover the skills that our gabbaim use every Shabbat: how they make members and guests feel welcome, facilitate the flow of a service, and the basics of correcting Torah reading. Members of our gabbai corps will join the class to share some of the expertise they have gained in their years of being gabbaim for the congregation. Please note that while graduates of this class will have acquired some new skills, they do not become gabbaim upon graduating, since gabbaim are appointed by the president of the congregation. Prerequisites for this class are ability to chant Torah, competence in Hebrew reading, and general familiarity with the flow of a Shabbat morning service. If interested, please contact Cantor Bolts to discuss eligibility.

We Love Anderson Cooper: Short Stories by R.L. Maizes In this debut collection, characters are treated as outsiders because of their sexual orientation, racial or religious identity, or simply because they look different; humor complements pathos. Readers will recognize themselves in these stories and in these protagonists, whose backgrounds are vastly different from their own—we’ve all been outsiders at some point.

We’ll start with Kabbalat Shabbat, eat dinner together, and participate in team building challenges! We know how important it is to engage your youth post-B’nai Mitzvot, and we are excited to begin to offer specific opportunities for this 7th grade class to have time with their friends. Please deeply consider signing up your child for this Shabbat dinner – we’ve heard feedback from 7th grade parents that these events are critically important.

Morning Torah Study returns to its original time on Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM! Join us on selected Saturday mornings for discussions about the weekly Torah parsha. Interested in leading a session? Contact Wendy Fanaroff. September 10 – Ki Teitzei September 17 – Ki Tavo October 1 – Vayeilech October 22 – Breshit November 12 – Vayarah November 19 – Chaya Sarah

Join us for a special Shabbat service as we affirm and celebrate our commitment to LGBTQ inclusion.