B'nai Israel Congregation

An opportunity for parents to meet with Rabbi Cheryl Stone to discuss parenting joy and frustration, concerns and aspirations all within a Jewish context. Open to all parents regardless of their child(ren)’s school enrollment.

Although the b’nai mitzvah process involves a great deal of effort on the part of the students, parents are a crucial part of the experience as well. Whether you are going through the process for the first time or you feel like you have it all under control, the B’nai Mitzvah Parents’ Field Guide is designed to engage all parents of 5th–7th graders in conversations and learning sessions with one another, facilitated by our clergy.

If you will be in Florida (or want to go to Florida or have family or friends with a connection to B'nai Israel who will be in Florida!), we hope you will join B'nai Israel for our upcoming Florida reunion at the beautiful Hunter's Run in Boynton Beach! This event is always a highlight of the year!

$150 materials fee All B’nai Israel members (11 years and older) are invited to attend a three-session workshop to envision, design, and create their own unique silk painted tallit. This amazing opportunity reinforces the concept of l’dor vador, from generation to generation, and creates a stronger bond in anticipation of upcoming b’nai mitzvah. It is also an opportunity for an individual to practice hiddur mitzvah (beautifying a mitzvah), raising their spiritual practice to a higher level. Participants must attend all three dates.

Long before Tevye sings about the kind of ostentatious house he wishes his family could inhabit in Fiddler on the Roof, the complicated Jewish relationship with our homes has been key to understanding depictions of Jews in American pop culture. From Lower East Side tenements to uptown luxury apartment buildings to Catskills hotels to suburban McMansions, the locations of Jewish settlement and the dwellings that Jews have occupied have been a major theme in American humor. This talk will look at representations of Jewish residences in vaudeville, stand-up comedy, and sitcoms to trace how increasing affluence among Jews has been satirized in ways that reveal underappreciated aspects of the American Jewish domestic experience. Co-sponsored by Sisterhood, Men’s Club, and Sara & Samuel J. Lessans Adult Education Institute.

*Every Monday when B’nai Israel offices are open.

Standing Up, Falling Down (1 hr. 31 min.; English) A struggling stand-up comedian moves back home to Long Island with his tail tucked between his legs and strikes up an unlikely friendship with his eccentric dermatologist. Starring Billy Crystal and Ben Schwartz.

Join us as we continue our study of Berakhot, which includes a comprehensive discussion of the Shema and Amidah, the essential components of the prayer service. Newcomers are more than welcome to join us. No prior knowledge is necessary.

A welcoming, inclusive environment for Jewish women to connect, share, and support one another. (Like a book club but without the homework!)

Wednesday, February 5 (continuing 14 more weeks, concluding May 28) 7:00–8:30 PM at Ohr Kodesh Congregation $150/person (includes textbook) Whether you want to learn more about your heritage, are considering converting, or are eager to incorporate more Judaism into your life, this course is for you. Throughout this 15-week course, students of all ages and backgrounds explore significant topics: rituals, holidays, Torah and values. Each cohort is guided by a multi-denominational team of rabbis who bring the past, present, and future together—including B’nai Israel’s own Rabbi Michael Safra, Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz, and Rabbi Cheryl Stone. Presented by The Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies.

$36/member; $50/nonmember Did you know that Pharaoh later becomes the King of Nineveh in Jonah? Or that Abraham’s later wife, Keturah, is actually Hagar? The ancient rabbis loved to identify these time travelers of the text. Explore some of these fascinating characters of the text, and see why our sages tell us that two characters, sometimes separated by time and space, are really one and the same.

Celebrate Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month with the launch of All Means All: My Life in Advocacy, a new publication by our very own Liz Weintraub, co-chair of the Inclusion Committee.

Welcome Shabbat with joyful song, led collaboratively by members of the B’nai Israel community. Shabbat Zimra will begin with a wine and cheese gathering to enhance our Shabbat celebration.

Join us on selected Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM for discussions about the weekly Torah parsha. Interested in leading a session? Contact Wendy Fanaroff. September 9 – Nitzavim/Vayeilech with Eric Luftman September 23 – Ha'azinu with Wendy Fanaroff October 14 – Breshit with Alan Siegel October 28 – Lech Lecha with Fonda Lowe November 4 – Vayera with Matt Lowe November 11 – Chaye Sarah with Adrienne Rulnick December 2 – Vayishlach with Rabbi Stone December 16 – Miketz with Judy Saks January 6 – Shemot with Rabbi Safra January 20 – Bo with Larry Kravitz

B’nai Israel’s Gold Kippah Honor Society recognizes students for their proficiency in various prayers. New this year: Pre-b’nai mitzvah students will be “buddied” up with a post-b’nai mitzvah student. Older students will mentor younger students to build stronger tefillah skills while fostering friendships across grades, role modeling, and building an integrated community. Click here for more Gold Kippah information including the Gold Kippah Siddur and audio files.

Family Minyan includes spirited prayer, an engaging Torah reading, and lively conversation about the weekly Torah portion. There is no better way to prepare your child for their bar or bat mitzvah and build community connections than regular Shabbat attendance. This service is led by clergy and staff, including Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz and Rabbi Cheryl Stone.

These services are for the post-b’nai mitzvah teens of B’nai Israel. Our teens help to organize the service and lead it, often including tefillah and discussion, with support from staff and clergy.

Designed for the youngest members of our congregational family, Tot Shabbat meets weekly to sing, learn, and pray together with Tot Shabbat leaders, Morah Juliann Goldman and Lily Pollack. Beginning July 1, this service is followed by a Family Kiddush.

$30/person Can you crack the codes and escape from the room? Come find out at Escapology in Pike & Rose. Limited space available.