What's New At BJBE . . .

Dear Congregants,

Happy Yom HaAtzmaut! We are in the midst of celebrating Israel’s 60th Birthday at BJBE. This past weekend was a Tefillah Band Shabbat Service and the Walk with Israel. This Shabbat we welcome the former editor of the Jerusalem Post to our Bimah and will invite everyone who is celebrating 60 years (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) to join us for a special blessing.

In two weeks, on May 18, we will have a very special extended Mitzvah Day. Not only will there be the Religious School Mitzvah Day from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Not only will there be a special brunch honoring Rabbi Linder with the Humanitarian Award from 12:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Not only will there be a variety wonderful mitzvah projects to do from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00p.m. But also we will be having a very special L’HITRAOT RABBI LINDER PARTY at BJBE from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.! Please RSVP your attendance for this party and special Mitzvah Project to the Temple office.

Please join us this Shabbat morning, and every Shabbat morning, for TORAH STUDY with our Clergy beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The SHABBAT YELADIM SERVICE will be this week, May 9, at 6:45 p.m. Please join our clergy for an hour of prayer, arts and crafts and an oneg appropriate to our youngest congregants and their escorts.

As previously mentioned, CARL SHRAG will be our very special guest at Shabbat Services on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. He will be delivering a guest Sermon in honor of Israel’s 60th Birthday. If you are celebrating your 60th birthday or anniversary, please join us this evening as well so you can be recognized along with the State of Israel.

Our WEEKLY SHABBAT TORAH STUDY will feature a Shabbat Morning Torah Service as well as Study and will conclude with a Kiddish! Join our clergy at 9:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. This weekly study is in addition to any B’nai Mitzvah Service. Please join us.

Learn about THE HUNGER PROJECT at the May 14 Sisterhood Open Meeting with guest speaker, Aleen Bayard. The conversation will begin at 7:30 p.m.

MITZVAH DAY will be Sunday, May 18. Please join hundreds of BJBE volunteers for this hands-on tradition. Return your project signup sheet to the BJBE office soon! For more information see the information sheets in the Midmonth Mailer or contact Shelly Kaiz.

We are participating in Nike's "Reuse-A-Shoe" Program on Mitzvah Day. Recycle your worn-out athletic shoes into new "Nike Grind" playing fields. We need ONLY athletic shoes of any brand. (No cleats, dress shoes, spikes, flip flops, sandals, etc. allowed). Please do not tie shoe laces together.

The last meeting of the SISTERHOOD EVENING BOOK CLUB has been changed from May 7 to TUESDAY, MAY 27, at 7:30 p.m. The book will be: Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies. If you have never attended an evening book club and would like to see what it is all about, please feel free to join us that night. Contact Arlene at 847-465-8226 or lakinbrash@yahoo.com There is a small fee to join us on a one-time only basis.

The L’HITRAOT RABBI LINDER OPEN HOUSE will take place on the afternoon of Mitzvah Day, Sunday, May 18 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at BJBE. Visit with/say goodbye to Rabbi Linder and do an extra mitzvah in his honor. There will be many great, easy opportunities for both adults and children to continue the good works of Mitzvah Day and honor Rabbi Linder at the same time. And it will be FUN! Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to the BJBE office before May 10.

(Shhhhhh - this is a secret - please don't tell Rabbi Linder! If you would like to write a personal note, letter, or poem (you may also include a photo) to Rabbi Linder we would be happy to include it in a scrapbook that will be presented it to him on June 6. Send your notes to Temple c/o Linder L'hitraot Committee before May 15.)

Our SYG is hosting the perfect fundraising event…all we have to do is eat dinner! Have dinner at Sweet Tomatoes restaurant on Thursday, May 29 and our SYG will receive 15% of the price of your meal. Here’s the only hitch: You must bring a special BJBE coupon with you! Look for them in the Midmonth Mailer, on the Usher Caddy, or drop by the Temple office.

Join the BJBE Team and support the American Cancer Society at the RELAY FOR LIFE at Glenbrook South High School on Friday, May 30. An alternative Shabbat Service will be held there at the BJBE tent at 8:00 p.m. If you'd like to join the BJBE team, go to relayforlifeglenview.com and under “sign up”, click on "join a team" and type in “BJBE”. Donations can also be accepted on behalf of our team at the same Web site. Call Renee 847-729-5452 for more information or if you want to join or donate without using the computer.

The L’HITRAOT RABBI LINDER MIZMOR L’SHABBAT SERVICE will be on Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. A gala Oneg will follow services.

This is a "formal" invitation to attend a PANIM EL PANIM ASSEMBLY on Sunday June 22nd to celebrate ALL of the work we have done throughout this past year with Panim El Panim and through social action! Our desire is to have as many congregants of BJBE attend this Assembly at BJBE as a part of our Celebration as well as an invitation for those NOT yet involved to learn more. Please come and help us make this a well-attended Celebration for all of our tremendous work this past year!!

Rabbi Kedar will once again be a guest scholar at this year’s OSRUI LEHRHAUS. Rabbi’s session will be from June 25 to 29. Her topic will be “The Six Texts that Sustain a Spiritual Life.” For additional information, go to www.osrui.com or contact Barbara at 847-239-6984.

POST CARPOOL will be having a Brunch and Matinee outing to "A Bench in the Sun" at Apple Tree Theater on Sunday, June 29. We will meet at the temple at 11:30 a.m. for Brunch, and then carpool to Highland Park for the 2:00 p.m. show. Audrey Pink will be coordinating this event. Cost is $36.00 per person. Reservations due in the temple office by June 11.

L’DOR VADOR CONFIRMATION CARD: Please join us in sending our best wishes to this year’s Confirmation Class. For a $10.00 donation, your name will be included on a beautiful card sent to the Confirmands’ families. Deadline for the card is May 27, 2008. If you have any questions, please call Ilene at (847) 562-1551. The L’Dor Vador Fund honors senior Sisterhood members by supporting BJBE youth in educational and recreational projects. Thank you for your support.

WANTED: A FEW GOOD WOMEN, Needed to fill positions on the Sisterhood Board, No Experience Necessary! The BJBE Sisterhood is now forming their Board for the 2008-2009 year and some positions are still open. They are looking for women, young and not so young, to join this very active group. Opportunities are endless and there is always room for advancement. These are positions that oversee projects that benefit both the Women of Reform Judaism and BJBE. The hours are very good, the work is not difficult and the rewards are numerous. You also will enjoy the camaraderie of other dedicated women, and refreshments at all meetings. On-the-job training available. For further information please contact: Gloria at (847) 945-3741 or Gloria@kaizs.com or Barbara at (847) 251-3759 or johnandbarbie@sbcglobal.net.

G’MILIUT CHASADIM OPPORTUNITY: Did you know that BJBE operates a VIRTUAL FOOD PANTRY? Rather than bringing in canned goods and starting our own food pantry we collect tzedakah for the Rabbis and office to have on hand for congregants and others who are in need of immediate and direct assistance. Please contact Larisa Rozman in the BJBE office and make a contribution of any amount today.

MAY TZEDAKAH: The May tzedakah recipient is Yad L’Kashish (Lifeline for the Aged), offering the needy elderly and disabled of Jerusalem the opportunity to remain an integral part of society. Yad L’Kashish provides creative work opportunities, support services and intergenerational programs to hundreds of elderly and disabled Jerusalem residents. Please give generously via the tzedakah box at the rear of the Community Hall. For more information or to shop at the Yad L’Kashish online gift shop, visit www.lifeline.org.il.

For additional Social Action opportunities, please check your Bulletin or contact the Temple office, Ruth Miller, or Rabbi Linder.

Join the ranks of many BJBE members who do their entire gift shopping at your Judaica Shop. There are many unique Israeli made items certain to please, especially from LifeLine. For more information call Naomi 657-9320, Julie 299-3528 or Gail 564-2339.

Finally, longtime BJBE Office Assistant Sonni Helmer has announced her retirement at the end of this week. We are grateful to the many years of service that Sonni has provided this congregation in a variety of roles. Congratulations, Sonni. We look forward to seeing you around the congregation and in our choir.

If you have any questions about these or any other Temple programs, please feel free to contact the Temple office at (847) 729-7575.

L’Shalom

Marc