Community

BJBE Gala 2021

Galavanting (ga-le-vant) גלאבנט verb
To entertain and build community while eating, drinking, and shmoozing virtually.

Thank you to all of our Galavanting Sponsors! Click here to view our 2021 Ad Book.

Still want to support BJBE? Click here to donate now!

 

Galavanting Co Chairs: Jenn Dubinsky & Sid Siegel
Committee: Terri Argentar | Mindy Balonik | Carol Berger | Melanie Berkowitz | Nancy Blitz | Andrew Bloom | Mark Brodson | Caroline Chess | Jason Chess | Todd Cohan | Lisa Cohen | Erin Cooper | Jorie DiCocco | Michael DiCocco | Erin Dubin | Jacqueline Edelson | Mike Frazin | Tara Goldfarb | Julie Goynshor | Allyson Greenbaum | Noel Hara | Tracey Horwich | Eleanor Kahn | Bonnie Koss | Beth Lewis | Bonnie Litch | Sonya Morgan | Joel Newton | Tanya Paler | Laura Passmore | Jordan Sklansky | Brian Tenner | Marc Wielansky | Jodi Zuckerman

125th Anniversary

We kicked off our celebration of the 125th Anniversary of Congregation BJBE on May 11, 2018.

 

View the recording of the service here.

View pictures from the evening here.

View the slideshow from that evening here.

Families with Young Children

PJ Havdalah 
Experience Havdalah through a short, multi-sensory service, with songs, story, and special craft activities. Say goodbye to Shabbat and usher in the new week with sweetness and light in this program designed for the young and the young at heart.

Matzah Ball Shabbat Family Service
Third Friday of the Month (September – June, except April)

Join the BJBE community for Shabbat activities, followed by an uplifting multi-generational service featuring Kol Simchah Junior Choir and a story shared by our clergy. 

5:15-6:00 p.m. – Shabbat crafts and activities (no food will be served)
6:00-7:00 p.m. – Family service with our Junior Choir
"GOneg" following the service - grab some treats to enjoy later

Caring Community

As BJBE’s Extended Family, Caring Community provides spiritual, emotional, and healing support to our member families in times of joy and in times of need. Our goal is for all members to feel valued, included, and welcome. To become an active part of the Caring Community, contact Michael Erdman.

For information on Support for Caregivers, click here >>

Clergy Support for Members in Need

Clergy Pastoral Care
The Rabbis and Cantors want to know when your family or loved ones experience illness or death so that they can support you in your times of need. Contact the BJBE office at 847-940-7575 to speak with Leslie Block. Be sure to provide all relevant information and how you can be reached. 

JCARES Partnership for Safer Synagogues
For more information on JCARES, click here >>

Virtual Food Pantry
In emergency situations when a member has no other source of obtaining food, short-term food assistance can be provided. The clergy handles this concern confidentially. Contact the BJBE office at 847-940-7575 to speak with one of the clergy’s assistants.

Volunteer Support for Members in Need

Primary Contact for All Volunteer Services
When we learn that a member is in need, a skilled volunteer will make contact to provide support and to assess that person’s needs confidentially. We invite you to let us know when you or a loved one could use support so that our Caring Community can reach out and provide any of the services listed below.
Contact: Michael Erdman, 773-972-1771

Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick; body, mind, or spirit) 
When a member needs emotional support, a phone call and/or visit will be provided at home, hospital, rehab center, or nursing home by a trained volunteer. In addition, we have a partnership with Gidwitz Place where synagogue volunteers visit with residents in a group discussion setting.
Contact: Erin Rosenberg 

Meal Delivery
When we learn that a member would benefit from receiving a prepared meal, volunteers will make all of the arrangements.
Contacts: Erin Rosenberg & Bonnie Koss

Transportation Assistance
When a member requires either a ride to/from BJBE or to/from medical appointments, a volunteer will arrange for transportation.
Contact: Al Martin

Self-Help Guides to Family Issues
There are self-help brochures covering a wide-range of topics available in the Tzedakah Niche in the Village Center for members to take as needed.

Bags of Hope
During the High Holy Days, a bereavement memorial bag is delivered to all members who have lost a loved one during the past year. 
Co-Chairs: Renee Busch & Rachel Tzinberg

Grief Support Phone Calls
Volunteers will call newly bereaved family members within the first few months of a loss. 
Contact: Sharon Krivitzky

Volunteer Shiva Minyan Corps
When requested, a volunteer will lead Shiva Minyan for a member who has lost a loved one.
Chairperson: Irwin Goldfine

Gift for New Parents and Grandparents
A gift and note are sent out when a member has a new child or grandchild.

Caring Note Cards
A personal note is sent to members who are celebrating a special event or to provide support during a difficult time.
Co-Chairs: Jeanie Pearlman & Dolly DeCaro

High Holy Days Calls
During the High Holy Days season, volunteers will call every member of the congregation to wish them a “Shana Tovah” from their BJBE family.
Chairperson: Michael Erdman

Medical Lending Closet: Sisterhood maintains a list of medical supplies available for loan within the congregation.

Virtual Food Pantry: BJBE Office 847-940-7575. In emergency situations, when a member has no other source of obtaining food, short term food assistance can be provided. This is handled confidentially by the clergy only.

Zip Code CoordinatorTanya Paler. This group is responsible for initiating and managing requests for volunteers by zip code for meal support. These people will work very closely with the Prepared Meal Volunteer Coordinators, the Transportation Coordinators and the Cemetery Connection Coordinators.

Health Fair Coordinator: Terry Sachsel, 847-296-8840. The Caring Community occasionally brings in vendors from the community and partners with CJE to sponsor various health screenings, provide health information, flu shots and mental health information.

Inclusion Committee Chair: Jennifer Gendel - 224-515-833

Seniors and Life Transitions Programs

Health Insurance Counseling Sessions
Throughout the year, appointments are available to meet with Esther Craven, a Resource Specialist with over 25 years of experience at CJE SeniorLife, a trained Senior Health Insurance Advocate. Individual appointments with Esther Craven are available at no charge. If you are interested, call CJE SeniorLife at 773.508.1000 and ask for a Senior Help Insurance Program (SHIP) counselor. You can also contact Esther Craven directly at esther.craven@cje.net or call 773.508.1047.

LGBTQ

BJBE is a safe space for the LGBTQ community, and we welcome you with love and open arms.

Click here to listen to Rabbi Kedar's beautiful words (from 2/17/17) on how the Torah portion Mishpatim obligates us to have compassion and empathy for one another.

BJBE has 5 gender neutral bathrooms, and our clergy is dedicated to welcoming all into our community, including officiating at same-sex weddings and other lifecycle events.

safe zone

BJBE hosts the following support group in our building. Although not sponsored by our congregation, it is open and available to our members.

PFLAG
Second Tuesday of the Month, 7:15-9:10 p.m.
PFLAG promotes the well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons, and their families and friends. All meetings are confidential; PFLAG is a safe place to talk, listen and learn. Membership is not required and there is no charge to attend. Walk-ins are always welcome. 
Contact: Sue Ginsburg, PFLAG President Deerfield Chapter, by email or by phone at 630-415-0622

HUGS @ BJBE

HUGS - Healthy Understanding Growing Spaces

HUGS logoHUGS is a collaborative effort of Chicago north suburban synagogues. HUGS values welcoming people of all abilities and strives to offer meaningful holiday celebrations for children and adults of all ages with special needs. Programs take place in synagogues around the Chicago north suburban area and are always held in spaces that are accessible to all. Family members or caregivers are welcome at all events. Most of our programs are free of charge. Visit the HUGS website >>
 

Jewish Choir for Adults with Disabilities

Selah is a brand new choral group for Jewish Young Adults who identify with the Special Needs Community. This choir is led by Cantors Faryn Rudnick, Steven Stoehr, and Amy Zussman. Rehearsals will be Sundays from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at Congregation Beth Shalom, 3433 Walters Avenue, Northbrook. 
Contact: Cantor Steven Stoehr

Inclusion at the Chava Center

BJBE Early Childhood Program at the Chava Center values each child, working with families, therapists, and local school districts to meet the needs of individual learners. The experiences in a Jewish preschool are a wonderful time to begin to share the Jewish rituals and create memorable experiences for young children. With a Support Specialist on staff to provide real time guidance to our professional educators, our program is committed to making Jewish early childhood education accessible to all families. Inclusive classes offer benefits to all children learning together. Children with disabilities experience positive peer modeling from their typically developing peers. Equally important, typically developing children gain an understanding and acceptance of differences among people.

One example of this inclusion is our collaboration with Keshet, an agency that works to integrate individuals with disabilities into their communities. One of the core beliefs of Keshet is to ensure that individuals with disabilities enjoy life along-side typically developing peers, in settings that enable their efforts and reward the community for their acceptance. This exciting partnership enabled a young girl with Down syndrome to attend preschool, with the support of staff from Keshet, in the Jewish environment her parents chose for her.

Youth Groups

BJBE is committed to meeting the needs of our children of all ages. We offer opportunities for sacred friendship, connection, learning, social action, leadership, and fun. Events include social, cultural, and religious opportunities; all events have a social action component as well. Youth groups empower our younger people to become leaders both at BJBE and in their communities, provide children of all ages with incredible opportunities to build lasting friendships, develop a lifelong love for Jewish culture and tradition, and find their unique Jewish selves.  While our young adults enjoy these activities with their friends, they strengthen the Jewish identities that will carry them to college and beyond.

BJBE has 3 youth groups: SYG, JYG, and KYG.

SYG (Senior Youth Group) for grades 9-12
BJBE's Senior Youth Group (SYG) is an active Jewish community open to all of our high school students. SYG empowers its members to become leaders both within the synagogue and out in their communities. Our Senior Youth Group is run almost entirely by an elected board of teenagers. This group of motivated leaders plans, publicizes and executes each event with guidance from our advisor and clergy. 

SYG meets for lounge nights (the third Thursday of every month from 6-8pm), monthly events, and an annual weekend retreat at OSRUI where we learn, grow and have fun together as a chevra. We are also members of NFTY-CAR region where we are working on increasing our presence. Senior Youth Group is a great opportunity for the teenagers of BJBE to continue to explore their Jewish identities in a fun and supportive environment. 

REGISTER FOR LOUNGE NIGHTS 

REGISTER FOR ALL OTHER SYG EVENTS

SYG Board

Presidents: Jessica Shade, Sophie Cole, Samantha Gordon
Programming Chair: Jonah Prober
Social Action Chairs: Izzy Kiessel & Drew Spiegel
Religious & Cultural Chair: Joshua Horwich
Social Media Chair: Kaila Passmore

Besides having fun leading their friends in SYG and NFTY elected positions or in social action leadership roles, kids who participate in BJBE activities gain a valuable addition to college application forms. Additionally, impressive and meaningful opportunities are available for our teens to develop their leadership skills as teacher assistants (Madrichim) or as mentors.

JYG (Junior Youth Group) for grades 5-8
BJBE is committed to meeting the needs of our children of all ages. To keep our tweens engaged with Judaism throughout their middle school years, we offer opportunities for sacred friendship, connection, learning, social action, leadership, and fun through our Junior Youth Group (JYG). While our young adults enjoy these activities with their friends, they strengthen the Jewish identities that will carry them to college and beyond. 

KYG (K'tanim Youth Group) for grades K-4
KYG is an active Jewish community open to all of our kindergarten through 4th grade students.

We love to meet new friends and have Jewish fun playing games, make creative projects, and celebrate the holidays!

For more information, contact Alek Kopulsky,
Youth Director

REGISTER FOR KYG EVENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


YOUTH TRIPS
BJBE provides its youth with a variety of youth trip options. Each reflects experiential education at its finest, giving teens a unique new perspective on their Judaism and strengthening their identity as Jews.

L’Taken RAC (Religious Action Center) Trip
Every year nearly 2,000 high school students participate in the Union for Reform Judaism Religious Action Center's L'Taken Seminar in Washington, D.C. The program is designed to expose students to a variety of public policy issues, explore the Jewish values surrounding these issues, and teach the skills of an effective advocate.
Contact: Caryn Blomquist

Teen Mission to Kolin & Israel
Summer 2023
Led by BJBE clergy and staff, we’ll tend to the graves of those who once prayed with our Kolin Torah Scrolls in the Czech Republic, visit Terezin Concentration Camp, and stroll the streets of picturesque Prague. We will then journey home to Israel where we’ll savor as much of our beautiful country as possible, from the Knerret in the North, to Masada in the South, and beautiful Jerusalem at the heart. 


NFTY-CAR (National Federation for Temple Youth in the Chicago Area Region)
BJBE is part of NFTY, The National Federation of Temple Youth. NFTY is the Reform Jewish religious youth movement that fosters leadership at the national, regional and congregational levels. NFTY-CAR brings together Reform Jewish high schoolers from the suburbs and surrounding cities of Chicago, as well as northwestern Indiana.

Learn more about NFTY-CAR

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