Dear Friends,

UPCOMING EVENTS!
Friday, April 19, Israel's 65th Birthday Celebration at Family Shabbat!
Coffee with Congressman Schneider, April 21
Come hear about "The Plan" at the Congregation Informational Meeting, April 22
Shavuot Ice Cream Social/Dinner and Tikkun Leil Shavuot Late Night Learning Session, May 14

See below for detailed information on these events.

Congregation BJBE looks forward to celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of Nate Schwartz at the morning service this Saturday. Mazel tov to Nate and his family.

A major construction project begins today on Lake Cook Road, just east of BJBE from Deer Lake to Ellendale. This includes the busy intersection of Lake Cook and Waukegan Roads. The Cook County Highway Department has committed to keeping at least one lane in each direction and left turn lanes available at all signalized intersections for the duration of the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of October. For more information about the construction, please visit www.lakecookroad.com for up-to-date construction status and project information.

L'shalom,

Arlene

Arlene Mayzel
Operations Director
847-940-7575, ext. 118
amayzel@bjbe.org

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Men's Club presents its Dinner Study Sessions with some new topics for the spring: Current Issues in Israel and Israeli Politics with Ezra Kedar, Thursday, April 18. A Historian Looks at Anti-Jewishness, Its History and Its Causes with Bill Haase , Monday, April 29. Sessions with dinner will start at 7:30 PM. All this for only $8/session ($5 additional at the door). Everyone Welcome! Click on the above links for more information.

The Symposium, Tuesday, April 16; 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Book discussion: "The Wicked Son" by David Mamet. Instructor: Rabbi Brian Stoller

The BJBE Caregiver support group will meet in the BJBE Chapel on Thursday, April 18th at 7:30PM. The support group is presented in partnership with CJE Senior Life, and is led by licensed social worker Joan Ente. Together we learn and support each other as we care for adult loved ones and friends both near and far, at home or in a facility. For further information contact Carol Berger 847-205-9793; ponderer4552@sbcglobal.net

Coffee with Congressman Schneider - On Sunday, April 21 at 9:45am, BJBE is hosting "Coffee with a Congressman Brad Schneider". This is a follow up to BJBE's successful hosting of the 2012 North Shore Jewish Community Candidate Forum that preceded Congressman Schneider's election. Through the Candidate Forum and BJBE's increased presence at AIPAC, the BJBE community is staying abreast of the political issues that affect the 10th Congressional District and the US/Israel relationship. At Coffee with a Congressman, Congressman Schneider will speak for 20-30 minutes about his first 100 days in office, how he's promoted his agenda and what he's learned about resolving the issues that face voters in the 10th Congressional District. A short question-answer period will follow. This program will be conducted in lieu of Adult Ed on April 21 and will be held in Sacred Hall A.

Congregation Informational Meeting; Monday, April 22, 7:30 PM; Learn how we can build now as we introduce "The Plan." Share your ideas. Questions? president@bjbe.org.

The Symposium, Tuesdays, April 23, May 21 and 28; 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Book discussion: "God Was In This Place and I, I Did Not Know" by Lawrence Kushner. Instructor: Rabbi Mark Shapiro

God After Auschwitz
Sunday, April 28; 9:45 - 10:45 AM; Instructor Rabbi Brian Stoller
Where was God during the Holocaust? If God is loving and good, how could God have let it happen? The unparalleled evil of the Holocaust forever changed the way Jews think and believe about God. This is the last in the series, led by our rabbis and a special guest speaker who was a Hidden Child in France during the Holocaust, in which we grapple with questions of what we can believe and how we can have faith in God after Auschwitz.

The Symposium, Tuesdays, April 30 and May 7; 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Book discussion: "No Other Gods" by Kenneth Seeskin. Instructor: Rabbi Marc Belgrad

Wednesday, April 24, 11:30 AM; BJBE Sisterhood presents its 3rd annual Youngsters and Funsters 80 Plus. Join us for lunch and a young-at-heart program! RSVP by April 15 to Elaine Kupfer, 847-564-1656,kup12@comcast.net. BJBE Sisterhood presents My How Things Have Changed in the Kitchen!,

Wednesday, May 8 at 7:30 PM. A short 15 minutes film "Gefilte Fish" about an endangered species--homemade gefilte fish, will be followed by a lively discussion led by Sharon Sabin and her mother, Ruth Dauber. For information contact Ether Kikoler at maiznblu@comcast.net.

Shavuot Ice Cream Social & Pizza Dinner; Tuesday, May 14, 6:30 - 7:30 PM. Everyone's invited! It's FREE. Fun Shavuot activities for the whole family. Bring a gently used book to donate to Bernie's Book Bank. RSVP by May 1 to Daniella Dubrow at ddubrow@bjbe.org.

Tikkun Leil Shavuot Late-Night Learning Session; Tuesday, May 14 7:30 - 11:45 PM. New sessions every 1/2 hour plus a dessert break.

Tee it up for the 4th Annual Men's Club Golf Outing. All Golfers Welcome! Friday, June 28, 12:00pm, Traditions at Chevy Chase. For registration information, click here.

Torah Study: The Book of Exodus
Instructors: Rabbi Karyn Kedar & Rabbi Brian Stoller
Saturdays, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Talmud Study: Tractate Berakhot (Blessings)
Instructor: Rabbi Brian Stoller
Wednesdays, 7:50-8:50 a.m.

For more information about the Center for Adult Learning, contact Michael Kahn at kahncm@gmail.com or Ruth B. Miller at rmiller702@aol.com.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

SYG is going Paintballing! Saturday, April 27th, 3-5:30PM. High school students, join us at Paintball Explosion in East Dundee. Cost is $30 ($35 for NFTY friends not from BJBE). RSVP to Emily at eschwartz@bjbe.org.

And join the SYG for Lounge Night on Thursday 4/25, 7-9PM to make armor in preparation for the great event!

*************************************

See PORTALS to meaning and purpose, 2012/13 for additional programming information.

SERVICES

Matzah Ball Shabbat! Friday, April 19, starting at 5:15pm with delicious matzah ball soup followed by a Family Service at 6:00pm. Join us as we celebrate Israel's 65th Birthday.

Shabbat Mornings at BJBE feature our Kol Shabbat Service every week from 9:30-10:45 AM. This service is followed by our Torah Study at 11:00 AM.

Wednesday Morning Minyan: Our weekday morning Minyan meets every Wednesday in the BJBE Chapel from 6:45 AM to 7:15 AM. Click here to contact Rabbi Stoller for an audio CD of the weekday prayer melodies. Join us Wednesday evening at 6:45 PM for the Music Minyan led by BJBE's own Andy Dennen, Marcus Newman and Gary Schaffel. This is a deeply spiritual way to transition into the evening, so stop by on your way home from work or on your way to a temple meeting to experience beautiful music, pray together in community and be present for fellow congregants who need to say Kaddish for a loved one. All Wednesday evening minyans are held in the Chapel from 6:45 - 7:15 PM. The Music Minyans led by Andy Dennen, Marcus Newman and Gary Schaffel are held the first and third Wednesdays of the month. The Music & Study Minyans led by Julie Webb and Tracy Friend are held the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Our live video streaming of our services continues for most Friday evening Shabbat services in the Sacred Hall. This service extends the walls of our congregation and allows access to our sacred community for those unable to attend in person. Our streaming is accomplished through a fixed camera at the rear of the Sacred Hall and is only active during services. Sound is picked up by the microphones used by the clergy. To view our live or recorded streams, please click here. You may have to watch an initial commercial before the stream begins, but this is a free and open program accessible to anyone. Questions? Click here to contact Arlene Mayzel.

MORNINGS AT BJBE

BJBE Stars Networking, Wednesday. April 17, 7:30 - 9:00 AM

Wednesday Morning Minyan: Our weekday morning Minyan meets every Wednesday in the BJBE Chapel from 6:45 AM to 7:15 AM. Click here to contact Rabbi Stoller for an audio CD of the weekday prayer melodies.

Thursday T'ai Chi Ch'uan: We are now offering a weekly Thursday morning T'ai Chi class led by Dr. Drew Serlin at 7:30 AM. These classes are now offered at no charge!Enhance the energy of your mind, body, and spirit and gain sensitivity, focus, and balance for your life. We hope you can join us for this amazing experience.

SOCIAL ACTION AND TZEDAKAH

For a discussion about the events surrounding access to the Kotel, please join a special conference call for Reform Movement leadership with Anat Hoffman, Director of the Israel Religious Action Center and Chairwoman of Women of the Wall, and Gilad Kariv, Director of the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism: Tuesday, April 16, 2013, 11:00AM CDT - 12:00 PM CDT. Phone number for U.S.: +1 (201) 590-2255; Conference Room: 3518108#

BJBE Joins Team ARZA as we Bike the Drive for Israel, Sunday, May 26. For information contact Doris Schyman at dschyman@gmail.com.

Help continue our work in New Orleans! Even if you cannot attend our fifth annual social action mission to New Orleans, May 23-26, 2013, you can be part of this special outreach from our BJBE community to New Orleans. We are collecting items for the organizations we visit while we're in New Orleans and WE NEED YOUR HELP.

We will be collecting:

• Gift Cards - Barnes and Noble, Home Depot*, Sports Authority, Walmart
• Children's Clothes- (Infant- 15 yrs)
• Toys (including Games, Costumes, & Dolls & batteries for toys)
• Books
• Bikes/Scooters/helmets/pumps
• Sports Equipment (balls, gloves)
• Tools (Battery Powered Drills, Stud finder, Wheelbarrow, Pruning Shears)
• Musical Instruments

All donations are appreciated but we would like to donate only items in good condition please. To donate, bring your items to BJBE on Wednesday, May 1st, 6-8 pm OR Sunday, May 5th, 11-2 pm. For more information, please contact Michelle Shade (michkshade@aol.com) or Elissa Goldsmith (thegoldsmiths@comcast.net)

Join the efforts of BJBE's Green Team as we reduce waste and take turns washing dishes at our paperless onegs!
Sign up for a date to help: April 19, May 17
Time: 6:45 - 8:15 p.m. or 8:45 - 10:15 p.m.
Contact Susan Swidler (susanaswidler@aol.com) to reserve your date.
Change the way you live, one step at a time.

Collections, Collections, Collections!!
Please drop off items in the BJBE Tzedakah Nook
NEW LIST! Collecting the following items for guests of PADS Deerfield:
Pillow cases, queen size flat sheets, men and women's underwear, diapers and wipes.
Currently not collecting food items, toys, books, games or DVDs for PADS

Also collecting:
Box Tops for Education
Toiletries - given to Niles Township Food Pantry
Hearing aids - given to The Ark to be used for parts in fixing clients' hearing aids
Eyeglasses - given to Lions Clubs International to be reused
Cell phones - given to women's shelters to be programmed for emergency use
Diapers - given to shelters and food pantries
Batteries - to be recycled
Ink cartridges - to be recycled

We are no longer collecting shoes!

Need a ride to or from Temple? Need a ride to or from a medical appointment? The Caring Community has a Transportation Assistance Program to help. Please contact Dolly DeCaro, 847-296-5902, dolnu18@wideopenwest.com for more information and/or if you are in need of a ride. If a ride is needed for Shabbat Services, please contact Dolly no later than Thursday if possible so that arrangements can be made.

April Tzedakah

SHALVA
www.shalvaonline.org

SHALVA's mission is to address domestic abuse in Jewish homes and relationships through counseling and education.

BJBE is certified as a Safer Synagogue by Jewish Community Abuse Resources, Education & Solutions (JCARES). Our leadership has been trained in understanding the impact of abuse across the lifespan and improving access to support for congregants experiencing abusive situations. For more information, please contact the clergy at 847-940-7575.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sisterhood Book Clubs:
Afternoon Club; April 16 @ 1:00pm; The Girl Who Fell From the Sky
Evenng Club; April 17 @ 7:30pm; The Sand Castle Girls

BJBE Stars Networking, Wednesday, April 17 at 7:30am. For information contact Ira Singer, ira@mosaicconstruction.net.

Nourish both body and soul at BJBE! Primrose Valley Farm is BJBE's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) partner. Sign up for 1 of 4 certified organic CSA produce box sizes: standard weekly, small weekly, every-other-week or half season. A portion of your subscription proceeds supports BJBE's fundraising efforts. To sign up: www.primrosevalleyfarm.com.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with events in Washington, DC and throughout the country, including Chicago. You are invited to participate and join the many Chicagoans who plan to be in DC on April 28-29. Please visit the Museum's 20th Anniversary website at: ushmm.org/neveragain to view amazing footage of these events as they are occurring in cities across the nation. You may contact the Midwest Regional Office at: 847-433-8099 to receive more information about the programs or to register. Plan to join the Museum in a local celebration of this special anniversary on June 9th for an all day, free and open to the public event in Chicago. The program will include a wonderful tribute to local survivors, veterans and liberators.

The 2013 Israel Solidarity Day will be held on Sunday, April 28th from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, with registration opening at 11:00 a.m. This year, as we celebrate Israel's 65th anniversary, we will come together for one big, festive event filled with Israeli spirit! The 2013 Israel Solidarity Day is being chaired by Rabbi Carl Wolkin and Miriam Lichstein. Event highlights will include the Walk with Israel (a three-mile walkathon to raise funds to provide Israeli children with the supplies they need to enrich learning and literacy), fabulous all-day entertainment in Ravinia's Pavilion featuring the King David Drummers, The Maccabeats, and our headliner, Matisyahu, food for purchase and festivities for all ages. A teen J-Serve project will also take place on site from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Register online to participate, volunteer and/or donate at www.juf.org/ISD.

The BJBE Caring Community has prepared a list of resources for caregivers. This can be very helpful when you or your loved one has need of extra care. There is a copy of this in the office for your convenience - ask Arlene. You can also find it on the temple's website.

JUDAICA (GIFT) SHOP

Need a gift? Make certain to visit your new Judaica Shop to do all your gift shopping. See the large selection of Israeli-made items sure to delight anyone. There are especially lovely talit made in Israel, certain to please any young person for use at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Open after Friday night services, on Sunday mornings during religious school and/or by special appointment. For more information, please call Audrey at 847-788-9084 or Julie at 847-299-3528 or Barbara at 847-559-0076.

Looking for a fun and easy way to meet other BJBE members? How about helping out in the Judaica Shop while your child is in Sunday or Hebrew School? Don't worry -- we will train you! For information, please call Arlene Wineberg - 224-676-1112.