News

Dear Congregants,

Yet another reminder that we are now in full High Holy Day preparation at BJBE. If you have not yet returned your ticket request form, please do so immediately.

I also want to urge everyone, but especially our younger families, to consider participating in the ancient Jewish tradition of remembering our loved ones during this Festival Season. Even if you have never done so before, please think to remember your Loved Ones in our Book of Memory. The inclusion of these names is an important link with these beloved individuals, with the long chain of the Jewish community, and is an important lesson for our children.

LULAV AND ETROG ORDERS are due to the BJBE Office by Wednesday, September 1. The cost for a lulav and etrog is $50. Email Karen at kswidler@bjbe.org to place your order.

A final High Holy Day reminder. Congregants must bring their own prayer books to all evening and Traditional (11:30 AM) Morning Services. This is the red book “Gates of Repentance.” Books are available to purchase during office hours for $25 each.

Dear Congregants,

Another reminder that we are now in full High Holy Day preparation at BJBE. If you have not yet returned your ticket request form, please do so immediately. I also want to urge everyone, but especially our younger families, to consider participating in the ancient Jewish tradition of remembering our loved ones during this Festival Season. Even if you have never done so before, please think to remember your Loved Ones in our Book of Memory. The inclusion of these names is an important link with these beloved individuals, with the long chain of the Jewish community, and is an important lesson for our children.

You have recently received a letter from BJBE alerting you to some exciting new features of our website including the ability to make ONLINE DONATIONS, to check an ONLINE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY and updating your MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION. Please check out the website at www.bjbe.org!

Dear Congregants,

We are now in full High Holy Day preparation at BJBE. If you have not yet returned your ticket request form, please do so immediately. I also want to urge everyone, but especially our younger families, to consider participating in the ancient Jewish tradition of remembering our loved ones during this Festival Season. Even if you have never done so before, please think to remember your Loved Ones in our Book of Memory. The inclusion of these names is an important link with these beloved individuals, with the long chain of the Jewish community, and is an important lesson for our children.

There has been some confusion expressed with regards to the $10 per child per service fee for HIGH HOLY DAY CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING.  This programming is the High Holy Day-appropriate childcare (babysitting if you prefer) offered during some High Holy Day Services for youth who may be too young or inattentive to sit during Services.  

SHABBAT EVENING SERVICES this week, Friday, August 20 will begin at 6:30 PM at BJBE. 

Dear Congregants,

Do you have anything fun and exciting planned with your BJBE community of friends this week? If not, you should because we have two wonderful opportunities! Tonight, drop by the Temple at 7 PM to hear the Israeli Scouts Friendship Caravan sing and dance to bring Israel into your souls. Then, on Friday, bring a picnic dinner to Wood Oaks Park at 6:00 PM or just come for Services at 6:30 PM as we welcome the Shabbat together. We’d love to see you.

Dear Congregants,

In case you were wondering, we already have 75 new students registered for our Religious School and 24 new families joined our community in July. We now have 969 total families! Clearly, this is the height of “membership season.” If you have friends, relatives or neighbors who are considering joining our community, please direct their attention to the Israel Scouts on August 9, the Outdoor Shabbat on August 13 or either of our Prospective Member Coffees on August 3 and 16. I know that you will all greet our newest members as if they were your dearest, most established friends. After all, that’s just the way we do things at BJBE!

Dear Congregants, 

SPOILER ALERT: The High Holy Days are now only 6 weeks away! It’s time to start checking your mail for the important HIGH HOLY DAY TICKET PACKET that is being mailed tomorrow. Be sure to read the packet carefully this year as there have been some important changes in both the format of some Services and in the ticket request form. Please return your forms as soon as possible so that we can get you your tickets and your first Service choices. 

RESALE, RESALE, RESALE! Sisterhood’s annual Resale will be held from Friday, July 30 through Monday, August 2 here at BJBE. Hours are Friday 9-3, Sunday 9-4, and Monday noon to 7. DROP OFF of items from 10 AM to 4 PM on July 19 through July 29 at the South Entrance to BJBE (beside the tollway). Please remember that all donations should be in good, clean condition and all clothes on hangers. Please help us make this our biggest sale ever. For more info please call Marcia Patt at 847- 650-2134 or Diane Sachs at 847-559-8950.

SHABBAT EVENING SERVICES this week, Friday, July 30 will begin at 6:30 PM at BJBE.

Dear Congregants,

Tonight’s Hebrew date is the 9th of Av, or Tisha B’Av in Hebrew. Traditionally, during the first 9 days of the month of Av, Jews around the world remember with sadness the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 C.E. This period culminates tonight and tomorrow when we mourn as a people for the destruction. Rabbi Stoller will be giving a brief class on the 9th of Av this evening at 7:30 PM in the Chapel. The class will last no more than 15 minutes and is open to the community.

At the end of this email is an important open letter to all Reform congregations from Rabbi Eric Yoffie and from URJ Chairperson Peter Weidhorn. This letter is urging action on the part of all Reform Jews with regards to the upcoming vote on the Law of Conversion in Israel. For more information on this issue visit http://urj.org/israel/rotem.

SHABBAT SHALOM to our Sisterhood members participating in their Kallah this weekend.

SHABBAT EVENING SERVICES this week, Friday, July 23 will begin at 6:30 PM at BJBE.

1. LEARN

How to Build a Sukkah

Sunday, August 22, 10 a.m. at BJBE

A live demonstration will prove just how easy, quick, and affordable it is to do! Sukkah kits will be available to pre-order at a discount. Available sizes include 8’x8’, 8’x12’, 12’x12’, and larger, so be sure to measure your patio or deck in advance. For more information, contact Steven Weinstock at steven@weinstock.org.

2. BUILD

Your Own Sukkah at Home

Sunday, September 19, after religious school

Experienced Sukkah builders will be available to come to your home and help you build your Sukkah! It's easy to do and won't take more than an hour!

3. CELEBRATE

In Our 1st BJBE Sukkah Crawl

Sunday, September 26, after religious school

Host BJBE congregants and clergy in your Sukkah, or visit a Sukkah in your area. To participate in the Sukkah Crawl, contact Laura Singer at laurasinger18@mac.com.