Dear Congregants,
There's no denying it. Even the weather seems to have finally relented (at least for a couple days). Summer is here! School is out, camps have begun, the Board is Installed, and we are starting to look ahead to a busy and historic fall for our Congregation.
Meanwhile, we are working to clean up our financial books for 2008-09. If you have any outstanding balances to BJBE, they are now past due. If there is anything you would like to discuss regarding your bill or your membership, I invite you to contact either Larisa Rozman, our incredible bookkeeper, or me in the BJBE Office. We can both be reached at 847-729-7575. Alternatively, you can contact our new Consideration Chair, Joe Schyman, by emailing him at j_schyman@yahoo.com. Remember, you will be unable to complete your registration for Religious School or to receive High Holy Day tickets until all outstanding balances are resolved. Please know that we value each and every member of our congregation and are happy to speak with you at your convenience. Finally, as always, no one will ever be denied membership or any service at BJBE due to an inability to pay.
As promised last week, our new webpage is up! Visit it at www.bjbe.org and see for yourself. Remember that this is just the first step of the unveiling process of the webpage. There are lots of small edits to make and we will be adding additional functions, including member log in, e-commerce and event registration, over the next several weeks. Our webpage will never be the same again.
We are beginning our SUMMER SHABBAT SERVICE SCHEDULE this Friday with Services beginning at 6:30 PM. There will be a light Oneg following Services.
Summer Shabbat Morning Prayer and Torah Study - All in One! On Saturday mornings from 9-10, beginning this week, June 20 and running through August 22, we will integrate our traditional Torah study session into a relaxed Shabbat morning service designed to lift your soul into prayer. Led on an alternating basis by our clergy and talented lay leaders, this service is the right prescription for all your Shabbat needs: joyous prayer and challenging Torah learning in a community of friends. So come ready to pray, come ready to learn - and come casual! It's the perfect way to start your summer Shabbat mornings! This week's service will be led by Cantor Frost.
Our POST CARPOOL group has arranged a special Shabbat experience for us on Friday, June 26. At 5:15 PM, join them for a Shabbat Schmooze and Snack featuring Marilyn and Joe Ernsteen. They will tell us about their escape from the Taj Mahal Hotel during the November terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. At 6:30 PM, we will move into the Sanctuary for Shabbat Services. Dinner will be at BJBE immediately following Services. Cost is $15 per person, your choice of chicken or salmon. PCP events are planned for the enjoyment of BJBE members who have no children, or children who are post confirmation age. For more information, call Carol Berger at 847-205-9793, ponderer4552@sbcglobal.net.
For an extra treat at Shabbat Services on June 26, CANTOR EMERITAS CORY WINTER will be on the Bimah during 6:30 PM Services. He is in town for the Ruach Concert detailed below:
Cantor Frost invites the congregation to attend a special concert titled "Ruach: Music of Chicago's Jewish Soul" on Tuesday, June 30 at 7:30 PM. The concert will feature our own CANTOR EMERITUS CORY WINTER and Cantor David Berger. The concert will be at Temple Sholom of Chicago and will cost $18 for general seating. Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com. Convenient bus transportation leaving from BJBE at 5:30 PM will be available for $18.00 per person. Please contact Lynne Kleiman to reserve your seats at 847-215-1357 or lynne.kleiman@sbcglobal.net. Estimated return time to BJBE is 10:30PM.
BJBE OUTDOOR SHABBAT SERVICES will be held on July 10 and August 7 at Wood Oaks Park in Northbrook. Join us at 6 PM for dinner and 6:30 PM for Services. Dinner is free for all Prospective Members and their host BJBE families. Reservation forms will be sent in the June midmonth mailing.
If you know anybody "Temple shopping" the Membership Committee has 2 more PROSPECTIVE MEMBER COFFEES planned for the summer. Please encourage your friends and family to come to one. They are as follows: July 13th will be at the home Jennie & Scott Cohen, and August 4th will be at the home of Elizabeth & Brian Tenner. We have learned that attendance at one of these intimate coffees is our best indicator of future membership! For more information please contact the office or Rachel Fersten at rfersty22@sbcglobal.net or Bonnie Litch at baselitch@aol.com.
WE ARE ENTERING THE FINAL STRETCH UNTIL WE MOVE INTO OUR NEW HOME AT 1201 LAKE COOK ROAD! Be a part of this exciting and historic moment by joining us as we plan a host of events to say goodbye to 901 Milwaukee Avenue and dedicate our new building in Deerfield! The 1201 Events Committee is holding its first meeting on July 14th at 7:30 pm at the home of Shirlee Cohen in Highland Park. It doesn't matter if you have been a member for 20 years or 20 days -- we would love to have you be a part of this fun, energetic committee! If you are interested, please contact Marc Swatez in the BJBE office at 847-729-7575 or at mswatez@bjbe.org.
Rehearsals for the HIGH HOLY DAY CHOIR begin on July 21. If you are interested in participating in this spiritually fulfilling opportunity, contact Cantor Frost. Knowledge of music and/or Hebrew is helpful but not required.
Save the Date for the 2009 SISTERHOOD KALLAH. This year's Kallah will take place on Friday, July 24th and Saturday July 25th at the Chicago Marriott N.W. in Hoffman Estates. This year's theme will be "Making A Small Difference" and will be facilitated by Marge Eiseman.
Our Men's Club is hosting an APPRECIATION PICNIC for all the Purim Carnival volunteers, past, present and future. In other words, EVERYONE IS INVITED! Join us on Sunday, August 9 from 4-7 PM in Maplewood Park in Deerfield. The cost is $5 per person or $10 per family. RSVP is required.
The SUMMER SHABBAT SERVICE SCHEDULE will continue through August 21.
We are putting together a virtual scrapbook tentatively called "REMEMBERING 901." Sandee Holleb and her committee are seeking your remembrances of things past in the form of photos, audio recordings, videos, or writings to be included in a compilation that will be presented in DVD format. You might want to share memories of a life cycle event, your participation in a particular activity, watching as your child sang in the junior choir, or remembering when a rabbi's words or a cantor's voice touched your soul. If you have anything or any questions, please contact Sandee at ilearsi@comcast.net or (847) 590-5504.
JUNE TZEDAKAH: CJE SeniorLife (Formerly known as the Council for Jewish Elderly) is a comprehensive network of housing, healthcare, community services, education and applied research. CJE SeniorLife has enhanced the lives of older adults and their families. Learn more at www.cje.net. Please give generously.
Information about programs from the Jewish Employment Network are available at www.bjbe.org/pages/kehilat-shalom. Jewish Child and Family Services has a series of terrific programs as well listed at www.jcfs.org.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: This week at 1201, the Sanctuary walls are up! Take a look next time you drive by on the spur (look north as you go through the toll plaza) and you can't miss them. The steel frame for the Village Center and the roof of our Sanctuary has also been erected. For CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS, log onto the BJBE Website at http://www.bjbe.org/story/capital-campaign-photos and follow the listed log in instructions. Once you get to the 'Client Access' page on our contractor's (Krusinski's) web site, click the "View Report" buttons to see the photos uploaded on the indicated dates. New pictures are posted weekly.
The BJBE JUDAICA SHOP's 20% OFF moving sale continues! That special Bar/Bat Mitzvah young person would love to receive an Israeli made talit. Your Judaica Shop has a varied selection certain to please. For more information call Sharon 564-2998, Julie 299-3528 or Gail 564-2339.
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
