INSIDE THIS ISSUE CBS Highlights ........................................... 2 President’s Message.................................. 3 Cantor’s Notes.......................................... 4 From the Bimah/Services Under Sky ... 5 Religious School ........................................ 6 B’nai Mitzvah/Challah Bake ..................... 7 Youth/Young Family Programming ... 8-9 Adult Education/CBS High.................... 10 Get the “Scoop”/Rabbi Ferratier ........ 11 Sisterhood........................................... 12-13 Men’s Club ................................................ 14 CBS Book Chats ..................................... 15 Social Action ............................................ 16 Library........................................................ 17 Monthly Calendar ................................... 18 Birthdays/Anniversaries ......................... 19 Milestones ................................................. 20 Yahrzeits ................................................... 21 Donations ........................................... 22-25 Ads ........................................................ 26-27 Candle Lighting & Service Times ........ 28
Rabbi ................................................... Aaron Melman Cantor ..................................................Steven Stoehr Assistant Rabbi ............................. Warner Ferratier Executive Director ............................ Michael Garlin Director of Jewish Life & Learning ................................................. Leann Blue Director of Education .......................... Stacy Ybarra Ritual Director ............. Cantor Raquel P. Gershon Director of Youth & Young Family Engagement ……… Eric Golberg Controller ......................................... Susan Karlinsky President ........................................... Tanya Solomon Sisterhood President................... Robyn Rosengard Men’s Club President .............................Steve Elisco USY President ............................... Brandon Wagner Rabbi Emeritus .......................................Carl Wolkin Shalom Designer/Ediitor ............. Deanne Friedman
SHALOM INFO Shalom is published monthly by Congregation Beth Shalom, 3433 Walters, Northbrook, Illinois 60062-3298 for the exclusive use of its members and staff. All material contained herein is the property of Congregation Beth Shalom.
August 2019 • VOLUME 73 ISSUE 43
AV 5779 | AUGUST 2019 • VOLUME 73 ISSUE 43
RABBI FERRATIER’S FINDINGS It’s great to finally be here! I hope that by the time you read this, I will be well on my way to feeling settled in! I also hope that I have had a chance to meet most of you, and if I haven’t, you’ll take advantage of the many events surrounding the beginning of school and the approaching High Holidays to introduce yourself. Back when I was teaching, this time of year was filled with stress. I would see the back-to-school commercials and start worrying about the new school year. I would receive the calendar of up-coming teacher-training, and the schedule of required meetings. Even though I loved my job, I resented the intrusion into summer vacation. Looking back, though, I realize that all of these little signs built into the schedule were actually helpful. Each time I saw a back-to-school commercial, it helped me to start transitioning from the complacency of summer into the anticipation, and then urgency, of the school year. By the time my students showed up on the first day of school, I felt prepared and ready to meet them. I always felt a little sorry for some of my colleagues who managed to ignore all of those signs, and then were often mentally and emotionally unprepared to go back to school. They would often have to stay up all night to make sure that they were ready for the first day, and they would start the year already tired. Rabbi Ferratier
The High Holidays are somewhat similar. Every year, when I walk into synagogue on Erev Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, I hear someone say “I can’t believe how quickly the holidays came up! I just don’t feel ready!” I can sympathize, but the truth is that the Jewish calendar has many built-in signposts to help us get ready. Tisha b’Av, to me, is the first sign. Since it is the only full fast on the calendar apart from Yom Kippur, it reminds me that I need to start thinking about the other fast. I don’t need to get too excited, I just need to make sure it’s on my radar. What can I do to improve myself over the next several weeks? Which goals have I accomplished this year? What can I feel proud about? What do I still need to achieve? Rosh Chodesh Elul lets us know that we’re only a (Hebrew) month away. The daily blast of the shofar at Minyan tells us that each day we’re getting closer and the urgency increases. What promises did I make which I still need to fulfill? What goals do I need to set for the coming year? What can I realistically do before the High Holidays arrive? High Holiday Ticket pick-up, although not on the ritual calendar, still tells us that we need to get our acts together and make specific plans. Who am I planning to invite to observe with me this year? Who might have experienced a loss and need a meal or an invitation to sit together at services? Selichot tells us that we have only a week to go. See Rabbi Ferratier continued on page 3