INSIDE THIS ISSUE Celebrate 18/Rabbi Melman ................... 2 President’s Message .................................. 3 Cantor’s Notes .......................................... 4 Pesach 5781 Schedule .............................. 5 Youth/Young Family Engagement/ B’nai Mitzvah ........................................... 6 Religious School ......................................... 7 CBS U/ Adult Education/Programming ............ 8 CBS Gift Cards .......................................... 9 Sisterhood .......................................... 10-11 Men’s Club ......................................... 12-14 Social Action ............................................ 15 Library ....................................................... 16 Birthdays and Anniversaries ................ 17 Shabbat Mornings ............................. 18-19 Calendar ............................................. 20-21 Milestones ................................................ 22 Yahrzeits ................................................... 23 Donations ........................................... 24-25 Ads ....................................................... 26-27 Candle Lighting and Service Times .... 28
Rabbi .................................................... Aaron Melman Senior Cantor ..................................... Steven Stoehr Assistant Rabbi ............................. Warner Ferratier Rabbi Emeritus....................................... Carl Wolkin Executive Director .......................... Susan Karlinsky Director of Jewish Life and Learning .............................................. Leann Blue Director of Education .......................... Stacy Ybarra Director of Youth and Young Family Engagement……..Eric Golberg President ............................................Tanya Solomon Sisterhood President ................... Robyn Rosengard Men’s Club President .......................... Steven Elisco USY President .................................. Ryan Eisenstadt Shalom Designer/Editor...............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.
MARCH 2021• VOLUME 89 ISSUE 59
ADAR 5781| MARCH 2021| VOLUME 89 ISSUE 59
RABBI MELMAN’S MINUTES There is an irony I see as we approach Pesach 2021. We have not been together in over a year. The last time we gathered en masse in the synagogue was Purim of last year. There has been so much sadness for so many people and, as the Jewish people have done for thousands of years, we have pushed ourselves forward. We have felt loss in many different ways including the collective loss of our community. For some, attending services virtually has filled the synagogue void. For others it has been our ongoing learning opportunities and programing. For others, simply not being able to be physically present at 3433 Walters Ave. has been very difficult for they have truly lost the sense of belonging. Rabbi Melman
It is indeed challenging. Our task is to continue to reinvent ourselves as our ancestors have in the most difficult, if not impossible, of situations. How can we do this and how can we continue to be creative? What are the best ways to help others prepare for your seder if they are attending in person or virtually? Here are some suggestions: 1. Prepare your guests for what they will experience. Every household’s seder is different – help people understand what your seder will look like. 2. Choose the right Haggadah. There are so many different user friendly Haggadot out there. You can even make your own! Be sure to include the elements that are most important to you. Not every single word needs to be uttered. The rabbis would sit and discuss the issues related to the Exodus and so we too have the opportunity to discuss issues of a similar nature and how they relate to us today.
Pesach is a celebration of our freedom. Our freedom from slavery. Our freedom from tyranny. Our freedom to begin to create a peoplehood. 3. In addition to choosing the right This year, many may still not feel free. Haggadah, don’t be afraid to add While we are to see ourselves as free your own personal prayers or people, as if we, ourselves, are going words. Many people write a special forth from Egypt on seder night, it is introduction to the seder each year hard when we still are not free from this and find it very meaningful. pandemic. I don’t think that any of us would have thought that a year later we would still be contemplating Zoom seders – a lack of ability to be with our friends and family around the table for (continued on page 4) one of our most important home rituals.
