Prepare your guests for what they will experience. Every household’s seder is different – help people understand what your seder will look like

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 S . Risterhood President .................. obyn 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. ADAR 5781| MARCH 2021| VOLUME 89 ISSUE 59 RABBI MELMAN’S MINUTES

It is indeed challenging. Our task There is an Rabbi Melman

is to continue to reinvent ourselves as irony I see as

our ancestors have in the most difficult, if we approach

not impossible, of situations. How can Pesach 2021.

we do this and how can we continue to We have not

be creative? What are the best ways to been togeth-

help others prepare for your seder if er in over a

they are attending in person or virtually? year. The

Here are some suggestions: last time we gathered en masse in the synagogue was

1. Prepare your guests for what they Purim of last year. There has been so

will experience. Every household’s much sadness for so many people and, as

seder is different – help people un-the Jewish people have done for thou-

derstand what your seder will look sands of years, we have pushed ourselves

like. forward. We have felt loss in many different ways including the collective loss

2. Choose the right Haggadah. There of our community. For some, attending

are so many different user friendly services virtually has filled the synagogue

Haggadot out there. You can even void. For others it has been our ongoing

make your own! Be sure to include learning opportunities and programing.

the elements that are most imFor others, simply not being able to be

portant to you. Not every single physically present at 3433 Walters Ave.

word needs to be uttered. The has been very difficult for they have truly

rabbis would sit and discuss the islost the sense of belonging.

sues related to the Exodus and so we too have the opportunity to dis- Pesach is a celebration of our

cuss issues of a similar nature and freedom. Our freedom from slavery.

how they relate to us today. 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.