Beth Emet Kahal

Hannah Kaplan Bat Mitzvah

2009-01-16T15:29:00.000-08:00

Dear Kahalites:

We hope that you can join us on Shabbat morning, February 7th as we celebrate Hannah (Kaplan) becoming a Bat Mitzvah. The Kahal community is an important part of our family, and we would be honored if you could join us for this wonderful moment in our lives. Hannah will be reading and teaching from B'Shalach, and as she has been busy working on her D'var Torah, we know that it will be a lively discussion.

Following services, there will be a Kiddush in the Crown Room. Please let us know by January 25th if you can join us after services for a light lunch. You can send us an email or call us at home at 847-864-5963.

As Hannah has been announcing after services... for her Bat Mitzvah project she is collecting new or gently used stuffed animals to then donate to newly diagnosed kids with chronic diseases at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Should you have one or two that you wish to contribute, please leave them with Bekki in her office. As this was a meaningful gift for Hannah when she was newly diagnosed with Diabetes four years ago, she is eager to make the same positive impact at a scary time for these kids.

We look forward to celebrating with you.

- Dan, Bekki, Hannah & Eitan

Kaha;l Web page- direct links

2008-12-15T06:24:00.000-08:00

Just for those looking for the new Beth Emet Kahal web page, we are experiencing some problems with the links, which should be remedied shortly. In the meantime you can reach the new page at

http://www.bethemet.org/community/committees/kahal/kahal_index.php

For Torah readers and Torah study leaders there is a link to the schedule of Torah readings on the new web page. The direct link is http://www.bethemet.org/community/committees/kahal/torah_5769.pdf

My apologies for this inconvenience. Hopefully the problem will be fixed shortly.

Town Hall Meeting Minutes

2008-12-15T06:21:00.000-08:00

Rabbi Andera London moderated our Town Hall Meeting after services on Saturday December 6.

Opening Thought

Andrea started the meeting by telling us about a workshop she went to where the workshop leader asked the participants to get into a circle, very close to each other and to walk around, staying in the circle. Invariably everyone in the circle stepped on each others' heels. The workshop leader told everyone that this is how a close community is - we all step on each others heels -- we all "step on each others ideas now and then." But we can get used to this and treat each other graciously and kindly and lovingly when it happens.

Vision for Kahal

Andrea also reminded us that Kahal and our wonderful services are "organized chaos," with input from many voices and opinions but with the service being the organizing principle.

What was discussed:

1. About decorum during services and Kahal service minhag.

There was much said about these topics:

- We agreed there should be quiet during the Amidah. No chatting in respect for this serious central prayer.

- Parents who are trying to teach their children respectful behavior need the entire community to role model this behavior; it is difficult to tell children they have to be quiet during certain prayers if the children see other grownups chatting.

- About are casual comments and laughter when something amuses us from the Torah reading. There was mixed opinion on this. Some thought this was fine because the Torah evokes a variety of responses, including laughter; others said it took away from the seriousness of reading the Torah.

- During Kaddish some liked it better when only the Mourners stood. Suggestion was made that you can stand or sit whichever has more meaning to you.

- Directions or reminders - for example, suggestion was made that the service leader remind us to be quiet during the Amidah or say we can stand or sit during the Kaddish. The thought was that the service leader would remind us for perhaps 6 weeks.

Finally, Andrea reminded us that this is not a pediatric service or a learner's service. So it is important to keep directions, instructions to a minimum, so as not to disturb the flow of the service.

2. Name tags - Kahal voted and a majority would like to have permanent name tags. We'll hve to figure out how to put this in place, but the Va'ad will work on it.

3. Reconfiguring the room - There was discussion about pulling the chairs in closer to make the service more intimate. Also the suggestion was made to consider reconfiguring the room so that the traffic pattern works better. For example, having the food tables where they are makes it awkward when people are setting up food for pot-lucks. Andrea London and Isabel Schechter will get a committee together to consider this suggestion and make recommendations.

4. Announcements - discussion about how to keep people's attention. We talked about whether having them before or after the final song or at another spot in the service would work better. The main conclusion was that announcements should be kept very short - two sentences at most and people should post notices on the bulletin board and also place handouts on Kahal table with more details. A suggestion was made for the service leader to read all announcements, but most attendees noted that when people make their own announcements it fosters a sense of community and is a way for people to get to know one another better.

5. Family Opening the Ark - families with or without children should be encouraged to open the Ark. And a reminder that all families can sign-up for this honor themselves. Naomi drafted a set of guidelines for the choreography of opening of the ark. Discussion centered on having guidelines like this available for families, while teaching families the guidelines as a community in a supportive manner, rather than having “rules” with families getting chastised for not following them precisely. It was noted that there does not need to be precision in the path of the Hakafah – the intent is for as many people as possible to have an opportunity to touch the Torah.

6. Kahal listserve - The purpose of the listserve is for Kahal related reminders and announcements only.

- We do use it now and then for announcements of Jewish related non-Beth Emet events.

- Suggestion was made that attachments be included as text within the email as well as attachment to give the less computer savvy a way to read the text of the attachment.

- It was noted that the listserve is one of many available forms of communication.

7. Town Hall Meetings - it was suggested that we have the Town Hall Meetings more frequently. At least once a year or perhaps twice a year.

8. Vaad - The Vaad is looking for some new members. We thank Laura Miller, Kathy Mirkin and Marilyn Hendershot for their service on the Vaad and welcome Sara Blumenthal as our teen representative. But we would like a few more members. Questions or interest? Ask any of the current Vaad members: Larry Hamilton, Betsy Fuchs, Leonard Nelson, Judith Cooper, Steve Lipton.

9. Kahal Web Page - Steve Lipton developed this wonderful page. Take a look! See link on left side of www.bethemet.org under the Heading: WORSHIP/AVODAH.( or you can go directly at http://www.bethemet.org/community/committees/kahal/kahal_index.php ed.)

Kahal Town Hall, December 6

2008-11-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

Kahal Town Hall Shabbat December 6 after services, moderated by Rabbi London. We hope you will all stay and share your Kahal experiences in a more formal way than our normal oneg chit-chat. Lite lunch of bagels and fruit will be provided.

Coat Drive sorting day

2008-11-04T07:11:00.000-08:00

Calling all Kahalnicks!

We need your help, this Sunday, at noon, for your weekly mitzvah.

Our fellow congregant, Beth Adler, is once again organizing a coat drive for our Soup Kitchen patrons. Many Beth Emet folk have been dropping off coats and other winter wear over the last month, and we need help sorting and organizing everything for the November 12th gala distribution.

If you can spare an hour on Sunday, please contact Beth at: beth@hermanadler.com, or by replying to me at this email.

Many thanks.

Jerri Zbiral

Gabbai Training and Pot Luck --October 25th 2008

2008-10-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

The last Shabbat of the month is a Pot luck oneg lunch after Kahal. October 25 is a potluck. Bring a dairy dish or dessert. To be mindful of those with nut allergies, please try not to bring items with nuts or clearly label them with nuts.

Along with the potluck, there will be a Gabbai (Torah service leader) training session led by Rabbi London. Everyone who would like to be a Gabbai is invited to attend. Rabbi London would also like all current Gabbais to attend to review using Mishkan Tefilah and to help mentor new Gabbais. For more information, contact Rabbi London at alondon@bethemet.org

Upcoming events and Va'ad Meeting Report

2008-10-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

Shalom Kahal,

This is a report of meeting that was held with the Va'ad and Rabbi Andrea London on Tuesday, September 9. The Va'ad is a committee of Kahal members that oversees Kahal services. Weekly we assure that there are volunteers for honors during our services. We also are the liaison between the Kahal community and the clergy and Beth Emet staff.

Mark your calendar with three upcoming Kahal (and synagogue) events:

Sukkah Crawl/Pot-luck, Shabbat October 18, after Kahal services - appetizers, main course and dessert at three members' homes in the Beth Emet neighborhood. Watch your emails for more details.

Gabbai Training, Shabbat October 25 during and after potluck. Everyone who would like to be a Gabbai is invited to attend. Rabbi London would also like all current Gabbais to attend to review using Mishkan Tefilah and to help mentor new Gabbais. For more information, contact Rabbi London at alondon@bethemet.org

Kahal Town Hall, Shabbat December 6 after services, moderated by Rabbi London. We hope you will all stay and share your Kahal experiences in a more formal way than our normal oneg chit-chat. Lite lunch of bagels and fruit will be provided.

Vaʼad Meeting Report:

1. D'Var Torah and Guidelines. We discussed what makes an appropriate D'Var Torah. We reviewed the attached guidelines developed several years ago and concluded they were good guidelines. They will be sent to each person who volunteers to present a D'Var Torah and they will be attached to the emails that Leonard Nelson sends with the D'var Torah list.

2. Kahal Bulletin Board. Judith Cooper has volunteered to oversee the Kahal Bulletin Board. If you have anything you want to post, talk to Judith at Kahal or email her at Judithcooper@sbcglobal.net

3. Kahal classes for children. The notice emailed to Kahal from Rhonda Mlondinoff, Educator regarding 2008-2009 classes will be posted on the Kahal Bulletin Board. Classes will generally be twice a month, with one class/month for the older children and one class/month for our early elementary students. If you have questions about the classes, please contact Rhonda at

mlodinoff@bethemet.org

4. Vaʼad members. Current members are Betsy Fuchs, Leonard Nelson, Judith Cooper, Kathy Mirkin, Larry Hamilton, Steve Lipton, and Marilyn Hendershot. Laura Miller who served on the Vaad for many years is stepping down. Thank you for your wise and compassinate service Laura. We are looking for one or two more members. Talk to one of the current Va'ad members if you are interested.

5. Honors Sign-up Sheets. We encourage you to sign-up for Kahal honors. And a reminder - signing up is a special way to commemorate a birthday, anniversary or other signficant event. In such cases, please share this with us after you have been called to the bimah. .

6. Torah Readers. Barbara Ann Lewis finds Hebrew Torah readers. Please contact her at b-lewish@northwestern.edu for more information. Though our minhag is for Hebrew Torah readers to chant the Hebrew Torah portion (usually 10 verses divided into 2), if you are more comfortable reading rather than chanting the portion, that is perfectly ok.

7. Publicizing Kahal. One way to publicize is to write something about Kahal for the bulletin now and then. If anyone has ideas for articles or short pieces, contact Betsy Fuchs at betsywfuchs@yahoo.com. Steve Lipton will post Kahal information to the Beth Emet Facebook page. And reaching out to visitors and Kahal newcomers to make them feel welcome is a great way to keep Kahal vibrant and fresh.

8. Kahal ListServe. To be added or removed from the Kahal ListServe or to change your email address, contact BekkI Kaplan bkaplan@bethemet.org

Benji Berg-Einhorn's bar mitzvah

2008-10-19T08:07:00.002-07:00

Shalom Kahalites,

On Shabbat, November 1, 2008, Benji Berg-Einhorn will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. You are

all invited to a Kiddush lunch after services. We are thrilled and excited to be able to share our wonderful Simcha with all of you. Please let us know if you will be attending so we have an idea of how many table to set up and how much food to order. Thank you for being a part of our celebration.

See you on Shabbat!

Julie Berg-Einhorn and Steven Einhorn

jbergein@aol.com

Dvar Torah on Nitzavim

2008-10-19T08:07:00.001-07:00

I embellished yesterday's dvar Torah to include some of the points that arose during the discussion, and it has been posted on the Reform Judaism blog at www.rj.org. The direct link is http://blogs.rj.org/reform/2008/09/quotations-translations-and-ob.html but I encourage you to go to the blog itself, because there is lots of good stuff.

Shanah tovah, kulchem.

Larry Kaufman