Congregation Beth Israel 2200 Broadway Bellingham, Washington 98225 USA
Simchat Torah at Beth Israel 2012
SOCIAL MEDIA
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REGISTER FOR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
School Registration & New Program
It's time to register for Religious School 2013-14. In addition to our preschool through 9th-grade Confirmation classes, Beth Israel is adding a new program for the upcoming school year: a Post-Confirmation class for our 10th through 12th graders. This new program, led by Rabbi Samuels is an exciting mix of seminar-style classes, mitzvah projects, and cultural opportunities, and will meet seven times during the year on selected Wednesdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m. The program aims to integrate the many ways our teens are involved in Jewish life while building/sustaining a true community among this age group.
To register for any of our Religious School programs, fill out the registration form and return it to the office by July 1, 2013.
PHOTO DIRECTORY IS HERE
Our congregation's new photo directory is here! If you had your photo taken by Lifetouch, or if you submitted a photo for the directory, contact the office for your complimentary directory.
STAND AGAINST RACISM
Congregation Beth Israel took a "Stand Against Racism" with stickers that said "Racism Hurts Everyone" at the April 26, 2013 Shabbat service:
WWU STUDENTS VISIT BI
Steve Hoffman's "American Jewish Experience" students from Western Washington University visited Congregation Beth Israel in April 2013.
Rabbi in the Community
Celebration of Hope
Rabbi Samuels recently gave the closing benediction at Interfaith Coalition's Celebration of Hope Event event. Read his remarks here.
Congregation Beth Israel is pleased to have Rabbi Joshua Samuels as its spiritual leader. He received his ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem and Los Angeles. Originally from San Francisco, he attended University of Wisconsin-Madison, receiving a B.S. in Marketing. For six years, prior to entering rabbinical school, Samuels worked in institutional equity sales and brokerage operations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Read more
GET READY FOR MITZVAH DAY
Mitzvah Day is June 2
It's time to sign up for a project for Mitzvah Day. To participate, pick your top two choices from the list of projects and fill out a registration form. Return the form to the synagogue office by email or US mail by Wednesday, May 29. We will do our best to fit you with your first choice. However, since some projects have limited space available, be sure to designate a second choice in case your first fills up early... Also, remember that children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian while they work on their project.
Please note that you must be registered with the Whatcom Volunteer Center for insurance during this day. If you participated in Mitzvah Day in October 2011, you do not need to fill out a new form. See the registration form for more information.
The day's activities will begin with a bagel nosh hosted by the Brotherhood and a bake sale sponsored by the Social Action Committee, at the synagogue. For more information, contact the office, 360-733-8890.
LOGO CONTEST WINNER
The winner of Beth Israel's Mitzvah Day logo contest is Julia Schwartz, age 10. Other entries will be displayed at the synagogue during Mitzvah Day. Congratulations Julia!
The service will include recognition honoring the teachers of Beth Israel Religious School. There will be a special oneg and vegetarian/dairy potluck dinner afterward.
The next meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors will be announced. The Executive Committee sets the agenda for regular Board of Director's meetings. The next regular meeting of the Board of Directors will be at 7 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2013. Please direct any suggested topics for board meetings to Executive Committee members: President Jeff Jaffe, Vice President Mitch Press, Treasurer Debbie Adelstein, Secretary Melissa Schapiro, and Rabbi Joshua Samuels, ex-officio.
GET READY FOR SUMMER 2013
Thinking about Camp Kalsman?
It's never too early to start thinking about summer, especially spending it at Jewish sleep away camp! We're lucky to have Camp Kalsman in our back yard -- just an hour's drive south to Arlington.
Registration is open now for summer 2013, and it's all online at kalsman.urjcamps.org, and stay up-to-date with their blog, kalsman.rjblog.org. They're also on Facebook, where they recently posted the news that they've been selected as one of six camp/school partnerships in the Foundation for Jewish Camp's Nadiv Program. They wrote: "This program gives us the exceptional opportunity to partner with Temple de Hirsch Sinai (in Seattle) in the hiring of a leading-edge Jewish educator." For scholarship information, contact the Beth Israel office.
Sunday, February 12, 2012, in honor of Tu B'shvat, 31 Beth Israel congregants and friends (including 12 kids) gathered under cloudy skies to help reclaim part of Little Squalicum Creek Park. We planted a couple dozen trees and shrubs on the slope above the ball field, and moved several yards of wood chips up the hill with sleds to spread around the newly planted trees. The rain held off, and we had a fun post-planting nosh in the parking lot courtesy of the Beth Israel Sisterhood and Brotherhood. Thank you to everyone who participated, and to everyone who sent in checks to the Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation to pay for more plants!
World Jewish News
FUNDRAISING
Double your mitzvah!
Just like exercise, using Beth Israel Scrip is most successful when it’s part of your regular routine. We all buy groceries and prescriptions regularly, and many of us give gift cards as presents. Make it easy on yourselves, and have a regular Scrip order – it can be monthly, or quarterly, whatever works best for you! Our Scrip coordinator, Joan Wayne, will make sure to get the gift cards to you on a routine basis. It’s one less thing for you to have to remember, and it becomes a regular donation to our congregation! Scrip can also be used to make donations to other organizations, or people in need. Recently, a Bellingham family lost their home to a fire, and all four family members were hospitalized due to their injuries. An amazing outpouring of support found them a temporary home and furnishings. They are continuing to accept donations of gift cards to places like Fred Meyer, Haggen, the Food Co-op, The Market (formerly Cost Cutter) because food, clothing and other every day necessities will be a longer-term need. If you buy Scrip from Beth Israel, and donate it to a cause such as this, it’s a DOUBLE MITZVAH! Check with the local organizations you support, and they likely would welcome gift card donations to help out their clients. Who knew that a piece of plastic could be part of Tikkun Olam? For a complete list of participating merchants, go to www.glscrip.com, or contact Joan Wayne, jawayne2@yahoo.com; download an order form, or call the Beth Israel office at 733-8890.
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