hIghlIghts - Congregation Beth El

EVENTSFriday, February 8 & March 8Adult and Teen Band Shabbat5:30 Young Family Shabbat Celebration6:15 pm Dinner, 7:30 pm ServiceFriday, February 15Yismechu Shabbat Service at 6:15 pmJoin us for meditative song and chant to welcome in Shabbatand bring your harmonies and your spirit to share. There’shardly any talking in this service, just music: sacred words andwordless melodies (niggunim) from many corners of the Jewishworld, with spontaneous harmony and gentle drumming. You areenthusiastically welcomed whether or not you think you can sing.Saturday, February 23Purim!Celebrate Purim with yourBeth El family! Come join us ina joyful evening of celebration andcommunity. Come for the whole evening, or just onepart...but don’t miss out on the fun!The Multilingual Megillah returns for a second season:Readers are needed for all languages. Last year, weread the story of Esther in 25 languages and we’rehoping for even more this year. Both readings will beaccompanied by Purim songs, costumes, schnopps,snacks, antics and hilarity for the whole community. Ifyou are interested in participating—either as a chanter,reader or volunteer with other aspects of the evening’scelebration—contact Ruth Ehrenkrantz, chair of theRitual Committee, at ruthehren@comcast.net.Singers, Players and Comedians—sign up to join in thePurim entertainment!4:30 pm Octopretzel Purim Celebration for familieswith young children. Octopretzel will beperforming a Purim show with music,puppets and more! Come see our nurseryschool music specialist, Melita, withher band as they lead us in a musicalcelebration. Wear a costume, bring yourgraggers and get ready to have a blast!5:15 pm Festive potluck dinner for the wholecongregation5:45 pm Hebrew reading of the Megillah6:30 pm Multilingual Megillah reading. We willrevisit our popular reading of the Megillahfrom last year with new readers and newlanguages!To sing with the Purim Players, please contact RabbiZellman at: rabbirz@bethelberkeley.org.Israeli Reform Rabbi to Speak at Beth ElWednesday, March 13 at 7:30 pmMiri Gold, Rabbi of Kehilat Birket Shalom, based on KibbutzGezer, will be the first non-Orthodox rabbi to be paid by theState of Israel. She benefits from a ruling in May, 2012 by theattorney general, following a six-year fight by the Israel ReligiousAction Center in the Israeli Supreme Court.Rabbi Gold will speak at Beth El on Wednesday, March 13 at7:30 pm. Her trip to the U.S. is sponsored by ARZA, the Israelivoice of the Reform Movement in the U.S. The organizationseeks to “make Israel fundamental to the sacred lives and Jewishidentities of Reform Jews.” ARZA supports activities that helpbuild an “inclusive and democratic Israeli society.”People of the BookAll sessions are on the third Thursday of the month,7:00 pm to 8:30 pmFebruary 21: Max Cooperstein presents Achy Obejas’ Daysof AweMarch 21: Florence Lewis presents Matti Friedman’s TheAleppo CodexAdult B’nei MitzvahIt’s never too late to become a Bat or Bar Mitzvah• Study Hebrew and Torah chanting• Learn with a committed group of other adults• Work with our rabbis to develop an individual course ofstudy on a Jewish topic of your choice• Develop your skills in Torah interpretation and becomefamiliar with a range of Jewish traditions• Prepare to lead a Shabbat service• Celebrate as you are called to the Torah as a Bat or BarMitzvah!Another cycle of our Adult B’nei Mitzvah class will begin inJune. The group will be called to the Torah as B’nei Mitzvahin 2014. Whether you never became Bat or Bar Mitzvah as achild, chose Judaism as an adult, or just want to do it all again,we welcome you and hope you’ll consider joining us! We’ll helpyou structure a course of study that meets your intellectual andspiritual needs, talents and interests. If you’re interested or havequestions, please contact Rabbi Reuben Zellman at (510) 848-3988 ext. 228, or rabbirz@bethelberkeley.org.www.bethelberkeley.org 15