January 2022
TRIBE Virtual Oneg
TRIBE is for adults in their 20’s-40’s who Jew together. Meet, mingle, and celebrate Shabbat with Rabbi Nevarez and your fellow TRIBESTERS! Join us for an Oneg on Friday, January 21, 2022, at 7:30 pm on Zoom. We are always looking for new ideas! Do you have a hot topic you’d like to discuss? A quote you have found meaning in? We are looking for volunteers to help host our Oneg discussion! Please email Tribe Chair, Sarah Garrick (sarah.tribecbi@gmail.com), if you’re interested!…
Find out more »Sunday Afternoon Series: Dena Weiss, Rabbi Michael Rosenberg, and Rabbi Aviva Richman
Sunday series 1, 1/9 at 5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST Pride and Privilege: How Do We Sensitively Navigate and Appreciate Having More Than Others? Dena Weiss One of the enduring truths of human society is that the pie of privilege is not equally distributed. Some of us have economic privilege, some of us racial privilege, some of us social capital, some of us happy partnerships and families, and some of us all of the above and more. We should,…
Find out more »Dirshuni: A Taste of Israeli Women’s Midrash (Rabbi Avi Killip)
Dirshuni: A Taste of Israeli Women's Midrash Rabbi Avi Killip Tamar Biala, editor of the modern midrashic work, Dirshuni, has written breathtakingly beautiful midrashim that function as commentaries on the Torah, Israeli society, feminism, and so much more. This series will explore three of her midrashim. You can join for any or all. No Hebrew background is needed. We will be studying in English translation. LINK Session 1: The Kiss of Death: Reflection on Miriam This session will explore…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »The Torah of Music (Joey Weisenberg and Deborah Sacks Mintz)
The Torah of Music Joey Weisenberg (1/5 and 1/12) and Deborah Sacks Mintz (1/19 and 1/26) Music has the power to express the soul’s deepest prayers, to bridge divides between disparate people and strengthen communal ties, to translate ancient narrative into modern reality. In this series, Joey Weisenberg and Deborah Sacks Mintz will uncover the essential role of song across Jewish history, offering a sweeping view of traditional sources and revealing pathways to infuse song into our own lives. LINK…
Find out more »“Anti-Zionism is Almost Always Antisemitism” with Micha Danzig
Have you heard people say “I am not antisemitic, I am only anti-Zionist” or that “Zionists are trying to weaponize antisemitism to stop legitimate criticism of Israel”? If you want to explore what’s wrong with those types of statements and understand better how to respond to them, as well as differentiate between legitimate “criticism” and plain and simple Jew-hatred, then this is the presentation for you. About Micha: Micha Danzig served in the Israeli Army and is a former police…
Find out more »Praying Anew: Unlocking Meaning in the Words of the Siddur (Rabbi Elie Kaunfer)
Praying Anew: Unlocking Meaning in the Words of the Siddur Rabbi Elie Kaunfer The Jewish prayerbook is a collage of texts that reflect our deepest emotions, longings and experiences. But sometimes it takes some work to unlock this meaning. Together we will interpret the texts of our prayers, uncovering new insights and learning a method of understanding the prayerbook in a new way. LINK Session 1: New Ways to Understand the Siddur: The Literary Method of Interpretation Explore the…
Find out more »Finding God in Nature and Torah: Exploring Psalm 19 (Rabbi Shai Held)
Finding God in Nature and Torah: Exploring Psalm 19 Rabbi Shai Held Do we find God in the beauty and majesty of the natural world or in the power and delight of Torah? Do we discover a different kind of God in each place? What is the book of Psalms’ attitude towards nature worship? In this session, we’ll do an extremely close literary and theological reading of Psalm 19 (“The heavens declare the glory of God”), part of Pesukei DeZimra…
Find out more »February 2022
The Ten Greatest Books in Jewish History
We will NOT discuss the most critically acclaimed books, nor the best-selling Jewish books, but rather the 10 Jewish books (not including the Five Books of Moses) that have had the greatest influence on the Jewish people. We will explore the importance of each book and discuss some samples from each one. Finally, we will make some predictions about some contemporary books that may become classics Often described as America’s foremost Jewish genealogist, Arthur Kurzweil’s name has become synonymous with Jewish genealogical…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »Courageous Conversations: Don’t Check Your Identity At the Door – A Discussion with Brandy Shufutinsky
Join our Beth Israel community for another chapter in our Courageous Conversations series. We are honored to host Brandy Shufutinsky and hear her story and wisdom firsthand. Brandy will guide us through the intricacies of her identity in conversation with Rabbi Nevarez. A highlight will feature a discussion on their viewpoints on Ethnic Studies Model Curriculums, followed by a Q&A. Brandy Shufutinsky is a social worker, writer, researcher, and advocate. She holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of…
Find out more »Master Poetry Class with Dr. Rachel Korazim: “Shirim BeAshdodit: The Poetry of Sami Chetrit”
In the newly established state of Israel in the 50s and 60s of the previous century Jewish immigrants from Arab countries were met with hostility and degradation by the majority of Israeli society. Sami Chetrit, in his poems, portrays the identity conflicts these immigrants encountered and the ways the Arab-Jewish identity is still a complex model in modern Israel (though much more present and expressed in recent years by poets, philosophers, and artists in the Israeli cultural space). Join us for…
Find out more »Digging Deeper: How Archaeology Works
An internationally renowned archaeologist with more than thirty seasons of excavation experience, Prof. Eric H. Cline has conducted fieldwork from Greece and Crete to Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. Drawing on his new book, Digging Deeper (Princeton University Press, 2021), Cline answers questions archaeologists are most frequently asked: How do you know where to dig? How are excavations actually done? How do you know how old something is? This lecture will be filled with insights and practical advice about how archaeology…
Find out more »Shirel Horovitz, live from Israel in conversation with Esther Schneider: Religion, Mysticism and Gender
In this session, we’ll explore the works of painter and installation artist Ester Schneider. Her unique life story and path of studies in the art world has conjured a fascinating body of works that call for a journey through local Israeli culture, mythology, religious imagery, womanhood and more. The first and main part of the session will be led by Shirel Horovitz taking us through Schneider's works. Then, we’ll transition into a conversation with the artist herself and end with…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »Great Israeli Author Event With Assaf Gavron, live from Israel: “Contemporary Israeli Literature: Can You Avoid Politics?”
Join us as we examine contemporary Israeli fiction and the role of politics within it. Does life in such a politically-charged environment influence the kind of fiction and other art forms created within it? What is the role of authors in such an environment? Are they expected to deal with it, have an obligation to do so? Or perhaps a burden, a monkey on their back that they are not allowed to escape from? Through a series of examples and…
Find out more »Andi Arnovitz, live from Jerusalem, Israel: “The House is in the Book”
Books are thresholds to unfamiliar worlds and can serve as bridges connecting diverse communities. Even before the age of printing, codices and books were crucial means of communication, and books persist as vehicles for exchanging information, ideas, stories, and emotions across time and space. They serve as platforms for collaboration between authors and readers, writers and their translators, and the creators of texts and images. During the pandemic, when many people were deprived of physical contact, ideas of the book…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »DayTimers Speaker Series: The USS Midway – Surprises, Milestones & Disasters
The USS Midway—America’s longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century—had its share of hair-raising missions, pranks, heartbreaking disasters, and remarkable accomplishments. Shared by about 150,000 sailors whose average age was only 19! Find out why “Midway Magic” because universally known throughout the Navy. Led by: Chris Day About Chris: Chris has been a USS Midway Museum Docent since July 2014. US Navy Officer 1977-1984 (Lieutenant) -Naval Engineering -Underwater Demolition/SEAL Teams Commercial construction industry post-Navy. Retired in 2014 as Vice President…
Find out more »Jewish Dublin: A Virtual Travel Adventure
Join us as we learn about the Jewish heritage and history of Dublin, Ireland with local guide Peter White. Our virtual adventure, through the eyes of Peter's grandfather Samuel, takes us through the soul of the city to the heart of 'Little Jerusalem' - an area in which thousands of Jews made their home after fleeing from the pogroms of Russia (an in our guide's case, Lithuania). Born and bred in Dublin, Peter has been a guide for over 10…
Find out more »The Hidden Roots of American Synagogue Melodies
This lecture may surprise you! We will examine the music sung in modern American synagogues, and attempt to determine where this music came from. Many of the melodies that we assume are traditional "from Sinai" are not older than a century or so, while others hark all the way back to the ancient Near East. We will examine non-Jewish sources as well as Jewish sources from America, Germany, Austria, England and Russia. Illustrated with slides and recordings. Dr. Joshua R.…
Find out more »Jewish Life in Buenos Aires: Paris of the South
Buenos Aires is one of Latin America’s most important ports and most populous cities, as well as the national center of commerce, industry, politics, culture, and technology. According to tradition, Spanish colonizer Pedro de Mendoza established the first settlement there, which he named Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Aire (“Our Lady St. Mary of the Good Air”). Buenos Aires locals are referred to as porteños (“people of the port”) because so many of the city’s inhabitants historically arrived by…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »Dr. Zohar Raviv, live from Jerusalem, Israel “God is Not a Religious Idea: Juxtaposing the American Declaration of Independence and the Ten Commandments”
Separation of Church and State is a quintessential principle of American political philosophy. Significantly, this principle may be predicated upon a theological imperative that importantly distinguishes between Church (i.e., religion) and the concept of God. Therefore, it is vital to explore the fundamental forces that gave voice to the American Declaration of Independence, retrace certain crucial theological propositions underlying its conception, and illuminate some striking conceptual similarities between that document and another definitive constitution: the Ten Commandments. Dr. Zohar Raviv is…
Find out more »Leonard Cohen’s Mystical Midrash
In this multimedia program including music, images, video, and close textual comparisons, Seth Rogovoy explores the deep and profound influence of the Jewish background and scriptural roots of the late Leonard Cohen’s life and work. With reference to Cohen’s lyrics, poetry, and interviews, we will see how the legendary rock poet’s familiarity with Torah, Talmud, and Kabbalah infused his creative output with a deep and abiding spirituality. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on and discuss how Cohen can best…
Find out more »March 2022
Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »DayTimers Speaker Series
There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event. For more information, contact Program Director Ilene Tatro at itatro@cbisd.org.
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »April 2022
DayTimers Speaker Series
There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event. For more information, contact Program Director Ilene Tatro at itatro@cbisd.org.
Find out more »May 2022
DayTimers Speaker Series
There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event. For more information, contact Program Director Ilene Tatro at itatro@cbisd.org.
Find out more »