December 13th, 2014 - 21st of Kislev, 5775
BJC Logo Purple
BJC photo
Candlelighting: 4:13 pm
Havdalah: 5:15 pm
Han_Hap_Hour This Coming Thursday!
 
MatchMatching Funds ChallengeDonation Donate Funds

 The year-end Matching Funds Challenge is on; take this opportunity to automatically double your gift to Beth Jacob!

Here's how to donate:

  • Contribute online through the PayPal link on our website
  • Make a donation of stock (contact our office for the transfer account details).
  • Send in or drop off a check to our office.
You can watch our progress by checking the 2014 Year-End Challenge Campaign thermometer at beth-jacob.org!

Shul_Han_Kids
Hanukkah Celebration for Kids in Shul
During services, Saturday, Dec. 20, 11 am (or so) 

Kids of all ages celebrate Hanukkah together with dreidel, singing, and treats. Parents of young ones, come join in!
Selfie Final Week!
Selfie Directory 

Due to popular demand, we are in the process of compiling a Beth Jacob roster book. We again will offer you the option of including (or not) e-mail addresses and determining what phone numbers or children's information appear in the roster section. This part is strictly an "opt in" affair; your children or e-mail addresses will not be listed in the directory if you do not respond.

 

Now here is the fun part!  We are asking you to send in family "selfies" for your picture!  That's right everyone, gather the kids, the dogs and cats, hamsters and parakeets - and you! - and snap that picture. Send us pictures in your backyard, at Disney World, biking the Mendota Bridge, or maybe on the couch in your home.  Or perhaps you took a family picture this past summer, something to post on Facebook or Twitter.  We want good, clear, color pictures from your phones or your cameras.

  

  Submit your pictures and info to us at 

 

Due to popular demand, the picture deadline is now Sunday, Dec. 21, after The Beth Jacob "Hanukkah Happy Hour". If you like, you can get help with a selfie at the event! 

CChavurah
This Sunday!
This is Not Your Mother's Moses! 
Sunday Evening, December 14

The Beth Jacob Film-Lovers' Chavura would like to invite you to a very special screening of Exodus: Gods and Kings. Details are still being worked out in terms of what theater it will be at, but it will be well after the Dreidel Dash.

 

Be assured you are in for a very unique and fun cinematic experience watching Christian Bale play the role of Moses!

 

Note - given the director and the lead actor on this one it is very likely going to have very violent imagery and action sequences. But everyone is welcome to see how the story unfolds!!!

 

Please contact Zach Feinstein, [email protected] with any questions or concerns. The exact theater and early evening time will be released next week. We will see you at the movies!
BJLM
A Beth Jacob Learning Moment

calligraphy d.marcos
Children in Iyunim are learning about the Jewish calendar and its weekly and monthly cycles. During this darkening time of year, children are learning about Or and Choshech - light and darkness - from the beginning of the Torah to our celebration of Chanukah. This past Sunday, Iyunim children and families learned about Chanukah and how we as a community bring warmth and light into our lives in the middle of winter, and had a lot of fun rolling colorful candles out of beeswax.

For children age 3 through first grade, this year marks the launch of our new education program called Iyunim: Jewish Explorations @ BJC. Iyunim is hands-on, exploratory learning, anchored in our foundational values. We are working with children to create a learning community that evokes and explores.
Blood
Beth Jacob Blood Drive
Sunday, January 18th
9:30 am - 2:30 pm 

Come give the gift of life at the Beth Jacob Annual Blood Drive!
Blood Fact 4
Buddy Blood Drop - Transparent
We need your help; sign up now at Beth-Jacob.org/BloodDrive!

 

Questions? Contact Sharon Benmaman.

Want to volunteer? Contact David Honan.

Texts
An Introduction to Classic Jewish Texts
Sundays, 10 AM, 60-90 min. each 
Want to jump-start your knowledge of basic Jewish learning? Discover the foundations of Judaism? Come to learn about classic texts. You may come to just one, some of them, or all of them. No need to register- just show up!
  • January 18  TANACH ( the bible ) - Rabbi Yossi Gordon
  • January 25  The TALMUD  ( Mishna/Gemara ) - Emily Filler
  • February 1   The MIDRASH - Louis Newman
  • February 15  The HAGGADAH - Earl Schwartz
  • February 22  The SIDDUR - Rabbi Shosh Dworsky
This class is free and open to the community.

Chanting

Contemplative Chanting 

With Sara Lynn Newberger & Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman

Second Thursdays of the Month - 7:00 - 8:00 PM at Beth Jacob

(1/8, 2/12, 3/12, 5/14, and 6/11)

 

Singing is a physical experience, involving breath and muscles, ears and mouths.  When we are touched by the music, the whole of our bodies come into play.  When we sing with others, we are connected by and within the music.  In chanting, we sing a melody multiple time giving us time to enter the chant as its melody (and words) enter us, feeling ever more deeply the effect of the music in each repetition.   Chanting is a form of meditation that opens the doors of the heart, it focuses attention on the present moment, the place where the Divine Presence can be experienced.  Whether wordless or with words, repetition of the chant helps clear the mind of chatter, and connects us to each other and the Divine.  Allowing some quiet between the chants or niggunim enables us to absorb the energy of the chant.

 

 

Join us on Thursday evenings as we ready our hearts for Shabbat. No experience or prior knowledge is required.  Co-sponsored with Hineini, A Center for Adult Jewish Learning and Contemplative Practices at the Talmud Torah of St. Paul.  There is no set cost for these sessions, though donations will be accepted.

OJOur Judaism
Rabbi Allen shares some thoughts from Israel on egalitarian minyanim (or lack thereof) in Jerusalem.

PLEASE NOTE:
 
Schedule Change There will be no Monday night Talmud Class or Tuesday Afternoon Parasha Study Group this week.  Classes will resume on Monday, December 22 and Tuesday, December 23 respectively.
It's USY Shabbat!

Join BJUSY as they lead our services for a weekend, read many of the Torah readings, and hear BJUSY President Theo Walker give the d'var Torah on Shabbat morning!

Beth Jacob Info:

 

Calendar

 
(Link active after 2 pm Fri.)

 
 
 
 

In This Issue:
(Click Link to Jump
Directly to Article)
Ktanim_Menorah
Ktanim Logo
K'tanim Make a Menorah!
 Sun, Dec. 14, 10 am
 
Get ready for Hanukkah by making an alphabet block menorah for Hanukkah, singing Hanukkah songs together, and eating some delicious treats. For children birth-7 with a parent.  RSVP to help us get the right supplies: 
[email protected].
OZY
O.Z.Y.*

Last Shabbat of the Month!

Sat., December 26
After Kiddush at 12:45 pm
 
Everyone truly is welcome!  Sing to praise G-d, to open your heart, to make something beautiful together, or all of the above. The focus is on liturgical songs with harmony, chants, rounds, and niggunim. 
 
Please volunteer to lead a song or make a song request a week and a half ahead of the date, so Aaron Hodge Silver, our songbook designer, can get it ready. Questions, comments, requests, and to VOLUNTEER TO LEAD A SONG, call or e-mail Pam Winthrop Lauer: [email protected], 952-432-7038. 
 
Childcare will be available.
 
*Ozi v'Zimrat Yah = G-d is my Strength and my Song.
 Chili
A Chili Reception
Thursday, December 25th
4:00-6:00 pm
 
Not a chilly reception, but a Chili reception! That's right everyone, join the Beth Jacob family for a tasty bowl of vegetarian chili, cornbread, sweet treats, beer and other beverages. No cost to you, but donations are most welcome. Sponsored and cooked by the super fun Kesher Committee. Interested in helping cook on Sunday, Dec. 21st? Interested in joining the FUN committee? Contact Linda Perry at [email protected].

So we know how much to prepare, please click here to RSVP.  
Erev_Shira
Erev Shira
An Evening of Israeli Song 
Saturday, Jan. 3, 7 pm
Bring your voice, and an instrument if you play; we will provide song sheets, chords, and refreshments!
Adult_Jewish_Learning
Adult Jewish Learning 

  Ongoing Classes 

 

 
Monday Night Talmud Class
With Rabbi Allen

7:00 Pre-learning Schmooze and Munch

7:15 Class Begins

   

Study the words and thoughts of Rabbinic tradition as a living text in our modern world.  

 

  

 

Open Torah

Parashat HaShavuah: Tuesday Afternoons

With Rabbi Allen from 3-4 pm
Study of this week's Torah portion.   

   

 
Bagels
Bracha and Bagel: Wednesday Mornings
With Rabbi Kippley-Ogman after Minyan
  Our learning chug (circle) meets for half an hour over breakfast, digging into rabbinic text related to the cycle of the Jewish year.



Torah Jew in the Pew: Saturday Mornings
With Rabbi Lynn Liberman - 9:15-10 am
 Join Rabbi Lynn Liberman to discuss the weekly Torah portion through the lens of thought-provoking commentaries.
 
Class meets on 2nd & 4th Saturday mornings in the chapel.
Community Events
For our full Community Events calendar, click here
Dash
This Sunday!
Sunday, December 14
5K, 10K & Maccabee Mini Mile
First,
 
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE RACE, OR FOR MORE INFO!

Then:

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR TEAM
BETH JACOB
and receive this year's BJC race regalia on race day, free!


Ruach_Ramah

Keren_Or
7-12th Graders-
Planning_Process


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651-452-2226  |  [email protected]  |  www.beth-jacob.org