Dear Congregation Beth Israel members and friends,

As this newsletter emerges, we're preparing for our Monthly First Friday Shabbat Zoom gathering — an opportunity to come together over Zoom to bless candles, fruit of the vine, and bread, and to spend some time together talking and getting to know each other (and perhaps also having dinner together-apart on our various screens).

This year there's a discussion question at each monthly gathering. The November question will be: as we rebuild from the pandemic's necessary isolations, what do you want CBI to do and to be?

I love that this is the question our rotating cast of hosts chose to pose this month. (By the way, you don't need to RSVP to join that monthly Zoom gathering — you can just show up!) And I can't wait to find out what the responses will be.

Every community has been impacted by almost two years of global pandemic and the practical, spiritual, and fiscal challenges that have come with it. In that sense, CBI is not unique. Every rabbi and synagogue Board I know continues to grapple with questions of how to protect the vulnerable, ensure equitable access to our offerings, and "do Jewish" in this pandemic era.

But CBI is unique in one very important respect: the constellation of unique souls that make up our community. You are what makes CBI unique. There is no other community in the world exactly like this one, because no other community is made up of all of you.

You are CBI. Every one of you: from folks who most recently filled out their membership forms, to fourth- and fifth-generation North Adams residents; year-round residents and part-time visitors; those who've chosen Judaism, and those born into Judaism, and those born into other religious traditions who are part of our families and our lives. You are the CBI community right here and right now. What do you want CBI to do and to be?

As we approach CBI's Annual Meeting (join us on Zoom on November 9!), I can promise you that the Board and I will continue to do our best to help CBI live up to our Jewish values. We will continue to do our best to help CBI manifest the three pillars of spiritual community (according to Pirkei Avot): we aspire to be a house of Torah (study and learning), a house of avodah (prayer and service and spiritual practice), and a house of gemilut chasadim (acts of lovingkindness and community).

But what shape that takes exactly is up, in part, to each of you. What do you want CBI to do and to be — and how will you help us grow into the community that you want and need?

I can't wait to hear your answers, and to build that future with all of you.

Blessings to all,

Friday, November 5, 7:30pm–8:30pm: First Friday Shabbat Zoom Gathering
Please join us for our First Friday Shabbat Zoom Gathering! We will light Shabbat candles together and recite the blessings for candles, wine, and challah, so if possible, have candles, a cup of wine, and challah (or other round cracker or bread) ready in your own home. This year, we will choose a topic for each gathering, and a rotating member will facilitate the blessings and discussion; this month's topic will be: as we rebuild from the pandemic's necessary isolations, what do you want CBI to do and to be? All are welcome! Please RSVP to natalie@matus.net so we will know to expect you. Our Zoom room will open at 7:20pm, so please plan on joining us early!

Saturday, November 6, 9:30am: Multi-Access Shabbat Morning Service
Multi-access Shabbat morning service will be held at 9:30am, led by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat. All are welcome to join us onsite; we'll be meeting indoors in the CBI sanctuary. Singing will be permitted, so please bring a mask to wear during service. Please note that we will not be holding a kiddush / oneg at this time, but we encourage you to close out our service by admiring our beautiful new pollinator garden instead! Service will still be available online for those who wish to participate on Zoom; those joining digitally are invited to get a digital copy of the siddur, available as a free flipbook at the publisher’s website, or as a Kindle download for your Kindle, phone, tablet, or computer.

Monday, November 8: Hebrew School
CBI's Hebrew School classes will meet.

Tuesday, November 9, 7:30pm: CBI's Annual Meeting
Our Annual Meeting will be held this year over Zoom (not at the shul building) at 7:30pm on Tuesday, November 9. (If you are not comfortable using Zoom, please reach out to the office.) We’ll offer reflections on the last year, celebrate our community, and vote in a new slate of Board members and officers. To view a digital version of our Annual Report and the slate of officers, please click here.

Saturday, November 13, 9:30am: Shabbat Morning Service
Shabbat morning service will be led by Rabbi Pam Wax.

Saturday, November 13, 4pm: Jewish Storytime & PJ Havdalah
Families are invited to come in PJs, hear stories, enjoy snacks, and make havdalah together at CBI! If you're planning to attend, please RSVP to the office.

Funding to help make CBI's family education programs free to all has been provided by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

Sunday, November 14, 2pm: Journey Into Judaism Zoom Class
CBI's Journey Into Judaism class will meet on Zoom, led by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat.

Monday, November 15: Hebrew School
CBI's Hebrew School classes will meet.

Sunday, November 21, 1pm: Cooking With Caleb: Let's Make Cookies for Chanukah!
Join professional baker and father Caleb Wolfson-Seeley as we prepare for Chanukah! Families will learn how to make cookies and be able to take them home to enjoy together. If you're planning to attend, please RSVP to the office.

Funding to help make CBI's family education programs free to all has been provided by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

Sunday, November 21, 2pm: Journey Into Judaism Zoom Class
CBI's Journey Into Judaism class will meet on Zoom, led by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat.

Monday, November 22: Hebrew School
CBI's Hebrew School classes will meet.

Monday, November 29: Hebrew School
CBI's Hebrew School classes will meet.

Friday, December 3, 7:30pm-8:30pm: First Friday Shabbat Zoom Gathering
Please join us for our First Friday Shabbat Zoom Gathering! We will light Shabbat candles together and recite the blessings for candles, wine, and challah, so if possible, have candles, a cup of wine, and challah (or other round cracker or bread) ready in your own home. This year, we will choose a topic for each gathering, and a rotating member will facilitate the blessings and discussion; this month's will feature a discussion question arising out of the festival of Chanukah. All are welcome! Please RSVP to natalie@matus.net so we will know to expect you. Our Zoom room will open at 7:20pm, so please plan on joining us early!

Saturday, December 4, 9:30am: Multi-Access Shabbat & Festival (Chanukah) Service
Multi-access Shabbat morning service will be held at 9:30am, led by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat; service will include the songs of Hallel in celebration of Chanukah! All are welcome to join us onsite; we'll be meeting indoors in the CBI sanctuary. Singing will be permitted, so please bring a mask to wear during service. Please note that we will not be holding a kiddush / oneg at this time. Service will still be available online for those who wish to participate on Zoom; those joining digitally are invited to get a digital copy of the siddur, available as a free flipbook at the publisher’s website, or as a Kindle download for your Kindle, phone, tablet, or computer.

Saturday, December 4, 4:30pm: Chanukah Bonfire
We are planning a campfire in CBI's backyard after sundown on the Saturday during Chanukah. There will be a firepit and Rabbi Rachel will lead us in some Chanukah songs with her guitar. We hope to have hot beverages on hand. Bring your own camp chair / folding chair (if you have one) and dress warmly!

Though the weather is getting colder and we are moving things indoors and online, there is much happening this month at CBI (in addition to our regular schedule of worship services) and we hope you will participate.

We invite you to join our upcoming Annual Meeting on Tuesday, November 9 at 7:30pm on Zoom (please click here for more information). Hear from our lay leaders and Rabbi about the challenges CBI has faced this year and how it has pivoted during the pandemic, as well as meet and vote on the slate of Board directors and officers.

Once again, we’ll be gathering tonight (Friday, November 5) at 7:30pm on Zoom for our First Friday Shabbat gathering. Join us to welcome Shabbat together — light candles, make motzi, and bless a cup of wine, as we get to know one another and deepen our connections to each other and CBI. (Please check CBI's weekly announcement email or email Natalie for Zoom information!)

And for our youngest families with children ages 2–8, we invite you to two family programs in November (please register in advance so we can properly prepare):

• Jewish Storytime & PJ Havdalah — Saturday, November 13 @ 4pm at CBI: Bring your children for a cozy late afternoon story-time and celebration of Havdalah with our long-time CBI educator Jane Shiyah and Rabbi Rachel. Children are welcome to wear their PJs!
• Cooking With Caleb — Sunday, November 21 @ 1pm at CBI: Join CBI dad and professional baker Caleb Wolfson-Seeley as he bakes Chanukah cookies with our youngest children and their parents.

We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving, and want to express our gratitude and thanks to all of you for being part of our beloved CBI community.

Natalie Matus, Vice-President
Chris Kelly, President

CBI's very successful Take & Eat program (delivering food to seniors and other home-bound residents of North Adams once a month) has been on hold since the beginning of the pandemic. We are looking for additional volunteers and a new organizer in order to be able to start up again. Please reach out to Lauren Gotlieb at leg1@williams.edu if you are interested.

Shabbat & Havdalah Times

If you want to light Shabbat candles and make havdalah at the halakhically-accepted times, the times for the upcoming month can be found below:

November 5 light at 5:22pm (18 minutes before sundown)
November 6 havdalah at 6:21pm (42 minutes after sundown)

November 12 light at 4:14pm
November 13 havdalah at 5:14pm

November 19 light at 4:08pm
November 20 havdalah at 5:08pm

If it is your practice to light candles at a different hour of the day (perhaps not quite so early as halakha indicates during the winter, and not quite so late as halakha indicates during the summer), that's also a legitimate Reform Jewish choice. What's most important is that you're finding a way to incorporate Shabbat into your life!