Dear Congregation Beth Israel members and friends,

As December begins we're lighting the candles of Chanukah. This year, more than ever, I'm noticing how Chanukah is about what fuels us.

I've talked before about how the story of the oil is a story about a leap of faith. This year I'm noticing that it's also a story about a time when we were tapped-out. Our inner and outer resources were tapped-out. We knew with certainty that we didn't have enough to get us through. And yet somehow, with God's help, we made it through. The oil lasted. The fire of hope lasted.

As we prepare ourselves for yet another pandemic winter, with another new viral variant beginning to circulate, many of us may be feeling tapped-out... not unlike our spiritual ancestors in the Chanukah story. They'd defeated Antiochus, who had forbidden the practice of Judaism. They'd reclaimed our central holy space. And now there wasn't enough oil to light the sacred lamps. They must have felt depleted — physically and spiritually both.

Lighting the lamps was an act of spiritual defiance. With that small flame, they proclaimed: you have not defeated us. The light of our tradition still shines. Two thousand years later, the light of our tradition is still shining.

The Hasidic master known as the Sfat Emet teaches that every miracle God does for us sustains us until the next miracle. In his mind, the miracle of the oil — though at first blush it seems small and insignificant; so what, some olive oil lasted an extra few days! — is truly an enormous miracle, still rippling spiritually through our consciousness... because there hasn't been another one since, which must mean that the Chanukah miracle is still sustaining us.

The Chanukah miracle isn't as big and showy as the parting of the Sea of Reeds in the Exodus story, or the pillar of cloud and fire that led us through the wilderness, or the fire and smoke and divine Voice at the revelation of Torah at Sinai. It's a very human-sized miracle. Maybe that's why it's still keeping us going: because it's something small and graspable. It's in every Chanukiyah lit in every window everywhere. It goes with us wherever we go.

May we draw sustenance from that miracle even now. May we find comfort in the nightly increase of our Chanukah lights. And may the miracle of our people's extraordinary survival — then and now — fuel us through the winter and beyond.

Blessings to all for a light-filled and joyous Chanukah,

Dear CBI congregants,

On behalf of the Board of CBI, I want to wish you and your loved ones a very joyous and light-filled Chanukah. I hope you can join us tonight at our Zoom Chanukah celebration at 7:30pm (read on for details!) and at our in-person Chanukah bonfire celebration tomorrow — Saturday, December 4, at 4:30pm in CBI's backyard. Please dress warmly, and bring camp chairs to sit on (if you have them) and a travel mug for hot cider!

On a personal note, I am deeply honored to be your next president and will do my utmost to fulfill the responsibilities of this position. I will be convening small group discussions over the coming months to learn what you would like to see from CBI as we move forward. These past 2 years have been challenging for both individuals and organizations. As we look towards the future, we need to think about the core strengths of CBI, and what new things we can envision and make happen to connect and strengthen our community. I am always open to hearing from you.

We plan to continue to offer multi-access worship services through the winter and early spring. Twice a month, Rabbi Rachel will offer in-person services (along with a Zoom option). The other two Shabbat morning services will continue to be offered on Zoom by either Rabbi Pamela Wax or Rabbi Jarah Greenfield. We are looking for volunteer greeters for the following services: Saturday, January 8; Friday, January 21; Saturday, February 5; and Friday, February 18. Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat services are usually at 7pm and Saturday services are at 9:30am. Please contact the office to sign up for a date. We need someone at every service to open the door and greet people as they enter, and hand them a mask if they don't have one. This is a wonderful way to get to know people in our community and make newcomers feel welcome.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah,

— Natalie Matus
CBI President

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 month, Rabbi Rachel will join us and will lead us in kindling the Chanukah lights — as well as Shabbat candles — and we’ll share some Chanukah conversation and songs. 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 Chanukah Morning 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.

Sunday, December 5, 2pm: Journey Into Judaism Zoom Class
CBI's Journey Into Judaism class will meet on Zoom, led by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat.

Sunday, December 5, 4:30pm: Light in the Darkness — A Chanukah Experience with Rabbi Seth Wax & Rabbi Rachel Barenblat
Join Rabbi Seth Wax (Williams College Jewish Chaplain) and Rabbi Rachel Barenblat as they kindle and bless the holiday lights on the last night of Chanukah! The five minute program will air on WilliNet at 4:30pm on cable TV channel 1303 and online on willinet.org.

Monday, December 6: Hebrew School
CBI's Hebrew School classes will meet.

Saturday, December 11, 9:30am: Shabbat Morning Zoom Service
Shabbat morning service will be led by Rabbi Pam Wax over Zoom only. Those joining 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 11, 4pm: Jewish Storytime & PJ Havdalah
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! If you're planning to attend and have not yet RSVPed, please email the office.

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

Sunday, December 19, 2pm: Journey Into Judaism Zoom Class
CBI's Journey Into Judaism class will meet on Zoom, led by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat.

Friday, December 24, 7:30pm: Zoom Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Temple Beth El of City Island
Please note that regular Shabbat morning service will not be held on Saturday, December 25. Instead, all are invited to join Rabbi David Markus' congregation, Temple Beth El of City Island, over Zoom for Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday, December 24 at 7:30pm.

Friday, December 31, 7:30pm: Zoom Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Temple Beth El of City Island
Please note that regular Shabbat morning service will not be held on Saturday, January 1. Instead, all are invited to join Rabbi David Markus' congregation, Temple Beth El of City Island, over Zoom for Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday, December 31 at 7:30pm.

Monday, January 3: Hebrew School
CBI's Hebrew School classes will meet.

Friday, January 7, 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. 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, January 8, 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. 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. If you are interested in being a greeter for this service, please contact the office.

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:

December 17 light at 4:02pm
December 18 havdalah at 5:03pm

December 24 light at 4:06pm
December 25 havdalah at 5:07pm

December 31 light at 4:11pm
January 1 havdalah at 5:12pm

January 7 light at 4:18pm
January 8 havdalah at 5:19pm

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!