ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

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Did you SCRIP today?

Our goal is to have 100% participation of our members.  Won't you help us reach our goal? The only way to reach that goal is to have EVERY congregant  family buy at least one SCRIP card. We are convinced that once you try using SCRIP, you will see how easy it is to raise money for CBI at no additional cost to you.

There are hundreds of cards to choose within dozens of categories such as:    

Books...Dining...Apparel...Department Stores...Discount Stores...Gas...Travel...Vacations

  click for details 

browse to see all the participating companies    

The Benjamin Tower Foundation

Invites you to join us for the

Celebration and Dedication of our new Magnificent Donor Wall,

Created in recognition of all our Founders and Supporters,

on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

  Philip Benjamin Tower

250 58^th Street North , St. Petersburg

     Sunday, March 14, 2010  

CLOCKS CHANGE!

SPRING FORWARD ONE HOUR!

Congregation B’nai Israel of St. Petersburg

Family Passover Second Seder

Conducted by Rabbi Jacob Luski & Hazzan Paul Goldstein

Tuesday, March 30^th, 6:00 pm Minha, Maariv

Back by Popular Demand!

Bring your children and grandchildren

to enjoy a Kosher, traditional Family Seder

with your Congregational Family!

Menu:

Gefilte Fish with ruby horseradish

Chicken Soup with Matzah Ball

Fresh Green Salad with Passover dressing

Roasted Chicken Breast*

Potato Kugel and Glazed Baby Carrots

Passover Delight with fresh strawberries

and all Passover accompaniments.

                                        *Vegetarian Option Available

Prepaid Reservations Only - Deadline:  Friday, March 19^th, 2010

Info:  727-381-4900     Fax:  727-344-1307

Name(s): _________________________________________________________

Please sit with:_____________________________________________________

Members & their guests:                  Non-Member rates:

# ____ Member Adults………$45   # ____ Non-Member Adults… …  $50  $ _________

# ____ Member Child 7-12…  $18   # ____ Non-Member Child 7-12… $21  $_________

# ____ Member Child 3-6….   $  9   #____  Non-Member Child 3-6….  $11  $_________

*Indicate vegetarian option please.

Enclose Check payable to Congregation B’nai Israel or

Charge my Mastercard/Visa/Amex:

 ______________________________________       ______________________

Credit Card No.                                                                    Exp. Date              _____________________________________________________________

FAMILY PROGRAMS

We have all heard the term many times, Congregational Family. During this challenging time I have heard from you how meaningful it is to be part of this Congregational Family. You might have noticed programming referred to as a family program, let me explain the thinking behind the concept.

                The leadership at CBI is developing programs that will appeal to the varied cross section which makes up our membership. In the future when you see “Family Program”, it will truly represent the entire Congregational Family. The goal is to have fun, inspiring and low cost events that everyone can enjoy. We have heard that you appreciate attending Shabbat Dinners, so we are implementing a dinner series called “What’s on your Plate for 2010”. The intention is for the dinners not to be fund raisers but rather give the Congregational Family an opportunity to be together and enjoy. In an effort to control the cost and not overbuy, we must have all RSVP by the deadline so that we can plan our menu carefully.

                The first Havdala on the Beach and Chili Cook Off were attended by over 100 members each!

 These are examples of upcoming Family Programs:

 Sunday, March 7^th YOU have the opportunity to join your CBI family as we walk to fight hunger as participants of CROP WALK Against Hunger Rally.

 Friday, March 12, Congregational Shabbat Dinner catered by the Mitzvah Men’s Club.

 Thursday, April 1, Family Passover BBQ catered by the Mitzvah Men’s Club.

 Friday, April 23 we will celebrate Yom Ha’atzma’ut with Israeli food at a Family Shabbat Dinner.

 Lag Ba’Omer is Sunday, May 2 and we will enjoy a day of friends, games and food at the Family Lag Ba’Omer Picnic.

 Friday, May 14 join us for a traditional Shabbat dinner.

 Sandy Brasch, Youth & Family Program Director

14^TH ANNUAL TAMPA BAY JEWISH FILM  FESTIVAL

MAZAL TOV TO OUR SHORT FILM CONTEST  WINNERS!

As part of the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival, a Short Film Contest was held.

In the 18 year and older category, first place winners of $750 are CBI members, Daniel LeVine, Eli Marger and Matthew Bloom. Their short film is entitled “Shabbat in the Shul Today.” Daniel, Eli and Matthew attend the University of Florida .

All winning films will be announced to the community at the opening night of the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 8:00 pm at the Tampa Theatre. Mazal Tov to our very talented young adults. We are proud of them.

TALMUD MADE EASY RETURNS

Stephen Wein will continue his class covering the first tractate of the Talmud, Berachot.  The class will study the actual text as well as selected commentaries.  Knowledge of Hebrew, Aramaic or Jewish or American law is not required or necessary.  All materials will be provided.  Berachot deals with blessings and prayers that make up Judaism's fundamental rituals.  The class involves both textual analysis and lively discussion and is open to all with no necessary prerequisites. Classes will meet in the Buns Family Library at 7:00 pm on the following dates: 

7:00 pm, Wednesdays, March 10 and March 24

TORAH FOR SENIORS

^{Join Rabbi Luski on Tuesday mornings each month at 11 a.m. at Philip Benjamin Towers as he teaches and discusses Torah in an easy to follow fashion.}

^{February 16, March 16, April 20 & May 11.}

LUNCH WITH RABBI

<sup>Deli lunch and Mishna Study with Rabbi Luski meets monthly on Wednesdays at noon in the CBI Atrium.  Come and join our group as we enjoy lunch, schmooze and enjoy a meaningful time learning “What, When, Why & Where” of our Jewish History in an informal atmosphere.  Previous knowledge not necessary.  Classes are held in English. Please RSVP your lunch orders to 381-4900 by 4 PM by Tuesday before.  

February 17, March 17, April 21 & May 12.</sup>

Introduction To Judaism

Rabbi Jacob Luski has formed an Introduction to Judaism. This class is a unique opportunity for Jews by birth to learn more about the meaning of Judaism, as well as those non-Jews considering conversion. The class offers a warm and intimate environment to explore the fundamental beliefs, values, practices and history that have shaped the Jewish people throughout the ages.   Please contact Rabbi Jacob Luski at 727-381-4900, extension 203, about your interest in this class.  

March 3, 10, 17 & 24, April 7, 14, 21 & 28, May 5 & 12, June 2 & 9.

Cracking The Code:

Delving into the  Mystery, Meaning & Structure of our Prayerbook

Join Rabbi Jacob Luski to delve into Jewish prayer to gain a deeper sense of meaning of Jewish prayer including an overview of the structure and history of Jewish prayer. All classes are entirely in English.

Wednesdays, 8:00—9:00 pm in the Library:

February 3, 2010:    The Mystery of the Friday Evening service

February 10. 2010:  The Meaning of the Shabbat Morning service

February 17, 2020:  The Structure of the Weekday service

Temple Beth El of South Pasadena and Congregation B’nai Israel of St. Petersburg are proud to announce 

A Town Hall Meeting With 

Mayor Bill Foster

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 7:00 pm At Temple Beth El

400 Pasadena Avenue S St. Petersburg

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 7:00 pm

This event is open to the public and free of charge. Please come, meet Mayor Foster and hear what he foresees for the future of St. Petersburg . The Mayor will take questions from attendees.

Dessert Reception will follow.

For more information, call Temple Beth El 727 347-6136 or Congregation B’nai Israel 727 381-4900.

SHALOM BABY!

A special time for your baby and you!
Open to all babies birth thru age two years old and a loving care giver.
Schmooze with other parents, make new friends, sing songs, have a nosh!
Share your tricks of the trade!

Our first Meet and Greet will be Sunday, September 13th!

Shalom Baby will meet twice a month  on the following

Sunday mornings from 10 am - 11 am in the Preschool.

March 7 & 21

April 11, 25

May 2, 16

Musical Friday Night Service

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND…MUSICAL KABBALAT SHABBAT

6:30 P.M. ON FRIDAY, MARCH 26^TH, 2010

MINYANAIRES ARE NEEDED!

CBI is always proud to say that we are the only shul on the West Coast of Florida that has a twice-daily minyan. We are being proactive in order to ensure the viability of the minyan. This is of utmost importance to those who are saying kaddish which cannot be said if there is not a minyan present. It is very upsetting when someone who has made the effort to come is not able to say kaddish. In order to avoid this occurrence, we have captains who will be in charge of a particular morning or evening and will recruit congregants to come on the designated day and time.

All congregants can fulfill a mitzvah by attending MINYAN!

An extra special challenge:

Every month on the day of your birthday, plan on attending MINYAN! 

Check for exact times on the CBI calendar at http://www.cbistpete.org/calendar_synagogue.htm . 

2010 TORAH FUND

Mazal Tov to Eileen Richman who was selected to be the 2010 Woman of Achievement for our Sisterhood’s Torah Fund Dinner! Please plan on honoring Eileen at the annual Torah Fund Dinner, Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.

Many of you have made your Torah Fund commitment, but it is never too late to make a contribution to the Torah Fund campaign, which benefits the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Special Project Patron              $10,000  (payable over four years)

Chancellor’s Council                  $6,000

Keter Kavod                                  $5,000

Bookshelf, the Library               $3,000

Patron                                             $1,200

Associate Patron                        $   600

Guardian                                        $   300

Benefactor                                    $   180

Koach                                              $    28

Chai                                                  $    18

Minyan                                             $    10

GUEST SPEAKER:

ANDREA J. LeVINE

TOPIC:  Where Judaism Has Taken Me?

Contact information:

Our Guest Speaker will be Andrea LeVine of  St. Petersburg and a product of Congregation B’nai Israel, daughter of Dr. Mitchell and Ellie LeVine, and granddaughter of Dr. Morris and Marilyn LeVine. Andrea is a student at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America where she is working on her Masters program in the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education.  After a recent Birthright trip to Israel , Andrea is a national finalist in Hadassah’s Birthright essay contest. At the age of 24, Andrea has already been to Israel three times and would love to win 1^st prize in the essay contest…which is…a trip to Israel .

HAZAK

Hazak, our Conservative Movement organization for senior adults, will hold Camp Hazak , its 7th annual summer retreat, at the Block and Hexter Vacation Center in Poyntelle , Pennsylvania , from June 30 to July 7. The retreat will feature daily lecturers, exercise programs, swimming in the heated pool, lakefront activities, arts and crafts, and nightly entertainment. Block and Hexter is set up for older people. All the buildings have ramps and are accessible to people using walkers or canes. All rooms are air-conditioned and have private bathrooms with showers. Amenities in all rooms include twin beds with full box springs and mattresses and daily housekeeping. Space is limited, so please register early. If you have any questions about the facility or rooms, call the Block and Hexter office at 800-400-1924. For more information about the Hazak retreat, call Jo-Anne Tucker-Zemlak at 301-230-0801 or email her at zemlak@uscj.org.

LOOKING AHEAD

Yom Ha’atzmaut & Yom Ha’zikaron

 Sunday, April 18, 2010

 The Largo Cultural Center 105 Central Park Drive , Largo , Florida

 Come join in the Jewish community in Celebrating Israel ’s 62^nd Independence Day

On Sunday, April 18, 2010, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

KASHRUT SUPERVISION WORKSHOP

 LED BY RABBI JACOB LUSKI AND SHARON KOENIG

Tuesday Afternoons, April 13^th, 20^th and 27^th, 2010   2:00 - 4:00  pm

If you are interested in supervising the Kashrut of a local restaurant, hotel or the Synagogue kitchen, please join us for these three informational sessions.  RSVP to Pam Askin at 381-4900 ext. 203 or by  e-mail to:    officemgr@cbistpete.org

Historic Jewish Press Internet Site

Articles from the Palestine Post, predecessor to the world-famous Jerusalem Post, have been available on the Internet for a number of years. Now other Jewish publications have been digitized and indexed and are available at a “Historic Jewish Press” site. To date there are 11 publications including the Palestine Post 1932–1950, Bulletin of the Alliance Israélite Universelle (1860–1913) and Ha-Magid 1856–1903. A complete list, as well as links, to each publication can be found at

http://jpress.huji.ac.il/cross-section/allpub-en.asp

SHABBAT GAMES FOR THE KIDS..

 Look what's new for you! CBI will now have a Shabbat Game Cart located in the alcove of the Social Hall each Shabbat morning. The game cart will have games for children to play while their parents enjoy the Kiddush.

PARENTS! Please assist your child in cleaning up before leaving.

lsraeli Folk Dancing

(It's Free) (It's Fun) 

Every Sunday Evening at Menorah Manor from 6 - 8  p.m. in the Activities Room. 

New members are welcome.
For more information, please contact Janice LeVine at 392-3683

A MESSAGE FROM THE GEMILUT HASADIM COMMITTEE

Would you like to join a Committee that does deeds of lovingkindness? You can visit a member who is in a local hospital upon receiving a call. Our members who are mostly at home would love to receive a phone call periodically. Many of our members have already joined this Committee, but we are always looking for more volunteers. Please sign up to do a good deed, a mitzvah by calling Yollette Frey at 319-8150 or Sandy Harwood at 392-4803.

PRAYER FOR THE ILL

 Each Saturday morning Congregation B’nai Israel offers prayers of healing during our regular Shabbat morning service. We invite you to join us for weekly Shabbat worship so that you might pray for a loved one and/or yourself at that time in our prayers. If you wish to have someone’s name specially mentioned from the Bimah, please call the synagogue office at 381-4900 with that individual’s English and Hebrew name and that of their parents.         

May God offer healing to all that are ill.         

SHABBAT MORNING 

CHILDCARE

On some Shabbatot we have no children in the childcare program. We are instituting a new procedure. If you would like to request childcare for your preschoolers for Shabbat morning, please call the synagogue office by Wednesday prior to the Shabbat, so we can make the necessary arrangements.  

NEWS FROM THE RITUAL COMMITTEE

             Over the past several weeks, a number of events relating to the Ritual life of our shul have occurred, and I want to inform the Congregation about them.

            First and foremost, upon recommendation of the Ritual Committee, the Board of Trustees has approved the purchase of a set of new Siddurim for use on Shabbat and Festivals, and a new

set for use on weekdays. This is an updated edition of our current Siddur Sim Shalom – it is smaller in size, more user-friendly, and among other editorial changes, contains references to Judaism’s Matriarchs, as well as the Patriarchs. The Ritual Committee has plans underway to acquire these Siddurim. Dedication opportunities are available at $36.00 each through the shul office.

            To help acquaint our membership with the new Siddur, a Ritual Subcommittee, chaired by Steve Wein, is planning an introduction program. Details will be disclosed as they are developed.

            Next, as a means of making our congregants (and others) more familiar with Prayers of our various services, our Committee is moving forward with a plan to put a prayer-introduction segment on the CBI website. It is contemplated that one by one, various T’filot will be introduced. Each particular prayer will be recited, then sung, on the website, and the text of the prayer will be provided, along with a transliteration, and a page reference to the new Siddur. It is hoped that this will enable interested persons to become more familiar, and comfortable, with the T’filot of our services. For non-computer users, we will make a CD and printed text of the materials available in the synagogue office. Both Hazzan Goldstein and lay members of our congregation will be involved in preparing the various presentations.

            Third, the Ritual Committee has put in motion plans for a series of musical Kabballat Shabbatot for the summer season. These services will offer musically-talented congregants the opportunity to become involved in the musical component of the service, in addition, of course to Hazzan Goldstein, who will organize and oversee the program. Congregants who are interested in lending their talents to these very well-received services should contact Hazzan.

            As always, your suggestions and participation relating to the ritual life of our shul are most welcome. Please contact the shul office, or me at 397-9955 or via email at morborn@aol.com with any questions or comments.

Participate in Aliyot

The Ritual Committee of Congregation B’nai Israel encourages worshippers to participate in services by performing aliyot. If you would like to receive an aliyah, please call the synagogue office at 381-4900, or kindly speak to one of the ushers when you enter the sanctuary, and every effort will be made to accommodate your request. Those wishing to receive an aliyah on Shabbat morning are asked to arrive at services not later than 9:30 am. 

DAVENERS NEEDED

            The Ritual Committee is seeking to increase the number of Congregants who have the ability to lead services--especially morning and evening services at Daily Minyan. Those with prior davening experience who wish to improve their skills, or those with no prior experience who want to learn this most important and rewarding skill are invited. Please contact the Synagogue Office at 381-4900 to express your interest. Hazzan Goldstein has graciously agreed to conduct classes based on the number of people expressing interest. Thank you very much.

                                                                              Morry Bornstein

                                                                Ritual Committee Chair

REQUEST FROM THE RABBI

Please keep me informed of significant events in your family life. It is my desire to be of help and service to you in times of special need. It is especially important that I know of those in the hospital, assisted living or nursing homes, so that they may be included in a prayer for recovery at Shabbat Services.

Rabbi Jacob Luski

Visiting the Sick

One of the most important mitzvot in Judaism is bikkur holim – visiting the sick. It is a responsibility that the clergy at Congregation B’nai Israel takes very seriously. When our members are ill or hospitalized, we want to know.

In the interest of protecting confidentiality, hospitals today are extremely cautious about sharing patient names, even with the Rabbi. We need our congregants to communicate directly with us and to inform us of illness or hospitalization. Please call Rabbi Luski’s assistant (727-381-4900, ext. 206) so that as clergy and as a synagogue family, we can be helpful in moments of difficulty or stress. 

A Note from Rabbi Jacob Luski…

            Some of our B’nai Israel members have been adversely affected by the economic downturn. We want to try to be of help to you…and whatever the circumstances may be, we want you to remain affiliated with our congregation.

            Please know that we are available and ready to be a resource for you with complete respect for confidentiality.

                                                                        Rabbi Jacob Luski

Silence is Golden

Cell phones. pagers, cameras, and other electronic devices should not be used anywhere in the building or on the grounds on Shabbat and holidays. In addition, cell phones should be turned off during funerals, weddings, baby naming ceremonies  and during classes. 

 Remember:  Save your Newspapers and Magazines

Your clean dry newspapers and magazines are worth money to us- Will you save them for us? Thanks for your help!   Please do not bring  plastics, string, mail, tape, wire, bags or boxes. Remember that the containers for newspapers and  magazines are located in the back parking lot near the fence.

              TO BOOK MEETING ROOMS

If you are having a meeting or event, you must reserve a room with Pam Askin as soon as possible to schedule it on the Synagogue calendar to make sure there is a room available, all facilities information is known, and a custodian knows to open and close the building at the proper time. Also, if you need to cancel a meeting or a room reservation, please notify the synagogue office as well.

Do We Have Your E-Mail Address?

B’nai Israel has established an e-mail group that is a quicker and more cost-effective way to communicate with our members.  We e-mail to our members Bereavement notices as well as a weekly update with service schedule and program information.  

Our e-mail list is used for synagogue purposes only and the e-mail messages are sent via blind copy so that no one else sees your address.

If you don’t have e-mail yet, here is a good reason to get it! Please sign up today by sending an e-mail to Anita at receptionist@cbistpete.org. Be sure to include your name(s), along with your current  e-mail address(es ) In the subject line, please write “sign me up”. Be sure to include your name in the body of the e-mail.         

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