ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

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Did you SCRIP today?  

  Pauline Rivkind Preschool

At Congregation B’nai Israel

Presents:

Sunday, February 26, 2012

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Delicious fun for the entire community!

Silent Auction and Pasta Dinner

Bid on Children’s Artwork and Great Prizes

Contact Bonnie Halprin

for more information

727-302-9668

bonhalp@aol.com

Name: _____________________________________________________

Phone #: ___________________________________________________

Number of Adults Attending: ______   $5.00 @    = _______

Number of Children Attending: ______ $3.00 @ = _______

I/We cannot attend but would like to make a donation to Pauline Rivkind Preschool.

                        Total enclosed:                       = _______

Please RSVP by Monday, February 20, 2012

Menu:

Pasta, marinara sauce, garlic bread, salad, Italian ice, lemonade

TORAH FUND  DINNER: 

 FEBRUARY 22, 2011  

HONORING

RUTH ANN MIZRAHI

2012 WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT

2011-2012 ~ Women Ensuring

Conservative/Masorti Jewish Education

Hiddur Mitzvah - The concept of hiddur mitzvah -- beautifying or embellishing a mitzvah – is considered by many to be the inspiration for Jewish aesthetics. The pomegranate imagery of the 5772 Torah Fund pin has a multi-layered meaning. Pomegranates (rimmonim) are associated with the land of Israel as oneof its bountiful fruits, and rimmonim is also the term for the finial adornments on the atzei chayyim, or staves, of a Torah scroll.

Torah Fund, a campaign to ensure our legacy to future generations of Conservative Jews by providing: Rabbis, Cantors, Educators and Administrators for Day Schools, Synagogue Schools and Synagogues, Social Workers, Researchers, Scholars and Lay Leaders.

For more info contact: Torah Fund Chair:

Joanne Luski Challahmom@aol.com 347-1741

Special Gifts Chair: Marilyn LeVine Babamfl@aol.com

Torah Fund Cards Chair: Jennifer Sternberg Westierns3@gmail.com

DONATIONS

$180 – Benefactor

$300 - Guardian Level

$600 - Associate Patron

$1,200 – Patron

 YOUR SUPPORT OF THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,  ZIEGLER   SCHOOL  OF RABBINIC STUDIES, SCHECHTER INSTITUTE OF JEWISH STUDIES AND SEMINARIO RABINICO LATINO AMERICANO ENSURES THE SOLID AND HEALTHY FUTURE OF CONSERVATIVE/MASORTI JUDAISM. 

      Free Children's Jewish Books & Music

The PJ Library is a FREE program,

funded locally by the Jewish Federation of Pinellas and Pasco Counties, Fl. and generous local philanthropists that sends high-quality, age-appropriate Jewish books and music to families with children ages 6 months to 6 years -- with  absolutely no strings attached. (Not even the ones in your pajamas.) Space is limited-- sign up today!     

 Ruach Shabbat Services

Will feature spirited prayer and engaging music

Led by Cantor Jonathan Schultz

On Friday evenings at 8:00 pm,

 at January 13^th at 8:00 pm

FAMILY PROGRAMS

Hey CBI……

December provided us with so many opportunities to be involved at CBI. Cantor Schultz ushered in Shabbat with ruach and we ended Shabbat on beautiful St. Pete. Beach Shabbat at the annual Havdalah on the Beach. Each family took home a Havdalah candle and spice bag with the hope of adding this beautiful service to their families’ tradition.

                Our building was filled with artists and examples of their craft during the annual Gift and Craft Show.  Attending the Show has become one of the popular social events of the year…and you could attend all day Sunday for free. Of course no one could resist buying something! Thank you to everyone who helped in the Ethnic Café’. Funds earned go directly to the Youth Department and is used for tzedakah.

                The CBI annual Hanukka Celebration had something for everyone. The festivities began with lighting St. Pete’s largest Menorah and singing Hanukka favorites. The children all received gelt bags and enjoyed making their own Hanukeia. This year we added a Mitzvah Project to our celebration,” Cookies for the Community”. With your help we decorated hundreds of holiday cookies which were then delivered to police stations and firehouses Christmas day. Thanks to the members of Sisterhood, Men’s Club and the Youth Department who made those deliveries. 

                This month Sisterhood will host “Got Shabbat?” dinner January 20^th. The theme is Italian and the ladies are planning an amazing Italian Shabbat feast. There is still time to make your reservations. Don’t miss out.

B’Shalom,

     Sandy Brasch

     Youth and Family Program Director

TAMPA BAY

JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

 CALLING ALL ENTRIES FOR THE SHORT FILM CONTEST!

WANTED:  Your best short film (up to 10 minutes in length)

OPEN:    To all ages and all people everywhere

DEADLINE TO ENTER:  Friday, January 6, 2012

This year’s theme is…

JUDAISM & TIKUN OLAM:  REPAIR THE WORLD

CASH PRIZES!

FIRST PLACE 18 & OVER (ADULT)                $250

FIRST PLACE 13-17 (TEEN)                                 $250

FIRST PLACE 12 & UNDER (YOUTH)             250

WINNING FILMS WILL BE SHOWN DURING THE

TAMPA BAY JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL IN FEBRUARY 2012

FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO REGISTER:  VISIT WWW.TBJFF.ORG

CRITICAL NEED FOR FOOD PANTRY

Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services Is in critical need to restock 

their food pantry. Operation Isaiah was a huge success. We did our mitzvah.

Please participate in donating food to the GCJFS Food pantry…….

“This is my chosen fast…share your bread with the hungry,

take the homeless into your home, clothe the naked when you see him,

do not turn away from people in need.”

                                                            Isaiah 58:6-7

Food donations & grocery store gift certificates for the GCJFS Food Pantry

are accepted year-round in the CBI office

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!  

DAILY MINYAN

Be a mensh! 

Make a Minyan!

Attend our twice daily minyan: 

Mornings at 7:45 am,

Sunday & national holiday mornings at  9:00 am

and Sunday-Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm

Martin Luther King Day morning Minyan at 9:00 a.m.  

ROSH HODESH

SHEVAT

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Israeli Folk Dancing

(It’s Free)

(It’s Fun!)

Every Sunday evening, 6:00 – 8:00 pm  

 in the Activities Room at Menorah Manor.

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.

CALL THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICE

•  To share the news of a joyous occasion, such as; birth, an engagement, or a personal accomplishment.

•  To share unfortunate news such as a serious illness, hospitalization, or death.

•  When a friend or acquaintance wishes to make contact with the shul or Rabbi Luski.

•  When you have a question of a personal or religious nature to discuss with Rabbi Luski.

•  When you would like to have an aliyah duringShabbat services.

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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