Announcements
Mitzvah Men’s Club Mother’s Day Brunch, May 12
Pictures from Purim 2013
Supporting Israel Helps CBI – Buy Trees
Support both the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and Congregation B’nai Israel (CBI). Visit CBI’s website (www.cbistpete.org). On the right hand side of the Home Page, you’ll find a “button” that allows you to perform these mitzvot. Buy or donate by clicking the button –– from your purchase or gift, 20% will return to CBI to support congregational Israel programs.
You can:
– Plant Trees in Israel in honor or memory of friends or loved ones.
– Make a donation to any of JNF’s many projects in Israel.
– Purchase anything from the JNF store.
For automatic credit: All orders and donations originating from the JNF/United Synagogue “button” (online) on CBI’s website will be credited automatically to our partnership.
For manual credit: You can also mail or call [1-800-542-8733] your orders and donations, but mention that Congregation B’nai Israel of St Petersburg is your congregation.
MAIL: On the envelope and on the insert, write “Partner – Congregation B’nai Israel of St Petersburg”.
CALL: Inform JNF that “Congregation B’nai Israel of St Petersburg” is a partner congregation.
For Tu B’Shevat, please consider contributing to CBI’s Parkland Project (#002600TP). Note that telephone or mail is the only ordering method available.
Receive a discount on your purchase of trees and water certificates! Create your own online E-Z Tree Account. Simply purchase a “bank of trees” to be used as needed. The E-Z Tree Standard Account is established and replenished with 10 trees at $10 each, a 44% savings over the regular tree price of $18. Your cost is $100 – regular price is $180! The E-Z Tree PLUS Account is established and replenished with 50 trees at $9 each, a 50% savings over the regular tree price of $18. Your cost is $450 – regular price is $900!
JNF is LAND in Eretz Yisrael. Donation opportunities include: Sderot Indoor Recreation Center, Alleviating Israel’s Water Crisis, Israel Education Programs, Forestry Management and Fire Prevention, New Communities in the Negev, Tourism and Recreation Sites, etc. The Tampa Bay JNF’s current projects include Aleh Negev (caring for Israel’s severely disabled), Carmel Forest restoration, and Friends of Israel Firefighters (purchasing life-saving equipment for Israel’s first responders to any emergency).
CBI Makes $$ When You Use Goodsearch, Goodshop, and Gooddining
You can make money for CBI just by searching the web, online shopping and using selected restaurants. It is easy to sign up and use these services at www.goodsearch.com. And GET THIS! If you use the CBI Mitzvah Gelt to make your purchases online using goodshop, CBI makes even more money and it doesn’t cost you a penny. In fact, goodshop offers discounts and coupons for some of your favorite stores.
Right now, goodshop is providing us with an opportunity to gain $1,000 if 100 members download their shopping browser add-on: http://www.goodsearch.com/goodto-go/congregation-bnai-israel-of-st-petersburg
Announcing CBI Mitzvah Gelt!
Click HERE for Order Form
We all know that Congregation B’nai Israel is in need of revenue to maintain its physical operations and superb programming. We are also aware that in these days of economic cutbacks it is becoming increasingly difficult for families to open their wallets and checkbooks to make a donation to the Shul. That’s why you are being asked to consider using Mitzvah Gelt a.k.a. Scrip.
What is Mitzvah Gelt? Mitzvah Gelt is prepaid gift cards and vouchers that you use like cash at specific stores, restaurants and online sites.
How does Mitzvah Gelt work? Instead of using cash when making purchases, you, the buyer, use prepaid gift cards from America’s favorite and most trusted retailers. These gift cards are the same cards you see and buy in local retail stores. The difference is that when purchased through CBI, the Shul can earn up to 15% rebate on each card purchased.
Sure, using Mitzvah Gelt may take a little more planning on the part of the purchaser but the payoff for the Shul is certainly worth the effort. To get an idea of the scope of businesses offering Mitzvah Gelt, go to www.glscrip.com/index.aspx.
OK, you’ve checked out the website and want to do your part to help the Shul.
How do you order Mitzvah Gelt? Either submit a completed order form with your check to the CBI office or sign up at www.shopwithscrip.com and place your order there (the CBI id# is 124FE6EC2LL69).
For those members who are computer enthusiasts, “SCRIPNow” makes certain vendor cards available within minutes by internet. After you have signed up for a Shopwithscrip account as outlined above, you can order, pay for and download SCRIP from CVS, Chili’s, Home Depot, etc. In addition, many cards purchased through the program can be reloaded on the internet quickly and easily once your Shopwithscrip account is set up.
Although most cards don’t expire for at least two years, you are encouraged to purchase cards you expect to use within the next few months.
When ordering through CBI, remember that all orders take about a week to be delivered. Please plan accordingly.
Remember, cards made great gifts for B’nai Mitzvah, birthdays, weddings, etc.
For more information please contact Jay Kauffman at (727) 381-5999.
Flowers for the Bima
Help us adorn the bima with floral arrangements for Shabbat, holidays or any special occasion. Please be a sponsor by contributing to the Sisterhood Flower Fund.
You may contact Marilyn Goldberg at 727-546-7722 or send your donations to: Women’s League, Attn: Marilyn.
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 Audrey Dantowitz at 710-5662.
When to 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 during Shabbat services.
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 (727-381-4900, ext. 207) so that as clergy and as a synagogue family, we can be helpful in moments of difficulty or stress.
