Category: General
You were 9
Seth Kramer shared these words with his son on the day of Aaron’s Bar Mitzvah and has allowed me to share them with our congregation, as we all share our stories during this Centennial Year. For Aaron Kramer on his Bar Mitzvah – 4/14/18 You were 9. 9 years old when you told me you didn’t…
Read MoreCentennial Celebrations
As a community of meaning, our paths intertwine on so many levels. Part of the Centennial Celebration has been inviting members to the bima on Shabbat services. Read the Words From the Heart of our membership, describing their Jewish journey and how their paths intertwine with the TBI family. 10/13/17 Jolie Rubin 10/20/17 …
Read MoreIf I had a million dollars…
If I had a million dollars… This opening line from an early 1990’s Barenaked Ladies song is one with which many of us can identify. Here at TBI we have our own version of this fantasy. We have lots and lots of programmatic ideas that often have to be relegated to our “wish list” because…
Read MoreThe Optimistic Geniza
“The Geniza looks half full!” I overheard the shout from one of the hundred children as they walked by the Geniza that was dug to celebrate the Temple Beth Israel Centennial. Each child was given the chance to offer a book into the Geniza. Our entire community was welcome to contribute to the…
Read MoreWherever we gather, we have Community
On Friday night, August 25, 2017 TBI held Shabbat Worship and dinner at a local park. We have held a couple of Kabbalat Shabbat experiences each summer in this neighborhood park. It is such a great experience with over 200 members, prospective members and friends of members joining in prayer and Shabbat dinner. It was…
Read MoreA Call for Peace and Community Engagement
On Monday evening, August 14, 2017, I had the great honor to stand in front of a crowd of residents of Skokie and some surrounding communities to address the horrible events this past weekend in Virginia. Only 24 hours earlier, I had received a call from the new rabbi at Skokie Valley Traditional Congregation requesting…
Read MoreHeaded to camp?
I went to resident camp for 8 weeks beginning the summer I turned 9. I am thrilled that so many of OUR TBI kids will be attending Jewish camp.
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