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Festival of Sephardic and Mizrachi Jewish Culture in Chico

Congregation Beth Israel is proud to offer a Festival of Sephardic and Mizrachi (Middle Eastern) Jewish Culture, mostly in February, 2012, thanks in part to a Community Development grant from the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region. Full details will be found in the February issue of the CBI Newsletter, to be posted on this website. You can also subscribe to the paper newsletter or get on our congregational email list by contacting admin@cbichico.org.

Main Festival Weekend: February 24-25

Saturday, Feb. 25, Yuval Ron Concert, 7:30pm (doors open 6:30)

Open to the entire community! Bring your friends!

At Bidwell Presbyterian Church, 208 W.First Street, next to Chico State.

Yuval Ron is a world-music artist, composer, producer, Oscar winner, educator and peace activist: yuvalronmusic.com. This evening, he performs with a Trio, on the theme of: “Sephardic Soul Of Spain” - a concert of Jewish Sephardic music from Andalusia to Jerusalem

Tickets for the Saturday night concert will be available at www.chicotickets.com: $12 in advance; $15 at the door. They are also available at all outlets that sell North Valley Productions tickets (Diamond W, Lyon Books, Music Connection and Chico Farmer’s Market) and at the CBI office.

And Friday, Feb. 24, at CBI, Persian Jewish Dinner hosted and prepared by the Halimi family, followed by a Musical Presentation by Yuval Ron on the theme of: “My Heart is in the East”–Sacred Hebrew Music of the Middle East

Schedule: Shabbat blessings (candles, kiddush), 5:35pm. Dinner buffet begins 5:45pm, program to follow dinner at approximately 7:00pm.

Limited Seating, Advance Reservations Required: $18 VIP tickets available to CBI Members from the CBI office or this website through Feb. 7 (after that date, we will sell any remaining VIP tickets to available to the general public). Price includes tickets for the Saturday concert, too! Benefits the CBI Capital Campaign.

Moroccan Shabbat Morning: Saturday, February 25, 10:00am

Avraham Danan will lead special Moroccan Sephardic melodies and Rabbi Danan will talk about Moroccan Jewish customs. The Danans will host a Moroccan-style Kiddush. Free of charge, but kindly RSVP to help us prepare, 342-6146, admin@cbichico.org.

FREE Related Events in February and beyond:

Sunday Night at the Sephardic Cinema

Feb. 12, 7pm at CBI From Toledo to Jerusalem—A Musical Journey, refreshments served

Feb. 19, 6:30 at the Edelman home. Pizza at 6:30, then view and discuss The Last Jews of Libya

Sephardic and Mizrachi Jewish Topics at Shabbat Services

Friday, February 3, 6pm, Mishpachah (Family Style) Shabbat. Rabbi Danan will read a Sephardic story.

Friday, February 10, 7:30pm, Sisterhood Shabbat, presentation on Doña Gracia Nasi.

Friday, February 17, 7:30pm, New Member Shabbat,“What We Can Learn from the Sephardic Way of Life.”

Saturday, February 25, 10:00am, Moroccan songs and learn about Moroccan Jewish Customs.

“Last Jews of Yemen” Exhibit at CSU in March

Chico Hillel is sponsoring the “Last Jews of Yemen” photography exhibit from JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa) on the Chico State Campus in March. Details to follow.

And look for more Sephardic and Mizrachi events in the future, through our congregation and on the Chico State Campus!

Come and celebrate Hanukkah with CBI at the ARC Pavilion, 2040 Park Avenue, Thursday, December 22nd from 6 – 8 p.m. We will be celebrating the third night of Hanukkah!

Join us as we celebrate the festival of lights with favorite
traditions—latkes smeared with sour cream and applesauce
prepared by our fabulous crew, sufganiyots, and singing
and dancing with our talented CBI band.

Remember to bring your Menorahs so that we can light candles on the
3rd night of Hanukkah, and recite the blessings together!

As a tzedakah project to help those less fortunate, please bring items to be donated to the
Torres Shelter. You can find a list of desired items on their website.
The CBI GIFT SHOP will be set up to sell their
outstanding gift items during the party. The money comes back to support
programs at CBI. Haverot will also be donating and handing
out dreidels and gelt to the children.

Cost for the evening (including dinner) is just $8, $4 child ($20
maximum per household).

Let’s fill the hall and enjoy the evening with glowing
candles, spinning dreidels, joyous Hanukkah songs and
lively dancing.

To offer help with cooking, set-up or clean up, contact Donna Greenberg.

The CBI Silent Auction takes place on Saturday night, December 10, 6:30-8:30pm at the synagogue, on 14th Street and Hemlock in Chico. Admission and refreshments are free. There will be many items, services, gift certificates and special treats on which to bid, in all price ranges. We’ll have soups to savor, noshes to nibble, and wine to sip while you visit with friends. This adult event is the major annual fundraiser benefiting our Shul School. Donations are needed now! Please call chairperson Karen Rogers directly (in the CBI roster) or contact the synagogue office, 342-6146, if you would like to donate an item or service or help out.

Hanukkah 5772  is coming soon: December 20-28.

The CBI Gift Shop has all your holiday needs, including various types of candles, menorahs, dreidels, gelt, and lots of other goodies for the holiday.
Shop for Hanukkah gifts on these days (all at CBI except for the Hanukkah Party at ARC Pavilion):
Tuesday, November 29, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (during Shul School)
Tuesday, December 6, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (during Shul School)
Saturday, December 10, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (during the CBI Silent Auction)
Tuesday, December 13, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (during Shul School)
Thursday, December 22, 6 p.m. (during the CBI Hanukkah Party at ARC Pavilion)

Wed. Oct. 12, 8:00p.m. at the Danan’s

Dessert and welcome the holiday at the Rabbi’s home sukkah.

Thursday, Oct. 13 5:30p.m. Sisterhood Potluck in the Sukkah. Bring a dish to share

And an item to donate to the Torres Shelter. Rabbi Danan leads a participatory program.

Friday, Oct. 14 Mishpachah Night in the Sukkah

5:00pm Menchkins program in the Sukkah for our youngest children and their families.

6:00pm Mishpachah Catered Dinner in the Sukkah. Dinner from La Cocina Economica, plus songs & stories. Suggested donation of $10 per adult and $5 per child, or $18 maximum per family.

Saturday, Oct. 15

9:00am Adult Class & 10:00a.m. Shabbat of Sukkot Service, with Kiddush in the sukkah

Sunday, Oct. 16: Sukkah Tour and Men’s Club Barbecue

CBI Sukkah Tour!

Visit two home sukkot built by our congregants, and have a nosh:
12:00 Noon, at the Rappaports
2:00p.m. at the Millers.

First Annual Brotherhood/Men’s Club Barbecue under the Sukkah at CBI

When: Sunday, October 16, 5:00pm. Barbecue Kosher Chicken, salads, bread and soft drinks will be provided. Bring your own alcoholic beverages if desired. Cost: $10

Simchat Torah Extravaganza!

Friday, October 21, 7:00pm

Music, Torah parades & dancing, unrolling the Torah scroll, refreshments & treats for the kids! It’s the climax of the holiday season, so be sure to join us.

High Holy Day Services 5772 / 2011

Congregation Beth Israel, 1336 Hemlock Street

Rosh Hashanah Eve, Wednesday, September 28, 7:30 pm

Rosh Hashanah, Day I, Thursday, September 29, 10:00am (Children’s Service, 11am, concurrent)

Tashlich & Potluck picnic, Thursday, September 29, 1:30pm at One Mile, Bidwell Park

Rosh Hashanah, Day II, Friday, September 30, 10:00am

Kiddush lunch sponsored by the Sisterhood.

Shabbat Shuvah, Saturday, October 1, 10:00am

Kol Nidrei, Friday, October 7, 6:45pm

(You may arrive at 6:20pm for Candlelighting Ceremony with Rabbi)

Yom Kippur, Saturday, October 8, starting at 9:30am

Children’s Service, 10:30am, concurrent / Yizkor 12:30pm/ Special Programs 1pm Musaf 2:30pm/Break 3:30/Minchah (Afternoon Svc) 5:00/ Ne’ilah (Final Svc) 6:30pm

(Times for afternoon services & programs are approximate)

Final Shofar: 7:20 pm, then Break-the-Fast Meal

There are no holiday “tickets” and no cost for any of these programs. Donations are always appreciated to help us serve the community throughout the year.

Exploring Judaism Begins

Exploring Judaism class begins on Thursday, September 15, 5:30pm. This free class will be taught by Rabbi Danan on Thursday afternoon or evening. The exact class hour for subsequent Thursdays will be determined by class participants. Exploring Judaism is for anyone interested in learning more about Judaism, including those who wish to become Jewish and those who want to fill in the gaps in their Jewish education. It will run through January, including a winter break. To register for the class, call 342-6146 or email rabbi@cbichico.org.

Shabbat Class Begins Sept. 17: Encountering God in Judaism and Our Lives

Saturday Mornings, 9:00-10:00a.m.

Shabbat Class this year will explore the really big question: the nature of God and the human relationship to God. Rabbi Danan (and guest teachers including Prof. Jed Wyrick) will lead us to explore the sometimes surprising ways that our ancestors understood God in the Bible, Rabbinic literature and mysticism. Then we will study the writings of modern Jewish theologians who grappled with difficult theological questions. The ultimate aim of the class will be to develop our own personal theologies and “metaphors” for the unknowable, for God. Bring a Bible (Tanakh) to the first class. A book list will be distributed by email and at the class; to get on the email list, contact Rabbi Danan, rabbi@cbichico.org. The class is free and open to all interested adults.

The entire congregation is invited to celebrate with the Zeichick family as Joy Zeichick becomes a Bat Mitzvah, on June 24 (7:30pm) and June 25 (10am). After the Bat Mitzvah, we begin our Summer Schedule at CBI. Here are the details:

While Rabbi Danan is on break in July, enjoyable Shabbat programs will be organized and led by our Ritual Committee, chaired by rabbinical student Keren Carter. There are no services the first weekend in July or the first weekend in August. Otherwise there will be one Shabbat event each weekend in July through mid-August.

July:

Saturday, July 9 Meet at the Schiffmans 9:30a.m.for a Shabbat walk in Bidwell Park. RSVP to the Schiffmans.

Friday, July 15, 7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat led by Loretta Steinke

Saturday July 23, 10a.m. Torah service led by Keren Carter (Parashat Matot), with Torah reading by Steve Margolin.

Friday, July 29, 6pm Potluck Shabbat Dinner at the Carter home. RSVP to the Carters.

August:

Saturday, August 13, 10a.m. Torah service led by Rabbi Danan (Shabbat Nahamu).

Friday, August 19, 7:30pm is “Back to Shul Night!” and our regular schedule resumes.

And mark your calendars: Molly Steindorf will be Bat Mitzvah the Shabbat of August 26-27.

Rosh Chodesh – Thursday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. at CBI, led by Keren Carter
The Hebrew month of Sivan encompasses the holiday of Shavuot and the receiving of Torah.
While Passover embodies physical freedom, Shavuot embodies our spiritual freedom. From Pirke Avot we
know that the Torah was passed down from Moses at Sinai to Joshua; from Joshua to the Elders, from
the Elders to the prophets; the prophets to the men of the great assembly. So too, Miriam also received the
Torah and passed her (yes, Torah is a feminine noun!), to many great women. Please join us for the earthly
delights of sharing foods of the season and great discussion about the women of wisdom.

Friday, June 3, 6:30pm, instead of a formal service, there is a Sing-along Shabbat and Free Mideastern Dinner for all ages. We will say the blessings, eat, schmooze and then sing and learn new songs led by some of CBI’s talented musicians. RSVP to the CBI office, 342-6146, so we can order enough food.

Sunday, June 5, our “Shul School” is doing a Carwash to raise money for the Gert Lenner Fund that provides camp scholarships to our students. It takes place at the Burger Hut at La Dolce Plaza on Cohasset Rd., from 10am-2pm.

On Monday, June 6, 6:30pm, Sisterhood hosts an end-of-year dinner at Nashes.

Wednesday, June 8, 11a.m., CBI will have a family-friendly Shavuot Outdoor service at Bidwell Park Council Ring, led by Rabbi Danan, followed around noon by a Potluck holiday picnic and swim at One Mile. Bring a dairy dish to share (traditional holiday dishes like blintzes, noodle kugel and fruit are a bonus!)

On Friday, June 10, at the 7:30p.m. service, Prof. Emeritus and CBI President Irv Schiffman will be our Shabbat Scholar. He will speak on the “Vanishing Peace Process.”

It’s Bagel Brunch Time!

Sunday, May 15, 2011 • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Congregation Beth Israel • 14^th St. & Hemlock, Chico

Adults: $18 • Children (12 & Under): $7

It’s a great Chico tradition! Enjoy delicious traditional Jewish foods

in a lovely spring atmosphere with family and friends.

Tickets are available from any Sisterhood member

or at the door, and proceeds benefit our congregation.

In honor of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), Congregation Beth Israel will hold a memorial service and program on Sunday, May 1, 7:00pm at the synagogue on 14th Street and Hemlock. The program features Neal Brostoff, noted pianist and Jewish music scholar from Los Angeles who will speak about music of the Holocaust. The talk will be illustrated with sound recordings and video. The subject of music in the ghettos and camps, as well as post-Holocaust art music will shed light on the power of art as a survival tool, as reconciliation, and as a source of profoundly spiritual inspiration to many composers. The entire community is welcome.

Note: This is a change of program as our original speaker was not able to attend.