Purim is time for partying with a serious purpose: to remember the survival of our people despite all odds and to affirm our commitment to a better world for all. Bring some money for Purim tzedakah and we will dedicate our collection to the American Jewish World Service to help individuals in Haiti or wherever the need is most urgent.

On Sunday, February 28, 3 p.m., Menchkin and Religious School Families are invited to come in costume for our Purim Carnival. In addition to booths and games, there will be a kid-friendly Megillah reading by the Rabbi, and students will make Mishloach Manot (goody baskets), which they will distribute to our Senior
Sages. The afternoon concludes with a pizza & salad Se’udah (Purim Dinner) for families.

]]> http://www.cbichico.org/2010/02/purim-a-time-for-celebration/feed/ http://www.cbichico.org/2010/01/beginner-hebrew-class-at-cbi/ http://www.cbichico.org/2010/01/beginner-hebrew-class-at-cbi/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:33:17 +0000 Rabbi http://www.cbichico.org/?p=575 Sign up now for Beginner’s Hebrew! The first day of class is Thursday, February 4th at 5:30p.m.
The class will continue to meet on Thursdays at 5:30p.m. until Thursday, April 8, 2010. The teacher is Keren Carter. If you are interested in enrolling for this class, please email: admin@cbichico.org as soon as possible, or call (530) 342-6146.
Non-Members pay $75.00 for tuition & book fee.
Members pay $18.00 for book fee.

On Sunday, I saw a shocking segment on CNN about the earthquake in Haiti. First, the program recounted the story of a three-year-old girl who was critically injured in the earthquake and needed immediate surgery to survive. Later, the program reported about a minister in Haiti who preached to survivors that God sent the earthquake as punishment for their sins. The minister said the disaster was “God stomping his foot and shaking the ground.”

Larry King, who was obviously disturbed by this statement, said sarcastically, “I guess that three-year-old had a lot of sins! Unbelievable!”

In this week’s Torah portion, God rains down devastating plagues on the Egyptians who were enslaving the Israelites. The plagues were natural disasters, culminating in the deaths of the Egyptians’ first-born sons. Reading this parasha in the aftermath of the earthquake raises the question: Does Judaism believe that God sends natural disasters in punishment for sin?

This question was examined by the rabbis. The Talmud posits “if a man stole a bag of seeds and planted them in his garden, it would be right if the seeds didn’t grow.” However the rabbis concluded that “nature follows its own rules” and the seeds grow. The text likewise explains that “if a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, it would be right if she did not get pregnant.” But “nature follows its own rules and she conceives.” Through these and other scenarios, the rabbis articulated that God does not intervene in nature based on moral calculus.

The devastation of the earthquake is horrible enough without giving the victims the added burden of feeling guilt that somehow they are responsible. This atrocious discourse only adds insult to injury.

If God doesn’t intervene in nature, then where is God in disaster?

A story is told of a man who goes up to heaven at the end of his life and stands before God, his heart breaking from the pain and injustice of the world. He cried out, “God, look at all the suffering in your world. Why don’t you do something to fix it?”

God replied gently, “I did do something. I sent you.”

In the aftermath of disaster, God is with the injured and the bereaved, giving them strength to endure and heal. God is with the rescuers, giving them courage and perseverance. God is with all of us, encouraging us to give generously to the victims.

God surely did not send the earthquake in Haiti last week. But God has sent each one of us to help.

]]> http://www.cbichico.org/2009/12/new-photos/feed/ http://www.cbichico.org/2009/12/early-hanukkah-presents-and-more-december-events/ http://www.cbichico.org/2009/12/early-hanukkah-presents-and-more-december-events/#comments Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:09:01 +0000 Rabbi http://www.cbichico.org/?p=550 Presents:

Here is a meditation for Hanukkah, to do while you gaze at the holiday lights.

Here are some online TV Shows for Hanukkah.

And for fun, here’s a song written by Sen. Orrin Hatch for Hanukkah (and an article explaining how it came to be written).

Enjoy!

Events:

Join us at CBI on the first night on Hanukkah, Friday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m.. Prof. Emeritus and CBI president Irv Schiffman will speak about the new dovish Israel lobby, J-Street, “An Alternative to AIPAC.”

And don’t forget our big CBI Hanukkah Party, Dec. 13, 5-8 PM at the ARC Pavilion, 2040 Park Ave! There will be music, latkes, and lots of fun for all ages. BYOM (Bring Your Own Menorah; if you don’t have one and want your own, our gift shop will be open that night). And bring a gently used coat for a child or teen if you can donate one. Cost is $8 for adults, $4 for kids (2-12) or maximum of $20 per family, and includes dinner.

Another timely topic is Health Care Reform. We’ll have Part II of our Panel Discussions on “Jewish Values and Health Care Reform” after our 7:30 p.m. service on Friday, Dec. 18, the last night of Hanukkah.

Want to do something Jewish on Dec. 25? The Rabbi and her family will host a potluck (vegetarian or dairy) Shabbat dinner at their home at 6:00 p.m. that night.

Our festive community Hanukkah Party for all ages takes place Sunday, December 13, 5–8 p.m. at the ARC Pavilion, 2040 Park Avenue. The party features a delicious holiday dinner with traditional holiday latkes (potato pancakes), donuts, salads and other dishes. There will also be a gift shop, raffle prizes, live music by the CBI band, folk dancing, and a performance by Religious School students. Participants are encouraged to bring Hanukkah menorahs and candles to light, and to contribute gently used coats for kids and teens to the “Coats for Kids” collection (these can also be left in the bin in the synagogue lobby).

Cost for the Hanukkah party (including dinner) is: $8 adult, $4 child, ($20 maximum per household). To help with this event, contact Terri Lind or Kristy Bergson.

For more information on either of these events, call 342-6146

This past Friday, we had another wonderful Shabbat eve, which began with a dinner put on by the Hillel board for the Hillel (Jewish student organization). CBI members were also welcome to participate. After dinner, we had a very lively service, with five members of our “house band” accompanying and Hillel representatives singing. Finally, Levi and Ayelet Bar-Gil led us in about an hour and a half of exhilerating and fun dances, beginning with easy ones and continuing with more advanced dances. Levi always gets everyone laughing as well as dancing. And of course, we had an “Oneg Shabbat,” in the sense of delicious desserts provided by our Sisterhood.

At CBI, we will have a late, 8:00 p.m. service on the Friday after Thanksgiving, with a theme of “Giving Thanks.” It is the yartzeit (anniversary of the Hebrew date of a passing) for my mother, and my family will be sponsoring the Kiddush (Oneg Shabbat) in her memory.

Go to the photo page and to our Facebook page to see various pictures from the day.