Mark your calendars for these upcoming events at CBI:

Friday, June 23, 7:30pm: Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Led by Steve Margolin and Helene Ginsberg.

Sunday, June 25, 11:30am: Beginning Mah Jongg

The Sisterhood will be holding a Mah Jongg Clinic on June 25 at 11:30am. at CBI. Come and learn how to play Mah Jongg from experienced players. If you would like to order your own Mah Jongg card or instruction booklet, check out the store on the National Mah Jongg League website. The booklet is called Mah Jongg Made Easy and we are currently playing with the 2017 card. Contact Pam Dakof for more information.

Friday, June 30, 7:30pm: Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Led by Steve Margolin.

Saturday, July 15, 10:00am: Torah Service

Led by Steve Margolin.

Wednesday, July 19, 11:00am: Brunch Bunch

The Brunch Bunch meets at Nash's on the Esplanade for good food, good conversation, and great company. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Rabbi Sara on the Air

On Wednesday, August 3, 2016, Rabbi Sara Abrams and David Halimi were interviewed on Action News Now, local Chico channels 12 and 24. The video segment has since been archived by the station, but may be restored, at which time the link will also be restored.


On Friday, December 16, 2016, Rabbi Sara was on KZFR 90.1FM, discussing finding peace in our troubled times. You can listen to it here.


On Friday, April 21, 2017, Rabbi Sara was on KZFR 90.1FM, on their reoccurring program: The Peace and Social Justice Program. You can listen to it here.


On Friday, June 16, 2017, Rabbi Sara was on KZFR 90.1 FM, on their reoccurring program: The Peace and Social Justice Program. Rabbi Sara co-hosted a discussion about Women in the Ministry. You can listen to it here.

Rabbi Sara was featured in the March 2, 2017 issue of the Chico News and Review: ‘A good place’ Chico’s Congregation Beth Israel officially welcomes its new rabbi by Evan Tuchinsky.

Last summer, while seeking to succeed Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan as the religious leader of Congregation Beth Israel, Rabbi Sara Abrams started seeing signs that Chico would be in her future...

Click here to read the entire article.


Rabbi Sara was featured in the March 2017 issue of the Voice: New Chico Rabbi Officially Installed.

Rabbi Sara Abrams was welcomed as the new spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Israel in Chico on August 1, 2016. On February 24, 2017, she was officially installed with a celebratory weekend of programming. the VOICE talked with Rabbi Abrams about goals, yoga, and what she enjoys about leading a small Jewish congregation in Northern California...

Click here to open the March 2017 issue of the Voice. The entire article can be found on page 18.

From Our Student Cantor

"What’s All This About Korbanot?"

CBI Student Cantor Steve Margolin’s brief essay about the korbanot, the sacrifices offered in the Tabernacle and in the Temple in Jerusalem, explores the essence of the korbanot then and ties that to the prayers and synagogue services that are our way to make an offering and experience the Divine in our lives.

To read the full essay click here.

Summer 2017

Dear Friends,

Today I want to thank you. Thank you for walking me through my first year at CBI, for welcoming me, and being open to my teachings. In Torah this week the tribes of Israel continue their journey through the wilderness, with the Levites those appointed with the task of carrying the tabernacle through the desert and into the Promised Land. To lift the Ark of the Covenant is a sacred task which requires the help of all of the people. Indeed, before the Levites depart for their journey, they must assemble before the community leadership who lay their hands upon them, blessing them in their sacred responsibility of transporting the Mishkan.

In our community we all carry the Mishkan, the tabernacle, and just like the Levites each one of us has a particular responsibility in its transport and upkeep and the blessing that it brings.

This year I have witnessed the many ways you carry CBI--whether it's organizing (and catering) events, maintaining the building, educating our children, donating items, raising funds, overseeing the gift shop, giving a lecture, sponsoring an oneg, taking photographs, updating our web site or Facebook page among many other tasks, these are the ways in which our members carry CBI.

Thank you for allowing me to lead this year and for assembling together to bless me in our joint venture of infusing God's love and wisdom into the walls of CBI. I look forward to much more in 5778. I will be away starting mid- June to July 31st. I look forward to re-connecting then.

Have a wonderful summer!
Rabbi Sara

CBI Newsletter

The CBI Newsletter is included in one "Weekly Update" email of each month (usually the first Wednesday of each month). During the rest of the month, continue to read the "Weekly Update" emails for the latest information. Previous versions of the newsletter and a link to the recently retired newsletter site are available on the Newsletter archive page. In addition, news is available on the old CBI News column CBI News page.

To submit articles and suggestions for future newsletters, or to be added to our email list, please send email to admin@cbichico.org .

Intro to Judaism I

Thanks to all participants for a successful Intro to Judaism I with Rabbi Sara.

Watch for our Intro to Judaism II class coming this fall!