MARCH/APRIL 2020 ADAR/NISAN/IYYAR 5780 THE SHUL SHOFAR VOL. 24, NO. 4 * Congregation Beth Israel * Bellingham, WA 98229 * bethisraelbellingham.org * (360) 733-8890 FROM THE RABBI The journey makes all the difference In the last stanza of his poem “The Road Not Taken,” Robert Frost writes, “Two roads di- verged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” This is arguably one of the most familiar lines in all of American poetry. It has been used in television com- mercials for Ford and Mentos. It has been sung by musicians and there has even been a self-help book titled after this verse. And when I read it, all I can think of is Pesach. In our Exodus narrative, we read The opening acts for the Purim Spiel are: Chanting of Megillat Esther, about how the Israelites quickly costume contest (winner gets a trophy) and the second annual latke/ escaped out of Egypt only to begin hamentaschen debate (this year we’re adding sufganiyot to the mix). a 40-year wandering journey Come dressed up and ready to shake your grogger. Tasty food and through the desert en route to the beverages available for all. Promised Land. When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the Philistines, alt- INSIDE: hough it was nearer. God led the people roundabout, by way of the • Faces in our • Adult education community: classes, wilderness at the Sea of Reeds Minda Rae Amiran, page 6 (Exodus 13:17-18). Instead of tak- page 8 ing them on a direct path from • CBI/Kesher Purim point A to point B, God led our • Landscaping news, Carnival, page 12 page 4 Continued on Page 6 Page 2 The Shul Shofar March/April 2020 From the President... CONGREGATION The URJ Biennial – A once in a life- BETH ISRAEL time experience, every two years 751 San Juan Boulevard Bellingham, WA 98229 In mid-December Rabbi Samuels, Ann The plenary sessions were well done. The Shul Shofar Suloway, Melissa Schapiro, Terri Weiner, There were great speeches and music at Volume 24, Number 4 and I attended the five-day URJ Biennial in every one of these huge gatherings. Like March/April 2020 Chicago. I had been told that the Biennial in concerts, screens showed the Adar/Nisan/Iyyar 5780 was amazing, like nothing else, and life- action on the stage up close, and there changing. It was also, for me, very renewing. we got to see our own Asher Suloway, Approximately 5000 Reform Jews Naomi Schapiro, and Eian Snyder, all of gathered to learn, teach, worship, eat, whom worked at the conference, receiv- sing, and dance, reconnect with old ing honors. friends and make new ones. Before the Shabbat was the highlight. Imagine convention the five of us met for lunch feeding around 5000 people a sit-down along with Bryant Heinzelman (our local dinner! And yes, the food was good! Deadline for submission of all URJ celebrity) to go over the various of- The worship services were even better. articles and calendar events for ferings so we could attend different pro- The big screens projected the readings the May/June issue is APRIL 11. grams and choose areas of learning that and lyrics, which I liked more than I Call the office for more infor- were particularly relevant to our congre- thought I would, and I wonder if some- mation. gation and our roles here. day this might be something for us to The days started early, with t’fillah at consider at CBI. We enjoyed new melo- CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL dies and a band for musical accompani- 7:30 and various breakfast meeting op- Rabbi: Joshua Samuels portunities. Programs ran through the day ment, with some of the notables in con- Kesher Interim Nicky Naiman and and into the evening, and in the late night temporary Jewish music creating an Co-Directors: Andrea Shupack there were concerts and a few comedy amazing amount of ruach! Cantorial Soloist: Andrea Shupack shows. We got to hear Nefesh Mountain, All in all, I was amazed at how per- Admin. Assistant: Mary Somerville who were just here at CBI, and to meet sonal a convention of 5000 people could Executive Board Eric and Doni. I ran into Rabbi Cindy feel. It was refreshing to get my mind President: Miriam Schwartz Enger, who sends her best regards to the beyond the nitty-gritty of “getting things Vice Pres: Gaby Mayers congregation, and met Rabbi Lennard done” and think bigger. Where are we Vice Pres: Josh Greenberg Thal. I caught up with friends from the headed? How can we do things better? Treasurer: Terri Weiner Scheidt Seminar that I attended in Febru- What more can we do to offer programs Secretary: Paul Blum ary for new and incoming synagogue and activities that offer meaning and Board Members presidents. It was helpful and inspiring to impact to people’s lives? In what new talk with colleagues about their experienc- ways can we continue the work of Steve Ban Jodi Litt es of leading congregational boards, and tikkun olam? I have some ideas… Steven Garfinkle Harriet Markell Isaac Konikoff Jane Relin I’ve brought home some great ideas. At the same time I was moved to see Lynn Korner David Zimmerman I went to programs on engaging fami- how much we are already doing well, Marcia Lippman lies with young children, several on de- especially in a congregation of our size. veloping leadership, one on mission and Case in point – the End of Life series Shofar Coeditors: Vermeda Fred values-driven security, and met Michael that is being co-sponsored by the Care and Nora Mazonson Smith of the Secure Communities Net- Committee and the Cemetery Commit- You can reach us at: work. I stumbled across a program by tee. I am excited to see improvements phone: (360) 733-8890 Anat Hoffman, a fabulous speaker, who to our committee structure taking shape, [email protected] opened my eyes further to the experi- to assure we move forward with a sus- Visit our website at ence of Reform Jews in Israel. A high- tainable framework for the next stage of bethisraelbellingham.org light was getting to see Bryant at one of CBI. We are on the right track! And all several sessions on diversity – he’s a of us who attended have come back Printed by Lewis Publishing Inc. in Lynden, WA great speaker! with renewed spirits and ideas. The next In the Exhibit Hall I saw gorgeous Jew- Biennial is December 2021 in Washing- ish art and connected with Claude ton, DC. Think about joining us! Beth Israel is a member of: Riedel, who makes exquisite Ner Tamids. He has since met with the Ark Design Task Force, and we may choose — MIRIAM SCHWARTZ, to work with him when the time comes PRESIDENT for that next part of the Bima project. March/April 2020 The Shul Shofar Page 3 From the Kesher Center for Jewish Learning Kesher news Kesher has a new leadership team that started in January. Andrea Shupack and Nicky Naiman are now the co-directors of our religious school program. Andrea brings much knowledge of Judaism and has run religious schools in the past. She is focusing on updating our curriculum, while supporting the teachers with their goals and lessons. Nicky has a background in administration and foreign language education. In addi- Then for Tu B’shevat this year, Kesher had a special tion to administrative tasks, she has school-wide program. Students went all over the building and been working with Andrea to review grounds, learning about different parts of this special environ- Hebrew language curricula. mental holiday. The youngest kids planted parsley and used As Kesher continues to grow and sensory boxes to feel various items from nature. The older thrive, we are excited by the new programming and curricu- students studied Jewish texts on the environment and spent lum we are developing. Students in grades K-2 have already time planning how we can make small yet significant im- started participating in Hebrew Through Movement, which is provements in our community. Other highlights were creating a language acquisition strategy by which students learn He- “Tree Poetree” by using images from nature and Jewish texts brew by hearing and responding to Hebrew commands. The of gratitude for prompts. Kesher celebrated this holiday by program will expand to include grades 3 and 4 in the coming experiencing, on a deep level, the wisdom of our Jewish weeks. The students are responding positively to the new teachings to protect the environment, and appreciating all the Hebrew curriculum, and we think it will be a very successful gifts we receive from nature. The day culminated in a nature addition to our Kesher program. walk where students took time to “meet” specific trees, to Kesher school had two special events in January and Feb- xperience prayer in nature, and to walk the trails. We paid ruary. First, Hillel Smith visited several classes as part of his attention to the sights, smells, and sounds around us and Scholar/Artist-in-Residence weekend. He elevated art for the used blessings to notice what is miraculous in our backyard. 3rd-6th graders, helping them create stunning challah covers. Now we’re getting super-excited for our Purim Carnival on Students thought about images to represent Shabbat and Sunday, March 8, at 12:30 pm after Kesher classes! designed stencils. Then they used spray ink to splash shades Nicky and Andrea are enjoying working together and col- of color all over the cloth around the stencils.