The Voice of Hakol Congregation B’nai Jacob Congregation B’nai Jacob of Phoenixville, PA S h e v a t – A d a r 5 7 8 1 February 2021 Our mission is to provide a place rooted in Jewish tradition where all people feel welcome, supported and enriched. We strive to foster connections to our past, to our future and to the divine in an intimate, accepting community. Service Times Friday Night (Unless otherwise indicated) 7:30pm Saturday Morning 9:30am NOTE: All services will be virtual via Zoom until the building re-opens Candle Lighting Rabbi’s Message 2 President’s Message 3 February 5 5:05pm Sisterhood 4 February 12 5:17pm February 19 5:25pm Religious School 5 February 26 5:33pm Learning for Life (Adult Ed) 7 In Our Community 8-11 CBJ Events Calendar-Feb-Apr 12 Events Donations 13 Learning for Life– February 7 See p. 7 Celebrations 16 Board Meeting– February 10 Yahrzeit 17 CBJU– Jewish Comedy-Feb 14 See p. 9 Calendar 20 Food Distribution– February 21 See p. 10 Something Shabbat Every Friday Purim—February 25 See p. 8 Friday, Feb 5th Birthday/Anniversary Shabbat 7:30 PM th At this time the CBJ building remains closed for Friday, Feb 12 Community Shabbat with community use. Family Friendly service 6:30 PM CBJ will continue to support social distancing for as long as the safety of our members requires it. Friday, Feb 19th Welcoming Adar: Stand Up As soon as it’s truly safe for us to gather to- Comedy Shabbat 7:30 PM gether again in-person, we will do so. Until then, th let’s all take care of each other in every other Friday, Feb 26 Shushan Purim, featuring possible way available to us. Silly Torah 7:30 PM RABBI'S MESSAGE Dear Chaveirim/Friends: the month of December also reminded us of the gifts that we have in our CBJ community. You’ve December was the saddest month heard me describe CBJ as “small but mighty,” at CBJ in recent memory. In a and talking about how it “punches above its three week period, four of our weight” in terms of what it offers to its members. beloved members died. We lost Most important, though, is not what we do, but two newer members, Barry Sankey what we mean to each other, and how we care for and Susan Kaimowitz, who brought each other, and how much we enjoy being with new energy to our community. And each other. For over 100 years now. we lost two long-time members, Joe Weinstock and Gil Liss, who helped make an During December we saw a vibrant portrait of entire generation at CBJ what it is today. what CBJ has been. Of what it currently is. And what it aspires to remain. In recent years, even Because of Gil’s and Joe’s many, many decades without a pandemic going on, our lives have of being active at CBJ, many of our congregants become increasingly busy and scattered. In our joined the minyanim in the two week-long shiva politics from local to national, we see a observances (over Zoom of course, because of breakdown in a sense of community, in a sense the pandemic). And because they both raised of shared purpose, in a sense that what unites us large families at CBJ (16 children between the is greater than what divides us, that what we two of them!), the minyanim became de facto agree about is greater than our differences. reunions, bringing together generations of people Yet, what makes community-building more who grew up at CBJ. st difficult at the start of this third decade of the 21 Throughout the difficult December of loss, the first century is also what makes what we have at CBJ line of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities kept all the more precious. The losses of December coming to mind, “It was the best of times, it was and our coming together in response only the worst of times.” Because even as we underscore how important our community is. But mourned the people that we lost, we also had the we can’t take it for granted. It’s a work in most visceral experience possible of the progress, and it only works while it’s progressing. importance and the power of community. Not just We can’t rest on our laurels, we can’t stay still. in general, but about the Congregation B’nai Inspired by the stories of the four people we lost Jacob community in particular. From the in December, each of whom valued CBJ in Cemetery Association that lovingly took care of all different but profound ways, we must honor their the logistics and practical details of burial in our memories by helping this community that they meticulously-maintained cemetery, to all our loved to continue to flourish and thrive. That’s one members who created a pandemically- of the ways that Barry Sankey’s, Susan appropriate circle of love around our friends who Kaimowitz’s, Joe Weinstock’s and Gil Liss’ were experiencing such great loss. memories will forever be for a blessing. L’dor Many of the shiva minyanim for Joe and Gil were v’dor – from generation to generation, from theirs attended by well over 100 people. Each evening, to ours, from (old) strength to (new) strength. All we heard stories and shared memories. Out of of us united in this most sacred, and most human, these reflections grew a picture of an incredible of tasks. community formed by the incredible people in the generation before. At the same time, the picture L’Shalom, painted wasn’t only about the past, but about the Rabbi Jeff Sultar present as well. Images from the past reflected what CBJ still is, and also what it can be. Ironically, then, despite the sadness of our losses, 2 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE “What really matters is that we care about the Engagement 2021 – people we seek to engage. When we genuinely It’s About People and care about people, we will not only welcome Connections them; we will listen to their stories, we will share ours, and we will join to build a Jewish We are living in a time of rapid, Community that enriches our lives.” profound change impacting every Dr. Wolfson is a visionary; a thought leader aspect of life, including our whose insights helped synagogues transform the religious and spiritual lives. Synagogues way they operate and/or should operate. The everywhere are diligently working to respond with pandemic enabled us to reimagine what Jewish meaning and even re-inventing themselves. institutional life could look like, and to create Moving forward together in 2021, broad-based engagement opportunities to make these engagement and commitment are the keys to changes real and enduring. success. CBJ synagogue life should be about a sacred Most organizations, including synagogues are community that commits to increasing “social reactive – focused on present worries or, worse, capital” during this time. What does this mean? on past glories. To thrive, we need to be reflective, focused on our purpose and future First, we need to continue kavannah (sacred possibilities. This supports CBJ’s objectives for focusing and intention) as a goal of worship. an inspired, engaged, and fulfilled Kavannah - not the technology or production Community. capabilities - should be our goal. Even though we cannot be together in person, Second, effort counts - especially during COVID- through the power of Zoom we have found new 19. Everyone appreciated Rabbi Sultar’s time and ways to engage and connect with each other and effort in the planning and delivery of our High build relationships. From services, to Simchas to Holiday services to make them Shivas, CBJ-U and Religious School, synagogue meaningful for our Community, family, and life has gone virtual. On the upside webrought friends. The efforts of Rabbi and others continues friends and family together from cities and states to make our Zoom Shabbat services spiritually across the US, and everyone gets a front seat! meaningful with opportunity for engagement and New members were introduced creating new community connections. connections. The technology allows for a meaningful experience for all. Our “digital” shul Synagogue life will most likely be different in the future. created possibilities for more people to connect from afar, creating opportunity for engagement The future belongs to those synagogues that can and new relationships. embrace change, focus on purpose and future possibilities and have the wherewithal to execute. Rabbi Sultar has done a fantastic job bringing us together spiritually online where we can “see” Let’s work together and start here: each other, meet new people from within our homes, and chat together – Engage and Connect! -Spiritual – Expand Religious Life Committee I encourage you to join us because you are and collaborate with Rabbi Sultar missing something special! -Engagement – Building Connections -Financial – Virtual events to support When building relationships within our CBJ Community growth synagogue community, our Kehillah, it becomes transformational. Our 2020-2021 theme focuses To learn more, contact me directly at [email protected]. on Connecting Our Community and referencing Dr. Ron Wolfson and his book, Relational L’Shalom, Mark J. Snow, President Judaism. To quote from the introduction: 3 EXCITING NEWS! SISTERHOOD Help Wanted: The Sisterhood Board has On behalf of the CBJ Board, I am very pleased to openings for a few positions including President. announce Rabbi Sultar has agreed to a new The president’s duties include overseeing our contract and will continue as our Spiritual Leader.