The NSSBE 70th Anniversary Weekend Celebration Honoring Rabbi Vernon and Bryna Kurtz was a resounding success! Beginning with the Friday night Shabbat Dinner, continuing with scholar in residence Rabbi Golinkin, and concluding with the gala dinner, our congregation turned out in force! Nearly 1,500 members participated in the weekend festivities that celebrated our milestone anniversary as well as our beloved Rabbi Kurtz and his wife Bryna. Kol Hakavod to the staff and lay leadership that worked tirelessly to make this weekend so special. Below are remarks by Rabbi Kurtz and Rabbi Golinkin expressing their gratitude.
On Friday, October 19th, Beth El held its Jeans and Jammies Shabbat Program for pre-school aged children and their parents. Elephant & Piggie, two very special characters from the book series by Mo Willems, made a guest appearance! Elephant & Piggie, along with their friends Ali Drumm, Jeff Baden, Rachel Kamin, Rabbi Schwab and Rabbi Freedman helped bring in Shabbat with songs and stories.
This year’s Preschool Sukkah Decorating Party was a fun-filled evening that included creating sukkah decorations, hanging them in the sukkah, having a delicious pasta dinner, hearing a story from Rachel Kamin, and singing songs with Hazzan Tisser. Rabbi Schwab taught a mini-course to some mini-students on how to shake a lulav and etrog! If you haven’t been to the Beth El Sukkah, please stop by and admire the handiwork of our smallest hands!
On Thursday, August 30, nearly 100 Men’s Club members and guests, attended the annual “Steak and Scotch” dinner. Nearly a dozen brands of scotch were available for tasting, along with a robust collection of Bourbons. Dinner included large ribeye steaks, potatoes and vegetables. All of our clergy was present for this not-to-be-missed event! Special thanks to our Men’s Club board for organizing, grilling, and hosting this favorite annual program.
On Friday, August 24, over 150 congregants gathered to celebrate the “happiest shabbat of all!” Members enjoyed appetizers and schmoozing along with music provided by Hazzan Tisser and friends. After shabbat services, guests were greeted by smiling emoji balloons and decor as they enjoyed a summer-time dinner straight from the grill. Our youngest members and their parents brought in shabbat “emo-jew” style with Ali Drumm, Marah Altenberg and Jeff Baden.
A special shout out to all who helped out on this event: Pam Schlosberg, Holly Reinsdorf, Rebecca Jacobson, Debbie Fox, Jackie Mellinger, Melissa Halperin, Hazzan Tisser, Abby Lasky, and Avram Pachter.
It was a beautiful summer night to enjoy food and cocktails on the Beth El patio. Members noshed and mingled before heading into the Blumberg for a fabulous performance by the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band! Hazzan Tisser joined the band to sing several songs, before the band switched to dance music and brought the crowd to the dance floor. Click HERE if you would like to watch the entire concert.
On July 26, Beth El members and friends of all ages were treated to an exciting and energetic performance from the Israeli Scouts Tzofim Friendship Caravan. Ten Israeli scouts from all over Israel danced and sang to new and familiar tunes. They shared their personal stories, as well as pride for their birthplace and its 70 year history. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to host these amazing young people. If you missed them this year, be sure to catch them next year!
40 members of NSS Beth El gathered at Ravinia on a beautiful Monday night in July to enjoy the music of George Gershwin. It was so successful, we are already discussing plans to do it next year!
Surprising all who attended our Kabbalat Shabbat reception on Friday, a chilly overcast day suddenly became a picture perfect one! Over 70 congregants gathered on our back patio and had the pleasure of listening to eight guitarists and a violin player “jam” to a variety of Shabbat melodies. Delicious food and drink added to a wonderful pre-Shabbat event.
On Tuesday, June 5th, Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz, a former Beth El congregant joined us to screen his new documentary “Roadmap Jerusalem.” The documentary tracks the connection of Jerusalem to the Jewish people by exploring the biblical, archaeological and political history of the city.
Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz initially began creating the documentary to encourage the American Jewish community to advocate for Jerusalem. Over the course of production, Rabbi Lebovitz came to realize that only under the control of the modern state of Israel can all religions have unfettered access to their holy sites. Therefore, the documentary really makes an argument for all people – of all religions – to support and fight for Israeli control of Jerusalem.
The screening was followed by a Q&A and discussion with Rabbi Lebovitz and Rabbi Kurtz. We wish Rabbi Lebovitz great success with his film. If you would like to learn more about the film, click here.
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