Melissa Schapiro

CBI Panel will accompany Pickford showing of They Ain’t Ready For Me

Live on Zoom: 7 p.m. Monday, October 26,2020

CBI will hold a panel discussion at 7 p.m.  Monday, Oct. 26 (on Zoom), “Exploring Jewish topics in They Ain’t Ready For Me,” a documentary The Pickford Film Center’s Doctober festival is streaming (through Oct. 29).

Panel participants: Rabbi Josh Samuels, Cantorial Soloist Andrea Shupack, Bryant Heinzelman, and Chanan Suarez (moderated by Emily Weiner).

• To watch the panel live on Zoom and ask questions in Chat, check your weekly Timbrel newsletter or contact the synagogue office.
• Panel recording will be available after Oct. 26 on the CBI website, or through The Pickford to ticket holders.

THEY AIN’T READY FOR ME
dir. Brad Rothschild, 2020
NR, 89 min, USA, in English

The film is about Tamar Manasseh—who is Black and Jewish—and the organization she founded: MASK (Mothers and Men Against Senseless Killings). MASK members show up every day to sit on the corner of 75th street and South Stewart on Chicago’s South Side—an area plagued by poverty, unemployment, addiction, and violence— to prevent violence by building community. Rothschild explores the powers of showing up as viewers get to experience the members of MASK providing music, games, food, and conversation to their neighbors in need. In the film, Tamar describes how Judaism motivates her, we see MASK celebrations of Sukkot and Passover, and Tamar takes us inside Beth Shalom – B’Nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation.

For information about the film, to watch a trailer, and to purchase a ticket to watch online, click here.

Judaism 201
Instructor: Rabbi Joshua Samuels
Wednesdays: 7 to 8:15 p.m.
10 Sessions: November 4, 11, 18; December 2, 9, 23; January 6, 13, 20; February 3

This class is an excellent introduction to Judaism or the perfect refresher. The course will cover the following topics: Who is a Jew? What is Torah, Midrash and Talmud? The many Jewish views of God; The Jewish approach to life and death; The Jewish calendar and festivals; Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism; Israeli history; Jewish life-cycle events; and more. This is Judaism 101 plus a little extra! The fee covers the cost of the primary text, Settings of Silver and other texts.

Fee: CBI Members: $36; Non-Members: $72
Sign up online here.

THE BOOK OF JUDGES

Fee: Donations to support future adult education offerings are encouraged. Checks may be made out to CBI with “Adult ed” in the memo line.

4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020

Gal Gadot, a Camel, and a Church: The Unique Diversity of Israel 

A discussion with Aviv Attia, 2020/2021 StandWithUs Northwest Shaliach (Israel Educator)

Israeli society is much more diverse than meets the eye. This talk details the differences be-tween four major groups of Israeli Jews – Ashkenazim, Mizrachim, Russians, and Ethiopians – as well as the main Israeli-Arab groups: Arabs, Druze and Bedouins. Aviv will also examine the efforts that Israel has made to improve civil rights for its minorities over the years. This event is free of charge. A Zoom link will be provided through the weekly Timbrel e-newsletter.

Read more about Aviv Attia and Stand With Us here.

Read this update from Rabbi Joshua Samuels, Cantorial Soloist Andrea Shupack and President Miriam Schwartz, along with the Ritual Committee, about how Congregation Beth Israel will observe the High Holy Days amid the Covid-19 pandemic (schedule of services below):

Following are times for High Holy Day services. For Zoom links, contact the Beth Israel office: