Men's Breakfast is back!

Have you been missing the Friday morning Men's Breakfast? It's back tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.! Courtney will lead the service. She will also lead the service for taking out the Torah. Gilad will read from the Torah.

November 14 - Rabbi & Potluck!

Join us on Friday, November 14 for a vegetarian (dairy) potluck at 5:45 p.m. followed by services at 7:00 p.m. lead by Rabbi Judith Beiner from Atlanta. Rabbi Beiner is the Chaplin for Jewish Family & Career Services in Atlanta. She has considerable experience in various rabbinical positions in Georgia, as well as in Lawrence, KS, and Littleton, CO. To welcome Rabbi Beiner, please join us for a vegetarian (dairy) potluck. Beth Shalom will provide challah, beverages, and desserts, so bring your tastiest dairy-only salad, pasta, or other creative entree.

ISJL Education Fellow Visit

Lex Rofes, our ISJL Education Fellow, will be with us this weekend for services on Friday night at 7:00 p.m., Torah study Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m., and for Sunday school at 10:00 a.m.

Simchat Torah Celebration!

This Friday we will have a big Simchat Torah celebration; the more warm bodies the bigger the celebration! Courtney will lead the service and Rebecca will lead the service for taking out the torahs. Gilad and Adeet will read from the torahs. Bring the children!

Rosh Hashanah Potluck and Services

Please join us for the traditional Beth Shalom Rosh Hashanah Dinner at 5:30. We have some fabulous cooks in our congregation so come hungry. The synagogue will supply the meat main course, challah and drinks. Please let us know what you are bringing by signing up at PerfectPotluck.com. Locate the schedule by coordinator and password [note: details removed after the event]. Services will start after dinner at about 7:00 PM. Here is the the full schedule for High Holy Days this year.

As we welcome the New Year, it is customary to reflect on the previous year. What an exciting year it has been for Beth Shalom! We are adding members and rabbinical visits and our activities are flourishing.  This upcoming year the momentum will continue with additional guest visitors and fun events, including our 25th Anniversary Celebration. Beth Shalom is thriving thanks to your membership and support.  The great strides we have made this past year would not have been possible without you. We Thank YOU!

The Best Is Yet To Come!

 

Upcoming Events—Mark Your Calendar

Sunday, October 5: Come and help build the Sukkah after Sunday School

Saturday, October 11: 6:30 p.m.: Celebrate Sukkot at this family-friendly event with pizza, s’mores, a campfire and even camping (for those brave enough).

October 24-26:  Lex Rofes  (ISJL Fellow who plays multiple instruments) and Bethany Berger will visit.

December 5-6: UJA Rabbi visit

December 17-25: is Hanukkah. Since the students will already be on break, we will celebrate earlier. Details will be forthcoming.

Please check our website periodically and open our emails for updates since additional observances and events may get scheduled.

Henry Stern

It is with great sadness that we inform the community that Henry Stern passed away Thursday morning. This afternoon (Sunday), at Jeffcoat Funeral home from 3-5 PM, there will be a visitation with the family. The funeral will take place on MONDAY at 2 PM at the Jeffcoat Funeral home. Henry was a tremendous supporter of this community and was also a Holocaust survivor. Henry's obituary is on the Jeffcoat website.

Celebrate Israeli Independence Day with us!

Celebrate Israeli Independence Day with us on Saturday, May 3 at 6 p.m.! Join us for a celebration including Israeli food and music!

Weekend events for April 25 and 27

It's a busy weekend at Beth Shalom! At our regular Friday night service time (April 25, 7:00 pm), Laura Newland will present her newly published book, "Chasing Zeros," and sign personal copies. Auburn Hadassah will provide the Oneg.

On Sunday, April 27 at 3:00, we will observe Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom Ha'shoah). Could it happen again? Please join us for an interactive program designed by the US Holocaust Museum and led by Ed.

Sunday morning also marks the end of Sunday School for 2013-2014.

Talk on Alabama's Jews, the Second World War, and the Holocaust" on 3/24

Dan Puckett, author of "In the Shadow of Hitler: Alabama's Jews, the Second World War, and the Holocaust," is giving a free talk on Monday, March 24 at 4:00 p.m. at AU's Pebble Hill (101 S Debardeleben St, Auburn).

"In the Shadow of Hitler" is the first comprehensive state study of how southern Jews—and non-Jews—dealt with the coming of the Good War and the Nazi persecution of European Jews. The book includes interviews with our own Henry Stern. Puckett is an associate professor of history at Troy University. The event is free, open to the public, and will be followed by refreshments.

Interested in learning more about the book? "In the Shadow of Hitler" is on Amazon.

HIllel t-shirts are coming!

Looking for a new t-shirt? Sure you are! Check out the new Auburn Hillel shirt only $20! They feature Aubie with a yarmulka and pais on the back and they say "Auburn Hillel, Keepin' it Kosher Since 1970."  Email Scott at [email removed after orders completed] for more information.

A Beatles Purim: March 15th!

The British invasion is coming to the bimah this Purim on Saturday night,  March 15, at 6:30! Replete with your favorite Beatle’s songs, A Beatle’s Purim will tell the story of Esther in a fashion that would have the British Royals shaking a grogger.

Please join Rabbi Matt Drefflin at Beth Shalom for Havdalah, pizza and hamentashen.  Rabbi Matt is already growing his hair and practicing his Megillah and Beatles Spiel. Wear a costume and BYOB. Remember it is customary to boo, hiss, stamp feet and rattle the groggers whenever the name of Haman is mentioned.

It is a special mitzvah to remember the poor during Purim. Please bring non-perishable items or a check made out to the Food Bank of East Alabama.

Rabbi Matt Dreffin will lead Friday night services the night before Purim, March 14, at 7:00.  On Saturday morning, he will lead a Torah discussion from 9 to 10:00. If you would like to schedule some personal time with the Rabbi, please email Margie, who is coordinating the logistics for his visit.  The rabbi will also come to Sunday school to help the children celebrate Purim.

Rabbi Harvey visiting January 24th!

High Holidays 2013 Rabbi, Mike Harvey, will lead services Friday January 24 after a pot-luck dinner! Please bring a dairy dish to share.

"Shadow in Bagdad" program in Montgomery on Jan. 21.

Agudath Israel Etz Ahayem is hosting a preview of "Shadow in Bagdad" on Tuesday, January 21, at 7:00 p.m. Shir Mnuchin, the daughter of the film's protagonist, will be on hand to talk about the film and her experiences. For more information, contact Tzlil Bandy at 334.224.4220 (tzil.jfca@gmail.com). Here's a link to the film's website: http://www.shadowinbaghdad.com/