B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org Winter/Spring 2015 Events Special Programs and Educational Opportunities Family Shabbat at B’nai Havurah Friday, February 13: Al Galgalim Family Shabbat, 5:45-7:30 pm register Friday, March 13: Teen Shabbat (8th-12th Grade), 6:00-8:00 pm register Saturday, April 11: 6th and 7th Grade Shabbat, 9:30 am-12:00 pm register Join us for a Family Shabbat this year! Students from the grades listed above will offer a D’var Torah and help us lead services. All families are welcome as we sing Shabbat songs with Hal Aqua, enjoy a delicious meal, and worship together with a family-friendly service. Registration for the Friday night meal is required. Cost: $10 for adults (over 12), $5 for children. Kabbalat Shabbat Experience 4th Friday of each month, 6:30-8:30 pm On fourth Fridays, B’nai Havurah offers an all-ages Shabbat experience that includes ritual, food, singing, camaraderie, and shared community. Welcome Shabbat with Rabbi Evette and B’nai Havurah’s Kabbalat Shabbat Experience, a music-filled, all-ages celebration. At 6:30 pm, Hal Aqua and fellow musicians lead a musical journey through the themes of the Friday night service, followed by dinner at 7:30 pm — a delicious meal with dessert, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. Upcoming themed Shabbats include Yiddish and Chasidic music, reggae, blues and gospel, and Sephardi music. (See page 2 for dates and details.) Reservations are not required to join us for the services. If you plan to stay for dinner, we ask that you register so we may plan accordingly. Cost: $15 adults, $10 children, $37 for family of 3 or more. All events at B’nai Havurah unless otherwise noted. Please visit our website at www.bnaihavurah.org for more details and to register (for classes and programs that require registration). Please note that we are unable to refund payments for cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance of the event. Please call the office at 303-388-4441 if you or a loved one needs accommodations to attend any events listed. We will do our best to meet all requests. Mission: B’nai Havurah is an inclusive, participatory Jewish Reconstructionist community that is passion- ately committed to experiencing Judaism by infusing tradition with renewed meaning in a contemporary American context. We do this through study, worship and joyous practice, social justice, acts of kindness, and connection with the Jewish People. Worship and Joyous Practice
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B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
Winter/Spring 2015 EventsSpecial Programs and Educational Opportunities
Family Shabbat at B’nai Havurah Friday, February 13: Al Galgalim Family Shabbat, 5:45-7:30 pm register
Friday, March 13: Teen Shabbat (8th-12th Grade), 6:00-8:00 pm register
Saturday, April 11: 6th and 7th Grade Shabbat, 9:30 am-12:00 pm register Join us for a Family Shabbat this year! Students from the grades listed above will offer a D’var Torah and help us lead services. All families are welcome as we sing Shabbat songs with Hal Aqua, enjoy a delicious meal, and worship together with a family-friendly service. Registration for the Friday night meal is required. Cost: $10 for adults (over 12), $5 for children.
Kabbalat Shabbat Experience 4th Friday of each month, 6:30-8:30 pm On fourth Fridays, B’nai Havurah offers an all-ages Shabbat experience that includes ritual, food, singing, camaraderie, and shared community. Welcome Shabbat with Rabbi Evette and B’nai Havurah’s Kabbalat Shabbat Experience, a music-filled, all-ages celebration. At 6:30 pm, Hal Aqua and fellow musicians lead a musical journey through the themes of the Friday night service, followed by dinner at 7:30 pm — a delicious meal with dessert, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. Upcoming themed Shabbats include Yiddish and Chasidic music, reggae, blues and gospel, and Sephardi music. (See page 2 for dates and details.) Reservations are not required to join us for the services. If you plan to stay for dinner, we ask that you register so we may plan accordingly. Cost: $15 adults, $10 children, $37 for family of 3 or more.
All events at B’nai Havurah unless otherwise noted. Please visit our website at www.bnaihavurah.org for more details and to register (for classes and programs that require registration). Please note that we are unable to refund payments for cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance of the event.
Please call the office at 303-388-4441 if you or a loved one needs accommodations to attend any events listed. We will do our best to meet all requests.
Mission: B’nai Havurah is an inclusive, participatory Jewish Reconstructionist community that is passion-ately committed to experiencing Judaism by infusing tradition with renewed meaning in a contemporary American context. We do this through study, worship and joyous practice, social justice, acts of kindness, and connection with the Jewish People.
Yiddish Shabbat Friday, February 27, 6:30 pm Join us as we explore Eastern European roots music — Hasidic Niggunim, Shlomo Carlebach melodies, and Yiddish folk songs that express the themes of the Friday night service. register
Reggae Shabbat Friday, March 27, 6:30 pm The themes of reggae music — freedom, liberation, and redemption — resonate with our history and traditions as we focus on Bob Marley and other reggae artists. register
Blues & Gospel Shabbat Friday, April 24, 6:30 pm The heartfelt emotional world of the blues and the spiritualdepth of gospel music provide a framework for exploringShabbat themes. register
Sephardi Shabbat Friday, May 22, 6:30 pm Haunting melodies from the Sephardic (Judeo-Spanish)tradition guide us through the Friday night service. register
Purim Celebration and Carnival Sunday, March 8, 9:30 am-1:00 pm For all families/produced by our Religious School Fun and interactive Purim Shpiel, music with Hal Aqua, Purim Costume Parade, and Purim Carnival with games, food, and fun. Carnival $5/adults, $10/kids if prepaid by Friday, April 6. Prices after April 6 or at the door: $10/adults, $15/kids. Prices include lunch and unlimited games.
Purim for Adults and Older Teens Friday, March 6, 8:00-10:30 pm Megillah reading with Rabbi Evette and a cast of thousands, music with aging rock star Hal Aqua and friends, and hosted snacks and beverages. Join us for a raucous good time! Cost: $18 per person. Members and guests are welcome! register
Purim Study for Adults Saturday, February 28 after Kiddush Purim, with its raucous bacchanal elements and odd liturgical history, is an enigma among the Jewish holidays. Did the famous story of Esther, Mordecai and Haman even happen? Scholarly debate rages over the historicity of this Biblical tale. Come find out what all the tsimmes is about! We’ll also explore the holiday’s similarity to pre-Lenten festivals like Mardi Gras as well as lesser-known Purim folk traditions from around the world. register Facilitator: Siobhán Houston, EdD, is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and the author of three nonfiction books on religious history and spirituality. (Those interested in a separate class to study the mystical/Kabbalistic aspects of Purim may contact Siobhán at [email protected].)
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
Books & Bagels First Sunday of every month, 10:00-11:30 am in B’nai Havurah Library March 1: Henna House by Nomi EveApril 5: Arik: The Life of Ariel Sharon by David LandauMay 3: In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist by Ruchama King Feuerman (available in paperback, e-book and via Prospector)June 7: The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund De Waal Facilitator: Sandy Goldman, [email protected]. Please register by emailing Sandy or visiting our website. No cost for members, $5 per session for non-members.
Ongoing programs with Rabbi Evette:
Pirkei Avot with Rabbi Evette Fridays 11:00 am-12:30 pm Pirkei Avot generally translates as “Ethics of Our Fathers.” Examinations of sayings of Hillel and others will lead to rich conversations about how might apply the nuggets of wisdom to our daily life. No cost for members, $5 per class for non-members.
Pizza and Parsha with Rabbi EvetteEvery Tuesday (except 1st Tuesday of the month), February 10 through May, 12:00 noon-1:30 pm Come study Parashat HaShavua in a relaxed and fun atmosphere with Rabbi Evette. Large print text is available upon request. Registration is helpful. $5 donation for pizza is encouraged. register
Parents God-Talk with Rabbi EvetteSundays, February 22, March 22, and April 26, 10:00-11:00 am Enjoy a cup of coffee and meaningful discussion with Rabbi Evette. Join us for all three discussions or just a couple. No cost for members or non-members. All are welcome! register
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
As part of our ongoing series surrounding Jewish traditions around death and dying, we are pleased to present:Gravestone Study and Reading Sundays, February 15 and 22, 1:30-3:00 pm Have you ever wondered about symbols and text written on our Jewish gravestones? Come and learn about Jewish burial practices and join Rabbi Evette on two field trips to local Jewish cemeteries.Part One: Text study around burial traditions Part Two: Field trip to local cemeteries No cost for members, $5 per session for non-members. Registration is required.Facilitator: Rabbi Evette Lutman register
So Your Values Live On… Writing an Ethical Will Monday, March 9, 7:00-9:00 pm “What you have learned is as valuable as what you have earned.” This quote by Susan Turnbull sums up the reasons for writing an ethical will. In this interactive workshop we will explore the Jewish connection to writing an ethical will. We will discuss the how, when and why to write one, and we will get started on the process. Facilitator: Debbie Rosenthal, an educator for over 30 years, has conducted several Ethical Will workshops for various Jewish groups in Colorado including Limmud, Hadassah, and Jewish women’s retreats. Most importantly, she has gone through the process herself of writing an ethical will. register
Jewish Practices around Death and BurialSunday, April 19, 3:00-4:30 pm We live in a death-averse society. Most of us pretend that if we don’t talk about it, it will never happen. There are more than 120 decisions and pieces of information that must occur to have a funeral memorial service. By ignoring the reality of our mortality, we leave a tremendous burden on those we love most. The Jewish approach to death is psychologically and environmentally healthy. Join Jamie Sarche, Director of Prearranged Funeral Planning at Feldman Mortuary, to learn about the rituals and how to protect your loved ones from making decisions in an emergency. Facilitator: As the director of outreach and prearranged funeral planning, Jamie Sarche is dedicated to helping people put plans in place long before they need them, when they are able to make educated decisions that are not clouded by grief. She is a board member of Jewish Family Service, and serves on committees at her synagogue and at her kids’ schools. This workshop is sponsored by B’nai Havurah’s Chesed Committee. register
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
Adult B’nai Mitzvah Course Series As an egalitarian, Reconstructionist community, both men and women at B’nai Havurah can be called to the torah as a bar or bat mitzvah. Becoming an adult bar/bat mitzvah symbolizes your commitment to Jewish learning and living. Getting ready for that moment requires a certain level of Jewish literacy with our history, texts and prayer. The B’nai Mitzvah series of courses is designed for members and guests of B’nai Havurah who want to engage in serious study, broaden and enrich their Judaic knowledge and experience, and ultimately celebrate with their community. The planned date for the Adult B’nai Mitzvah Shabbat Service is June 11, 2016. We hope that many adults will consider taking one or all in this series of courses. Those who wish to do so may mark their learning achievement by helping the group lead a Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat service in the fall of 2015, as well as a regular Shabbat morning service at B’nai Havurah in Spring 2016. Come strengthen your Jewish identity and enhance your connection to our Jewish community! If you would like to join other adults in study for your Bar or Bat Mitzvah, please contact our office at 303-388-4441 or email us at [email protected].
Prayer Literacy I(a): Friday Night Liturgy Wednesday evenings, 6:00-7:00 pm, 8 classes, February 11-April 1 Friday Night Liturgy is the first class in our adult b’nai mitzvah curriculum. You’ll learn the history and meaning behind the special psalms, poems and prayers in the Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv services. You’ll also be given several melodies for each prayer that we usually do here at B’nai Havurah. Students who also participate in the skills workshop following each class will be given an opportunity to help lead a Friday night service. Prerequisites: Although there is no absolute requirement of Hebrew fluency, students will get the most out of the class if they have some facility with Hebrew. Books: We will be using the Reconstructionist siddur, Kol haNeshamah, so all texts studied will be available in English, Hebrew, and transliteration. Students may wish to purchase their own copy of the siddur (available in the office) so they can keep notes in the margins. The class will also reference My People’s Prayer Book, Vol.8, Kabbalat Shabbat: Welcoming Shabbat in the Synagogue. Cost: Member fee $35, non-member $65. Teacher: Rabbi Evette Lutman register Continued on page 6
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
Prayer Literacy I(a): Friday Night Liturgy continued Class 1: Introduction to Friday night prayers, including the blessings done at home: candle-lighting, Shalom Aleichem, Kiddush, blessing of the children, Motzi and Birkat haMazon (blessing after the meal) Class 2: Yedid Nefesh – the soul’s love song to God; Shabbat haMalkah, by Hayim Nahman Bialik, and an excerpt from King Solomon’s Shir haShirim (Song of Songs) Class 3: Liturgy from the Kabbalists of Tzfat, Psalms 95 (L’chu N’ranenah), 96 (Shiru l’Adonai Shir Hadash), 97 (including Or Zarua LaTzadik), 98, 99 (including Romemu) and 29 (Mizmor l’David) Class 4: Poems: L’cha Dodi and Ana b’Koach; Psalms 92 (Mizmor Shir l’Yom haShabbat) and 93; Hatzi Kaddish Class 5: Introduction to Ma’ariv; Barchu, Ma’ariv Aravim, Ahavat Olam Class 6: Sh’ma, V’ahavta Class 7: Mi Chamocha, Hashkiveinu, V’shamru Class 8: VaYachulu haShamayim, Magein Avot (summarizing the Shabbat Amidah)
Art and the Holocaust: Controversies and ConsolationsThursday, March 26, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Seventy years ago Theodor Adorno warned us that “There can be no poetry after Auschwitz.” But poets, playwrights, filmmakers and visual artists continue to create a dazzling array of works which wrestle with ghosts, images, shadows, and staggering losses — the legacy of the Holocaust. How can art frame — with dignity, originality and aesthetic integrity — that which has been considered unrepresentable? Conversely, in what ways can art exploit, appropriate, sentimentalize and rigidly “enshrine” the Holocaust? Can art create “memory” for generations removed from the direct experience of an event? Is “memory” always allied with truth? In this class we’ll examine a diverse group of visual artists whose work responds to the Holocaust and who attempt to create — for post-Holocaust generations — Holocaust meaning and memory. Facilitator: Simon Zalkind, B’nai Havurah member, is an independent curator and art advisor specializing in modern and contemporary art. He has worked with numerous institutions, corpo-rations and collectors in curating collections and exhibitions, including The Brooklyn Museum, The Neuberger Museum, The Denver Art Museum, Redline, the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Singer Gallery at the MACC, and many others. Simon has a Master’s degree in Religious Studies from D.U. and Iliff School of Theology. Cost: No cost for members, $5 for non-members. register
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
Healing the Heart of Democracy:The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human SpiritSunday, March 29-May 3, 3:00-5:00 pm, B’nai Havurah Are you feeling hopeless or despair in having a meaningful conversation these days?Faced with the unusually polarized time we are experiencing, are you searching for ideas?How do we reclaim public discourse that is “worthy of the human spirit”? Come experience engaged conversation and a ‘dialogue of listening,’ using The Five Habits of the Heart and Jewish values. Bring both your doubts and convictions as we explore Five Habits of the Heart: an understanding that we are all in this together; an appreciation of the value of “otherness;” an ability to hold tensions in life-giving ways; a sense of personal voice and agency; and a capacity to create community. This is the “work before the work” — inviting an integrity and courage in our public lives as citizens and members of vibrant communities. After this series, you will be invited to participate in a larger effort, bringing congregants from a variety of faith and spiritual traditions to continue this dialogue. Instructor: Susan Kaplan, M.S.W., M.P.A., R.Y.T., Listening & Leading from Within – Trainer, Facilitator, Coach, Yoga Teacher, Story Teller & Story Listener.®
Cost: No cost for members, $30 for non-members. register
Library Shabbat with Author and Holocaust Survivor Paula BurgerSaturday, April 18Services begin at 9:30 am. Torah discussion led by Paula Burger, 10:30 am; kiddush/light lunch, 12:00 p.m.; talk and discussion with Paula Burger, 12:30-1:30 pm. The B’nai Havurah Library Committee is honored to host Paula Burger, world-renowned artist and author of the Holocaust memoir Paula’s Window: Papa, the Bielski Partisans and A Life Unexpected. Andrea Jacobs, senior writer at the Intermoun-tain Jewish News, is the co-author. Paula was seven years old when the Nazis invaded her home town of Novogrudek, Poland. A year later, Paula’s father escaped the ghetto with his children and joined the Bielski Partisans in the Naliboki Forest. In her book Paula describes horrible privation and fear as well as her growing love for the color and beauty of the forest. Four years after the war the family immigrated to the United States, where at age 12 Paula was able to begin to pursue her passion for art. She went on to have careers in retail, real estate, and nursing home administration. After retirement she began to paint professionally. Her works are shown in galleries and collections throughout Colorado and the world. Paula’s Window will be available at the Library Shabbat on April 18, or can be purchased prior to the event at local bookstores. Call ahead at 303-332-7727. Members and guests are warmly welcomed to join us for our annual Library Shabbat.
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
Presenting two programs with B’nai Havurah member Lili Zohar
Lili Zohar, JD, LL.M, attorney, mediator and teacher of yoga and Kabbalah, has spent her life exploring the big questions of existence. This journey has taken her into realms both practical and deeply spiritual. Lili weaves together the practical and the spiritual in all that she does. Her career life began as a lawyer in corporate, government and private practice. She is a life-long yoga and meditation practitio-ner who has studied Eastern traditions for most of her life. In the last decade she returned to her Jewish roots, deepening her study of Kabbalah.
God as Belonging: A Kabbalistic View of the Divine FeminineWednesday, April 22, 7:00 – 8:00 pm In this teen-adult interactive teaching talk we will explore the Kabbalistic view of the feminine aspect of God known as Malchut, the Shekhinah, the Indwelling Presence and the apple orchard. We will examine how this view of God as Presence can help us come into a deeper relationship with our earth, or bodies and our lives. register
Divine Shattering and Raising the Sparks: A Kabbalistic view on Repair and HealingWednesday, April 29, 7:00-8:00 pm In this interactive conversation we will explore Kabbalah’s view of Creation, which offers us meaning and insights into the challenges and mysteries of our own day-to-day lives. Come explore with us! Appropriate for adults and older teens. register
Registration for both sessions is required. No cost to members, $5 per class for non-members.
Tikkun Olam at B’nai Havurah Tikkun Olam is the imperative to repair the world, so that it reflects the divine values of Justice (tzedek), Compassion (chesed), and Peace (shalom). Tikkun Olam Half Shekel Grants: B’nai Havurah members may apply for grant monies through the half-shekel fund collected from our members as well as additional contributions. Requests for funding must come from B’nai Havurah members, who are asked to provide information using an application form and grant requirements (search under the heading “outreach”) found on our website. Requests by e-mail are encouraged and should be sent to [email protected].
Lili Zohar
Winter/Spring 2015 Events page 8
Torah (Study) and Sacred Texts
Acts of Kindness and other Good Deeds (Gemilut Hasadim)
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
Winter/Spring 2015 Events page 9
Acts of Kindness and other Good Deeds (Gemilut Hasadim)
Inclusivity at B’nai Havurah The Inclusivity Committee’s mission is to raise awareness, guide and support this Reconstructionist community to become and remain meaningfully inclusive and to facilitate participation of members of all abilities. The B’nai Havurah Inclusivity Committee has compiled a programming guide on the subject of inclusivity, including both family-friendly and adult-oriented activities. The articles, poems, videos and other resources, accompanied by discussion questions, are provided to help raise awareness within our community. The program guide can be accessed on our website under “Outreach.” In the coming months, whether with your Havurah or with family, friends and loved ones, please consider reviewing and discussing some of the material provided here. Inclusivity Committee members: Rabbi Evette, Judy Reaven, Anna Lazaroff, Liz Shane, and Robert Kruger.
Call Me Kuchu: a Human Rights ScreeningSunday, March 1, 7:00-9:00pm Join us at a human rights screening of Call Me Kuchu. This film, about GLBT rights in Uganda, depicts the last year in the life of a courageous, quick-witted and steadfast man whose wisdom and achievements were not fully recognized until after his death, and whose memory has inspired a new generation of human rights advocates. After the screening Rabbi Eliot Baskin will lead a discussion. Facilitator: Eliot Rabbi Eliot Baskin, D. Min. Rabbi Baskin serves as Denver’s Jewish community chaplain, visiting people in nursing homes, cor-rectional facilities, and mental institutions to provide spiritual counseling and support. An expert in the healing process, Rabbi Baskin is the agency’s Rafael Spiritual Healing Services rabbinic director, offering support for those dealing with death, grief, or chronic illness, and their caregivers. Rabbi Baskin also serves part-time as the spiritual leader for Congregation Har Shalom in Durango. He graduated from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1985. Rabbi Baskin became the first rabbi to earn the Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling in 1993 at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, where he did his demonstration project on the use of sacred stories for patients with AIDS. Registration requested. No cost for members, $5 for non-members. register
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
Winter/Spring 2015 Events page 10
B’nai Chai Legacy/Endowment Fund
B’nai Chai Live On Legacy members help ensure that our Reconstructionist legacy continues for our children and our children’s children. Including B’nai Havurah in your will or estate plan lets you: •Supportthevaluesofourdynamiccommunityevenwhenyouaregone. •Createapermanentlegacytoyouandyourlovedones. •Makealastingimpactonyourchildrenandyourchildren’schildren. •EnsurethatB’naiHavurahthrivesasDenver’sReconstructionisthome. For more information, please contact Becky Epstein at 303-388-4441 or [email protected]. If you have already included a gift to B’nai Havurah in your planned giving, please let us know as well!
B’nai Havurah Drumming CircleSundays, 3:00-4:30 pm, February 8, March 15, April 12, and May 17 Find your inner rhythm at B’nai Havurah’s monthly drumming circle. Learn easy beats, practice group awareness, and have fun! Bring friends, family members, and hand drums if you have them (some loaners are available). Registration requested. All are welcome. No cost for members, $5 per session for non-members. register Feb. 8, register Mar. 15, register April 12, register May 17
Mental Health First AidSaturday, March 14 and 21, 1:00-5:00 pm Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a groundbreaking, internationally recognized evidence-based training program committed to empowering individuals to identify, understand and respond to those in mental health and substance abuse crises. In this 8-hour certification course, you will:• Learnthesignsofmentalhealthandsubstanceabuseemergencies;• Learnafive-stepactionplantoconnectpeopleincrisistosupportsystems;• Learnhowtolistenwithoutjudgment;• Getthetoolstomakearealimpactonyourcommunity. The aims of Mental Health First Aid range from providing comfort and support to preserving a life when a person may be a danger to self or others. Instructors: Brenda Clark-Dandridge, MA, Psychotherapist, and Debbie Stafford, Faith-Based Coordinator at Aurora Mental Health Center. Registration required. No cost for members, $10 for non-members. register
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
Winter/Spring 2015 Events page 11
Community (Kehillah)
No Kvetch Kettlebell ClassTuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 am-8:45 amSix classes per session — Try the first class at no cost! Session 1: February 3-19, Session 2: March 3-19, Session 3: April 7-23 In this 6-session, 3-week program, play your way to flexibility and strength, improve your coordination and balance, align body and brain…using kettlebells and other warm-up exercises. Each class will include a warmup, strength and conditioning segment and cooldown. All skill levels are welcome. Kettlebell training and the kettlebells are provided. Wear comfortable clothing. Cost: $30 for members or non-members per session. The first class is a free tryout for new students. Facilitator: Dr. Marc Drillings, a B’nai Havurah member, is a licensed chiropractor and is certified in acupuncture.
People of the Book Make BooksSunday, March 22, 2:00-5:00 pm We will fold, cut, glue, perhaps sew a variety of wonderful papers to make books from simple to more complex. You can fill these delightful books with words, drawings, collage — let your imagination flow. Please bring (if you have them, do not purchase) a cutting surface, scissors, a bone folder, a quote or quotes you like. Registration is required. This class is offered to B’nai Havurah members only at no cost. Maximum 5 book makers. Location: Alice’s home studio; address will be given at registration. register
Save The Date!You Only Live Once: Jewish Wisdom on Aging WellSunday, March 22, 9:30 am-4:30 pmHebrew Educational Alliance3600 South Ivanhoe Street, Denver A collaborative effort and free conference by Kavod Senior Life, Shalom Cares, Jewish Family Service of Colorado, Colorado Agency for Jewish Education, and JEWISHcolorado. B’nai Havurah is an event sponsor. www.youonlyliveoncedenver.org or 720-382-7842
Interested in Exploring the World of Havurot (Jewish fellowship) at B’nai Havurah?To learn more about the benefits of joining or
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
Winter/Spring 2015 Events page 12
Am Yisrael / Jewish People
Meet JEWISHcolorado’s Shlichah, Michal UziyahuA discussion of the Israeli political situation vis-à-vis the coming electionsMonday, February 16, 7:00-8:30 pm Michal Uziyahu is the Israel shlichah (emissary) to JEWISHcolorado. Michal is in her 4th and final year in our community through a partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel. Michal’s role is to build connections between Israel and Denver/Boulder, promote travel to Israel, provide educational programming, and serve as an expert resource on Israeli history and culture. Living on a moshav located on the border of the Gaza strip, Michal and her husband, Amir, have raised their three young children, often in harm’s way of missile attacks. Uziyahu was born and raised in the Negev (the southern desert). After serving two years in the Israeli Army, Uziyahu returned to the Negev, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and MBA from Ben Gurion University. As the Israel Shlichah, Uziyahu can provide assistance in educational programming to schools, synagogues, and other community organizations. Michal also works with young adults interested in travel to Israel through Birthright, Masa, and other short-term trips. Through her work, Michal strengthens our community’s connection with Israel and helps people understand Israel’s role in today’s world. Registration is requested. No cost for members or non-members. register
Crypto Jews of the Southwest February 19, 7:00-9:00 pm The history of New Mexico’s crypto-Jews is part of a larger story, echoing the Jewish people’s endless flight into a world-wide Diaspora. In the greater southwest and much of northern Mexico and parts of Texas, circumstances drove many Conversos to hide their true identity while engaging fully in the Catholic church. Some were and are aware of their history. Only recently have circumstances prevailed making it safe for those who suspect Jewish background to come forward. The parameters of their hidden culture and the gradual but passionate reclamation of their past hold lessons for all of us, justifying the embrace of their return. Under-standing their identity and the issues they face is a first step to the evolution of new Hispanic Jewish communities in southern Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. Presenter: Corinne Joy Brown is the author of four books to date and Senior Writer at four national magazines. Corinne is a board member of the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies and editor of HaLapid, the Society’s bi-annual literary journal/magazine serving hundreds of members. This past August, she was a key presenter at the opening of the first international Anusim Heritage Center in El Paso, Texas, a center for Jewish historical research and return. Registration is requested. No cost for members, $5 for non-members. register
B’nai Havurah • 6445 E. Ohio Avenue • Denver, CO 80224 • 303-388-4441 • www.bnaihavurah.org
Winter/Spring 2015 Events page 13
Am Yisrael / Jewish People
The Jewish Dialogue with Rabbi Evette Saturday, April 25, 12:30-3:00 pm Are you looking for more useful ways to discuss the situation in the Middle East? Conversation about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be extremely difficult, and people with strong convictions can find themselves in conflict with other Jews who hold different views. If you have ever felt ambivalent or confused about the Middle East situation and yearned for a supportive environment in which you can discuss your feelings, ideas, and questions, this class is for you! “The dialogue IS about Israel, but it is more than that. I think the whole exercise is a model for how to come to greater understanding (and hopefully therefore greater compassion) when there is strong, emotionally-charged disagreement within a group,” says Rabbi Evette. Class limited to 10 participants. No cost for members, $5 for non-members.
Jewish Arts & Culture FestivalCelebrate Jewish Arts and Culture at B’nai HavurahSunday, May 3, 10:00 am-2:00 pm Come enjoy children’s art galleries from B’nai Havurah; local artists selling art, jewelry and Judaica; culinary artists selling tasty treats; performing artists of all ages; and a Creation Station for kids and families. New this year! We are inviting even more artists in our community to join us as vendors at the festival! If you have art, food, literature, or music with a Jewish theme to share, please let us know and we will send you a vendor packet including registration information.
B’nai Havurah’s Annual Meeting following the Arts and Culture FestivalSunday, May 3, 2:00-3:30 pm All are encouraged to attend! Use your voice and vote for incoming Federation Council members. If you are interested in serving on the Federation Council and/or filling vacant committee or chair positions, please contact Council Chair Liz Evans at [email protected]. Council meetings are monthly, usually the third Tuesday of the month, and begin at 7:15 pm. 2016 Trip to Israel: B’nai Havurah with Rabbi Evette is pleased to announce that we have started our planning process for another trip to Israel in the summer of 2016. If you would like to know more or participate in the planning process, please contact Rabbi Evette at [email protected], 303-388-4441 ext. 13. The Jeffrey Hertz Memorial Fund: All current B’nai Havurah youth members who have completed their B’nai Mitzvah are eligible for a $1,000 grant toward a tour/program/trip offered by a recognized, organized company. B’nai Havurah and the Jeffrey Hertz Memorial Fund require that all youth who travel to Israel using the grant provided participate in a special Shabbat service with other summer-trip students at which you will all share your experiences with our B’nai Havurah community. The service will be held sometime in the fall or early winter.
Sunday, March 15, 2015, 2:30-6:30 pm Congregation Rodef Shalom 450 S. Kearney Street, Denver
Kosher dinner catered by Mark Millenson (some meal accommodations available)Cost: $25 (scholarships available)
Setting the Tone: Dr. Caryn Aviv, Tap Into Your Inner GiftsParticipants choose 2 of 6 guided workshops:Sally (Shulamit) Klein, Sacred ChantingRabbi Evette Lutman, The Strength is in the Fracture *Ruth Sharon, Meditate to be Calm and CreativeNancy Sharp, Cultivate Your Hopeful Life’s NarrativeClaudia Trevithick, Awakening to the Spirit *Yael Weinstein, When One Door Closes, Find a Window*Hands-on workshop
Need more information? Contact Della, [email protected], 303-751-0255
Second Annual Women’s Community-Wide Rosh Hodesh Program
Women’s Expressions of the Soul
Register at http://tinyurl.com/womensroshhodeshand pay by credit card; or mail your check (made out to Mizel Museum, memo line: Expressions of the Soul) to Mizel Museum, 400 S. Kearney St., Denver 80224.Registration closes on March 6.Questions about registration? Call Georgina at 303-749-5014.
