Please note: To see this email in its entirety, please look for a link at the bottom to click to see the full email.
Important Shabbat Notes
This Shabbat, along with a beautiful Shabbat Shirah planned, we are excited to welcome our Assistant Rabbi Candidate Rabbi Yehoshua (Shuki) & Ashira Zehavi. To learn more about the Zehavis and their visit this weekend, please click here .
Kindly pardon our dust and, as always, thank you for your continued patience during our construction.
Shabbat Shirah, literally the Shabbat of Song, coincides with the Torah reading of Parashat B’shallach in which we chant Moses’ Song at the Sea as well as Miriam’s song, in celebration of crossing the Sea of Reeds after leaving Egypt. The Haftarah, the selection from Prophets that morning, is Devorah’s Song. Hence the name, Shabbat of Song. Click here for a little FAQ about Shabbat Shirah!
The Shul Office and the LRECC will be closed on Monday, January 21, in honor of Martin Luther King Day. Minyan times will remain 7:00 am and 6:15 pm.
Capital Campaign
Act now... Make a difference... Every dollar counts! Join the many B’nai Amoona families who are already helping to secure "Our Future…ATIDEYNU - עתידנו" - for generations to come.
Contact Mark Dana at markadana62@gmail.com or 314-502-3277, and make your pledge to help sustain our Kehillah.
Opportunities for ALL to participate! 9:00 am Minyan, Main Sanctuary 9:45 am Congregational Buffet Breakfast, Guller Banquet Hall 10:30 am Opening Ceremonies, Main Sanctuary 11:00 am Projects Begin, Choose 1 of 12 Projects.
No regular MKLC classes this Sunday. We look forward to seeing everyone at Mitzvah Day! Click HERE for more information.
Bar Mitzvah Project Request: Hello, I am asking you to help me support the Little Bit Foundation for my Bar Mitzvah project. Little Bit is an organization local to St. Louis. Their goals are to break down barriers for students living in poverty and empower students to achieve their academic goals for the future while giving them love and hope. Kids with no food, bad clothes, and no hygiene items are less likely to go to school because they may be self conscious. One example of how Little Bit helps is this year they provided 54,544 hygiene items and 84,290 pieces of clothing for kids. I chose this project because all these kids are just like me, except they are not able to get what they need to succeed. You can donate new socks and underwear, new or gently used clothes, hygiene items like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, and washcloths; winter wear including jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves; dental items, school supplies, books, and stuffed animals. If everyone could donate at least one item it would make a big difference in the lives of many children. You can drop your items in the designated bin in the Tober Lobby. Thanks, Mitchell Smith
BA Lehrhaus Institute Adult Education - NEWS
Sundays, 10:15- 11:30 am, in the Hieken Conference Room, NO CLASS THIS SUNDAY - Please join us for Mitzvah Day! A Thinking Person's Judaism - This weekly interactive discussion focuses on timely, contemporary issues facing Jews and Judaism. This class is facilitated by Rabbi Neal Rose. This week's topic: The Jewish Jesus: Remembering the late Israeli Writer, Amos Oz
Sundays, 2:00 - 3:30 pm. Introduction to Judaism, in the Mendelson Library. This interactive course explores Jewish history, practice, texts, and culture. It is designed for anyone who seeks to live a richer Jewish life, including those contemplating conversion to Judaism. This week's class is facilitated by Rabbi Yehoshua Zehavi, Assistant Rabbi Candidate.
We are thrilled to announce and exciting NEW 7th Grade Program to Camp this summer! Click here to read more!
Camp Ramot Amoona is hiring for Summer 2019! If you are interested in being part of an incredible staff, or know someone who may be a great fit, please contact Sarah Shulman at sarah@bnaiamoona.com . Looking forward to hearing from you!
LRECC - Linda Rotskoff Early Childhood Center
Sisterhood
That's the way cookie crumbles, or does it? With Ashley Villareal Sunday, January 27 - 10:00 am - Noon, Wolff Auditorium A morning of cookie decorating, creative thinking about healing after hardships, and community service. $10 a person , Click HERE to for more details and to RSVP by Jan. 25
Sisterhood Shabbat February 2 - 9:00 am Come join us for an uplifting morning not to be missed! We'll begin with Psukei Dezimra Yoga at 9:00 to warm our minds and bodies to prayer. The morning's Torah Service will be interspersed with women’s commentary and voices, followed by a yummy Kiddush.
Please help us fill the Bimah with bags of food and toiletries to support the Jewish Food Pantry. As we will learn during the morning it is a mitzvah to help those less fortunate.
World Wide Wrap Sunday, February 3, 2019 - 8:45 am - Main Sanctuary One of the beautiful things about Judaism is the opportunity to participate in rituals which are observed all over the world. Once a year, Men's Club is very intentional about a world wide observance of the Mitzvah of Tefillin. It is inspiring to know that on Super Bowl Sunday, B'nai Amoona's Guller Chapel will be filled with men and women who have taken on this ritual and is even more inspiring when one is aware that this is the case in Conservative congregations all over the state, all over the country and all over the world! This is an event that you won't want to miss! If you have never donned Tefillin before, there will be Men's Club members there to assist you. It is an unforgettable experience!
SAVE THE DATE - Campt Ramot Amoona Reunion
August 2-4, 2019!! We’ll be slippin’ and slidin’ right in to reunion weekend after this year’s camp sessions have concluded!
Are you a previous or current camper, parent, or counselor? CLICK HEREto join our Facebook Group dedicated to celebrating our 36 years and upcoming reunion weekend, and follow along on Instagram @machane_ramot_amoona. Stay up to date on the reunion details, enjoy Camp Spotlights, Memory Mondays and Throwback (maybe WAY back!) Thursdays and more! Have photos to share? Want to help plan this fantastic weekend? Email machaneramotamoona@gmail.com
In the Mendelson Library
Dear Friends,
New Winter reads available now in the Mendelson Library:
Fiction The Orchard by Yochi Brandes, 2018. A novel of the turmoil navigated by the rabbinical Sages after the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE. Text for a current CAJE class. Home in the Morning by Mary Glickman, 2010. A novel of race relations in 1960’s in the South in America. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, 2018. A fantasy reimagining, reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast.
Travelers Alley-Oop to Aliyah; African American Hoopsters in the Holy Land by David A. Goldstein, 2017. Recently featured in Jewish Light. Recounts the immigration and impact of American basketball players traveling to Israel since the 1970’s. Thanks a Thousand; A Gratitude Journey by A.J. Jacobs, 2018. Jacobs travels worldwide to identify the individuals responsible for creating his cup of morning coffee.
Impact and Action: Human Destiny in the Future and in the Present Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari of Hebrew University, 2017. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari, 2018. An accessible summary of the "development to date” of civilization(s) and the continuing important role of the individual.
We will be collecting items for Annie Malone, a home in the city for children who cannot safely live with their parents or guardians. Often kids arrive on short notice. They could use the following: Dove white bar soap, travel soap containers, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, hair grease, hair pic, toothpaste/toothbrush including young children's sizes, floss. We would also like pencils, pencil sharpeners, notebooks, school supplies. Our bins will be out for donations beginning January 21 and ending March 10. Please help us help these children! Contact Laura Goldmeier with any questions at 314-997-1253 or GoldDJLR@aol.com .
B'nai Amoona Judaica Shop
We are open by appointment! Call charlene at 636-484-2596 to schedule a time to shop. Cash or check only, please.
Tu B'Shevat Commentary by Rabbi Reuven Hammer
Tu Bishvat Is Coming Tu Bishvat – the 15th of the month Shvat - is indeed coming – “Hag La-ilanot” – “The Holiday of ( or ‘for’) the Trees.” In Israel people will be busy planting – or buying certificates for – trees. Maybe it really should be called “The Holiday of Keren Kayemet,” the time when that institution takes the spotlight and earns contributions. Click here to continue reading...
In Our BA Community
MAZEL TOV TO...
Nadiv Lev (Levi) Rose, who has been selected to represent Emtza Region USY and BAUSY at the USY Israel Conference 2019, which will take place in New Jersey at the end of January,` and at the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington D.C. in March. Levi is the son of Rabbi Carnie & Paulie Rose.
Betty (Paul, Z"L") Mendelson on the birth of their great-grandson, Zachary Paul Matty. Proud parents Allison & Jeffrey Matty and grandparents are Suzan & Leland Laycob. Aunt and Uncle are Chrissy & Michael Laycob.
Carol & Neil Friedman and Rick & Anne Frachtman on the birth of their grandson, Nathan Jarett Friedman. Proud parents are Scott and Lindsey Friedman of Houston, TX, members of Rabbi Ranon Teller's congregation Brith Shalom.
Amy & Brock Atchley on the birth of their son, Yochanan Atchley. Proud siblings are Christian, Keelie, Keira, & Hadassah
Valerie & Gaddy Bergmann on the birth of their son, Rapahel Arthur Bergmann. Proud grandparents are Myron & Vicki Parker and Henya & Ted Bergmann.
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF...
Stephen Weitz, beloved husband of of Rose; father of Eric and Jill (Garfinkle) and grandfather of Margot and Zachary.
Good News from Israel
We are excited to include this section into our weekly newsletter that will include links to good news coming out of Israel!
ClickHERE to read the Weekly Newsletter from the Israel21
Join pro-Israel Americans from across the country at the exciting AIPAC Policy Conference. Register today!
Preschool Messy Day at Mirowitz - Monday, Jan. 21 Families with preschool aged children are invited to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at “Small Hands — Big Difference,” a social action event filled with meaning, music and messy, hands-on fun. Activities begin at 10:00 am at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School, 348 South Mason Rd. in Creve Coeur. The program is free, and the first 75 families to RSVP will receive a free book from PJ Library.
JF&CS Launching Financial Support During Government Shutdown January 11 should have been a payday for federal employees here in St. Louis, but due to the shutdown, paychecks were held from 800,000 government employees nationwide. Here in St. Louis, we estimate 15,500 federal employees work in the metropolitan area, many of whom are currently furloughed without pay and wondering how they will make rent, pay for groceries, or pick up their costly medical prescriptions. We realize that some of your own congregational members may be a part of that 15,500.
As of today, Jewish Family and Children's Services of St. Louis is launching a program to provide emergency funding to members of the Jewish community facing difficult circumstances due to the shutdown. Thanks to support from the Jewish Federation, they will be dedicating a full-time staff member, Patricia Harris, to confidentially field calls, emails, and requests from these members of the community.
If you have been affected, please reach out to Patricia at 314-513-1678 or pharris@jfcs-stl.org .
As the shutdown continues, the number of affected community members will grow. We will continue working with the Federation and our partner agencies to help community members through this trying time and will connect those in need to other organizations when we are unable to help. Please let us know if you have any questions about this new effort.
Prof. Dan Ben-David will discuss misconceptions about education in Israel The Center for Jewish Learning will present “Telling It Like It Is: Education and Its Impact in Israel” with Professor Dan Ben-David, founder of theShoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research and a senior faculty member at Tel-Aviv University.
The January 23 talk will highlight aspects of education’s economic impact and focus on a number of misconceptions about the state of education in Israel. It will provide an overview of achievements and failings in Israel’s primary, secondary, and higher education systems.
7:00 pm, Wednesday, January 23 Kaplan Feldman Complex 12 Millstone Campus Dr.
Ben-David was named “Person of the Year” by the Calcalist newspaper and was twice included among the 100 most influential people in Israel by the Haaretz-The Marker newspaper. The Shoresh Institution is the only organization in Israel whose sole raison d’être is its focus on the long-run existential threats to the country
Volunteers Needed at Covenant Place Covenant Place seeks volunteers for our new dinner program. Volunteers are needed Monday - Friday between 4:00-6:00 pm to help set up, serve and clear dinner. The Kosher dinner is catered by Kohn’s. Volunteering on an ongoing basis is preferred, however sporadic volunteers are welcome too. This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for individuals or groups, and children age 10-15 are invited with an adult. In addition, Covenant Place hosts a monthly Sunday lunch that is perfect for a small group to volunteer together. Groups typically arrive around 11:30 am to set up and prep the food, and lunch is served at 12:30. Ideally the group plans and prepares the food, and Covenant Place reimburses the cost. If the group has entertainment (playing an instrument, singing, dancing, etc.) that is wonderful. Some months have entertainment already scheduled. Please contact Jessica Wax for more information or to volunteer 314-432-1610, or jwax@covenantplacestl.org .
Congregation B’nai Amoona 324 South Mason Rd St. Louis, MO 63141 314-576-9990 www.bnaiamoona.com
Click 
