Dear BA Family, I want to thank you for your understanding and patience as we continue to maneuver through the pandemic. As always, safety is our utmost priority. Our BA Kehillah is made up of many individuals of all ages who differ greatly with respect to health and vulnerability to illness. We will continue to make decisions based on the community and what we need to do to help keep everyone safe. We understand that changing protocols can be frustrating.
As of today, Monday, July 26, we are going to comply with the mask mandate that was announced Friday afternoon by County Executive, Sam Page. All visitors entering the building, for any reason, will be required to wear masks at all times while indoors. To be clear, our doors remain open and we look forward to welcoming you into B'nai Amoona.
Please feel free to contact me or any member of our Senior Staff team, if you have questions. Thank you again for your patience and cooperation.
-Anita Kraus Interim Director of Operations and Director of Early Childhood Education 314-576-3688 anita@bnaiamoona.com
THIS COMING WEEK AT BA...
TUESDAY
July 27
Israel and the Jewish People: Schmooze in the News about Current Events in Israel: 12:00 - 1:00 pm Facilitated by Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham This week, we will have a special discussion about the new CNN show "Jerusalem: Faith and Fury." Zoom Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87514230047 Meeting ID: 87514230047 Click HEREto register!
WEDNESDAY
July 28
Popsicles on the LRECC Playground: 3:30 - 5:00 pm A celebration of summer on the LRECC playground with a special invitation to our newest families! Come anytime between 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm and stay as long as you would like to. Sex, War, and Betrayal: An Exploration of the Neviim Rishonim (The Early Prophets): 7:00 - 8:00 pm Facilitated by Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham Zoom (only) Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89083763426 Meeting ID: 89083763426 ClickHEREto register!
The Ethical Life: Jewish Values In An Age Of Choice. A Turnkey Curriculum from JTS: 8:00 - 9:00 pm Facilitated by Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham Zoom (Zoom link provided upon registration) ClickHEREto register.
Biblical Hebrew will not be meeting this week, we will see you next Thursday, August 5.
FRIDAY
July 30
Community-Wide Electronics Recycle at B'nai Amoona: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm The Midwest Recycling Center will be here to recycle electronic items and appliances. Most electronics are free to recycle, but fees apply to certain items.
For more information regarding Friday Afternoon/Evening Services, please keep an eye out for Friday's "Shabbat Shalom email."
SHABBAT
July 31
Torah for Today: 10:00 - 11:30 am
Rav Kook on this Week's Torah Reading
Facilitated by Rabbi Neal Rose in the Guller Chapel Livestreamor in-person
Shabbat Play @ BA: 3:00 - 5:00 pm The whole family is invited to join us for an afternoon of popsicles and water play and other activities in our fields and on our playground. All ages are welcome, please remember to wear your swimsuits and to bring a water bottle. Masks are required.
For more information regarding Shabbat Morning Services and Saturday Evening Services, please keep an eye out for Friday's "Shabbat Shalom email."
Haftarah Chanting Tutorial: By Appointment Only Facilitated by Cantor Sharon Nathanson All are welcome to learn Haftarah chanting with Cantor Sharon Nathanson! Please contact sharon.nathanson@bnaiamoona.com to set up an appointment.
Please click HERE for more details about Services this week.
ANNE & AARON ROSENTHAL MEMORIAL HALL UPDATE:
Post Capital Campaign, the Anne & Aaron Rosenthal Memorial Hall is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful of the new rooms - serene, meditative, and simple, yet elegant. I am so pleased to share that we have finally placed all the memorial plaques, with the exception of the most recent orders that are currently at the engraver. To the best of our ability, we have placed them in alphabetical family order. Because our historical family records are currently unavailable, we ask for your patience and help. If you visit the Memorial Hall and find that there is a need to alphabetize any family member plaques, please let me know at gail@bnaiamoona.com. We will attend to your request as quickly as possible. I am grateful to our amazing current volunteers who have spent hours alphabetizing and installing the plaques: Jan Baron, Denny Greenberg, Sue Rich, Beth Saltzman, Michael Samis, and Jeff Singer.
Gail Armstrong Director of Development
GET INVOLVED
Calling All Shofar Blowers
We are looking for people to blow the Shofar during morning Minyan Services during the month of Elul (August 9 - August 30, weekdays and Sundays). The sounds are: Tekiah, Shevarim, Teruah, Tekiah Contact Laurie Cohen at laurie@bnaiamoona.com or 314-576-9990 x103 to get more information and to sign up.
Electronics Recycling Event at B'nai Amoona
Creve Coeur Community Social Action Event: The Midwest Recycling Center will be at B'nai Amoona on Friday, July 30 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm to recycle electronic items and appliances. This event is open to the community. Most electronics are free to recycle, but fees apply to certain items. Please click HERE to see a list of items that will be accepted and what fees will be charged. For more information, please visit: https://mrcrecycling.net/electronics-recycling-events/creve-coeur-mo-2021-07-30
Volunteer & Be A Part of Mitzvah Corps!
It's time to give a name to those who are and who are going to help: The MITZVAH CORPS.
Additional opportunities are opening up at the front desk. We are adding a smaller shorter shift on the front desk on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:00 - 5:30 pm. Wednesdays already have a volunteer. There is also a 9:00 am - 12:00 pm three hour afternoon shift on Fridays and a 12:00 - 3:00 pm shift possibly Tuesdays.
Since we have reinstituted the Morning Nosh following Shacharit, we need some folks to set up and take down the Nosh. The primary need now is Sunday mornings, but others can be trained to help out on other mornings as well.
And for those who enjoy cooking, there's always sous chef-ing with Chef Jon on Thursday and Friday mornings.
Join us on the LRECC playground for another round of popsicles this Wednesday. All are welcome to join us and we extend a special invitation to our newest families!
Bring your swimwear! This Shabbat we will have another Shabbat Play at BA program with a dose of extra fun in the sun that will include water play and popsicles.
We invite you to join our Israeli Shinshin, Gilad, for an Israeli dinner prepared by Chef Jon Hoffman. Following dinner, Gilad will join us for Kabbalat Shabbat Services led by Cantor Sharon Nathanson. For our young families, we will also have an optional Shabbat program with Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham and his puppets. Please register using the button below.
B'nai Amoona's Sisterhood has a Book Group that we share with Kol Rinah's Sisterhood. Meetings are on the 4th Thursday of each month from 10:00 - 11:30 am. We are currently using a Zoom format. Reminders and Zoom information will be sent out prior to each meeting. New members are always welcome! You do not need to attend every month nor is it required that you have read (or finished reading) the book selection for the month. Just come when you can!
August 26:We Love Anderson Cooper: Short Stories by R.L. Maizes
We will be joined by the author of this book, R.L. Maizes, on Zoom. Together with the author we will have an amazing discussion and insightful look into this wonderful read!
September 23:The Lost Boys by Faye Kellerman October 28:Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth by Noa Tishby
For more information on the Book Group and author events, please call Enid Weisberg-Frank at 314-576-2864.
HaMakolet - B'nai Amoona's Free Food Pantry
HaMakolet (The Market) is the new food pantry at B'nai Amoona! We understand that these are hard times, and want to support our community. Hamakolet's purpose is to address food insecurity and provide people with an additional outlet to seek assistance. We have food items (including several protein options) and some household goods as well. Our food products include both dry goods as well as refrigerated perishables and are all certified Kosher. Our Jewish tradition teaches us to fight hunger, and we invite you to aid in this Mitzvah.
We are accepting contributions to help fund the program, as well as contributions to provide hot meals through B'nai Appetit (including B'nai Appetit gift cards!). We are also welcoming contributions through gift cards which are distributed through Rabbi Rose's office. Please feel free to reach out to Chef Jon at 314-576-9990 x111 or Amy Maupin at 314-576-9990 x131 with any questions.
IN OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY
Conversations on Zionism - Reclaiming the Narrative. Zionism comes in all colors, shapes, and sizes, it’s inclusive, diverse, beautiful, respectful and builds bridges. Zionism is about freedom of religion, expression and preconceived notions. Zionism supports Israel, a country where synagogues, mosques and churches all share the same skyline, a country where Christians, Jews, and Muslims live as neighbors and sit around the same table – and while they may have different views, they all have a seat. Join Jewish National Fund-USA for a series of human interactions, short films, interviews, panel discussions and more – all meant to facilitate a dialogue and expose the beautiful and diverse facets of modern Zionism, and its positive impact on many aspects of our lives, no matter where we are on the globe. Zoom information will be provided upon registration.
Attendees must register for each episode they would like to attend - you may register for any or all of them.
Click HERE for news of Israel's Achievements and Heartwarming Stories from the Jewish State.
STATEMENT ON COVID-19, VACCINATIONS AND COMMUNITY
Jewish tradition teaches “Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh,” meaning that we are all responsible for each other (B.Talmud Shevuot 39a).
Our B'nai Amoona Klei Kodesh is proud to join other local Jewish spiritual leaders in issuing THIS STATEMENT in favor of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, continuing to wear a mask and practice social distancing as recommended by the CDC and other medical and other public health authorities.
As more people receive the Covid-19 vaccine, we encourage you to download and print the prayers below. We recommend you say them when you receive your vaccination.
