Congregation Beth El named 2011 ADL "Community of Respect"®!

We are pleased to announce that Congregation Beth El is scheduled to receive its 2011 "Community of Respect"® designation from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) during February 3 7:00 Shabbat evening services!

Our temple earned the designation by taking part in a congregational exchange with New Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church of Houston; by helping students at St. Agnes Academy of Houston learn effective responses to religious intolerance; and by teaching members of 1st Presbyterian Church of Pasadena where Jewish and Christian views of Torah align and differ.

CBE immediate past-president Michele Croft -- who is also a member of the ADL-Southwest Region board -- will be presenting the award to the congregation that evening.

Please join us as we celebrate another year of communal distinction!

Friday, February 10 is CBE’s annual “new member welcome” Shabbat!

On Friday, February 10, we invite you to attend our annual “new member welcome” Shabbat service!

During the 7:00 service, we’ll “officially” welcome the newest members of CBE (those who have joined since our last “new member welcome” Shabbat in late-2010) with words of blessing and tokens of our esteem.

Following the service, there will be a special Oneg Shabbat in honor of our newest members.

We look forward to an evening of fellowship, ritual and celebration!

Mark your calendars for Purim Shpiel!

Friends, we hope you’ll join us at temple in March to celebrate the festival of Purim!

CBE’s annual Purim Shpiel will take place Wednesday, March 7 at 7:00.

Under the direction of Cantor Ralph Katz, our BEFTY members will ascend the Bimah to tell our epic tale – “Megillah Mia (the ABBA Shpiel)!”

In addition to the Shpiel, we look forward to Sisterhood’s annual “Queen Esther” award ceremony; various children’s “parades”; Purim songs; delicious hamentaschen; and more!

We’ll see you at temple at 7:00 March 7!

2011-2012 Shabbat Torah study continues!

Friends, we’re enjoying another exciting year of Shabbat Torah study at CBE!

On most Saturday mornings (9:15-10:15), please join us in the temple library for some engaging discussion of the weekly parashah !

We look forward to seeing familiar – and new – faces on Shabbat mornings in 2011-2012!

"Parenting with Soul" continues in 2011-2012!

We are excited about what's we've experienced so far in the 2011-2012 “Parenting with Soul” group at CBE!

Running through May 13, the group meets at Beth El from 9:15-10:15 whenever Religious School is in session.

Let us help each other instill in our children – and ourselves! -- a love of Judaism and its core values by discussing the following:

• Why are there so many different “visions” of parenting?
• How do each of us strengthen our family’s connections to one another?
• Why do a parent’s words and actions matter so much to children?
• How can parents help children identify “good paths” in life?
• How can families help each other navigate through “dark times”?
• What it means to model integrity for ourselves and for our loved ones?
• How do we speak about God to ourselves and our loved ones?
• When and how do we find time for reflection (and why we must)?
• How do we help our children discover the connection between “missing the mark” and T’shuvah ?
• How do we help our children embrace their responsibilities as Jews and as citizens of the world (i.e. how do we find time as a family for Torah , Avodah and G’milut Chasadim ?

No “RSVPs” are necessary; simply join the group whenever you are able; and please feel free to bring your own questions/topics with you!

We are enjoying this year of sharing and transformation; see you at temple!

Join Rabbi Stander and Mazal Hadassah for “Lunch and Learn” in 2011-2012!

Did you know that Rabbi Stander has been leading a monthly “lunch and learn” in Sugar Land with the Mazal group of Hadassah since 2007-2008?

In 2011-2012, the rabbi will continue leading this lively program (primarily text-based; no previous knowledge is required) and invites you to participate!

Congregants are welcome to study with Mazal Hadassah members from 11:30-1:00 on the following Thursdays:

• February 16, 2012
• March 22, 2012
• April 19, 2012

All sessions will be held at the home of Shelly Cyprus (2306 Country Club Blvd. in Sugar Land; 281-491-2711).

Drinks and snacks are generously provided by Shelly; you will need to bring your own “main dish”.

No RSVP’s are necessary; we look forward to studying with you!

Events At A Glance:

February 2 -- 7:30 Mussar class (taught by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe)

February 3 -- 9:00-11:00 rabbi’s “drop in” hours; pre-Shabbat dinner for Kindergarten class/families; 7:00 “First Friday” Shabbat evening service (monthly birthday and anniversary blessings; monthly Torah service; presentation of 2011 ADL “Community of Respect” award)

February 4 – 9:15-10:15 Shabbat Torah Study

February 5 -- 9:00-11:30/11:30-1:00 Religious School (pre-Tu B’Shevat celebration); 9:15-10:15 “Parenting with Soul”

February 8 – Preschool Tu B’Shevat celebration; 9:00-11:00 rabbi’s “drop in” hours; 5:00 Hebrew School; 7:00 monthly Board meeting

February 9 -- 7:30 Mussar class (taught by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe)

February 10 – 9:00-11:00 rabbi’s “drop in” hours; 7:00 Shabbat evening service (annual new member welcome ceremony)

February 11 -- 9:15-10:15 Shabbat Torah study; 10:30 monthly Shabbat morning service

February 12 -- 9:00-11:30/11:30-1:00 Religious School; 9:15-10:15 special program with Rabbi Stander and Alan Schneider (“What Makes Marriages Work; What Makes Marriages Fail”); 1:30 Senior Group meeting

February 14 -- 1:30 Senior Group current events discussion

February 15 -- 9:00-11:00 rabbi’s “drop in” hours; 5:00 Hebrew School

February 16 -- 11:30-1:00 Hadassah “lunch and learn” (off-campus); 7:30 Mussar class (taught by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe)

February 17 -- 9:00-11:00 rabbi’s “drop in” hours; 7:00 Shabbat evening service (special guest speaker Gary Kenzer; Brittany Leva Bat Mitzvah weekend)

February 18 – 9:15-10:15 Shabbat Torah Study; 10:30 Shabbat morning service (Brittany Leva Bat Mitzvah weekend)

February 19 – NO Religious School; Gesher attends Yom Limmud (at Congregation Beth Yeshurun)

February 22 -- 9:00-11:00 rabbi’s “drop in” hours; 5:00 Hebrew School

February 23 -- 6:30 Preschool open house; 7:30 Mussar class (taught by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe)

February 24 – Preschool “Go Texan” Shabbat; 9:00-11:00 rabbi’s “drop in” hours; rabbi visits Preschool; 7:00 Shabbat evening service (“ask the rabbi”)

February 25 – 9:15-10:15 Shabbat Torah study; 10:15 “Tot Shabbat”

February 26 – 9:00-11:30/11:30-1:00 Religious School; 9:15-10:15 “Parenting with Soul”

February 28 -- 1:30 Senior Group current events discussion

February 29 -- 9:00-11:00 rabbi’s “drop in” hours; 5:00 Hebrew School