Tot Shabbat – Zoom Room Bet
Saturday, April 2, 10:30 am
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. RSVP here.
The Song Circle – In Person
Monday, April 4, 7:30 pm, Havurah Shalom
The Song Circle is based on a program designed by Joey Weisenberg and the Rising Song Institute focusing on communal songs and niggunim, wordless melodies. The group meets on the first Monday of the month (through June) and is open to all who wish to learn, share music, and grow their personal leadership techniques. The Rising Song program is a guided self-study using a library of Joey’s music videos, written materials, and short instructional videos. Access to the library costs $18/month per person, but cost should not be a deterrent as limited subsidies will be available. Questions? Contact Ken Lerner.
Kabbalat Shabbat – In Person & Zoom Room Aleph
Friday, April 8, 6:30 pm
A family-friendly oneg followed by a spirited, all-ages service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians. All are welcome!
Whose B'nei Mitzvah Is It Anyway? – In Person
Saturday, April 9, 3:10-4:35 pm
Like any life-cycle ceremony, B’nei Mitzvah come to be about much more than the stated purpose – marking a passage of a child coming of age. What are some of the important explicit – and sometimes hidden – factors, choices, and messages? This workshop is not about logistics or expectations: it is about the meaning(s) of B'nei Mitzvah and its power as a rite of passage for the whole family. Together we will explore the hopes and fears that inspire, inform, and complicate the preparation and planning process. This frank and nonjudgmental workshop is about the big questions and how they impact the concrete decisions that parents and youth are called upon to make. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Education Director, and Laura Orgel, Child & Family Therapist. RSVP here.
Literature & Trauma Class – Zoom Room Bet
Monday, April 18, 7 pm (and the following five Mondays)
The ways that we respond, survive or, succumb to trauma are as varied as the individuals that experience it. Together we will delve into three novels that ponder the human response to severe trauma: Sophie’s Choice by William Styron, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. We will pay attention to the historical context of each novel and look at the interplay between personal and collective trauma. We will look at how particular aspects of language allow characters to minimize, assuage, confront, or transform trauma’s impact. We’ll consider some classic and more contemporary theories of trauma and how they do or don’t apply to elements in the books. This six-session class begins on April 18. Class size limited to 12. Register here.