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Poetry has the potential to reach us in a way that colloquial language often does not. Yehuda Amichai, referred to as the “National Poet” of Israel left a corpus of work that is deeply moving, provocative, and often touches on theological issues. Since one of the hallmarks of Reconstructionist ideology is that Judaism is a civilization, we are aware that our Jewish lives are informed by art, language and culture as well as by religious ideology and religious practice.

It seems particularly fitting on the historic occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern day state of Israel that we have an opportunity to engage with our Reconstructionist roots and its emphasis on the revitalization of Jewish art, language and culture.

The Israel Committee Program this month will focus on Birthright Israel, which has now taken 160,000 young people from 52 nations on a ten-day trip to Israel. Just to give some perspective on this statistic, more people go on Birthright each year than have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

This month, Al Steiner will discuss reading the Bible. We will attempt to place the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) in an understandable context for a 21st century Jew. In dealing with English translations of this ancient set of books we can, by trying to project back to its origins, deal with the many contradictions, mistranslations of the colloquial language and word usage that differ from today's language. It's as though

Do you find the words in the prayerbook inspiring? Do they speak to you and help you open your heart? Or perhaps they are alienating, confusing, and results in your feeling closed down? Join Daria for an exploration of some of the tefillot (prayers) that we use every Shabbat. Through text study, discussion, and song we will unpack some of the layers imbedded in these tefillot as well as learn new ways to possibly connect to them. No Hebrew skills are required. Please bring a willingness to open and a desire to learn.

Immediately following Shabbat services. Manless in Montclair: How a Happily Married Woman Became a Widow Looking for Love in the Wilds of Suburbia is a story of love, loss, and finding your place in the world, even when you find yourself in the last place you thought you'd ever be. Once upon a time, Isabel, a woman of short stature and big dreams, was desperately searching for her niche. Enter Michael, divorced, 15 years her senior, a recovering alcoholic, and the last person Isabel

Enjoy our now-famous martini bar, followed by a full dinner catered by The Cooking Company. Desserts by Bobby Polton and Jen Zinman. Entertainment by Marty Fogel and his band, Thread of Blue. Songs by Betty, Tom and Howard! (Prior RSVP required.)

Congregational vote on Board recommendation to enter into negotiations with Darby Leigh for the position of Assistant Rabbi, and agree on a contract. Proxies have been mailed to members. If you have not received your proxy, please contact the BK office at bnaikeshet@bnaikeshet.org.

Rev. David K. Brawley, Pastor Successor of St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn, speaks Thursday 5/22, 7:30 - 9:30 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation - Fletcher Hall, 67 Church Street, Montclair. St. Paul Community Baptist Church has been working with the IAF since 1978. Rev. David K. Brawley's organizing efforts play a dynamic role in the church's community development activities. Questions? Contact Daria Jacobs-Velde.

At The Gebroe & Hammer Families Conference Center, 901 Route 10 East, Whippany. Join us for a dynamic, cutting-edge workshop that will empower participants to build a Jewish community for all ages. Who should attend?

Rabbi Elliott will speak more specifically about the work and influence of the two 20th century Rabbis Mordachai Kaplan and Abraham Joshua Heschel. These two are arguably the most influential, non-orthodox, Rabbis in contemporary America. All are welcome. For more information, contact the BK office.

The Tikkun Olam Committee has invited Don Spector and Myrna Marcarian Mincey of the Conversations on Race program to join us at our May meeting. About 10 years ago, in an effort to foster community racial harmony,

Join us to experience Jewish traditions of chant and meditation.

Ashrey Yoshvey Veytecha! - Happy are those who sit within your house! Looking for a midweek opportunity to recharge your spiritual battery? Looking for a few minutes of peace and quiet? Rabbi Elliott invites you to join him for a short period of silent meditation on Wednesdays 12:30-1:00 PM. Each session will start promptly with a little singing, include about 18 minutes of quiet contemplation, and end with a kaddish if we have a minyan or more singing if we do not.

Rabbi Elliott’s spring class focuses on both the theology and the mechanics of prayer. The class is meant to be a spiritual exploration with the goal of deepening and expanding our prayer experience.

The Varieties of Jewish Spiritual Practice to be Explored at Community Shavuot Observance

Please plan to join us in what promises to be a remarkable evening of prayer, song, study, chanting, contemplation, camaraderie and Torah (and cheesecake, of course) as we explore the many paths to Jewish spirituality.

Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg, a founder of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality (IJS), poet, educator, nationally recognized pioneer in contemplative practice and author of prayers, poems and commentary for the Reconstructionist prayerbook, (and Student Intern Ezra Weinberg’s Mom!) will lead this year’s Tikkun Leyl Shavuot for Montclair-area synagogues. The night of study inaugurates the Festival of Shavuot.