Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, in partnership with CBE and Brooklyn Jews, opened their search to commission a new play focusing on the American Jewish experience. The commission is looking to support an emerging, early-career playwright in creating a new work that will encourage meaningful dialogue around the complexity of being Jewish in America.
Read Rabbi Timoner’s d’var Torah on the upcoming Women’s March on Washington.
We find ourselves this week in the second parasha in the Book of Exodus. At the opening of last week’s Torah portion, we meet a new Pharaoh who doesn’t know Joseph. “Look, the Israelite people are much too numerous for us,” he says. “They might side with our enemies.” So he oppresses us ruthlessly with labor that makes our lives bitter, but we continue to increase and spread out until the Egyptians come to dread us.
Distinguished writer, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Chris Hayes of MSNBC’s All In with Chris Hayes, recently sat on the bimah in the main sanctuary to discuss the current political climate in America.
Fabiano Caruana will be the first American to compete for in the World Chess Championship since Bobby Fischer in 1972! Shortly after moving to the Park Slope area, Caruana’s parents enrolled him in CBE’s after school program where he was first introduced to the game of chess.
Rabbi Rachel Timoner sat down with Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America and host of “America, We Need to Talk” on WBAI Radio, to discuss the current climate of anti-Semitism in America, what we as Jews (and as people) can do to eliminate it, and the importance of welcoming and embracing the other. Rabbi Timoner’s interview begins at 01:05.
Earlier this week, American Jewish Committee launched #ShowUpForShabbat, an initiative encouraging people to come together this weekend in solidarity with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh and Jews across the nation.
Cantor Josh Breitzer recently contributed to the New York Festival of Song’s Song of the Day series, highlighting specific songs that connect with corresponding days of Sukkot.
Are you considering preschool programs for your child? We put together this list of questions you may want to ask on your tours.
Rabbi Matthew L. Green is this week’s featured guest on ReformJudaism.org’s weekly Torah podcast, On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah. Download the most recent episode to hear him chat with Rabbi Rick Jacobs about what the weekly bible portion means in modern life: apple.co/1Rr87Nc
CBE will host a weekly meeting every Monday from 6:30-8:00 PM in the Chapel to help strategize and implement ways to stand against our border crisis.
Below is a list we’ve compiled of ways you can help families separated at the border.
Farewell Speech from Rabbi Marc Katz
Marc’s Last Lap Farewell Event, June 3, 2018
The amazing thing about the Jewish tradition is that there is a prayer for everything. There is a prayer for new beginnings, a prayer for seeing lightning and a different prayer for the rainbow after the storm. There is a prayer for seeing a beautiful person, and prayer for smelling a flower, even a prayer for using the bathroom.
But my favorite prayer has always been the prayer of endings, because it completely defies expectations.
LGBQT Leadership
Bringing Young Ideas to Veteran Institutions
In 11th annual installment of The Jewish Week’s 36 Under 36 special section, CBE’s Assosiate Rabbi, Matt Green was recognized as one of the The New Bridge Builders; a group of leading changemakers reaching across divides and edging the Jewish community forward.
Address from Rob Raich, CBE President
This past year has been a fantastic one for our congregation.
A Message from Rabbi Rachel Timoner
Dear CBE Community,
I know that many of us are experiencing a range of thoughts and emotions about what’s been happening in Israel. Yesterday, as the American Embassy was moved to Jerusalem and as 60 Palestinian people were killed at the Gaza border fence, Rabbi Rick Jacobs released this statement, which I support, on behalf of the Reform movement. Meanwhile, Rabbi Sharon Brous was with Rev. William Barber and many leaders of the Reform movement in Washington, D.C. launching the Poor People’s Campaign. She said these words about poverty in the United States, words that speak to my heart about Israel and the Palestinians. Perhaps they will speak to yours.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, talks about how leaders like CBE’s rabbinic intern, Matt Green, are building community through new models of belonging.
T’ruah Honors Rabbi Rachel Timoner with the Rabbinic Human Rights Hero Award.
Last month, we shared the bittersweet news that Rabbi Katz will be leaving CBE at the end of June to lead Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, New Jersey. You can see that announcement and Marc’s beautiful letter to the congregation here. Four weeks ago, we were thrilled to announce that Matt Green will become CBE’s new Assistant Rabbi after he is ordained in the spring. You can see that announcement and read about Matt’s stellar achievements here. Today, we share the exciting news that CBE is expanding our clergy team with a third rabbi, and to introduce you to Rabbi Rebecca Epstein.
Washington, DC – On Wednesday, January 17, Rabbi Rachel Timoner joined Bend the Arc Jewish Action, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Anti-Defamation League, and other clergy, leaders, and grassroots volunteers from across the Jewish community in a historic act of Jewish civil disobedience.
More than 100 participants occupied the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill to demand that congress include a clean DREAM Act in the government funding bill.
All Saints Episcopal Church welcomed Rabbi Katz as a guest preacher during their MLK Day celebration on January 15th. Read his full sermon:
Rabbi Timoner arrived in Israel today to begin an extraordinary, week-long mission with interfaith women clergy leaders from around the United States. Follow her trip on Facebook and Instagram (@cbebk).
Dear CBE Community,
We hope that you’ve had a chance to read Rabbi Marc Katz’s announcement last week. While it is not possible to ever replace Rabbi Katz at CBE, and while his imprint will remain on our community and on our lives for many years to come, we are grateful to have an extraordinary new rabbi ready to serve our community in his own unique way. We are thrilled to share the wonderful news that Matt Green will be CBE’s new Assistant Rabbi beginning on July 1, 2018.
PODCAST: Judaism Unbound, talks with CBE’s Rabbi Rachel Timoner as part of a series focusing on the exploration of Reform Judaism.
To My CBE Family,
It is with excitement for the future and gratitude for the last ten years that I announce I will become the Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, N.J. starting July 1st.
Dear CBE Community,
I’m pleased to let you know that after six and a half years of faithful service to our congregation, Cantor Josh Breitzer will be taking a sabbatical from January through June of 2018.
Rabbi Rachel Timoner and other leading rabbis from all corners of the Jewish world are asked their thoughts on the most pressing issues of today in a series of articles from the Forward.
Take a listen to the moving and inspiring High Holy Day sermons from Rabbi Rachel Timoner and CBE president, Jonathan Fried using the playlist below. Also check out our sermon archive for corresponding text and other historical addresses.
To My CBE Community,
At the funeral for 32-year-old Heather Heyer, may her memory forever be a blessing, Heather’s mother said:
Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams, spent a night in the CBE shelter. Here’s what he had to say on Instagram about his experience and commitment to homelessness awareness:
Watch Rabbi Rachel Timoner co-present the New York Ordination Address at HUC-JIR’s Service of Ordination on May 7, 2017.
Tablet discussed how CBE’s Sukkah, which featured educational materials from HIAS, was especially designed to bring awareness about the world refugee crisis.
Bklynr published an article about when rocker legend Patti Smith visited CBE’s Brooklyn by the Book event and performed “Because the Night” in our very own CBE sanctuary.
Bklynr covered CBE’s Brooklyn by the Book event which featured author Toni Morrison who discussed her most recent book, God Help the Child.
The Observer’s piece talks about Rabbi Timoner’s new role at CBE and her focus on social justice activism.
The JTA features CBE’s Hebrew language immersion summer camp for kids, Ha’Geemnasia as a fun, effective, and enlightening way for children to learn Hebrew and about Israeli culture.
