Virtual Community Weekly Email

Join us for a week of programming, prayer, and Jewish learning.

ReelAbilities Houston Film & Arts Festival 2022
TUESDAY, FEB 15TH (ALL DAY)
The mission of ReelAbilities is to bring systemic change to the culture of Houston's families, institutions, places of work, and communities to be more inclusive of people with disabilities. The ReelAbilities Film Festival offers on-demand movies, live events, and discussions around a variety of topics on inclusion. MORE INFO

Wisdom of Torah (Breakfast Club)
TUESDAY, FEB 15TH 7:00A
Together, over breakfast with Rabbi Brian Strauss, come explore the ancient wisdom of Torah and how it can be applied in today's modern world. MORE INFO

Jewish Community Conversation with Dr. Stephen Klineberg
TUESDAY, FEB 15TH 12:00P
The Houston Jewish Collaborative for Racial Justice invites the community to join Dr. Stephen Klineberg as he discusses his book, “Prophetic City: Houston on the Cusp of a Changing America”. He will address the city’s economic and demographic transformations tracked through forty years of surveys. MORE INFO

Voices of Torah with Rabbi Steven Morgen (Breakfast Club)
WEDNESDAY, FEB 16TH 7:00A
Rabbi Morgen teaches Wednesday mornings as part of the Breakfast Club - learn Torah 5 days a week with our clergy! MORE INFO

YES February Program - BINGO!
WEDNESDAY, FEB 16TH 11:30A
Join us in February for lunch and Bingo! MORE INFO
 
ScholarStream: Halakha - The Process Moving Forward and the Forward-Moving Process WEDNESDAY, FEB 16TH 7:00P
Scholarstream 5782 features three distinct arcs of learning that stand-alone or flow into each other. Cultivating Our Relationships, Defining Our Sacred Spaces, and Renewing Our Resilience will offer an exploration of who we are, where we are in relation to others, and how we move forward in this complicated world.  MORE INFO

Jewish Meditation Group - Virtual
WEDNESDAY, FEB 16TH 7:00P
Explore tools for mindfulness, find a different way to talk to God, and deepen your prayer with meditation and chanting. MORE INFO

Jewish Mysticism & Ancient Cultural Beliefs with Rabbi Fort
THURSDAY, FEB 17TH 7:00A
Rabbi Fort teaches Thursday mornings as part of the Breakfast Club - learn Torah 5 days a week with our clergy! MORE INFO
 
Kids Meals/SEARCH Bags Assembly
THURSDAY, FEB 17TH 9:00A
Join Sisterhood and our Social Action team to assemble snack bags for Kids Meals and SEARCH. Space is limited so you must register to join. MORE INFO

Talking to God Welcomes Jerusalem Peace Builders
THURSDAY, FEB 17TH 7:00P
Join Rabbi Morgen for a monthly Zoom program to think about how and why we talk to God and deep dive into our Jewish prayers. This month The Rev. Canon Nicholas Porter, Founding Director of Jerusalem Peace Builders, joins Rabbi Morgen for a discussion on what peace looks like from the Jewish and Episcopalian traditions. MORE INFO
 
Tot Shabbat with Miss Cathy!
FRIDAY, FEB 18TH 5:00P
BYDS and CBY are bringing Miss Cathy from the ERJCC for Tot Shabbat! Toddlers & Preschoolers join us for a musical Shabbat with Rabbi Sarah Fort and Miss Cathy, followed by challah and more fun! MORE INFO

J.B. Greenfield Chapel Shabbat Evening Service
FRIDAY, FEB 18TH 5:30P MORE INFO

Shabbat Renewal
Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Joshua Kulp
FRIDAY, FEB 18TH 6:00P
Join us for our Main Sanctuary Shabbat Service. Join us this weekend to explore Jews and food with Dr. Josh Kulp! His topic Friday is Food, Wisdom and Restraint: The Stories of Adam and Eve and What They Have To Teach Us About Food. MORE INFO

J.B. Greenfield Chapel Shabbat Morning Service
SHABBAT, FEB 19TH  8:30A MORE INFO

Museum Minyan Shabbat Morning Service
SHABBAT, FEB 19TH 9:15A MORE INFO

Shabbat Morning Service
Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Joshua Kulp
SHABBAT, FEB  19TH 9:30A
Join us in the Barg Santuary for our Main Sanctuary Service. Dr. Joshua Kulp will continue exploring The Hungry Jew with his topic Bacon, Cheeseburgers, and Wine: The Origins and Enduring Meaning of Jewish Food Prohibitions during the Kiddush Luncheon. MORE INFO

Parsha Study with Rabbi Danny Horwitz
SHABBAT, FEB 19TH 11:30A
Weekly Parsha Study with Rabbi Horwitz following Chapel Shabbat Service in the Schepps Board Room.

J.B. Greenfield Chapel Mincha/Ma’ariv
SHABBAT, FEB 19TH 5:45P MORE INFO

Museum Minyan Havdalah
SATURDAY, FEB 19TH 6:05P
Join for the conclusion of Shabbat with virtual Havdalah and a short study session via Zoom. MORE INFO

Dr. Joshua Kulp - The Torah of Beer: Can You Do Kiddush or Havdalah Over Beer?
SATURDAY, FEB 19TH 7:00P
Ever wondered if you can do Kiddush or Havdalah over beer? Find out with our Scholar in Residence Dr. Joshua Kulp next Saturday evening during "The Torah of Beer." Join him for craft beers, light bites, and learning. 21+, registration required MORE INFO

Better Together - 60's & 70's Music That Defined Us
SATURDAY, FEB 19TH 7:30P
Join the Better Together Jewish 50's & 60's Singles Group for a great event: Remember When...60's & 70's Music that Defined Us with a presentation of the era's music by Aaron Howard. MORE INFO
 
Yom Limmud 2022
SUNDAY, FEB 20TH 9:15A
Yom Limmud (Day of Learning) provides a unique opportunity for Jews from all denominations and walks of life to connect with unique Jewish stories and culture from around the globe through music, art, cooking, and general education. MORE INFO

A full list of upcoming events can be found here

Once content has been recorded live, it will be saved on our social media platforms for future access. This means that if you cannot make the time slots noted above, you can still join us to learn and pray.

Please know that your clergy is here for you. To reach out, please e-mail them directly or connect with  info@bethyeshurun.org  and we will direct you to a member of our team.

The following COVID-related protocols are in effect:

Congregants that are not fully vaccinated should continue joining us virtually for programs and services. As they become fully vaccinated, they can choose whether or not to wear masks.  

Congregants that are not eligible to be vaccinated should be masked when possible.

All congregants and visitors are expected to be vaccinated. Congregants that are fully vaccinated but are immunocompromised or have underlying conditions may not be fully protected by the vaccine. For your safety, please consult your physician for guidance before attending in-person services and events. ​​​​​​​We highly encourage all who are eligible to get vaccinated. If you are not vaccinated, you should stay home and participate virtually.

Any individual experiencing symptoms of illness, we ask you to stay home and return to the synagogue when you are free of symptoms.​​​

Please note that these protocols apply only to the synagogue and not the Religious School or Day School, which will continue with their existing protocols. 

Click here to Review our most up to date COVID Protocols

Click here to view the full Chapel scheduleClick here to access live streaming on our website

According to the Torah, the first laws given to humanity were food laws. Adam and Eve were told not to eat from a certain tree, and a few generations later, Noah and his descendants were told not to eat the limbs of living animals. For human beings, food is not just the calories that sustain us. Food is culture, food is history, food is identity. And no tradition has historically been more characterized by food prohibitions than Judaism. But the meaning of these laws continues to be elusive, and questions that were asked 2000 years ago remain unanswered and worthy of exploration to this day. Is it rational to eat some animals and not others, and if it is not, why observe such laws? What is the purpose of the Jewish dietary laws? Why do some Jews refrain from drinking wine or eating certain foods that were made or even touched by non-Jews? Exploring these questions helps us gain a broad perspective on what it means to be a Jew whose Torah is full of laws that do not always seem to make rational sense.

Shabbat Renewal, Friday at 6:00pm in Freedman Levit Sanctuary
Food, Wisdom and Restraint: The Stories of Adam and Eve and What They Have To Teach Us About Food

Shabbat Kiddush Lunch, Saturday at 11:30am in Stein Hall
Bacon, Cheeseburgers, and Wine: The Origins and Enduring Meaning of Jewish Food Prohibitions

Saturday Night Craft Beers, Light Bites, and Learning (21+) at 7:00pm in Stein Hall
The Torah of Beer: Can You Do Kiddush or Havdalah Over Beer?

Join Dr. Kulp for one of his talks at Beth Yeshurun this weekend

Sunday, February 20th at 9:00am
Yom Limmud (Day of Learning) provides a unique opportunity for Jews from all denominations and walks of life to connect with unique Jewish stories and cultures from around the globe through music, art, cooking, and general education.

This year, they're offering the opportunity for participants to join and engage from the comfort of their own home with FREE virtual classes! Classes will be based on the Three Pillars: Torah, Avodah (work), and Gemilut Hasadim (Acts of Loving Kindness).

Featuring local and international speakers on a variety of topics such as parenting and family values, intersectional identity, Jewish art and food, antisemitism, and rebuilding after COVID, this year’s Yom Limmud will offer something insightful for all ages!

--- Beth Yeshurun Presenters ---

A Bouquet of Prayers That Always Lift My Spirits!
with Rabbi David Rosen from 9:15- 10:15 AM 
When life gets me down, when there are moments in the middle of the day where I need a moment of inspiration, I frequently find myself drawn to a bouquet of simple prayers that help me balance my life and find renewed energy and strength. It will be my pleasure to share them with you in this class.

Being a Mensch in the Face of Hate
with Rabbi Steven Morgen & Mark Toubin from 10:45 - 11:45 AM 
Unfortunately, the level of hate as well as the dissemination of disinformation have increased over the past few years. Many circumstances may place us in the position to respond. However, whether face to face or online, determining an appropriate response poses an enormous challenge. This class will explore best strategies for responding to hate and disinformation.

The Three Questions: The Origins of the Mah Nishtanah and What it Teaches Us About the Seder with Dr. Joshua Kulp from 1:45 - 2:45 PM 
In this class, we will look at some of the earliest Haggadot in existence, those discovered in the Cairo Geniza, as well as the lavishly illustrated medieval Haggadot. Through the lens of the Mah Nishtanah, one of the most beloved and well-known pieces of Jewish liturgy, we will see how the Seder developed from a Greco-Roman symposium to the unique Jewish ceremony observed throughout the world to this day.

Click here for more information

A new series for parents of children under 1-year-old

 Join Rabbi Sarah Fort to:
Meet other parents of young children
Socialize & learn together
Hear from experts not just on parenting, but also marriage and relationships
Since babysitting will be provided, registration is required by February 17th.

Cost per family:  $18 for a single session | $36 for the 3-part series
Series Dates:  February 27 | March 27 | April 24 

Click here to Register

Honoring the Musical Legacy of Cantor Meir Finkelstein!
March 31, 2022 at Congregation Beth Yeshurun

We look forward to our concert celebrating the music of Cantor Meir Finkelstein. Tickets for this incomparable musical experience have been in great demand as the evening will feature renowned cantors, including Cantors Azi Schwartz, Chayim Frenkel, Netanel Hershtik, and Rachel Goldman! Purchase Individual Tickets

The Textual Foundations for Today’s Jewish Religious Communities
Taught by Rabbi David Rosen at the ERJCC
8-Part Series begining February 22 | 11:15a - 12:15p

Study of the texts which provide our earliest understandings of Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism. We'll examine texts written by leading figures in each movement over the last century which can help us understand how each they evolved.

Click here to Register

We invite you to share with us your simchas - births, engagement, weddings, or award and recognitions. Fill our Mazel Tov form with your information a picture and share your great news with the rest of the congregation.
Click here to Submit your Simcha!

One of the goals this year is to offer a mix of opportunities for our congregants to participate in: donation drives, hands-on projects, and opportunities for all ages. We hope to set the example for our families that Social Action and Tikkun Olam are some of the most important work that we do as Jews.
Click here for Opportunites within the Community
Click here for more information about the 5782 Social Action Plan at Beth Yeshurun

Click here to read the January Message

QUICK LINKS

VIEW YOUR ACCOUNT | MAKE A DONATION | FACEBOOK PAGE | YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Your Sisterhood Giftshop is here for all your Judaica needs! 
Open Tuesday-Thursday 10:00am-4:00pm, Friday 10:00am-2:30pm, Sunday 10:00am-1:00pm; Closed Saturday & Monday  
Call 713.255.8021 or email them directly giftshop@bethyeshurun.org