Our Leadership
Developing CBI
Pride in Portland
“ Wake me up, God; ignite my passion, fill me with outrage. Remind me that I am responsible for Your world. Don’t allow me to stand idly by. Inspire me to act. Teach me to believe that I can repair some corner of this world.” - Rabbi Naomi Levy
by Rabbi Rachel L. Joseph Assistant Rabbi June in the United States means Pride, and Portland is one of many areas across the nation that hosts Pride festivals in June. They are all connected to the Stonewall Riots that broke out the night of June 27, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York. The Inn was a popular spot for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (GLBTQ) community, and it wasn’t unusual for the police to raid it. The raid on June 27 became a milestone event, because Inn-goers fought back against the police. Pride festivals like the one in the Portland are all part of the effort to organize for equality and to bring positive change to the community. This year, Congregation Beth Israel will be participating in the Portland Pride Parade on Sunday, June 15, and we hope you will join us! The Jewish community has a unique opportunity to show support by participating in the parade as a visible sign that we welcome all. Each of us, created in God’s image, has a unique talent with which we can contribute to the high moral purpose of tikkun olam, the repair of our world. Excluding anyone from our community lessens our chance of achieving this goal of a more perfect world. Pride really connects to our Jewish values: it inspires – and is inspired by – Kavod (respect), B’Tzelem Elohim (made in God’s image), Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh (communal responsibility), Shmirat Halashon (guarding one’s language), and V’ahavtah L’Reiecha Kamocha (love your neighbor as yourself ).
The Whole Fills the Hole by Jenat Levison Feldman Development Director Here we are again, completing another very lovely and successful year of Developing CBI. Development Committee Chair Ted Nelson and I are so appreciative of all of you who have supported our fundraising efforts this past year, both as donors to various appeals and attendees at all kind of events. We are committed to working together to engage our community in everything CBI has to offer, and based on our growth and increased levels of participation, it seems to be working!
As a congregational community, we have been steadfast in our support of equal rights for all. And on Monday, May 19, 2014, a federal judge ruled that our state’s constitutional amendment banning marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional! The ruling went into effect immediately, and already, hundreds of loving gay and lesbian couples across the state are sharing in the joys of the freedom to marry. While the law has changed, there is still much work to be done, and I look forward to marching together towards a more perfect world! Upcoming e-mail blasts will provide complete information on when and where to line up for the parade. Don’t forget to wear your CBI Mitzvah 365 t-shirt!
contribution made the difference, and we are proud to report that by joining forces together we exceeded this year’s $200,000 goal. Even better, there is still time to be included in this year’s fiscal contributors listing, which will be printed in full in our July/August Bulletin. It is our honor to be able to recognize so many generous supporters. Every gift fills the hole and enables us to provide a multitude of meaningful programs and services. Sydney’s report on page 4 provides numbers by which you can measure our effect; the focus of this note is to say thank you over and over again for being a supportive member of our congregation. We are proud of our open door policy and pleased we can make synagogue membership affordable for everyone. Thanks to you, CBI has been given the opportunity to create Jewish memories and impact Jewish lives every day. It is your support that makes all things possible. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Whether you contributed to the Every Family Initiative, attended Better Than Broadway and Taste of Temple, enhanced your annual contribution (formerly dues), increased your support to our Religious School program, or donated in other meaningful ways, your
June 2014
AND THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO COME.
HOLD SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18th for our Fall Gala Details will be coming your way soon!
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