We took a risk. Some may see it as a minor risk, while others may perceive it as a big risk. But there is not doubt that through the collective vision of the Religious School staff and leadership, as well as, the clergy team we took a risk this year by creating a new youth program called CB3 (Congregation B'nai B'rith B'nai Mitzvah Program). 

Without going into all the details, it is an opportunity for our sixth grade students and families to spend one shabbat  morning a month together in order to study, pray and build a stronger, more intentional community for our B'nai Mitzvah cohort. 

Over the past three months, this risk has started to bear some incredible fruit. From an amazing weekend-long retreat at Camp Ramah last month to a short, but dare I say brilliant, debate that our sixth graders presented at this week's Shabbat Service, I have never been more excited about the kind of students we have here at CBB!  I hope that as our Campaign for Youth Engagement continues to unfold that we will experience more and more of these beautiful moments in our congregation in which our children are encouraged to take on meaningful and authentic leadership roles in our community. Thank you to everyone who has played a role in this process and I can't wait to see what else the future holds for this incredible community. Shavua Tov! 

The  URJ (Union For Reform Judaism) Biennial is this week in San Diego.
It is the place for Jews from across North America to come together to learn, pray, share ideas, dance and sing, hear from inspiring guest speakers, reunite with old friends, create new connections, and make decisions about the policies of the Reform Movement.  Almost 5,000 people will be there including 18 of us from CBB.
You can watch the plenary sessions and  Shabbat worship here, or you can watch the sessions on cable when they play live on JLTV beginning Wednesday evening.
Click here to read more.

We mourn:
The passing of Nelson Mandela, who died Thursday night at age 95. Here is an article that may be of interest: Nelson Mandela, Iconic Leader for Jews of South Africa - and World.

Mazel Tov:
To Stepahnie & Brett Locker on the birth of Lottie Esther Locker, born on December 3, 2013. The Locker family is home and settling nicely.

Todah Rabah:
To everyone who attended our fabulous Young Family Hanukkah Party! Special thank you to Doug Weinstein for being our Latke Hero, in the kitchen for 4 hours making over 300 latkes.

Everyone who attended our intergenerational Hanukkah Concert with Rick Recht! Special thanks to Richard Silver and David Landecker for volunteering to help with parking lot traffic; Nina Gelman-Gans and her kitchen crew who made latkes, Melanie Gaynes, Jenny Mintz, Barbara Walker, Erik Wilk, Robert Howell; Melodie Lee & Shayna Goodman for supervising the Youth Choir; Youth Choir and their parents for sacrificing homework and sleep time to participate; Maia Lowenschuss Palmer, Kamila Storr, Debbie Hartzman and Suzi Kurtz for selling Rick's merchandise; and Elisa Krantz and Audrey Okaneko for making the event run smoothly.

The BHY preschool parents and The Bialis Family Foundation for making the BHY staffs' holiday extra special.

Glenn Avolio for donating the framing for Linda Kaufman's 10 year anniversary present.

Laurie Constable for donating locally grown organic greens for the BHY Stone Soup, Gratitude Luncheon.

Dan and Susan Rothschild and Mimi Dent for delivering welcome bags to our new members.

The Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center offers a wide variety of activities. Some are listed below. Please contact the JCC at (805)957-1115 or email them here, or view the JCC website for more information.

Shalom Baby Baskets 
Expecting a baby or know someone who is? Contact Holly Chadwin or sign up here.

Latkes & Laughter Chanukah Comedy Night
Wednesday, December 11
6:00–7:30 p.m. 
With L.A. Comedian Shawn Pelofsky, plus NBC Weatherman & Stand-Up Comic Fritz Coleman. Also: Emcee Louise “Weezy” Palanker and special performances by JCC Teen Comedy Club students. At the door: $10 (students/seniors $5) For more information click here.

Please email Bulletin Board submissions by Wednesday for inclusion in the following Monday email. Ads will run for three weeks, at which point they must be re-submitted for continued inclusion on our website.
Click here for more information and to view past ads.

Book reading and signing
Carmen a gypsy geography by Ninotchka Devorah Bennahum.
Tuesday, December 10
7:00 p.m.
At Granada Books 1224 State Street. (805) 845-1818.
“A significant study of the intersections between historiography, musicology, art history, literary theory, religious, cultural and dance studies, consolidated in the moving figure of Carmen, the Gypsy dancer.” —Michelle Heffner Hayes, author of Flamenco: Conflicting Histories of the Dance.

To get more information on any of the events or minyanim listed, please click on the name or visit www.cbbsb.org

Monday, December 9
6:00 p.m. Israeli Dancing
7:30 p.m. Beginning Hebrew
(Class enrollment closed)

Tuesday, December 10
12:00 p.m. Lunch and Learn
At Sylvia Glass' home, 862 La Milpita
Please contact Sylvia with any questions at (805) 687-5654
7:00 p.m. Studio Toby

Wednesday, December 11
3:45 p.m. Religious School
5:45 p.m. Religious School/Academy Dinner. $5/person
RSVP to Ben.
6:45 p.m. Academy/Confirmation
8:00 p.m. Intermediate Hebrew
(Class enrollment closed)

Friday, December 13
5:30 p.m. Pre-neg - Join us for wine and cheese
6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service
7:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbat

Saturday, December 14
9:00 a.m. Torah Study with Rabbi Cohen
10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service

Sunday, December 15
9:30 a.m. Religious School
Special fundamentals of Judaism with Rabbi Stone
There will not be class at 10:30 a.m. Please attend the program Discover Your Roots at 1:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Discover Your Roots: Research Strategies for Tracing your Ancestors
Join Karen Franklin, a professional genealogist and an exhibit researcher for the Museum of Jewish Heritage in NYC for a captivating event that will teach you how to find out more about your ancestors. Novice and expert researchers alike will enjoy Karen’s “case study” approach to investigating your family history through online resources and archives. There is no guarantee that she will not find a black sheep in your family!
RSVP here.

Monday, December 16
7:00 a.m. Cottage Hospital Minyan in the Sacred Space on the 2nd floor.
6:00 p.m. Israeli Dancing
7:30 p.m. Beginning Hebrew
(Class enrollment closed)

Look for more info about these events as the dates get closer:

3rd Friday Ruach!
Friday, December 20 
5:30 p.m. Pre-Neg Wine & Chesse
6:00 p.m. 3rd Friday Ruach! with our Temple Band

Sunday Morning Live
Sunday, January 5
8:45 a.m. Best Darn Breakfast, Period!
9:45 a.m. Mike Prashker, Founder and Director of Merchavim
Honoring Avi Schaefer's legacy as a bridge builder between populations.
For more information click here.

BRAVO BEETHOVEN!!
Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 3 p.m
Two luminous musical talents, violinist Nicole McKenzie (CBB member) and pianist Betty Oberacker, will join forces in an all-Beethoven concert in the Girsh-Hochman Sanctuary.  Admission is free, and a donation to the CBB's Hadassah Hospital Project is suggested. 

A Community Wide Celebration of Freedom
MLK Shabbat
Friday, January 17 
7:30 p.m. at CBB
Benediction by Rev. Dr. Hillary Chrisley
Special Starting Time. Guest sermon by Rev. Wallace Shepherd. Featuring SoulAviv with the CBB Shir Chadash Choirs and Special Guests, The Unity Gospel Choir.
More info and videos on Facebook.