Susan Rakov: Getting Ready for the High Holy Days at Home One year, I was sick in bed during Yom Kippur. I didn’t try to watch a whole day of services on my computer, but I did tune in for the livestream of Kol Nidre. I could see the bimah, the rabbis and the cantor, [...]
I’ve been thinking recently about CBB’s Mission Statement: “a diverse, inclusive community of individuals and families building together a warm and vibrant house of living Judaism.” I like the mission statement but when I read it closely, I see many words – ‘community, building, house’ – which imply a physical space. How, in this time of Covid and social [...]
Evely Laser Shlensky: The Miracle of Denmark Creating a sometimes tolerable, occasionally rich life during the pandemic has been an ongoing challenge. While many opportunities are presented daily for online learning, for me the more interesting encounter at times has been with my past. With too much time on my hands during the lockdown, I [...]
Danielle Drossel: How the Pandemic Turned Me Into a Balabusta [Unofficially] A balabusta is a Yiddish word that refers to a Jewish homemaker of the finest quality – a person who loves to bring family together, to cook for them, and create a warm and comforting home. I come from a long line of balabustas [...]
Marina Stephens: From Inside Out In my life, there were three periods when I found myself locked inside, while life went on in the world outside the limits of my confinement. The first one was when I was a teenager in the USSR working as a guide/translator with Italian tourists. When time came, we said [...]
Alvin Lever: Erev Shabbat Memories Walking towards CBB on Erev Shabbat hearing “Shabbat Shalom” from those you know and those you don’t. And then the evening progresses from the Oneg, to services, sermon, to the wonderful Kiddush afterwards. Just close your eyes and I’m sure you can see, hear, and enjoy the memory. I would [...]