It's Time to 'Reboot with Kindness' at Temple Beth-El, Northbrook
With the many stressors on our local community, leadership at Temple Beth-El in Northbrook have determined that the idea of kindness should be elevated to more of a necessity than a luxury.
As the Jewish New Year 5783 begins, the Temple community will "Reboot with Kindness," with acts of kindness each month engaging groups within the synagogue.
The goal is to create meaningful connections through recognition and programs for adults, families, and even young children. Visit: www.templebeth-el.org/reboot-with-kindness.
Rabbi Sidney Helbraun, Temple Beth-El, shares his perspective on why the Reboot with Kindness program was created.
"There are so many challenges facing people in the world today, large issues. We have been dealing with the pandemic for a couple of years now and it has worn people down," he said. "But there is so much more: Climate change which is taking a toll across our country and around the world; violence; mass shootings and the 'unremarkable' daily shootings which we've tragically no longer seem to notice; the legal erosion to fundamental American liberties; growing mental health issues; and the list could go on."
"So many stressors on society as a whole and on individuals," Rabbi Helbraun added, "that working to create a community in which the idea of kindness is elevated felt like more of a necessity than a luxury."
Rabbi Ari Moffic, director of Congregational Learning and Engagement, provides another perspective on the "Reboot with Kindness" campaign.
"Like everything else in life, a little intentionality goes a long way, and we hope that, as the saying goes, 'mitzvah goreret mitzvah' - that one good deed leads to another, and we can be a source for spreading kindness through our community and beyond. Together we will work to reverse the flow of negativity and sadness in our world by undertaking acts of loving kindness," Rabbi Moffic points out.
A New Community Outreach Theme Each Month
Each month, Temple Beth-El will highlight congregants in a special cohort. Several of these groups are being honored in certain months by society at large and have been incorporated into the program.
As Rabbi Moffic explains, "We will reach out to you for short interviews, we will share your stories in our bulletin and in Temple communications, and we will do acts of kindness for you during month. The desire is to create connections within our growing community, finding ways to bring people together and celebrate their achievements, accomplishments, and professions.
"We have so many people in our community who share their heart with others on a daily basis and wanted to recognize and appreciate who they are and what they do each day," Rabbi Moffic emphasized.
Rabbi Moffic Explains Reboot with Kindness Themes and Honors
September 2022: Back to School Honoring Teachers
If you have retired from teaching or are currently in the classroom, let us pamper you in this back-to-school month with acts of kindness.
TBE religious and Hebrew school teachers share their personal teaching stories and thoughts on their passion for education: https://www.templebeth-el.org/rebootwithkindness/tbeteachers
For example, as Susan Boldrey, a teacher at Temple Beth-El explains: "I love to teach!! I love the excitement of seeing children's eyes light up with questions, curiosity, and energy. Each child is unique! I am blessed to be a teacher! I am blessed to be the third generation in my family to be a member of Temple Beth-El."
October 2022: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Honoring: All cancer survivors and those in treatment
Let us know if we can interview you about your journey. We will spend October doing little acts of kindness for all of our cancer warriors to know you are not alone and your community. Julie Reznick, Temple Beth-El member, shares what she and her family are doing to encourage screening and fund-raising support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month: https://www.templebeth-el.org/reboot-interview-reznick
November 2022: Veterans Day Honoring: Veterans
If you have served our country, we would like to know more about your story. We want to honor the sacrifices you have made to preserve peace and liberty.
December 2022: Religious & Cultural Observances Honoring: Interfaith families
December is filled with religious and cultural observances & family traditions. Interfaith families have to figure out how to honor both sides of the family, which they do in creative and beautiful ways!
We would love to highlight some of our members who are not Jewish, but who support this community with giving hearts. These are members raising children with Judaism and who add so much to our people!
January 2023: New Beginnings Honoring Those who had a new beginning
This is a month of new beginnings! Let us honor everyone who has had a baby or grandchild in the last year or who has had a major new beginning!
February 2023: Jewish Disability Awareness
Honoring Congregants with disabilities or families
raising children with special needs
We want to honor all of our congregants who themselves have a disability or are raising children with special needs.
We would like to highlight stories of navigating life with a chronic illness including mental health and help each other gain empathy and understanding for and about those in our midst.
March 2023: Purim Honoring Our first responders and heroes in our midst
This is the month of Purim when we read about our biblical heroes. During March, we will highlight all of the heroes in our community including first responders. We will also perform acts of kindness for the first responders in Northbrook.
April 2023: Earth Day Honoring: The Earth!
We will perform acts of kindness as a community for our world!
May 2023: Older Americans Awareness Honoring Our oldest congregants
Let us honor our oldest congregants by hearing their stories and doing acts of kindness for them.
Contact Us
For additional information contact Rabbi Ari Moffic, Director of Congregational Learning and Engagement, Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook.
Email: AriMoffic@templebeth-el.org Phone: 847-205-9982 extension 212. Or Laurie Orenstein, Executive Director, Temple Beth-El.
Email: lorenstein@templebeth-el.org Phone: 847-205-9982 extension 211. Visit: https://www.templebeth-el.org/