Temple Beth-El Hosts Virtual Tu BiShvat and MLK Weekend Event

The community is invited to attend a virtual Shabbat Service hosted by Temple Beth-El, Northbrook highlighted by guest speaker Jen Cullerton Johnson, a local educator and author who wrote the children’s book, “Seeds of Change.”

The book is about Wangari, the first woman from Africa and environmentalist to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.

Cullerton Johnson’s book ties together a call for racial and environmental justice-- themes from both the Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat celebrating trees and the national holiday honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.

The Racial Justice Shabbat Service hosted by Temple Beth-El, Northbrook will be held via Zoom on Friday, January 14 at 6:00 p.m.

Services will be appropriate for families with children. To RSVP click here.

Cullerton Johnson’s book is about feminist, ecologist Wangari who grew up in Kenya. She was the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Jen’s life work has been about environmental, racial and social justice. She is a local Chicagoland educator.

“This year MLK Day long weekend and the Jewish holiday celebrating trees called Tu BiShvat happen to take place over the same weekend in January,” points out Rabbi Ari Moffic, Director of Congregational Learning and Engagement, Temple Beth-El.

Rabbi Moffic explained, “it is called Shabbat Shira- the Song of the Sea because it is the Shabbat when we read the narrative recounting the exodus from Egypt and the song the people broke into as they crossed into freedom.”

She added, “to honor all of these calendar occurrences, we have created a special service and experience. We can connect this Hebrew song of freedom to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King to work toward a day when all are free.”

Religious School Students Participate in Virtual Inter-Cultural Exchange with Children in Kenya

“As we were discussing her participating in Friday night services, Jen asked if a class in our Sunday School would like to connect with children in Kenya in the schools that her project works with. Of course, we jumped at this possibility,” explained Rabbi Moffic.

As part of this effort, Temple Beth-El 5th grade religious school students participated in a virtual inter-cultural, inter-religious exchange with children in Kenya (KiJana Global Innovation School) on their shared connection to the environment. The Zoom event took place on Sunday, December 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Chicago time, evening Kenya time.

“The way our Zoom worked is our students prepared a 20-minute presentation about their connection to nature in Chicago. Our students shared a presentation about both Hanukkah and Tu Bishvat and shared a song in Hebrew,” Rabbi Moffic said. “The Kenyan students introduced themselves, (they are mostly Protestant Christians), and shared their school experiences.

Voices of the students during Zoom inter-cultural exchange

“When do you go to Temple,” asked one of the Kenyan students. “What days you do celebrate holidays,” asked one of the Temple Beth-El students. Both groups of students agreed they would do more ‘homework” about their respective religions and Zoom again soon. “May you one day visit with us,” said one of the Kenyan students.

The Zoom session was moderated by Jen Cullerton Johnson, Rabbi Moffic and joined by Rabbi Sidney Helbraun, Temple Beth-El as well as teachers at the KiJana Global Innovation School in Kenya. Click here for more information about this school.

Contact Us

For additional information about membership and the religious school, contact: Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook. Reach out to: Janice Hadesman, Executive Director or call 847-205-9982 extension 211 or visit the Temple’s website.

Rabbi Ari Moffic can be reached directly through her email.