Congregation Beth Sholom - Chevra Shas

Saturday, December 12, 6 – 8 pm: Chanukah Songstravaganza!

Spend Chanukah with all your friends from CBS-CS. We will kick off at 6 pm with Chanukah candle lighting singing the blessings. Everyone will then have the opportunity to navigate through many different programs. Cantor Lieberman will be leading the Chanukah Rhythms session as part of the Music Box series. You have the opportunity to learn Chanukah songs, new and old, to use throughout the holiday at home and in shul. Harry Sommers will lead everyone in Israeli dancing – anyone can learn and participate in this fun and loved activity. Everyone will have the opportunity to put together Bedside kits for children in the Golisano children’s hospital and make a holiday card to accompany the gift, and there will of course be dreidel tournaments and chocolate gelt abounding! Dinner will be served throughout the night, and everyone will have the chance to rotate through all the activities. At 7:30 pm, we will come together once again to end the meal with Birkat HaMazon, and sing together the songs that Cantor Lieberman led. The Chanukah Songstravaganza is open to all congregants, regardless of age – there will be something for everyone!

Babies at Beth Sholom – We will meet Tuesdays at 10 am in the synagogue unless otherwise noted. Join other parents and tots for an hour of schmoozing and playing in the library. Perfect for tots 4 and under and busy parents! Tuesdays, December 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Saturday, December 5, 10:30 am: Shabbat Family Service
Shabbat morning services for families with children in 4^th grade and younger including more prayers and songs, as well as a Torah service. We use special prayerbooks to help illustrate the meaning of the prayers throughout the service. Plenty of ruach (spirit), movement, singing and more!

Friday, December 18, 5:30 pm: Kids Sharing Shabbat
Kids Sharing Shabbat is a great way to introduce your children in 4^th grade and younger to Friday night services and the Shabbat experiences. We will meet in the Library at 5:30 pm for a kid-friendly Friday night service, and conclude with kiddush and take-home individual challahs. (Part of Ramah Shabbat weekend)

Saturday, December 19: Tot Shabbat, 10:30 am
All families with children 4 and younger and invited to join us for our very special Tot Shabbat experience. Our Tot Shabbat includes dancing, singing, stories and of course snacks and kiddush. Remember to wear your special Aleph Bet Tot Shabbat kippah! If you need a Tot Shabbat packet, which includes our own Tot Shabbat CD and Songbook, and special aleph-bet kippah, please let Erica know as soon as possible. (Part of Ramah Shabbat weekend).

Saturday, December 5, 7:30 pm: Community Middle School Maccabia
Join your friends from all over Syracuse as CBS-CS, Temple Adath, Shaarai Torah and Temple Concord come together for an incredible night at the JCC. Tel Aviv versus Haifa in this Maccabia-style gym night! We will have many different activities including gym games and rock climbing. $10 per person, invite all your Jewish friends! Registration is encouraged by not required to Erica by December 3.

Friday, December 18, 6:15 pm: Shabbat HaDorot and Middle School Shabbat Dinner
As part of the Ramah Shabbat weekend, middle school students will have the opportunity to lead parts of the Friday night service through Shabbat HaDorot. Immediately following services, 5^th – 8^th grade students and their families will be invited to stay for Shabbat dinner with the director of camp Ramah in New England. The dinner will include singing, stories and so much more! $5 per person, $20 family cap, registration is encouraged in advance.

Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing, a program of Moving Traditions
Under the leadership of Sonja Gottbrecht, Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing for 5^th and 6^th grade girls kicked off earlier this year. It’s not too late to join in! The program continues monthly on Sundays at noon (including lunch): December 20, January 17, February 7, March 14, April 11 and May 23.

Good Guys! meets again in January – stay tuned!
Steve Wladis led Good Guys! for 5^th and 6^th grade boys in November, and the next session will be in January. Stay tuned for more info.

CBS-CS Mitzvah Corps continues!
Brand new this year, CBS-CS will be offering a Mitzvah Corps program for all 7^th and 8^th grade students. Written and led by Erica Bern, students will have the opportunity to both study social action under a Jewish lens as well as get firsthand experience participating in community service projects throughout the Syracuse area. The first session discussed caring for the elderly, and in December, students will put their learning into action by joining CBS-CS for the annual Christmas Community Service program at Menorah Park on Friday, December 25, from 10 am – noon.

Volunteering with CBS-CS: Samaritan Center Soup Kitchen

Every Tuesday we will head to the Samaritan Center Soup Kitchen (310 Montgomery St., Syracuse) to help serve their afternoon meal. We will meet at 3:15 pm at the soup kitchen and finish for pick up by 5 pm. You will have an opportunity to help in every part of the soup kitchen’s operation each week. This is an incredibly powerful experience and a great way to build community service hours. Please let Erica know if you plan on going, as there are a limited number of available spots each week. Tuesdays, December 1, 8, 15 and 22 (no volunteering on the 29^th).

Saturday – Sunday, December 12 – 13: Annual Chanukah Sleepover
An annual favorite – CBS-CS invites all the high school students from all over Syracuse and Upstate New York for an amazingly fun Chanukah sleepover. Starting at 8 pm on Saturday night, we will light the Chanukah candles together and then dance the night away during the Israeli dance-a-thon! Get sponsored per dance, or minute of dancing, and raise money while having an awesome time. In addition to dancing, the overnight will include movies, plenty of snacks, great company and so much more! Pick up at 10:30 am on Sunday. $10 per CBS-CS member, $15 for non-members – bring your friends!