Holidays At CBI
Tu B’Shevat:
We mark this holiday with a special Kabbalistic Seder that focuses on themes of intentionality, contemplation, and connectedness to nature.
Purim:
Purim is a big, colorful community celebration at CBI. Every year, we present a new Purim spiel (often with a contemporary / pop culture bend), followed by a fun and raucous carnival (with many games to choose from) for the whole family. The planning, packing, and delivery of mishloach manot (Purim baskets) is a community effort involving countless volunteers to fulfill this important mitzvah.
Passover / Pesach:
In addition to family programs, CBI’s much loved Passover Seder brings the community together around the Seder table to retell the Passover story (and its significance today), enjoy great company and food, and to sing songs of liberation and freedom.
Yom Ha’Shoah:
CBI’s Holocaust commemoration involves members sharing their family histories, and senior community members lighting the six memorial candles.
Yom Ha’Atzmaut:
We celebrate Israel’s founding and birthday every year - often with picnics, celebrations outside, and educational programming for all ages.
Shavuot:
On Shavuot, we customarily engage in Tikkun Leil Shavuot - a night of deep study and contemplation, often with a variety of study sessions and teachers to choose from. And of course there are always plenty of dairy treats (cheese cake, blintzes, etc.) to go around.
Tisha B’Av:
On the 9th of Av, our custom is to gather for a traditional and modern chanting of the book of lamentations and deep study.
Holidays at CBI are characterized by a deep sense of joy, learning, and community. CBI’s clergy strives to carefully evolve time-honored customs and traditions to create meaningful experiences with a contemporary feel for community members of all spiritual backgrounds. Holidays at CBI are intended to create a feeling of connectedness, and to cultivate an appreciation and deepened understanding of the beauty and significance of long-standing Jewish traditions. Here’s how we observe, commemorate, and celebrate in sometimes traditional - and sometimes unconventional - ways:
Selichot:
At CBI, we observe this somber period leading up to the High Holidays by emphasizing themes of repentance, change, forgiveness, and renewal. Educational and worship programs during this time are intended to open and prepare the soul and mind for the Days of Awe.
Rosh HaShanah:
Apples and honey are not the only sweet things during Rosh HaShanah at CBI. Every year, we gather by a river for Tashlikh, and a powerful community shofar blowing, followed by an informal tailgate.
Yom Kippur / Kol Nidre:
On the Day of Atonement themes of forgiveness and repentance take center stage. After morning services, we reconvene at the synagogue for study and to break the fast together. The Jonah derasha is given to a different community member each year, who bring their own unique understanding and perspective to the text.
Sukkot:
The Sukkah in the CBI courtyard becomes the center of congregational life for seven days. Congregants are warmly invited to dwell in the Sukkah. The emphasis is on the joyful nature of this uplifting holiday, with celebrations (concerts, comedy, cocktail parties) throughout the week.
Simchat Torah:
We conclude the annual Torah reading cycle with the awe-inspiring experience of unrolling the entire Torah in our social hall. Just as Torah sustains us throughout the year, the Torah is then held up and supported by its community - and yes, there is lots of dancing!
Chanukah:
CBI’s beloved Chanukiah Competition brings parents and students together to engage creatively with the Chanukah story by designing unique, thoughtful, and sometimes funny Chanukiot.
