Why is JCOGS’s 2nd night Passover seder different from other nights?  

Rabbi David Returns from Sabbatical!

JOIN US TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 5:30pm-7:30pm

 Register by Thursday, April 11th

Early bird pricing ($36) ends Tuesday, April 2nd

Adults $45 | Children 11-18 $18 | Under 11 Free

 A fully catered, interactive, participatory, musical seder co-led by Rabbi David and Rabbinic Intern Emmanuel Cantor.  With childminding and plenty of seder resources for our children!  Everyone is invited!

Havurah of Addison County annual Passover Seder

email for details sarit@havurahofaddisoncounty.ccsend.com

The Listening Project Continues! (in person)

Sunday, April 21, 2024 • 13 Nisan 5784

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Just in time for those potentially challenging Passover seder conversations, join us for a Listening Project practice session hosted by Andy Robinson. We'll warm up with a few listening exercises. Then we'll set up small groups to discuss whatever subjects you want to talk about: Israel and Palestine, antisemitism, how you're thinking about Judaism, etc. Come prepared to listen with curiosity and without judgment.

Registration is encouraged

Come celebrate Purim with us! Our

annual Purim Party is fun for all ages! Wear a costume and be ready for mask

making and face painting! Hear a section of the megillah, and of course, stay for pizza and

hamantaschen!

Celebrate Purim and early spring in the sugarbush!

See an old-school sugar operation that the Crowley Family runs at Living Tree and share in the joy of fresh sap and syrup and the coming of spring. We’ll parade to wake up Mother Earth and honor the Jewish festival of Purim, and we’ll also celebrate with the traditional Purim customs of creating gifts for others and performing skits (in the sugarbush—Living Tree-style). Hibernation season is over, so lets celebrate! People of all faiths are welcome.

• Come in costume, if you’d like!

• Be prepared to walk down a muddy path to the sugar house.

• Bring cash or check to purchase fresh maple syrup to bring home or gift to someone.

Admission based on sliding-scale donation: $8–$25 per person or $18–$54 per family suggested. Funds support community programming and outdoor education.

Come join us for the mitzvah of hearing the megillah! Read in Hebrew by a member from Chabad of Vermont (to be announced), we will begin at 8:30. Take a grogger, and stay for some hamantaschen! Registration is encouraged.

Register

5 pm Festival of Fools
5:30 Persian Potluck Picnic
6:00 pm Megillah reading
6:30 Just Come On Get Silly Spiel
7:00 pm Disco Dance Party! with Sparkly Snacks and Sarah’s Sangria
Volunteers needed for: decorating, potluck coordinating, festival activity running, DJing , and spiel performing
Contact Beth to help out! beth.liberman@jcogs.org

The Listening Project: 60 Conversations with Jews about Israel and Palestine (in person)

Sunday, March 3, 2024 • 23 Adar I 5784

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

In response to the attacks of October 7 and subsequent events, Andy Robinson took his cue from Erica Heilman of the Rumblestrip podcast, who says, "You can be curious. You can be judgmental. But you can't be both at the same time."

He reached out to fellow Jews, asked a lot of questions, and tried to listen more deeply. Join us as he shares what he learned from 60 conversations: how people are feeling, how they connect with Judaism, their experiences (or not) with antisemitism, their thoughts about Israel and Palestine, and possible paths to peace and reconciliation.

After sharing his experiences and taking questions, Andy will facilitate a few listening exercises.

What questions would you like to ask each other? Are you prepared to listen without judgment?

Registration requested. To better facilitate these conversations, we are limiting this event to 20 people. If there's enough interest, we will schedule a second date. If you have questions about the content, reach out to Andy: andy@andyrobinsononline.com.

Register

Tough & Tender Landscapes (in person)

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Beth Jacob welcomes Wendy Hoffman and Judith Janoo, two friends and published authors in their own right.

Sharing some of their recently published poetry, Jewish and non-Jewish perspectives overlap in their experiences. Just Thisis a lyrical journey of growing up in a Maine fishing village, marrying into the Malaysian culture, and living in the Northeast Kingdom. Eloquently detailed, Judith Janoo’s poems speak to the earth and its creatures, love and connection, loss and beauty, and wonder.

In Belonging, Wendy Hoffman’s poems describe recipes and cooked-from-scratch Jewish food carried in the grandmother’s memory from the Old Country to this New Land. Strudels keep a clashing family holding on. The poems encompass the truths of the daily lives of three generations of women and hint at contradictory hidden ones.

We’re building a community ice sculpture in honor of our theme this year: ahavah/love. Come help build at 4pm! Lighting ceremony and a family-friendly Tu biShvat seder from 5 - 6 pm. Pizza and warm drinks will be served.

Adult volunteers needed to start the building earlier. Helping hands welcome on Tue 1/23 and Wed from 11-2 pm!

Celebrate the deep beauty of mid-winter with Living Tree Alliance as we gather to honor the holiday of Tu BiShvat, the birthday of the trees. With programs for all ages, we’ll plant seeds of stewardship and intergenerational community-building.

We’ll gather 11 am to 2 pm, with three program options:

• Contemplative showshoe/walk for adults. Led by Kohenet Sephirah Oshkello, we’ll snowshoe or walk through the woods on a contemplative journey inspired by the teachings of Jewish mystics, while appreciating and connecting with the tree community that lives here.

• Outdoor family program. Led by primitive skills mentor Elliot Cluba of Herbs and Arrows and Living Tree Education Director Melanie Grubman, we’ll connect with the holiday through storytelling, forest games and tracking.

• Music for little ones. Ms Andrea of Musical Munchkins will lead a joyful musical program for young children.

A few more details:

• Be sure to dress warmly for outdoor activities.

• If there's snow, you're invited to bring sleds, skiis, and snowshoes for outdoor fun on the property.

• Snowshoes available for rent at Clearwater Sports

• Bring food to share around the fire!

Join Miss Rachel and Rabbinic Intern Emmanuel Cantor for a special gathering in honor of Tu biShvat, the birthday of the trees. Bring our favorite stuffies to join us in song and story as we celebrate the Jewish way of caring for the earth!

Tough & Tender Landscapes (in person)

Sunday, January 7, 2024 • 26 Tevet 5784

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Beth Jacob welcomes Wendy Hoffman and Judith Janoo, two friends and published authors in their own right.

Sharing some of their recently published poetry, Jewish and non-Jewish perspectives overlap in their experiences. Just Thisis a lyrical journey of growing up in a Maine fishing village, marrying into the Malaysian culture, and living in the Northeast Kingdom. Eloquently detailed, Judith Janoo’s poems speak to the earth and its creatures, love and connection, loss and beauty, and wonder.

In Belonging, Wendy Hoffman’s poems describe recipes and cooked-from-scratch Jewish food carried in the grandmother’s memory from the Old Country to this New Land. Strudels keep a clashing family holding on. The poems encompass the truths of the daily lives of three generations of women and hint at contradictory hidden ones.

Annual Film & Asian Food Night

Monday, December 25, 2023 • 13 Tevet 5784

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

As Seinfeld would say, it's "festivus for the rest of us!" Come and join us for our annual film & Asian food night. Come see the classic Fiddler on the Roof and have some delicious Vietnamese food. Orders will be decided based on dietary need (to avoid allergies). We hope to see you all there!

Come celebrate the Festival of Lights with the famous JCOGS Iron Chef Competition!  Enter with an amazing dish prepared with the secret ingredient* or come hungry and vote. Fantastic prizes from local businesses. Bring your family menorah as we light up the dark together. Dreidel games, latkes, and song.  

*Rabbi David left special instructions to reveal the secret ingredient on Nov 30th. Stay tuned!   

To compete in the Iron Chef (please register below):
1. Dishes must be vegetarian*. Your creation can be savory or sweet or a combination ... (*dairy and fish are fine but no meat)
2. No peanut products please.
3. Make enough for many people to taste: small portions or able to be cut into bite-size pieces after presentation. The celebrity chef will judge the first place winner. Party-goers will be voting for their favorites in the other categories.
4. Please prepare an ingredient list on a sheet of paper that's clear and easily read (computer printed preferred but not required).
5. Be creative! Judging will be for taste, presentation, and creative use of the secret ingredient.

Beth Jacob's Annual Chanukah Party! (in person)

Sunday, December 10, 2023 • 27 Kislev 5784

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Join us at Beth Jacob for our annual Chanukah party! All ages are welcome to bring in the festival of lights! There will be music by Brass Balagan, dancing, crafts, and traditional food served potluck style. Sufganiyot are on us! If you would like to bring a dish, please let Sarah know if you will need an outlet (for hot plates, slow cookers, etc). Vegetarian or dairy dishes only please!

Visiting UVM Professor Denis Charbit, Expert in Zionism, Israeli-Palestinian Relations- Shedding Light on the Israeli-Arab Conflict

               -What is Zionism ?

-Why is it so hard to solve the Israeli-Arab  conflict?

-Prospects for the future 

Sunday, December 10, 10:30-Noon

Beth Jacob Synagogue

10 Harrison Ave

Montpelier

Refreshments will be served

 Co-sponsored by Jewish Communities of Vermont

Beth Jacob Synaogue

 Register Here

TICKETS

$15 | Advance

$20 | Day of Show

PERFORMANCE

Doors | 6 PM

Show | 7 PM

Come one come all to Celebrate Night 2 of Hanukkah with latkes, dreidel (with prizes), and a raucus dance party with the one and only gypsy punk klezmer rockers Bella's Bartok!! Moon Hollow kicks the night off at 7pm!

“Live your fantasy and embrace the stranger side of life with Bella’s Bartok. A band known for raucous theatrical performances and an outspoken political message of finding hope in a world beset by cruel uncertainty. With utter joy, they seamlessly blend a rich cacophony of sound and soul into their music with influences ranging from Punk to Folk and Pop to Americana. Let your freak flag fly high, fiercely and free, throw your societal inhibitions to the wayside and seek comfort in the warm sonic embrace of Bella’s Bartok. We are the night and you are bound to boogie.”

Bella’s Bartok’s newest release, Sticks and Stones, tells a story leading up to and through the Covid pandemic and the responses thus by individuals and the US government at large. The intent behind this song evolved over its lengthy writing process. The verse is the oldest part, dating melodically from late 2017 and lyrically from early 2018. It tells the tale of the dissolution of a long-standing romantic relationship, conjuring imagery of industry and failed emotional infrastructure.

Rust, rot and loss give way to the pre-chorus with the repeated call and response refrain of “We’ll work it out.” This section came about shortly before the pandemic, in November of 2019. More than a plea, the lyrics are an admonishment of despair, a reminder that hope does truly spring eternal — for both the individual and the community.

The key to this song is its chorus. Written in the deepest, darkest period of the pandemic.

Rather than wallow in misery, the lyrics confront the certain doom of Covid, the loss and utterly inept response of government in trying to contain the disease. Like any good tongue-in-cheek political commentary, existential crisis can be defanged and declawed by taking the wind out of its sails. The world keeps spinning, even through the hypocrisy of those in power.

Started in the dimly lit alleyways of Great Barrington, MA, Bella’s Bartok gradually evolved from street-punk performers to an electric, interactive spectacle that has continued to entertain audiences for more than a decade. Find Bella’s Bartok on a variety of stages, at a myriad of festivals, or on the street across the continental United States. Audiences often pick up on the band’s main influences such as Goran Bregović, Frank Zappa, Mr. Bungle, System of a Down, Tom Waits and Oingo Boingo.

Floors may be broken but hearts will be mended.

TICKETS

The JCOGS and local community gather to light the first candle of the large outdoor menorah. Let's increase the light!

A Mah Jongg Party at JCOGS!

 Sunday, November 19, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Join players from JCOGS, Beth Jacob and our Jewish communities. Snacks and raffle prizes galore! Suggested donation of $18.  Additional donations welcome. Players can donate at the door, but you must register. Please RSVP by Thursday, November 16.

Join Beth Jacob in welcoming Rabbi Ellie Shemtov of Rutland Jewish Center to discuss recovery from addiction through a Jewish perspective.