Synagogue Fundraiser on Sunday, June 28
Buy your tickets now, before it’s too late!
For further information contact the B'nai Israel Office at 266-0155
“Don’t say why, say why not?” – Ida
Join Congregation B’nai Israel at a zany comedy musical romp of 70 Girls 70
at the North 4th Theater, 4904 4th Street NW, on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 2:00 pm.
Laugh your way through this jewel of a musical comedy by Kander and Ebb (composers
of Chicago & Cabaret), as senior citizens form a ring of unlikely thieves to
save their retirement home from the wrecking ball, and in the process, regain
their zest for life. The musical is based on the Peter Coke 1958 London stage
comedy, Breath of Spring, which was made into the 1960 British film Make Mine
Mink. It was first produced in 1972, revived in 1991, and was recently performed
as an Encore production, at the New York City Center.
Come discover a hidden jewel in Albuquerque’s 4th Street Performing Arts Center,
where every performance plays to a packed audience. We are thrilled to join
the fun as our own Beverly Rogoff brings her crafty talent to this particular
show.
Join your friends. Kick back and Enjoy!
Tickets are $18.
A dessert and wine pre-show reception will begin at 1:00pm.
The performance is at 2:00 pm.
Babysitting will be provided with advance arrangements.
RSVP by calling 505-266-0155 leaving your name, phone number and the number attending.
You may charge your reservation to y
our credit card.
See Congregation B'nai Israel on TV!
B'nai Israel and members of the congregation were featured prominently in an episode of "In Plain Sight", called "Aguna Matatala".
See it here
Gift Shop News
We are extending our Tallitot sale through August 3rd. All Tallitot are on sale at an amazing 20% off!
We will have a blue dot sale on selected jewelry at 20% off! Look for the date coming soon.
Our Summer Hours are
Monday-Friday 9 to Noon
Wednesday and Friday afternoons until 4 pm
CONGREGATION B´NAI ISRAEL ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES FEBRUARY / MARCH 2009
DINNER AND LEARN: February 25, 2009, 6:30 p.m. Topic: “Myth Busters: The Truth Behind the Spring Holidays.” (Rabbi Flicker) Dinner: Vegetarian Kosher Chinese (yum). $12 for adults; $5 for children under age 8; children under age 3 eat for free. Reasonably priced child care available by reservation. Please make your reservation by February 20.
A TASTE OF YIDDISH. Class forming for March. Six one-hour sessions which will cover definitions, exclamations, proverbs, sayings, idioms, curses, and music. Learn what they mean, how to pronounce them, when to use them and when not to use them. No Hebrew or Yiddish knowledge required. Instructor: Perry Sklarin. Cost: $55/members; $60/non-members.
INTERMEDIATE HEBREW. Class beginning the first week of February. Instructor: David Katz.
INTRODUCTION TO TALMUD. Ongoing class meeting on Wednesday evenings. Currently learning Tractate Brachot. New students are welcome. Instructor: Rabbi Tzion Yakar.
INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM (or, perhaps, a “RE-INTRODUCTION”)
A survey course designed for people interested in conversion or rebuilding their
Jewish basics. Class will meet beginning February 11th on Wednesday evenings
from 7:00 – 8:00. Cost is $250 for non members and $150 for members and will
include all books. Instructor: Rabbi Flicker.
JUDAISM FOR NON-JEWISH LEARNERS. Four week course beginning Wednesday, March 4th, from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. This class is geared toward non-Jews who are interested in learning about Judaism for the sake of learning. This is not a class for the purpose of converting to Judaism, but rather an informative overview. If you’ve got inquisitive friends or family, this is the class for them. Instructor: Sarah Egelman. Cost: $55/members; $60/non-members.
For more information and to register, contact Roberta at educate@BnaiIsrael-nm.org or
call 266-0155 (ext. 113).
THE B'NAI ISRAEL PRESCHOOL
INTRODUCTION
The
B'nai Israel Preschool, established
in 1980, was created with the vision of a solid foundation for future learning.
Our program, based on a developmentally appropriate model, uniquely integrates
Jewish culture, values and holidays into the world of the young child. From
its small beginning of a single classroom to a program six times the size,
we have maintained high standards. The school currently houses classes for
two, three and four year old children, before and after school programs, and
a state accredited Kindergarten. The B'nai Israel Preschool offers a quality
program in a positive child-centered environment.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The staff of the B'nai Israel
Preschool believes young children have the best opportunity to develop in
an environment that stimulates their curiosity and capitalizes on their abilities
through developmentally appropriate activities. We believe that play is essential
in children's lives; and through play children learn about themselves, their
culture, and the world in which they live. This process strengthens a positive
self-concept, enabling the children to maximize their potential for independence,
initiative, self-confidence and responsibility. B'nai Israel
Preschool maintains a low student-teacher ratio in order to provide for individualized
attention, the nurturing of creativity and development of high self-esteem. GENERAL PROGRAM
Preschool classes begin at 9:00 a.m. and
end at 12:00noon daily.
The kindergarten class meets Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Four-year-old children attend classes five days a week.
The two and three year old program offers a 5-day, 3 day or 2-day option.
Before and after school care is also available for children age 3 and older.Children must reach the
class age by September 1 for admission to the program.
ABOUT
EACH PROGRAM
2/3 YEAR OLD PROGRAM The
2 and 3-year-old program encourages each child to develop and perform at his/her
full potential. The program stresses conceptual development and hands-on learning.
Self-selected activities encourage children to explore the environment, acquire
social skills and develop respect for themselves and others. The use of a
variety of materials enables the children to be successful in their understanding
of language, number concepts, science, cooking, art and music. We also provide
an introduction to Shabbat services, Jewish celebrations, daily prayers and
Hebrew language. The classroom environment encourages the development of the
whole person emotionally, socially and cognitively.
4 YEAR OLD
PROGRAM
The 4-year-old/Pre-Kindergarten program is developmentally appropriate
and geared toward fostering positive feelings about self and school. Activities
in the classroom and on the playground strengthen large and small motor skills.
Exposure to Jewish holidays, weekly Shabbat services and daily blessings give
children an appreciation of religious rituals. Our 4-year old/Pre-Kindergarten
curriculum includes the teaching of phonics, upper and lower case alphabet
recognition in readiness for reading and language arts, exploration of science
and the world around us, as well as the introduction of math concepts. It
is our desire to provide a nurturing, supportive environment that cultivates
the growth of the child both academically and personally.
KINDERGARTEN
PROGRAM
The B'nai
Israel Kindergarten Program, accredited by the State of New Mexico, is an
integrated program that incorporates units of study from the areas of language
arts, reading, mathematics, social studies, science and health, cooking, music,
movement, drama, art, computer skills, Jewish studies and Hebrew language.
All subjects are taught with extensive use of hands-on materials and experiences.
Children are encouraged to become autonomous learners and act responsibly
about themselves, others and their environment.
GOALS
The
activities and experiences change each year with each new age group of children;
but the goals, as listed here, remain the same in order to provide a basis
for planning.
1. To provide a warm and supportive climate where each child is respected
and trusted.
2. To foster positive feelings in the child about self, family, school and
community.
3. To stimulate the child to explore and discover the world around him.
4. To encourage the child to actively participate in his/her learning by planning,
making decisions and solving problems.
5. To provide the child with opportunities for interaction with children from
a variety of cultural and social life-styles.
6. To assure the child's feeling of success through mastery of his environment.
7. To provide opportunities for parental involvement in the school program.
8. To offer self-selection in an integrated learning environment, which incorporates
science, mathematics, art, music, reading readiness, language arts, and perception
and motor skills.
9. To expose each child to the Shabbat (Sabbath) celebration through prayer
and song.
10. To provide each child with an understanding of Jewish values and holidays
and their significance.
CONTACT
US!
CONGREGATION
B'NAI ISRAEL PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN 4401 Indian School RdNE
Albuquerque, New Mexico87110
(505) 266-0155
Ask for Bonnie Ivener EMAIL
Demographics, Geography AND ATTRACTIONS:
Albuquerque Metro area has about 450,000 people, and including the surrounding
areas, the population is about 713,000. The median income in the Albuquerque
area is $29,675.
The three major ethnic groups in the area are Hispanic, Anglo and
Native American, but many other groups are represented here, including
African Americans, Vietnamese, Korean, East Indian and Middle Eastern
people.
Albuquerque is the home of the University of New Mexico and Kirtland
AFB, Intel and other large corporations, and Sandia Labs. The economic
base is broad, ranging from farming and ranching to education, military
and government service, research and develpment, communications and
consulting, manufacturing, education, hospitality and tourism, Casinos
and entertainment, medical research, art and music, to name a few.
Our city is situated mainly in the Rio Grande Valley, and the elevation
varies from 4,900 to 6,000 feet. To the east are the Sandia (Watermelon)
Mountains, and to the west is high desert land. The Albuquerque area
generally includes Bernalillo, Valencia and Sandoval Counties. Albuquerque
is the county seat of Bernalillo County. The state capital, Santa
Fe, is about 50 miles north.
Neighboring towns include Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Corrales, Tijeras,
Los Lunas and Belen. On the north and east side of Albuquerque is
Sandia Pueblo, to the south is Isleta Pueblo, and Zuni Pueblo is to
the west.
The climate is mild in our area. Summer temperatures are usually in
the low 90's during the day, and 60's to 70's at night, with humidity
between 20% and 40%. Being desert, the area is doesn't get much rain.
The average is about 7 inches a year, although in a large storm there
may be flash flooding in some areas. Winter temperatures are usually
in the 40's during the day, and teens and twenties at night. There
are two or three snowstorms most winters, usually only an inch or
two, and it melts off in a couple of days (except in the mountains).
The area is subject to drought, and fire danger is high much of the
year. Because farms and towns depend on irrigation to a great extent,
the level of the river and reservoirs varies greatly. Some rivers
are dry on the surface, with the water running underneath, and only
showing up in a flood.
Wilderness sports are very popular: climbing, biking, hiking and skiing.
In addition, Albuquerque has become a major center for hot air ballooning.
Besides the usual popular sports, baseball, football, basketball and
golf, we have hockey and rodeo. Multi-cultural events and fiestas,
the State Fair, the Balloon Fiesta, the Natural History and Science
Museums, the Zoo, the Aquarium, the Botanical gardens, the New Mexico
Symphony Orchestra, the Opera in Santa Fe, and many art galleries
and local musicians are all popular attractions.
ALBUQUERQUE HISTORY: Albuquerque was first settled by Spanish
missionaries and settlers in the late 1600's, who settled on land
left empty by Pueblos, who had been recently decimated by plagues
brought by the incoming Europeans. The settlers and missionaries were
killed or driven south to El Paso by the Pueblos in the Pueblo Revolt
of 1680, because of harsh treatment by the missionaries and settlers.
in 1692 Diego de Vargas returned with an army and re-took Santa Fe,
which is the oldest town in the area, being in existance before the
arrival of the Spanish, and in 1706, his successor Governor Cuervo
y Valdés announced to the King of Spain that he had founded
a villa where Old Town Albuquerque is today, and named it after the
Duque de Alburquerque. Spanish villas continued to grow through
the years, and in the 1800's Anglo settlers began to arrive, after
the land that was to become the western states came under American
control. With the arrival of the railroads the population began to
grow at a faster rate. Historic Route 66 passed through Albuquerque,
and many people suffering from Tuberculosis and other lung ailments
settled in the area because of the mild climate. Since WWII the population
has continued to grow rapidly, and outlying villages have become fairly
large towns, while Albuquerque has continued its growth east and west. More
about the founding of Albuquerque
JEWISH HISTORY IN ALBUQUERQUE AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO: The first Jews in Northern New Mexico
wereJews from Spain who came here to espcape the Iinquisition and
to obtain the benefits that were available to them in the new world, especially
the availablility of land and ability to make a living, comparatively free of the
oppression of the old world. This comparative lack of oppression didn't
include the freedom to practice Judaism, however, and the families
who came over had become Catholic, whether only on the surface or
wholeheartedly. However some Jewish practices remained, not always
with the consiousness of their being Jewish practices, and even today some Hispanic families are identified as Jewish families. Much has been written about this, and
it's argued how valid the Jewish identification is today. A number
of Hispanics have converted to Judaism because of their consiousness
that their family was originally Jewish, and their wish to return.
Ashkenazi Jews began to come to New Mexico with the earliest Anglo
traders and settlers, dealing freely with the Anglo, Indian and Mexican
populations. Several prominent early families were Jewish. There was
a strong community in Las Vegas, NM which only faded in time because
the young people found it necessary to move to other towns, generally
for better career opportunities. In the Albuquerque
area, there have been many prominent Jews in New Mexico since the
early 1800's.
Rabbi Flicker was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. A graduate of Northwestern University, with an MA in Jewish History from the Ohio State University, Rabbi Flicker was ordained by Rabbi Rueben Luckens in 1990. Prior to coming to Albuquerque, Rabbi Flicker has served congregations in Tyler, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Columbus, Ohio. He always been active in community affairs, having been awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirit Award by the Cincinnati Baptist Ministers Conference. In Albuquerque, Rabbi Flicker has served on the board of the Samaritan Council, the Public Safety Partnership, the Governor’s Homeland Security Religious Advisory Taskforce and as a Chaplain for the Albuquerque Police Department.
A former public school teacher and coach, business owner and synagogue administrator, Rabbi Flicker brings a unique collection of skills to the rabbinate. Partnering with volunteers within the congregation, Rabbi Flicker has brought diverse services and programming to our community. He has also encourage the participation of members of all ages in our religious services.
Rabbi Flicker is married to Linda. They are blessed with two sons, Aaron and Ben.
Shabbat Services: Friday Evenings at 8:00 pm (Family service at 6:00 pm on the first Friday of the month) Saturday Morning at 9:00 am
Minyans Sunday 8:00 am The first Sunday of every month is the Men's Club "Learner's Minyan" at 9 AM Monday 7:30 am
Tudesday 6:30 am Wednesday 6:30 am
Thursday 7:30 am
Friday 6:30 am
Rabbi Flicker was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. A graduate of Northwestern University, with an MA in Jewish History from the Ohio State University, Rabbi Flicker was ordained by Rabbi Rueben Luckens in 1990. Prior to coming to Albuquerque, Rabbi Flicker has served congregations in Tyler, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Columbus, Ohio. He always been active in community affairs, having been awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirit Award by the Cincinnati Baptist Ministers Conference. In Albuquerque, Rabbi Flicker has served on the board of the Samaritan Council, the Public Safety Partnership, the Governor’s Homeland Security Religious Advisory Taskforce and as a Chaplain for the Albuquerque Police Department.
