Blog

Dear Friends,

It’s Hanukkah!  A celebration of courage and perseverance, gratitude and generosity.   So we kindle lights (one at a time) to dispel the looming darkness, to spread warmth and kindness (one soul to another) to ease the winter chill,  and to practice the art of giving and receiving with grace.   

Courage and Perseverance.   2020 has been a year of  unprecedented challenges! Whether touched by COVID,  suffering from lost employment, being displaced by wildfires, or simply enduring physical separation from friends and family, we’ve  all been affected by uncertainty, insecurity and isolation.  This year has forced us to  adapt and  seek human connection in new and creative ways.   Our collective capacity for courage and perseverance has also shone through, in our homes and in our communal spaces.

This year we proved that Congregation Beth Evergreen is much more than a building, it is a community.  You are CBE.  We are CBE. And, even as we long for the day we can safely gather  in person and hug again, we will make every effort to sustain, expand, and deepen our connection with one another and the Wellspring of Blessing!  Throughout the pandemic, CBE has continued to foster spiritual connection through quality services, educational programs, and opportunities for service via Zoom.  Indeed, we even have expanded our offerings and  reach, convening a global community.  Hybrid High Holiday and weekend services, on-line classes for religious school and adult education, and collaborations with musicians, teachers, and communities near and far -- we have proven that we can not only survive, but, like our ancestors, thrive in the midst of adversity.

Gratitude and generosity.  We, the staff and leadership at CBE, thank you for being Beth Evergreen.  Your continued support of CBE is the oil that fuels who we are and all we do.  Thank you!   And, part of what we try to do is inspire and harness the individual and collective generosity that flows from gratitude. 

This year we are  offering you the opportunity to direct your end-of-year tzedakah by giving where it matters most to you  Listed below are some of our designated funds, so you can choose what touches your heart.

Our Mitzvah Matters Fund helps congregants in need by paying for meals for families in mourning, or ingredients for cooking meals that are  delivered to families in need.  The Social Action Fund fuels the work of our Tikun Olam Havurah, mobilizing collective work on broader social issues.  You may choose to invest in our Youth Activities and Education Fund, or the Music Fund if you enjoy CBE’s live music offerings.  Appreciation for our beautiful beautiful building, sanctuary, and landscaping can be expressed through a donation to the Building Fund, which provides for  the maintenance and beautification of our sacred space.  To show appreciation to the rabbi, you may choose to contribute to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund. You can also allow us to direct your donation wherever it is needed most with contributions to the Tiferet [general] Fund

As a Jewish community, we want to ensure that we plan for the future, l’dor vador, from generation to generation. Our Endowment Fund has been very  successful thus far. And the effort continues.  Designated endowment investments create a lasting legacy for you, a loved one, or a beloved cause.  If not now, when?  Let us help you make that happen.  . 

There are many ways to direct your generosity, and many ways to give.  In addition to cash, CBE is able to accept donations of appreciated stock. And remember, there are tax benefits associated with donations to CBEmade as part of a required minimum distribution from a 401K plan.

As always, donations of any size can be made in honor or in memory of a loved one. Tributes appear in The Shofar and an acknowledgement card will be sent to the honoree. Checks can be mailed to CBE, PO Box 415, Evergreen CO 80437, or you can call us with your credit card information. 

Thank you for considering CBE in your end-of-year giving, and again, thank you for making it possible for our community, Beth Evergreen, to persevere and prosper when we need each other  most.

Happy Hanukkah,

Rabbi Jamie Arnold
Eve Mills, Executive Director
Dan Herman, Board President