Saturday, June 29

Weekend activities begin at 10:00 am with a Shachrit service, followed by an oneg at Temple Israel (at the corner of 4th & Pine, 1 block west of Harrison Avenue).  Rabbi Debra Rappaport , from B’nai Vail Congregation, will lead services with B’nai B’rith’s restored Torah originally from Poland.

During the early evening, we will serve a non-dairy pot luck dinner  and dine with those who are hungry at  St. George Episcopal Church at 5 pm ( directly across the street from Temple Israel). Donations to B’nai B’rith Denver to help cover the food and clean up expenses would be greatly appreciated.  We’d like all volunteers to bring canned goods for the church’s ongoing meals program.

A communal Havdalah Ceremony, led by Rabbi Debra Rappaport , will follow the pot luck. 

Please register here for the Leadville Cemetery Cleanup.

  Sunday, June 30

We will begin the annual clean up of the Leadville Hebrew Cemetery at 9:00 am.  Free breakfast will be available for early volunteers.  Our goal this year is the general clean up of the grounds, which will include cutting weeds, pruning tree branches, cemetery picket fence painting, and sprucing up soiled grave markers.

B’nai B’rith Denver partnered with the Temple Israel Foundation, starting in 1995, to restore the cemetery after decades of neglect.  The cemetery was reconsecrated in August, 1999 and is currently accepting new interments.  Annual volunteer clean ups continue every summer.

A graveside memorial service honoring those early Jewish pioneers buried in the Leadville Hebrew Cemetery will be conducted by Rabbi Rappaport at noon.  Each year the service is held around a different grave site that has been researched regarding the history of the deceased.

Following the  memorial service, B’nai B’rith will provide a kosher lunch to thank all volunteers for their hard work and devotion to this annual mitzvah.  Clean up will continue throughout the day until approximately 4:00 pm.

Please register here for the Leadville Cemetery Cleanup.

NEEDED:  rakes, tree pruners, lawn mowers, weed eaters, rags, work gloves, and drop cloths.

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Camping with the Young Professional Network at Printer Boy Campground

Friday: We will be camping at Printer Boy Campground on Turquoise Lake. We will have a kosher catered dinner or pot luck (depending on your survey responses).

Saturday:
10:00 am – Shabbat Service at Temple Israel followed by Oneg

Mountain Hike – with Young Professionals and campers

5:00 pm – Kosher pot luck dinner for the Less Fortunate at St. George Episcopal Church (across the street from Temple Israel) Havdalah Service conducted by Rabbi Rappaport to follow

Or

Vegetarian potluck dinner at Printer Boy campsite followed by Havdalah.
Bring a dish to share.
If your last name starts with…
A-F: Bring a Noodle/Potato (Salad, Kugel, etc.)
G-L: Bring Fruits/Veggies
L-R: Cheese/Dairy Dish or Salad
S-Z: Chips & Salsa/Guacamole or Dessert

The cost for camping is $10. Please complete this short survey if you are planning to join us and register here for the Leadville Cemetery Cleanup.

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B’nai B’rith Leadville Weekend 2013 Itinerary (Times and Locations Subject to Change)
Friday – June 28^th
5:00pm                 Arrival and Setup (Start Time)                    Printer Boy Campground
7:00pm                 Kabbalat Shabbat                                              Printer Boy Campground
7:30pm                 Potluck Shabbat Dinner                                  Printer Boy Campground
Saturday – June 29^th
10:00am               Shachrit and Musaf                                           Temple Israel
12:00pm               Oneg                                                                        Temple Israel
2:00pm                 Afternoon Hike                                                   Meet at Camp Site
4:00pm                 Mincha                                                                   Printer Boy Campground
5:00pm                 Meal For the Less Fortunate                         Church Across from Temple Israel
5:00pm                 Potluck Dinner at Campsite                           Printer Boy Campground
9:48pm                 Havdallah Official Time
Sunday – June 30^th
9:00am                 Continental Breakfast                                       Leadville Jewish Cemetery
9:15am                 Cemetery Service Project                                Leadville Jewish Cemetery
12:00pm               Memorial Service                                              Leadville Jewish Cemetery
12:30pm               Lunch                                                                      Leadville Jewish Cemetery

Tuesday, May 28, 2013 starting at 7:00pm
at the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL): 99 W 12th Ave Denver, CO 80204

Join B’nai B’rith Denver for a private tour followed by a presentation by AIPAC’s Claire Margolf on Israel and the current Iranian threat.

About the CELL

The CELL is dedicated to the prevention of terrorism through education, empowerment, and engagement. As a nonprofit, nonpartisan institution, its one-of-a-kind exhibit, renowned speaker series, and training initiatives provide a comprehensive look at the threat of terrorism and how individuals can play a role in the prevention of terrorism, ultimately enhancing public safety.

About the Speaker

Claire Margolf is currently the Area Director for Colorado, Nebraska and New Mexico for AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee).  In this capacity, she is responsible for overseeing all grassroots, political and development outreach in the three state region.  She graduated from Tufts University with a BA in International Relations and Economics and prior to working fort AIPAC, Claire served as a Trading Associate on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.  She lives in Denver with her husband and 6 month old son.

The cost of the event $10 for members & $15 for non-members.  Please RSVP in advance to admin@bnaibrithdenver.org or 303.393.7358.  You can also register here.

Tuesday, April 2 starting at 6:30pm

Please provide a firm RSVP on Facebook, so that we ensure we have enough lanes!

B’nai B’rith Remembers the Shoah

As a Community Partner of the Light /The Holocaust & Humanity Project, come join B’nai B’rith Denver as we remember the Shoah or Holocaust. Oscar Sladek, otherwise known as Osi, will share his story of evading the Nazis by hiding in the homes of sympathetic gentiles as well as in the forests and caves of the Slovakian Tatra Mountains.

Osi is a master performer of the accordion and international folk singer. Since his arrival in the United States in 1958, he has shared his story with thousands of people in the U.S. and Canada He is known for skillfully weaving beautiful stories and songs from his childhood as he recalls his story of his survival.

There is a small fee of $12 for this program that includes brunch and coffee. Please RSVP to Danielle: 303-393-7358 or admin@bnaibrithdenver.org by Thursday April 18th.
To find out more about the Light /The Holocaust & Humanity Project, please visit here.

The Plight of the Jewish Prisoner

Allen Fistell and Truman Hait spent many years in various Colorado prisons and were recently released. Both men were active participants with the B’nai B’rith Max Frankel Jewish Prisoner Program, a volunteer program of B’nai B’rith assisting Jewish prisoners. Allen and Truman will speak to us about their experiences in prison, life after prison and the Jewish Prisoner Program.

The $12 cost of the program includes brunch and coffee. Please RSVP to Danielle:  admin@bnaibrithdenver.org by Friday, March 8th.

To find out more about the Max Frankel Jewish Prisoner Program, please visit here.

Bio of Allen Fistell:

My name is Allen Isaac Fistell, (Hebrew Name, Avraham Yitzchok ben Lezer Boruck). I am 48 years old, I was raised in an Orthodox Jewish home. I was sent to prison for the following crimes that I was guilty of: First Degree Attempted Murder, First degree Arson, Possession and use of an Explosive device, Comspiracy to commit first degree attempted murder, and aggravated motor vehicle theft. While is prison I found my way back to Judaism and became very devout. I filed suit against the CDOC for Kosher Meals and Jewish Service. Two other Jewish inmates and myself established weekly Shabbos services. I lead Jewish services in prison for over 16 years in every prison that I was in. I was paroled on December 3rd, 2012, after 19 years in prison.

Bio of Truman Hait:

Truman S. Hiatt was born in Bucks County PA, and raised in Central Florida. He served 8 years in the United States Navy as a Journalist, and entered a career in Information Technology in the late 1980’s. He has held positions as Operations Manager for an Internet Service Provider, Network Analyst for a Fortune 100 Company, a College Level Computer Science Instructor and operated a successful Technology Consulting Business.

Where: JCC MACC Board Room: 350 South Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80246

The Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado has embarked on “reimagining” itself for the future – reflecting the Denver community’s feedback that a change is needed, but with no consensus on what the change should be! In 2010, a strategic planning process began to consider a wide variety of strategies and business models for Federation. Ten scenarios were whittled down to one recommendation with five areas of focus:

1) Empowering Jewish philanthropy
2) Engaging the next generation in being Jewish
3) Serving the most vulnerable
4) Supporting and advocating on behalf of Israel
5) Mobilizing the community in times of crisis

Task force transition teams have begun the work to make recommendations as to what the new organization might look like.

Doug Seserman, Allied Jewish Federation President and CEO, will speak to B’nai B’rith on a) why change? b) what the vision is for supporting the local Jewish community, and c) the current work and timelines of the transition teams. Q&A will follow.

Please RSVP by Monday, February 25th to admin@bnaibrithdenver.org  

Peanut Butter Plan

When: Sunday, February 17th 2013 from 11:30am-2:30pm 
Where:  Moishe House: 443 S. Humboldt St. Denver, CO 80209

Join Denver B’nai B’rith as we join forces with the Denver Peanut Butter Plan for a February community event:

The Peanut Butter Plan,…it’s simple! We’ll make PBJ’s and pass them out to people in need in the downtown Denver area.

THE DONATIONS: Each Peanut Butter Plan participant will be asked to donate one jar of Peanut Butter and one jar of Jelly, plus TWO or more loafs of bread (We are always needing more bread donations).

Hey! If you can bring a friend or three….that is great too!

THE MISSION: After the PBJ’s are made, we will form carpools to the Denver Rescue Mission neighborhood, head out to find the homeless, and hand out the sandwiches. After we have given food to many of the people we find on the streets and in the parks, we will donate any left over food to Samaritan House and/or other agencies in need.

**Children of all ages are welcome to join in fun when we make a temporary PBJ production line; HOWEVER, when we go out to distribute the PBJ’s we would not recommend bringing any young children. Use your own discretion.

You can find the Denver Peanut Butter Plan on Facebook.

Homeless in Colorado

B’nai B’rith Denver’s October Speaker

When: October 16th at 7:00 pm
Where:  JCC- Perlmutter room

Join us for refreshments in the Perlmutter room and get an inside look at Colorado’s homeless population. Our guest speaker, Petra Ulrych MA, LPC., will present to you the cycle of poverty, the causes and consequences of homelessness and how Colorado Coalition for the Homeless works towards the prevention of homelessness, creating lasting solutions for at-risk families throughout Colorado in us for refreshments in the Perlmutter room and get an inside look at Colorado’s homeless population.

In Addition B’nai B’ith Denver will kick off a month long “underwear” drive” as a community service project to help the homeless population with a basic need that so many overlook. If you can, please donate a (new) package of underwear, socks or bras which will be collected at this event as well as in the B’nai Brith office on the 1st floor of the Allied Jewish Federation building throughout the month of October.