Blog

Wow, what a year! I’m sure we’re all looking forward to closing out 5780 and welcoming the new year with hope and optimism.

We have several options to the celebrate the High Holidays together at CBE beginning with a fresh start to 5781 on Erev Rosh Hashanah on Friday evening, September 18th. Thanks to a generous grant from the Rose Community Foundation, we have upgraded our audio-visual and streaming capabilities, enabling us to conduct services on-line and gather in-person (with limited attendance and taking appropriate precautions). For most services, we will be holding an informal outdoor gathering and an abbreviated service in the sanctuary, both of which will also be streamed. As a result, we expect to attract new “virtual” members and guests from across Colorado and the country! We have service honors available and hope that you can join us for the Zoom social following services on September 19th. Please see our High Holiday Hub for the High Holiday schedule and RSVPs.

CBE held its Annual Meeting on July 9th where we introduced our new board members (Laurie Walowitz, Sara Friedman, Allison Gustavson, Jay Kramer and Iris Solomon), reviewed our recently completed strategic plan, highlighted our numerous achievements for the year, and reviewed plans for the coming year. We appreciated your questions, dialogue, and perspectives. Please see the members section to view our annual report and strategic plan.

I want to fast forward a few years into the future to paint a picture of our CBE Kehillah (community) after realizing our vision, mission, and goals which we ambitiously put forth in our plan. We will have long emerged from the threat of coronavirus and the need to physically distance. The world will have made progress toward equality among people of varying backgrounds and our pervasive feelings of goodwill toward our fellow people will prevail.

• Virtual members, “friends of Beth Evergreen,” and followers from all over the country (and across the globe) participate in programs and events.
• Adjunct clergy, guest educators and experts throughout the nation (and world) lead thought provoking lectures, discussions, and classes.
• CBE is repeatedly lauded as a model for innovative secular Judaism among all Jewish denominations around the world.
• We have a strong connection to the state of Israel, regularly participating in events and dialoguing with Israelis.
• Our interfaith outreach and education advances thinking on the commonality between Jews and our gentile brethren, focusing on our similarities and securing partners to combat anti-Semitism.
• Our Tikun Olam Chavurah has grown beyond our wildest dreams, fostering Jewish values by strengthening alliances, caring for community, participating in civil discourse, providing abundant opportunities for meaningful service, and putting CBE ideals into action locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• Our outdoor amphitheater, which takes advantage of our spectacular environs, attracts those from the region (and visitors) to view performances, guest lecturers and religious services.
• The Beth Evergreen Legacy Society endowment has grown 4-fold and the resulting annual interest contributes to over 20% of our annual operating budget, ensuring the sustainability of CBE for generations to come.
• Our 50th jubilee anniversary celebration in 2024 is a year-long series of events that are supported and attended by members, friends, interfaith followers, and international leaders.

With your help, CBE will be well on the way to realizing our aspiring vision of “Building an innovative Jewish spiritual community”. As a congregation, we are stepping up to the challenges we face and clearly adjusting our sails to address the winds of change. We look forward to seeing you over the holidays and wish you L’Shanah Tovah Umetukah, a happy and sweet New Year!