The Boulder community is invited to gather with us at 9 PM at the Boulder Integral Center, at 2805 Broadway (Broadway and Balsam), for an event that will commence with a spirited evening prayer and havdallah led by Rabbi Debra Rappaport. Then a panel with Rabbis Rose, Goldfeder, Soloway, Korngold, and Rappaport on the theme: Heart or Mind: Where does the Torah Journey Begin?

Here is the rest of the schedule:

• 11:30 PM – Community Kavannah
• 11:45 PM – 12:30 AM -  Shavuot and the art of wakefulness – with Rabbi Debra Rappaport of B’nai Veil Congregation
• 12:30 – Community Kavannah
• 12:45 AM – 1:30 AM Yoga with Shifra Blumenthal OR Directing the Heart, Focusing the mind – The Art of kavanah With Rabbi Marc Soloway
• 1:30 – Community Kavannah
• 1:45 AM – 2:30 AM – The Whole Way: Heart, Mind and Body in Prayer With Rabbi Josh Rose
• 2:30 – Community Kavannah
• 2:45 AM -3:30 AM – The Mishkan: Heart, Mind, and the Holy of Holies with Rabbi Gavriel Goldfeder
• 3:30 – Community Kavannah
• 3:45 AM -4:45 AM – Live Chavruta – Rabbis Josh Rose and Gavriel Goldfeder lead an interactive encounter with the Torah of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
• 5 AM – Shacharit at Aish Kodesh 1805 Balsam Ave

RSVPs are not required.

A fresh look at who were the real ‘machers’ and shakers at Mount Sinai?  Was it the men or the women?

Saturday, May 26, 5:30 pm.   Join us for a unique women’s gathering of scholarly, social and soulful delight.  Enjoy a light dairy meal while gaining insight into the spiritual meaning of the “Ten Commandments”.  This class will be facilitated by Chany Scheiner and is open to women in the Boulder Jewish Community.  The event is free but requires rsvping by simply emailing chabadofboulder@gmail.com or calling 303 494 1638.

Michael Rosenzweig: Three down, 97 to go.

The Boulder JCC recently received a grant from Roots and Branches, an initiative of Rose Community Foundation. The purpose of this grant is to create a lighthearted, innovative, friendly network of young Jews in Boulder who are interested in, and excited about, programming for the young, Jewish Boulder crowd.  In order to accomplish this, I am having conversations with 100 young adult Jews in Boulder County over the next few months, to discuss what their background is and what they are looking for in terms of young Jewish adult programming.

After three conversations, I can already see that many more questions will arise from these one-on-one chats.  Having conversations about how people classify their connection to Judaism really allows for a full spectrum of answers.  For example, two of the three people I spoke to connect just as much if not more to Israel, rather than the religion of Judaism.

For me growing up in New Jersey, Jews were either Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox.  I  experienced Hasidic culture only on a surface level while getting Gus’s pickles on the Lower East Side of New York City.    I was exposed to the Reconstructionist movement, which was new and hip at the time, but to me felt similar to Reform Judaism, which is how I was raised.  I didn’t think Judaism could get more modern than that.  Then I came to Boulder!  There were two sects of Judaism that I had never heard of:  the Renewal and Humanistic movements, both of which fascinate me.

In determining a question that I assumed was fairly straightforward, “How do you classify your connection to Judaism?” I thought I had anticipated every possible response.  Then it happened.  In one of my interviews, someone offered a new answer to this question and called him/herself a Post-Denominational Jew.  As it was described it to me, a Post-Denominational affiliation means the person  is very connected to their Judaism in religious, cultural, and spiritual contexts, but that connection supersedes any one denomination of  Judaism.

Perhaps this is one way for  Judaism to remain relevant and modern in today’s society.  Especially in Boulder, there is ample opportunity to connect  where, when, and how you want to connect.  If you classify yourself as more of a cultural rather than religious Jew, go Humanistic.  If you want to connect spiritually and are fascinated by the mysticism of Judaism, you are in the birthplace of the Renewal movement.  All the same, if you are connected to your Judaism, the religious, cultural, and social aspects of the religion are all important to you, but you aren’t a part of one particular congregation, you could be “Post-Denominational.”  The beauty of it is that there are still so many ways to connect with other like-minded individuals and feel like you are a part of this vibrant and innovative community.

As always, if you are a Boulder Jew between the ages of 21-45, give me a shout.  I would love to take you out for coffee and talk about where you came from, what you are looking for in terms of programming for this demographic, and how we can work together to achieve this.  If you know someone that fits this age group, feel free to send them my information or shoot me a line with theirs.

Save the date! The times they are a changin’….Please join us for an educational and fun afternoon entitled “SHIFT HAPPENS: Learning and Laughing in a time of Change,” Sunday, June 3, 2-5:30 p.m.

The program includes:

• A teaching, “Listening to Kabbalah and Nature in Times of Change” by Rabbi Tirzah Firestone
• An interfaith panel of spiritual leaders discussing “Healing Post-Traumatic God Disorder,” including Rev. David Chernikoff, Rabbi Tirah Firestone, Morah Yehudis Fishman, Reverend Jason Hays and Rabbi Josh Rose
• A comedy performance by the Kosher Hams entitled “A Condensed Torah for Modern Times”
• An auction, food and music.

This benefit for Congregation Nevei Kodesh will be held at the Community UCC, 2650 Table Mesa Drive. $72 per person. Advanced registration requested. For information and registration contact Nevei Kodesh.

Also, Sunday will mark three weeks until the Boulder Jewish Festival, so make your plans now for Sunday, June 10 on the Pearl St. Mall and the Courthouse Lawn.

Giora and Edna Shaviv

Edna Shaviv, of Israel, received the 2012 Passive Pioneer Award:

The American Solar Energy Society has established this award for passive solar pioneers. It honors those in the passive field whose pioneering work set the stage for others to follow. Honorees are men and women who developed the theories, early research efforts, new concepts, and opportunities for later researchers to develop. Their foresight, innovative thinking, and creativity opened the doors for others.

Over the last 40 years, Shaviv has created software, integrated ideas on community design, and initiated research in the United States and in Israel changing the way buildings perform. Edna and her husband, Giora, lived in Boulder in the late 1970s.

Frank Kreith

Frank Kreith Professor Emeritus of Engineering, University of Colorado – Boulder, was honored with the Hoyt Clarke Hottel Award,

Dr. Abbot was a prominent researcher in solar energy. During his lifetime of 101 years, he developed a number of instruments for measuring insolation, determined the solar constant with great accuracy, and contributed greatly to the understanding of the solar resource on earth.

Dr. Kreith was honored for his innovative thinking that spurred many technology advancements. He has publicly promoted solar energy for decades while inspiring generations of young engineers. In addition to CU-Boulder, he has taught at Lehigh University, University of California, and in Israel “when there were only quonset huts in Be’er Sheva.”

The awards were presented during the World Renewable Energy Forum in Denver.

Last year, the Boulder JCC debuted a new event during Boulder Startup Week. Aptly named Jews, Brews, and Startup Gurus, over 85 community members attended this happy hour.  Jonathan Lev, Executive Director of the Boulder JCC remembered, “It brought together the best elements of the Boulder Jewish Community has to offer:  Innovation, entrepreneurship, ideas, and community.” Here are pictures from last year’s event.

This month’s third Thursday is May 17th, which means that Flatiron Tribe’s happy hour will once again take place during Boulder Startup Week.  Flatiron Tribe is pleased to announce the return of Jews, Brews, and Startup Gurus, this Thursday, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Tahona Bistro at 1035 Pearl Street.  The earlier time slot enables participants of Boulder Startup Week to enjoy this networking event in between other scheduled programs.

Whether you are looking to network with the startup community, meet other local young adult Jews, or are just looking for a good after-work hangout Jews, Brews, and Startup Gurus is for you.  Bring your business card for a chance to win an exciting prize! You must be 21 to attend.  There is no need to register in advance however, if you have any questions, please contact Michael at Michael@boulderjcc.org or 720-583-5522. Let us know you are coming on Facebook and Plancast!