We Greet the New Year with Happiness, Events, and Undertakings
Melanie Einbund
At the special invitation from Rabbi Price, we welcomed Rabbi Sanford Seltzer, Emeritus to our pulpit once again! Rabbi Seltzer spoke at our Shabbat Services on Dec. 19, 2025. A scholar par excellence, Rabbi Seltzer shared his thoughts with us.
Honoring our 29 new members was an important part of our Dec.19 Shabbat Services. We are elated that so many have come to acknowledge Congregation B’nai Midbar as their preferred house of worship. It is an exciting time for our congregation, and our appreciation is deeply felt.
B’nai Midbar’s Annual meeting was Dec. 12. It was a time for us to gather, learn of our accomplishments, discuss our plans for the future, and meet prospective board members.
Mazel Tov: Judi Friedman and Jerry Lankin are engaged! Two of our board members are getting married. They met at SaddleBrooke, dated, and moved in together and what do you get next … an April wedding! We are very excited for them!
Saying L’heitraoat (see you soon): Our thanks to Melanie Einbund, Seth Eisner, Judi Friedman, Jerry Lankin, and Jeff Syden as they leave our board. We may not see them at those creative and industrious board meetings, but they will be around. We look to embrace their knowledge, care, and energy as Congregation B’nai Midbar flourishes.
Our 25th Anniversary Celebration turned out to be so much fun we couldn’t stop! The room felt ‘PARTY’! And we did! The Catalina Cruisers played our favorite songs of the ’50s,’60s, and ’70s. We danced, laughed, ate Jewish deli food, and bid on our favorite silent auction items. A lot of us came in costume pulling out those long-forgotten poodle skirts and crinolines. Some remembrance of those dance steps came back in full swing! We honored our former board members with their reflections of years past. Appreciation for it all to Barbara Dever, Joan Elder, Esta Goldstein, Joel Wyner, and Jane Udowitz. Happy smiles were felt throughout the room! Lots of thanks to those who donated items. We are thankful to Judi Friedman and her committee.
Several Are in Need
Congregation B’nai Midbar, in combination with IMPACT of Southern Arizona, is sponsoring a food drive at every Shabbat Service that we are in session. We are working to help address food insecurity in and around our community. Please bring any food products that you wish to donate to Shabbat Services. Packaging and dating are not important. IMPACT will separate the donations accordingly. Geri and Mike Koen will greet you at services to receive your contributions. If you wish to donate, checks made payable to IMPACT of Southern Arizona are welcome. Literature will be available at the table. Know that your contribution is tax deductible via all four AZ Tax Credits. Feed people and get a tax break! We were overwhelmed with the donations we received at our November Shabbat service. Thank you to all who donated!
Dates to Remember
Melanie Einbund
Shabbat services are led by Rabbi Daniel Price, assisted by our extraordinary cantorial soloist Eliyanna Powers. Music is directed by our accomplished accompanist Rouzbeh Tebyanian. You will be amazed!
2026 Shabbat Services (7 p.m.)
Jan. 16
Feb. 20
March 20
April 17
Oneg Celebrations. An Oneg is a mitzvah (good deed) to celebrate and sponsor a special occasion, memory, or an honor. Volunteers are needed to assist with the Onegs. You can volunteer by month, year or as you wish!
Celebratory Events
Jan. 4: Film: “Matchmaking 2”
Jan. 18: Film: “Among Neighbors”
Feb. 26: Jewish Museum Trip
April 1-9: Passover
An Exciting Opportunity: Alice Milchman Frier, Author of “Song of Survival”will present her story of a Jewish family’s survival in Siberia. Mrs. Frier is a resident of SaddleBrooke and a Writers’ Club member. Contact Bonnie Lasky (bglasky@att.net) if interested.
The Jewish Film Festival in SaddleBrooke!
We are pairing with Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona to sponsor two movies at the Desert View Performing Arts Center.‘Matchmaking 2’: Jan. 4, 3 p.m.—A Romeo-Juliet romantic saga that is funny!
“Among Neighbors”: Jan. 18, 2 p.m.—Exposes the mysteries of a small Polish town and the interlocking of love and hatred that shaped the lives of neighbors, both Jewish and Polish. This is an award winning film.
Adult Education Led by Rabbi Price—classes of Jewish Text Study based on Jewish Ethics.
Please contact Esta Goldstein (jsda38@icloud.com) for more information.
Jan. 20: Why Do People Suffer?
March 17: Theology of Prayer
April 14: What Happens After We Die?
The Gift, an End-of–Life Conversation—A series of six educational and interactive classes that speak to everything you wanted to know about the end of life and were afraid to ask. Classes are every Tuesday from Feb. 3-March 10. The cost for the six classes is $30. Contact Bonnie Lasky (bglasky@att.net) for more information.
Jewish Links, our new E-Bulletin, and our website Bnaimidbar.com will keep you up to date. Please subscribe and/or visit the website for more information.
We at Congregation B’nai Midbar provide individuals of all backgrounds the opportunity to celebrate, practice, and learn from Jewish culture and religion in a welcoming and socially fulfilling environment. For information contact Joy Erickson at infocbm18@gmail.com.
Congregation B’nai Midbar wishes you and yours a very Happy New Year!