PAST EVENTS
Hanukkah Art for Our Town - Sat., December 6, 1:00-4:00pm
Join us in creating beautiful Hanukkah decorations to brighten our town this winter! On Saturday, Dec. 6th, we'll meet to craft decorative art pieces featuring inspiring Jewish quotes for public display around town, sharing the light of Hanukkah with the wider community.
Care Packages for Hospitalized Children- Saturday, November 22, 3:00pm
Learn about the mitzvah of caring for the sick and bring a package of items to contribute to care packages for children at Berkshire Medical Center. Recommendations include small notepads, coloring books, crayons, colored pens and other small art activities. We’ll end with the ritual of Havdalah to bring Shabbat to a close. Families with kids of all ages are welcome. This event will be held at a private home in Lanesborough, MA; location details will be emailed to those who sign up.
Turn Park Fairy Festival - Saturday, October 11th, West Stockbridge, MA 4PM-8PM
Fairies meet festivals! We’re bringing miniature fairy Sukkahs to the Fairy House Competition. Come wander through the magic, celebrate in community, and discover our tiny sukkah village!.
Yom Kippur Family Service — Thursday, Oct. 2nd at 9:30AM
Please join us for our annual Yom Kippur morning service, led by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat and Rabbi Jarah Greenfield of Nefesh and CBI, with support from community musicians and choir. All are welcome! Expect poetry, prayer, harmony, melodies both traditional and contemporary, and a warm, participatory experience.
The children’s service will be folded in with the main service; robust childcare and holiday-oriented activities will be provided in our classrooms.
Second Day Rosh Hashanah In The Field, Wed., September 24th, 10AM-12:30PM at Living Tree Alliance in Moretown, VT
Join us for an inspiring, land-based, musical outdoor prayer ceremony, led by Rabbi Lee Moore and cellist Aaron Fried! We’ll greet the new year with a radical Jewish prayer experience in nature that weaves together traditional melodies with eco-poetics. At Living Tree’s sixth annual Rosh Hashanah celebration, we’ll tap into our roots as we soar with song—all while surrounded by the stunning peak foliage of the Mad River Valley.
Rosh Hashanah Family Service — Tuesday September 23rd at 9:30AM
Please join us for our Rosh Hashanah I morning service, led by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat and Rabbi Jarah Greenfield of Nefesh and CBI. Blowing of the Shofar and Tashlih (casting away our mis-steps) will follow the conclusion of services at the TOURISTS suspension bridge. All are welcome! Expect poetry, prayer, harmony, melodies both traditional and contemporary, and a warm, participatory experience.
The children’s service will be folded in with the main service; robust childcare and holiday-oriented activities will be provided in our classrooms.
Congregation Beth Israel, North Adams, MA
Family Band Practice – September 6th, 13th & 20th
Instrument players ages 7 and older who are able to follow musical notation or chords are invited to gather with their parents for our first rehearsal of CBI & Nefesh's High Holiday Band! Rehearsals will take place at a private home in Lanesborough, MA; for further details email info@nefeshcommunity.org
Tanglewood Concert & Picnic– Sunday August 24th, 12:30 pm
We're planning a fun afternoon, starting at 12:30 with a picnic on the lawn, a children’s craft activity and a family Shabbat song circle before the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Festival Chorus concert. The concert begins at 2:30 PM.
We will have a designated tent on the back lawn for children's activities as well as a group gathering spot closer to the stage. Please remember to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets as well as food and drink to share.
You can purchase lawn tickets online in advance or on the day of at the gate. For more information or to RSVP by August 22nd, please click here.
Shabbat at Windsor Lake — Friday August 1st, 6PM
Enjoy summer vibes with a Shabbat bbq at Lake Windsor. Nefesh will provide local organic beef burgers, grass-fed beef hot dogs and earth sky time veggie burgers with all the toppings. Bring yourself and a side if you feel up to it.
Please RSVP by emailing: info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Shabbat Potluck by the Pool — Friday, June 20th, 6pm
Sing, bless, eat, play and swim. There’s no better way to celebrate Shabbat in the summer than with friends, good food and fun!
Private home Shaftsbury, VT
For location details RSVP by emailing: info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Shavuot Torah Party -Sat., May 31st, 11:00am
The holiday of Shavuot recalls the biblical story of receiving Torah at Mt. Sinai and celebrates the value of Jewish learning. Join us for a Torah-themed Party and potluck at the home of Shira Sternberg. We'll make replicas of the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments and enjoy a dramatic retelling of Moses bringing the Torah down from the mountain.
For location details and to RSVP, email info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Jewish Journeys Shabbat Sat, May 10 at 10am
Students share their work from Jewish Journeys classes and we celebrate Shabbat as a community at CBI.
Please RSVP by emailing: info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Green Up Day & Eco Jewish Action — Sat., May. 2nd at 1:00pm
Learn about caring for the earth and the impact of climate change, then meet up with Vermonters across the state to clean up our neighborhood.
For location details and to RSVP, email info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Passover Saturday April 12th & Sunday April 13th
If you are looking for people to share Passover with first or second night we would love to connect you.
Please inquire at: info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Purim Party- Fri., March 14th 5:30PM-7:30PM
Enjoy live music by A Glezele Tey, great food, and a spirited re-enactment of the Purim story. Come in costume, be in community! Location- Left Bank, North Bennington
For more information and to RSVP, email info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Bake and Deliver Hamantaschen — Sat., March. 8th at 10:00am
Bring Purim joy to homebound seniors and community members by baking fresh hamantaschen and delivering michloach manot packages.
For location details and to RSVP, email info@nefeshcommunity.org.
TuBishvat Dinner & Family Sing — Thurs., Feb. 13th, 5:15pm-7:00pm
Come in from the slopes and give a little pre-Valentine's Day love to the trees on Tu Bishvat! We'll meet in the lodge and enjoy a vegetarian lasagna dinner as well a a group sing-along led by local musicians and children from Nefesh's Jewish Education Program. Listen to some of our featured songs to sing along: My Roots Go Down, Adamah v’Shamayim and Garden Song.
Please RSVP by emailing: info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Mitzvah Meal for the Hungry — Sun., Feb. 2 at 2:00-4:00PM
Prepare a meal for the many who rely on Bennington’s monthly community dinner and learn about the mitzvah of providing for those in need. This event will be held at Second Congregational Church in Bennington, VT.
To RSVP, email info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Hanukkah Community Candle Lighting — RSVP for Event Details
You're warmly invited to join the Jewish community for a special Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony at Park Mcullough Historic Governor’s Mansion in North Bennington. This festive, community-wide celebration is open to people of all faiths and backgrounds. We will light the beautiful outdoor menorah created last year by Nefesh: Jewish Families of Southern VT and Western MA and enjoy Hanukkah treats in this gathering dedicated to bringing hope, joy and light into the world during times of darkness. Event details will be provided via email to those who RSVP.
For more information and to RSVP, email info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Hanukkah Party — Fri., Dec. 27 at 5:30pm
Come for latkes and candle lighting, drinks for the adults and dreidels and art for the kids. Bring your hanukkiah (Hanukkah menorah) from home and we'll light candles together. Located at a private home in North Bennington, VT.
For location details and to RSVP, email info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Hanukkah Candle Making — Sat., Dec. 7 at 1:00pm
Make your own beautiful, hand-dipped Hanukkah candles out of locally sourced, earth friendly beeswax. This workshop is geared toward families with children ages 3 and older, though adults are certainly welcome and enjoy the process as much as children do! This event is located in Bennington. VT. Location details will be emailed upon RSVP. A suggested donation of $10 per participant will be collected at the door.
For more information and to RSVP, email info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Simchat Torah Celebration, North Adams — Fri., Oct. 25 at 6:00pm
Join Nefesh and Congregation Beth Israel for a short-and-sweet festival, circle dances with the Torah, and a vegetarian potluck dinner.
Simchat Torah Celebration, Bennington — Thurs., Oct. 24 at 6:00pm
Gather for a joyful evening of live music, food and dancing to culminate the fall festival season and celebrate the annual Torah reading cycle. Nefesh partners with Congregation Beth El in Bennington for this community celebration.
For more information and to RSVP, email info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Harvest Moon Sukkot Potluck Supper & Music Around the Campfire – Fri., Oct. 18 @ 5:30 pm
Welcome Shabbat and Sukkot together with blessings, a vegetarian potluck in the sukkah and a musical jam around the campfire. Bring your instruments and a vegetarian dish to share. Located at Congregation Beth Israel in North Adams, MA.
Yom Kippur Family Service — Sat., Oct. 12 at 10:00 am
Make the day meaningful with a family service that engages the heart, mind and spirit on the Day of Atonement. Located outdoors at a private home in Shaftsbury, VT.
For more information and to RSVP, email info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Rosh Hashanah Family Service — Thurs., Oct. 3 at 10:00 am
Celebrate the New Year with story, prayer, movement and music with Jewish families and an incredible view. We’ll enjoy a locally catered lunch and walk to a nearby stream for tashlich. Located at a private home in Shaftsbury, VT.
For more information and to RSVP, email info@nefeshcommunity.org.
Family Band Practice – September 7, 14, 28 at 1:00 pm
Instrument players, bring your violins, guitars, ukuleles, keyboards, or other instruments to practice beloved songs and play together for High Holiday family services.
Rosh Hashanah Baking – September 15 @ 10:00 am
Join us as we make apple cake and round challah to share with family and friends at the Bennington Community Market! For more information and to RSVP, please contact learning@cbiberkshires.com.