The CMI Bulletin
More than a place - We’re a community
SERIES 110 No. 7
MAY/JUNE 2026
MAY & JUNE
Please join us in-person or on livestream as we come together to celebrate our CMI community at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Congregation.
This is a great opportunity to meet our current and incoming Board Members, to support the congregational tranistion and to ask any questions you may have about the future plans for the synagogue.
Other Highlights of the Annual Meeting will include:
· The adoption of 2026 -2027 annual budget
· The election of congregational leaders for next year
· The recognition of those who have served the congregation over the past year
· Reports on all that CMI has been doing to serve and strengthen our community
· Plans for the future
Light breakfast items and coffee will be served.
A mailing with full details of the budget, candidates and all pertinent information will be sent out shortly.
SUNDAY, JUNE 7 AT 10:00 AM
If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting in-person or plan to participate via live-stream, please complete either the online form or download, print, and mail in the printable form to allow us to reach a quorum of at least 75 members who can vote at the meeting.
Join your CMI community for Shabbat Services each Friday evening and Saturday mornings when we have a B’Mitzvah to celebrate!
May & June Services
To view the full schedule of services, please click the button below.
To join the livestream for services, please click the button below.
TODAH RABAH
Phyllis Bausher, Ivey Cooley, Ricci Cummings, Michael Dimenstein, Joel Jacobson, Karen Kimball, Hedda Rubenstein
MAY GREETERS
Phyllis Bausher, Ivey Cooley, Michael Dimenstein, Joel Jacobson, Richard & Marie Shaw and Cliff & True Wolff
JUNE GREETERS
MAZEL TOV TO OUR MAY & JUNE B’NEI MITZVAH
Bar Mitzvah of Thomas Wittenstein Saturday, May 2 at 10:30 a.m.
In person & livestream
Mazel Tov to Tommy and his family as we celebrate him becoming a Bar Mitzvah!
Services are open to all in the community.
Tommy will be reading from Parashat Emor.
B’nei Mitzvah of Taylor & Ryan Glassman Saturday, May 30 at 10:30 a.m.
In person & livestream
Mazel Tov to Taylor & Ryan and their family as we celebrate them becoming B’nei Mitzvah!
Services are open to all in the community.
Taylor & Ryan will be reading from Parashat Naso II.
Bat Mitzvah of Yomaries Rahamim Saturday, June 20 at 10:30 a.m.
In person & livestream
Mazel Tov to Yomaries and her family as we celebrate her becoming a Bat Mitzvah!
Services are open to all in the community.
Yomaries will be reading from Parashat Korach.
MAZEL TOV TO JODY DIETCH
We would like to extend a big congratulations to Executive Director, Jody Dietch on receiving the prestigious O’Sullivan Award from the Orange Democratic Town Committee!
CMI EVENTS - MAY
MAY CLOSINGS
Friday, May 22 - CLOSED for Shavuot Monday, May 25 - CLOSED for Memorial Day
Tot Shabbat - In person only
Friday, May 1, at 5:30 p.m. (No Oneg)
Bring your little ones to our special Tot Shabbat service which focuses on music and movement through fun songs and prayers. Parents and tots will dance, sing, and have special moments together
We also invite you to stay for a family dinner at 6:00 p.m.
Teacher Appreciation Family Dinner & Service (No Oneg)
Friday, May 1 Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Service follows immediately after dinner
Join us to honor our Religious School Faculty and our graduating seniors
Enjoy a tasty Shabbat dinner with your family at CMI. The dinner, catered by Eli Whitney school, will follow Tot Shabbat and precede the Famly Service. Please register by clicking the button above.
Consider being a dinner sponsor at $90, $180, or $360 to help cover the cost of the meal. Sponsorship donors will be acknowledged from the bimah.
Plant Sale Pick Up Sunday, May 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
If you ordered plants please plan to pick them up on the designated date and times listed above. If you need to make other arrangements, please call the office at 203-288-3877.
Chevra Hands (Quilting group) Sunday, May 3 at 10:00 a.m.
Join a group of fun-loving congregants who enjoy each other’s company each month as we create together. Chevra Hands lovingly makes baby quilts and lap blankets that are given to members with new babies or to those in need of comfort. We meet just once a month and no prior skills are necessary. Of course, sense of humor is an asset. For more information, please contact Susan Millen or Lina Lawall. We meet in the lounge and we hope to see you there.
Shabbat Service with Confrimation Friday, May 8 at 6:00 p.m.
The CMI Community is invited to celebrate and wish a Mazel Tov to our 2026 Confirmands! The service and celebration is a beautiful tradition and we look forward to hearing the thoughtful and insightful words of the students. We hope you will join us for this special evening. We hope you will also join us at 5:30 p.m. for oneg.
During services, we will have an opportunity to say the mi shebeirach, read the kaddish list, and recite the mourner’s kaddish. If you wish to add additional names to the mi shebeirach or kaddish list, please email Sarah Legassey by 12:00 p.m. on Friday.
Shabbat Schmooze Saturday, May 9 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Join us on the second Saturday of each month for a potluck oneg with games, arts & crafts, and of course plenty of space to schmooze. This event is for all ages and life stages. So, whether your game of choice is Candy Land or Mahjong, we hope to see you there!
CMI Confronting Antisemitism – Combating Antisemitism Program Monday, May 11 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
We have all had that cringe-worthy moment when someone repeats an anti-Semitic trope to us. They may not even realize they are saying something that is offensive. How do we respond? The CMI Confronting Antisemitism committee has invited the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to present "How to Win Hearts and Minds: Effective Communication Strategies for Combating Antisemitism" in person at CMI. We hope you will join us.
Light refreshments will be served and registration is required. For questions, please contact Joan Shapiro at shapiroindexing@gmail.com.
For security purposes, please register in advance by clicking the button below.
Rosh Chodesh - Iyar - Shabbat Service Friday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m.
On May 15, as Rosh Chodesh falls on a Friday, Rosh Chodesh participants will help lead Shabbat services, integrating readings relevant to the new month.
Red Cross Blood Drive Monday, May 18 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Hamden Lions Club invites you to give a special gift this year. Please take the time on Monday, May 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at CMI to give the gift that means something—the gift of life.
There is a critical blood shortage across Connecticut…and donating blood is one of the simplest things a person can do to help save a patient’s life. For the hour it takes to give blood, there could be a whole community of people thankful for another birthday given to their loved one. Please roll up your sleeves. Your single donation will impact the lives of three people, and all you will feel is good.
Donors can schedule appointments by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767); going to redcrossblood.org; downloading the Blood Donor App; or contacting the Hamden Lions Club at lionalannhct@gmail.com.
The Red Cross RapidPass offers donors a way to complete their pre-reading and donation questions online from the comfort and privacy of their home or office, reducing the time you spend at blood drives by as much as 15 minutes.
Using RapidPass is simple: Visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.
CMI Book Club Wednesday, May 20 at 12:00 p.m.
This month we will discuss “Daniel Deronda”, George Eliot’s latest novel. “Daniel Deronda” is a psychologically incisive investigation, full of George Eliot‘s wisdom about human nature. The contemporary novelist, Cynthia Ozick, calls Eliot her hero and praises the novel for its “morally serious, historically judicious and passionately just” advocacy for Zionism.
Torah Study - In Person or on Zoom Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Kabbalah Class - led by Stan Friedman In person & on Zoom Saturday, May 2 & May 30 at 10:15 a.m.
Join us as we study the purpose and concepts of Kabbalah in Judaism.
CMI EVENTS - JUNE
JUNE CLOSINGS
Friday, June 19 - CLOSED for Juneteenth
Pride Shabbat Friday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m.
Please join us for our annual PRIDE Shabbat service. CMI welcomes all as we celebrate the diversity of our incredible congregation!
Rosh Chodesh - Tamuz Monday, June 15 - Time TBD
Rosh Chodesh will wrap up the year with our annual pot-luck dinner. We’ll enjoy good food and conversation as we look back on the last year and plan for the upcoming one.
Stay tuned for more details and sign-up information.
Juneteenth Shabbat Service In person & livestream Friday, June 19 at 6:00 p.m.
Please join us for a special evening celebrating Juneteenth, when more than 250,000 enslaved black people in Texas finally received the news, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, that they had gained their freedom.
Torah Study - In Person or on Zoom Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. June 6, 13, 20, 27
MESSAGE FROM RABBI SCHAEFER
As we approach our last day of religious school, I want to take a moment to celebrate the success of our religious school, teachers, madrichim, and Religious School Director, Michelle Goldstein.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMPLETE MESSAGE FROM RABBI SCHAEFER.
MESSAGE FROM CANTOR FOX
I keep trying to find the words to express my feelings after the weekend of my installation and Cantor’s Concert, but words continue to fail to encapsulate the incredible love and warmth (literally as well as figuratively!!) of the weekend.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMPLETE MESSAGE FROM CANTOR FOX.
MESSAGE FROM ALAN STURTZ, CMI PRESIDENT
The second year of my two-year term as your president ends on June 7th as we hold our Annual Congregational meeting. I urge you to attend: You will be asked to ratify the slate of officers and new trustees approved by the Board of Trustees, as well as the 2026-27 budget and any changes to our By-laws.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMPLETE MESSAGE FROM CANTOR FOX.
MESSAGE FROM JENNIFER VERRIER DIRECTOR OF THE LEARNING TREE
As I look out onto the Preschool playground of TLT and see the trees and daffodils in bloom; I am reminded that all things transition with time. As a community, we celebrate the growth of children and the many transitions they experience during their time here.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMPLETE MESSAGE FROM JENNIFER VERRIER.
2025-2026 DONATIONS
CHAI HOLY DAY CAMPAIGN
To view the list of Chai Holy Day Donors, please click the button below.
RECENT DONATIONS
To view the list of recent donations please click the button below.
YAHRZEITS
May Yahrzeit Lists
To view the lists of May Yahrzeits, click the button.
June Yahrzeit Lists
To view the lists of June Yahrzeits, click the button.
IN SYMPATHY TO
Cantor Sierra Fox on the loss of her grandmother, Irene Cohen Karen Orzack-Moore on the loss of her sister, Susan Posen.
IN MEMORIAM
Rose Dubin Marilyn Fishbone
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Contact Us
THE CONGREGATION MISHKAN ISRAEL BULLETIN
May-June2026 Series 110 No. 7
THE CONGREGATION MISHKAN ISRAEL
785 Ridge Road, Hamden, CT 06517
Phone: (203) 288-3877 Fax: (203) 248-2148
http://cmihamden.org
Rabbi Daniel Schaefer x236 dschaefer@cmihamden.org
Rabbi Emeritus Herbert N. Brockman, Ph.D. D.D. x238 cmirabbi@cmihamden.org
Cantor Sierra Fox x244 sfox@cmihamden.org
Jody Dietch, Executive Director x241 jdietch@cmihamden.org
Michelle Goldstein, Religious School Director x237 mgoldstein@cmihamden.org
Jennifer Verrier, Early Learning Director x246 jverrier@cmihamden.org
Alan Sturtz, President president@cmihamden.org