I hope that you are having a wonderful Passover and that you had meaningful Sedarim. Our community Seder was lovely, filled with reflection, conversation, joyful music, and fun for all of the more than 75 participants, ages 3 to 100! I am grateful to all who worked to make the evening so memorable, in particular Continue Reading »
Passover is less than a week away! In the midst of your cleaning, cooking, and shopping, check out the following resources to get you ready for the holiday: 1) Check out the Torat El Passover schedule here. 2) For the form to sell your Hametz, and for details on the Fast and Feast of the Continue Reading »
*One note before getting to this week’s message: Passover is coming! 1) As you prepare for Passover, I recommend you review the following important and helpful guidelines written by the Rabbinical Assembly. 2) A reminder: if you have not signed up for our community Seder, please do so by this Wednesday, March 28th. This week Continue Reading »
Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of the senseless shooting yesterday at a Jewish school in Southwestern France. We are, of course, always heartbroken to hear news of such senseless violence that claims the lives of innocent people, and as Jews we are particularly pained by the loss of members of our Continue Reading »
Before this morning’s message, I want to take a moment to thank Cantor Siegel, Ben Laskowitz, all of our teachers and students who made our Erev Purim celebration such a success! With over 200 people in attendance we had a wonderful Purim experience filled with joy, laughter, song, and some great costumes! Thank you to Continue Reading »
Purim is almost here! Here are a few creative renditions of the Puirm story to get you ready for the holiday. The Maccabeats Raise Your Glass Sesame Street explains Purim Purim as a Western Plus: An interesting bit of Purim history Thank you to all of our volunteers who helped make yesterday’s Purim carnival such Continue Reading »
This past weekend marked a major milestone in the American Jewish community- the 100th anniversary of the founding of Hadassah. We are blessed to have such an active Hadassah presence in our community. Hadassah’s contribution to America, Israel and communities around the globe is inspirational and impressive. Founded in 1912 by the courageous, scholarly, and Continue Reading »
This past week marked the official launch of Magen Tzedek, the world’s first ethical certification for kosher food products. Initiated by the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (with seed funding provided by the Nathan Cummings Foundation), this certification has received support and endorsement from a wide variety of organizations across the Continue Reading »
They say that you can find anything “online.” That’s why it was not surprising when I recently discovered an online resource dedicated to helping people work through the “shiva” process called “ShivaConnect.com.” According to its website: ShivaConnect.com is a complimentary service for mourners and those wishing to express their condolences, providing instant communication to people Continue Reading »
Part of being an active Jew is characterized by our willingness, or lack thereof, to engage in the struggle to bring God’s presence into our lives. I know that this is not something that people always like to hear. Often people are looking to “instantly connect” to God as fast as they connect to friends Continue Reading »