Synagogue Updates

Good morning, and welcome to a three day weekend Monday Check-In.  This is a long email, but perhaps one of the most powerful I have shared (mostly because the story and the words are not mine)
 

The coming of Purim means that we have been in Covid Mode for just about a year. There are many lessons that Purim teaches us, but one of them right now is really resonating with me - moving on from a tragedy to turn "grief to joy" and continue to send "portions one to another, and gifts to the poor" (Megillah Esther, Chapter 9 Verse 22). When COVID-19 has moved on, may it be soon, how will we remember this time period? What lessons will we take with us that will help us improve our lives going forward? How will we use this strange, awful time as a catalyst to improve our lives moving forward?

Below, I share the powerful story of one of our congregant families and their quest to turn from tragedy to meaning. It is fitting to tell this story around Purim and I hope you join me in supporting their quest. 

But first - a quick programmatic update and our Purim rundown for you. 

Next Sunday's JDAIM program with Kalman Samuels from Shalva has had to be postponed. Instead, we are pleased to offer a special presentation by Gabby Kaplan-Mayer of Jewish Learning Ventures entitled Disability, Family and Community. 

Mishloach Manot - There is still time to place your orders. I will be sending an email reminder today with link to everyone that has not ordered yet. 

Reminder: this year, due to COVID-19 protocols, Mishloach Manot pickups will be via drive by at the synagogue. We will mail greetings to those that are not able to pick them up. There are several times to pick them up, including our Megrillah Before the Megillah on the evening of Purim.  You are welcome to come when you have time, but if you can let us know, that would be great. 

Pre-Purim Lunch and Learn with our own Shani Feinstein on Wednesday, February 24 at 12pm. 

Megrillah Before the Megillah - Pick up your mishloacn manot, borrow a Megillat Esther, and take some food with you!

For Purim - we need your help to provide the entertainment between chapters! Please send me photos of your kids, your pet, or you in costume! We will create slide shows to put on in between the chapters and attendees will be able to vote on best costume. Prizes will be given. 

Categories: Best Costume - Family, Best Costume - Pet, Best Costume Individual (Youth), Best Costume Individual (Adult), Best Decorated Car at Megrillah Before the Megillah (We will take the photo onsite).

There ae two evening Purim Megillah Readings for you - both entirely virtual: 
Congregation Megillah Reading at 7:00 PM
Havurah Megillah Reading and Shpiel at 7:30 PM. 

The Megillah will be read once again at 7:15 AM on Friday morning. 

And now...

The Story of Ella's Pi(e) Day - Erika and Josh Bauml 
(Please read this story to the end where I add a few additional comments - Ken)
 

Many celebrate 3.14 as Pi Day, but we celebrate for a different reason.

Our daughter, Ella, was born on 3.14.09, and passed away just three days later due to complications of a fetal-maternal hemorrhage.  As a way to honor her memory, our family has dessert for dinner on 3.14, and in the past few years, we've asked you all to join us in celebration.  In 2020, in conjunction with the annual Ella's Pi(e) Day Celebration, we raised $9100 for the Social Work fund at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia NICU.  These funds paid for 3 funerals and bought cribs for 7 families of NICU patients. Beyond that, the money has been used to help those families that are struggling with the day to day financial burden of a child in the NICU.  For some background - the average CHOP NICU family is there for 30 days and lives over 60 miles away. That means 30 days of transportation to and from the facility, 90 meals, time away from work and many other unforeseen expenses.  For some, this actually may mean the need for alternative housing while their children are in the NICU.   We hope we can again help CHOP support families in need with these unexpected expenses that occur due to having a child in the NICU.  

This year, due to COVID, we had to get creative to figure out how we could capture the joy of Ella's Pi(e) Day in a virtual format.  We are so thankful that Instagram chef/rising star Jake Cohen (@jakecohen) has generously volunteered his time to teach a class to honor Ella's birthday.  Not only is Jake a Culinary Institute of America grad, he also previously worked at several notable NYC foodie institutions, Saveur Magazine's test kitchen, as Food Editor of TastingTable.com and as a Food Critic for Time Out New York.  He is currently the Editorial and Test Kitchen Director of Feedfeed, and his upcoming cookbook Jew-Ish has generated an insane amount of buzz.  

Thanks to Mr. Cohen's generosity, ALL the money we raise will go towards the CHOP NICU Social Work fund.  We hope you can join us on 3.14.21 at 5pm EST on Zoom as we laugh, learn the ins and outs of pie making and celebrate what would have been Ella's 12th birthday.   Zoom information and a shopping list will be emailed separately closer to the event.

We greatly appreciate any amount that you can donate, but are requesting a minimum donation of $54 to participate in the Zoom class.  Participation tiers have been established based on the Jewish principal of Chai (meaning "life" and in numerology, 18).  Once you click the donate button, select Other and type in one of the amounts below (or more :)).  

$54 -You receive a ticket to the Zoom class (this subsidizes lunch for 1 week for a low income CHOP family)

$72- You Receive a ticket to the Zoom class and a special gift (a CHOP family receives one night in a discounted hotel for those families that cannot commute daily)

$180 - You receive all of the above and an entry into a raffle for a 4 and 20 Blackbirds Cookbook and gift certificate. 4 and 20 Blackbirds is consistently on the Top 10 Pie Lists in the US. (A CHOP NICU family gets 2 nights in a discounted hotel and 2 days of meals)

$252-You receive all of the above and a copy of Jake Cohen's Jew-ish (While covering half the costs of a funeral for a NICU patient)

$360-You receive all of the above and a signed copy of Jake Cohen's Jew-ish  (A CHOP family can stay at the Ronald McDonald house for 3 weeks)

chop.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.personalCampaign&participantID=103067

What Erika and Josh didn't write in this particular blurb is that their goal is to start a fund at CHOP in Ella's name. What a beautiful way to deal with a tragedy and to create meaning behind it.  Let's help them reach far beyond their goal. 

Do you have a story that should be shared with our community? I can't share them all - but there are times that the story fits the moment and we want to highlight what our congregants are doing. 

Check out our Tuesday email for all of the great events and links for our community. There is so much that I can't fit into these emails. Wishing you a week of purpose,

Ken
513 503 9559