Synagogue Updates

Good afternoon,

Adam Grant published an important piece in the New York Times last week describing the mood that many are currently feeling as languishing - the area in between being fulfilled and being depressed. The article resonated with me, and describes what I have been hearing from many of you. The piece also gives potential steps to alleviate this feeling. We are trying to be conscious about these steps as we plan our programming and activities over the next few months.  Do you have ideas for programming? Please let me know. 

I firmly believe that vaccines are an important step to moving our area forward and to open up more of our programs.  We have congregants that have been able to help others schedule vaccines and we are often told about potential vaccine opportunities. If you would like help getting the vaccine, please let me know and I will include you on our list. 

We have moved to hosting our Friday night services outside each week weather permitting. For this upcoming Friday, there will be an online service at 6:00pm over zoom and an in person service at 7:30pm as a part of our Lag B'Omer celebration (and 4th - 6th grade Shabbat). 

With Mother's Day approaching, I want to remind you of Sisterhood's Nothing Bundt Mom fundraiser.  Signups are due by April 30th. 

We have a great turnout for our program with Bari Weiss on Tuesday night.  Last reminder to register for the program in advance to receive a link. We might not be able to send out links at the last minute. If you have any questions you would like her to be asked, please email them to me. 

One of our internal themes this year has been that we have been exploring how we operate the synagogue utilizing Jewish values. A great example of this has been our Endowment Committee which has been exploring investment policies. Here is a really cool article about aligning Jewish values and financial life that mirrors some of the conversations they have been having.  

A few closing thoughts:

A special Mazel Tov to Jodi and David Miller who are being honored tonight at the Friendship Circle Gala. What a great testament to living your values!

I have been thinking about how to use this weekly email to best get you information that would be helpful to you and to bring our community together. This email started early on in the pandemic when people had a very pressing need for support from the community - such as shopping. That is not the case right now, but there is still a strong need for supporting our community. If you have ideas of things that you would like to see included in this email or things that you have found helpful, please let me know. One idea is to have a special contributor each month to write the check-in and to share their own perspectives. I would love to hear your thoughts. 

Wishing you a great week! If there is anything that we can do to be of service to you, please let us know. 

Ken
513 503 9559