Synagogue Updates

Good morning, 

Wishing a happy Mother's Day to all who are celebrating today, and warm thoughts and positive memories to all that need today.  In today's email, I am thinking a lot about legacies. The legacies of our parents, the legacies of our congregants, and the legacies that each of us will leave. 

Friday night was a special night for our community - celebrating with congregations that have been a part of our community for 50 years. The stories, the relationships, the history of our synagogue was lovely to see.  The people on that zoom and their peers have made a lasting impact on our synagogue that is seen in so many aspects of our culture, programming and our teaching.  We are so grateful to them (to you) and thankful that each of you stays with our community.  It was a poignant reminder that all of us have the power to influence our synagogue community and have a place in our congregation.  Speaking of legacy - I would be remiss if I didn't remind everyone that you are able to support the synagogue with a legacy gift by remembering Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El with a gift in your will. I would be happy to talk more about this with you. 

Yesterday's Bat Mitzvah, Ava Kate Arkader, in her d'var torah challenged each of us do more to connect Jewishly (my own paraphrase). To that end, stay tuned for an email this week asking about which societal issues you would like the synagogue to focus on and which you would like to volunteer for. I encourage you to fill it out. One of my favorite Jewish stories is of Honi the Circle Maker - who came across a man planting a carob tree - knowing that the benefit would be for future generations. (*full section of the story below) Now is a great time for each of us to think about our own impact.

Looking ahead, we have Shavuot coming up. Sunday evening, there will be services over zoom and a Tikkun Leyl Shavuot. Please note, this program is only open to those that have been fully vaccinated. Services on Monday and Tuesday will be in person. We have plenty of room, so please join us. 

Sunday, May 23rd is our Spring Celebration. I (and we) have written a lot about it, and there will be more details coming. But please help support the synagogue, come for a fun afternoon and evening, and help us say thank you to some of our Covid Heroes. 

Wishing you a day and week filled with happy experiences and happy memories, 

Ken
513 503 9559

 

*One day, Honi the Circle Maker was walking on the road and saw a man planting a carob tree. Honi asked the man, “How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?”

The man replied, “Seventy years.”

Honi then asked the man, “And do you think you will live another seventy years and eat the fruit of this tree?”

The man answered, “Perhaps not. However, when I was born into this world, I found many carob trees planted by my father and grandfather. Just as they planted trees for me, I am planting trees for my children and grandchildren so they will be able to eat the fruit of these trees.”