Synagogue Updates

Friends,

Good morning,

So much going on today at the synagogue. We have talked about them all, but I want to highlight two of our youth events and a fundraising event from one of our Bat Mitzvah students:

Gelt Making at 11:00am
Challah Bake at 12:30pm 
Kol Echad Bat Mitzvah Concert at 5:00pm

As many know, my daughter Amelia's Bat Mitzvah is next weekend (more on that towards the end of this email). I have been thinking a lot about what I will be saying to her during our parent's speech (not shockingly, I currently have three separate versions of speeches that I have been working on - way too much I want to say). I will share with you now one of the topics that I have ruled out sharing on Saturday, but that I think is relevant for our community. 

During your Torah portion, bad things keep happening to Joseph. His brothers want to kill him, but instead throw him into a pit. He is sold into slavery. He is thrown into prison for a crime that he didn't commit. He did not have an easy life. A defining trait of Joseph, in my mind, is his perseverence. Throughout the entire story, he kept moving forward. He survived the dark times, he used his talents, he dealt with the shades of gray by putting one foot in front of the other.  Later on in the Torah, we see Joseph's capacity for forgiveness, and we never see him crying out in bitterness.. I feel that ability to keep moving forward, regardless of what is thrown at us, is required of us now. We are living in a time period that we are trying to discover what normal is, where each time we start to get our hopes up, a new challenge comes up. Where the rules keep changing.  And yet, like Joseph, we need to keep going, to keep striving and to make the best of every situation. The B'nai Mitzvah over the past 19 months have been some of the most powerful experiences that I have seen in the Jewish community. They are a testament to our community's dedication, compassion and the power of our tradition. In all honesty, I think that you and your peers have handled these transitions far better than many of the adults out there. I am proud of you and of our community and can't wait to see what is coming next.

Thanksgiving is coming up and we want to once again say how grateful we are that you are a part of our community. With Giving Tuesday around the corner, we hope you will consider giving to our Matanah Annual Appeal if you have not already done so. 

Hanukkah brings us light in the darkness. We have a full schedule for Hanukkah, including a great Saturday evening planned. There will be candle lighting each night at the synagogue. Come join us and feel the sense of community!  I love the fact that Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are tied together so closely this year. We need both gratitude and light at this time.

As an early Hanukkah present, if you are nerdy about the Jewish community (as I am), there are some really interesting books that have come out recently to check out - some even affiliated with members of our community. Here are five - three of which I am in the middle of, the two on the pandemic I am waiting to start. (I should note, that I don't agree with everything in all of the books, so this is not an endorsement of ideas, but very much an endorsement of the conversations that the books drive)

Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood: Zack Bodner
Warm and Welcoming: How the Jewish Community Can Become Truly Diverse and Inclusive in the 21st Century -Hoffman, Warren, Steinberg-Egeth, Miriam
Can We Talk About Israel?: A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted - by Sokatch, Daniel, Noxon, Christopher
Strange Fire: Jewish Voices from the Pandemic: Mendola, T S
Returning to Life After the Storm: Hope and Wisdom from Jewish Sources: Abraham Skorka, Pope Francis, Rabbi David Wolpe

We are very excited to celebrate Amelia's Bat Mitzvah with the community. We are also worried about covid numbers in our community (which are rising) and the ability to socially distance in the sanctuary and at kiddush. Our older daughter's Bat Mitzvah was magical with the support of the community, but to be honest, too many people in the sanctuary worries me. We would love for you to join us via zoom on Friday evening when Amelia will be helping to lead Kabbalat Shabbat and on Shabbat morning when she has her Bat Mitzvah ceremony.  We will be setting up a tv in the sanctuary so that we can see who is on zoom and we ask for you to put your video cameras on if you are comfortable so that we can see your faces.

There will be limited seats in the sanctuary for those that wish to attend - (and more room on Friday evening, then Saturday morning if you would like to celebrate with us in person).  We ask that everyone coming in person on Saturday morning rsvp here so we can manage the numbers.  Due to the larger expected attendance, and several younger family members that are not able to be fully vaccinated, we also ask that everyone coming on Shabbat morning be vaccinated. 

Wishing you a great week, a meaningful Thanksgiving, and we look forward to celebrating with you virtually and in person next weekend. 

Ken
513 503 9559